19:22 Putin warns against scams in cryptocurrencies in Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned about the high electricity consumption for cryptocurrency mining in his country. Currently, "almost 1.5 percent of the total electricity consumption" is going towards crypto mining, Putin said in a televised meeting with government officials. This number "is growing," the president noted. Russia is one of the major countries for mining new cryptocurrencies. The operators of thousands of computers, often housed in large halls, validate transactions and receive new cryptocurrency in return. The Kremlin, however, is skeptical towards the unregulated industry. Putin warned of potential power outages in certain regions due to uncontrolled electricity consumption for crypto mining. According to reports, three Siberian regions have already experienced power shortages due to intensive crypto mining. Siberia has long been a hub for crypto mining due to its cheap electricity and cold weather.
5:13 PM EU gives 4.2 billion Euros to Ukraine
Ukraine is set to receive the first regular payment from the EU's new multi-billion euro aid program. The country has fulfilled the reform requirements for this payment, according to the EU commission responsible for the evaluation. Nearly 4.2 billion Euros could be disbursed. The reform requirements for the first payment reportedly included the Ukrainian government passing new laws to enable a more effective fight against tax evasion and economic crime. Additionally, the principles for managing state-owned enterprises had to be adjusted and a national energy and climate plan had to be adopted.
5:11 PM Russia demolishes Holodomor memorials in Luhansk
In the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk, occupied by Russia, Holocaust memorials for the victims of Stalin's repressions and the Holodomor, also known as the Ukrainian Famine, have been dismantled. This is reported by Radio Free Europe (RFE). RFE refers to videos that are being spread on Telegram. The Holodomor was a famine caused by Stalin in Ukraine from 1932 to 1933, which millions of people fell victim to.
4:45 PM Power outages in the hot southern Russia
Due to extreme heat and the failure of an atomic reactor, power outages are being implemented in many regions in southern Russia. Planned power cuts affect consumers in the Rostov region, according to Governor Vasili Golubev on his Telegram channel. In Sevastopol on the annexed Crimean Peninsula, the local power supplier announces power cuts of twelve hours a day - every two hours with electricity, then two hours without.
4:05 PM Russia ships first grain from new Baltic Sea terminal to Cuba
Russia has reportedly shipped the first grain from a new terminal in its Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga. The agricultural oversight authority announced this to the news agency Reuters. Russia is the world's largest wheat exporter and about 90 percent of its exports go through ports in the Black Sea. Recently, Russia has been trying to use various export routes. From the Lugaport, the first 12,000 tons of grain were shipped in June. According to data from the information provider LSEG, the destination was Cuba. The port of Ust-Luga made headlines in January when an oil terminal caught fire. Ukrainian media reported that the cause was a drone attack by the Ukrainian intelligence services.
16:29 Ukraine arrests "Russian informant" in CharkiwThe Ukrainian security service (SBU) has reportedly arrested a "Russian informant" in the Charkiw region. The SBU announced this in a statement. The woman is said to have shared information in a Telegram channel of the Russian security services. The SBU claims to have documented how the woman was on the move in the eastern outskirts of Charkiw and covertly recorded locations of Ukrainian troops' checkpoints and other military "fortifications".
15:44 NATO sends top British officials to KievNATO is strengthening its civilian representation in Ukraine and sending a senior alliance representative to Kiev. The former deputy secretary-general, Patrick Turner, will lead the NATO representation in the Ukrainian capital from September and function as the central contact person for local authorities, NATO announced. Turner will also help coordinate military support for Ukraine and provide Allied information and assessments of the situation in the country. This was announced in the background of the NATO summit's decisions last week in Washington.
15:03 Russia: Ukrainian drone kills two civilians in BelgorodAccording to local authorities in Russia, two people were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in the Belgorod border region. The victims were reportedly a young couple traveling in a civilian vehicle outside the city of Belgorod, Regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported.
