18:10 Uncontrolled Expansion of Fire in Russian Oil Storage Facility
17:36 Russia Potentially Constructing Second Bridge beside Crimean Bridge?
Images from satellites hint at Russia possibly building a second bridge adjacent to the 19-kilometer-long Kerch Bridge, which links Russian mainland to Crimea. "Ukrajinska Prawda" reports an ongoing construction that appears to be a new bridge. ntv.de validated this claim by comparing images from June, July, and August, and found construction activities underway. According to "Ukrajinska Prawda," the Russians are trying to reinforce the protection of both the new construction and the continuously assaulted Kerch Bridge from potential attacks.
16:58 Zelensky Identifies Challenging Situation on Eastern Frontline
According to British publication "The Guardian," President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the tough situation on the eastern frontline of Ukraine, specifically near the strategic logistics hub of Pokrovsk and close to Toretsk. The Ukrainian General Staff reported on Facebook that 14 skirmishes occurred in the vicinity of Toretsk, and 34 took place in the district of Pokrovsk since the commencement of the day.
16:36 Moscow Advices Kursk Residents to Deactivate Dating Apps and Surveillance Cameras
The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs suggests Kursk inhabitants to disable dating apps and online monitoring cameras situated in three regions close to Ukraine. The ministry stated that numerous IP addresses from their territory are being targeted by the opposition, and they are remotely infiltrating unsecured cameras monitoring residential and strategic areas. Furthermore, the ministry also encouraged avoiding online dating services due to potential information collection.
16:20 Russia Reports 17 Civilian Casualties during Kursk Attack
The Russian news agency TASS reported, quoting emergency services, that the Ukrainian attack on Kursk caused 17 fatalities and 235 injuries among civilians last week.
15:54 Reporter: Rapid Progress of Russian Troops in Pokrovsk Front
ntv reporter Nadja Kriewald, based in eastern Ukraine, reported that 63 attacks by Russian troops were launched on Pokrovsk front, alone the day before. She talked with rescue workers who were planning to evacuate a Ukrainian village, but the operation was called off as the Russian army had already seized the town.
15:33 Russia Offended by American Journalists in Kursk
Russia summoned a senior US diplomat due to the "provocative actions" of American journalists in the Russian region of Kursk. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated this was a protest against the journalists entering a region where Ukrainian forces had launched an offensive two weeks prior, and they would be brought to trial.
15:10 Eastern Germany Federal Commissioner: Russian Propaganda has Impact on Views
Federal Commissioner for Eastern Germany, Carsten Schneider of the SPD, criticized some Germans for their views regarding Ukraine. He expressed shock over how Ukraine and Ukrainians were occasionally spoken about, both in the East and the West. He added that Russian propaganda was particularly strong in Eastern Germany.
14:48 Russian Advance in East of Ukraine due to Ammunition Shortage
The "Financial Times" cited a Ukrainian commander, stating that the Russian advance in the eastern region of Ukraine was partially due to Kiev reallocating resources to the north. Their troops were forced to ration ammunition for cannons – for the first time since the US Congress halted Ukraine aid. The ammunition was provided to the troops engaged in the Kursk invasion.
14:26 Advance on Kursk Highlights Power Struggle in Moscow
Kremlin expert Rainer Munz believes the Ukrainian advance in Kursk could expose or at least emphasize a generational shift within the Moscow power structure. However, the power of Russian President is not threatened.
14:01 Alert in Ternopil: High Chlorine Concentration in Air
After a Russian attack on an industry site in Ternopil, western Ukraine, local authorities issued a warning about an increased chlorine concentration in the air. Oksana Chaichuk, head of the regional center for disease control and prevention, advised limiting outdoor activities and keeping windows closed, as the chlorine concentration was four to ten times higher than usual. During the nighttime attack, a fuel and lubricant plant stored in an unspecified facility was said to have been hit, resulting in a fire. No casualties or injuries were reported.
