17:14 Video: Russian National Guardsmen shoot at conscripts
In the Russian city of Osinniki, conscripts are dancing on the roof of the draft board. The National Guards don't like this and go after the drunk-looking men. Shots are heard, a woman falls to the ground. She might have been hit by a stray bullet.
16:39 Russian Army makes Tschassiw Jar quarter "level with the ground"The Russian army is taking control of a district in the strategically important city of Tschassiw Jar in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donezk, according to its own statements. The troops have reportedly "liberated" the neighborhood of Nowi, the Russian Defense Ministry reports. It is not known if the Russian soldiers managed to overcome the canal in the east of the small town, which serves as a natural defensive line for the Ukrainian army.
The military-affiliated Ukrainian news channel "DeepState" writes that the quarter has been "completely leveled." Further resistance would have led to heavy losses. "The retreat from the quarter is therefore a logical, if difficult, decision," it continues. Tschassiw Jar is about ten kilometers from Bachmut, which was taken by Russian troops after long battles in May 2023. A breakthrough could give the Russian army easier access to important mining towns in the Donbass, such as Kramatorsk, which are still controlled by Ukraine.
16:04 Russian Intelligence: French "Agent" Vinatier confessesThe Frenchman Laurent Vinatier, who is being held in Russia, confesses according to Russian intelligence services that he collected information on the Russian military. A worker for a Swiss non-governmental organization has reportedly admitted his guilt, the Russian domestic intelligence service FSB reports. Vinatier is said to have forged numerous contacts to military experts, scientists, and officials during his visits to Moscow. Through these contacts, the Frenchman allegedly collected "military and military-technical information that could be used against the security of the Russian Federation." Vinatier works for the Swiss non-governmental organization Zentrum für Humanitären Dialog (HD) and was arrested on June 6 in Moscow. He is accused of failing to register as a "foreign agent."
15:34 Video: Russians report massive Ukrainian drone attackThe Ukraine is attacking Novorossijsk, according to Russian reports, with drones from the air and water. The Russian Defense Ministry reports the shooting down of twelve objects. Spearfire and explosions illuminate the night sky over the Black Sea port city on the shores of the Caucasus Mountains.
15:02 Survey: Ukrainians view Germany as conditionally reliable, fear US-negotiations with Moscow
According to a survey conducted nearly two and a half years into the war, almost half of Ukrainians, as reported by the think tank "European Council on Foreign Relations," are concerned that the USA could reach a peace plan with Russia behind their backs. Forty-seven percent share this concern, while forty-nine percent have little or no concern. The views of Ukrainians towards their allies in the defensive war against Russia vary by country. Eighty-four percent view Britain as reliable or conditionally reliable, the highest percentage. Seventy-six percent felt the same about Germany, but only nineteen percent considered Berlin's support very reliable.
14:23 Scholz: Germany will not be a war party in the future
During the government questioning in the Bundestag, the issue of Ukraine was also raised. When the Left party deputy Gesine Lötzsch asks if Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz would give the people "the guarantee" that Germany would not be a war party, Scholz replied: "Yes, I give this guarantee. I am the Chancellor." When asked about when a ceasefire could be reached, Lötzsch inquired further. "In my view, a ceasefire that aims for Ukraine's capitulation is one that we cannot support from Germany," Scholz responded. This is not an abstract question, as one can see from Putin's "strange peace offer." Putin has stated that he is willing to agree to a ceasefire "if Ukraine also gives away further annexations, essentially for free on top." This shows "how cynically they think there and that the Russian president by no means intends to end his aggressive war." Putin speaks only of peace negotiations to continue the war. "We will not tolerate this," Scholz assured.
13:55 International Criminal Court investigates torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians
The 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 news agency "Ukrinform." The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office is collaborating with the ICC in 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 freed. The photographers describe it as "the most difficult shooting of the last six months."
13:19 Russian postal workers to replace doctors' offices in rural areas
Due to a shortage of medical personnel in rural areas, postal workers in some regions of Russia are now taking on medical tasks. This was reported by the "Moscow Times" on Telegram. In rural post offices, health stations and midwife stations are being set up. Postal workers are supposed to diagnose and perform various medical procedures. Russian publicist Alexander Nevzorov described this practice, as reported by the "Kyiv Post," as a return to the Middle Ages.
12:58 NATO countries: No agreement on multi-year Ukraine aidNATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg failed in his attempt to secure long-term commitments from NATO members for military aid to Ukraine. The 32 allies could only agree to provide support in the amount of at least 40 billion Euro within the next year, according to the German Press Agency and multiple delegation sources.
12:24 Ukraine: Five dead after Dnipro attackThe number of casualties from the Russian attack on Dnipro has risen to at least five, with over 39 people injured, including a 14-year-old girl, according to Ukrainian reports. The attack reportedly involved rockets and drones, causing several explosions and fires in the city. A shopping mall and a weapons factory were reportedly hit.
