19:44 Blog sees western Sudsha in Kursk region under Ukrainian control
The Ukrainian army has been making surprising progress for the third consecutive day, pushing into Russian territory in the Kursk region and gaining ground. While Russian civil authorities in Kursk and the Ministry of Defense in Moscow officially stated that the Ukrainian advance has been halted, a Russian military blog close to the ministry, Rybar, paints a different picture. According to Rybar, Ukrainians are continuing to advance, moving reserves in at night and beginning to fortify their positions. The blog reports that the western part of the town of Sudzha is under Ukrainian control, with fighting ongoing in the eastern part. Additionally, Ukrainians have pushed north towards Anastasevka and northeast towards Korenovo. However, local reports suggest no Ukrainian presence in Sudzha itself, with only reports of shootouts and artillery fire north and west of the town. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Ukrainian reconnaissance units have also advanced towards the Kursk nuclear power plant and have been spotted near Anastasevka.
19:04 SPD to discuss US missile stationing in Germany in September
Wolfgang Hellmich, the defense policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, has announced a debate on the stationing of long-range US missiles in Germany in the Bundestag. "It is important that we consider everything and take the concerns of citizens seriously, and provide information to dispel doubts," Hellmich told the Funke media group. "We will deal with the topic in September after the parliamentary summer break in the faction and overall in the Bundestag to meet the existing information and discussion needs." The German government and the US government 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. Many German citizens view the decision critically, according to polls.**
18:19 Russian prosecutor seeks 15 years for US woman accused of aiding Ukraine
A Russian state media report says the prosecutor has asked for a 15-year prison sentence for a Russian-American woman accused of high treason. Ksenia Khavanna was arrested in Yekaterinburg in February on suspicion of collecting money for the Ukrainian military. She reportedly pleaded guilty to the charges at a closed-door trial on Wednesday. News agency Interfax reports that the prosecutor has requested a 15-year sentence, citing Khavanna's lawyer Mikhail Muskalov. The verdict is expected on August 15. Khavanna reportedly became a US citizen after marrying an American and moving to Los Angeles. She had traveled to Russia to visit family. An activist group says the charges against Khavanna stem from a $51 (around €47) donation she made to a US charity supporting Ukraine. Russia has enacted laws since its military intervention in Ukraine in February 2022 that criminalize criticism of its actions there, raising concerns that Russia may target US citizens for arrest.**
17:54 Moscow Reports Casualties in Ukrainian Attacks in Kursk RegionRussian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov tells President Vladimir Putin during a video conference that around 100 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and over 200 injured in the fighting. Russian news agencies report that Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says at least two people - a medic and an ambulance driver - have been killed and 24 injured in Ukrainian shelling.
17:28 Stegner Cautious on Possible Deployment of German Weapons in KurskSPD foreign policy expert Ralf Stegner is cautious about the possible deployment of German weapons in the Ukrainian advance. "Regarding the defense of Ukraine against the Russian invasion, a special situation applied in the border area when the city of Kharkiv had to be defended against attacks beyond the nearby border," Stegner told the "Handelsblatt". "This did not imply a general shift in strategy regarding the handling of weapons supplied from Germany." The German government had allowed Ukraine to use weapons supplied by it against targets in Russia in late May, but this was limited to the Russian border region near the Kharkiv region.
17:00 ISW: Ukraine Advances Kilometers into Russian TerritoryThe Ukrainian army has made significant progress in its offensive in the western Russian region of Kursk since Tuesday morning, according to assessments by experts. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports "up to ten kilometers" of advancement, while Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka says it's over 25 kilometers. Ukrainian President's advisor Mikhailo Podolyak described the situation in western Russia as a result of Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine. Russian reports say "up to a thousand" Ukrainian soldiers, along with dozens of tanks and armored vehicles, are involved in the attack. Five civilians have been killed and 31 injured so far. The ISW further states that the "current extent and location of Ukrainian advances in the Kursk region (...) suggest that Ukrainian forces have breached at least two Russian defensive lines and a position," aiming for a key Russian army supply hub near the town of Sudzha, eight kilometers from the border.