13:39 Controlled by Russian Forces: Town of New York in Donetsk
According to Russian Defense Ministry, Russian troops captured the town of New York in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine. They stated that they seized "one of the largest settlements nearby Torez, a strategically important logistics center of Nowgorodskoje," which reverted to its old name New York in 2021, after Ukrainian activists advocated for it. Situated approximately six kilometers south of Torez, which experienced Russian attacks for weeks, the town experienced Russian takeover.
A Soviet solider who switched allegiances to Ukraine was found to be sabotaging and injuring his superior, as reported by Ukrainian military intelligence (SIR). The Kyiv Independent newspaper, citing a reporter present at the press conference, claims that the individual, codenamed "Silver," defected as part of a collaborative operation between the "Freedom of Russia" Legion and SIR's "I Want to Live" initiative. Prior to leaving, the man allegedly wounded his commander with a grenade in the Ocheretyne city in the Donetsk Oblast. The soldier contacted the Legion in early 2024, having witnessed illegal activities by his unit and commanders, as per military intelligence. Subsequently, "Silver" clandestinely shared information with the Legion concerning the whereabouts of Russian troops and military operation plans.
12:23 Ukrainian Parliament Votes to Ban Russia-Aligned Church
Ukraine is advancing with the prohibition of the Russia-associated Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The parliament in Kyiv approved an initial bill, restricting the Russian Orthodox Church from operating on Ukrainian soil. A ban on religious organizations tied to the Russian Orthodox Church is also pursued, though this requires legal confirmation. The Kyiv government accuses the Ukrainian minority church of serving as a breeding ground for Russian influence in the country and backing the invasion of Ukraine.
11:51 Over 500 Firefighters Battle Oil Depot Fire in Russian Rostov
Over 500 firefighters are currently battling a large fire at an oil depot in southern Russia's Rostov region, on the third day. The blaze was caused by a Ukrainian drone strike, as reported by TASS news agency. The fire has consumed an area of 10,000 square meters, with several diesel tanks burning, stated the head of Proletarsk, Valery Gornitsky. He assured that there's no risk of explosion, no peril to people, and no evacuations needed. Four firefighting aircraft and 520 firefighters are involved. The use of firefighting aircraft is necessitated because vehicles cannot approach the fire due to excessive heat, Gornitsky added. As of now, at least 41 firefighters have been injured, with 18 receiving hospital treatment.
10:41 Russian Ex-Diplomat Bondarev: Putin Acts "Like a Fearful Fraud"
Russian leader Vladimir Putin is acting like a "fearful fraud," remarks Boris Bondarev, a former Russian diplomat, in a guest commentary for ntv.de. Putin's image of being invincible against any foe has been tarnished by the commencement of the aggressive war against Ukraine. The swift takeover within a few days has not occurred. Moscow has recently appeared shocked and overwhelmed by the Ukrainian attack on the Russian region of Kursk. "Putin falters when confronted with a genuine threat and doesn't know how to respond. He doesn't even act like a trapped rat ready to defend with all its might, but like a fearful fraud," says Bondarev. The former diplomat, having dissented against the Putin regime due to the war, also sternly criticizes Western politicians for their stance on restricting the use of supplied weapons on Russian territory by Ukraine. "One must confront Putin with a show of force." He dismisses the West's apprehension of "escalation" as unwarranted. "The 'escalation' has already commenced – Putin's adversary has intruded into Russian territory! But he's not reacting to it at all," writes Bondarev.
10:13 Ukraine: Five Civilians Killed and Over 20 Injured in Russian Attacks
Over the past 24 hours, five civilians have been killed and at least 22 injured, including a child, in Russian attacks in Ukraine, according to regional authorities, as reported by "Kyiv Independent."
09:37 Russian Fuel Depot in Flames: Satellite Image Reveals Extent of Fire
Ukraine attacked a substantial fuel depot in Proletarsk in southern Russia on Sunday morning using drones. The fire was still uncontrolled a day later, causing injuries to over 40 firefighters, according to regional authorities. Satellite images also show the scale of the blaze:
Ukraine has targeted several Russian oil refineries and facilities with drones in recent months to obstruct the supply of fuel to enemy troops and decrease the income from Russia's oil industry.