11:31 Ukraine receives additional 2 billion Euro from the IMFFinancially stricken Ukraine has received an additional over 2 billion Euro from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The money is part of an ongoing credit program worth approximately 15 billion Euro. The government, led by Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal, plans to use the funds primarily for social welfare and salaries for public servants, including doctors and teachers. Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has reportedly received over 80 billion Euro in foreign aid for budget support.
11:01 Military base in Russian Kursk on fireVideos 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 in the city center. The regional governor has confirmed a fire in the city center.
10:40 Multiple civilians killed in Russian attacksRussian troops reportedly shot at the village of Borova in the Charkiw region overnight. The Military Administration of Charkiw reported on Telegram that one man was killed, and two others were injured. In a Russian rocket and drone attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, local authorities report that at least three people were killed and 18 others were injured.
10:19 Kremlin: No talks with Trump over UkraineAccording to Kremlin statements, Russia is not in dialogue with former US President Donald Trump over Ukraine. The Interfax news agency reported this, citing a spokesperson for the Russian Presidential Administration. Trump had stated during a recent TV debate with President Joe Biden 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 Combat jets
According to a report by the Ukrainian "Defense Express", the Ukrainian army does not have sufficient hangars at its disposal to shield all its fighter jets from Russian attacks. The newspaper reports that a military airbase in the Poltava Oblast does not have sufficient large hangar spaces for Su-27 combat jets. Therefore, Russia has released images of a recent air raid on the airfield, in which several Ukrainian Su-27 aircraft are seen damaged in the open. The Ukraine is lacking hangars to protect all its planes.
09:16 Defense Committee approves purchase of 105 Leopard-2A8 Tank
The Defense Committee of the German Bundestag is set to approve the purchase of 105 Leopard-2A8 combat tanks today. "We are exhausting all options," writes the new committee chairman Marcus Faber on the platform "X". "We are fully equipping the Brigade in Lithuania with 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 Euro. The defense conglomerate KNDS is expected to deliver the tanks to the Bundeswehr by 2030.
08:44 Russia: Ukrainian attack on Black Sea port repelled
Russia claims it has repelled attacks by two unmanned Ukrainian mine-laying boats on the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. The Defense Ministry reports that the drones were destroyed in the Black Sea. In Novorossiysk, there is a large port of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Many of Russia's warships used in the conflict against Ukraine are stationed there, after Ukraine attacked its ports on the Crimean peninsula. The Ministry does not comment on possible damages. The authorities in Novorossiysk urged people to stay in their homes and buildings during the night.
08:21 Majority of Ukrainians feel unity in society
Forty-four percent of Ukrainians believe that Ukrainian society is currently united, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on July 2. With 15 percent, a smaller percentage of respondents consider Ukrainian society to be divided at present. Corruption is cited as the main problem, followed by language issues. Injustices during the war, collaboration, and Russophile sentiments are also identified as factors contributing to division within society.
07:55 Kremlin: Ten Ukrainian attack drones destroyed over Russian territory
Russia claims it has shot down ten Ukrainian attack drones over Russian territory. Five drones were shot down over the Belgorod border region, four over the Brjansk border region, and one over the Moscow region, according to the Defense Ministry on Telegram. Additionally, two Ukrainian mine-laying drones were destroyed, which had approached the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk in the Krasnodar region.
07:20 Ukrainian General Staff: nearly 1200 Russian casualties yesterday
The Ukrainian General Staff reports 1,180 casualties on the Russian side in the past 24 hours. Accordingly, 16 destroyed tanks, 17 armored vehicles, 57 artillery systems, and 63 tank and other vehicles were also destroyed. Two Russian air defense systems and a missile were allegedly destroyed by the Ukrainians. The number of dead or wounded soldiers on the Russian side, as reported by the General Staff, has exceeded 546,000 since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
06:48 Putin arrives at the SOZ summit in Kazakhstan
Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Kazakhstan, according to Kremlin reports. He is participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Astana. The two-day summit will focus on issues of regional security, defense, and cooperation. The heads of state and government of the SCO member states will discuss "the current situation and prospects for further deepening of multifaceted cooperation," Moscow reports. Putin plans to hold bilateral talks, including with China and Turkey. Representatives from 16 countries are participating in the summit - among them India, Iran, and Pakistan. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is also expected.
06:11 Ukraine rejects territorial concessions to Putin once again
According to the words of Andrij Yermak, 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 during a visit to Washington. He referred to "independence, freedom, democracy, territorial integrity, sovereignty." In response to statements from Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump, who claimed he could quickly end the conflict, the Ukrainian government is open to advice to achieve a "just peace." Trump stated during the television debate that he would not accept Putin's conditions. Putin had declared that Russia would end the war if Kiev was willing to surrender the territories claimed and occupied by Moscow in the east and south of the country. In response to a question about how Ukraine assesses Trump's handling of the war, Yermak replied: "Honestly, I don't know. We'll see."