16:28 Kiesewetter Calls Ukrainian Advance in Kursk 'Militarily Strategic'CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter described the Ukrainian advance in Kursk as "militarily strategic". It can help "relieve pressure on the front at other points because Russia has to tie down or redeploy forces there," Kiesewetter told the "Tagesspiegel". The Ukrainian advance is "clearly permissible under international law, in line with the right to self-defense" (see also entries from 14:45 and 15:07).
15:57 Ukraine: Two Dead in Russian Attack in DonetskIn the city of Kostiantynivka in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, at least two people were killed by Russian artillery fire, according to local authorities. The morning attack hit a residential area, Regional Governor Vadym Filshkin said on Telegram. Donetsk is a hotspot of the fighting. The parts of the region controlled by Ukraine are regularly subjected to Russian shelling. Russian troops are trying to advance on the strategically important logistics hub city of Pokrovsk. Just on Wednesday, at least four people were killed by Russian shelling in Donetsk.
15:36 Russia: Fighting Continues After Ukrainian Advance into KurskFighting in the border region of Kursk continues for the third day in a row, 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 trying to retreat from the Ukrainian border region of Sumy.
15:07 Sahra Wagenknecht Warns Against Use of German Weapons in Russia: "Red Line"Sahra Wagenknecht has warned against the use of German weapons in the Ukrainian advance into Russian territory. "This is a highly dangerous development," says Wagenknecht to the Funke media group. "The Federal Chancellor must call the Ukrainian President and demand that no German weapons be used in the advance onto Russian territory," demands the BSW chairwoman.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz had promised that Germany would not become a party to the war. But: "First, he allowed the Ukraine to shoot at Russian territory with German weapons," criticizes Wagenknecht. "Does the federal government now also approve of the Ukraine advancing into Russia with German weapons? That would be the next red line crossed," adds the BSW party leader. The federal government is "dragging Germany ever deeper into the war," she continues. "The risk of a major European war is growing."
14:45 Chairman of the Defense Committee: Ukraine Can Use German Weapons in KurskThe chairman of the Defense Committee in the Bundestag, Marcus Faber, sees no problem in the Ukraine using German-supplied weapons for its current advance on Russian territory. "Once handed over to Ukraine, they are Ukrainian weapons," says the FDP politician to the Funke media group. This applies "to all material," including the Leopard 2 battle tank. "With the Russian attack on Ukraine, the territory of both states is a war zone," Faber explains his position. "The use of weapons is subject to the provisions of international law."
14:24 Ukraine demands Mexico arrest Putin at Sheinbaum's inaugurationThe Ukrainian embassy in Mexico is calling on the Mexican government to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he attends the inauguration of elected President Claudia Sheinbaum. Sheinbaum assumes the presidency on October 1, 2024, becoming the first woman to hold this office in the Latin American country. "We trust that the Mexican government will comply with the international arrest warrant and hand over the named (Putin) to the judicial authorities of the United Nations in The Hague," the embassy said. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Putin for the alleged war crime of deporting Ukrainian children to Russia following Moscow's invasion in early 2022. Juan Ramon de la Fuente, elected as Sheinbaum's foreign minister, stated that it is "standard protocol" to invite the heads of state of all countries with which Mexico maintains diplomatic relations, including Russia, to the inauguration.
13:50 Monitoring services: Russian users can no longer open YouTubeUsers in Russia are unable to open YouTube on their computers and mobile devices. Internet monitoring services downdetector.su, Failure Detector, and sboy.rf are reporting a major outage of the platform's availability. According to the sboy.rf service, over 15,000 complaints have been registered about the video hosting service. Complaints came from people in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Saratov, Samara, Krasnodar, the occupied Crimea, and several other regions. Users reported that they could only access YouTube via virtual private networks (VPNs). Even Reuters reporters in Russia were unable to access YouTube. However, the website was still available via some mobile devices. YouTube is the last Western platform still accessible in Russia, making it the last bastion of free expression. According to Decoder, over 90 million users access YouTube monthly in Russia, placing it first among video and streaming platforms. In mid-July, Russian media reported that the Russian government planned to block YouTube in September.
13:24 EU: Ukraine leads "lawful defensive war" in Russian KurskThe EU sees the advance of Ukrainian troops into the Russian region of Kursk as part of the right to self-defense. "We believe that Ukraine is conducting a lawful defensive war against an illegal aggression," a spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in Brussels. The right to self-defense includes the right to attack the enemy on its own territory. The EU fully supports Ukraine's efforts to restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty and combat illegal Russian aggression. Ukrainian troops, backed by tanks and artillery, recently crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region at Sudzha and reportedly took control of several villages. Russian reports indicate that around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers are involved in the operation.
