19:21 Poland: West must relearn escalation

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski is convinced that Russia is not invincible and that the West can defeat Vladimir Putin. "In contrast to his delusional propaganda, Russia is not invincible," Sikorsky said during a speech: "It has lost some of its wars." The Kremlin can be contained and even defeated. The West must learn how to win in the "escalation game." "For example, we could confiscate all 300 billion euros of Russian state assets," Sikorsky explained.

18:39 Ukraine plans privatization of system-relevant banks

The Ukraine plans to sell the system-relevant Sens Bank and Ukrgasbank. In addition, by September 2024, an internationally recognized financial advisor is to be appointed, according to a memorandum with the International Monetary Fund. The procedure is to be "transparent" and "following consultations with international financial organizations." Ukraine commits to not increasing the state share in the banking sector. The IMF pays Kiev an additional 2.2 billion dollars for its state budget.

17:58 Ukraine denies attack plans on Belarus

Kiev contradicts Belarusian statements about possible advances of the Ukrainian forces across the common border. The Ukraine poses no threat but is instead strengthening its defense lines, according to Border Guard Spokesman Andrij Demtschenko. There are no provocations. "They are probably confused," he was quoted as saying by the Ukrainian news agency Unian. "The real threat comes from Belarus, where there are enough Russian troops stationed," said Andrij Kowalenko, head of the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation. The Russian military is trying to tie up Ukrainian forces. In an interview, a high-ranking Belarusian officer had claimed: "They are trying to drag our country into war." Belarus is Russia's closest ally.

17:19 Civilians freed meet in Kiev

Ten Ukrainian civilians who were held captive in Russia have returned to Kiev. The ex-prisoners, dressed in blue and yellow flags, were greeted by their relatives in the capital. President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked all those involved and specifically the Vatican for its mediation. Some of the now-released civilians had been held in Russia even before the start of its large-scale invasion of Ukraine, among them Nariman Dzheljal, deputy chairman of the Mejlis, a representative body of the Crimean Tatars. Dzheljal was abducted from Crimea a year before the annexation, where he had been living despite the annexation.

16:47 Ukraine investigates dismissed General Sodol

The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office is investigating the actions of dismissed General Leytenant Yuriy Sodol. He is accused of sending unnecessary soldiers to their deaths. Sodol gave orders to Ukrainian troops during the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv Oblast. When the current Russian offensive began on May 10, he was in command. Sodol was dismissed on June 24 after one of the commanders of the Azov Brigade filed an official complaint. In it, he accused the general of abuse of power and incompetent leadership of the troops, which led to the loss of Ukrainian territory and personnel.

16:10 Ukraine thanks for CrimTatarish translation tool in English The Google Online Translator now contains CrimTatarish as part of an extension of 110 new languages. Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs publicly thanks for the initiative. CrimTatarish is endangered in Ukraine due to the decreasing number of speakers. Mass deportations and repression waves against Crimean Tatars by the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union have significantly contributed to the decline. The illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 intensified the trend. Crimean Tatars are exposed to persecution and deportation by the Russian occupiers on their homeland.

15:29 EU imposes sanctions on Belarus Due to Belarus' involvement in Russia's armed conflict, the EU imposes sanctions on the country. This aims to also complicate Russia's sanction evasion.

Export restrictions on goods and technologies for shipping and luxury goods to Belarus
Extension of the export ban on technology and goods that could contribute to increasing Belarusian industrial capacity
New export ban to Belarus for goods and technologies suitable for oil refining and natural gas liquefaction
Import ban from Belarus of gold, diamonds, helium, coal, and mineral products, including natural gas
Comprehensive ban on services for Belarus
Goods transport ban in the EU for Belarusian trailers and semi-trailers

14:56 Ukraine's Foreign Minister wants to make war "impossible" Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, during a podium discussion, shares the goal for the post-war period. "As we know from our own recent history and from the history of other regions, peace without justice leads to a new war," he said. "Therefore, the goal is not just to end the war, but to create a reality where peace is just and lasting, and a new war becomes impossible. This will be the victory."

14:31 Belarus strengthens air defense at the border with Ukraine Belarus, according to its own statements, strengthens its air defense at the border with Ukraine. The reason is an increase in Ukrainian drone activities in that area, the military of the close ally Russia reports. Additional air defense forces have been sent to the border to protect "critical infrastructure installations." The situation in the airspace over the border remains tense. The Defense Ministry reports, it has information that Ukraine has moved more troops, weapons, and military equipment to the northern region of Schytomyr, which borders Belarus.

