17:31 United Kingdom: Ukrainians should decide for themselves about weapon usage
Britain will let Ukraine decide on the use of Western weapons against Russian territory.
"It is important that Ukraine makes its own decisions regarding its deployments during this war and that its young men and women are at the front," says Foreign Secretary David Lammy in an interview with the German Press Agency in response to a question about lifting restrictions on the use of Western weapons. Lammy spoke on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit, where nearly 50 state and government heads gathered in Oxfordshire, England. The Russian offensive war against Ukraine once again dominated large parts of the agenda, as it had at previous meetings.
16:56 Ukrainian power grid reports "significant power deficit"
Following the nighttime failure of two power plants in Ukraine, the power grid operator Ukrenergo has drastically reduced power supply. Eleven regions and the capital Kiev are affected by the restrictions between 8 and 22 local time, according to Ukrenergo. "A significant power deficit in the Ukrainian energy system is the result of eight massive attacks that the enemy has carried out against energy facilities since the beginning of the year," Ukrenergo states, without providing specific details about the affected facilities or the cause of the current outages. Previously, Ukraine reported that it had lost nearly half of its production capacity due to the attacks Russia has intensified since the spring. As a result, power outages continue to occur, and the country must import electricity in large quantities from the EU.
16:22 Germany takes in critically ill children from Kiev
Following the Russian rocket attack on the Ochmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kiev, Germany has admitted eight children who had previously been treated there. The Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Home Affairs and the Federal Health Ministry made this known in a joint statement. The children are between a few months and 15 years old. Most of them are oncology patients. "The rocket attack on the children's clinic in Kiev once again showed the inhumane brutality with which Putin is waging his war against Ukraine," says Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. The children are accompanied by a total of ten close relatives. Since March 2022, more than a thousand severely injured and critically ill patients have been brought from Ukraine to Germany for medical treatment. Germany's humanitarian support for Ukraine will be continued with all efforts, Faeser added.
15:51 Russia considers deploying additional atomic missiles
Russia is not ruling out the deployment of additional atomic missiles and mentions a response to the recently announced stationing of conventional US weapons in Germany. The focus is on the defense of the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, which is located furthest west among the NATO countries Poland and Lithuania, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, speaking to the Interfax news agency. The USA and the German government announced last week that the USA plans to station long-range US weapons such as Tomahawk cruise missiles and currently under development hypersonic weapons in Germany starting in 2026. "I exclude no options," Ryabkov said in response to a question about a Russian reaction.
15:12 Ukraine: Russian munitions depot on the Crimea destroyed
Ukraine claims to have attacked military targets on the Crimea peninsula, which is annexed by Russia, using flying and swimming drones. According to security sources, during this joint operation by the Navy and the Ukrainian Security Service SBU, a command center and a munitions depot at the Donuslav-See in the western Crimea were destroyed or damaged. Russia had previously reported the interception of 33 Ukrainian drones over the Crimea (see entries 11:34 and 05:07), but made no statements about specific attack targets.
14:29 Starmer to Zelenskyy: "We will stand with you"
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warns at the European summit about a Russian threat and assures Ukraine permanent support. "You have no doubt: We will stand with you as long as it is necessary", Starmer tells Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy once again urges allies to allow the use of Western weapons against targets in Russia. "The fewer restrictions we have, the more peace Russia will seek", he says in his speech at the English Blenheim Palace in Oxford. He refers to the fact that the permission of some Western countries to allow attacks on targets near Charkiw in Russian territory has not led to an escalation.
14:02 Ukrainian army withdraws from another village
The Ukrainian army has withdrawn from the village of Uroschaine in the Donezk region. This is reported by "Kyiv Independent" quoting a spokesperson for the Chortyzja military group. In earlier media reports, it was said that Uroschaine had been taken by Russian forces. The village is located on the southern frontline in a region of Donezk that borders on Saporischschja. According to the spokesperson, the Ukrainian army withdrew "because the enemy had almost completely destroyed everything in Uroschaine". The decision was made "to protect the lives and health of our soldiers who were defending there".
13:20 US musician in Russia sentenced to 13 years for "drug trafficking"
A Russian court sentences an American citizen to 13 years in prison on charges of drug trafficking. Michael Travis Leake was found "guilty of drug sales", reports the Press Service of the Moscow Justice at Telegram. He was sentenced to 13 years in a strict regime penal colony. The former paratrooper and musician from the USA was taken into custody in June of the previous year. He was accused of "organizing the sale of drugs to young people". According to information from the US TV network CNN, Michael Travis Leake is a musician and music producer who has lived in Russia for many years.
