18:36 Iskander missile system reportedly killed 15 Ukrainian commanders in the border area
17:55 Russia Evacuates 76,000 Civilians in Kursk
Amid heavy fighting as Ukrainian forces push into Russian territory, the regional civil defense has already evacuated tens of thousands of people. Around 76,000 civilians have been evacuated from the border area and accommodated in other regions of Russia, the civil defense reports, according to the state agency TASS. There were no reports from either the Russian or Ukrainian side about the actual combat situation. Ukrainian intelligence merely reports that Russia has begun moving a marine infantry brigade from the occupied Crimean peninsula to the Kursk region, with part of the vehicle column already destroyed en route. These reports cannot be independently verified. The entire Kursk region has been put on rocket alert. The governor, Alexei Smirnov, warns on the Telegram platform about potential dangers and urges the population to seek shelter as much as possible.
17:28 Minsk Accuses Kyiv of 'Criminal Acts'
After the alleged incursion of Ukrainian combat drones into Belarusian airspace, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Minsk has warned of an escalation of the conflict. Such "criminal acts" could lead to a radical escalation of the situation, the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports, according to the state agency Belta. They are also a "dangerous attempt to expand the current conflict zone in our region." Belarus will use its right to self-defense and will respond appropriately to any provocation or hostile actions. Leader Alexander Lukashenko had previously reported the supposed downing of several Ukrainian aerial targets. The air defense has been put on full alert because about ten flight objects from Ukraine had entered Belarusian airspace in the east of the country in the Kostyukovichy region, Lukashenko said about the incident the previous evening.
17:00 Zelensky Thanks for 'Filling the Exchange Fund'
Many questions remain unanswered around the Ukrainian troops' push into Russian territory. President Zelensky has now spoken out and thanked the soldiers who had taken prisoners. Ukraine needs them for future exchange deals with Russia.
16:27 Ukraine Strikes Gas Platform Tower with 40 Russian Soldiers in Black Sea
Ukrainian naval forces claim to have killed approximately 40 Russian soldiers in an attack on a gas platform tower in the Black Sea. Forces from the navy and military intelligence attacked the location where the enemy had gathered personnel and equipment, according to Ukrainian media reports from the naval fleet. The occupiers were reportedly attempting to use the tower for jamming navigation signals via satellite, which would have endangered civilian maritime traffic. "We cannot allow this," said Dmytro Pletentschuk to the online newspaper "Ukrajinska Prawda". There were no civilians on the gas platform, which is currently out of operation. Rocket and artillery units of the coastal forces carried out the strike. A heavy explosion was visible in a published video, but the authenticity of the footage could not be verified. Pletentschuk stated that this was not the first operation of this kind, as the enemy had previously used the tower to disrupt the navigation of grain carriers.
15:49 NATO Interceptors Scramble Due to Russian Reconnaissance Aircraft over Baltic Sea
A Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea region has prompted fighter jets from several NATO countries to take to the skies. Alert fighters from Rostock-Laage in Germany, Sweden, and the NATO mission Air Policing Baltikum ascended to secure the alliance's airspace and escorted the Russian reconnaissance aircraft IL-20M, the German Air Force announced on the short messaging service X. "The aircraft flew without a flight plan and without contact with civilian air traffic control," it added. Russia uses international airspace for military flights in accordance with existing air law. According to previous statements by the German Armed Forces, Russian military aircraft almost always fly without a transponder, making them invisible to civilian air traffic control. These flights approach NATO airspace without violating it. It is assumed that these flights also test reactions to such flights.
15:26 Lukashenko Orders Deployment of Iskander Missile Systems and Rocket Artillery to Border
Alexander Lukashenko, the ruler of Belarus, has ordered the reinforcement of troop groupings in the tactical regions of Gomel and Mozyr on the border with the Ukrainian oblasts of Kyiv and Chernihiv. The Belarusian state news agency BelTA reports this, citing statements by Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin. "The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces [Lukashenko] has given the order to reinforce the grouping of forces in the tactical regions of Gomel and Mozyr. Special forces, ground troops, and rocket units, including Polonez multiple rocket launchers and Iskander missile systems, have been tasked with deploying to the designated areas," said Khrenin. Previously, Lukashenko had claimed that "several targets coming from Ukraine" had been shot down over Belarus.