13:52 Seehofer on Scholz's No to Taurus Deliveries for Ukraine: "Scholz's Behavior is Spot On"

Former Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer endorses Chancellor Olaf Scholz's refusal to supply Taurus missile systems to Ukraine. "I agree with Scholz's behavior in one point - on the question of Taurus deliveries," said the CSU politician in an interview on the occasion of his 75th birthday in the "Augsburger Allgemeine." The Chancellor aimed to prevent escalation and work together with the Americans under all circumstances. "I have always considered that to be right, even though that is not the view in my party," said Seehofer on SPD politician Scholz's stance in the Taurus issue. "This stance rules out the chance that, when the Ukrainians consider it right, they might try to end this horrible and brutal war of the Russians," said the CSU politician and former Bavarian Minister-President.

13:23 More Russia and China? Economists Warn of New Foreign Policy Course of the AfD

Economists warn against the efforts of influential AfD politicians to distance themselves from the EU and the US and to orient more towards Russia and China. "A departure from the US and EU to cooperate more strongly with China could contribute significantly to political and economic uncertainty and also carry long-term risks," said Oliver Holtemöller, Deputy President of the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research Halle, to "Handelsblatt." The President of the German Institute for Economic Research, Marcel Fratzscher, told the newspaper that orienting more towards Russia and China would be the "biggest mistake" that Germany could make politically and economically.

12:58 Russia Claims Capture of Village in the Oblast Dnepropetrovsk

According to reports from Russian state media, the Russian military has taken control of the Ukrainian village of Shumy in the Dnepropetrovsk region. The state Russian news agency RIA Novosti, citing the Russian Defense Ministry, reports that the army has taken over the settlement near the city of Toretsk. The announcement states that Ukrainian troops suffered 360 casualties. The claims cannot be independently verified.

12:38 Zelensky: Russian Attacks Have Destroyed 80 Percent of Ukraine's Thermal Energy, One-Third of Its Hydroelectric Power

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian attacks have destroyed 80 percent of Ukraine's thermal energy and one-third of its hydroelectric power. The British newspaper "Guardian" reports this. Russian attacks reportedly targeted energy facilities and other vital infrastructure. The latest attack in Dnipro shows, according to the Ukrainian head of state, that Ukraine needs more air defense systems. "Only a sufficient amount of air defense systems of high quality, only a sufficient amount of determination from the whole world can stop Russian terror," said Zelensky.

12:25 Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba in Croatia for a Visit
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is in Croatia for a visit. He is participating in the 17. Dubrovnik Forum. According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the focus of the meeting is expected to be on restoring peace and security in Ukraine and Europe, as well as the results of the first peace summit. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and EU Foreign Policy Chief Joseph Borrell are among those attending the meeting.

11:51 Military Economist: The War Could Be Over by the End of 2025 - "Time is Running Against Russia"
According to military economist Marcus Keupp's assessment, Russia will not be able to sustain the war against Ukraine for years to come. In an interview with the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung," he states that the Russian supply chain is expected to collapse by mid-2027 at the latest, and possibly even by the end of 2025. "That's the computational end, then the warehouses will be empty." Keupp bases his calculations on documented losses of the Russian army, which have been recorded on open-source websites on the internet. According to his calculations, Russia has lost an average of four tanks per day since the start of the war. However, only 300 to 500 new tanks can be built each year. Moscow cannot sustain this indefinitely, says the military economist. Satellite images already show that old Soviet military bases are emptying out "at a massive pace" throughout Russia, according to Keupp. "Russia is living off its reserves. It's basically on the dead legs of the Soviet Union." Keupp's conclusion: "Time is running against Russia." In his opinion, Russia's method of waging war is not sustainable. "Putin has the same problem as Hitler. His resources are melting away, and he's stuck in the mud of the Soviet Union."

11:33 Draft Evasion: Some Ukrainian Men Seek Help from Forgers
A new recruitment drive is underway in Ukraine to mobilize more soldiers for the fight against Russia. Therefore, some Ukrainian men are turning to online dealers and forgers to avoid the horrors of military service, according to the British newspaper "Guardian." It is expected that attempts to flee the country will also increase. Ukraine recently passed far-reaching mobilization measures that allow the military to call up more soldiers and impose stricter penalties for military service evasion. Volodymyr Zelensky signed a controversial law in April that lowers the draft age from 27 to 25. Anyone who refuses military service can lose their driver's license and access to their bank accounts. Property can also be confiscated.

11:04 Zelensky Releases Video of Reunions of War Prisoners with Their Families
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has released a video showing the moment when ten prisoners of war returned home from Russian captivity and were reunited with their families. He shared the recording on his social media channels.

10:36 Ukrainian police car in Sumy attacked by Russian droneIn the Sumy Oblast in northeastern Ukraine, a Ukrainian police car was attacked by a Russian drone. This was reported by the Ukrainian newspaper "Kyiv Post" citing the Ukrainian National Police. According to the report, the policemen were not in the vehicle at the time, but were nearby when they heard the explosion.

