19:41 Drone alert - Ukraine launches F16s
The Romanian government is raising two F16 fighter jets after Russian drones approached Ukrainian territory near the border. They do not have to intervene yet. No damages have been reported from drone debris, according to the Romanian Defense Ministry in Bucharest.
19:13 Hodges sees Ukraine on the winning side
US retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges believes that Ukraine will win against Russia. It is now crucial to consistently provide weapons to the attacked country. The US government wishes for clearer support from them.
18:24 Russian air raid on a village - two fatalitiesTwo people, a woman and a man, died in the oblast of Cherson due to a Russian attack. In the village of Chreschtscheniwka, Russian bombs destroyed a residential building. Emergency services are currently attempting to recover the bodies of the two victims.
17:49 Heavy accident: 14 fatalities in the northwestFourteen people, including a six-year-old child, died in a severe traffic accident in the northwest of Ukraine. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko announced this on his Telegram channel. A fuel tanker collided with a taxi in the Rivne region. Emergency services and police are on site. The doctors are reportedly still fighting for the life of the sole survivor, a severely injured woman. The minibus was almost completely destroyed, as photos from the disaster response team showed.
17:33 Zelenskyy calls new British Prime Minister StarmerPresident Zelenskyy congratulated the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer by phone - and thanked him. Starmer's statement that he would continue to support Ukraine in its defense against Russia was appreciated by Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy mentioned that they had coordinated positions before the NATO summit coming next week (9th to 11th July) in Washington.
17:17 Ukraine receives help with mine clearingJapan and Cambodia will help Ukraine with mine clearing. This was announced by Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa during a visit to Phnom Penh. Japan will make a powerful mine-clearing machine available to Ukraine in the coming week. In August, Ukrainian specialists will be trained in Cambodia, which is a leading country in this field, in mine clearing and operating the machine.
16:36 Biden could receive Selenskyj next weekUS President Joe Biden could receive his Ukrainian counterpart Selenskyy at the White House next week. During the NATO summit coming next week (9th to 11th July) in Washington, this could happen, according to a press briefing at the White House. Several bilateral meetings with other government leaders are being prepared, including one with Selenskyy.
16:01 Armenia holds military drills with US troops
Armenia, a country located to the east of Turkey and a former Soviet republic, is getting closer to the US. From July 15 to July 25, the country will conduct joint military drills with the US. The focus will be on peacekeeping. The relations between Armenia and Moscow have recently deteriorated. The government in Yerevan is disappointed with Russia's behavior during the war with Azerbaijan over the region Nagorno-Karabakh. They did not come to Armenia's aid. Previously, Armenia had already distanced itself from Russia, following its attack on Ukraine.
15:20 Estonia delivers several Mistral-systems
The Ukraine is receiving a new air defense system this time from Estonia. The Russian-attacked country has already received several short-range anti-aircraft missile systems along with ammunition from Estonia, according to the Estonian Defense Ministry. It is a French-made system that has a range of six kilometers. It is supposed to provide protection against low-flying helicopters and aircraft.
14:44 Turkey proposes "Peace Platform"
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu makes a new proposal for peace in Ukraine. According to a Turkish newspaper, a "Peace Platform" could expand efforts to end the war. "A Peace Platform that prevents deepening polarization, has a broad participation and representation, and prioritizes diplomacy should be established," he reportedly said. He did not provide details. Previously, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also offered to help mediate an end to the war at an international summit in Kazakhstan. Russia rejected this.
13:53 Russia reports taking control of another settlement in Donetsk
Russian troops, according to Russian statements, have taken control of another settlement in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. The troops reportedly "liberated" the village of Sokil, about 30 kilometers northwest of the city of Donetsk. The region of Donetsk, along with Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, is one of the Ukrainian regions that Moscow declared annexed in September 2022. According to Ukrainian reports, the fiercest fighting is currently taking place along the entire front line.
13:40 Le Pen: No French long-range weapons on targets in Russia
Marine Le Pen, leader of the right-wing National Rally (RN), announced that, in the event of an RN election victory, French long-range weapons would not be allowed to be used as targets in Russia. She made this statement in an interview with the US broadcaster CNN. Similarly, her party would not allow French troops to be stationed in Ukraine, which French President Emmanuel Macron has not ruled out. "If Emmanuel Macron wants to send troops to Ukraine and the prime minister is against it, then there will be no troops in Ukraine," she said. The only red line, according to her, is to prevent France from becoming a warring party. The French are voting for their parliament tomorrow.
12:49 ISW: Putin confirms goal, to destroy Ukraine as a state
During the recent visit of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to the Kreml, Russian President Vladimir Putin once again rejected the idea of a negotiated ceasefire. According to the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), instead, he aims for an end to the war that erases Ukraine's sovereignty. To the conditions for peace talks, Putin demands the cession of significant Ukrainian territories to Russia and the complete surrender of the Ukrainian military.
