15:36 Russia: Fighting continues after Ukrainian advance on Kursk
15:07 Left Party leader warns against use of German weapons in Russia: "Red line"
Sahra Wagenknecht has warned against the use of German weapons in the Ukrainian advance into Russian territory. "This is a highly dangerous development," she told the Funke media group. "The Federal Chancellor must call the Ukrainian President and demand that no German weapons be used in the advance onto Russian territory," the BSW chairperson demanded.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz had promised that Germany would not become a party to the war. However, "first, he approved the use of German weapons to shoot on Russian territory," Wagenknecht criticized. "Does the federal government now also approve the advance into Russia with German weapons? That would be the next red line to be crossed," the BSW party leader added. The federal government is "drawing Germany ever deeper into the war," she continued. "The risk of a major European war is growing."
14:45 Chairman of the Defense Committee: Ukraine can use German weapons in Kursk
The chairman of the Defense Committee in the Bundestag, Marcus Faber, sees no problem with Ukraine using weapons supplied by Germany in its current advance onto Russian territory. "Upon handover to Ukraine, they become Ukrainian weapons," the FDP politician told the Funke media group. This applies "to all material, including the Leopard 2 battle tank," Faber explained. "With the Russian attack on Ukraine, the territory of both states has become a war zone," he said. "The use of weapons is subject to the provisions of international law."
14:24 Ukraine asks Mexico to arrest Putin at Sheinbaum's inauguration
The Ukrainian embassy in Mexico has called on the Mexican government to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he attends the inauguration of elected President Claudia Sheinbaum. Sheinbaum will assume the presidency on October 1, 2024, becoming the first woman to hold this office in the Latin American country. "We trust that the Mexican government will comply with the international arrest warrant and hand over the named (Putin) to the judicial authorities of the United Nations in The Hague," the embassy said. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin for the war crime of deporting Ukrainian children to Russia following Moscow's invasion in early 2022. Juan Ramon de la Fuente, who was elected as Sheinbaum's foreign minister, explained that it is "standard protocol" to invite the heads of state of all countries with which Mexico has diplomatic relations, including Russia, to the inauguration.
13:50 Monitoring Services: Russian Users Can No Longer Open YouTube
Users in Russia are unable to open YouTube on their computers and mobile devices. Internet monitoring services downdetector.su, Failure Detector, and sboy.rf are reporting a significant outage of the platform. According to the service sboy.rf, over 15,000 complaints have been registered regarding the video-hosting service. Complaints came from individuals in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Saratov, Samara, Krasnodar, the occupied Crimea, and several other regions. Users reported being able to access YouTube only through virtual private networks (VPNs). Even Reuters reporters in Russia were unable to access YouTube, though the website was still available on some mobile devices. YouTube is the last Western platform still accessible in Russia, making it the last bastion of free expression. According to Decoder, over 90 million users in Russia access YouTube monthly, placing it at the top of video and streaming platforms. In mid-July, Russian media reported that the Russian government planned to block YouTube in September.
13:24 EU: Ukraine Engages in "Lawful Defense" in Russian Kursk
The EU views the push of Ukrainian troops into the Russian region of Kursk in the context of the right to self-defense. "We believe that Ukraine is engaged in a lawful defense against an illegal aggression," says a spokesperson for EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell in Brussels. The right to self-defense includes the right to attack the enemy on its own territory. The EU fully supports Ukraine's efforts to restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty and combat Russia's illegal aggression. Ukrainian troops, backed by tanks and artillery, recently crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region at Sudzha, reportedly taking control of several villages. Russian reports suggest that around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers are involved in the operation.
