19:16 Breach attempts - Russian troops increase pressure further
18:44 Is an imminent prisoner exchange between Germany, the USA, Russia, and Belarus imminent?
Amidst speculation about an impending prisoner exchange between Russia and the USA, a court in Slovenia has sentenced two Russian citizens to over a year and a half in prison on suspicion of espionage. The couple pleaded guilty to "espionage and forgery of documents," the Ljubljana District Court ruled. The court also ordered their expulsion. A report by the Slovenian news platform N1 Info, citing anonymous sources, suggests that the two are part of a larger prisoner exchange between Russia, the USA, Germany, and Belarus, which is expected to take place in the coming hours.
18:03 First western F-16 fighter jets reportedly arrive in Ukraine
Ukraine has received the first of the long-awaited F-16 jets. Bloomberg News reports this, citing sources familiar with the matter. However, it is said to be only a small number of the fighter jets produced in the US. The Ukrainian Air Force does not initially respond to a Reuters query. The Ukrainian army hopes that the planes will help effectively combat Russian air attacks, but this year, Kyiv will likely only be able to deploy a few F-16s due to a severe shortage of trained pilots and maintenance personnel.
17:47 Ex-US soldier imprisoned in Russia goes missing
Amid speculation about an impending prisoner exchange, the lawyer for Paul Whelan, a former US soldier imprisoned in Russia, is checking on his whereabouts. A lawyer for the imprisoned Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Mursa says that a visit to his client has been denied for the second day in a row. "I've received inquiries from journalists asking where Paul (Whelan) is," Olga Karlova, Whelan's lawyer, told the Russian news agency Interfax. She sent a request to the administration of his penal colony, but it did not respond. 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 abducts children and sends them to its youth army
According to the Ukrainian regional administration of the Luhansk region, children from the occupied town of Bilowodsk in the region have been sent to a tent camp of the Russian youth army "Junarmija" in the Russian region of Novosibirsk. A statement on social media says that children aged 11 to 17 are being sent there and are being trained tactically and in shooting and drill exercises by combat commanders.
16:44 Russian Foreign Ministry indirectly threatens German company
The German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall plans to build a munitions factory in Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry comments on this with an indirect threat; spokesman Andrei Natsasyin emphasizes that "every factory is a legitimate target."
16:17 Another Finnish volunteer soldier falls in UkraineThe fourth Finnish volunteer soldier has fallen in the war in Ukraine. News site Yle reports this, citing the "Sodan kokeneet ry" (War Veterans Association). According to the association, the Finn died in mid-July north of Donetsk. Finnish authorities have confirmed this information and notified the soldier's family. 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 Ukrainian side were killed in Ukraine.
15:29 "Kremlin lies" - British defense ministry sees Russian problemsThe war against Ukraine is making the Russian economy flourish, especially in the defense industry, according to reports from the country. However, the British defense ministry calls this a lie and sees problems. "Inflation is twice the target of the central bank, 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 state fund to finance rising war costs, the defense ministry says.
15:00 Ukraine could produce several million drones per yearUkraine currently has a production capacity of three million drones per year, says Anna Gvozdiar, deputy minister for strategic industries of Ukraine, to the media Suspilne. However, this requires funding, says Gvozdiar. Drones are one of the main means in Ukraine's defense against the Russian invasion. Some of the copters are funded by donations from abroad and produced by volunteers.
14:28 Germany delivers more Leopard tanks to Czech RepublicAs compensation for military aid to Ukraine, Germany is delivering another 14 Leopard 2A4 battle tanks and one Buffalo-3 recovery tank to the Czech Republic. Both sides have signed the final documents for this, the Czech defense ministry reports. The first tanks should be delivered by the end of the year, with the rest by early 2026. This agreement follows the delivery of 15 tanks from Germany in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, the NATO country plans to buy more Leopard tanks of types 2A4 and 2A8 as part of its military modernization. Talks about this are ongoing, the Czech Republic reports.
13:49 SBU suspects Putin's close associates of aiding war against UkraineThe Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has filed a suspicion notice against one of Russian leader Vladimir Putin's closest associates, Alexei Dyumin, and Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov. "RBC-Ukraine" reports this, citing the press service of the Security Service of Ukraine.
According to investigations, Alexei Dyumin, a former bodyguard of Putin and current Secretary of the State Council of the Russian Federation, was involved in the mobilization of the Tula region for combat operations in Ukraine. He is said to have organized the partial mobilization of men, established the Center for Unmanned Systems, and developed the production of FPV drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles. Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, is reportedly responsible for the training of contract soldiers and mobilized personnel who will then participate in the fighting in Ukraine.
