15:29 "The Kremlin is lying" - British Ministry of Defense sees Russian problems
The war against Ukraine is making the Russian economy flourish, especially due to the defense industry. However, the British Ministry of Defense sees issues. "Inflation is twice the central bank's target, and war spending is causing unsustainable growth and an overheated economy," it reports from London. High interest rates are making Russia a poor place for investments, and the country is drawing from its sovereign fund to finance rising war costs, the ministry adds.
15:00 Ukraine could produce several million drones per yearUkraine currently has a production capacity of three million drones per year, according to Anna Gvozdiar, deputy minister of strategic industries. However, this requires funding, Gvozdiar says. Drones are one of the key tools in Ukraine's defense against the Russian invasion, with some being funded by foreign donations and produced by volunteers.
14:28 Germany delivers more Leopard tanks to Czech RepublicAs compensation for military aid to Ukraine, Germany is delivering 14 more Leopard 2A4 battle tanks and one Buffalo-3 armored recovery vehicle to the Czech Republic. Both sides have signed final documents for the deal, the Czech defense ministry says. The first tanks are expected to be delivered by the end of the year, with the rest by early 2026. This follows the delivery of 15 tanks from Germany in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, the NATO country plans to buy more Leopard tanks of types 2A4 and 2A8 as part of its military modernization efforts.
13:49 SBU suspects Putin's close associates of aiding war against UkraineThe Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has filed a suspicion notice against one of Russian leader Vladimir Putin's closest associates, Alexei Dyumin, and Russia's deputy defense minister, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov. According to "RBC-Ukraine," Dyumin, a former bodyguard of Putin and current secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council, is suspected of organizing partial mobilization of men, establishing a center for unmanned systems, and developing production of FPV drones and other unmanned aircraft in the Tula region for combat operations in Ukraine. Yevkurov, Russia's deputy defense minister, is suspected of being responsible for training contract soldiers and mobilized personnel who then participate in the fighting in Ukraine.
13:06 Russia Initiates "Third Phase" of Tactical Nuclear Weapon ExercisesRussia has begun the third phase of exercises designed to test the readiness of its forces for the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons. The "Kyiv Independent" reports, citing a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense, that units from the central and southern military districts are involved, including those stationed in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. According to the ministry's statement, "During this phase of the exercise, personnel from the rocket formations of the southern and central military districts will conduct combat exercises, including the acquisition of special training ammunition for the Iskander-M tactical missile systems." The first phase of the exercises began in May. Russian President Vladimir Putin presented this as a response to alleged "provocative statements" from the West, without providing further details.
12:45 Authorities: Russians Detain Children from Luhansk in Military CampsChildren from the occupied Bilowodsk in the Luhansk region are being held in a Russian military camp in the Novosibirsk region of the Russian Federation. There, they are being taught by military personnel how to handle firearms and drills. "Ukrinform" reports, citing the Facebook page of the state regional administration of Luhansk, that schoolchildren from the Russian-occupied Bilowodsk are still being held in the military-patriotic tent camp of the "Youth Army" set up in the Novosibirsk region. "Sending children aged 11 to 17 to this camp, where combat officers teach them tactics, fire, and drills, is considered a benevolent act in the Russian Federation," says Artem Lysohor, head of the regional state administration.
12:30 Duma Legalizes Cryptocurrency Mining to Evade SanctionsThe Duma has passed a law legalizing cryptocurrency mining in Russia. "Meduza," a Russian media outlet based in Latvia, reports, citing the website of the lower house of the Russian parliament, that the document published there allows Russian legal entities and individual entrepreneurs registered in the relevant register to engage in cryptocurrency mining. Individuals who do not exceed the energy consumption limits set by the government can mine cryptocurrencies without being included in the register.
