18:03 Western F-16 fighter jets reportedly arrived in Ukraine
17:47 Former US Soldier Imprisoned in Russia Has Gone Missing
Amidst speculation about an impending prisoner exchange, the lawyer for Paul Whelan, a former US soldier imprisoned in Russia, is investigating his whereabouts. A lawyer for Vladimir Kara-Mursa, another imprisoned Russian opposition politician, reports that visits to his client have been denied for the second consecutive day. "I've received inquiries from journalists asking where Paul is," Whelan's lawyer Olga Karlova told the Russian news agency Interfax. She sent a request to the administration of his penal colony but received no response. The 54-year-old former US soldier, who also holds British, Irish, and Canadian citizenship, has been in Russian custody since December 2018. Whelan denies the espionage charges against him and claims he was set up by an acquaintance.
17:21 Ukraine: Russia Kidnaps Children and Enrolls Them in Its Youth Army
According to the Ukrainian regional administration of the Luhansk region, children from the occupied town of Bilowodsk have been taken to a Russian youth army "Junarmija" camp in the Russian region of Novosibirsk. A statement on social media claims that children aged 11 to 17 are being sent there and are being trained in tactics, shooting, and drills by combat instructors.
16:44 Russian Foreign Ministry Indirectly Threatens German Company
The German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall plans to build a munitions factory in Ukraine, which the Russian Foreign Ministry commented on with an indirect threat. Spokesman Andrei Nastenko emphasized that "every factory is a legitimate target."
16:17 Another Finnish Volunteer Soldier Killed in Ukraine
The fourth Finnish volunteer soldier has been killed in the Ukraine war, according to the news site Yle, citing the "Sodan kokeneet ry" (War Veterans Association). The association reports that the Finn died in mid-July north of Donetsk. Finnish authorities have confirmed this information and notified the soldier's family. The director of the association, Juha Kreus, says the association is working with Finnish and Ukrainian authorities. On its Facebook page, the association states that it helps volunteers fighting in Ukraine and their families. Previously, three Finns fighting on the side of the Ukrainian military had been killed in Ukraine, according to media reports.
15:29 "Kremlin lies" - UK defense ministry sees Russian strugglesThe war against Ukraine is making the Russian economy flourish, especially in the defense industry, according to reports from the country. However, the UK defense ministry dismisses this as a lie and sees problems. "Inflation is twice the central bank's target, and war spending is causing unsustainable growth and overheating the economy," it says from London. High interest rates are making Russia a bad place for investments, and the country is drawing from its sovereign fund to finance rising war costs, the ministry adds.
15:00 Ukraine could produce several million drones per yearUkraine currently has a production capacity of three million drones per year, according to Anna Gvozdiar, deputy minister for strategic industries of Ukraine, in an interview with Suspilne media. However, this requires funding, Gvozdiar says. Drones are one of the key means in Ukraine's defense against the Russian invasion. Some are funded by foreign donations and produced by volunteers.
14:28 Germany delivers more Leopard tanks to Czech RepublicAs compensation for military aid to Ukraine, Germany is delivering 14 more Leopard 2A4 battle tanks and one Buffalo-3 armored recovery vehicle to the Czech Republic. Both sides have signed final documents for this, the Czech defense ministry says. The first tanks should be delivered by the end of the year, with the rest by early 2026. This follows the delivery of 15 tanks from Germany in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, the NATO country plans to buy more Leopard 2A4 and 2A8 tanks as part of its military modernization. Talks about this are ongoing, the Czech Republic says.
13:49 SBU suspects Putin's close associates of aiding war against UkraineThe Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has issued a suspicion notice to one of Russian leader Vladimir Putin's closest associates, Alexei Dyumin, and Russia's deputy defense minister, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, reports RBC-Ukraine. According to the SBU press service, Dyumin, a former bodyguard of Putin and current secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, was involved in mobilizing the Tula region for combat operations in Ukraine. He is suspected of organizing partial mobilization of men, establishing the Center for Unmanned Systems, and developing the production of FPV drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles. Yevkurov, Russia's deputy defense minister, is suspected of being responsible for training contract soldiers and mobilized personnel who then participate in the fighting in Ukraine.
