15:57 Gressel: Ukraine "probably wants to occupy territory for a longer time"
15:33 Death Toll Rises: Eleven Killed in Rocket Attack on Supermarket
At least eleven people have been killed and 37 injured in a Russian rocket attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka, according to authorities. "A strike by Russian terrorists on an ordinary supermarket and a post office. People are trapped under the rubble," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. Rescue efforts are ongoing. The head of state expressed his condolences to the victims' families. According to the Interior Ministry, a fire broke out over an area of around 1,000 square meters. Kostiantynivka is located just over ten kilometers from the front line between Ukrainian and Russian troops. (see entry at 12:34)
15:10 Faber: Kretschmer's Behavior "Disgusts Me"
Saxon Minister President Michael Kretschmer's push to cut military aid to Ukraine has drawn criticism from the Bundestag. "It disgusts me how a Minister President is using the survival struggle of Ukrainians for his regional election campaign," says Markus Faber, chairman of the Defense Committee. German weapons deliveries would help Ukraine defend itself, not out of warlust, "but because they don't want to live in a big Bucha where the Russian army is randomly killing, torturing, and raping," Faber added.
14:41 ISW: Ukraine 'Operatively Surprised' Russia in Kursk
The lack of a coherent Russian response to Ukraine's incursion into the Kursk region and the reported pace of Ukraine's advance suggest that Ukrainian forces have achieved an operational surprise along the border with Russia, according to the latest report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). In the past one and a half years of the Ukraine war, "due to the partially confusing battlefield in Ukraine," it has been difficult for both sides to surprise the enemy. Analysts say the Kremlin will try to retake the Russian territory in the Kursk region seized by Ukrainian forces. Further advance by Ukraine into Russia would be a strategic blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin's decades-long efforts to establish stability and security in Russia and Russia's geopolitical revival.
14:14 Kretschmer suggests cutting Ukraine arms aid
Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer, in light of the budget dispute at the federal level, is proposing a reduction in arms aid to Ukraine. "We can no longer provide funds for weapons to Ukraine that will be used up and achieve nothing," Kretschmer told the German editorial network. "Everything must be in proportion. Support yes, but we can see that we are reaching our limits." Kretschmer points to the growth of the budget in recent years. "Before the Corona crisis in 2019, we had a budget volume of 344 billion. We are now at 480 billion, and yet the traffic light coalition cannot agree on the budget," criticizes the CDU politician. "This shows that everything is out of control. Citizens' money around 50 billion, migration dozens of billions, arms aid tens of billions. This won't work."
13:52 Ukraine: Police order evacuation of around 20,000 people in border region Sumy
Ukrainian authorities have issued an evacuation order for around 20,000 people in the eastern region of Sumy, which borders Russia. The order affects 28 locations under "enemy fire," the police said in the Telegram online service. Local security forces are already on site to accompany the measure. The Sumy region borders the Russian region of Kursk, into which Ukrainian military forces entered on Tuesday.
13:22 Russia reinforces troops in disputed border region Kursk
After Ukrainian troops entered the southern Russian border region of Kursk, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow is sending units to reinforce its troops. Columns of Grad multiple rocket launchers, artillery, and tanks are being deployed to the region, the Interfax news agency reported, citing the ministry. According to local authorities, fighting with the invading Ukrainian troops continues. "Fighting continues some dozen kilometers away from the city of Kursk and the Kursk nuclear power plant," a local official said on the Telegram messaging service.
12:34 Zelensky: Four Dead After Russian Strike on Supermarket in KostiantynivkaAt least four people were killed and 24 injured in a Russian artillery strike on the city of Kostiantynivka in the contested Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the X platform. The fire and rescue operations are ongoing. According to the governor of Donetsk, Vadym Lysanchuk, the city came under Russian artillery fire. Images published by the governor on Telegram show thick black smoke rising from the destroyed building. Radio NV published images of the burning supermarket and the destroyed surroundings. The exact consequences of the attack are still unclear. "The attack on the supermarket in Kostiantynivka is another case of Russian terror. War against civilians is all they can do," said the head of the presidential office, Andriy Yermak, on Telegram. Kostiantynivka is regularly attacked by Russian forces. In a Russian attack on a local market in Kostiantynivka in September 2023, 17 people were killed and over 30 others injured.
11:53 Russian Emergency Ministry Declares Emergency in KurskThe Russian Emergency Ministry has declared a federal emergency in the Kursk region on the border with Ukraine. According to the government in Moscow, Russian forces are continuing to repel the advance of Ukrainian units in Kursk. The state news agency RIA reported this, citing the defense ministry. Around a thousand Ukrainian soldiers were said to have infiltrated there on Tuesday, according to Russian reports.
