16:01 Armenia holds military exercise with US troops
Armenia, an eastern neighbor of Turkey and former Soviet Republic, is drawing closer to the USA. From July 15 to July 25, the country will conduct military drills together with the USA. The focus will be on peacekeeping. Armenia's relations with Moscow have recently deteriorated. The government in Yerevan is disappointed with Russia's behavior during the war with Azerbaijan over the region Nagorno-Karabakh. They didn't come to Armenia's aid. Previously, Armenia had already distanced itself from Russia, following its attack on Ukraine.
15:20 Estonia to supply several Mistral-SystemsThe Ukrainian military is to receive a new air defense system, this time from Estonia. The Russian-attacked country has already received several short-range anti-aircraft missile systems along with ammunition from Estonia, according to the Estonian Defense Ministry. This is a French-made system with a range of six kilometers, which should provide protection against low-flying helicopters and aircraft.
14:44 Turkey proposes "Peace Platform"Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has made a new proposal for peace in Ukraine. According to a Turkish newspaper, a "Peace Platform" could expand efforts to end the war. "A Peace Platform that prevents deepening polarization, has a broad participant and representative base, and prioritizes diplomacy should be established," he reportedly said. He did not provide details. Previously, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had also offered to help mediate an end to the war at an international summit in Kazakhstan. Russia rejected this.
13:53 Russia reports capture of additional settlement in DonetskRussian troops, according to Moscow's statements, have taken control of another settlement in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. The troops reportedly "liberated" the village of Sokil, about 30 kilometers northwest of the city of Donetsk. The Russian Defense Ministry announced this. The region of Donetsk, along with Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, is one of the Ukrainian regions that Moscow declared annexed in September 2022. According to Ukrainian reports, the fiercest fighting is currently taking place along the entire front line in the region.
13:40 Le Pen: No French long-range weapons on targets in RussiaMarine Le Pen, leader of the right-wing National Rally (RN), announced that, in the event of an RN election victory, French long-range weapons would not be allowed to be used as targets in Russia. She made this statement in an interview with the US broadcaster CNN. Her party would also not allow French troops to be stationed in Ukraine, a possibility that French President Emmanuel Macron does not rule out. "If Emmanuel Macron wants to send troops to Ukraine and the prime minister is against it, then there will be no troops in Ukraine," Le Pen said. The only red line, according to her, is to prevent France from becoming a warring party. Tomorrow, the French will elect their parliament in the second round.
12:49 ISW: Putin confirms goal, to destroy Ukraine as a state
During the recent visit of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to the Kreml, Russian President Vladimir Putin once again rejected the idea of a negotiated ceasefire. According to the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), instead, he seeks a war ending that wipes out Ukraine's sovereignty. To the conditions for peace talks, Putin demands the cession of significant Ukrainian territories to Russia and the complete capitulation of the Ukrainian military.
12:30 Ukraine: Half of electricity generation capacity lost due to Russian attacks
Through Russian attacks on critical infrastructure, Ukraine has lost more than half of its capacity for electricity generation, which was available before the full-scale Russian invasion began. This is evident from a comparison of the current situation with the pre-war period, which the EU ambassador of the country reported in a Financial Times article in June. The hostile attacks of the past three months have reportedly reduced the country's electricity generation by nine gigawatts - roughly half of what was required for the electricity supply of the state territory during the previous winter. There is a risk that Ukraine will not have electricity, and possibly also no heat and no water, during the upcoming winter.
11:58 Ukrainian General Staff: 139 battles yesterday
The Ukrainian General Staff reported in its situation report that there were 139 battles at the front lines over the past 24 hours. Most of these took place in the Pokrowsk sector in the Donetsk Oblast in eastern Ukraine. The army recorded six rocket attacks and 55 air attacks with 72 air-dropped bombs and over 3000 attacks with artillery shells. In the northern region, around Kharkiv, the Russian troops also used combat jets.
11:22 Ukraine calls for ban on Russian athletes who support the war
Ukraine is calling for Russian athletes to be excluded from participating in the Olympics in Paris if they can be proven to be supporting the Russian military. The International Olympic Committee decided in December that Russian and Belarusian athletes could participate as "neutral athletes" if they met "strict participation conditions." They were not allowed to compete in teams, present flags, or anything else associated with their home country. The Ukrainian Olympic Committee now reports that some Russian athletes who qualified for the Olympics have been found to be supporting the Ukrainian war and Putin's politics on the internet. Some athletes have also participated in propaganda tournaments.
