19:43 New sanctions against Belarus
After the EU, the USA, Canada, and the UK impose further sanctions on individuals and companies in Belarus. The new US sanctions announced by the US Department of the Treasury in Washington target 19 individuals and 14 companies, as well as the aircraft of Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko. Notably affected are companies in the aerospace, logistics, and electronics sectors, along with their executives, who attempted to circumvent existing sanctions to acquire components for military equipment for Russia. Canada has sanctioned ten individuals and six companies, while the UK has sanctioned three individuals and three companies. Earlier this week, the EU also imposed new sanctions on Belarus, expanding the sanctions list that began four years ago following the disputed re-election of Lukashenko.
19:20 Ukraine orders special rescue stations from RheinmetallRheinmetall has received another order from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense for the delivery of two rescue stations. The arms manufacturer announced this. The containerized rescue station for on-site operation is referred to as a "Forward Surgical Team (FST, forward field surgery team)". The five interconnected and expandable containers include a reception and triage area, an X-ray shelter, an operating room preparation area, an operating room shelter, and an intensive care unit. These can be deployed near the front and are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2023 or early 2024.
18:47 Ukraine strikes another helicopter with droneA first-person-view (FPV) drone controlled by the Ukrainian security service (SBU) has shot down another Russian military helicopter in the Kursk region. The "Kyiv Independent" reports this, citing a security source. The targeted aircraft was a Mi-8 transport helicopter. It is unclear whether the helicopter was destroyed or forced to crash. Just a few days ago, Ukraine shot down a Mi-28 helicopter with a drone.
18:22 Russian oligarch calls war 'crazy'Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska has drawn heavy criticism in Russia with an unusually blunt condemnation of the war against Ukraine. In an interview with the Japanese newspaper "Nikkei Asia", Deripaska called for an "immediate, unconditional ceasefire". "If you want to end the war, you have to stop the shelling first," he said this week on the sidelines of an economic conference in Japan, where he participated as an official representative of Russia. He described the violent conflict as "crazy". Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin, considered one of the main ideologists of this war, then sharply criticized the businessman. "This is a stab in the back of our troops and support for the terrorists of the Ukrainian army, who have infiltrated the Kursk region," Dugin explained via the Telegram messaging service.
17:54 Strack-Zimmermann Defends Ukrainian Attack on "Enemy on Their Own Territory"The chair of the Defense Committee in the European Parliament, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, defends the use of Western weapons by the Ukrainian army on Russian territory: "The Ukrainians are adhering to all agreements set by the donor countries," says the FDP politician to the Funke media group newspapers. Regardless, Ukraine has the right to self-defense. "This includes the right to attack the enemy on their own territory," emphasizes Strack-Zimmermann. She is glad that the EU fully supports Ukraine's efforts to restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty and combat Russia's illegal aggression, she adds.
17:21 Expert: German-supplied Tanks Involved in AttacksBritish security and defense expert Michael Clarke explains that tanks produced in Germany or the US are being used in the Kursk region. "It appears that the Ukrainians have obviously decided to support the push. And within about 48 hours, they've done so with some quite large units," Clarke says on Sky News. Among them are tanks and armored vehicles provided by the US and Germany. Whether vehicles from British production are also being used is unclear, according to Sky News.
16:55 CDU Politicians Rebuke Kretschmer's DemandsCDU foreign policy experts criticize Saxony's Minister-President Michael Kretschmer for his demand to reduce military aid to Ukraine. "Germany has a great responsibility to stand by a country that itself was invaded in World War II," says Johann Wadephul, deputy faction leader of the CDU in the Bundestag, to "Spiegel". "We stand on the side of freedom, and we will fulfill our responsibility. That is the clear and unwavering position of the Union," emphasizes the CDU politician. Jürgen Hardt, spokesperson for foreign affairs of the Union faction, confirms: "The CDU/CSU faction in the German Bundestag has a united opinion on this. We fear that Putin will only be ready for negotiations on an equal footing if he sees that he could suffer a serious defeat in the war against Ukraine." To do this, Kyiv needs to go on the offensive again in the defense of its state territory. "For this, Ukraine still needs military equipment from the free world," says Hardt.