10:08 Kremlin remains silent on Trump's remarks about ending the warThe Kremlin declined to comment on Donald Trump's remarks that if he were re-elected in November, he would end the war against Ukraine. This was reported by the British newspaper "Guardian." Trump made these remarks during the US Presidential debate with incumbent Joe Biden on the previous Thursday. "As for Russia and Ukraine: If we had a real president, a president who respected Putin, he wouldn't have gone into Ukraine," Trump said.

09:26 Zelenskyy thanks Coe at meeting for exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletesUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Sebastian Coe, President of the World Athletics Championships. This was announced by the Ukrainian leader on his Facebook page. "We welcome the decisions made by World Athletics at the beginning of March 2022 to ban representatives of Russia and Belarus from participating in international athletics competitions," Zelenskyy wrote. He also thanked Coe for supporting Ukrainian athletes.

09:01 Four dead, ten injured in Russian attacks in the Kherson regionRussian forces have shelled numerous cities and villages in the Kherson region, resulting in four deaths and ten injuries. This was reported by Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Military Administration of the region, on Telegram. "Four people were killed by Russian aggression in Sadove, Tiahynka, Novotiahynka, Olhivka, and Cherson," Prokudin said. He added that Russian military attacked residential areas in the region and damaged some private houses. Several businesses and a gas pipeline were also reportedly hit.

08:34 Governor of Kursk: Five dead in Ukrainian drone attack on border villageAccording to Russian reports, five people were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on a border village. The governor of the western Russian region of Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, made the announcement on Telegram. "Two small children are among the dead," Smirnov said. He added that two other family members were in critical condition. The drone reportedly crashed into a house in the small village of Gorodischtsche. Since the beginning of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, both sides have been regularly attacking each other with drones, some of which have ranges of several hundred kilometers. The Ukrainian army has expanded its drone attacks on Russian territory this year, targeting not only Russian energy facilities but also border towns and villages.

08:02 Kiev: Over 1000 Russian soldiers "eliminated"

According to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's daily reports, 1070 Russian soldiers have died or are unable to continue fighting since the beginning of the war in February 2022, making a total of 541,560 Russian soldiers "eliminated." The Defense Ministry announced in its daily reports that the enemy had also lost seven more tanks (8073). Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Ukraine has counted over 15,500 armored vehicles and around 11,500 drones that are no longer in the possession of the Russian military or have been destroyed.

07:28 Russian attack: Fire department in Dnipro rescues man from buried car

Once again, Russian rockets hit a Ukrainian residential area. The latest attack on the city of Dnipro resulted in at least one fatality, among the wounded was a seven-month-old baby. A man was buried under the rubble in his car.

07:06 Ukrainian military positions spied on: SBU arrests alleged Russian agent

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has arrested another Russian agent. The man is accused of preparing a Russian breakthrough in the Donetsk region and spying on Ukrainian defense forces. The SBU press office announced this. The man is reportedly a resident of Myrnohrad, who worked as an employee of a private security company. Russia reportedly took notice of the man as an active user of pro-Russian Telegram channels, where he allegedly published anti-Ukrainian comments.

06:34 Ukrainian Air Force: Ten Russian drones shot down at night

The Ukrainian air defense shot down all ten drones launched by Russia at night. The Ukrainian Air Force reported this.

05:43 General Staff in Kiev: 102 battles at the front

The Ukrainian General Staff reports 102 battles at the front within 24 hours. The enemy has increased the tempo of its offensive actions since Friday morning, according to the situation report of the Ukrainian General Staff on Facebook. The most battles are reported near Pokrovsk. The Russian troops attempted to dislodge Ukrainian units from their positions 28 times. The Ukrainian army repelled 21 attacks. Seven battles are still ongoing, according to the announcement.

04:59 Czech Republic prepares security agreements with Kiev

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced at a press conference that the Czech Republic will sign a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine during the EU summit in London on July 18. He had agreed with President Zelenskyy the day before to finalize the negotiations on the text of the Czech-Ukrainian security agreement before the NATO summit in Washington. The next NATO summit is scheduled for July 9-11. The Czech Republic will thus join 19 other countries, including the United States, Great Britain, Germany, France, and the European Union, which have already signed similar bilateral agreements.

03:59 USA to deliver HAWK missiles to KievThe US government is set to provide weapons and ammunition worth $150 million to Ukraine, including HAWK air defense missiles and 155-millimeter artillery ammunition. Two unnamed US officials have announced that the military aid package is expected to be presented on Monday. The Biden administration is responding to Ukraine's desperate pleas for support in air defense, following Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in recent weeks.