12:43 Ukraine: Dozens of Russian Soldiers Captured in Kursk
After Ukrainian forces entered the Russian region of Kursk, "many" Russian soldiers were reportedly captured. The Ukrainian project "Khochu nayti" announced this on Telegram. The humanitarian project, launched in January 2024 by the Ukrainian military intelligence, serves as a coordination center for Russian POWs in Ukraine. It aims to help military personnel of the Russian army find their relatives. According to "Khochu nayti", the captives include both conscripts and contract soldiers. "There is also information about the dead, whose bodies were not taken away by their comrades during the retreat," the statement says. The project published drone footage allegedly showing the capture of over 30 Russian soldiers. Other videos on social media show dozens of Russian soldiers surrendering in the Kursk region. The total number of Russian soldiers captured since the Ukrainian offensive in the region remains unclear.
12:18 Gazprom: Gas Transit Runs Normally Despite Fighting in Kursk RegionThe Russian gas export through the Kursk border region, attacked by Ukraine, is running largely normally, Gazprom reports from Moscow. Around 37.3 million cubic meters of natural gas are expected to be transported today, which is five percent less than the previous day, according to the Russian state news agency Tass. Ukrainian troops have reportedly taken control of the city of Sudscha, including a key gas pipeline measurement station en route to Western Europe. In 2023, despite the ongoing war, 14.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas were transported to the European Union via this route.
11:37 Military Blogger: Ukraine Captures 'Important Logistics Hub' in RussiaThe Russian city of Sudscha in the Kursk region has reportedly been captured by Ukrainian forces, according to pro-Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka on his Telegram channel. The town, located nine kilometers from the Ukrainian border, is now fully occupied by Ukrainian troops, Podolyaka writes. "Sudscha is basically lost for us. It's an important logistics hub," he adds. Ukrainian forces are reportedly advancing north towards Lgow. "Overall, the situation is difficult and deteriorating, despite the noticeable slowdown in the pace of the Ukrainian offensive."
11:04 Munz: Kursk Incursion 'Completely Surprised' MoscowInitially, the situation remains unclear, but it is later confirmed: Ukrainian fighters attack on Russian territory. The incursion in the Kursk region has "completely surprised" Moscow, ntv correspondent Rainer Munz reports. However, there may be more to the attack than just a diversionary maneuver.
10:48 Russia: Situation in Kursk 'Under Control' After Ukrainian IncursionRussian forces have been engaged in combat with infiltrating Ukrainian troops in the Kursk Oblast for the third consecutive day. The situation is "stable and under control," the vice-governor of the border region told the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. Around 3,000 people have been evacuated to safety. Russian troops are actively fighting Ukrainian units in the Sudscha district and pushing them back, according to the news agency Tass. Four people have been killed in the Ukrainian attacks. The Ukrainian military has not yet commented on the offensive in Kursk. Several pro-Russian military bloggers also report ongoing fighting.
09:35 UN: Russians Torture 95% of Ukrainian POWsEmployees of Russian penal colonies are reportedly torturing Ukrainian prisoners of war from the very first interrogations. Furthermore, the practice of torture in Russian captivity is "widespread and systematic," according to Danielle Bell, the head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), in an interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS. She says that the Russian Federation has tortured 95% of Ukrainian prisoners of war in their prisons. According to her, Ukrainian prisoners of war are beaten with metal rods and sticks, stripped naked, and subjected to electric shocks. "This is undoubtedly the worst I've seen in my 20 years of career," Bell comments. Information about Ukrainian prisoners in Russia is mainly collected through interviews with Ukrainian prisoners of war after their release. Simultaneously, the UN mission has direct access to Russian prisoners of war and can assess the conditions of the detention facility.
08:49 Estonia Introduces Enhanced Customs Controls at Russian BorderEstonia is introducing full customs controls at its eastern EU external border with Russia. This decision was made by the government of the Baltic NATO state at the beginning of August. From August 8, all persons crossing the border with Russia, as well as all cargo, will be subject to control. The controls at the road and rail border crossings in Narva, Koidula, and Luhamaa will be gradually introduced. Previously, passenger and vehicle checks were random and risk-based. With this tightening, Prime Minister Kristen Michal aims to prevent the transit and transport of goods subject to EU sanctions through Estonia and to strengthen the security of the country. The border between Russia and Estonia is 294 kilometers long.