12:30 Ukraine: Half of electricity generation capacity lost due to Russian attacks
Through Russian attacks on critical infrastructure, Ukraine has lost more than half of its capacity to generate electricity that was available before the full-scale Russian invasion, according to a comparison of the current situation with the pre-war period reported by the EU ambassador of the country in a Financial Times report in June. The hostile attacks of the past three months have thus reduced the country by approximately nine gigawatts of electricity generation - roughly half of what was needed for the power grid in the previous winter. There is a risk that Ukraine will not have electricity, and possibly also no heat and no water, during the upcoming winter.
11:58 Ukrainian General Staff: 139 engagements yesterday
The Ukrainian General Staff reported in its daily report 139 engagements along the front lines. Most of these took place in the Pokrowsk sector, in the Donetsk Oblast, in the southeastern Ukraine. The army recorded six rocket attacks and 55 air attacks with 72 air-dropped bombs and over 3000 attacks with artillery shells. In the northern region, around Kharkiv, the Russian troops also used combat jets.
11:22 Ukraine calls for ban of Russian athletes who support the war
Ukraine calls for the exclusion of Russian athletes from the Olympics in Paris if they are proven to support the Russian military. The International Olympic Committee decided in December that Russian and Belarusian athletes could participate as "neutral athletes" if they met "strict participation conditions." They are not allowed to compete in teams, present flags, or anything else associated with their home country. The Ukrainian Olympic Committee now reports that some Russian athletes qualified for the Olympics have been supporting the Ukrainian war and Putin's politics on the internet. Some athletes have also participated in propaganda tournaments.
10:52 Ukraine: 12 civilians killed by Russian attacks
The Russian army, according to Ukrainian reports, dropped 19 bombs on the Charkiw region. The head of the military administration of the Charkiw region reported this to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform. Three people were killed and six others were injured in Charkiw as a result of hostile actions. Eleven civilians were reported killed and 43 injured in the Donetsk Oblast.
Ukrainian General Staff: 1260 Russian casualties since yesterday
The Ukrainian General Staff reports 1260 casualties among Russian soldiers for the past 24 hours. According to Ukrainian sources, the total number of killed and wounded Russian soldiers since the full-scale invasion in February 2022 is approximately 550,000. In addition, since yesterday, eleven tanks, 58 drones, 18 armored vehicles, and nine Russian missile systems were reportedly destroyed, as well as 66 artillery systems.
09:29 How it could unfold if Putin attacks the Baltic region
Security experts consider a Russian attack on the Baltic region in the coming years as possible to realistic. NATO assures its members of support, but the alliance's response leaves room for different reactions from other states. How could an attack on the Baltic flank of the defense alliance unfold?
09:11 NATO summit brings news about F-16 jets for Ukraine
During the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, Ukraine can expect new announcements regarding the delivery of F-16 fighter jets. This was announced by a high-ranking US government official during a briefing. The training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 since a year ago is reportedly making significant progress. The Ukrainian army is still waiting for the first jets to arrive. The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium have pledged deliveries.
08:30 One-third of Russians support atomic attack on Ukraine
According to a survey presented by Russian propagandist Sergey Mardan on Russian state television, one-third of the Russian population is in favor of attacking Ukraine with atomic weapons. They align with Vladimir Solovyov, who consistently calls for the use of atomic weapons in the Ukrainian conflict. In the Russian nightlife, patriotism is on the rise. Russian artists are making clear patriotic appeals.
08:17 AfD welcomes Orban's visit to Putin
The AfD welcomes the criticized Ukraine talks between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Hungary is taking the lead and speaking with both direct conflict parties on the first day of its EU presidency," explains the foreign policy spokesperson of the faction, Matthias Moosdorf. "The AfD-faction welcomes the fact that, at the highest European level, the possibilities of a ceasefire with the goal of peace talks are being prioritized." The "EU and its personnel" he refers to as "war instigators."
07:52 Ukraine: Invaders threaten to deport Ukrainians without Russian passports
In the occupied territories of Ukraine, the Russians are reportedly threatening to deport residents without Russian passports, according to Ukrainian reports. The National Resistance Center reports that the occupiers have used this practice before. "The occupiers take residents to the checkpoint and deport them from their homeland," the resistance center shares. In some recent raids in the south, residents were threatened with deportation and confiscation of their property.
07:19 SPD expert calls for more money for defense
Members of the German government are expressing concerns over the financing of the Bundeswehr in the context of the agreement on the federal budget 2025. The troops must procure weapons and ammunition, which they hand over to Ukraine, from their own budget. SPD budget expert Andreas Schwarz spoke of a "disappointing figure" in light of the meager increase in defense spending of only 1.2 billion euros. "This is not what we need in the defense sector," Schwarz told the "Tagesspiegel." The president of the reservists' association, Patrick Sensburg, also pointed out that this would make Germany "not war-ready."
06:37 Ukraine: Drones attacked Belgorod, Russia
In drone attacks on the Russian city of Shebekino in the Belgorod region, several buildings, vehicles, and an industrial plant were damaged, and a person was injured, according to the local governor. A total of 11 houses were damaged, power lines in the community were damaged, and social infrastructure was affected.