16:28 Mexico Refuses to Arrest Putin During VisitThe Mexican government states that it will not arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he attends the inauguration of the new Mexican head of state. Ukraine had requested this. "We cannot do that," says Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to journalists, adding that "it is not our task".
15:57 Gressel: Ukraine "Likely to Occupy Territory Longer"According to Gustav Gressel, the attack on the Russian Kursk is not a "pinprick" like previous attacks behind the border. The military expert estimates that Ukrainian troops are both binding Russian forces and gaining an advantage in potential negotiations over territories.
15:33 Death toll rises: Twelve killed in rocket attack on supermarketIn a Russian rocket attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostjantyniwka, at least twelve people have been killed and 44 injured, according to official reports. "A strike by Russian terrorists on an ordinary supermarket and a post office. People are trapped under the rubble," writes President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Telegram. Rescue operations are ongoing. The head of state expressed his condolences to the victims' families. According to the Interior Ministry, a fire broke out over an area of about 1,000 square meters. Kostjantyniwka is only about ten kilometers from the front line between Ukrainian and Russian troops. (see entry at 12:34)
15:10 Faber: Kretschmer's behavior "disgusts me"For his proposal to cut military aid to Ukraine, the Saxon Minister-President Michael Kretschmer faces criticism from the Bundestag. "It disgusts me how a Minister-President is using the survival struggle of Ukrainians for his regional election campaign," says Markus Faber, chairman of the Defense Committee. German arms deliveries would help Ukraine defend itself. "They're not doing this out of warlust, but because they don't want to live in a big Bucha where the Russian army is randomly killing, torturing, and raping," Faber added.
14:41 ISW: Ukraine operationally surprised Russia in KurskThe lack of a coherent Russian response to Ukraine's incursion into the Kursk region and the reported pace of Ukraine's advance suggest that Ukrainian forces have achieved operational surprise along the border with Russia, according to the latest report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). In the past one and a half years of the Ukraine war, "due to the partly chaotic battlefield in Ukraine," it has been difficult for both sides to surprise the enemy. Analysts say the Kremlin will try to retake the Russian territory in the Kursk region captured by Ukrainian forces. Further advancement of Ukraine into Russia would be a strategic blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin's decades-long efforts to stabilize and secure Russia and its geopolitical revival.
14:14 Kretschmer calls for cut in Ukraine military aidSaxony's Minister-President Michael Kretschmer, amid the federal budget dispute, calls for a reduction in military aid to Ukraine. "We can no longer afford to provide weapons to Ukraine that will be used up and won't make a difference," Kretschmer told the German Press Agency. "Everything must be in proportion. Support yes, but we can see that we're reaching our limits." Kretschmer points to the growth of the budget in recent years. "Before the corona crisis in 2019, we had a budget volume of 344 billion. Now we're at 480 billion, and yet the traffic light coalition can't agree on the budget," the CDU politician criticized. "That shows that everything is out of control. Citizens' money around 50 billion, migration dozens of billions, military aid tens of billions. That's not going to work."
13:52 Ukraine: Police orders evacuation of around 20,000 people in border region SumyUkrainian authorities have issued an evacuation order for around 20,000 people in the eastern region of Sumy, which borders Russia. The order affects 28 locations under "enemy fire," according to police on the Telegram service. Local security forces are already in place to assist with the operation. The region of Sumy borders the Russian region of Kursk, where Ukrainian forces entered on Tuesday.
13:22 Russia reinforces troops in contested border region of KurskAfter Ukrainian troops entered the southern Russian border region of Kursk, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow is sending units to reinforce its forces. Columns of Grad multiple rocket launchers, artillery, and tanks are being deployed to the region, the Interfax news agency reports, citing the ministry. Local authorities say fighting with the invading Ukrainian troops continues. "Fighting is still ongoing some dozen kilometers from the city of Kursk and the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant," a local official said on Telegram.
