17:25 Grossi expresses grave concern near the Kursk nuclear power plant.
16:51 Syrskyj: Russia Deploys 30,000 Soldiers to Kursk RegionThe objective of Ukraine's operation in Kursk is to divert Russian troops from other areas, specifically Pokrovsk and Kurachovo in Donetsk. As per Ukrainian military leader Oleksandr Syrskyj, Russia is already transferring around 30,000 soldiers to Kursk. And the number keeps growing, Syrskyj reveals. This move indicates a reduction in Russia's activities in southern Ukraine. However, the pressure remains intense in Pokrovsk, where Moscow is bolstering its strongest combat troops, Syrskyj adds.
16:25 Fatal Russian Missile Strike in Kharkiv RegionRussian forces targeted Bohoduchiw in Kharkiv with missiles, resulting in one death and six injuries, according to Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office. A 71-year-old woman was killed when one missile hit a bus stop. The Russian attacks impacted industrial facilities, residential areas, and vehicles too.
15:57 Shmyhal Anticipates Ukraine's $15 Billion Budget Deficit in 2025Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that Ukraine requires an additional $15 billion to cover its budget deficit in 2025, with a total deficit estimated at $35 billion in 2023 and plans to cover $20 billion. The Ukrainian government anticipates a deficit of around $38 billion in 2024. Shmyhal suggested increasing taxes and borrowing more on the domestic debt market to fund the war against Russia. The parliament will evaluate these proposals in September.
15:32 Ukraine Explores Homegrown Weapon Systems DevelopmentFollowing the largest bombing and missile attack by Russian forces since the beginning of the war, Ukraine seeks alternative defense methods beyond Western aid.
15:11 Zelensky: Ukraine Successfully Launches First Domestically Produced Ballistic MissileAs claimed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine has successfully test-fired its homegrown ballistic missile for the first time. "Our defense industry has successfully launched the first Ukrainian ballistic missile," Zelensky says, but refrains from sharing details about the missile.
14:45 Moscow Accuses US of Interfering in Kursk Region IncursionRussian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov considers the US involvement in the Ukrainian incursion into the Russian Kursk region as a fact. He hints at more severe repercussions from Moscow. However, he fails to provide evidence or details. The US Senate denied any prior knowledge of this sudden Ukrainian invasion of Kursk on August 6.
14:19 Zelensky: F-16 Jets Deflect Russian MissilesUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reports that Ukrainian F-16 fighter jets have already intercepted incoming Russian missiles. "During this massive missile attack, we managed to thwart some missiles with the help of F-16s," Zelensky mentions. The aircraft were primarily used to repel the heavy air assault on Monday. The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium have pledged more than 60 of these US-built fighter jets to Ukraine.
13:59 Air Alert Near Kursk Russian Nuclear Power PlantThere is a brief air raid warning in Kursk, home to the Russian nuclear power plant in the Kursk region. A Reuters reporter reported the sirens due to a potential missile threat. The Kursk nuclear power plant is under current inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head, Rafael Grossi.
13:44 Russian Army Seizes Another Town Near PokrovskThe Russian military claims to have captured a village near the strategic city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the capture of Orlowka, which is actually the Ukrainian village of Orliwka, in the Donetsk region, through Telegram. Despite ongoing clashes against Ukrainian soldiers in the Russian region of Kursk, Moscow persists with its advance in Donetsk, frequently proclaiming the seizure of new towns. Pokrovsk and its surrounding areas remain significant targets.
13:21 Lavrov Threatens Nuclear ConsequencesRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov perceives Ukraine's solicitation to its allies for Western-supplied weapons to invade Russia as a form of blackmail. He alerts that it's dangerously irresponsible for major nuclear powers to "play with fire" and that Russia is revising its nuclear policy. He fails to elaborate, but the policy permits the use of nuclear weapons in defense of Russia's sovereignty or territorial integrity.
13:04 Syrskyj: Ukrainian Forces Progress in Kursk; Troubles in PokrovskAccording to Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Syrskyj, Ukrainian soldiers are making headway in the Russian region of Kursk.However, Russian forces are pushing towards the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. The overall situation in Pokrovsk is challenging.
After the latest drone attacks, Russia is ramping up its missile attacks on Ukraine once more. This surge in attacks isn't random, as per ntv correspondent Rainer Munz's analysis. Winter and the heating season are fast approaching.