13:06 Russia begins "third phase" of tactical nuclear weapons exercisesRussia has begun the third phase of exercises aimed at testing the readiness of its forces to use non-strategic nuclear weapons, according to "Kyiv Independent," citing a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense. Units from the central and southern military districts are involved, including those stationed in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. "As part of this exercise phase, personnel from the rocket 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 said. 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 holding children from Luhansk in military campChildren from the occupied Bilowodsk in the Luhansk region are in a Russian military camp in the Novosibirsk region of the Russian Federation, where they are being taught shooting and drills by military personnel, according to "Ukrinform" and the Facebook page of the Luhansk regional state administration. According to the head of the regional state administration, Artem Lysohor, schoolchildren from the Russian-occupied Bilowodsk are still in the "Young Army" military-patriotic tent camp set up in the Novosibirsk region. "Sending children aged 11 to 17 to this camp, where combat officers teach them tactics, fire, and drills, is considered a benevolent act in the Russian Federation," Lysohor said.
12:30 Duma legalizes cryptocurrency mining to circumvent sanctionsThe Duma has passed a law legalizing cryptocurrency mining in Russia, according to "Meduza," a Russian media outlet based in Latvia, citing the website of the lower house of the Russian parliament. The document published on the site states 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 Bonus for War DeploymentRussia's leadership aims to attract more volunteers for its attack on Ukraine by offering more money. According to a decree signed by President 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. Additionally, a monthly salary that is significantly higher than the average Russian income will be provided. Since the forced mobilization of reservists in the fall of 2022, Russia has primarily relied on financial incentives to attract soldiers for the war. Many regions offer cash bonuses for contract signings, with Moscow, for example, setting a one-time premium of 1.9 million rubles (about 20,300 euros) for contracts lasting one year or longer.
11:30 Russian Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Attempted Arson at Recruitment OfficeA man in Russia has been sentenced to seven years in prison for attempting to set fire to a recruitment office. The military court of the Southern District of Russia also found him guilty of maintaining connections with the "Free Russia Legion" and conspiring with a representative of a foreign state. The "Free Russia Legion" was founded in Ukraine in March 2022 and is an armed group of Russians fighting alongside 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 at Weapon Depot in Kursk After Ukrainian StrikeA fire broke out at a weapons and military equipment storage facility in the Russian border region of Kursk following a Ukrainian attack. The General Staff in Kyiv reported that the strike was carried out using a modified rocket system of the Ukrainian Navy, with explosions observed at the target. The Navy possesses Neptune anti-ship missiles, which can reach targets nearly 300 kilometers away, and Kursk is only slightly over 80 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that a 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, the Russian military reports that 19 Ukrainian drones were shot down over the cities of Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Kaluga, Rostov, and the annexed Crimean Peninsula.
10:36 Munz on Russia's War Tactics: Motorcycle Attacks "Follow a Certain Pattern"Sightings of Russian soldiers on motorcycles in Ukraine have increased, leading observers to suggest that Russia is running out of armored vehicles. ntv correspondent Rainer Munz disagrees and explains the strategy behind these attacks.
10:02 Reisner: Russia may have lost up to 750,000 soldiers in UkraineRussia may have suffered between 500,000 and 750,000 casualties, including up to 150,000 killed, in its war against Ukraine, according to Markus Reisner, a colonel in the Austrian Armed Forces, 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, the military expert estimates. "And that's realistic given the intensity of the conflict," he says, also noting that the Ukrainian side "has also suffered very heavy losses". Kyiv puts the current Russian losses at 578,120 military personnel (see entry at 07:35).
09:24 Ukraine: Claims to have attacked weapons depot in Russian region of KurskThe Ukrainian military claims to have attacked a weapons and military equipment depot in the Russian region of Kursk overnight. Kursk borders Ukraine and has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian fire. The Ukrainian military claimed to have attacked a Russian oil depot in the region overnight. "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 most intense 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. "In two waves, over 40 enemy drones were shot down over the Kyiv area and the outskirts of the capital," the Kyiv military administration said on Telegram. None of the drones reached their target in the capital. The attack was described as one of the strongest on Ukraine during the entire war. Overall, there was an air alert in the three-million-strong city for over eight hours overnight (see also entries at 06:33 and 23:52). Reports of Russian drone attacks also came from 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 front line in the past dayAccording to the spokesperson of the Ukrainian General Staff, Dmytro Hutsulyak, there were 144 engagements along the front line in the past day. "In the past day, there were 144 combat engagements. In 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 air bombs were dropped. Furthermore, more than 4,350 attacks were carried out, 90 of which were with multiple launch rocket systems," says Hutsulyak in the program "United News".
08:09 Governor: Man Dies from Russian Shelling in KhersonRussian forces shell the outskirts of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson in the morning, killing a man and injuring a woman, writes the governor of the Kherson region, Roman Mrochko, in a Telegram post. According to him, the Russian army shelled the outskirts of Kherson from the occupied left bank of the Dnieper River. A 68-year-old man sustained fatal injuries. 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 aid at the scene.
07:35 Ukraine Reports Over 1000 Russian Casualties in a DayRussia loses 1060 soldiers, 30 artillery systems, 20 armored combat vehicles, and 9 tanks in the past day, reports the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its Facebook update. According to the report, the total combat losses of the Russian Armed Forces since the start of the invasion on February 24, 2022, are 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. Russia does not provide information on its losses.
