17:38 Russians take at Pokrovsk 26 attempts to break the Ukrainian defense lines
Beyond the clashes in Ukraine's push into Russian territory around Kursk, Russian forces have continued their attacks in the east of Ukraine. The main areas of combat were around Torez and Pokrovsk, as reported by the Ukrainian General Staff in Kyiv. The heaviest fighting was registered at Pokrovsk on the outskirts of the Donbass. In total, Russian units made 26 attempts since the morning to break through Ukrainian defense lines, all of which were repelled. Independent confirmation of these reports is not possible. At Torez, Russian troops once again attempted to advance towards the settlement of Niu York (New York), but these attacks were also repulsed. Additionally, the city of Torez was targeted by Russian air strikes.
17:10 Meeting of Abbas and Putin announced for Monday in MoscowPalestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will visit Moscow from August 12 to 14 and is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 13, according to Palestinian Ambassador to Russia Abdel Hafiz Nofal, as reported by the state-run Russian news agency TASS. "The President will arrive in the evening of August 12. It is expected that he will meet with President Putin on Tuesday, and beforehand, Mahmoud Abbas will lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow. The President will depart on August 14. But of course, there will also be a meeting with the Arab ambassadors," Nofal emphasized. According to the diplomat, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict will be the main topic of the talks. "The situation in Gaza. They will discuss the role of Russia and what can be done. We have a very difficult situation, and Russia is a country close to us. We need to consult," said Nofal.
16:36 Bodies fully identified: Three girls among dead in Russian attack on supermarketThe identification of those killed in a Russian missile attack on Konstantinovka in the Donetsk region has been completed by the prosecutor's office. It has been confirmed that three children are among the dead. They are three girls aged 9, 11, and 16. On Friday, Russia carried out a missile attack on a shopping center in the center of Konstantinovka, killing 14 people and injuring 44 more. The attack hit the Eko-Market supermarket and a post office. Two children's bodies were identified on Saturday.
15:54 Ukrainian armored vehicles with white triangles spotted on the way to KurskDozens of Ukrainian armored vehicles have crossed the eastern Ukrainian region of Sumy, which borders the Russian region of Kursk. AFP reporters saw symbols in the form of a white triangle on the vehicles, apparently indicating that they are part of the Ukrainian army's push into Kursk. Fighting continues in the Russian border region of Kursk after the incursion of Ukrainian troops. The battles have been ongoing for the sixth consecutive day. The Ministry of Defense in Moscow reports that 35 drones were intercepted over Kursk and the regions of Voronezh, Belgorod, Bryansk, and Oryol overnight.
15:21 Kyiv Reports No Additional Belarusian Troops and Equipment at BorderAs of now, Ukraine has not seen any additional Belarusian troops at the border, despite Minsk's claims of reinforcing the border, according to the spokesperson of the state border guard service, Andrii Demtschenko. He made this statement a day after Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko ordered the deployment of reinforcements to the border areas with Ukraine. On Friday, several drones from Ukraine were shot down over Belarus. Lukashenko ordered the military presence in the directions of Gomel and Mozyr to be strengthened and sent, among other things, the Polonez rocket systems and the complexes of ballistic medium-range missiles Iskander there. The area borders the Kyiv, Shytomyr, and Chernihiv regions in Ukraine. "The situation at the border is fully under control. We are not registering any movement of equipment or personnel near our border," says Demtschenko.
14:43 Expert on Kursk Offensive: "Surprise Attack Benefits Kyiv"Defense and security expert Michael Clarke told the U.S. broadcaster Sky that Ukraine had launched a "completely surprising attack" against Russia in the Kursk region this week. In Clarke's view, everything indicates that Ukraine is "winning this battle as much as possible." "They have not only launched a surprise attack - they have launched an attack of complete astonishment. They have astonished the Russians and the Western supporters," he says. "The shock value of this surprise attack benefits Kyiv." The breach into Russian territory is at least 35 miles long and about 15 miles deep. Clarke estimates that there are about three or four Ukrainian brigades in Russia, which are "elite troops at the highest level." No information has been given about Ukraine's goals. But Clarke says that Kyiv is undoubtedly hoping to attract good units of the Russian army and relieve the Ukrainian front lines elsewhere. There are indications that Moscow is withdrawing its better units from the south of Ukraine, including from the areas of Chassiv Yar and Pokrovsk. "Russia will do everything necessary to eliminate this breach," says Clarke. "Putin can't let this slide."
