17:17 Ukraine gets help with landmine removal
Japan and Cambodia intend to help Ukraine together in landmine clearance. This was announced by Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa during her visit to Phnom Penh. Her country will provide Ukraine with a powerful mine-clearing machine in the coming week. Ukrainian specialists are expected to be trained in Cambodia, which is a leading country in this field, in mine clearance and operation of the machine in August.
16:36 Biden to meet Selenskyj next week at the White HouseUS President Joe Biden is expected to meet his Ukrainian counterpart Selenskyj again at the White House next week. This could happen during the NATO summit scheduled from July 9 to 11 in Washington, according to a press briefing at the White House. Several bilateral meetings with other leaders are being prepared, including one with Selenskyj.
16:01 Armenia holds military drills with US troopsArmenia, a neighboring country of Turkey and a former Soviet republic, is moving closer to the US. From July 15 to 25, the country plans to hold joint military drills with the US. The focus will be on peacekeeping. The relations between Armenia and Russia have deteriorated recently. The government in Yerevan is disappointed with Russia's behavior during the war with Azerbaijan over the region Nagorno-Karabakh. They did not come to Armenia's aid. Before that, Armenia had already distanced itself from Russia due to its attack on Ukraine.
15:20 Estonia delivers several Mistral systemsThe Ukraine is receiving a new air defense system, this time from Estonia. The country attacked by Russia has already received several short-range anti-aircraft missile systems along with ammunition, according to the Estonian Defense Ministry. It concerns a French-made system that has a range of six kilometers. It is intended to provide protection against low-flying helicopters and aircraft.
14:44 Turkey proposes "Peace Platform"Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan makes 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 participation and representation, 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 have reportedly taken control of another settlement in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, according to Russian statements. The troops are said to have "liberated" the approximately 30 kilometers northwest of Donezk located village of Sokil, the Russian Defense Ministry reported. The region of Donetsk, along with Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, is one of the Ukrainian regions that Russia declared annexed in September 2022. According to Ukrainian reports, the fiercest fighting along the entire front line is currently taking place in the region.
13:40 Le Pen: In case of RN victory, no French long-range weapons to be used against RussiaMarine Le Pen, leader of the right-wing Rassemblement National (RN), announced that if her party wins the elections, French long-range weapons will not be allowed for use in an attack on Russia. She made this statement in an interview with the US broadcaster CNN. Similarly, her party would not permit French troops to be stationed in Ukraine, which French President Emmanuel Macron has not ruled 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. The French are voting for their parliament tomorrow.
12:49 ISW: Putin confirms goal, to destroy Ukraine as a stateDuring a visit of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin again rejected the idea of a negotiated ceasefire. According to the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Putin instead aims for an end to the war that erases Ukraine's sovereignty. Among the conditions for peace talks are the cession of significant Ukrainian territories to Russia and the complete surrender of the Ukrainian military.
12:30 Ukraine: Half of electricity generation capacity lost due to Russian attacksDue to 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. 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 about nine gigawatts - roughly half of what was needed for the country's electricity supply during the previous winter. There is a risk that Ukraine will not have electricity, and possibly also heat and water, during the upcoming winter.
11:58 Ukrainian General Staff: 139 battles yesterdayThe Ukrainian General Staff reported in its daily report 139 battles at the front lines for the past 24 hours. Most of them took place in the Pokrowsk sector, in the Donetsk oblast, in the southeastern Ukraine. Six rocket attacks and 55 air raids with 72 bombs were recorded, as well as over 3000 attacks with grenades. In the northern region, around Kharkiv, the Russian troops also used combat jets.
11:22 Ukraine demands ban of Russian athletes supporting the war at Olympics
The Ukraine demands that Russian athletes be excluded from participating in the Olympic Games in Paris if they are proven to have supported the Russian military. The International Olympic Committee has determined that Russian and Belarusian athletes can compete as "neutral athletes" if they fulfill "strict participation conditions." They are therefore not allowed to participate in teams, present flags, or anything else associated with their homeland. The Ukrainian Olympic Committee has announced that some Russian athletes who have qualified for the Olympics have been found to support 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 glide bombs on the Charkiw region in the last 24 hours. The head of the military administration of the Charkiw region reported this to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform. There, three people were reportedly killed and six others were injured. From the Oblast Donezk, 11 civilian deaths and 43 injuries were reported.
10:08 Ukrainian General Staff: 1260 Russian losses since yesterday
The Ukrainian General Staff reports 1260 losses among Russian soldiers for the past 24 hours. According to Ukrainian sources, the total number of killed and wounded Russian soldiers since the beginning of 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 could unfold if Putin attacks the Baltic region
Security experts consider a Russian attack on the Baltic region in the coming years to be plausible to realistic. The NATO assures its members of support, but the alliance's response leaves room for different 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. This was announced by a high-ranking US government official 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 supply them.
08:30 One-third of Russians support atomic bombing of Ukraine
According to a survey presented by the 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 themselves with Vladimir Solovyov, who constantly calls for the use of 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 Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russia's President Vladimir Putin. "Hungary is taking the lead and speaks with both direct conflict parties on the first day of its EU Council Presidency," explains the foreign policy spokesperson of the faction, Matthias Moosdorf. "The AfD fraction welcomes the fact that now, on the highest European level, the possibilities of a ceasefire with the goal of peace talks are being prioritized." The "EU and its personnel" are referred 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 sources. The Information Center for National Resistance reports this based on a statement from the Center. "The occupiers have used this practice before. Locals are taken to a checkpoint and expelled from their homeland," the Resistance Center shares. In some cases, people were reportedly forced to obtain passports. During the latest raids in the south, residents were allegedly threatened with expulsion and confiscation of their property.
