17:39 ROSATOM head deplores Ukrainian attacks on transformer station at Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant
At a drone attack on a power substation in the southern Ukrainian city of Enerhodar, eight employees of the nearby Saporischja Nuclear Power Plant were reportedly injured according to Russian sources. The men were engaged in repair work to restore power supply, says the head of the Russian Atomic Energy Agency, Alexei Lichatsov. This not only compromises the safety principles of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), "it's a flagrant violation," Lichatsov complained. The power substation is part of the infrastructure of the NPP and supplies the city with electricity. There were reportedly three drone attacks within an hour. He demands a reaction from the IAEA on the attack. Russia took control of Europe's largest nuclear power plant shortly after the start of its offensive and has been holding it since then.
17:14 Video: Russian National Guards shoot at ConscriptsIn the Russian city of Osinniki, conscripts are seen dancing on the roof of the draft board building. The National Guards do not take kindly to this and attack the apparently drunk-looking men. Shots are heard, a woman falls to the ground. It is unclear if she was hit by a stray bullet.
16:39 Russian Army takes control of a neighborhood in Tschassiw Jar "levels it to the ground"The Russian army reportedly took control of a neighborhood in the strategically important city of Tschassiw Jar in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, according to Russian statements. The troops reportedly "liberated" the district of Nowi, the Russian Defense Ministry announced. It is not known if the Russian soldiers managed to overcome the canal in the east of the small town, which the Ukrainian army uses as a natural defensive line.
The pro-Ukrainian news channel "DeepState" reports that the district was "completely leveled to the ground." Further resistance would have led to heavy losses. "The retreat from the district is therefore a logical, if difficult, decision," it is further reported there. Tschassiw Jar is about ten kilometers from Bachmut, which in May 2023 was taken by Russian troops after long battles. A breakthrough could give the Russian army 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 detained Frenchman Laurent Vinatier reportedly confessed to the Russian security services that he had collected information on the Russian military. The employee of a Swiss non-governmental organization, the Humanitarian Dialogue Center (HD), reportedly admitted his guilt, according to the Russian domestic security service FSB. Vinatier is said to have built up numerous contacts to military experts, scientists, and officials during his visits to Moscow. Through these contacts, the Frenchman is said to have collected "military and military-technical information that could be used against the security of the Russian Federation." Vinatier works for the Swiss NGO Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) and was arrested in Moscow on June 6. He is accused of not registering as a "foreign agent."
15:34 Video: Russians report massive Ukrainian drone attack
The Ukraine is attacking Noworossiysk, according to Russian reports, with mass drone attacks from the air and water. The Russian Defense Ministry reports the interception of twelve targets. Spearfire and explosions illuminate the night sky over the Black Sea port city on the outskirts of the Caucasus Mountains.
15:02 Poll: Ukrainians see Germany as conditionally reliable, fear US secret negotiations with Moscow
Nearly half of Ukrainians in a survey conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations believe that the US could negotiate a peace plan with Russia behind Ukraine's back. 47% have such concerns, while 49% have little or no concern. The views of Ukrainians on their allies in the defense war against Russia vary by country. 84% see Britain as reliable or conditionally reliable, the highest percentage. 76% felt the same about Germany, but only 19% considered Berlin's support very reliable.
14:23 Scholz: Germany will not be a war party in the future
During the Bundestag government grilling, the topic of Ukraine also came up. When Left party deputy Gesine Lötzsch asks if Chancellor Olaf Scholz can give people the assurance that Germany will not become a war party, Scholz responds: "Yes, I give that assurance. I am the Chancellor." When asked about when a ceasefire could be reached, Scholz responds: "From my perspective, a ceasefire that aims for Ukraine's capitulation is one that we cannot support from Germany." This is not an abstract question, as one can see from Putin's 'peace offering.' Putin has said he is open to a ceasefire 'if Ukraine also gives us more, for free, on top.' This shows that they are thinking cynically there and that the Russian president is not at all intending to end his aggressive war. Putin only talks about peace negotiations to continue the war. "We will not tolerate that," Scholz promises.