12:57 Mangott on Kyiv's goals in Kursk: "Third reason: humiliating slap in the face for Putin"Observers suggest that Ukraine's attack on Russian territory is an attempt to seize territory as a bargaining tool. Political scientist Gerhard Mangott does not believe that Kyiv's troops will succeed in holding onto territory for long, but he suspects other motives behind the incursion.
12:34 Zelensky: Four dead after Russian attack on supermarket in KostjantyniwkaAt least four people were killed and 24 injured in a Russian artillery attack on the city of Kostjantyniwka in the contested eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the X platform. Rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing. Donetsk Governor Vadym Filaschkin said the city came under Russian artillery fire. Images published by the governor on Telegram show thick black smoke rising from the destroyed building. Radio NV published images of the burning supermarket and the destroyed surroundings. The exact consequences of the attack are still unclear. "The attack on the supermarket in Kostjantyniwka is another case of Russian terror. War against civilians is all they can do," said the head of the presidential office, Andriy Yermak, on Telegram. Kostjantyniwka is regularly targeted by Russian forces. In a Russian attack on a local market in Kostjantyniwka in September 2023, 17 people were killed and over 30 injured.
11:53 Russian Emergency Ministry declares state of emergency in KurskThe Russian Emergency Ministry has declared a federal state of emergency in the Kursk region bordering Ukraine. According to the Moscow government, Russian forces are continuing to repel the advance of Ukrainian units in Kursk. The state-run RIA news agency reported this, citing the Defense Ministry. Around a thousand Ukrainian soldiers had entered the region on Tuesday, according to Russian reports.
11:32 Video Shows Burnt Russian Military Trucks in KurskA video published on social media and verified by Reuters shows a convoy of burnt Russian military trucks in the Kursk region. The vehicles are lined up along a highway. The video shows around 15 trucks, one of which bears the marking 'Z', a symbol used in Russia to denote the 'special military operation' in Ukraine. Reuters was able to verify the location in the video as the village of Oktyabr'skoe by identifying buildings, trees, and roadways. However, it was not possible to determine exactly when the video was taken.
10:55 Media: Chain Reaction in Russian Lipetsk Destroys 700 BombsA drone strike on a military airport in the Russian region of Lipetsk is said to have caused a chain reaction, destroying over 700 bombs, according to a source from the Ukrainian intelligence agency "The Kyiv Independent". Earlier, Russian authorities had reported that a drone strike had caused a fire at a military airport and damaged an energy facility. The source told "The Kyiv Independent" that the airport was storing combat jets and helicopters. It is not known how many were damaged or destroyed in the attack.
10:35 Kyiv Claims Attack on Military Airport in LipetskThe Ukrainian military has claimed to have attacked a military airport in the Russian region of Lipetsk overnight. The strike damaged stocks of guided bombs, causing a large fire and several explosions, the Ukrainian military said on the Telegram messaging service. The airport is said to house Russian combat aircraft including Su-34, Su-35, and MiG-31. Lipetsk is located east of the border region of Kursk, deeper into Russian territory.
10:08 Munz: "Russians Can't Counterattack"Since the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been defending itself on its own territory. But for the past three days, troops have also been attacking in the border region of Kursk, Russia. ntv Moscow correspondent Rainer Munz explains why this surprise offensive presents the Russian military leadership with several challenges.
09:44 Human Rights Activist: Russia Regressing to Stalinist TimesOleg Orlov, a human rights activist released in a prisoner swap from Russian detention, tells the Associated Press news agency in an interview that the extent of repression in today's Russia is reminiscent of Stalinist times. Orlov, the co-chair of Memorial, one of Russia's oldest and most renowned human rights organizations, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022, says people are being imprisoned for criticizing authorities, something not seen since the time of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. "We're sliding back into Stalinist times," he says. Orlov was sentenced to two and a half years in prison in February for criticizing the Russian war in Ukraine in an article. His release in a prisoner swap between Russia, Belarus, and several Western countries surprised him completely.