02:58 Report: Russian agents in Vienna implicated in assassination of helicopter pilot KusminowRussian agents based in Vienna are under suspicion for their involvement in recruiting and financing Russian operations, such as the assassination of the Russian military helicopter pilot Maxim Kusminow. He had defected to the Ukraine and was living in Spain when he was found by the hit squad. The "Wall Street Journal" reports this with reference to western security sources. The killers, who shot him five times and then ran him over with a SUV, were criminals paid in cash by Russian officials from Vienna, according to the paper. "We are now a burden to our neighbors because Russia uses us as an operational base," a high-ranking Austrian intelligence officer told the newspaper. According to Austrian intelligence sources, the number of active Russian diplomats in Austria has increased from around 400 to over 500 in the last two years. About half of them are diplomats and managers, while the other half act as spies.

01:58 Russia captures town north of Bachmut - Ukraine deniesAccording to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian forces have taken control of the town of Rosdoliwka in eastern Ukraine. However, the Ukrainian military claims that heavy fighting is taking place in the areas around the settlement. Rosdoliwka is located in the Donetsk region, the epicenter of Russia's advance in eastern Ukraine. It is located north of Bachmut and Soledar, two towns that Russia captured last year.

00:58 US Army awards Lockheed Martin $4.5 billion contractIn the US, the US Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a multi-billion dollar contract worth $4.5 billion for the Patriot air defense system. The Pentagon announced this. The contract includes 870 PAC-3 MSE missiles and the associated hardware. Lockheed produces the latest version of the missile defense system, known as PAC-3 MSE, which equips the Patriot system. The Patriot system is part of a series of advanced air defense systems that the West provides to Ukraine.

23:58 More Olympic Starting Places for Russians - Judokas rejected
The International Olympic Committee continues to invite more athletes from Russia and Belarus to the Summer Games in Paris. According to the IOC's evening announcement, 50 athletes from the two countries have been invited so far to compete under a neutral flag at the Olympics. However, not all these invitations have been accepted, some have already declined. Some Judokas were rejected because of their affiliation with Army sports clubs. Out of the twelve quotas for Russian Judokas, only two will be allocated to men and women each - it remains to be seen if the four will accept the invitation.

22:59 Ten Ukrainians returned from Russian captivity
Ten Ukrainian civilians have returned home from Russian captivity, according to reports from Kiev. Among the released prisoners is Nariman Djeljal, the leader of the Crimean Tatars, writes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in social media on Friday. He thanks the Vatican for its role in the prisoners' release. Djeljal was arrested in Crimea in 2021, before the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, and later sentenced to 17 years in prison.

22:30 Lithuania's Foreign Minister: Kallas nomination recognizes stance on Russia
Lithuania has welcomed the nomination of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the new EU Foreign Policy Chief. Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis speaks of recognition of the views of the Baltic States and other countries on the NATO Eastern Flank, who have taken a firm stance against Russia and supported Ukraine until its victory. "She has never hidden her position, she has clearly and openly expressed her views on issues that are important to us," Landsbergis told the BNS agency in Vilnius about Kallas. Kallas was appointed as the EU representative for external and security policy at the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday. The 47-year-old liberal has been Estonia's first female prime minister since 2021 and is known as a supporter of a resolute Western stance towards Moscow.

22:00 Baerbock: Support for Ukraine is the best protection for peaceful sleeping
According to Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's belief, the ongoing support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian invasion forces is also a guarantee of peace and security in Germany. "If Ukraine can no longer defend our peace, our freedom because we no longer support it, then the question is how far Putin's troops will advance," Baerbock said during a talk by RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND), NDR and "Hannoverscher Allgemeine Zeitung". "That's why the support efforts for Ukraine are the best protection for our own peace and our own security." Baerbock referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Naturally, one can discuss whether the billions in aid for Ukraine should be used differently, Baerbock says. But in this case, she must admit: "I don't know how long we can continue sleeping peacefully here in Brandenburg, right at the border with Poland." There are "light tests" everywhere along the EU border and the NATO external border by Russia. "Every reasonable person in the world, in Europe and in Ukraine" wishes nothing more ardently than peace in Ukraine. But that lies with Putin. "For that reason, Putin must withdraw his troops and finally put an end to this killing." Instead, his answer is "always more violence and terror."

You can read about previous developments here.

Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski suggests confiscating Russian state assets as a strategy to weaken Putin's regime, in the context of the Ukraine conflict and the looming threat of cyberwar.
Amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict, Ukraine denies plans for an attack on Belarus, as Belarusian officials alleged potential advances of Ukrainian forces across the common border.
Russian military intentions are suspected in Belarus' strengthening of its air defense at the border with Ukraine, as the Kremlin allegedly tries to tie up Ukrainian forces.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanks international allies, including the Vatican, for their role in securing the release of ten Ukrainian civilians held captive in Russia.
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office investigates actions of dismissed General Leytenant Yuriy Sodol, accused of sending unnecessary troops to their deaths during Russian military operations in Ukraine.