14:49 Under the Dead: At Least Two Children Killed in Russian Supermarket Strike
Multiple Russian attacks on Ukraine since Friday have resulted in at least 18 deaths, including two children, and 60 injured, according to regional authorities. The majority of casualties occurred in the city of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region, where a Russian missile hit a supermarket on Friday. By 10 AM local time today, at least 14 people were killed, including two children aged 9 and 11, and 43 more were wounded, the General Prosecutor's Office reported on Telegram. Russian attacks on other settlements in the Donetsk region resulted in two deaths and one injury, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported early this morning. More than 30 houses, an apartment building, an agricultural facility, and civilian infrastructure were damaged. In the Kharkiv region, Russian attacks resulted in the deaths of an 80-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man, and four people aged between 32 and 67 were injured, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.
14:21 Interior Ministry Warns of Russian Influence on State Elections
The Federal Ministry of the Interior warns of possible manipulation attempts by Russia ahead of the upcoming state elections in Eastern Germany. "We must assume that all elections in our country are a potential target of illegitimate influence," a spokesperson for the ministry told the "Handelsblatt". Russia is trying to illegitimately influence the public debate and political will-formation in Germany in this way. Since the beginning of the Russian attack on Ukraine, there has been an increase in disinformation from Russian official bodies, state and state-affiliated media, and government-affiliated accounts on social networks. "They use false information to heat up emotionally charged discussions and play societal groups against each other," the spokesperson said.
13:42 Air Force: Russian IL-20M Reconnaissance Aircraft Spotted Off Rügen
A Russian reconnaissance aircraft flew into international airspace over the Baltic Sea without contacting air traffic control. Aircraft of the German and Swedish air forces, as well as NATO air policing in the Baltic, took off on Friday evening and escorted the Russian aircraft of type IL-20M. The maritime reconnaissance aircraft was traveling in the airspace off the island of Rügen "without a flight plan and contact with civil air traffic control". Reports of non-communicating Russian military aircraft in international airspace over the Baltic Sea have been almost weekly in recent times, a spokesperson for the air force said. However, this is not followed up if they do not behave unusually or quickly return to Russian airspace. In mid-June, a Russian SU-24 bomber flew over the Swedish Baltic Sea island of Gotland, which is about 350 kilometers from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
13:06 Lukashenko: Objects Fired from Ukraine Over Belarus Destroyed
According to Belarusian reports, the country's armed forces have destroyed several flying objects over Belarusian territory. It is presumably drones that were launched from Ukraine, Belarusian news agency Belta quotes Alexander Lukashenko, the president of the Russia-aligned country. In the past, Lukashenko has repeatedly spoken of alleged incursions from Ukraine and then given the all-clear. Belarus claims not to be involved in the fighting in Ukraine.
12:43 Ukraine: Three Civilians Killed in Russian Attacks in Eastern UkraineAccording to Ukrainian reports, three people have died in Russian rocket attacks in eastern Ukraine. One person was killed in an attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region, with several others injured, according to the region's governor, Vadym Filashkin, on Telegram. The rocket hit a critical infrastructure building, causing significant damage. Two people died in an attack on a private home in the Kharkiv region, according to police.
12:00 Ukraine: Large Fire in Kherson After Russian AttackA large fire has broken out in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson due to a Russian attack, according to the Kherson Regional Administration on Telegram. The fire started on an open area outside the city of Kherson and quickly spread due to strong winds, engulfing almost the entire city. The Kherson Regional Administration reports that firefighters are battling the blaze.