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 formerly occupied territories and in Russia, according to the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform." The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office is working with the ICC on this matter. Ukrainian photographers Kostiantyn and Vlada Librov show on Instagram photos of Ukrainian soldiers who have fallen into Russian captivity and have since been freed. They write that it was 'the most difficult shooting of the last six months.'
13:19 Russian postal workers to replace doctors in rural areas in RussiaAccording to the "Moscow Times" report on Telegram, due to a lack of medical personnel in rural areas in Russia, postal workers are taking on medical tasks in some regions. Health and midwife stations are being set up in rural post offices. The postal workers are supposed to perform diagnoses and various medical interventions. Russian publicist Alexander Nevzorov called this practice, as reported by the "Kyiv Post," a return to the Middle Ages.
12:58 No agreement among NATO countries on long-term Ukraine aidNATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg failed to persuade NATO countries to make long-term commitments for military aid to Ukraine. The 32 allies could only agree to provide support in the amount of at least 40 billion Euros within the next year. This was reported by the German Press Agency and quoted several delegations.
12:24 Five dead, over 30 injured in Dnipro attack, Ukraine saysThe number of casualties from the Russian attack on Dnipro has risen to at least five, according to Ukrainian reports. At least 39 people were injured, including a 14-year-old girl. The attack reportedly used rockets and drones, causing several explosions and fires in the city. Reports suggest that a shopping mall and a weapons factory were hit.
11:31 Ukraine receives additional 2 billion Euros from the IWFThe financially stricken Ukraine has received an additional 2 billion Euros from the International Monetary Fund (IWF). This money is part of an ongoing credit program worth around 15 billion Euros. The money will be used by the government, according to Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal, mainly for social assistance and salaries of state employees, including doctors and teachers. Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has reportedly received over 80 billion Euros in aid from foreign partners in the form of budgetary 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 confirmed a fire in the city center.
10:40 Multiple civilians killed in Russian attacks, Ukraine reportsRussian 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, at least three people were reportedly killed and 18 others injured.
10:19 Kremlin: No talks with Trump over UkraineAccording to Interfax news agency, citing a spokesperson for the Russian Presidency, Russia is not in dialogue with former US President Donald Trump over Ukraine. Trump had stated during a recent TV debate with President Joe Biden that he would end the war in Ukraine before his inauguration in January if he won the November election.
09:46 Ukraine lacks Hangars to protect Combat jetsAccording to a report by the Ukrainian "Defense Express", the Ukrainian army does not have sufficient hangars to shield all their fighter jets from Russian attacks. The newspaper reports that a military airbase in the Poltava Oblast lacks 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 shield all the fighters.
09:16 Defense Committee approves purchase of 105 Leopard-2A8 TanksThe Defense Committee of the German Bundestag is set to approve the purchase of 105 Leopard-2A8 battle 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 battle tanks, replacing older Leo2 in the army and creating room for further appropriations to Ukraine", adds the FDP politician. According to the proposal, the order volume amounts to approximately three billion Euro. The defense conglomerate KNDS is set to deliver the tanks to the Bundeswehr by 2030.
08:44 Russia: Ukrainian attack on Black Sea port repelledRussia claims to have repelled attacks from two unmanned Ukrainian explosive boats on the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. The Defense Ministry reports that the drone boats 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 attack war against Ukraine have been stationed there since Ukraine attacked the Crimean ports. The Ministry does not comment on possible damages. The authorities in Novorossiysk urged people to stay in their homes and apartments during the night.
08:21 Majority of Ukrainians feel unity in societyForty-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 interviewees consider Ukrainian society to be divided. Corruption is named as the main problem, followed by language issues. Injustices during the war, collaboration, and Russophile sentiments are also mentioned as factors contributing to the division within society.
