19:21 Russian guided bomb hits post office in Kharkiv
A Russian guided bomb explodes at a post depot in Charkiw, a civilian dies, nine more are injured including an eight-month-old child. The governor of the Charkiw oblast reports this. Rescue workers are looking for possible other victims. Eight vehicles parked near the depot were destroyed. The building belongs to Nova Poshta, the largest private postal service in Ukraine. "All shift workers were in the air raid shelter and were not injured," the company states. Previously, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had stated that Russia had used over 800 guided air-to-ground bombs against Ukraine in the past week.
18:43 Moscow: Two villages captured in DonetskRussia captures two more villages in the east of Ukraine. This is reported by the Russian news agency RIA, citing the Defense Ministry in Moscow, about the localities Spirne and Nowoolexandriwka in the Donetsk region.
18:20 Ukraine: Russian fighter jet, Cruise missiles, and hundreds of drones destroyedThe Ukrainian commander of the ground forces, Oleksandr Pavliuk, publishes a balance of air defense in June. The defenders have registered the shooting down of a Russian Su-25 fighter jet and three Cruise missiles. In total, they shot down 296 drones in the past month. "Under conditions of intense hostilities," Pavliuk writes, "we managed to intercept a significant number of tactical drones from the sky."
17:27 Zelenskyy: Trump's possible peace plan "bad idea"Donald Trump, the Republican Party's designated presidential candidate in the US, has repeatedly claimed that he could end the Ukraine war "in 24 hours" if he wins the November election. Now Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that he doesn't know how to end the conflict in 24 hours, but if the plan involves making territorial concessions to Russia, then that's a "bad idea." "If Trump has such a model, then everyone would want to end the war," Selenskyy told the Philadelphia Inquirer in an interview: "Perhaps it would even be in an hour better." Giving up one's own territory to Russia is not new. Putin won't solve the problem. He needs to be shown his limits, as he is relying on "pseudo-victories."
16:49 Men attack Ukrainian border guards with machetesIn Ukraine, a border guard is seriously injured by two men with a machete during an attack. One of the attackers was killed by a shot from the border guard. The second man was injured, reports the news portal "Ukrajinska Pravda," citing Ukrainian authorities. The incident occurred on a Saturday evening at the border with Romania. The motive is unknown. However, due to the war, men of military age try to leave the country illegally to avoid being drafted and sent to the front. Previously, 17 men were arrested at the Hungarian border who wanted to illegally leave Ukraine and pay their helpers between 3000 and 12,000 US dollars for a successful exit.
16:14 Further Casualties and Damage after Rocket Attack on Wilniansk
According to reports, following the fatal Russian rocket attack on civilians in Wilniansk, 75 people have reported damaged or destroyed property. The police in the Saporischja region report "the crimes of the Russian army," according to the statement from the authority. The number of registered casualties from the attack has risen to 38, among whom are nine children. A mobile aid station is in operation. At least seven people were killed in the attack on Saturday, including a woman and three children.
15:51 Controversial Kanye West reportedly in Moscow for Friend's Birthday
Controversial US rapper Kanye West is reportedly in Moscow on a private visit, according to Russian media. "That's great news, he's in the heart of the capital," quotes the state news agency Tass the producer Yana Rudkovskaya. Former Russian presidential candidate Xenia Sobchak has published a short video, which she claims shows West observing the famous GUM shopping center from the roof of the Red Square. According to Sobchak, West is in Moscow to celebrate the 40th birthday of his friend Gosha Rubchinskiy, a renowned Russian fashion designer. West has expressed his admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past. In the US, the musician is now an outcast in the entertainment industry due to his antisemitic and Hitler-glorifying statements.
15:24 Russia disrupting GPS signals for British military flights
This year, Russia has disrupted the GPS navigation system for hundreds of British military flights of the Royal Air Force (RAF) over Eastern Europe, according to a data analysis of thousands of flights by the British Telegraph. More than one in four transport and surveillance flights in the first four months of the year 2024 were affected by active GPS disruptions. This illustrates the extent of Russian interference in aviation. "This is another example of Russia's recklessness and another proof that it has become an uncontrollable hostile state," quotes The Guardian the British Defense Minister Ben Wallace. Between January and April, 142 out of 504 transport and surveillance flights of the RAF over Eastern Europe were affected by GPS disruptions.