13:06 Russia Begins "Third Phase" of Tactical Nuclear Weapon ExercisesRussia has started the third phase of exercises aimed at testing the readiness of its forces to use non-strategic nuclear weapons. The "Kyiv Independent" reports, citing a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense, that units from the central and southern military districts are involved, including those stationed in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. "During this phase of the exercise, personnel from the missile formations of the southern and central military districts will conduct combat exercises, including the acquisition of special training ammunition for the Iskander-M tactical missile systems," the ministry's statement says. The first phase of the exercises began in May. Russian President Vladimir Putin presented this as a response to alleged and unspecified "provocative statements" from the West.
12:45 Authorities: Russians Detain Children from Luhansk in Military CampChildren from the occupied Bilowodsk in the Luhansk region are being held in a Russian military camp in the Novosibirsk region of the Russian Federation. There, they are being taught by military personnel about firearms and drills. "Ukrinform" reports, citing the Facebook page of the state regional administration of Luhansk. According to the head of the regional state administration, Artem Lysohor, schoolchildren from the Russian-occupied Bilowodsk are still in the military-patriotic tent camp of the "Youth Army" set up in the Novosibirsk region. "Sending children aged 11 to 17 to this camp, where combat officers teach them tactics, fire, and drill, is considered a benevolent act in the Russian Federation," says Lysohor.
12:30 Duma Legalizes Cryptocurrency Mining to Evade SanctionsThe Duma has passed a law legalizing cryptocurrency mining in Russia. "Meduza," a Russian media outlet based in Latvia, reports, citing the website of the lower house of the Russian parliament. The document published there provides that Russian legal entities and individual entrepreneurs registered in the relevant register are entitled to engage in cryptocurrency mining. Individuals who do not exceed the energy consumption limits set by the government can mine cryptocurrencies without being included in the register.
12:06 Putin Doubles One-Time Payment for Military ServiceThe Russian leadership is offering more money to attract more volunteers for its attack on Ukraine. According to a decree signed by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, anyone who signs a contract for frontline service between August 1 and December 31 will receive a one-time payment of 400,000 rubles (around 4,200 euros), more than double the previous 195,000 rubles. In addition, there is a monthly salary that is significantly higher than the Russian average income. Since a forced mobilization of reservists in the fall of 2022, Russia has mainly relied on financial incentives to attract soldiers for the war. Many regions offer cash bonuses for signing contracts. For example, the city of Moscow set a one-time premium of 1.9 million rubles (about 20,300 euros) for contracts lasting one year or longer this month.
11:30 Russian sentenced to seven years for attempted arson in recruitment officeA man in Russia has been sentenced to seven years in prison. The Russian is accused of attempting to set fire to a recruitment office. Additionally, the military court of the southern district of Russia charges him with maintaining connections to the "Freedom of Russia" legion. The court finds him guilty of attempted terrorism and collaborating "on a confidential basis with a representative of a foreign state". The "Freedom of Russia" legion was founded in Ukraine in March 2022. It is an armed group of Russians fighting on the side of Ukrainian forces against Russia. Its members have also carried out cross-border actions in Russia and, reportedly, sabotage operations within the country.
11:06 Fire after Ukrainian strike on weapons depot in KurskAfter a Ukrainian attack on the Russian border region of Kursk, a fire broke out at a warehouse for weapons and military equipment. The General Staff in Kyiv reports via Telegram that the strike was carried out using a modified rocket system of the Ukrainian Navy. Explosions were observed at the target. The Navy has anti-ship missiles of the Neptune type, which can be used against ground targets and can reach targets up to 300 kilometers away. Kursk itself is only about 80 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that a cruise missile of this type had been shot down over the Kursk region. The fire has been contained, according to the governor of the region, Alexei Smirnov. Additionally, Russian military reports state that a total of 19 Ukrainian drones were shot down over the cities of Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Kaluga, Rostov, and the annexed Crimea.
10:36 Munz on Russia's war tactics: Motorcycle attacks "follow a certain pattern"Sightings of Russian soldiers on motorcycles in Ukraine are increasing, with observers seeing this as evidence that Russia is running out of armored vehicles. ntv correspondent Rainer Munz disagrees and explains the strategy behind these attacks.
10:02 Reisner: Russia could have lost up to 750,000 soldiers in UkraineRussia could have already suffered 500,000 to 750,000 casualties, including up to 150,000 dead soldiers, in its invasion of Ukraine, according to Markus Reisner, an Austrian Armed Forces colonel, in an interview with the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform". "Recently, an interesting study was published that, in my opinion, is very well-researched. It suggests that perhaps 100,000 to 150,000 Russian soldiers have already been killed," says Reisner. Considering the lessons of military history and "the fact that there are about 3-4 times more wounded than killed", the losses are enormous, says the military expert. "And that is realistic given the intensity of the conflict," he estimates, also noting that the Ukrainian side has suffered "very heavy losses". Kyiv puts the current number of Russian military losses at 578,120 personnel (see entry from 07:35).