14:36 Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners of warRussia and Ukraine have reportedly exchanged prisoners of war. According to Russian Defense Ministry reports, there were 190 soldiers on each side. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also confirmed this on the platform X. The United Arab Emirates mediated the exchange. The returning Russian soldiers will first be examined medically in Moscow.
13:55 Sharma: Ukraine must give up symbolic villageUkraine is taking a series of setbacks at the front, as reported by NTV reporter Kavita Sharma from Kiev. After the Russian rocket attack on a children's clinic in the Ukrainian capital, the military reported withdrawals in the regions of Dnipro and Donetsk.
13:24 Kremlin denies doubts about offensive successThe Kremlin has dismissed speculation about the failure of the Russian offensive in the northeastern Ukraine. "The operation is ongoing and will be completed successfully," Kreml spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today. Yesterday, the governor of Belgorod announced access restrictions to 14 villages on the Russian side near the border. This is to protect the population from Ukrainian attacks. In response to a question about whether the access restrictions meant that the offensive in the northeast had failed, Peskov replied: "No, that's not the case."
12:48 Study: Citizen's Benefits have little influence on the employment of Ukrainian refugeesSocial benefits such as citizen's benefits have little influence on the employment rate of refugees from Ukraine. However, factors such as social networks in the respective countries, the level of English language proficiency of the local population, and childcare are significant. This is evident from a Europe-wide study by the Institute for Labor Market and Vocational Research (IAB). In Germany, the employment rate of Ukrainian refugees is 27%, which is in the middle range. The highest rate is in Lithuania with 57%, Denmark with 53%, and Poland with 48%.
11:53 Protection from Rockets: Charkiw Schoolchildren to be Taught UndergroundChildren in the city of Charkiw, which has been under nearly daily Russian shelling since the start of the war in the east of Ukraine, will reportedly be taught more frequently in underground schools according to official statements. An underground school project has already been implemented, and the construction of three more such facilities has begun. The children will supposedly be better protected from Russian air raids in this way.
11:22 Media: Ukraine to Receive 32 Outdated F-16s from GreeceGreece plans to decommission 32 outdated F-16 fighter jets and hand them over to the USA. According to a report by the portal "New Voice of Ukraine", these jets will then be modernized and provided to Ukraine. Ukraine already has 60 F-16 jets from Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands, but reportedly needs at least 150 combat jets to launch rockets and missiles against Russia and defend against wide-ranging air raids. There have been devastating bombing raids, the latest one being on a children's hospital in Kiev with at least seven fatalities.
10:35 Ukraine Reports 112 Frontline Fights since YesterdayThe Ukrainian army general staff recorded 112 fights at the frontline in the past 24 hours. Among these were reportedly four rocket attacks on Ukrainian military positions and populated areas, as well as 71 air raids with 119 guided air-to-ground bombs. In addition, Russia conducted over 4,300 artillery attacks, including 121 with multiple rocket launchers.
09:54 Russia and China Begin Joint Naval ExerciseRussia and China have begun a naval exercise in the South China Sea. The exercise is expected to last three days, according to Russian and Chinese state media. During the exercise, they will reportedly practice air and submarine defense. Sharp ammunition is also expected to be used. Just a few days before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia and China announced a strengthening of their partnership and described it as "boundless".
08:43 Ministry Reports 42,000 Missing UkrainiansApproximately 42,000 people are currently missing in Ukraine, including soldiers and civilians. The Interior Ministry released this information. The number was previously higher at around 51,000, but approximately 4,000 of the missing soldiers have since been found and identified. About 3,000 missing persons have been found alive, many of whom were prisoners of war. Identifying the dead is reportedly difficult because the Defense Ministry does not take DNA samples from the soldiers it sends into the field.
08:15 Hungary calls for peace summit with RussiaHungary is campaigning for Russia's participation in the planned second peace conference on Ukraine. There are efforts to hold another peace summit this year, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said. It's a welcome move, he added. "If we want to hope for the success of a future peace conference, we must ensure that both sides are represented." Hungary currently holds the EU presidency. The first peace summit took place in the middle of June at the request of Ukraine, with representatives from over 90 countries attending in Switzerland. Russia expressed its disinterest early on and was therefore not invited.