07:19 SPD Expert Demands More Money for Defense
After the agreement on the federal budget 2025, members of the government are concerned about the financing of the Bundeswehr. The military must procure weapons and ammunition, which it hands over to Ukraine, from its own budget. SPD budget expert Andreas Schwarz speaks of a "disappointing number" in light of the meager increase in the defense budget of only 1.2 billion euros. "This does not meet what we need in the defense sector," Schwarz told the Tagesspiegel. The President of the Reservists' Association, Patrick Sensburg, also stated that Germany would not be "war ready" with this funding.
06:37 Russia: Ukrainian Drones Attack Belgorod
In drone attacks on the city of Shebekino in the Russian oblast Belgorod, several buildings, vehicles, and an industrial plant were damaged, and one person was injured, according to the local governor. The governor reported that a total of 11 houses were damaged and power lines in the community were damaged, as well as social infrastructure.
06:10 Zelensky Thanks New British Prime Minister
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanks the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his support of Ukraine. "I am grateful to Keir Starmer for his assurance that the United Kingdom's support for Ukraine remains unchanged in principle," Zelensky writes on Telegram. He and Starmer reportedly aligned their positions ahead of the NATO summit in the coming week. According to a high-ranking US official, NATO will present a "bridge to membership" for Ukraine at the summit in Washington.
03:45 Burning Oil Depots after Drone Attack in Russia
Ukrainian drones are reported to have attacked several areas in the Russian region of Krasnodar. The Russian news agency RIA Novosti reports this, among other things. In Yeisk, debris from a downed drone damaged a mobile phone mast. In other places, several fuel tanks were reportedly set on fire. There are no reported injuries.
02:07 Drone Attacks: Sumy without Water and Power
According to local authorities, Russian drone attacks have disrupted the power and water 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 Donetsk. "Every city and every village in the Donetsk region is constantly threatened by hostile attacks," Governor Wadym Filaschkin wrote on Telegram. Independent of this, Russian troops had dropped three guided bombs on the further southwestern village of Komar, resulting in the death of a 32-year-old woman. Twenty more people were injured. Thirteen private houses, four businesses, two residential buildings, and two infrastructure facilities were damaged in the attack.
23:16 Starmer confirms "unlimited" support for Ukraine against Russia
In his first phone call with US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that Britain would provide "unlimited" support for Ukraine in the war against Russia. The two leaders reaffirmed their "unwavering commitment to Ukraine," according to a statement from Starmer's office just a few hours after his swearing-in.
21:49 US cancels military exercises with Georgia
The US is canceling planned joint military exercises with Georgia against the backdrop of tensions with the Georgian government. The US military's participation in the scheduled Noble Partner maneuvers, which were set to take place between July 25 and August 6, is "suspended indefinitely," the US Defense Department announced. The background was "false accusations" from the Georgian government. The Pentagon refers to statements that the US had pressured Georgia to declare war on Russia and was involved in "two coup attempts" against the government.
20:35 Insider: Hungary cancels planned meeting with Baerbock
The planned Monday trip of Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to Budapest does not take place. The Hungarian side suddenly canceled the appointment with Baerbock, according to the Foreign Office.
21:20 Zelensky thanks Germany for third Patriot system
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanks Germany for the delivery of the third Patriot air defense system. "This is great news," Zelensky said in his evening video message. He also thanked the US for further steps to strengthen Ukrainian air defense. He did not provide details, but said that Ukraine had already shown that it could shoot down Russian rockets that it could not intercept. "The Ukraine is doing everything to ensure that Russian terror ends," Zelensky said.
20:48 NATO Expert: "We must bring down Russia"
NATO expert Stefanie Babst calls for a more decisive approach from the alliance towards Russia. "We can only get a hold of this adversary by bringing down the Russian government. Not just pushing them out of Ukraine but reducing their influence in their area of operation so they can no longer exert their toxic influence in Europe," Babst said in a podcast for t-online's Tagesanbruch. This requires a more determined action. "We look at Putin like Lord Voldemort and are afraid he might pull out his wand," Babst appealed. The 60-year-old is a former leading staff member of NATO's International Staff.
20:15 Kremlin not optimistic about 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. "They are not optimistic about it at all," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in Moscow. "Based on their previous statements, they do not seem inclined towards any flexibility or creativity to normalize the bilateral Russian-British relations."
You can read about previous developments here.
- Despite the ongoing Ukraine conflict and tensions with Russia, Ukraine is set to receive new air defense systems from Estonia, including several Mistral systems.
- The Russian military has reportedly captured another settlement in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, adding to the ongoing military operations in Ukraine.
- In response to Russian attacks against Ukraine, the Ukrainian government has demanded that Russian athletes participating in the Olympic Games in Paris be excluded if they are found to be supporting the Russian military.
- A Turkish foreign minister has proposed a "Peace Platform" to expand efforts to end the war in Ukraine, with a focus on diplomacy and broad participation.
- Amidst tensions with Russia, NATO is expected to present a "bridge to membership" for Ukraine at the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, according to a high-ranking US official. This could mark a significant development in the Ukraine conflict and the broader geopolitical dynamics involving Russia and NATO.