08:11 Ukraine Publishes Figures on Russian LossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new loss figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to the report, Russia has lost approximately 587,510 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of 1,140 in the last 24 hours. Additionally, two tanks, 36 artillery systems, 81 drones, and one helicopter have been destroyed, according to the Kyiv report. In total, Russia has lost 8,431 tanks, 16,487 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,293 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine since the start of the large-scale invasion. Western estimates put the losses lower, although these are also likely to be minimum figures.
07:32 Medvedev Threatens Escalation of Russian Invasion in UkraineDmitri Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, has threatened to escalate the invasion in Ukraine in response to the Ukrainian advance into the Russian border region of Kursk. The Russian military operation should no longer be limited to securing the territories in Ukraine that Russia considers its own, says the former president. Instead, the armed forces should advance towards the cities of Odessa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and beyond. The advance will only stop when Russia deems it advantageous. Russian reports claim that Ukrainian troops have advanced deep into Russian territory in the region, with heavy fighting reported. The state of emergency has been declared in the region.
07:05 Russia: 14 Ukrainian aerial objects destroyed over Kursk and Belgorod
Russian air defense forces destroyed 14 unmanned Ukrainian aerial objects overnight, eight over the Belgorod region and six over the Kursk region, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense on Telegram. Air defense systems shot down six drones and five other missiles over the Kursk region, Governor Alexey Smirnov said. In the early morning of August 6, Ukrainian forces attacked the border areas of the Kursk region. According to the latest reports from the Russian General Staff, there are still clashes in border areas. An emergency situation has been declared in Kursk, and residents are being evacuated.
06:25 Ukraine declares air alert due to Russian MiG-31K attack
The Ukrainian Air Force has declared an air alert across the entire country due to a rocket threat from a Russian MiG-31K. This aircraft type is a Soviet-era interceptor capable of carrying hypersonic Kinzhal missiles.
05:32 ISW: Ukrainian armored vehicles ten kilometers behind Russian border in Kursk
According to an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian troops have advanced up to ten kilometers into the Russian region of Kursk. This is confirmed by footage of armored vehicles behind the border. Ukrainian forces have reportedly breached at least two Russian defensive lines and a fortress. Russian sources claim that Ukrainians have captured 45 square kilometers in the Kursk region since the start of the operation on August 6. An emergency situation was declared over the region yesterday.
02:30 Ukraine raises threshold for prison sentence in petty theft cases
President Zelensky has signed a law raising the threshold for petty theft cases that would result in a prison sentence. Diebstahls valued at up to approximately 67 euros will now be treated as administrative offenses and punished with fines. Previously, the threshold was around 6.7 euros. This change is due to the martial law imposed since the Russian invasion, which carries up to eight years in prison for looting and theft. A case of stealing baby diapers from a supermarket in Rivne, western Ukraine, in January 2023, valued at around eight euros, will no longer result in a prison sentence. However, the thief in this case was still sentenced to over three years in prison.
00:27 Klingbeil: Stationing of US missiles in Germany is correctSPD leader Lars Klingbeil defends plans for the stationing of long-range US weapons in Germany against criticism from within his own party. "This stationing is correct because it helps us to defend ourselves if Russia should get the idea of attacking us," Klingbeil told the German editorial network. It is part of credible deterrence. At the NATO summit in July, the White House and the German government announced that the USA will again station weapons systems in Germany from 2026, which can reach far into Russia. Named were Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons. There are critical voices within the SPD, including the parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich, who warns of the risk of military escalation.