14:04 Kyiv: Incursion into Russian Territory Aimed at "Destabilizing" RussiaThe incursion of Ukrainian troops into the west Russian border region of Kursk is aimed at "destabilizing" Russia, according to a Ukrainian security official who spoke to the news agency AFP. "We are on the offensive," he says. "Thousands" of Ukrainian soldiers are involved. "The goal is to disperse the enemy's positions, inflict maximum losses, and destabilize the situation in Russia," he says.
13:37 Russia Announces Harsh Response to Attacks on Border Region KurskAfter new Ukrainian attacks on the Russian border region of Kursk, Moscow has announced a harsh response. "A harsh reaction from the Russian forces will not be long in coming," explains the spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, on the online service Telegram. She announces that the instigators and perpetrators of the "crimes" in Kursk will be held accountable.
13:05 Belarus: Video Purports to Show Tank Transport to Ukraine BorderThe Belarusian Ministry of Defense has published footage on social media showing several tanks being loaded onto a train. The post preceding it states that units are being put on standby. The reinforcement of troops at the border between Belarus and Ukraine is a response to the alleged incursion of Ukrainian combat drones into Belarusian airspace.
12:48 Ukraine: 53 Russian Drones DestroyedUkraine claims to have shot down 53 out of 57 drones in the latest Russian attack. The drones were destroyed over various parts of the country, according to the air force of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Russia also used four North Korean rockets, it is reported.
12:20 Russia: Lancet Drone Destroys Ukrainian Tank in KurskThe Russian Ministry of Defense claims to have destroyed a Ukrainian tank in the Kursk region using a Lancet drone. The ministry shared this on Telegram, along with a video purporting to show the destruction of the Ukrainian forces' tank.
11:53 Zelensky: Russia Uses North Korean Rocket Against KyivUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his condolences to the family and relatives of the victims of the deadly Russian air strike on Kyiv on his X post. He stated that preliminary information suggests Russia used a North Korean rocket in this attack, another targeted terrorist act against Ukraine. Pyrotechnics experts are working to determine the exact data of the rocket.
11:31 Kriewald: "Lukashenko Does Well to Remain a Blusterer"ntv reporter Nadja Kriewald explains that Putin has been trying to drag Belarus into the active war zone for years and does not expect this to happen anytime soon.
10:41 Ukraine Wants to Destroy Russia's Military InfrastructureAfter a new deadly Russian air strike near Kyiv, Ukraine wants to permanently destroy Russia's military infrastructure to stop the killing of civilians. Andriy Yermak, head of the President's office in Kyiv, said in a video on his Telegram channel that it is necessary to destroy Russia's military infrastructure because the enemy does not accept other arguments. Ukraine hopes for a quick approval from its Western allies to use long-range rockets, even against Russian territory.
10:22 Ministry of Emergency Situations Delivers Aid to Border Region of KurskThe Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations is delivering humanitarian aid to the contested border region of Kursk. The ministry announced that convoys carrying tents, blankets, mobile generators, hygiene items, food, and drinking water have been sent to the region. In collaboration with local authorities, the aid will be distributed to the people. More than 76,000 people have had to leave their homes in the region due to ongoing clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces.
09:47 Ukraine: Kramatorsk Under Russian Fire AgainRussian forces have reportedly shelled the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region for the second day in a row, according to the Ukrainian governor of Donetsk, Vadym Lysychenko, on Telegram. Infrastructure facilities were hit in the attacks, and four people were injured. Kramatorsk is the administrative center of the Ukrainian-controlled parts of the Donetsk region. The Russian military controls eastern parts of the region.
08:59 Ukraine Reports Russian LossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new loss figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to the report, Russia has lost around 590,920 soldiers in the war against Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of 1,220. The report from Kyiv also states that six tanks, 58 artillery systems, and 27 drones were destroyed on the previous day of fighting. Since the start of the large-scale invasion, Russia has reportedly lost a total of 8,447 tanks, 16,663 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 328 helicopters, 13,399 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine, according to Ukraine. Western estimates put the losses at lower numbers, which are also likely to be minimum values.
08:07 Russia: Massive Drone Attacks in Russian Border Regions of Belgorod and VoronezhUkrainian forces have reportedly attacked the Russian regions of Belgorod and Voronezh with drones and missiles, in addition to the Russian region of Kursk (see entry 01:51). The governors of Voronezh and Belgorod announced this on their Telegram channels. Alexandr Gusev, governor of the Voronezh region, reported that the air defense system had shot down more than a dozen drones in the Voronezh region, causing damage to buildings. Gusev stated that there were no casualties. There were drone attacks in several settlements in Belgorod, according to Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region, on Telegram. Explosions and fires occurred in two locations, with no reported injuries.