11:32 Video Shows Burnt Russian Military Trucks in KurskA video published on social media and verified by Reuters shows a convoy of burnt Russian military trucks in the Russian region of Kursk. The vehicles are lined up along a highway. The video shows around 15 trucks, including one with the marking Z. This is the symbol used in Russia for the so-called "special military operation" in Ukraine. Reuters was able to verify the location in the video as the village of Oktyabrskoe based on buildings, trees, and road layouts. However, it was not possible to determine exactly when the video was taken.
10:55 Media: Chain Reaction in Russian Lipetsk Destroys 700 BombsA drone strike on a military airfield in the Russian region of Lipetsk is said to have triggered a chain reaction in which more than 700 bombs detonated, according to a source from the Ukrainian intelligence agency "The Kyiv Independent". Earlier, Russian authorities had reported that a fire had broken out at a military airfield in the region and a power plant had been damaged in a drone strike. The source told "The Kyiv Independent" that fighter jets and helicopters were stored at the airfield. It is not known how many of them were damaged or destroyed in the attack.
10:35 Kyiv Claims Attack on Military Airbase in LipetskThe Ukrainian military has reported that it carried out an attack on a military airfield in the Russian region of Lipetsk overnight. The strike damaged storage facilities containing guided bombs, causing a large fire and several explosions, according to a Telegram message from the Ukrainian military. The airfield is home to Russian combat aircraft including Su-34, Su-35, and MiG-31 models. Lipetsk is located east of the border region of Kursk, deeper into Russian territory.
10:08 Munz: "Russians Unable to Counterattack"Since the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been defending itself on its own territory. However, for the past three days, Ukrainian troops have also been attacking in the border region of Kursk, Russia. ntv-Moscow correspondent Rainer Munz explains why this surprise offensive poses several challenges for the Russian military leadership.
09:44 Human Rights Activist: Russia Regressing to Stalinist TimesOleg Orlov, a human rights activist released in a prisoner exchange from Russian detention, criticized the extent of repression in today's Russia in an interview with news agency AP. Orlov said that under Russian President Vladimir Putin, people are imprisoned for criticizing authorities, something not seen since the time of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. "We're sliding back into Stalinist times," said Orlov, co-chair of Memorial, one of Russia's oldest and most renowned human rights organizations, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. Orlov was sentenced to two and a half years in prison in February for criticizing the Russian war in Ukraine in an article. His release in the prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus, and several Western countries surprised him completely.
09:00 Ukraine Publishes Figures on Russian LossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new casualty figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to the report, Russia has lost approximately 588,540 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of 1,030. The report from Kyiv also states that 3 tanks, 49 artillery systems, and 2 air defense systems were destroyed. Overall, Ukraine claims Russia has lost 8,434 tanks, 16,536 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,325 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine since the start of the large-scale invasion. Western estimates suggest lower casualty figures, but these are also likely minimums.
08:19 Media: Mass Fires in Rylsk, Kursk RegionIntense explosions and mass fires were reported overnight in the city of Rylsk in the Russian region of Kursk, according to "The Kyiv Independent," citing reports on Russian-language Telegram channels. Residents in the village of Stepanovka reportedly heard four explosions. The cause of the explosions is unknown. The city of Rylsk is approximately 35 kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border.
07:37 Russia: State of Emergency Declared After Drone Attack on Military AirbaseMassive explosions have occurred following a Ukrainian drone attack on a military airbase near Lipetsk. A state of emergency has been declared in the city of Lipetsk to deal with the aftermath of the explosions, Governor Igor Artamonov announced on Telegram. Four villages around the military airport have been evacuated. Public transportation in Lipetsk and surrounding areas has been stopped. Six people were injured as a result of the attacks.
06:52 Media: Explosion After Ukrainian Attack on CrimeaAn explosion has occurred on the Russian-occupied Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, according to "Ukrainska Pravda" citing Telegram reports. The Russian governor of the city of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, wrote on Telegram that the forces of the Black Sea Fleet and air defense have repelled an attack by Ukrainian forces on Sevastopol, destroying three drones. Additionally, the Russian air defense is said to have shot down a Ukrainian sea-targeting drone R-360 Neptune over the sea near Sevastopol. The Telegram channel "Crimeawind" reports on shots and a heavy explosion in Chornomorskyi, as well as the work of the Russian air defense in the area of the Belbek airport. A black smoke column was said to have risen over the airport, and there was a strong smell of fire in the coastal area of the city, according to the Telegram channel "Crimeawind" citing subscribers. There are no reports yet on possible casualties.
06:05 Media: Fire at Military Airbase in Russian Region of LipetskA fire has broken out at a military airbase in the Russian region of Lipetsk, according to Russian news agencies Ria Novosti and Tass. They did not initially provide information on the cause of the fire. Shortly before, the local governor announced evacuations due to a "massive" drone attack near the city of Lipetsk, which caused explosions and power outages, according to Igor Artamonov on Telegram. A state of emergency has been declared in the Lipetsk district, and four villages are being evacuated. Some of the villages mentioned are located near an air force base outside the city. There have been no reported casualties. Ukrainian authorities have not reported any attacks on the region. Lipetsk is located approximately 300 kilometers away from the border with Ukraine.