14:41 Ukrainian hackers sabotage Russian systems
Activists, in collaboration with experts from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, have carried out a series of attacks on Russian companies. According to the Ministry, hackers have destroyed over 100 terabytes of data from OrbitSoft, a software developer who works with the Russian army. They have also deleted data on eight servers from Orient Systems, a supplier of navigation devices for Russian military manufacturers, particularly for manufacturers of unmanned aerial vehicles. They have also deleted the data of an Internet provider in Nizhny Novgorod and sent messages to all subscribers about an "inevitable retaliation" for Russia's war.
14:06 Ukraine starts serial production of combat drones
Ukraine has begun serial production of combat drones with a range over 1,000 kilometers. This was stated by the head of the state arms company Ukroboronprom, Herman Smetanin, in an interview with ArmyInform. In the interview, Smetanin says that Russia's "huge resources and powerful industry" forced Kiev to adopt a "more flexible and inventive" approach to weapons production. Ukraine uses long-range drones to attack military infrastructure such as airfields and logistics facilities, as well as oil refineries and depots deep in Russian territory.
13:36 Ukraine publishes video of liberation of Snake Island
The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has published new footage on social media of the liberation of Snake Island. In the post, SBU describes the "unique and extremely important operation". The footage is said to begin with an aerial view of an air strike on the island, followed by Ukrainian troops landing on the island with a helicopter and attacking Russian troops. "It consisted of several stages and was of strategic importance, as the gradual expulsion of the enemy from the Black Sea began after this", writes the SBU. Ukrainian troops recaptured the strategic outpost at the Black Sea on June 30, 2022.
13:14 Zelensky: Russia fired over 800 guided bombs on Ukraine in a week
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on the platform X that Russia had fired over 800 guided bombs on Ukraine in the past week. "The Ukraine needs the necessary resources to destroy the carriers of these bombs, including Russian combat aircraft, wherever they are located. This step is essential", he wrote further.
12:48 Number of wounded increases after Russian attack on Vilniansk
The number of casualties from a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Vilniansk in the Zaporizhzhia region has increased (see entries 00:32, 05:41 and 07:24). According to official reports, at least seven people, three men, one woman, and three children, have been killed. Thirty-six people, including nine children, were injured in the missile attack, the National Police reported on social media. Previously, 31 injured persons were known.
12:18 Ukraine releases numbers on Russian losses
The Ukrainian General Staff has released new figures on Russian troop losses in Ukraine. According to this, Russia has lost approximately 542,700 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. Alone within 24 hours, the losses amounted to 1,140. According to the report from Kiev, 24 tanks, 60 artillery systems, and an aircraft were also destroyed. In total, Russia has lost 8,080 tanks, 15,524 artillery systems, and 360 aircraft, 326 helicopters, 11,584 drones, 28 ships, and a submarine since the beginning of the large-scale attack. Western estimates give lower loss figures - but these are also only minimum values.
11:45 OSCE: Russia commits genocide in Ukraine
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has passed a resolution recognizing Russia's actions in Ukraine as genocide against the Ukrainian population. Pavlo Frolov, a member of the Kiev delegation, shared this information. In social media, Frolov wrote that the document also defines "the de-colonialization of the Russian Federation as a necessary prerequisite for the creation of a lasting peace." The OSCE has 57 members, including Ukraine and Russia. With 57 countries from Europe, Central Asia, and North America, the OSCE is the largest regional security organization in the world.
11:11 Weichert: People in Odessa "trying to live normal lives"
While at least seven people have died in the vicinity of Zaporizhzhia due to Russian attacks, the beaches of the coastal town of Odessa are filled with bathing tourists. It is a much-needed respite for the Ukrainians affected by the war, as described by NTV reporter Jürgen Weichert.
10:44 Russia: Four firefighters injured in the Donetsk region
In the region of Donetsk, which Russia claims, Russian sources report that four firefighters were injured in Ukrainian attacks. They had extinguished a fire caused by a Ukrainian attack in the Petrovski district and were subsequently hit by renewed shelling, according to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations.
10:08 Russia: Ukrainian forces driven out of Cherson by Russian troops
The fighting in the Cherson region is currently taking place on the islands, as Ukrainian forces have been driven out of the left bank of the Dnipro, according to Cherson Governor Vladymyr Saldo, speaking to the Russian news agency TASS. "The fighting has shifted to the islands, and the Russian army has intensified its activities," he says. The islands and the Dnipro River in the Cherson region form a natural border at the front.