10:52 Ukraine: 12 civilians killed by Russian attacks
The Russian army, according to Ukrainian reports, dropped 19 bombs on the Charkiw region. The head of the military administration of the Charkiw region reported this to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform. In Charkiw, three people were reportedly killed and six others injured. Eleven civilians were reported dead and 43 injured in the Donetsk Oblast.
10:08 Ukrainian General Staff: 1,260 Russian casualties since yesterday
The Ukrainian General Staff reports 1,260 casualties among Russian soldiers for the past 24 hours. According to Ukrainian sources, the total number of killed and wounded Russian soldiers since the full-scale invasion in February 2022 is approximately 550,000. In addition, since yesterday, eleven tanks, 58 drones, 18 armored vehicles, and nine Russian missile systems were reportedly destroyed, as well as 66 artillery systems.
09:29 How it might unfold if Putin attacks the Baltics
Security experts consider a Russian attack on the Baltics in the coming years as plausible to realistic. NATO assures its members of support, but the alliance's collective defense clause leaves room for various reactions from other states. How could an attack on the Baltic flank of the defense alliance unfold?
09:11 NATO summit brings news about F-16 jets for Ukraine
During the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, Ukraine can expect new announcements regarding the delivery of F-16 fighter jets. A high-ranking US government official hinted at this during a briefing. The training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s has reportedly made significant progress. The Ukrainian army is still waiting for the first jets to arrive. The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium have pledged to provide them.
08:30 One-third of Russians support atomic attack on Ukraine
According to a survey presented by Russian propagandist Sergey Mardan on Russian state television, one-third of the Russian population is in favor of attacking Ukraine with atomic weapons. They align with Vladimir Solovyov, who consistently advocates for using atomic weapons in the Ukrainian conflict. In the Russian nightlife, patriotism is on the rise. Russian artists are making clear patriotic appeals.
08:17 AfD welcomes Orban's visit to Putin
The AfD welcomes the criticized Ukraine talks between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Hungary is taking the lead and speaking with both direct conflict parties from the first day of its EU Council Presidency," explains the foreign policy spokesperson of the faction, Matthias Moosdorf. "The AfD-faction welcomes the fact that, at the highest European level, the possibilities of a ceasefire with the goal of peace talks are being prioritized." The "EU and its personnel" he refers to as "war instigators."
07:52 Ukraine: Invaders threaten to deport Ukrainians without Russian passports
In the occupied territories of Ukraine, the Russians are reportedly threatening to deport residents without Russian passports, according to Ukrainian reports. The National Resistance Center reports that the occupiers have used this practice before. Locals are taken to a checkpoint and forcibly deported from their homeland. In some recent raids in the south, residents were threatened with deportation and confiscation of their property.
07:19 SPD expert calls for more money for defense
Members of the German government are expressing concerns over the financing of the Bundeswehr following the agreement on the federal budget 2025. The troop must procure weapons and ammunition, which it gives to Ukraine, from its own budget. SPD budget expert Andreas Schwarz spoke of a "disappointing figure" in response to the meager increase in defense spending of only 1.2 billion euros. "This does not correspond to 'what we need in the defense sector'", Schwarz told the "Tagesspiegel". The president of the Reservists' Association, Patrick Sensburg, also stated that this would make Germany "not war-ready".
06:37 Ukraine: Drones attacked Belgorod, Russia
Drones attacked the city of Shebekino in the Russian oblast Belgorod in the past night, damaging several buildings, vehicles, and an industrial plant, and injuring one person, according to the local governor. A total of 11 houses were damaged, and power lines and social infrastructure were also damaged.
06:10 Zelensky thanks new British prime minister
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his support of Ukraine. "I am grateful to Keir Starmer for his assurance that Britain's support for Ukraine remains unchanged," Zelensky wrote on Telegram. He and Starmer had aligned their positions ahead of the NATO summit coming up in the following week. According to a high-ranking US official, NATO will present a "bridge to membership" for Ukraine at the meeting in Washington.