11:28 Mangott on Arms Deliveries: Kretschmer "Accepts That Ukraine Could Lose"Ukrainian soldiers have entered Russia. With their incursion into Kursk, Ukraine aims to show that Russia "cannot protect its citizens in border regions," says Gerhard Mangott, a political scientist. He also emphasizes that he does not believe Ukraine can maintain a presence in the region indefinitely.
10:53 Video Allegedly Shows Russian Troops in KurskThe Russian Ministry of Defense releases another video, supposedly showing an increase in military presence in the region. The footage shows tanks taking up positions to destroy Ukrainian troops. The authenticity of the footage cannot be independently verified. The ministry also reports numerous Ukrainian drone attacks repelled in the Kursk area.
10:29 Russian Nuclear Corporation: Nuclear Power Plant in Kursk Operating NormallyFighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces is ongoing near a nuclear power plant in the Russian region of Kursk. Despite the continued fighting, operations are "running normally," according to the plant's operator, Russian state-owned company Rosatom, in a statement to Reuters. Earlier, the nuclear corporation had withdrawn workers from the construction site of two new reactors at the Kursk nuclear power plant (see entry 02:30) due to the advance of Ukrainian troops in Kursk.
09:57 Ukrainian Intelligence: Magura V5 Sinks Russian Ship in Black SeaSoldiers of the Ukrainian intelligence service HUR attacked the Russian Navy off the coast of the Crimea peninsula, which is occupied by Russia. The attack took place near the settlement of Chornomorske in the west of Crimea, according to the Ukrainian intelligence service. A seadrone of the Magura V5 type sank a Russian patrol boat of the type KS-701 "Tunets". Three other Russian military boats were reportedly damaged. The Ukrainian intelligence service posted a video on social media allegedly showing the attack.
09:19 ISW: Russia Not Moving Frontline Units from East Ukraine to Kursk
The Russian military leadership may not be redeploying its forces from the front in eastern Ukraine to the contested Russian border region of Kursk to avoid disrupting its own offensive in the east of Ukraine. This is according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in its latest report. ISW analysts suggest it would likely take additional time for these units from eastern Ukraine to arrive in the Kursk region. The Russian military leadership appears to be relying on the already stationed troops in Kursk to halt the ongoing Ukrainian advance. Additionally, the Russian military leadership is reportedly deploying conscripts from the military intelligence agency Glawnoje Raswedywatelnoje Uprawlenije (GRU) and Spetsnaz, so-called special forces, including the Wagner mercenary group and the Kadyrovtsy, according to reports cited by the analysts.
08:35 Ukraine Publishes Figures on Russian Losses
The Ukrainian General Staff has published new loss figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to the data, Russia has lost around 589,700 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of 1,160. According to a report from Kyiv, seven tanks, 69 artillery systems, and two air defense systems were destroyed in the past day alone. Since the start of the large-scale offensive, Russia has reportedly lost a total of 8,441 tanks, 16,605 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,325 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine, according to Ukraine. Western estimates put the losses lower, but these are likely minimum figures.
07:40 Russia: Su-34 Fighter-Bomber Strikes Ukrainian Forces in Russian Kursk
A Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber has reportedly attacked and struck Ukrainian forces in the Russian border region, according to the Russian Defense Ministry on Telegram. The air strike was carried out using an ODAB-500 bomb, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. The Russian forces continue to repel the surprise advance of Ukraine in the Russian region of Kursk, with the air strike aimed at pushing back the Ukrainian advance, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. A video showing the deployment of the combat aircraft was published on the Telegram channel of the Defense Ministry.
06:48 Kyiv Accountant Stopped with Millions in Cash
Ukrainian investigators have discovered over 4.7 million euros in undeclared cash in the trunk of a company accountant's car. "The woman could not explain the origin of the money," the Economic Crime Investigation Bureau in the Kyiv region said. Images show investigators standing in front of an open trunk filled with cash bundles. The company in question had supplied food worth over 320 million euros to the Ukrainian army in 2022 and 2023 alone, with the tax burden reduced through a fictitious loan. Investigations are ongoing for large-scale money laundering and tax evasion, with those involved facing up to eight years in prison.