09:43 Ukraine: One dead, two injured in Russian attack on Cherson
One person was reportedly killed and two others were injured in a Russian attack on the Ukrainian region of Cherson. Governor of the region Oleksandr Prokudin announced this on Telegram. A 67-year-old man in Odradokamyanka was allegedly killed by a drone attack. A 76-year-old woman in Kozatske was injured in an artillery attack and was taken to the hospital with severe injuries. Additionally, a 63-year-old woman in Komysany was reportedly injured by Russian troops who fired on a farm. There were no injuries reported in a drone attack on a residential building in Mykhailivka, and the damage is currently being assessed.
09:08 Former NATO Chief: "Putin's Plan A has failed"
Former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen believes that the Russian war against Ukraine will continue for at least the rest of 2024. "Putin's Plan A, which was to take over the entire Ukraine in a few days, has failed," Rasmussen said in an interview with ntv.de. "His Plan B is now a frozen conflict and the Russian occupation of Eastern Ukraine, in the hope that the West will weaken and give in." The presidential elections in the United States on November 5 are a hope-giver for Putin in terms of changes that could help him, Rasmussen added.
08:40 Russia: 36 Ukrainian drones shot down
Russia claims to have shot down 36 Ukrainian drones in various regions across the country. Fifteen drones were intercepted over the border region of Kursk, nine over the region of Lipezk some hundred kilometers south of Moscow, and four each over the regions of Voronezh and Bryansk, according to the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow. The governors of Lipezk and Bryansk report on Telegram that there were no casualties or major damage.
07:55 Sweden's Defense Minister: Russia wants to split EU and NATO
Russia is interested in politically splitting the EU and NATO. This is what the Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said in an interview with the "Bild" newspaper. "I believe that the Kremlin and Putin himself are aware that they would lose this war. But I believe that Russia is very interested in politically dividing us, both within the EU and in NATO," Jonson said. To maintain peace, it is best to make NATO strong and focus on deterrence and defense, Jonson added. According to him, this means more responsibility for European security, especially more investment in military forces. Sweden, under the impression of Russia's aggressive war on Ukraine, gave up its neutrality. In March 2024, Sweden became the 32nd NATO member.
07:24 Zelenskyy: After Russian attack on Velyka Nova Hrebleivka, the death toll could still rise
After a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Velyka Nova Hrebleivka in the region of Zaporizhzhia, there are fatalities and injuries (see entries 00:32 and 05:41). According to official figures, at least seven people have died, including children. Thirty-one people were injured in the missile attack, the Civil Defense reports. "Unfortunately, the number of victims could still rise," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on the platform X.
06:55 Ukraine: Russian troops bombard Derhatschi with fighter bombs
Russian troops have attacked the city of Derhatschi in the Kharkiv region. This was announced by the head of the Derhatschi Military Administration, Vyacheslav Zadorenko, on Telegram. Zadorenko reported that three people were injured. This is the largest attack on Derhatschi since 2022, during which four fighter bombs were dropped. Two men, aged 68 and 75, and a 71-year-old woman were taken to the hospital. According to Zadorenko, several buildings were damaged, including at least 25 residential buildings, agricultural buildings, a garage cooperative, cars, and a civilian company, and power lines were partially destroyed.
06:20: German weapons exports have increased again: Germany exports weapons worth 7.5 billion EuroFollowing a record-breaking weapons export figure in the previous year, export authorizations in the first half of 2024 have significantly increased due to rising weapons deliveries to Ukraine. From January 1st to June 18th, the German government approved the export of military goods worth at least 7.48 billion Euro abroad. This represents a significant increase of over 30% compared to the entire first half of 2023. Nearly two-thirds of the exports (65% or 4.88 billion Euro) were destined for Ukraine. This information was obtained from a response by the Economic Ministry in response to a query by Bundestag member Sevim Dağdelen from The Left (DIE LINKE).
05:41: Dead in Wilnjansk: Moscow reportedly targeted a military objectiveFollowing the Russian shelling of the Ukrainian city of Wilnjansk in the Saporischschja region, with at least seven fatalities, the Russian Defense Ministry reportedly targeted a military objective. According to Interfax news agency, a railway station with ballistic Iskander missile rakets was attacked, as stated in a message from the Russian defense authorities. A military train carrying military cargo was reportedly hit, according to the Russian military leadership. Photos and videos show that residential buildings and parked cars in the city center were hit.