22:38 Human rights activist Orlow wants to fight for Russian prisonersThe Moscow human rights activist Oleg Orlow, who was released in a prisoner exchange between Russia and Western states, wants to continue his civil rights work even in exile. "Memorial cannot be destroyed," the 71-year-old said at a press conference at the Center for Liberal Modernity in Berlin. The organization Memorial, which he co-founded and which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, also advocates for political prisoners in Russia. Orlow estimates that at least 800 political prisoners are still being held in Russia - conservatively estimated. His new role in exile in Germany is difficult for Orlow, as he told the story. He would rather be in his homeland, but fears prosecution. Orlow now hopes that he can use his exile to advocate for the release of more political prisoners, including eight seriously ill ones. "When it turned out that these people were not on the list, we were very disappointed - we, who were exchanged." Memorial continues to work in Russia despite repression, but also from abroad.
21:30 Not dead after all? Known Russian propagandist injuredThe known Russian propagandist Yevgeny Poddubny was injured in the Kursk region. The state television company VGTRK reports on Telegram that Poddubny was injured in an attack by a Ukrainian drone in the Kursk region and was taken to hospital. Previously, numerous Russian media had reported the death of Poddubny in agreement. Yevgeny Poddubny is one of the most famous Russian "war correspondents" of Russia. His Telegram channel has around 734,000 followers. According to preliminary information, he was filming a report on the fighting in the Kursk region on Wednesday.
20:41 Region Kursk declares state of emergencyIn the Russian region of Kursk, a state of emergency has been declared in the midst of a Ukrainian ground offensive. This was announced by the governor of the region, Alexei Smirnov, in a Telegram post. Ukraine has advanced deep into Russian territory near Kursk in a counterattack. The offensive began on Tuesday, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, and reached the northwest of the city of Sudzha on Wednesday.
20:14 Clashes Nearby: Russia Reinforces Protection of Kursk Nuclear PlantDue to Ukraine's advance into the Russian border region of Kursk, Russia's National Guard is reinforcing the protection of the Kursk nuclear power plant. Additional forces are also being deployed to combat sabotage and reconnaissance units in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, the agency reports. This is happening in cooperation with Russian border troops and the army. The nuclear power plant, with four units and a capacity of nearly two gigawatts, is located just over 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The day before, Ukrainian troops supported by tanks and artillery crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region at Sudzha. Unconfirmed reports suggest they advanced up to 15 kilometers towards the nuclear power plant.
19:38 Attacks in Kursk Region: European Gas Price Hits Yearly HighThe price of European natural gas has risen to its highest level this year. The leading TTF futures contract for delivery next month rose by 5.7 percent to 38.78 euros per megawatt hour (MWh) in Amsterdam. Market participants are pointing to Ukraine's attacks on the Russian region of Kursk. The fighting is reportedly taking place near Sudzha, an important entry point for natural gas that flows through Ukrainian pipelines to Western Europe. Russia's Gazprom company is currently reporting normal gas supplies.
19:08 Ukraine Evacuates Border Areas Near Russian KurskAmid heavy fighting in the Russian Kursk region, Ukrainian authorities have ordered the evacuation of more settlements in the neighboring Sumy region. The measures affect 23 settlements, according to the military governor of Sumy, Volodymyr Artjuch, on Ukrainian television. Around 6,000 people, including over 400 children and teenagers, are to be moved to safety from the border area. The day before, Ukrainian troops crossed the Ukrainian-Russian border towards the city of Sudzha in the Kursk region and advanced several kilometers into Russian territory. Moscow reported around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers equipped with heavy machinery. Kyiv has not yet commented on the events. Local authorities had already ordered evacuations from an area within 10 kilometers of the border in May due to regular Russian shelling of border areas.
You can read all previous developments here.
The European Union has expressed its support for Ukraine's right to self-defense in the context of its advance into the Russian region of Kursk, viewing it as a lawful defense against an illegal aggression.
Despite warnings from the Left Party leader Sahra Wagenknecht, the chairman of the Defense Committee in the Bundestag, Marcus Faber, sees no problem with Ukraine using German weapons in its advance onto Russian territory. He argues that upon handover, these weapons become Ukrainian property.