12:33 Kyiv: 594 Russian POWs Captured in KurskAs per the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Olexander Syrskyj, Ukraine has successfully captured 594 Russian soldiers in the Kursk region. This is the first time he's disclosed such a number. Earlier in the week, the "Washington Post" had identified at least 247 Russian POWs through image and video analysis.
12:09 Power Outages and Restrictions to Persist for more DaysFollowing Russia's largest assault on Ukraine since the war's commencement, power outages and "extreme" power limitations are expected to prevail for an additional 1 to 2 weeks, according to Iwan Plachkow, President of the Ukrainian Energy Association, speaking with Kyiv24 TV. Plachkow described Monday's Russian assault as "one of the most extensive attacks on the energy infrastructure," aiming to induce a "complete blackout in the energy system."
11:46 Roth: Russia Tries to Spark Refugee Migration to EU with Wave of AttacksGermany's SPD foreign policy specialist, Michael Roth, believes Russia is exploiting its massive attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure to instigate a refugee influx towards Europe. Roth stated the current attack series mark the initiation of a new destruction campaign against Ukraine's energy infrastructure. "Russia wants to disable Ukraine's weapon production, and on the other hand, make life miserable for Ukrainians to trigger new refugee migrations to the EU," Roth stated to Politico. He urged support for the upcoming "harsh winter," including backup generators, and US approval for the use of long-range weapons against Russian airfields.
11:21 Ukrainian Border Guard: No Troop Movements in BelarusThe Ukrainian Border Guard reports no substantial troop movements in Belarus. Spokesman Andrij Demtschenko informed Ukrainian television that no military or equipment mobilization has been detected near the border. However, the Belarusian border remains a potential threat to Ukraine. Lately, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry acknowledged that Belarus had amassed troops and equipment near the border. Belarus is a close ally of Russia.
10:56 Russian Governor Confirms Ukrainian Incursion Attempts in BelgorodVyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region, confirmed via Telegram that "reports have surfaced of the enemy attempting to breach the border." This corroborates earlier reports from Russian Telegram channels. Gladkov stated that, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the border situation remains tricky but manageable. He urged residents to remain calm and rely only on official information sources. Gladkov also reported that Ukraine had assaulted the region with more than 20 drones within the last 24 hours. Kyiv hasn't yet responded to the alleged incidents.
10:50 Report: Ukraine Establishes New Heavy Troop FormationsUkraine is reportedly developing new mechanized brigades for defensive confrontations against Russian aggression, which could be operational by 2025, according to an independent Ukrainian portal "MilitaryLand." Personnel will be recruited from Ukrainians living abroad and partly trained there. A mechanized brigade typically comprises around 2,000 soldiers and is armed with heavy military equipment like tanks.
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10:44 IAEA Chief Grossi Inspects Russian NPP in KurskThe head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has arrived at the Kursk nuclear power plant in the Kursk region, according to a report by the Russian state news agency TASS. Grossi announced the previous day that he would personally lead the inspection of the facility near Kursk due to the critical situation. Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers entered the Kursk region in a surprise attack on August 6. Russia accuses Ukraine of repeatedly attacking the facility. Kyiv hasn't yet commented officially on this.
10:23 FSB Initiates Criminal Proceedings Against Deutsche Welle ReporterThe Russian security service FSB has reportedly initiated criminal proceedings against two foreign journalists. They are charged with illegally crossing the Russian border to report from the Kursk region after the Ukrainian invasion. Reuters reports this, citing the Russian news agency Interfax. According to Interfax, the journalists are a reporter for Deutsche Welle and a correspondent for the Ukrainian television channel 1+1. The FSB has reportedly initiated criminal proceedings against at least seven foreign journalists who have reported from Kursk.
09:45 Kyiv Announces Hefty Russian CasualtiesRussia has reportedly lost 1,280 soldiers within a day, as per the Ukrainian General Staff's report. The total number of Russian soldiers killed or incapacitated since the war's inception has now surpassed 610,100. Kyiv also reported that in the last 24 hours, 12 Russian tanks, 19 armored vehicles, 52 artillery systems, 120 drones, 103 rockets, and a multiple rocket launcher were destroyed. However, these figures are not substantiated independently. Russia continues to stay silent regarding its own losses.