07:55 Kremlin: Ten Ukrainian attack drones destroyed over Russian territoryRussia claims to have 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 a statement by the Defense Ministry on Telegram. Additionally, two Ukrainian sea drones were destroyed, which had been heading towards the Novorossiysk port 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 tanks, 17 armored vehicles, 57 artillery systems, and 63 other tanks and vehicles were destroyed. Two Russian anti-aircraft systems and a missile were allegedly destroyed by the Ukrainians. The number of dead or wounded soldiers on the Russian side, according to 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 summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SOZ) partners in the capital Astana. During the two-day conference, issues of regional security, defense, and cooperation will be discussed. The heads of state and government of the SOZ 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 continues to reject territorial concessions to Putin
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 compromise 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 said during the television debate that he would not accept Putin's conditions. Putin had stated that Russia would end the war if Kiev was willing to surrender the territories in the east and south of the country that Moscow claims and occupies. In response to a question about how Ukraine views Trump's approach to the war, Yermak said: "Honestly, I don't know. We'll see."
05:42 USA to provide new military aid to Ukraine shortly
The Ukrainian military is in urgent need of supplies. The USA will make additional military aid to Ukraine available in the near future in the amount of around 2.3 billion US dollars (around 2.14 billion Euros). This was announced by US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin during a visit by his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umjero in Washington. The package Biden has approved contains "additional anti-aircraft missiles, armored personnel carriers, and other important ammunition from US stocks," Austin explained. A "realignment of foreign military deliveries" will also make it possible for the USA to provide ammunition 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 at the upcoming summit in Washington, NATO intends to give the green light for a new deployment to coordinate weapons deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian armed forces. The headquarters for this should be built in Wiesbaden. Who will get the new NATO position in Kiev is still unknown.
03:42 UN calls 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 assessed them as "very good", Vucic said on Instagram. 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 despite the Russian intervention in Ukraine, it continues to maintain good relations with the Kreml.
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 him guilty and sentenced him to a twelve-year sentence in a penal colony," it says in a comment from the Russian domestic intelligence service FSB, which was taken up by the state-controlled Kremlin media. The teenager is said to have sent money to help the Ukrainian army buy food and drones. Since Russia's 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 risen 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 allegedly entered the airspace of the Baltic EU and NATO member unlawfully 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 urged to take 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 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 75-year 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 opinion, 33% a negative. Germany is slightly above the average with 64% positive views. The assessment in Poland stands out: 91% have a positive image of the alliance there. The trust in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is, on average, at 40%, and has decreased in the member states over 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 as a response, he clarified Ukraine's position and rejected the proposal," said a spokesman for the Presidential Administration. Kiev had previously rejected ceasefires, citing the possibility that Russian forces could regroup during this time.
21:02 Ukraine: Moscow recruits minorsRussia is actively recruiting minors for the war in Ukraine, Ukraine reports. The recruitment contracts are allegedly signed with minors and take effect when they reach the age of majority. "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 manufacture drones.
- The attack on the power substation in Enerhodar, Ukraine, has raised concerns from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), with head Alexei Lichatsov calling it a flagrant violation as Russian forces continue to operate near the Saporischja Nuclear Power Plant.
- Following the attack on the power substation, Russia has stated that it took control of Europe's largest nuclear power plant shortly after its offensive, centering military operations in the strategically important city of Tschassiw Jar in eastern Ukraine.
- As the conflict in Ukraine continues, tensions between Ukraine and Russia have spilled over into the digital sphere, with reports of a cyberwar involving attacks on critical infrastructure, including power systems and military operations in both countries.
- In response to the conflict in Ukraine, NATO has strengthened its presence in Kiev, deploying special representatives to oversee political and practical support for Ukraine's armed forces, as well as coordinating weapons deliveries and training activities.
- The Ukrainian government, led by President Volodymyr Zelensky, has repeatedly stated that it will not make territorial concessions to Russia, rejecting Putin's conditions for ending the war, including surrendering territories in eastern and southern Ukraine that Russia claims and occupies.