09:16 Kyiv: Over 1300 Russian Soldiers "Fallen" in a Day
Russian losses are extensive, according to official figures from Kyiv. Within a day, 1330 Russian soldiers are claimed to have been killed or incapacitated. Since the start of the war in February 2022, Ukraine has declared that 601,800 Russian soldiers have been "fallen," as per the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. According to the ministry's daily report on Russian losses, the enemy lost 5 more tanks (8518). Since the Russian invasion, Ukraine has counted more than 16,500 armored vehicles and over 13,800 drones that are no longer in possession of the Russian military or have been destroyed. These figures cannot be independently corroborated. Moscow continues to evade providing information on its own losses in Ukraine.
08:47 Biden backs Ukraine's resilience: No leader should "cave to tyrants""No leader should cave to tyrants," stated Joe Biden. "Putin thought he'd take Kyiv in three days," asserted the U.S. president on the Democrats' convention's first night, as reported by "Kyiv Independent". "Three years later, Ukraine is still standing." The Democrat contrasted his history as a champion of strong NATO and free Ukraine with former President Donald Trump, who applauded Russian President Vladimir Putin. "No leader should ever cave to tyrants," Biden echoed.
08:31 Russia launches nighttime aerial assaults on UkraineOnce again, Russia targeted Ukraine with nighttime aerial attacks, according to the Ukrainian armed forces. Nine regions in central, northern, and southern Ukraine were hit, with three missiles and 25 drones downed, the Ukrainian air force announced on Telegram. This was the fifth missile strike on Kyiv this month, the military revealed. A total of 41 air raid alerts occurred in the capital last month. Yesterday, the military thwarted a drone attack on Kyiv.
07:52 Military command: Kyiv missile attack deflected - no harm yetRussian forces targeted Kyiv from the north once again this morning, as informed by the Kyiv military command on Telegram. "Preliminary data indicates that the aggressor hit the Ukrainian capital from the north, likely employing ballistic missiles such as the Iskander. This marked the fifth rocket strike on Kyiv this month!" the message stated. The rockets were reportedly neutralized by air defenses on the outskirts. For now, no damages or losses have been reported in Kyiv.
07:38 Belarus: Lukashenko sends extra troops and aircraft to border with UkraineBelarus deployed additional air defense troops and aircraft to its border with Ukraine, announced General Major Andrei Lukyanovich, commander of the Belarusian air defense forces, according to the "Kyiv Independent". Just after Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko declared that a third of the nation's army had been dispatched to the border this summer, this development occurred. Lukashenko attributed the troop concentration along the border to a miscommunication between Belarus and Ukraine. General Lukyanovich disclosed that the Belarusian military had deployed aircraft, anti-aircraft missiles, and radio technical units to the border. However, Kyiv has not yet validated Lukyanovich's claims regarding Belarusian troops and weapons at the border. The Ukrainian state border service reported over a week ago that there were no signs of troop amassing along the Belarusian border, despite Lukashenko's directive.
07:24 ISW: Russia mobilizes 5,000 soldiers to Kursk OblastAs a result of the Ukrainian military's operation in the Kursk region, Russia is compelled to dispatch troops from other frontline zones to this region, according to the ISW report. "Russian forces have dispatched supplementary troops to the Kursk Oblast since the initial phase of the Ukrainian offensive and have possibly deployed more than 5,000 soldiers to the region," analysts noted.
06:54 Zelensky: Second Peace Summit in Ukraine Must Occur Before Year's EndUkraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has instructed his diplomats to ensure that the second Peace Summit in Ukraine transpires this year. At a gathering of foreign diplomatic leaders in Ukraine, Zelensky spoke about "War Diplomacy: Resilience, Weapons, Victory," as reported by Ukrinform, quoting the Presidential Office. "In my opinion, the inaugural summit was a remarkable triumph for Ukraine. I am grateful to everyone who aided in our summit's realization. Now we are preparing for the second Peace Summit and must guarantee that it occurs this year," Zelensky commented. "We must do everything in our power for this to happen. We must widen the circle of support for the first summit's communiqué."