04:53: Kiev Mine Clearance Corps: 30,000 square kilometers have been clearedSpecialists from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry have cleared 30,000 square kilometers of Ukraine of mines in the past two years - an area comparable to the size of Belgium or Moldova. This was reported by the "Kyiv Independent" with reference to Colonel Ruslan Berehulia, head of the department for environmental safety and mine clearance. Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, approximately 174,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian soil have been contaminated with explosives. The Ukraine established the Mine Clearance Corps in April 2022. Units of the Defense Ministry and the Ukrainian Armed Forces joined in 2024. These units, with 5000 specialists, are currently active in the regions of Mykolajiw, Cherson, and Charkiw.
03:53: IFO Survey: Almost half of personnel managers find "Jobturbo" and the Skilled Workers Immigration Act unhelpful for businessesAccording to an IFO Institute survey of 627 personnel managers in Germany, 48% find the "Job-Turbo" and the Skilled Workers Immigration Act unhelpful for businesses. The initiative aims to integrate Ukrainian refugees more quickly into the labor market. However, nearly every fourth company reports positive effects: approximately one in four firms indicate that the new regulations have made more skilled labor available. In addition, companies have reportedly experienced fewer language barriers due to mandatory language courses before job placement. Nearly one in six personnel managers praise shorter hiring processes and the simpler recognition of diplomas. The surveyed managers were allowed to give multiple answers. Almost half of them find that the bureaucracy involved in hiring foreign labor is still too high, while 17% report a reduction in bureaucracy.
02:37 Governor: Russian region of Kursk under fire all day longAccording to the local governor, Ukraine continued to shell the Russian border region of Kursk all day long on Saturday. Governor Alexei Smirnov writes on Telegram that Ukrainian forces had repeatedly targeted eight border villages. Two people were reportedly injured in the process. A video posted in Smirnov's Telegram channel shows a destroyed house and debris. Previously, Smirnov had reported the deaths of five people due to a Ukrainian drone attack early on Saturday morning.
01:29 "Putin loves Farage": Activists mock FarageThe British campaign group Led by Donkeys pranked Nigel Farage, the leader of the right-wing Reform UK party, during a campaign appearance. After Farage recently claimed that the West, not Russian President Vladimir Putin, had instigated the war in Ukraine, activists dropped a banner with Putin's image behind him. Farage was reportedly not pleased, according to the activists.
00:32 Emergency services clear debris in VilnianskEmergency services have cleared the debris of a Russian attack on the city of Vilniansk in the Saporischja region. Upon completion of the search and rescue efforts, it was determined that seven people had been killed, including two children, and 31 people had been injured, including eight children. "The fire was extinguished simultaneously at two locations: in a two-story building and near parked cars on a 300 square meter area, as well as in two one-story buildings on a 150 square meter area. The search and rescue efforts have been completed," the Ukrainian state emergency services report.
21:24 Seehofer: No asylum for young Ukrainian menApproximately 1.2 million Ukrainians have found refuge in Germany from the war in their homeland. CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt recently called for Ukrainians to be deported if they did not work. "The proposal can be misunderstood," CSU honorary chairman Horst Seehofer told the Augsburger Allgemeine. Mothers and children from the war-torn country found it difficult to work, either due to language barriers or a lack of childcare. "It belongs to a humane state to provide protection." Young men who evaded military service in Germany, however, should not be granted asylum, Seehofer believes.
20:51 Man lights grenade in Luzk city centerA resident of the city of Chmelnyzkyj lit a grenade in the city center of Luzk and was arrested. No injuries were reported. The Ukrainian Security Service SBU reports this. The motive of the 23-year-old is still unclear.
You can read about earlier developments here.
- Following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's statement, it's reported that Russia has used over 800 guided air-to-ground bombs against Ukraine in the past week.
- In response to the escalating Ukraine conflict, NATO has been strengthening its presence and providing military aid to Ukraine.
- Amidst the ongoing military operations, Russia and Ukraine have engaged in a cyberwar, with Ukrainian hackers reportedly sabotaging Russian systems.
- Political leaders, like Volodymyr Selensky and Donald Trump, have weighed in on the Ukraine conflict, with Selensky calling a potential peace plan involving territorial concessions to Russia a "bad idea".
- The Russian attack on Ukraine has resulted in numerous casualties and damage, with the city of Wilniansk being particularly affected, as 75 people report damaged or destroyed property and the number of registered casualties has risen to 38, including 9 children.
