15:57 Ukraine: Two killed in Russian attack in Donetsk
15:36 Russia: Fighting Continues After Ukrainian Advance Towards Kursk
According to Moscow, clashes in the border region have been ongoing for the third consecutive day following the advance of Ukrainian troops into the Russian region of Kursk. Russian forces and border guards are reportedly preventing Ukrainian units from pushing deeper into Kursk while the Russian army is attacking Ukrainian forces attempting to retreat from the Ukrainian border region of Sumy.
15:07 Wagenknecht 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," says Wagenknecht to the Funke media group. "The Federal Chancellor must speak with the Ukrainian President and demand that no German weapons be used in the advances onto Russian territory," demands the BSW chairwoman.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz had promised that Germany would not become a party to the war. However, he had also approved the use of German weapons by Ukraine on Russian territory. "Does the federal government now also approve of Ukraine advancing into Russia with German weapons? That would be the next red line to be crossed," criticizes Wagenknecht. The federal government is "drawing Germany deeper into the war," adds the BSW party leader. "The risk of a major European war is becoming greater."
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 German-supplied weapons in its current advance on Russian territory. "Upon transfer to Ukraine, they become Ukrainian weapons," says the FDP politician to the Funke media group. This applies "to all material," including the Leopard 2 battle tank. "With the Russian attack on Ukraine, the territory of both states has become a war zone," explains Faber's position. "The use of weapons is subject to the provisions of international law."
14:24 Ukraine demands Mexico arrest Putin at Sheinbaum's inaugurationThe Ukrainian embassy in Mexico is calling on the Mexican government to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he attends the inauguration of elected President Claudia Sheinbaum. Sheinbaum assumes 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 against Putin for the alleged war crime of deporting Ukrainian children to Russia following Moscow's invasion in early 2022. Juan Ramon de la Fuente, elected as Sheinbaum's foreign minister, stated 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't open YouTubeUsers in Russia are unable to open YouTube on their computers and phones. Internet monitoring services downdetector.su, Failure Detector, and sboy.rf report a major outage of the platform's availability. According to the sboy.rf service, over 15,000 complaints have been registered about the video-hosting service. Complaints came from people 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). Reuters reporters in Russia also could not access YouTube. However, the website was still available on some mobile devices. YouTube is the last remaining Western platform accessible in Russia, making it the last bastion of free speech in the country. According to Decoder, over 90 million users access YouTube monthly in Russia, 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 leads 'lawful defensive war' in Russian KurskThe EU views the advance of Ukrainian troops into the Russian region of Kursk in the context of the right to self-defense. "We believe that Ukraine is conducting a lawful defensive war against an illegal aggression," a spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in Brussels. The right to self-defense includes the right to attack the enemy on its territory. The EU fully supports Ukraine's efforts to restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty and combat illegal Russian 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 indicate that around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers are involved in the operation.
12:43 Ukraine: Dozens of Russian Soldiers Captured in KurskFollowing the incursion of Ukrainian forces into the Russian region of Kursk, "many" Russian soldiers are reported to have been captured. This was announced by the Ukrainian project "Khochu nayti" on Telegram. The humanitarian project, launched in January 2024 by the Ukrainian military intelligence, serves as a coordination center for Russian prisoners of war in Ukraine. It aims to help military personnel of the Russian army find their relatives. According to "Khochu nayti", among the captives are both conscripts and contract soldiers. "There is also information about the dead, whose bodies were not evacuated by their comrades during the retreat," the statement reads. The project published drone footage allegedly showing the capture of more than 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 is currently unclear.
12:18 Gazprom: Gas Transit Running Normally Despite Fighting in Kursk RegionAccording to the Russian energy giant Gazprom, the export of Russian gas through the Kursk border area, which was attacked by Ukraine, is proceeding largely normally. Today, about 37.3 million cubic meters of natural gas are expected to be transported, the company announced in Moscow. This is five percent less than the previous day, Russian state news agency TASS reported. Ukrainian troops have taken at least partial control of the city of Sudja during their incursion across the border, including a key gas pipeline measurement station en route to Western Europe. From there, the transit goes through Ukraine and further into Slovakia and Austria. 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: Russia Loses 'Important Logistics Hub' to UkraineThe Russian city of Sudja in the Kursk region is reported to have been captured by Ukrainian forces. This was written by the pro-Russian military blogger of Ukrainian origin, Yuri Podolyaka, on his Telegram channel. The town is nine kilometers from the Ukrainian border. According to Podolyaka, the city is full of Ukrainian military forces. "Sudja is basically lost for us. This is an important logistics hub," Podolyaka wrote further. Ukrainian military forces are reportedly advancing north towards Lgov. "In general, the situation is difficult and deteriorating, although the pace of the Ukrainian offensive has noticeably slowed down."