12:06 Putin Doubles Special Payment for War DeploymentRussia's leadership is offering more money to attract more volunteers for its attack on Ukraine. According to a decree signed by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, anyone who signs a contract for deployment at the front between August 1 and December 31 will receive a one-time payment of 400,000 rubles (around 4,200 euros), more than double the previous amount of 195,000 rubles. In addition, there is a monthly salary that is significantly higher than the Russian average income. Since a forced mobilization of reservists in the fall of 2022, Russia has mainly relied on financial incentives to attract soldiers for the war. Many regions offer cash bonuses for signing contracts. For example, the city of Moscow set a one-time bonus of 1.9 million rubles (about 20,300 euros) for contracts lasting one year or longer this month.
11:30 Russian sentenced to seven years for attempted arson in recruitment office
A man in Russia has been sentenced to seven years in prison. The Russian is accused of attempting to set fire to a recruitment office. Additionally, the military court of the southern district of Russia alleges that he maintained connections with the "Freedom of Russia" legion. The court finds him guilty of attempted terrorism and collaborating "on a confidential basis with a representative of a foreign state". The "Freedom of Russia" legion was established in Ukraine in March 2022. It is an armed group of Russians fighting alongside Ukrainian forces against Russia. Its members have also carried out cross-border actions in Russia and, according to reports, sabotage operations within the country.
11:06 Fire after Ukrainian strike on weapons depot in Kursk
After a Ukrainian attack on the Russian border region of Kursk, a fire broke out in a warehouse for weapons and military equipment. The General Staff in Kyiv reports via Telegram that the strike was carried out using a modified rocket system of the Ukrainian Navy. Explosions were observed at the target. The Navy has anti-ship missiles of the Neptune type, which can be used against ground targets and can reach targets up to 300 kilometers away. Kursk is only slightly over 80 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Previously, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that a cruise missile of this type had been shot down over the Kursk region. The fire has been contained, according to the governor of the region, Alexei Smirnov. In addition, according to Russian military reports, a total of 19 Ukrainian drones have been shot down over the cities of Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Kaluga, Rostov, and the annexed Crimea.
10:36 Munz on Russia's war tactics: Motorcycle attacks "follow a certain pattern"
Sightings of Russian soldiers on motorcycles in Ukraine are increasing, with observers seeing this as evidence that Russia is running out of armored vehicles. ntv correspondent Rainer Munz disagrees and explains the strategy behind the attacks.
10:02 Reisner: Russia could have lost up to 750,000 soldiers in Ukraine
Russia could have already suffered 500,000 to 750,000 casualties, including up to 150,000 dead soldiers, in its war against Ukraine, according to Markus Reisner, an Austrian Armed Forces colonel, in an interview with the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform". "Recently, an interesting study was published that, in my opinion, is very well-researched. It suggests that perhaps 100,000 to 150,000 Russian soldiers have already been killed," says Reisner. Considering the lessons of military history and "the fact that there are about 3-4 times more wounded than dead", the losses are enormous, says the military expert. "And that is realistic given the intensity of the conflict," he estimates, while also noting that the Ukrainian side "has also suffered heavy losses". Kyiv puts the current number of Russian military losses at 578,120 (see entry at 07:35).
09:24 Ukraine: Weapons depot in Russian region Kursk attackedThe Ukrainian military reports attacking a weapons and military equipment depot in the Russian region of Kursk overnight. Kursk borders Ukraine and has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian fire. On Monday night, the Ukrainian military reported attacking a Russian oil depot in the region. "Intelligence reports indicate that a fire broke out at the enemy's facility as a result of the attack," the Ukrainian General Staff said on Facebook yesterday.
08:55 Kyiv reports one of the heaviest Russian drone attacks since the start of the warThe Russian military attacked targets in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and other parts of the country with dozens of combat drones overnight. "Over 40 enemy drones were shot down over Kyiv and the outskirts of the capital in two waves," Kyiv's military administration said on Telegram. Not a single drone reached its target in the capital. The agency described the attack as one of the strongest on Ukraine during the entire war. Overall, an air alert lasted for over eight hours in the three-million-strong city overnight (see also entries at 06:33 and 23:52). Reports of Russian drone attacks were also made in other regions. Six were shot down over the southeastern Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk - four more over the region of Mykolajiw in the south of the country. A general overview of the Ukrainian air defense's operations overnight is still pending.