09:24 Ukraine: Weapon depots in Russian region Kursk attackedThe Ukrainian military reports attacking a depot for weapons and other military equipment in the Russian region of Kursk overnight. Kursk borders Ukraine and has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian fire. On Monday night, the Ukrainian military reported attacking a Russian oil depot in the region. "Intelligence reports indicate that a fire broke out at the enemy's facility as a result of the attack," the Ukrainian General Staff said on Facebook yesterday.
08:55 Kyiv reports one of the heaviest Russian drone attacks since the start of the warThe Russian military attacked targets in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and other parts of the country with dozens of combat drones overnight. "Over 40 enemy drones were shot down over Kyiv and the outskirts of the capital in two waves," Kyiv's military administration said on Telegram. Not a single drone reached its target in the capital. The agency described the attack as one of the strongest on Ukraine during the entire war. Overall, there was an air alert in the city of three million for over eight hours overnight (see also entries at 06:33 and 23:52). Russian drone attacks were also reported in other regions. Six were shot down over the southeastern Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk - four more over the region of Mykolajiw in the south of the country. A general overview of the Ukrainian air defense's operations overnight is still pending.
08:36 Ukraine reports 144 engagements along the frontline over the past dayOver the past day, there were 144 engagements along the frontline, according to the spokesperson of the Ukrainian General Staff, Dmytro Hutsulyak. "Over the past day, 144 combat actions took place. Over the past day, Russian terrorists carried out a total of 1 missile attack with 1 missile on our troops' positions and residential areas, as well as 85 air strikes. During this, 141 guided aerial bombs were dropped. In addition, more than 4350 attacks were carried out, 90 of which were with multiple launch rocket systems," Hutsulyak said in the program "United News".
08:09 Governor: Man killed by Russian shelling in KhersonRussian forces shelled the outskirts of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson in the morning, killing a man and injuring a woman, the governor of the Kherson region, Roman Mrochko, wrote in a post on Telegram. According to him, the Russian army shelled the outskirts of Kherson from the occupied left bank of the Dnipro River. A 68-year-old man was fatally injured. Rescue workers reportedly retrieved his body from the rubble. A 73-year-old woman suffered a concussion and head injuries from an explosion. She was provided with medical assistance at the scene, the post said.
07:35 Ukraine Reports Over 1000 Russian Losses in a Day
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reports that Russia has lost 1060 soldiers, 30 artillery systems, 20 armored combat vehicles, and 9 tanks in the past day. Since the start of the invasion on February 24, 2022, Russia's total combat losses are reported to be 578,120 military personnel, 8,390 tanks, 16,161 armored combat vehicles, 16,086 artillery systems, 1,131 multiple launch rocket systems, 907 air defense systems, 363 fixed-wing aircraft, 326 helicopters, 12,853 strategic and tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, 2,407 cruise missiles, 28 ships and boats, 1 submarine, 21,739 vehicles and fuel tanks, and 2,697 special vehicles and other equipment. These figures cannot be independently verified, as Russia does not report its losses.
07:14 Ukraine Spots Two Russian Warships with Cruise Missiles in the Black Sea
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reports that Russia maintains two warships in the Black Sea armed with up to eight Kalibr cruise missiles each. No enemy ships are present in the Azov Sea. In the Mediterranean Sea, Russia has two warships, one of which is armed with up to 16 Kalibr cruise missiles. However, Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy, told "RBC-Ukraine" that it is unlikely Russia would dare to fire missiles at Ukraine from the Mediterranean, as doing so would violate NATO airspace.
06:33 Massive Drone Attack on Kyiv - Over 30 Drones Intercepted
The Ukrainian air defense intercepted more than 30 Russian drones over Kyiv overnight, according to the city's military administration on Telegram. This is reported to be one of the most massive drone attacks on Ukraine since the start of the war. Explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital, according to Reuters, which cited eyewitnesses. The detonations sounded like air defense systems engaging enemy aircraft. An air raid alert had been sounded in Kyiv and much of Ukraine earlier (see entry from 23:52). "This was the seventh enemy drone attack on Kyiv this July," said Serhii Popko, head of the city's military administration. The air raid alert lasted for over seven hours, with enemy drones entering Kyiv in waves from almost all possible directions. No information is available on possible damages or casualties.
