16:04 Russian secret service: French "agent" Vinatier pleads guilty
French national Laurent Vinatier, detained in Russia according to Russian intelligence services, admits to gathering information about the Russian military. A worker for the Swiss non-governmental organization Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), Vinatier confessed his guilt "in full" to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the FSB stated. Vinatier reportedly established numerous contacts with military experts, scientists, and officials during his visits to Moscow. As a result, the Frenchman collected "military and military-technical information that could be used against the security of the Russian Federation," according to the FSB. Vinatier is active with the Swiss NGO and was arrested in Moscow on June 6. He is accused of failing to register as a "foreign agent."
15:34 Video: Russians report massive Ukrainian drone attackThe Ukraine is attacking Novorossiysk, according to Russian reports, with drones from the air and water. The Russian Defense Ministry reports the downing of twelve targets. Spearfire and explosions illuminate the night sky over the Black Sea port city at the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains.
15:02 Poll: Ukrainians see Germany as conditionally reliable, fear US-negotiations with MoscowNearly half of Ukrainians in a survey conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations believe that the US could negotiate a peace plan with Russia behind Ukraine's back. 47% expressed this concern, while 49% had little or no such fear. The views of Ukrainians on their allies in the defense war against Russia vary by country. 84% see Britain as reliable or somewhat reliable, the highest percentage. 76% felt the same about Germany, but only 19% considered Berlin's support very reliable.
14:23 Scholz: Germany will not be a war party in the futureDuring the government questioning in the Bundestag, the issue of Ukraine was also discussed. When Left party deputy Gesine Lötzsch asks if Chancellor Olaf Scholz would give people the assurance that Germany would not become a war party, Scholz replied: "Yes, I give that assurance. As Chancellor." When asked when a ceasefire could be reached, Scholz replied: "From my perspective, a ceasefire that aims for Ukraine's capitulation is one that we cannot support from Germany." This is not an abstract question, as one can see from Putin's 'peace offer.' Putin has stated that he is ready for a ceasefire "if Ukraine also gives away additional annexations, essentially for free." This shows "how cynically they think and that the Russian president does not at all intend to end his aggressive war." Putin speaks only of peace negotiations to continue the war. "We will not tolerate that," Scholz assured.
13:55 International Criminal Court investigates torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civiliansThe International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians in detention facilities in the previously occupied territories and in Russia, according to the Ukrainian agency "Ukrinform". The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office is working with the ICC on this matter. Ukrainian photographers Kostiantyn and Vlada Librov show on Instagram photos of Ukrainian soldiers who had fallen into Russian captivity and have since been released. They write that it was "the most difficult shooting of the last six months".
13:19 Russian postal workers to replace doctors in rural areasDue to a shortage of medical personnel in rural areas of Russia, postal workers are now taking on medical tasks in some regions. This was reported by the "Moscow Times" on Telegram. In rural post offices, health and midwife stations are being set up. The postal workers are to diagnose and perform various medical interventions. Russian publicist Alexander Nevzorov described the practice as a return to the Middle Ages, according to the "Kyiv Post".
12:58 No agreement among NATO countries on long-term Ukraine aidNATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg failed to convince NATO countries to make long-term commitments for military aid to Ukraine. The 32 Allies could only agree in the run-up to the summit in Washington on providing support in the amount of at least 40 billion Euros within the next year. This was reported by the German Press Agency and cited statements from several delegations.
12:24 Five dead, dozens injured in Dnipro attack, according to UkraineThe number of casualties from the Russian attack on Dnipro has risen to at least five, according to Ukrainian reports. At least 39 people were injured, including a 14-year-old girl. The attack reportedly used rockets and drones and caused several explosions and fires in the city. Reports suggest that a shopping mall and a weapons factory were hit.
11:31 Ukraine receives additional 2 billion Euros from the IMFFinancially stricken Ukraine has received an additional 2 billion Euros from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The money is part of an ongoing credit program worth around 15 billion Euros. The money will be used by the government, according to Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal, mainly for social welfare and salaries of civil servants, including doctors and teachers. Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has reportedly received over 80 billion Euros in aid from foreign partners in the form of budgetary assistance.
11:01 Fire at military base in Russian city of KurskVideos from the Russian city of Kursk show a large smoke cloud over the city. An Ukrainian attack is said to have set several vehicles on fire at a military base. The governor of the region confirmed a fire in the city center.
10:40 Ukraine: Multiple civilians killed in Russian attacks
Russian troops shot at the village of Borova in the Charkiw region during the past night, according to the Charkiw Military Administration's Telegram message. They report that one man was killed and two others were injured. In a Russian rocket and drone attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, at least three people were reportedly killed and 18 others injured.
10:19 Kremlin: No talks with Trump over Ukraine
According to the Interfax news agency, quoting a spokesperson for the Russian Presidential Administration, Russia is not in dialogue with former US President Donald Trump over Ukraine. Trump, during a TV duel with President Joe Biden last week, stated that if he won the November election, he would resolve the war in Ukraine before his inauguration in January.