08:36 Ukraine reports 144 clashes along the frontline over the past dayAccording to the spokesperson of the Ukrainian General Staff, Dmytro Hutsulyak, there were 144 clashes along the frontline over the past day. "Over the past day, 144 combat encounters took place. Over the past day, Russian terrorists carried out a total of 1 missile attack with 1 missile on our troops' positions and residential areas, as well as 85 air strikes. In particular, 141 guided aerial bombs were dropped. Moreover, more than 4,350 attacks were carried out, 90 of which were with multiple launch rocket systems," Hutsulyak said in the "United News" broadcast.
08:09 Governor: Man dies from Russian shelling in KhersonRussian forces shelled the outskirts of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson in the morning. A man was killed and a woman injured, the governor of the Kherson region, Roman Mrochko, wrote in a Telegram post. According to him, the Russian army shelled the outskirts of Kherson from the occupied left bank of the Dnipro River. A 68-year-old man was fatally injured. Rescue workers reportedly retrieved his body from the rubble. A 73-year-old woman suffered a concussion and head injuries from an explosion. She was provided with medical assistance at the scene.
07:35 Ukraine reports over 1000 Russian losses in a single day
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports in its Facebook update that Russia has lost 1060 soldiers, 30 artillery systems, 20 armored combat vehicles, and 9 tanks in the past day. Since the start of the invasion on February 24, 2022, the total combat losses of Russian forces amount to 578,120 military personnel, 8,390 tanks, 16,161 armored combat vehicles, 16,086 artillery systems, 1,131 multiple launch rocket systems, 907 air defense systems, 363 fixed-wing aircraft, 326 helicopters, 12,853 strategic and tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, 2,407 cruise missiles, 28 ships and boats, 1 submarine, 21,739 vehicles and fuel tanks, and 2,697 special vehicles and other equipment. These figures cannot be independently verified, as Russia does not report its losses.
07:14 Ukraine spots two Russian warships with cruise missiles in the Black Sea
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports that Russia maintains two warships in the Black Sea armed with up to eight Kalibr cruise missiles each. There are no enemy ships in the Azov Sea. In the Mediterranean Sea, Russia has two warships, one of which is armed with up to 16 Kalibr cruise missiles. However, the spokesperson of the Ukrainian Navy, Dmytro Pletenchuk, told "RBC-Ukraine" that it is unlikely that Russia would dare to fire missiles at Ukraine from the Mediterranean, as Russian missiles would violate NATO airspace.
06:33 Massive drone attack on Kyiv - over 30 drones intercepted
The military administration of Kyiv reports on Telegram that the Ukrainian air defense intercepted more than 30 Russian drones over Kyiv overnight, making it one of the most massive drone attacks on Ukraine since the start of the war. Explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital, according to Reuters, which cited eyewitnesses. The detonations sounded like air defense systems repelling enemy flying objects. An air alert had been issued in Kyiv and across much of Ukraine earlier (see entry from 23:52). "This was the seventh enemy drone attack on Kyiv in July," wrote Serhii Popko, head of the military administration of the city, in a post. The air alert lasted for more than seven hours. Enemy drones entered Kyiv in waves from almost all possible directions. There is no information available about possible damages or casualties.
06:10 Zelenskyy wants to protect schoolchildren from Russian attacks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to ensure special protection for schoolchildren in his country. "The school year is approaching, and the priority now is to ensure that children, wherever possible thanks to the shelters, can learn normally and not remotely," he said in his evening video address. The government has been instructed to accelerate its efforts to build shelters.
04:38 Pistorius on New US Weapons: "Genuine Deterrence" at StakeDefense Minister Boris Pistorius dismisses criticism of the German government's approach to the agreement with the US on the deployment of long-range weapons. He sees no issue in discussing this topic openly in the Bundestag. "But it's not originally a topic that should have been discussed in parliament beforehand. It's also not comparable to the NATO Double Decision from the 1980s." At the recent NATO summit in Washington, the US and Germany announced the deployment of Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons from 2026 onwards, justified as a response to threats from Russia. Pistorius emphasizes that these are conventional weapons not intended for nuclear use. "This needs to be clearly stated to reassure those who are concerned." The deployment is about "genuine deterrence," the defense minister says (see also the criticism by former SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans in the 22:05 entry).