06:10 Ukraine Evacuates 28 Villages in Border Region SumyUkrainian volunteers assist villagers and their pets in the northern border region of Sumy in leaving the border area. According to local governor Vladimir Artyukh, 28 villages in a ten-kilometer zone along the border with Russia are being evacuated. According to Ukrainian police, 20,000 people must leave their homes.
05:30 Kyiv Inscribes "Glory to Ukraine!" on New BanknotesThe Ukrainian central bank is supplementing the design of all Ukrainian banknotes with the national motto "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!". Money is not only a measure of value and a means of payment, but also a symbol of the state that everyone holds daily, said central bank chief Andriy Pyshnyi in a statement from Kyiv. "To honor the resilience of our people and this turning point in the creation of the Ukrainian nation, in which we live today, we are adding our motto to all banknotes, which is heard throughout the world," said Pyshnyi. The change is to honor the upcoming 33rd Independence Day on August 24. It will begin with the banknotes for 1000 (around 22.30 EUR) and 500 Hryvnia. The remaining denominations of 200, 100, 50 and 20 Hryvnia will follow. The motto will be placed in the top right corner of the banknotes. The rest of the appearance of the notes will remain unchanged. The patriotic motto "Glory to Ukraine!" dates back to the emerging Ukrainian national movement at the end of the 19th century. It has a complex history. In the form "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!", it was used by Ukrainian nationalists who collaborated with the Nazis. The greeting remained present in the Ukrainian independence movement against the Soviet Union.
04:37 Report: Russia Plans to Block WhatsAppIn its action against internet services (see entry 22:33), Russia is reportedly planning to block WhatsApp, the news site "Kyiv Independent" reports. According to the report, Moscow has made preparations to block the messaging app. WhatsApp could be blocked in Russia in the fall, the independent Russian publication Verstka reports, citing sources at the Russian IT company VK, which is developing an application to replace WhatsApp. In July, the Kremlin-controlled media outlet Gazeta.ru reported that the Russian government was planning to fully block YouTube in September. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied these alleged plans.
04:05 USA Approves Additional Military Aid to Kyiv Worth $125 MillionThe USA has approved additional military aid to Ukraine worth $125 million (around $114 million). The aid package underscores "our unwavering support for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russian aggression," said John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, before journalists. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the aid would include air defense missiles, ammunition for rocket systems and artillery, multi-purpose radars, and anti-tank weapons, among other things, and would come from US stockpiles. The equipment "will help Ukraine protect its troops, its population, and its cities from Russian attacks and strengthen its capabilities across the entire front," Blinken added.
03:19 Russia to have issued 2.2 million passports in occupied territories
Russia claims to have issued 2.2 million passports in the Ukrainian regions occupied by its military aggression. Since October 2020, these have been distributed in Saporischschja, Donezk, Luhansk, and Cherson, according to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. These figures cannot be independently verified. In the past, there have been repeated reports of Russian authorities systematically coercing people to accept these passports.
02:30 IAEA warns of nuclear accident at Kursk power plant due to fighting in the region
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warns of the risk of a nuclear accident at the Kursk nuclear power plant due to fighting in the region. "At this point, I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid a nuclear accident with potentially severe radiological consequences," says IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. He is "in personal contact with the relevant authorities of both countries." The Kursk NPP is located near the city of Kurtschatov, about 100 kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border. The state-owned Russian news agency Ria Novosti reported that everything is functioning normally at the plant with usual radiation levels. However, residents of Kurtschatov are currently without power. According to Regional Governor Alexei Smirnov, a power plant was set on fire by falling debris from intercepted Ukrainian drones.