09:46 Ukraine lacks hangars to protect jet fighters
The Ukrainian "Defense Express" reports that the Ukrainian army does not have enough hangars to shield all their fighter jets from Russian attacks. The newspaper reports that a Ukrainian airbase in the Poltawa Oblast does not have sufficient large hangar spaces for Su-27 fighter jets. Russian media has released footage of a recent air raid on the airfield, showing several Ukrainian Su-27 aircraft damaged in the open. The Ukraine lacked hangars to protect all their fighters.
09:16 Defense Committee approves purchase of 105 Leopard-2A8 tanks
The Defense Committee of the German Bundestag is set to approve the purchase of 105 Leopard-2A8 battle tanks today. "We are exhausting all options," writes the new committee chairman Marcus Faber on the platform "X." "We are fully equipping the Brigade Litauen with combat tanks, replacing older Leo2 in the army, and creating room for further commitments to Ukraine," adds the FDP politician. According to the proposal, the order has a volume of approximately three billion Euros. The defense consortium KNDS is expected to deliver the tanks to the Bundeswehr by 2030.
08:44 Russia: Ukrainian attack on Black Sea port repelled
Russia claims to have repelled attacks by two unarmed Ukrainian explosive boats on the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. The Defense Ministry reports that the drone boats were destroyed in the Black Sea. Novorossiysk is home to a large port of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Many of the Russian warships used in the conflict against Ukraine were stationed there after Ukraine attacked their ports on the Crimean peninsula. The Ministry did not comment on potential damages. The authorities in Novorossiysk urged residents to stay in their homes and buildings during the night.
08:21 A large part of Ukrainians feel unity in society
According to a nationwide survey conducted by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on July 2, 44% of Ukrainians believe that Ukrainian society is united at present. A smaller portion of interviewees, 15%, view Ukrainian society as divided. Corruption is cited as the primary concern, followed by language issues. Unfairness during the war, collaboration, and Russia-friendliness are also considered factors contributing to societal division.
07:55 Kremlin: Ten Ukrainian attack drones destroyed
According to Russian reports, ten Ukrainian attack drones have been shot down over Russian territory. Five drones were reportedly destroyed over the Belgorod border region, four over the Brjansk border region, and one over the Moscow region. Additionally, two Ukrainian reconnaissance drones were destroyed at the Noworossijsk Black Sea port in the Krasnodar region.
07:20 Ukrainian General Staff: nearly 1,200 Russian losses yesterday
The Ukrainian General Staff reports 1,180 losses on the Russian side in the past 24 hours. This includes 16 destroyed tanks, 17 armored vehicles, 57 artillery systems, and 63 tank and other vehicles. Two Russian air defense systems were allegedly destroyed by the Ukrainians, along with a missile. The number of killed or wounded soldiers on the Russian side, according to the General Staff, has surpassed 546,000 since the full-scale invasion began.
06:48 Putin arrives at the SOZ summit in Kazakhstan
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly arrived in Kazakhstan, according to Kremlin sources. He is participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Astana. The two-day event focuses on regional security, defense, and cooperation issues. The leaders of the SCO member states are expected to discuss "the current situation and prospects for deepening multifaceted cooperation," according to Moscow. Putin is scheduled to hold bilateral talks, including with China and Turkey. The summit is attended by representatives from 16 countries - including India, Iran, and Pakistan. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is also expected to attend.
06:11 Ukraine continues to reject territorial concessions to Putin
According to the words of Andrij Yermak, the chief of staff of the Ukrainian president, Ukraine continues to categorically reject territorial concessions to Russia to end the war. "We are not willing to make compromises on important things and values," Yermak said to journalists and named "independence, freedom, democracy, territorial integrity, sovereignty." The chief of staff reacted to statements from Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump, who claimed he could end the conflict quickly. The government in Kiev is, however, open to advice to achieve a "just peace." Trump said during a television debate that he would not accept Putin's conditions. Putin had declared that Russia would end the war if Kiev was ready to hand over the territories claimed and occupied by Moscow in the east and south of the country. In response to a question about how the Ukraine views Trump's handling of the war, Yermak replied: "Honestly speaking: I don't know. We'll see."
05:42 USA to provide new military aid for Ukraine
The Ukrainian military is in urgent need of supplies. The USA will make available to Ukraine, in the near future, military aid in the amount of approximately 2.3 billion US dollars (around 2.14 billion Euros) to counter the Russian offensive war in Ukraine. This was announced by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a visit by his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umjerow in Washington. The package approved by US President Joe Biden includes "additional air defense missiles, anti-tank weapons, and other important ammunition from US stocks," Austin explained. A "realignment of some foreign military deliveries" will also allow the USA to make available Munition for Patriot and other air defense systems "in an accelerated timeframe."