12:43 Behind closed doors: Second hearing for US Journalist Evan Gershkovich in Russia
The trial against US journalist Evan Gershkovich in Russia is continuing. The second hearing in the case is taking place behind closed doors, as a court spokesperson in Yekaterinburg confirmed. Journalists have been denied access to the courtroom. Gershkovich, who is 32 years old, is accused of espionage. If convicted, the journalist from the "Wall Street Journal" faces up to 20 years in prison in a labor camp. The second hearing, which was moved forward on request from the defense from August 13 to July 18, was closed to the public from the outset. Gershkovich is the first western journalist to be arrested in Russia since the end of the Cold War on espionage charges. He has been in pre-trial detention since his arrest in March 2023. President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia is open for a prisoner exchange with the US.
12:10 Ukraine sends wheat for 100,000 Palestinian families
Despite the war and constant shelling: Ukraine has shipped 1,000 tons of wheat flour to the Palestinian territories, according to the "Kyiv Independent". This is supposed to be the first tranche of three humanitarian aid packages that are being sent as part of the "Grain from Ukraine" program. The first package is said to be able to feed more than 100,000 Palestinian families for a month, according to the Foreign Ministry.
11:34 Russia: 33 Ukrainian drones over Crimea
Russia shot down 33 Ukrainian drones over Crimea, according to its own statements. Russian Defense Ministry reports via Telegram that Russian forces in the Black Sea also destroyed ten remotely operated watercraft that were on their way to the annexed peninsula. The governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhaev, announced that loud noises in the city on the Crimean peninsula were due to the repulsion of an "attempted attack with an over-water drone". Two more drones were reportedly intercepted by the Russian Defense Ministry in the border region of Bryansk. "There were no casualties or damage," the governor, Alexander Bogomas, reported on Telegram.
11:05 Tens of thousands affected: All kindergartens near the border in Belgorod closed
In the southern Russian region of Belgorod, all kindergartens in the immediate vicinity of the Ukrainian border have been temporarily closed, according to official reports. The reason given is the danger of shelling, reportedly stated by the responsible official Anna Kutasheva to Russian media. The measure applies from Wednesday initially for the rest of the week for institutions within a 20-kilometer radius of the border. According to Russian media, the closure affects 50,000 people in the region.
10:32 Joint Maneuver concluded - "Trust between the Chinese and Russian Navy strengthened"China and Russia have concluded a joint naval maneuver. The Chinese Navy reports that all planned projects and exercises of the "Joint Sea 2024" maneuver were completed on Wednesday. This six-day maneuver, during which a "joint response to maritime security threats" was reportedly trained, saw the participation of at least seven warships. The maneuver "strengthened professional exchanges, mutual understanding, and trust between the Chinese and Russian Navy," and improved "the standardization and systematization" of "practical bilateral cooperation," according to the Chinese Navy. The maneuver took place off the coast of the harbor city Zhanjiang in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong.
10:06 Von der Leyen: "We must give Ukraine everything it needs"European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen demonstrates the EU's resolve against Russia. "Russia is counting on Europe and the West giving in," she says. "And some in Europe are playing along." Von der Leyen criticizes Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban's trip, which she calls a "pacification mission." However, the EU's support for Ukraine is permanent. "We must give Ukraine everything it needs to resist and emerge victorious."
09:38 Heavy Russian attacks in Ukrainian Eastern FrontThe Ukrainian General Staff reports on heavy Russian attacks on the front in the east of the country. There were 29 Russian storm attacks at the frontline near the town of Torezk, the military reports in its morning briefing. The fighting was particularly intense at a village called New York. The enemy also used parachute bombs dropped from aircraft. Torezk is located in the Donezk region, as is the second heavily affected frontline area Pokrowsk. There, the report mentions 26 attacks. Russian troops are slowly advancing in this area following the capture of the city of Avdiivka in February. The General Staff reports 144 Russian attack attempts since Wednesday morning. According to an unofficial report, Ukrainian troops are expected to abandon the village of Kaliniwka near the city of Chassiw Jar.
09:00 Kiev reports success in drone defenseThe Ukrainian Air Force claims to have intercepted all 16 drones fired by Russian forces at targets in Ukraine during the night. In addition, two of three Russian rockets were reportedly intercepted. The projectiles were destroyed over five regions.