07:46 Russia and Ukraine plan prisoner swap todayRussia and Ukraine plan to exchange 90 prisoners today. This was reported by the news agency Bloomberg, citing a source. Last week, Ukrainian media reported that the parliament's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinez, had announced that the government was planning a large-scale prisoner swap with Russia with the help of the United Arab Emirates. The warring parties have already exchanged prisoners several times.
06:55 Ukrainian startups develop robots for the frontUkrainian startups are developing affordable robots for mine clearing, evacuating battlefields, transporting equipment, and delivering ammunition. This was reported by the Ukrainian agency Ukrinform. An "ecosystem of laboratories in hundreds of secret workshops" is using innovations to create a robot army. The Ukraine hopes that this army will be able to kill Russian troops and save its own wounded soldiers and civilians, according to Ukrinform.
06:20 State and government leaders from 47 countries speak about UkraineAt the invitation of the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, state and government leaders from 47 countries will meet tomorrow. The 27 EU member states plus 20 third countries will discuss further aid for Ukraine in its defense war against Russia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also registered. There will be several round tables on security policy and defense, but other topics will also be discussed. Ukraine is represented at the conference.
04:37 Japan grants Ukraine a loan from frozen Russian assetsJapan is reportedly granting Ukraine a loan of 3.3 billion dollars from frozen Russian assets. The sum is part of the 50 billion dollar package of the G7 countries, according to the Japanese news agency Kyodo, citing informed sources. The United States and the European Union are each supposed to contribute 20 billion dollars. Japan, Great Britain, and Canada are contributing a total of ten billion dollars. The package is expected to be approved at a G7 summit on the sidelines of the G20 finance summit at the end of the month in Brazil.
03:26 German government gives Kiev ten million euros for reconstruction of children's clinicAfter the rocket attack on the children's clinic in Kiev, the German Development Ministry has pledged ten million euros to the Ukrainian government for its reconstruction. The funds, along with contributions from other donors and sponsors, will be used to make the hospital operational and winter-proof again as soon as possible, according to the "Rheinische Post," citing ministry statements. This includes repairs and maintenance work on facades, treatment rooms, and the power and heating supply.
02:10 Medvedev warns NATO of a "point of no return"
At the NATO summit's promise to offer Ukraine membership, former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev renewed his threats against the alliance. In a post for the Russian news portal Argumenty I Fakty, he labeled a potential Ukrainian membership as a potential declaration of war against Russia. "That would essentially be a declaration of war - albeit with a delay. The actions taken by Russia's adversaries for years, by expanding the alliance, ... are bringing NATO to a point of no return." Russia does not threaten NATO but will react to the alliance's attempts to advance its interests. "The harder the attempts, the harsher our responses will be," Medvedev said. "Whether it tears the whole planet apart depends solely on the wisdom of the (NATO) side."
01:00 Ukrainian soldiers use expired ammunition
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry, according to its own statements, has returned a "considerable amount" of old ammunition to the military, which should have been disposed of before the first Russian attack on Ukrainian territory in 2014. The ammunition is already being used on the battlefield. "We are looking for internal reserves to supply Ukrainian soldiers with ammunition. We know that every shot, every rocket, and every grenade on the battlefield is vital today," said Deputy Defense Minister Yuriy Dshyhar. Everything that can be repaired and reused is given a second life.
23:37 Ukrainian troops give up positions in the southeast
Ukrainian troops, according to unofficial reports, have had to give up positions in the southeast of the country in Krynky in the Cherson region and Uroschajne in the Donezk region under Russian pressure. "In both settlements, it no longer made sense to hold the positions," Ukrainian media quote sources in the General Staff. The battles for the settlement of Krynky on the southern bank of the Dnipro River in the Cherson region were criticized from the start due to their futility. It is unclear whether Ukrainian soldiers are still holding positions in the underbank of the Dnipro River in the south.