02:33 Finnish Volunteer Killed in UkraineA Finnish volunteer fighting on the side of Ukraine has been killed in the northern Donetsk region in mid-July. The Finnish War Veterans' Association announced this, stating that the authorities had informed the family. The man is the fourth Finnish citizen to have fallen in Ukraine. In February, the country's foreign ministry reported that 20 to 30 Finns were deployed at the Ukrainian front.
23:52 Air Force Reports Numerous Drones Over UkraineThe Ukrainian army has sounded air alerts in several regions overnight as Russia attacks the country from multiple directions with drones. An explosion was heard in Kyiv, according to reporters from the "Kyiv Independent". It's still unclear whether the capital was hit.
22:05 US Medium-Range Missiles in Germany: Former SPD Leader Criticizes "Solo Move"Former SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans regrets the lack of debate over the planned deployment of US weapons in Germany. "The fact that such a far-reaching decision is practically not debated, that it's more or less decided and announced unilaterally, is problematic," he says in an interview with "Deutschlandfunk". He also questions whether such a move would actually enhance security or make Germany a target for a first strike. Recently, the White House and the German government announced that the US would resume stationing weapons systems in Germany from 2026 onwards, capable of reaching deep into Russia. Named were Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons.
21:35 Ukrainians facing Russian occupiers less "condemned"Many Ukrainians live in their own country under Russian occupation, inevitably coming into contact with the invaders of the brutal illegal war - something that is often frowned upon or seen as treason elsewhere. However, "Ukraine is currently experiencing a decrease in the level of condemnation towards citizens from temporarily occupied areas for their various forms of communication with the occupation authorities," says Daria Svyrydova, member of the Advisory Board for De-Occupation and Reintegration of the Crimea territories, at an event in the Media Center Ukraine. "In general, the Ukrainian population considers possible communication of people in occupation acceptable in certain situations." According to Svyrydova, this is an important factor for future reintegration processes and an indication of what the state should focus on in developing reintegration policy. Many people believe in a "shared future with the people in the temporarily occupied territories," says Svyrydova.
20:54 Reports of large fire in Russian arms factoryAmong others, the Ukrainian media outlet Euromaidan Press reports on a fire in a factory in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg. The factory produces parts for military rockets, according to the report. The factory has been under Western sanctions since 2014 and is an important player in the Russian defense industry. There has been no official confirmation yet, and the authenticity of the videos on social media is not confirmed. The cause of the fire is also unknown.
20:32 Zelensky visits troops at border with BelarusUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky inspects the fortifications and defensive positions of his troops at the border with Belarus. Accompanied by senior military officials, as reported by the presidential administration in Kyiv, Zelensky is briefed by the head of the State Border Guard Service, Serhiy Deineko, on border protection, including the number of soldiers involved, their capabilities, and weapons. Zelensky gets a firsthand look at the construction of fortifications, trenches, and shelters. "We have a strong defense, both in terms of personnel and defensive lines," he says. "And we will continue to strengthen it." Ukrainian military forces have significantly reinforced the border with neighboring Belarus in recent months.
You can read all previous developments [here].
Despite the economic growth in Russia due to war spending, the British Ministry of Defense warns of inflation, unsustainable growth, and an overheated economy. The ministry also notes that high interest rates make Russia an unattractive investment destination, and the country is drawing from its sovereign fund to finance rising war costs.
In the context of this warning, it's crucial to consider the potential impact of cyberwarfare on Russian economics. Cyberattacks could disrupt vital infrastructure, leading to further economic instability. Given that Russia's defense industry has flourished during the war in Ukraine, cyberwarfare could potentially cripple this sector, further undermining Russia's economic growth. Additionally, retaliatory cyberattacks from foreign nations could deter foreign investment, exacerbating the issue of high interest rates.