07:14 Ukraine Spots Two Russian Warships with Cruise Missiles in the Black SeaRussia is reportedly maintaining two warships in the Black Sea armed with up to eight Kalibr cruise missiles each, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. There are no enemy ships in the Azov Sea. In the Mediterranean Sea, Russia has two warships, one of which is armed with up to 16 Kalibr cruise missiles, it is reported. However, the spokesman for the Ukrainian Navy, Dmytro Pletenchuk, told "RBC-Ukraine" that it is unlikely that Russia would dare to fire missiles from the Mediterranean at Ukraine, as doing so would violate NATO airspace.
06:33 Massive Drone Attack on Kyiv - Over 30 Drones InterceptedThe Ukrainian air defense intercepts more than 30 Russian drones over Kyiv overnight, the military administration of the capital reports on Telegram. This is reportedly one of the most massive drone attacks on Ukraine since the start of the war. Explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital, Reuters reported, citing eyewitnesses. The detonations sounded like air defense systems repelling enemy aerial objects. An air raid alert had been sounded in Kyiv and parts of Ukraine earlier (see entry from 23:52). "This was the seventh enemy drone attack on Kyiv in July," writes Serhii Popko, head of the military administration of the city, in a post. The air raid alert lasted for more than seven hours. Enemy drones infiltrated Kyiv in waves from almost all possible directions, it is reported. No information is available on possible damage or casualties.
06:10 Zelensky to protect schoolchildren from Russian attacks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants to ensure special protection for the schoolchildren of his country from the war. "The school year is approaching, and the priority now is to ensure that children, wherever possible thanks to the shelters, learn normally and not remotely," Zelensky said in his evening video address. The government has been instructed to accelerate its efforts to build shelters.
04:38 Pistorius on new US weapons: "Real deterrence"
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius dismisses criticism of the federal government's approach to the agreement with the US on the deployment of long-range weapons. While he sees nothing wrong with openly discussing this topic in the Bundestag, the SPD politician argues that "it is originally not a topic that should have been previously discussed in parliament. It is also not comparable to the NATO Double Decision from the 1980s." At the recent NATO summit in Washington, the US and Germany announced the deployment of Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons from 2026 onwards, justified as a reaction to threats from Russia. Pistorius emphasizes that the deployment concerns conventional weapons not intended as weapons with nuclear warheads. "This must be clearly stated to reassure those who are concerned here." It is about "real deterrence," the defense minister says (see also the criticism of the former SPD chairman Norbert Walter-Borjans in the entry at 22:05).
02:33 Finnish volunteer killed in Ukraine
A Finnish volunteer who fought on the side of Ukraine has been killed in the northern Donetsk region in mid-July. The Finnish War Veterans' Association announced this, stating that the authorities had informed his family. He is the fourth Finnish citizen to have fallen in Ukraine. In February, the country's foreign ministry had reported that 20 to 30 Finns were deployed at the Ukrainian front.
23:52 Air Force reports numerous drones over Ukraine
In numerous regions of Ukraine, the army sounds the air alarm at night. Russia is attacking the country from several directions with drones. An explosion was heard in Kyiv, reporters of the "Kyiv Independent" report. It is still unclear whether the capital was hit.
22:05 US medium-range missiles in Germany: Former SPD leader criticizes "solo move"
Former SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans regrets the lack of debate over the planned deployment of US weapons in Germany. "That such a far-reaching decision is practically not debated, that it is more or less made and announced in a solo move," is problematic, Walter-Borjans told the "Germanyfunk" in an interview. Moreover, from the perspective of the former SPD leader, it is not clear whether such a measure "actually increases security or whether it could not also make us a target for a first strike." Recently, the White House and the federal government announced at the NATO summit that the US would again station weapons systems in Germany from 2026 onwards that reach far into Russia. Named were Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons.
21:35 Ukrainians face less "condemnation" 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 treachery elsewhere. However, "Ukraine is currently seeing 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 territories, at an event in the Media Center Ukraine. "In general, the Ukrainian population views the possible communication of people in occupation as acceptable in certain situations," she adds. 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," Svyrydova says.
20:54 Reports of major fire at Russian arms factoryAmong others, the Ukrainian media outlet Euromaidan Press reports a fire at a factory in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg. The factory produces parts for military rockets, according to the report. It has been under Western sanctions since 2014 and is an important player in the Russian defense industry. There has been no official confirmation yet, and the authenticity of the videos on social media is not confirmed. The cause of the fire is also unknown.
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 senior military officials during his working visit to the Volhynia region, as announced 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," the statement says. Zelensky gets a firsthand look at 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." Ukrainian military forces have significantly reinforced the border with neighboring Belarus in recent months.
You can read all previous developments [here]*.
The European Union could potentially play a role in facilitating the prisoner exchange between Russia, the USA, Germany, and Belarus, given its influence in international relations.
Following the prisoner exchange, it would be important for the European Union to advocate for the fair treatment and safe return of all prisoners involved, to ensure respect for human rights and international law.