09:00 Ukraine publishes figures on Russian lossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new figures on Russian troop losses in Ukraine. According to these figures, Russia has lost approximately 588,540 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of 1,030. A report from Kyiv also states that 3 tanks, 49 artillery systems, and 2 air defense systems have been destroyed. Since the start of the large-scale invasion, Russia has reportedly lost 8,434 tanks, 16,536 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,325 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine. Western estimates suggest lower losses, but these are also likely to be minimum figures.
08:19 Media: Mass fires in Rylsk, Kursk regionStrong explosions and mass fires were reported overnight in the city of Rylsk in the Russian region of Kursk, according to "The Kyiv Independent" citing reports on Russian-language Telegram channels. Residents of the village of Stepanovka reported hearing four explosions. The cause of the explosions is unknown. The city of Rylsk is located approximately 35 kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border.
07:37 Russia: State of emergency after drone attack on military airportAfter a Ukrainian drone attack on a military airport near Lipetsk, there have been massive explosions. A state of emergency has been declared in the city of Lipetsk to deal with the aftermath, according to Governor Igor Artamonov on Telegram. Four villages around the military airport have been evacuated. Public transport in Lipetsk and surrounding areas has been stopped. Six people were injured as a result of the attacks.
06:52 Media: Explosion after Ukrainian attack on CrimeaAn explosion has occurred on the Russian-occupied Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, according to "Ukrainska Pravda" citing Telegram reports. The Russian governor of the city of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, wrote on Telegram that the forces of the Black Sea Fleet and air defense have repelled an attack by Ukrainian forces on Sevastopol, destroying three drones. Additionally, the Russian air defense has reportedly shot down a Ukrainian sea-targeting missile R-360 Neptune over the sea near Sevastopol. The Telegram channel Crimeawind reports on shots and a heavy explosion in Chornomorskyi, as well as the work of Russian air defense in the area of the Belbek airport. A black smoke column was reportedly rising over the airport, and there was a strong smell of fire in the coastal area of the city, according to the Telegram channel Crimeawind citing subscribers. There are no reports yet of possible casualties.
06:05 News: Fire on military airbase in Russian region of LipetskA fire has broken out on a military airbase in the Russian region of Lipetsk, according to Russian news agencies Ria Novosti and Tass. The cause of the fire is not yet known. Earlier, the local governor announced evacuations due to a "massive" drone attack near the city of Lipetsk. The attack caused explosions and disrupted power supply, Igor Artamonov wrote on Telegram. An emergency situation has been declared in the Lipetsk district and four villages are being evacuated. Some of these villages are near an air force base outside the city. No casualties have been reported. Ukrainian authorities had not reported any attacks on the region. Lipetsk is approximately 300 kilometers away from the Ukrainian border.
05:02 Putin may not have known about Ukrainian troop buildupValery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, may have ignored intelligence warnings about Ukrainian forces gathering near the border with the Kursk Oblast, Bloomberg reports, citing a source close to the Kremlin. Ukrainian forces crossed the border into the Kursk Oblast on August 6, bringing the war onto Russian territory. According to the report, Ukrainian forces began gathering near the border with the Kursk region two weeks before the start of their offensive. Russian President Vladimir Putin was not informed about the troop buildup.
03:21 Half of Germans fear conflict with Russia will escalate due to US missilesThe German and US governments have agreed that the US will station long-range weapons systems like Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany from 2026, capable of reaching targets in Russia. Half of Germans expect this to further escalate the conflict with Russia. 50 percent of respondents in a Civey survey for the Funke media group agree with this statement. 38 percent do not believe the plans will lead to further escalation, and 12 percent are undecided. 44 percent view the stationing positively, while 42 percent view it negatively, with 14 percent undecided.