03:45 Burning oil depots after drone attack in Russia
Ukrainian drones reportedly attacked several areas in the Russian region of Krasnodar during the night. The Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported that debris from a downed drone damaged a mobile phone mast in Jeisk. In other places, several fuel tanks were said to have caught fire. There were no reported injuries.
02:07 Sumy without water and power due to drone attacks
According to local authorities, Russian drone attacks have disrupted the water and power supply in the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy. The public broadcaster Suspilne reported a series of explosions in the city. The Sumy region is almost daily targeted by Russian positions across the border.
00:28 Eight people killed, 28 injured in Russian attacks in Eastern Ukraine
According to Ukrainian reports, eight people were killed and at least 28 were injured in Russian attacks in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donezk. "Every city and every village in the Donezk region is constantly threatened by enemy attacks," Governor Wadym Filaschkin wrote on Telegram. Independently, Russian troops had dropped three guided bombs on the further southwest located village of Komar, killing a 32-year-old woman and injuring 20 other people. Thirteen private houses, four businesses, two residential buildings, and two infrastructure facilities were damaged in the attack.
23:16 Starmer confirms "unwavering" support for Biden on UkraineBritain's new Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed Britain's "unlimited" support for Ukraine in its war against Russia during his first phone call with US President Joe Biden. The two leaders reaffirmed their "unwavering commitment" to Ukraine, and Starmer emphasized that "the UK fully supports Ukraine," according to a statement from Starmer's office just hours after his swearing-in.
21:49 US military exercises with Georgia postponedThe US is postponing planned joint military exercises with Georgia amid tensions with the Georgian government. The US military participation in the "Noble Partner" exercises, originally scheduled for July 25 to August 6, is "suspended indefinitely," the US Defense Department announced. The background for the cancellation was "false accusations" from the Georgian government. The Pentagon refers to statements that the US pressured Georgia to go to war with Russia and was involved in "two coup attempts" against the government.
20:35 Insider: Hungary cancels planned meeting with BaerbockThe planned Monday trip of Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to Budapest is canceled. The Hungarian side suddenly canceled the appointment with Baerbock, according to the Foreign Office.
21:20 Zelensky thanks Germany for third Patriot systemUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanks Germany for the delivery of the third Patriot air defense system. "This is great news," says Zelensky in his evening video message. He also thanks the US for further steps to strengthen Ukrainian air defense. He does not provide details but says that Ukraine has already shown that it can shoot down Russian rockets. "The Ukraine has proven that there are no Russian rockets that we cannot shoot down," says Zelensky. The country is doing everything to ensure that Russian terror ends.
20:48 NATO expert: "We must bring down Russia"NATO expert Stefanie Babst calls for a more decisive approach by the alliance against Russia. "We can only keep up with this adversary by bringing down the Russian regime. And not only from Ukraine but also beyond its sphere of influence, so that it no longer exerts its toxic influence in Europe," Babst said in the t-online Tagesanbruch podcast. For this, more decisive action is needed. "We're looking at Putin like Lord Voldemort and are afraid he'll pull out his wand," Babst appealed. The 60-year-old is a former leading staff member of the International Staff of NATO.
20:15 Kreml not optimistic after Labour victory in Britain
The Russian leadership does not expect any changes in the strained relations between Moscow and London following the Labour Party's victory in Britain. The Kreml is "completely not optimistic," Dmitri Peskov, the Kreml spokesperson, said in Moscow. "Based on their previous statements, they do not lean towards any flexibility or creativity to normalize the bilateral Russian-British relations."
You can read about previous developments here.
Nato has not taken a stance on the proposed "Peace Platform" by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to end the Ukraine conflict, as reported in a Turkish newspaper.
Russia has been accused of engaging in cyberwarfare against Ukraine, with Ukrainian authorities reporting multiple incidents of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Selensky has welcomed new military aid from the USA, including the delivery of Patriot air defense systems, in their ongoing conflict with Russia.
Estonia has announced its intent to provide Ukraine with Mistral-system air defense systems, following Estonia's supply of short-range anti-aircraft missile systems and ammunition to Ukraine earlier.
The NATO summit is expected to present a "bridge to membership" for Ukraine, as highlighted by a high-ranking US official, signaling NATO's continued support for Ukrainian sovereignty in the face of Russian aggression.