07:32 Rescue Service: Two Dead After Russian Attack on Kyiv RegionA Russian missile attack (see entry 00:27) has killed a 35-year-old man and his four-year-old son in a suburb of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, according to the state rescue service. Three others were seriously injured. Missile debris fell on private homes in Brovary east of Kyiv in the evening, the rescuers reported on Telegram. The father and son were trapped under the rubble of a building.
07:04 Russia: Russian Su-25 Jet Allegedly Strikes Ukrainian Forces in Russian Kursk
A Russian combat aircraft of the Su-25 type is said to have attacked and hit Ukrainian forces in the border region of the Russian Kursk region, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense on Telegram. The Russian Ministry of Defense reports that the attack was carried out using unguided air-to-ground missiles. The Russian Ministry of Defense also states that the crew performed an air defense maneuver, triggered heat flares, and returned to the airbase after the mission. A video showing the combat aircraft's deployment was published on the Telegram channel of the Ministry of Defense. The Su-25 aircraft type is a ground attack aircraft developed in the Soviet Union and is currently being used to provide air support for Russian ground troops in the Ukraine war.
06:24 ISW: Kremlin Downplays Scale of Ukrainian Incursion in Kursk Region
The Kremlin has likely decided to declare an anti-terrorist operation instead of martial law to downplay the Ukrainian invasion in the Kursk region, preventing panic or a backlash at home, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The analysts suggest that the Kremlin is not ready to take more drastic measures to address the situation.
05:38 Orthodox Church with Moscow Ties May be Banned
In his evening video address on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hinted at strengthening "our Ukrainian spiritual independence," indicating that the country's leadership may ban the Orthodox Church with ties to Moscow. Since the Russian troops' invasion of Ukraine, the number of members in the other independent church has been growing. However, the Moscow-affiliated minority church still maintains its influence. The Ukrainian government accuses it of supporting the invasion and attempting to poison public opinion.
03:50 ISW: Ukrainians Hold and Advance Positions
Geolocated footage and Russian reports from yesterday suggest that Ukrainian forces have largely maintained their previously reported positions in the Kursk region and have made some advances, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
01:51 Russia: Injured by Ukrainian Missile in City of Kursk
At least 13 people, including two severely injured, were hurt by debris from a downed Ukrainian missile in the Russian city of Kursk, according to the acting governor of the border region.
00:27 Explosions in Ukrainian Capital Kyiv
Several explosions have been heard in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. According to AFP journalists, the explosions were heard in the city center and the east. The Ukrainian air force reported that two Russian missiles were targeted at the capital, while the Kyiv military administration reported the activation of air defense systems on the Telegram online service.
00:11 Ukraine Awaits "With Bated Breath" Decisions from the US, UK, and FranceThe Ukraine may soon receive further long-range weapons to sustain its defense against Russian aggression. In his evening video address, President Zelensky stated: "We also await with bated breath the decisions of the United States, the United Kingdom, and France regarding long-range capabilities - decisions that will bring us closer to a just peace." For a long time, Ukraine had attempted to persuade Germany to supply Taurus long-range missiles, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected this request.
22:17 Ukraine Suspects 28 Officials in Defense Budget EmbezzlementThe Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office, in collaboration with the State Investigation Bureau, National Police, and Security Service of Ukraine, conducted a special operation to expose the organizers and participants in criminal schemes involving the embezzlement of defense budget funds. The total damage to the state amounts to over 1.5 billion Hryvnia, approximately 33,000 Euros. The investigation revealed that employees of the Ministry of Defense, military units, joint ventures, regional military administrations, city councils, and company directors in various regions of Ukraine were involved in the embezzlement. As a result of the investigation, 28 individuals were identified as suspects, including nine members of organized criminal groups.
You can read about all previous developments here.
The Ukrainian General Staff continues to report heavy fighting in the east of Ukraine, with the main areas of conflict around Torez and Pokrovsk. The situation in Gaza is expected to be the main topic of discussion between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who are scheduled to meet in Moscow.
Despite Minsk's claims of reinforcing the border, Ukraine has not seen any additional Belarusian troops or equipment at the border as of now. Reports suggest that Ukraine has shot down 53 out of 57 drones in the latest Russian attack.