22:07 New aid for Ukraine
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi announced a new aid package of $100 million (around €93 million) during a visit to Ukraine. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) will support the preparation for winter and continue to support the Ukrainian government in helping displaced or otherwise war-affected Ukrainians, Grandi said during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kiev. The agency also plans to mobilize future funds to support the war-torn country. Zelenskyy thanked for the help, which is urgently needed due to the damage to the energy infrastructure caused by Russian attacks. At the same time, the presidential press office stated that the country still needs further help to rebuild destroyed houses and install bomb shelters in schools and hospitals. This will provide the displaced Ukrainians with the security to return home.
21:27 Ukraine reports destruction of Russian S-300 air defense system
Ukraine claims to have destroyed a Russian S-300 air defense system in the occupied Oblast Donezk. This was announced by Ukrainian General Staff Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi on Twitter. A video spread by the Ukrainian military shows several hits of alleged ATACMS missiles with cluster munition. According to Syrskyi, several launch pads and a radar station of the system were destroyed.
20:49 Report: Ukrainian government may resign
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is reportedly on the verge of reshuffling his cabinet and demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal. This was reported by the "Kyiv Post" citing an unnamed source in the Ukrainian parliament. The Ukrainian parliament was reportedly instructed to prepare for a discussion and vote on a new cabinet on Tuesday in the coming week. Even Zelenskyy himself spoke about the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle on Monday. "Could there be changes in the government? Probably, yes", so the Ukrainian president. "We are in a process."
20:02 Baltic States disconnect from Russian power grid
The Baltic States have reportedly informed Russia and its ally Belarus of their departure from the power grid of the former Soviet Union. "We will cut the last energy connections with Russia", explains the head of the state-owned Lithuanian power grid operator Litgrid, Rokas Masiulis. This step is supposed to take place in February 2025. Shortly thereafter, the three countries are to connect to the European power grid. "In half a year, we will not only disconnect from the Russian and Belarusian power grids, but also dismantle the last power lines", explains Masiulis.
19:20 Lindner criticizes Orbán's "solitary actions"
Following the controversy over Viktor Orbán's Moscow trip, Germany and other EU members are increasing pressure on Budapest. At a finance ministers' meeting in Brussels, most EU members called on Hungary to continue prioritizing Ukraine aid. German Finance Minister Christian Lindner accused Orbán of "solitary actions". "Hungary should know that the peace and freedom order of Europe as a whole is being defended in Ukraine", said Lindner in the public debate. The priority of this under Hungary's EU presidency must also remain "top" until the end of the year. Hungary's Finance Minister Mihaly Varga had previously presented seven priorities from fighting illegal migration to competitiveness, but Ukraine was not mentioned.
- In response to Russia's warning about cryptocurrency mining's energy consumption, Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, could consider the impact on Ukraine-Conflict related military deployments and the country's politics, considering NATO's perspective on cyberwar and Russia's actions.
- Amidst the EU's decision to provide 4.2 billion Euros to Ukraine, the Ukrainian government and military should address potential cybersecurity threats, given the importance of digital infrastructure during the conflict and the potential for a Cyberwar.
- Reportedly, Russia has demolished Holodomor memorials in Luhansk. In light of this attack on Ukraine's history and cultural heritage, international organizations may consider imposing sanctions on Russia, calling on them to uphold international laws and respect cultural diversity.
- NATO has strengthened its civilian representation in Ukraine and sent a senior representative to Kiev. This military deployment and diplomatic move may signal a closer NATO-Ukraine alliance, further increasing tensions between NATO and Russia.
- Following reports of Russian military deployments and cybersecurity threats, Ukraine could benefit from advanced military drones and assistance in cybersecurity from allies like the UK, to improve its defense capabilities and counter Russian attacks on critical infrastructure.