09:21 "Everything En route to Kyiv Was Destroyed"Ukraine's air force claims to have shot down five Russian missiles and 60 drones. Russian attacks involved ten missiles and 81 drones, according to the air force's Telegram channel. Around 15 drones and several missiles were intercepted near Kyiv, as per the local military administration head, Serhiy Popko, on Telegram. He stated, "Everything en route to Kyiv was destroyed." As of 9 am local time (8 am CEST), ten drones were still in Ukrainian airspace. Other drones were destroyed as well. Three Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles and two Iskander missiles could not be intercepted, according to air force commander Mykola Oleschuk on Telegram. While the military's data is not 100% verifiable, it gives a good estimate of the attack's magnitude.
08:57 Tragic Nighttime Attacks Result in Fatalities - Russia Fires Kinzhal MissilesRussia carried out heavy air attacks on Ukraine for the second consecutive night, using a variety of weapons. As per initial reports, at least four people lost their lives - two due to a missile strike on a hotel in Kryvyi Rih and two more from drone attacks in Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine's air force disclosed that Russia employed long-range bombers, from which cruise missiles were launched, and used Kinzhal missiles.
08:33 Beijing Promotes Peace ProposalChina advocates for wider support for its peace plan. China's special envoy for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, conveyed this message after diplomatic discussions with Indonesia, Brazil, and South Africa. Li explained that these three nations, representing the Global South, have significant influence on promoting global peace. They have maintained communication with both Ukraine and Russia, and they are committed to resolving the conflict through dialog and negotiations, Li mentioned. China and Brazil released a joint peace plan this year, which advocates for a peace conference that involves all parties and seeks no further expansion on the battlefield. Russia did not attend a peace conference in Switzerland in June; it was not invited, and China opted not to participate.
08:05 Russian Achmat Commander: Two Villages in Kursk "Liberated"
In the recent clashes in the Russian region of Kursk, the Russian military asserts to have "liberated" two more settlements. As reported by the Russian state news agency TASS, Major General Apti Alaudinow, the deputy head of the military-political main department of the Russian Armed Forces and commander of the Chechen special unit Achmat, said, "I am delighted to report that the Arbat unit has completely cleared the settlements of Nishnaya Parovaya and Nechayev today, and the 1427th regiment is moving in. Thus, this area has also been sanitized and brought under control." The general noted that the situation on the front line remains unchanged. He added, "The enemy suffered heavy losses today. They attacked all day long and therefore suffered substantial losses." However, these claims cannot be independently verified. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) confirmed that geographical images published on Monday showed that Ukrainian forces were operating immediately west of Nechayev.
07:37 Biden Censures Latest Russian Assaults as "Inhumane"US President Joe Biden has criticized the latest Russian attacks on Monday as "inhumane." "I strongly denounce Russia's continued war against Ukraine and its attempts to immerse the Ukrainian people in darkness," Biden said. Russia will never succeed in Ukraine. Moscow is "focusing on the lifeblood" of Ukraine with attacks and is trying to "destroy supplies," the German Foreign Office stated on X. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the Russian attacks as "despicable."
07:05 ISW: Improbable Belarus Will Invade UkraineThe Institute for the Study of War (ISW) continues to assess that an invasion of Ukrainian territory by Belarusian forces is unlikely. The US think tank cites a recent study by the Ukraine-based open-source news organization Frontline Insight and Rochan Consulting, which suggests that Belarusian combat units typically operate at only 30 to 40 percent of their total strength and rely on mobilization to boost unit numbers. No mobilization has been observed. Instead, it is likely that Belarus is currently attempting to redirect Ukrainian forces elsewhere along the front line, thereby supporting Russian troops. The current number of Russian forces in Belarus is inadequate to coordinate an invasion from the Gomel region border. Additionally, a Belarusian invasion of Ukraine or military involvement in the war would weaken the ability of leader Alexander Lukashenko to protect his regime. Domestic discontent could significantly increase. The next presidential elections are already scheduled for February 2025.
06:32 Gabbard Backs Trump: USA from "Edge of Conflict": Previous Democratic Presidential Candidate Supports GOP CandidateFormer Democratic presidential aspirant and congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, now distancing herself from her political party, is endorsing the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, in the upcoming November elections. Gabbard has committed to doing everything in her power to help Trump regain the White House, she stated. Evaluating the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, the ex-National Guard member believes that if Trump wins reelection, he'll first work to pull the U.S. away from the precipice of war. Gabbard competed for the Democratic nomination in 2020 with minimal success and eventually backed Joe Biden, who eventually clinched the Democratic victory. As a representative from Hawaii, Gabbard campaigned at the time for a reduction in the military influence of U.S. foreign policy. Gabbard faced criticism that her candidacy was supported by Russia and that her goal was merely to weaken the Democrats.