11:04 Munz: Kursk Incursion Has 'Completely Surprised' MoscowInitially, the situation remains unclear, then it is confirmed: Ukrainian fighters are attacking on Russian territory. The incursion in the Kursk region has "completely surprised" Moscow, reports ntv correspondent Rainer Munz. However, there seems to be more behind the attack than just a diversionary maneuver.
10:48 Russia: Situation in Kursk After Ukrainian Advance "Under Control"Russian forces have been engaged in combat with infiltrating Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region for the third consecutive day. The situation is "stable and under control," according to the vice-governor of the border region, as reported by the state-owned Russian news agency RIA Novosti. Around 3,000 people have been evacuated to safety. Russian troops are actively fighting against Ukrainian units in the Sudja district and pushing them back, according to the news agency TASS, citing local authorities. 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.
10:18 Kriewald on New Offensive: "Ukrainians Advance 15 Kilometers into Kursk Region"The Ukrainian army's advance into the Russian region of Kursk is causing a stir in Moscow. Ukrainian soldiers are reported to have advanced up to 15 kilometers. Moreover, there are reports of dozens of prisoners of war. ntv reporter Nadja Kriewald reports from Odessa on the background of the situation.
09:35 UN: Russians Torture 95% of Ukrainian POWsEmployees of Russian penal colonies are already torturing Ukrainian prisoners of war during the first interrogations, according to the head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), Danielle Bell, in an interview with the Dutch broadcaster NOS. She says that the practice of torture in Russian captivity is "widespread and systematic." She reports 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 have seen in the 20 years of my career," she says. The information about Ukrainian prisoners in Russia is mainly collected through interviews with Ukrainian prisoners of war after their release. At the same time, the UN mission has direct access to Russian prisoners of war and can assess the conditions in the prison.
08:49 Estonia Introduces Enhanced Customs Controls at Border with RussiaEstonia has introduced 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. As of 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, checks on passengers and vehicles were random and risk-based. With the tightening, Prime Minister Kristen Michal aims to prevent the transit and transport of EU-sanctioned goods through Estonia and to strengthen the country's security. The border between Russia and Estonia is 294 kilometers long.
08:11 Ukraine publishes figures on Russian lossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new casualty figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to the data, Russia has lost around 587,510 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of 1,140 in the last 24 hours. The report from Kyiv also states that two tanks, 36 artillery systems, 81 drones, and one helicopter have been destroyed. 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, but these are also likely to be minimum figures.
07:32 Medvedev threatens escalation of Russian invasion in UkraineDmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council and former president, has threatened to escalate the Russian invasion in Ukraine in response to Ukrainian advances in the Russian border region of Kursk. Medvedev said that the Russian military operation should no longer be limited to securing territories in Ukraine that Russia considers its own, and that forces should advance towards the cities of Odessa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and beyond. The offensive will only stop when Russia deems it advantageous. Ukrainian troops have reportedly advanced deep into Russian territory in the region, with heavy fighting reported. The region has been placed under a state of emergency.
07:05 Russia: 14 Ukrainian aerial objects destroyed over Kursk and BelgorodRussian air defense forces have destroyed 14 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the regions of Belgorod and Kursk, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram. Six drones and five more missiles were shot down over the Kursk region, according to regional governor Alexei Smirnov. Early on August 6, Ukrainian forces attacked the border areas of the Kursk region. According to the latest data from the Russian General Staff, there are still clashes in border areas. The state of emergency has been declared in Kursk, and residents are being evacuated.
06:25 Ukraine issues air alert due to Russian MiG-31K attackThe Ukrainian Air Force has issued an air alert across the entire country. The air attack warning is due to a missile threat from a Russian MiG-31K aircraft, a type of interceptor aircraft developed in the Soviet Union and named after the Mikoyan-Gurevich aircraft manufacturer. The MiG-31K can carry hypersonic missiles like the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal.
05:32 ISW: Ukrainian armored vehicles spotted ten kilometers inside Russian border in KurskAccording 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 was confirmed by footage of armored vehicles behind the border. Ukrainian forces have reportedly breached at least two Russian defense lines and a fortress. According to a Russian source, the Ukrainians have captured 45 square kilometers in the Kursk region since the start of the operation on August 6, the ISW reports. Russian authorities had declared a state of emergency in the region yesterday.