05:42 USA to provide new military aid to Ukraine shortly
The Ukrainian military urgently needs supplies. The USA will make additional military aid to Ukraine available in the near future, amounting to approximately 2.3 billion US dollars (around 2.14 billion Euros). US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced this during a visit to his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umjerow in Washington. The aid package 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 enable the USA to provide Munition for Patriot and other air defense systems "in an accelerated timeframe."
04:49 NATO strengthens presence in Kiev
The NATO is expanding its civilian presence in Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia. A spokesperson confirmed that the 32 alliance members have decided to send special representatives to the capital Kiev. The high-ranking official is supposed to oversee the political and practical support of the alliance on site. The background is mainly that the NATO intends to give the starting signal for a new deployment to coordinate weapons deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian armed forces at the upcoming summit in Washington. The headquarters for this should be built in Wiesbaden. Who will receive the new NATO position in Kiev is still unknown.
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 Russian custody on espionage charges. "The detention 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 minister
The 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 evaluated them as "very good". He also thanked Russia "for its support for Serbia's territorial integrity, as well as in relation 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 intervention in Ukraine.
01:29 Russian court sentences 19-year-old to twelve years
A Russian court has sentenced a 19-year-old to twelve years in prison for "treason", after he was accused of donating money to the Ukrainian army. "The Rostov Regional Court found the man guilty and sentenced him to a twelve-year sentence in a penal colony", it says in a comment by the Russian domestic intelligence service FSB, which was taken over by the state-controlled Kremlin media. The teenager is said to have sent money to help the Ukrainian army buy food and drones. Since the Russian attack on 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 repression against war opponents in 2023.
00:20 A quarter of US citizens find US aid to Ukraine insufficient
Almost a quarter of Americans believe that the United States is not providing enough military aid to Ukraine. This proportion has increased since November last year, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center. According to the survey, 24 percent of respondents believe that the United States is not providing enough aid to Ukraine, 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 believe that the US aid is sufficient.
22:53 Lithuania reports airspace violation by Russian aircraftLithuania reports the violation of its airspace by a Russian aircraft. The unspecified machine of the Russian airline Pobeda is said to have entered the airspace of the Baltic EU and NATO member illegally on the evening of June 30th and stayed there for approximately one minute, according to the Foreign Ministry in Vilnius. The representative of the Russian embassy was summoned and the Russian authorities were requested 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 has closed its airspace as a reaction to Russia's aggression in Ukraine for Russian aircraft.
22:12 Survey in Member States: Great Trust in NATO, in Zelenskyy notNext week, NATO celebrates its 75th anniversary. In the member states, the transatlantic defense alliance is viewed favorably, according to a survey by Pew Research. On average in 13 countries, 63% of the population holds a positive view, 33% a negative. Germany is above the average with 64% positive opinion. The evaluation in Poland stands out: 91% have a positive image there. The trust in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is an average of 40% and has decreased in the member states in the past year. Poland also stands out, where the head of state has lost 22 percentage points - from 70 to 48%. In Germany, trust has decreased by 7 percentage points to 54%.
21:27 Zelenskyy rejects Orban's peace proposalUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected a peace proposal from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for peace negotiations. During his first visit to Kiev since the start of the war, Orbán proposed a quick ceasefire. "This could accelerate peace negotiations with Moscow," he said. "The President listened, but in response clarified Ukraine's position and rejected the proposal," says a spokesperson for the Presidential Administration. Kiev had previously rejected ceasefires with the explanation that Russian forces could regroup during this time.
21:02 Ukraine: Moscow recruits minorsRussia is actively recruiting minors for the war in Ukraine, according to Ukraine. The recruitment contracts are reportedly signed with minors and take effect with their coming of age. "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." On occupied Ukrainian territory, Russia also employs minors, for example, to produce drones.
- Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, nearly half of Ukrainians are concerned that the USA could reach a peace plan with Russia behind their backs.
- The Russian army has taken control of a district in Tschassiw Jar, using military operations to "liberate" the neighborhood of Nowi and level it with the ground.
- Volodymyr Selensky, the president of Ukraine, has stated that his country will not tolerate a ceasefire that aims for Ukraine's capitulation to Russia.
- Russian Intelligence has reported that a Frenchman named Laurent Vinatier, who works for a Swiss non-governmental organization, has confessed to collecting information on the Russian military.
- NATO countries have failed to secure long-term commitments for military aid to Ukraine, only agreeing to provide support in the amount of at least 40 billion Euro within the next year.