01:55 Russia implements anti-terror measures in Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk
According to Russian media reports, Russia is implementing anti-terror measures in three regions bordering Ukraine. According to a report by the RIA news agency, these measures include possible evacuation of residents, traffic restrictions in certain areas, increased security at sensitive locations, and wiretapping of phones and other communication devices. According to local authorities and the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, these anti-terror regulations apply to the regions of Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk, the news agency reports.
00:36 Nouripour on heads of government: Cowardice does not bring peace in Ukraine
The Green Party leader Omid Nouripour criticizes the ministers-presidents of Brandenburg, Thuringia, and Saxony for their recent statements on Ukraine policy. Dietmar Woidke, Bodo Ramelow, and Michael Kretschmer are "running away from reality," says Nouripour to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). "They act as if one can achieve peace by burying one's head in the sand. But: cowardice does not bring peace." Woidke says he has good contacts with Russia and can mediate. However, "it's strange that it only occurs to him two and a half years after the start of the war and a few weeks before the state election," says Nouripour. Ramelow calls for a non-aggression pact with Russia. However, such a pact was initiated by Germany 85 years ago and brought great suffering to other European countries, the Green politician adds. Kretschmer, meanwhile, acts "as if he doesn't know that only Putin can quickly end this war." Kretschmer had called for a reduction in military aid to Ukraine and advocated for diplomatic initiatives in the Ukraine conflict.
00:13 July deadliest month for civilians in Ukraine since October 2022According to the United Nations, more Ukrainian civilians have died from Russian shelling in July than in any other month since October 2022. "The high number of casualties in July continues an alarming trend since March 2024," the UN Observer Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) reports.
23:43 Construction workers withdrawn from AKW KurskDue to the advance of Ukrainian troops in the Russian region of Kursk, workers are being withdrawn from the construction site of two new nuclear reactors at the Kursk nuclear power plant. The number of construction workers will be temporarily reduced, Atomstroiexport, a subsidiary of the state-owned Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom, reports. Other specialists continue their work as planned. The Kursk nuclear power plant in the city of Kurtschatov has been repeatedly mentioned as a possible target of the offensive on Russian territory that began on Tuesday. However, it is located about 60 kilometers from the border. The farthest advances of Ukrainian troops, which have been reported but not confirmed, have reached about 30 kilometers into Russia. After the Ukrainian offensive was announced, the Russian National Guard reportedly reinforced the protection of the power plant. Two reactors are being built in the plant to replace the two oldest, already decommissioned blocks of the plant. Two other reactors are currently in operation.
23:11 Ukraine captures Gazprom facility in Kursk regionAccording to a video published by Ukrainian media, Ukrainian soldiers have taken control of a facility belonging to the gas company Gazprom in the Russian region of Kursk. The facility in the city of Sudzha and the city itself have been captured, Ukrainian soldiers say in the video.
22:33 Russia blocks messaging app SignalIn its crackdown on foreign internet services, Russia is also blocking the encrypted messaging app Signal, allegedly for violating laws. Signal is not complying with legal measures necessary to counter terrorism and extremism, the relevant authority Roskomnadzor in Moscow says. Throughout the day, complaints from Signal users in Russia have been accumulating that the messaging service is not available. Portals like Sboj.rf, which collect reports of outages, reported about 2000 complaints. Signal was developed in the US and is considered by its users to be a particularly secure means of communication. On Thursday, users in Russia also complained that YouTube was working slowly and videos were difficult to download. The Russian authorities have not given an official explanation for this. However, they have been targeting the extremely popular video service in recent days, allegedly because it refuses to remove extremist videos. Large social networks with US ownership like X and Facebook have already been blocked in Russia and can only be used via protected connections (VPN). Even before the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow had made preparations for a possible internet shutdown in the country. Since the beginning of the war in 2022, Roskomnadzor has blocked thousands of websites that are not approved by the Russian power apparatus.
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The European Union expresses concern over the escalating conflict in Ukraine and calls for an immediate ceasefire.
In response to the evacuation of civilians from the Ukrainian-Russian border, the European Union has provided humanitarian aid to accommodate the displaced people within its member states.