02:30 Ukraine raises threshold for prison sentence in petty theft casesPresident Selenskyj has signed a law amendment that reclassifies petty thefts up to the equivalent of around 67 euros as administrative offenses, punishable by fines. Previously, the threshold for petty theft was set at around 6.7 euros. This change is due to the martial law imposed after the Russian invasion, which carries a prison sentence of up to eight years for looting and theft. An example given in the draft law was a theft of diapers from a supermarket in the western Ukrainian city of Rivne in January 2023, worth around 8 euros. The thief in this case received a prison sentence of over three years, but will no longer face such a penalty under the new law.
00:27 Klingbeil: Deployment of US long-range missiles in Germany is appropriateSPD leader Lars Klingbeil has defended plans to station far-reaching US weapons in Germany against criticism from within his own party. "This deployment is appropriate because it helps us to defend ourselves if Russia were to consider attacking us," he told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. It is part of credible deterrence. At the NATO summit in July, the White House and the German government announced that the US would station weapons systems in Germany from 2026 that have a long range into Russia. These include Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons. There are critical voices within the SPD, with parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich warning of the risk of military escalation.
22:38 Human rights activist Orlov wants to fight for Russian prisonersOleg Orlov, the Moscow human rights activist released in a prisoner exchange between Russia and Western states, wants to continue his civil rights work 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 he co-founded, Memorial, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, also advocates for political prisoners in Russia. Orlov estimates that at least 800 political prisoners are still being held in Russia - a conservative estimate. He finds his new role in exile in Germany difficult, as he would prefer to be in his homeland but fears prosecution. Orlov hopes to be able to advocate for the release of more political prisoners in exile, including eight who are seriously ill. "We were very disappointed when we found out that these people were not on the list - those of us who were exchanged." Memorial continues to work both in Russia and from abroad despite repression.
21:30 Not Dead Yet? Known Russian Propagandist InjuredKnown Russian propagandist Yevgeny Poddubny has been injured in the Kursk region. State TV channel VGTRK reports on Telegram that Poddubny was injured in an attack by a Ukrainian drone in the Kursk region and was taken to hospital. Earlier, many Russian media outlets had reported Poddubny's death. Yevgeny Poddubny is one of Russia's most famous "war correspondents," with around 734,000 followers on Telegram. Preliminary information suggests he was filming a report on the fighting in the Kursk region on Wednesday.
20:41 Emergency Declared in Region KurskAn emergency has been declared in the Russian region of Kursk amid a Ukrainian ground offensive, the region's governor, Alexei Smirnov, announced on Telegram. The Ukraine has advanced deep into Russian territory near Kursk in a counterattack. The offensive began on Tuesday, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, and reached the northwest of the city of Sujeshch on Wednesday.
20:14 Fighting Nearby: Russia Reinforces Protection of Kursk NPPDue to the Ukrainian advance into the Russian border region of Kursk, the Russian National Guard has reinforced the protection of the Kursk NPP. Additional forces have also been deployed to combat sabotage and reconnaissance units in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, the agency said. This is being done in cooperation with the Russian border troops and the army. The nuclear power plant, which has four units and a capacity of almost two gigawatts, is located about 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The day before, Ukrainian troops supported by tanks and artillery crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region near Sujeshch. Unconfirmed reports suggest they advanced up to 15 kilometers towards the NPP.
19:38 Attacks in Region Kursk: European Gas Price Hits Yearly HighThe price of European natural gas has risen to its highest level this year. The benchmark TTF 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 the attacks by Ukraine on the Russian region of Kursk. The fighting is reportedly taking place near Sujeshch, an important gas injection point for Europe. This gas comes through Ukrainian pipelines. As reported by the news agency Bloomberg, the Gazprom company is currently still reporting normal gas supplies.
19:08 Ukraine Evacuates Border Areas with 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, said the military governor of Sumy, Vladimir Artjuch, on Ukrainian television. About 6,000 people, including more than 400 children and teenagers, are to be moved to safety from the border area. The day before, Ukrainian troops launched an advance across the Ukrainian-Russian border towards the city of Sujeshch in the Kursk region, penetrating several kilometers into Russian territory. Moscow spoke of around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers equipped with heavy equipment. Kyiv has not yet commented on the events. Due to regular Russian shelling of border areas, local authorities had already ordered evacuations from a 10-kilometer-wide border zone in May.
You can read about previous developments here.
In response to the ongoing conflict, German politician Sahra Wagenknecht has expressed concern about the potential use of German weapons in the Russian territory being occupied by Ukrainian forces, calling it a "red line" that should not be crossed. Meanwhile, Chairman of the German Defense Committee Marcus Faber has stated that there is no issue with Ukraine using German-supplied weapons in its current advance, as once handed over, they become Ukrainian weapons under international law.