04:38 Pistorius on New US Weapons: "Genuine Deterrence" at StakeDefense Minister Boris Pistorius dismisses criticism of the German government's approach to the agreement with the US on the deployment of long-range weapons. While open discussion in the Bundestag is welcome, he argues that this topic did not necessarily need to be debated in parliament beforehand, as it is not comparable to the NATO Double-Track Decision of the 1980s. At the recent NATO summit in Washington, the US and Germany announced plans to deploy Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons in Germany from 2026, citing threats from Russia. Pistorius emphasizes that these are conventional weapons, not nuclear-armed, and that the aim is "genuine deterrence" (see also the criticism by former SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans in the 22:05 entry).
02:33 Finnish Volunteer Killed in UkraineA Finnish volunteer fighting on the side of Ukraine has been killed in the northern Donetsk region in mid-July, the Finnish War Veterans' Association reports. The man is the fourth Finnish citizen to have died in Ukraine. In February, the Finnish Foreign Ministry had stated that around 20-30 Finns were active at the Ukrainian front.
23:52 Air Force Reports Numerous Drones Over UkraineAir raid alerts are sounded in several regions of Ukraine overnight as Russia attacks the country from multiple directions with drones. An explosion was heard in Kyiv, according to reporters of the "Kyiv Independent". It is not yet clear whether the capital was hit.
22:05 US Medium-Range Missiles in Germany: Former SPD Leader Criticizes "Lone Decision"Former SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans laments the lack of debate over the planned stationing of US weapons in Germany. "The fact that such a far-reaching decision is practically not debated, that it is made and announced more or less unilaterally, is problematic," he says in an interview with the "Deutschlandfunk". He also questions whether such a move would actually enhance security or make Germany a target for a first strike. Recently, the White House and the German government announced that the US would again station weapons systems in Germany from 2026 that can reach deep into Russia. Named were Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons.
21:35 Ukrainians face less judgment for contact with Russian occupiersMany Ukrainians live in their own country under Russian occupation, inevitably coming into contact with the invaders of the brutal illegal war - something that is often frowned upon or seen as treason elsewhere. However, "Ukraine is currently experiencing a decrease in the level of condemnation towards citizens from temporarily occupied areas for their various forms of communication with the occupation authorities," says Daria Svyrydova, member of the Advisory Board for De-Occupation and Reintegration of the Crimea regions, at an event in the Media Center Ukraine. "In general, the Ukrainian population considers possible communication of people in occupation acceptable in certain situations." According to Svyrydova, this is an important factor for future reintegration processes and an indication of what the state should focus on in developing reintegration policy. Many people believe in a "shared future with the people in the temporarily occupied territories," says Svyrydova.
20:54 Reports of major fire in Russian arms factoryAmong others, the Ukrainian media outlet Euromaidan Press reports on a fire in a factory in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg. The factory produces parts for military rockets, among other things, it is said. The factory has been under Western sanctions since 2014 and is an important player in the Russian defense industry, according to the report. There has been no official confirmation yet, and the authenticity of the videos on social media is not confirmed. There are also no indications about how the fire started.
20:32 Zelensky visits troops at border with BelarusUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky inspects the fortifications and defensive positions of his troops at the border with Belarus. Accompanied by leading military personnel, he is on a working visit to the Volhynia region, as reported by the presidential administration in Kyiv. "The head of the state border guard service, Serhiy Deineko, reports on the protection of the border, including the number of soldiers involved, their skills and weapons," it says in the statement. Zelensky gets a personal impression of the construction of fortifications, trenches and shelters. "We have a strong defense, both in terms of personnel and defensive lines," he says. "And we will continue to strengthen it." The Ukrainian military has significantly reinforced the border with the neighboring country Belarus in recent months.
You can read all previous developments here.**
In the given context, here are two sentences that contain the word 'Military':
The German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall plans to build a munitions factory in Ukraine, which the Russian Foreign Ministry commented on with an indirect threat, stating that "every factory is a legitimate target."
Amidst speculation about an impending prisoner exchange, the lawyer for Paul Whelan, a former US soldier imprisoned in Russia, is investigating his whereabouts, urging the military administration of his penal colony for information.