08:17 How much does Russia pay its soldiersThe Russian government is reportedly paying soldiers and their families between 2.75 trillion and 3 trillion Rubles – approximately 31 to 33.9 billion US dollars – from July 2023 to June 2024 in salaries and compensation. The group Re:Russia, which condemns the war in Ukraine, estimates this amount to be 1.4-1.6% of the expected Russian Gross Domestic Product in 2024 and 7.5-8.2% of the budget expenditures.
07:42 Umerov: US Election not decisive for Ukraine's success in defense
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated, according to his own statements, that the outcome of the US election is not crucial for his country's success in defending against Russian aggressors. Ukraine will find a way to combat Russian aggressors regardless of whether Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is re-elected in November and potentially endangers crucial US support, Umerov said. He refers to the diplomatic and military challenges that Ukraine faces following Trump's official nomination as presidential candidate and J.D. Vance as his vice presidential candidate. "We believe in the leadership role of the US, and we believe that America wants its partners and allies to be strong as well," Umerov added. "In this phase, we will focus on the battlefield." Vance advocates for blocking military and financial aid for Ukraine, while Trump wants to end the war immediately.
07:11 Lavrov rejects peace conference, "not all territories liberated"
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov sharply criticizes Western plans for another peace conference on Ukraine. There are points that are unacceptable for his country, Lavrov said. "There has been an attempt to forcefully impose the so-called Zelenskyy Plan, which has the clear form of an ultimatum." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine a condition for peace. Lavrov, however, insists on the demand of Moscow to seize more Ukrainian territory. "There (in the east and southeast of Ukraine) are still not all territories liberated. We cannot leave the people who have voted for a return to Russia under the regime that is erasing everything Russian," Lavrov said. The claim that the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine must be protected is a pretext used by Vladimir Putin as a justification for the war against the neighboring country. Traditionally, many Ukrainians, particularly in the eastern part of the country, speak Russian - but do not want to be part of Russia.
06:35 Lavrov: "Undeniable evidence" of US journalist's espionage
According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, there is "undeniable evidence" that Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is a spy. As reported by the Associated Press, Lavrov also accused US journalists of delaying negotiations between the US and Russia on a potential prisoner exchange by reporting on confidential talks. According to Lavrov, the Gershkovich case has nothing to do with "attacks on journalism." "I would like to assure you that we, like you, support journalism and freedom of speech," Lavrov said. In reality, there are no independent media left in Russia, many journalists have fled the country, and others have been subjected to massive repression. Gershkovich himself was arrested in Yekaterinburg at the end of March 2023 while working on a report about the recruitment methods of the Wagner mercenary group and the opinions of Russian citizens about the war in Ukraine. The journalist has been in pretrial detention since then due to espionage charges. A hearing is taking place today.
05:53 Pistorius: We need to defend against an attack war
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius understands the fears of the population regarding the planned stationing of US long-range rockets in Germany. "We need to protect ourselves as best we can. I understand the concerns of the people about an escalation," the SPD politician told the "Rheinische Post" and the "General-Anzeiger." The conditions are completely different now than they were five or ten years ago. "There is an aggressor on the eastern flank of NATO again." In light of this, Pistorius calls for a change in the country and defends his demand to be "battle-ready" in the coming years. "I don't even like the word 'battle-ready.' But it's the truth that we protect ourselves best when we are able to repel a potential war," he said.
05:03 Drone alarm in Russian Black Sea port
The mayor of the Russian Black Sea port of Noworossijsk, Andrey Krawtchenko, is warning of drones at sea. Via Telegram, he is urging citizens to stay away from the coast. Ukrainian drones have attacked Russian ships near the port in the past and disrupted traffic. Noworossijsk is Russia's largest Black Sea port and an important transshipment hub for the export of oil and oil products. Meanwhile, the governor of Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula, Mikhail Razvozhayev, reports that Russian forces have destroyed a Ukrainian drone in the Black Sea near the city.
03:18 Zelensky remembers Boeing downing ten years ago
Ukrainian President Zelensky remembers the victims of the downing of a passenger plane ten years ago over the Donbass region in his daily video address. "There were 298 people on board, including 80 children," he said. "I have no doubt that the trial and the work of international justice as a whole will lead to absolutely just sentences for those responsible for this tragedy," Zelensky added. This punishment is also necessary, he said, just as it is for all other crimes Russia has committed in the war. The Malaysia Airlines Boeing was shot down by pro-Russian rebels with a Russian surface-to-air missile on July 17, 2014, over contested territory in eastern Ukraine.