06:17 Biden Praise for Modi's Ukraine TripU.S. President Joe Biden commends Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visit to Ukraine last week. Modi, whose nation maintains neutrality in the Ukraine-Russia war, tweets that he discussed with Biden India's complete backing for an expedient return to peace and stability in Ukraine. The White House explains that Biden lauded both Modi's participation in Ukraine and his visit to Poland the preceding week. Warsaw is among Eastern Europe's closest allies of Kyiv. We welcome any other country that pays heed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's perspective and desires to aid him in achieving a fair peace, says White House National Security Advisor John Kirby to reporters.
05:45 Witness Reports Multiple Explosions in KyivIn the latest drone assault on Kyiv, there have been a minimum of three series of explosions, according to eyewitness reports. No immediate reports of casualties or injuries have been received. The air defense systems in the Kyiv region have been active all night to obstruct missiles and drones targeting the capital, the regional military administration reports on Telegram. The attacks occur just a day after the largest Russian airstrike to date in this conflict.
05:03 Air Force: Russian Bombers Enroute to UkraineAccording to Ukrainian reports, Russia has deployed bombers and drones towards Ukraine. The Tu-95ms bombers took off from the Engels air base in southwestern Russia, the Ukrainian air force explains on Telegram. Attack drones are also on their way. Air alerts have been activated in numerous areas of Ukraine, as reported by local authorities.
04:04 Two Dead in Russian Missile Strike on Kryvyi RihThe number of fatalities from the Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih has risen to two, according to Ukrainian reports. Ukrainian authorities claim that a Russian missile struck a hotel. Up to five individuals could still be trapped under the hotel's debris, with rescue operations ongoing, Ukrainian media report, citing the military administrations of the district and the city. The city administration alleges that the hotel was hit by a ballistic missile. These assertions cannot be independently verified.
02:04 Renewed Drone Attack on KyivAnother Russian drone strike has been reported in the Kyiv region, according to Ukrainian reports. "Enemy UAV movement detected," the Kyiv region military administration reported on Telegram. "Air defense systems are active in the region."
00:35 Ukraine: At Least One Dead in Russian Missile Strike on Kryvyi RihAt least one individual has been killed in a Russian missile strike on a civilian infrastructure building in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih. Five more people could still be buried under the debris, regional authorities claim. The head of the Kryvyi Rih military administration, Oleksandr Vilkul, reported on Telegram that four individuals were hospitalized with injuries. The governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, Serhiy Lysak, reported on Telegram that the civilian building was "reduced to rubble." These findings cannot be independently confirmed. There has been no response from the Russian side regarding the incident.
23:19 Zelenskyy Threatens Retaliation Against Russia for Air StrikesFollowing extensive Russian air strikes against Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has threatened retaliation. The military response will be planned using F-16 fighter jets supplied by the West, Zelenskyy said in his evening video address. He did not provide specifics on the planned retaliation but again referred to the Ukrainian offensive in the Russian region of Kursk, which has been ongoing for three weeks.
22:03 US: Russia Trying to 'Plunge Ukrainian People into Darkness'After extensive bombardments of Ukraine, the US has accused Russia of attempting to "plunge the Ukrainian people into darkness upon the arrival of autumn," according to John Kirby, spokesman for the US National Security Council. The attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure are "outrageous," Kirby stated, condemning "the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine."
21:20 Further Evacuations in Donetsk AreaUkrainian authorities have ordered further evacuations in the Donetsk area due to the Russian advance. The evacuation zone has been expanded due to deteriorating security, with children and their parents or guardians instructed to leave their homes, Donetsk governor Vadym Fillaschkin reported. A total of 27 settlements in the Kostyantynivka and Selydove areas have been listed. Earlier, evacuations were ordered in the Pokrovsk area due to the Russian troops' progress.
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The military in Ukraine is working to divert Russian troops from other areas with their operations in Kursk, while Russia continues to deploy thousands of soldiers to the region.
Russian forces are accused of interfering in Ukraine's incursion into the Kursk region, a claim denied by the US Senate.