01:14 Minister-President Kretschmer calls for reduction in weapons aid to UkraineSaxony's Minister-President Michael Kretschmer is calling for a reduction in weapons aid to Ukraine, given the federal budget. "We can no longer keep taking money for weapons for Ukraine that are being used up and aren't achieving anything. Everything must be in proportion," the CDU politician told the German Press Agency. "Support yes, but we can see that we're reaching our limits." Kretschmer points to the increase in the budget in recent years. "Before the corona crisis in 2019, we had a budget volume of 344 billion euros. Now we're at 480 billion, and yet the traffic light coalition can't agree on the budget. That shows that everything is out of control."
23:35 Kiesewetter: Ukrainian advance is legally and strategically sound
CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter sees the latest Ukrainian military offensive on Russian territory as covered by international law. The surprise move by Ukraine is "clearly legally justified under the right to self-defense" and "militarily strategic," he tells the "Tagesspiegel". According to the assessment of the CDU defense expert, the advance of Ukrainian troops aims to tie up Russian forces in the Kursk region and inflict significant losses on them. "This can ease pressure on other fronts because Russia has to tie up or redeploy forces to Kursk," he says.
22:30 Pentagon: Ukraine's move into Kursk region in line with US policy
The incursion of Ukraine into the Russian region of Kursk is "in line with our policy," says Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh, according to the news portal "Kyiv Independent" at a press conference. When asked if Ukraine can use weapons supplied by the US, Singh responds that the US "has been supporting Ukraine from the start in defending against attacks coming from over the border." The Kursk region borders the Ukrainian region of Sumy for over 245 kilometers, which has been subject to daily Russian attacks since its liberation in April 2022. Ukraine is taking measures "to protect itself from attacks" and is operating "within the framework of US policy, using our weapons, our systems, and our capabilities," says Singh.
Singh says it's up to Ukraine to speak about its own operations. When asked how far into Russian territory Ukraine can attack, Singh says the US "does not support attacks with long range." However, she refuses to specify the exact distance. "I'm not going to draw a circular map of where they can strike and where not, but we have been very clear with the Ukrainians," she says.
22:09 BSW MEP De Masi calls for "ceasefire and negotiations as soon as possible"
Following the advance of Ukrainian troops into Kursk, BSW MEP Fabio De Masi calls for "a ceasefire and negotiations as soon as possible." Ukraine has "major problems defending its own territory," says De Masi to the "Tagesspiegel". Advances "deep into Russian territory" only make sense "if Ukraine's goal is to escalate the conflict further," he says. The risks are enormous, according to the MEP. "Consider, for example, the Russian nuclear power plant in the region. Russia is a nuclear power and has the escalation dominance."
21:50 Authorities in the Kursk region report at least five killed civiliansRussian troops have been fighting for the third day against a Ukrainian incursion across the border, according to reports from Moscow. Russian forces and border guards are preventing Ukrainian units from advancing deeper into Kursk, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Meanwhile, the Russian army is attacking Ukrainian forces attempting to retreat from the Ukrainian border region of Sumy. The Russian Health Ministry said that since the start of the Ukrainian incursion, 66 civilians have been injured, including nine children. Authorities in the Kursk region report at least five killed civilians, including two paramedics. Ukraine has not yet commented on the incursion.
21:30 EU foreign policy chief Borrell: Lukashenko regime involved in illegal deportation of Ukrainian childrenThe Belarusian regime is complicit in Russia's attack on Ukraine, according to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Brussels. Besides political, military, and logistical support, Belarus has contributed to the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children from temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine. Since 2021, the regime has also orchestrated migration pressure on the EU's external borders, according to a statement from the European External Action Service.
You can read all previous developments here.
Following the escalation of sanctions against Belarus by several Western nations, there might be a need to reassess military relations with certain companies and individuals involved in the production of military equipment. Given the new US sanctions targeting individuals and companies in the aerospace, logistics, and electronics sectors, as well as their executives, it's crucial to review any ongoing military operations and supply chains involving these entities.
Moreover, the intensifying conflict in Ukraine, with Ukrainian forces reportedly taking advantage of operational surprises during incursions into Russian territory like the Kursk region, underscores the importance of enhancing military readiness, cooperation, and support for countries seeking to defend their territorial integrity and sovereignty against foreign aggression.