02:13 Pistorius: More applicants for the Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr is seeing an increasing number of applicants. "There are more and more people who are volunteering, precisely because they want to serve their homeland," Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told the "Rheinische Post." Compared to the previous year, there were 15 percent more people who had applied for military service by July 8. However, Pistorius wants to quickly implement his new conscription model. "But I need a quick entry into military service, because we are threatened. That's why I'm starting with the men, and then the women will come as soon as possible," Pistorius said. The draft law is expected to be completed in the fall.
00:56 Report: Fight for bridgehead at Dnipro costs Kiev many casualtiesAt the fight for a now abandoned bridgehead at the Dnipro in the southeast of the country, Ukraine has reportedly suffered heavy losses according to media reports. More than 1000 soldiers on the Ukrainian side are said to have died in the month-long battle for the small town of Krynki. 788 soldiers stationed there are reported missing, according to the Internet portal Slidstwo, citing police circles. 262 soldiers have been recovered dead in the same time period. The battles for the town of Krynki were criticized from the start due to the futility of the situation. The troops stationed there could hardly be supplied with reinforcements across the river. Dead and wounded could only be transported away in rare cases.
23:52 Air Alarm: Drones attack KievThere is another air alarm in Kiev. Loud explosions can be heard over the city. Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced on Telegram that the air defense systems have been activated. Debris has reportedly fallen in the central district of Darnytsky, but initial reports indicate no damage. Shortly beforehand, the Ukrainian Air Force had warned that drones from the east were heading towards Kiev. Furthermore, drones were reportedly detected in the regions of Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk. At least 43 people were killed by Russian air raids on Kiev and other Ukrainian cities on July 8.
23:10 Estonia and Lithuania ban cars with Belarusian license platesEstonia and Lithuania announce that they will no longer allow cars with Belarusian registration plates into their country at their borders with Russia and Belarus. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna says the ban has been imposed because Belarus "directly contributes to Russian aggression in Ukraine and supports it." Lithuania had recently announced similar measures. The three countries, along with Poland, Finland, and Norway, had already banned the entry of cars with Russian registration into their sovereign territory in 2023.
22:23 Zelenskyy on prisoner exchange: "We must bring them all back"In his evening video address, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy welcomes back the 95 soldiers who have returned from Russian captivity (see entry at 14:36). Zelenskyy writes on X: "We are bringing our people home. Another 95 defenders have been released from Russian captivity. Among them are soldiers of the Ukrainian armed forces, the National Guard, and the Border Guard." After thanking the United Arab Emirates for their role in securing this release, he continues: "We must bring them all back."
21:56 Moscow sentences Russian traitors to harsh prison terms
A Moscow military court sentenced two Russians to lengthy prison terms for attempting to join the ranks of the "Freedom Legion of Russia" recruiters. According to Radio Free Europe (RFE), the Legion is a paramilitary unit where deserters from the Russian armed forces and other Russian and Belarusian volunteers fight on Ukraine's side against Russia. The 24-year-old Andrei Morozov was sentenced to twelve years in prison, and the 56-year-old Muscovite Anatoli Poplavski to five and a half years. RFE reports that Poplavski has two young children living in Ukraine and a wife he is currently divorcing. The statement notes that the man lived in two countries for some time.
21:00 Lavrov blames US for escalation of violence
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking at a UN Security Council session, attributed responsibility for the many deaths in Ukraine and the Palestinian territories to the United States. "By granting diplomatic protection to Israel and supplying it with weapons and ammunition, Washington has become - this is clear to all - a direct party to the conflict, just as in Ukraine," Lavrov is quoted as saying by Russian agencies in New York. He further stated that as soon as the US ceased its support, the bloodshed would end in both cases. In reality, Moscow began the offensive war in Ukraine's east in 2014 and expanded it to the entire country in February 2022. A Russian troop withdrawal from Ukraine would also end the deaths in Ukraine.
You can read about previous developments here.**
- The Foreign Secretary of Britain, David Lammy, supports Ukraine's decision to deploy its forces during the Ukraine-Conflict, emphasizing the importance of allowing Western weapons to be used if needed against Russian territory.
- Following the Russian offensive against Ukraine's power grid, the country is experiencing power outages and must import electricity in large quantities from the EU due to the attacks on energy facilities.
- In response to the Russian rocket attack on the Ochmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kiev, Germany is admitting critically ill children from Ukraine for medical treatment while condemning Putin's inhumane brutality in the conflict.
- Russia is considering deploying additional atomic missiles in response to the planned stationing of US weapons in Germany, with a focus on the defense of the Kaliningrad exclave.
- Ukraine claims to have attacked military targets on the Crimea peninsula, which is annexed by Russia, using flying and swimming drones, destroying a command center and a munitions depot.