05:02 Putin Allegedly Unaware of Ukrainian Troops BuildupValery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, may have ignored intelligence warnings that Ukrainian forces were gathering near the border with the Kursk Oblast, Bloomberg reported citing a source close to the Kremlin. Ukrainian forces crossed the border into the Kursk Oblast on August 6, bringing the fighting onto Russian territory. According to the report, Ukrainian forces began gathering near the border with the Kursk region two weeks before the start of their offensive. Russian President Vladimir Putin was not informed about the troop buildup.
03:21 Due to US Missiles: Half of Germans Fear Escalation with RussiaThe German and US governments have agreed that the US will station long-range weapon systems like Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany from 2026, capable of reaching targets in Russia. Half of Germans expect further escalation of the conflict with Russia due to the stationing of long-range US weapons in Germany. 50 percent of respondents in a Civey survey for the Funke Media Group agreed with this statement. 38 percent do not expect further escalation, and 12 percent are undecided. 44 percent view the stationing positively, while 42 percent view it negatively, with 14 percent undecided.
01:14 Minister-President Kretschmer Calls for Reduction in Weapons Aid to UkraineSaxony's Minister-President Michael Kretschmer is calling for a reduction in weapons aid to Ukraine, given the federal budget. "We can no longer provide funds for weapons to Ukraine that are being used up and achieving nothing. Everything must be in proportion," Kretschmer told the German Editorial Network. "Support yes, but we're seeing that we're reaching our limits." Kretschmer points to the increase in the budget over the years. "Before the COVID-19 crisis in 2019, we had a budget volume of 344 billion euros. We're now at 480 billion, and yet the traffic light coalition can't agree on the budget. That shows that everything is out of control."
23:35 Kiesewetter: Ukrainian Offensive is Legally and Strategically JustifiedCDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter sees the latest Ukrainian military offensive on Russian territory as covered by international law. The surprise move by Ukraine is "clearly legally justified under the right to self-defense" and "militarily strategic," Kiesewetter told the "Tagesspiegel." According to the CDU defense expert, the Ukrainian troops' move aims to tie up Russian forces in the Kursk region and inflict significant losses. "This can relieve pressure on other fronts because Russia has to tie up or deploy forces to Kursk," he added.
22:30 Pentagon: Ukrainian Incursion into Kursk Region in Line with US PolicyThe incursion of Ukraine into the Russian region of Kursk is "in line with our policy," said Sabrina Singh, deputy spokesperson of the US Department of Defense, according to the news portal "Kyiv Independent" at a press conference. When asked if Ukraine can use weapons supplied by the US, Singh replied that the US has "supported Ukraine from the beginning in defending against attacks coming across the border." The Kursk region borders the Ukrainian region of Sumy over 245 kilometers, which has been subject to daily Russian attacks since its liberation in April 2022. Ukraine is taking measures "to protect itself from attacks" and is operating "within the framework of US policy, using our weapons, our systems, and our capabilities," Singh said.
22:09 BSW MEP De Masi calls for "as soon as possible ceasefire and negotiations"
Following the advance of Ukrainian troops into Kursk, BSW MEP Fabio De Masi calls for "as soon as possible a ceasefire and negotiations". The Ukraine has "major problems defending its own territory", De Masi told the "Tagesspiegel". Advances "deep into Russian territory" only make sense "if the goal of Ukraine is to strengthen the escalation dynamic". The risks are enormous, the Euro MP said. "Think, for example, of the Russian nuclear power plant in the region. Russia is a nuclear power and has the escalation dominance".
21:50 Authorities in the Kursk region report at least five civilian deaths
Russian troops, according to Moscow, have been fighting for the third day against a Ukrainian advance across the border. The Russian armed forces and border guards are preventing Ukrainian units from advancing further into Kursk, the Russian Defense Ministry said. At the same time, the Russian army is attacking Ukrainian forces attempting to retreat from the Ukrainian border region of Sumy. According to the Russian Health Ministry, 66 civilians have been injured since the start of the Ukrainian advance, including nine children. The authorities in the Kursk region report at least five civilian deaths, including two paramedics. Ukraine has not yet commented on the advance.
21:30 EU Foreign Minister Borrell: Lukashenko regime involved in illegal deportation of Ukrainian children
The Belarusian regime is complicit in Russia's war against Ukraine, according to EU Foreign Minister Josep Borrell in Brussels. In addition to political, military, and logistical support, Belarus has contributed to the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children from temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine. Since 2021, the regime has also orchestrated migration pressure on the EU's external borders, according to a statement from the European External Action Service.
You can read all previous developments here.
- The European Union, along with several other nations, has condemned the Russian invasion of Ukrainian territory and continued attacks on civilian areas.
- The European Union has expressed its support for Ukraine's sovereignty and urged Russia to respect international law and withdraw its forces from Ukrainian territory, reiterating its commitment to upholding peace and stability in the region.