06:10 Zelensky thanks new British prime minister
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his support for Ukraine. "I am grateful to Keir Starmer for his assurance that the United Kingdom's support for Ukraine remains unchanged in principle," Zelensky wrote on Telegram. He and Starmer had aligned their positions ahead of the NATO summit coming up in the next week. According to a high-ranking US official, NATO will present a "bridge to membership" for Ukraine at the meeting in Washington.
03:45 Burning oil depots after drone attack in Russia
Ukrainian drones reportedly attacked several areas in the Russian region of Krasnodar during the night. The Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported that debris from a downed drone damaged a mobile phone mast in Jeisk. In other places, several fuel tanks were said to have caught fire. There were no reported injuries.
02:07 Sumy without water and power due to drone attacks
According to local authorities, Russian drone attacks have disrupted the water and power supply in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy. The public broadcaster Suspilne reported a series of explosions in the city. The Sumy region is almost daily targeted by Russian fire from positions across the border.
00:28 Eight people killed, 28 injured in Russian attacks in Eastern Ukraine
According to Ukrainian reports, eight people were killed and at least 28 were injured in Russian attacks in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. "Every city and every village in the Donetsk region is constantly threatened by enemy attacks," Governor Wadym Filaschkin wrote on Telegram. Independent of this, Russian troops reportedly dropped three guided bombs on the further southwestern village of Komar, killing a 32-year-old woman and injuring twenty other people. Thirteen private houses, four businesses, two residential buildings, and two infrastructure facilities were damaged in the attack.
23:16 Starmer confirms "unwavering" support for Biden on UkraineBritain's new Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed Britain's "unlimited" support for Ukraine in its war against Russia during his first phone call with US President Joe Biden. The two leaders reaffirmed their "unwavering commitment" to Ukraine, with Starmer emphasizing that "the UK fully supports Ukraine," according to a statement from Starmer's office just hours after his swearing-in.
21:49 US military drills with Georgia postponedThe US is postponing planned joint military drills with Georgia amid tensions with the Georgian government. The US military participation in the "Noble Partner" exercises, originally scheduled for July 25 to August 6, is "suspended indefinitely," the US Defense Department announced. The background is "baseless accusations" from the Georgian government. The Pentagon refers to statements that the US pressured Georgia to go to war with Russia and was involved in "two coup attempts" against the government.
20:35 Insider: Hungary cancels planned meeting with BaerbockThe planned Monday trip of Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to Budapest is canceled. The Hungarian side abruptly canceled the appointment with Baerbock, according to the Foreign Office.
21:20 Zelensky thanks Germany for third Patriot systemUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanks Germany for the delivery of the third Patriot air defense system. "This is great news," Zelensky says in his evening video message. He also thanks the US for further steps to strengthen Ukrainian air defense. He does not provide details but says that Ukraine has already shown that it can shoot down Russian rockets. "The Ukraine has proven that there are no Russian rockets that we cannot shoot down," Zelensky says. The country is doing everything to ensure that Russian terror ends.
20:48 NATO expert: "We must bring down Russia"NATO expert Stefanie Babst calls for a more decisive approach from the alliance against Russia. "We can only deal with this adversary by bringing down the Russian regime. And not only drive it out of Ukraine but also reduce its influence in its area of operations so that it no longer exerts its toxic influence in Europe," Babst said in the T-Online Tagesanbruch podcast. For this, more decisive action is needed. "We look at Putin like Lord Voldemort and are afraid that he will pull out his wand," Babst appeals. The 60-year-old is a former leading staff member of the International Staff of NATO.
20:15 Kreml not optimistic after Labour victory in Britain
The Russian leadership does not expect any changes in the strained relations between Moscow and London following the Labour Party's victory in Britain. The Kreml is "not optimistic" according to its spokesperson Dmitri Peskov in Moscow. "Based on their previous statements, they do not lean towards any flexibility or creativity to normalize the bilateral Russian-British relations."
You can read about previous developments here.
- The Romanian Defense Ministry in Bucharest mentioned that no damages have been reported from drone debris, following the Russian drones approaching Ukrainian territory near the border, sparking a response from the Romanian government to raise two F16 fighter jets.
- US retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges believes that Ukraine will win against Russia, and the US government wishes for clearer support from them, as Ukraine is currently on the winning side of the Ukraine conflict with Russia.
- Volodymyr Selensky, the Ukrainian President, congratulated the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, appreciating Starmer's statement that he will continue to support Ukraine in its defense against Russia, and they coordinated positions ahead of the NATO summit.
- According to Ukrainian reports, 12 civilians were killed by Russian attacks in the Charkiw region, making it another addition to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has been affected by military operations and the involvement of organizations such as NATO and international politics.
- Russia reportedly took control of another settlement in Donetsk, increasing tensions in the Eastern Ukrainian region that has been a focus of the Ukraine conflict with Russia, as both sides continue to clash in a battle for control over the region, leading to cyberwarfare and attacks on Ukrainian territory.