06:22 Ukraine: Russia Launches Yet Another Air Strike on KyivRussia persists in launching nightly attacks on Kyiv, according to Ukrainian reports. Kyiv air defense forces were mobilized early in the morning to fend off another Russian air attack on Kyiv, the military administration of the Ukrainian capital reported on Telegram. Witnesses reported hearing explosions similar to air defense deployment.
05:11 Kyiv Reports Multiple Drone Attacks Remote from FrontMultiple drone attacks occurred in various Ukrainian regions remote from the frontline during the night. According to air defense, the areas of Sumy, Poltava, Kherson, and Mykolaiv were targeted. Air defense was also deployed in the Kyiv vicinity. No damage has been reported as of yet.
01:07 Germany Dispatches Another Iris-T Defense System to Ukraine Germany has assembled another arsenal for Ukraine, as per the Ministry of Defense's site. This newest shipment includes various weapons such as a third Iris-T SLS air defense system, thousands of artillery shells, drones, a Bergepanzer 2, and numerous rifles accompanied by their ammunition.
00:20 Zelensky: Major Advancement in Capturing Russian Soldiers President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that Ukraine's offensive in Kursk's Russian region is the most significant success in capturing Russian soldiers since the war's inception. Speaking to Ukrainian diplomats, he stated that these captives would be freed later in exchange for captured Ukrainian soldiers. As of now, Russia has taken more Ukrainian soldiers than the other way around, as per observer estimates.
22:21 Chechen Commander: Kursk Soldiers "Reach Eternity" Apti Alaudinow, commander of the Achmat Regiment defending Russia, has encouraged Russian conscripts to proceed to the battlefront, according to the "Kyiv Independent" newspaper. Soldiers who fall in Kursk will "ascend to heaven."
21:58 Zelensky: Incursion Has Undermined Russia's Red Line Concept President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the Ukrainian incursion into Russia was considered unachievable, which led to its secrecy, as reported by the "Pravda" newspaper. Just a few months back, several nations warned that this incursion would "transcend Russia's most critical red line." The notion of Russia's red lines has crumbled around Sushcha, according to Zelensky.
21:38 Lithuania Starts Construction of German Army Support Base Lithuania has initiated constructing a military support facility for German troops. Upon completion, expected by 2027, the site will accommodate up to 4,000 German soldiers. This represents the first permanent foreign mooring of the Bundeswehr since World War II, as Germany promised last year to deploy troops in the NATO and EU member bordering Russia. Lithuanian Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis estimates the construction cost at over one billion euros.
21:15 Czech President: NATO Membership for Partially Occupied Ukraine Possible Czech President Petr Pavel envisions Ukraine joining NATO despite some of its territory being under Russian occupation. He's optimistic that Ukraine could negotiate peace with Russia in the coming years, Pavel told "Novinky." Such an agreement could result in Russia retaining a portion of Ukrainian territory for an extended time without democratic nations needing to acknowledge these border adjustments. These provisional borders might then clear the path for Ukraine to join NATO in the territory it governs at that moment, Pavel said. Germany also entered NATO in 1955, while it was still partially occupied by the Soviet Union.
20:57 Ukrainian Forces Reach Within 12 Kilometers of Russian Bridge Ukrainian troops have seized the town of Wyschnewka in Russia's Kursk region, according to war analysts on X. This position places them roughly 12 kilometers from the Seym River's floating bridge, which is currently the sole means for the Russian army to manage logistics or evacuation.
20:36 Pokrovsk Administration Remains Hopeful The military administration of the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk faces the challenging prospect of advancing Russian troops, as acknowledged by the city's head of information: "They are advancing towards Pokrovsk's outskirts. It's not a secret," she informed the "Washington Post." "Perhaps the situation will change somehow – we hope that the enemy will halt somewhere at the approaches to Pokrovsk, and our troops will repel them," she added. If the city falls, it would be the largest populated area captured by the Russians since Bachmut in May 2023.
You can follow all previous developments here.
The European Union could issue a statement condemning Russia's potential construction of a second bridge adjacent to the Kerch Bridge, as this action could further escalate tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
Given the European Union's stance on promoting democracy and territorial integrity, it might express concern about the potential reinforcement of Russia's presence in Crimea, a region annexed by Russia in 2014, which is in violation of international law.