04:49 NATO expanding presence in Kiev
The NATO is expanding its civilian presence in the attacked Ukraine. A spokesperson confirmed that the 32 alliance members have decided to send a kind of special envoys to the capital Kiev. The high-ranking official is to steer political and practical support from the alliance on site. The background is, in particular, that the NATO intends to give the start signal for a new deployment at the upcoming summit in Washington for the coordination of weapons deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian armed forces. The headquarters for this should be built in Wiesbaden. Who will receive the new NATO post in Kiev is still not known.
03:42 UN call for release of Gershkovich
Experts of the United Nations are calling for the immediate release of US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who is in custody in Russia on espionage charges. "The deprivation of liberty of Evan Gershkovich is arbitrary" and violates several articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the experts write in a statement. Taking into account the circumstances of the case, the "immediate" release of Gershkovich is appropriate.
02:40 Serbian President Vucic receives Russian deputy foreign ministerThe Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received the Russian deputy foreign minister Alexander Gruschko in Belgrade. He spoke with Gruschko about the bilateral relations between Serbia and Russia and assessed them as "very good", Vucic stated on Instagram. He also thanked Russia "for its support of Serbia's territorial integrity, as well as in regard to the UN Resolution on Srebrenica". Moscow still refuses to recognize Kosovo's independence. Serbia has been an EU membership candidate since 2012, but continues to maintain good relations with the Kreml despite the Russian annexation of Crimea.
01:29 Russian court sentences 19-year-old to twelve yearsA Russian court sentenced a 19-year-old man to twelve years in prison for "treason," after he was accused of donating money to the Ukrainian army. "The Rostov Regional Court found him guilty and sentenced him to a twelve-year term in a penal colony," according to a comment from the Russian domestic intelligence service FSB, picked up by state Kremlin media. The teenager is alleged to have sent money to help the Ukrainian army buy food and drones. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, thousands of Russians have been arrested and many of them have been imprisoned. According to Amnesty International, at least 21,000 people were targets of repressions against war opponents in 2023.
00:20 One quarter of US citizens find US aid to Ukraine insufficientAlmost a quarter of Americans believe that the United States is not providing enough military aid to Ukraine. This percentage has risen since November last year, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center. Twenty-four percent of the respondents believe that the United States is not providing enough aid, compared to 18 percent in November 2023, when the survey was last conducted. However, more Americans (31 percent) believe that the United States is providing too much aid, and 25 percent think that the US aid is sufficient.
22:53 Lithuania reports airspace violation by Russian aircraftLithuania reports a violation of its airspace by a Russian aircraft. The unspecified aircraft of the Russian airline Pobeda allegedly entered the airspace of the Baltic EU and NATO member unlawfully in the evening of June 30th and stayed there for approximately one minute. The representative of the Russian embassy was summoned and the Russian authorities were asked to take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The airspace violation occurred over the Baltic Sea, as the aircraft was on its way from Moscow to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad bordering Lithuania. The EU closed its airspace to Russian planes as a reaction to Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
22:12 Survey in Member States: High Trust in NATO, Low Trust in Zelenskyy
Coming Week, NATO Celebrates Its 75-Year Anniversary. In member states, the transatlantic defense alliance is generally well regarded, according to a Pew Research survey. On average in 13 countries, 63 percent of the population holds a positive view, 33 percent a negative. Germany is slightly above average with 64 percent positive sentiment. Exceptional is the assessment in Poland: 91 percent have a positive image of the alliance. The trust in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy averages 40 percent and has decreased in member states in the past year. Poland stands out, where the head of state has lost 22 percentage points - from 70 to 48 percent. In Germany, trust has decreased by 7 percentage points to 54 percent.
21:27 Zelenskyy Rejects Orban's Peace Proposal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected a peace proposal from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for peace talks, according to a spokesperson from the Presidential Administration. During his first visit to Kiev since the war began, Orbán proposed a rapid ceasefire, which could accelerate peace negotiations with Moscow, he said. "The president listened to him, but in response, he clarified the position of Ukraine and rejected the proposal," the spokesperson said. Kiev had already rejected ceasefires, citing the possibility that Russian forces could regroup during this time.
21:02 Ukraine: Moscow Recruits Minors
Russia is actively recruiting minors for the war in Ukraine, Ukraine claims. The recruitment contracts are reportedly signed with minors and take effect upon reaching adulthood. "They hope to recruit tens of thousands of teenagers with propaganda," says the Ukrainian agency "National Resistance Center": "We warn that any enemy on our territory will be eliminated." Russia also employs minors on occupied Ukrainian territory, for example, to manufacture drones.
You can read about earlier developments here.
- The French national, Vinatier, who was detained in Russia, is accused of gathering information about the Russian military that could be used against their country's security during his visits to Moscow.
- Russian reports indicate a drone attack by Ukraine on the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk, causing numerous explosions and damage.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces low trust among members of the European Union, with only 20% of survey respondents trusting him, according to a poll conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations.
- Russia has repelled attacks by Ukrainian explosive boats on the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, according to their Defense Ministry, marking another incident in the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
- The International Criminal Court is investigating the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians in detention facilities in the previously occupied territories and in Russia, collected by Ukrainian photographers Kostiantyn and Vlada Librov.