12:43 Ukraine: Dozens of Russian Soldiers Captured in KurskFollowing the incursion of Ukrainian forces into the Russian region of Kursk, "many" Russian soldiers are reported to have been captured. This information was shared by the Ukrainian project "Khochu nayti" on Telegram. Launched in January 2024 by the Ukrainian military intelligence, this humanitarian project serves as a coordination center for Russian POWs in Ukraine, aiming to help military personnel locate their relatives. According to "Khochu nayti", the captives include both conscripts and contract soldiers. "There are also reports of casualties whose bodies were not evacuated by their comrades during the retreat," the statement reads. The project published drone footage allegedly showing the capture of over 30 Russian soldiers. Other videos on social media show dozens of Russian soldiers surrendering in the Kursk region. The total number of Russian soldiers captured since the Ukrainian offensive in the region remains unclear.
12:18 Gazprom: Gas Transit Running Normally Despite Fighting in Kursk RegionAccording to Gazprom, the Russian gas export through the border area of Kursk, which was attacked by Ukraine, is running largely normally. Today, about 37.3 million cubic meters of natural gas are expected to be transported, the company announced in Moscow. This is five percent less than the previous day, Russian state news agency Tass reported. Ukrainian troops have taken at least partial control of the city of Sudja during their incursion across the border, likely including a key gas pipeline metering station en route to Western Europe. From there, the transit goes through Ukraine and further into Slovakia and Austria. In 2023, despite the ongoing war, 14.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas were transported to the European Union on this route.
11:37 Military Blogger: Russia Loses 'Important Logistics Hub' to UkraineThe Russian city of Sudja in the Kursk region is reported to have been taken by Ukrainian forces, according to pro-Russian military blogger of Ukrainian origin, Yury Podolyaka, on his Telegram channel. The town, located nine kilometers from the Ukrainian border, is said to be full of Ukrainian military personnel. "Sudja is basically lost for us. This is an important logistics hub," Podolyaka wrote. Ukrainian forces are reportedly advancing north towards Lgov. "In general, the situation is difficult and deteriorating, although the pace of the Ukrainian offensive has noticeably slowed down."
11:04 Munz: Kursk Incursion 'Completely Surprised' MoscowInitially, the situation remains unclear, but it is later confirmed: Ukrainian fighters are attacking on Russian territory. The incursion in the Kursk region has "completely surprised" Moscow, reports ntv correspondent Rainer Munz. However, there is likely more to this attack than just a diversionary maneuver.
10:48 Russia: Situation in Kursk after Ukrainian advance "under control"Russian forces have been engaged in combat with infiltrating Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region for the third day in a row. The situation is "stable and under control," according to the vice-governor of the border region, as reported by the state-owned Russian news agency RIA Novosti. Around 3,000 people have been evacuated to safety. Russian troops are actively fighting against Ukrainian units in the Sudja district and pushing them back, according to the news agency TASS citing local authorities. Four people have been killed in the Ukrainian attacks. The Ukrainian military has not yet commented on the offensive in Kursk. Several pro-Russian military bloggers also report ongoing fighting.
10:18 Kriewald on new offensive: "Ukrainians push 15 kilometers into Kursk region"The Ukrainian army's advance into the Russian region of Kursk is causing a stir in Moscow. Ukrainian soldiers are reported to have advanced up to 15 kilometers. Moreover, there are reports of dozens of prisoners of war. ntv reporter Nadja Kriewald reports from Odessa on the background of the situation.
09:35 UN: Russians torture 95% of Ukrainian prisoners of warEmployees of Russian penal colonies are already torturing Ukrainian prisoners of war during the initial interrogations, according to the head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), Danielle Bell, in an interview with the Dutch broadcaster NOS. She says that the practice of torture in Russian captivity is "widespread and systematic." According to Bell, the Russian Federation has tortured 95% of Ukrainian prisoners of war in its prisons. She reports that Ukrainian prisoners of war are beaten with metal rods and sticks, stripped naked, and subjected to electric shocks. "This is undoubtedly the worst I've seen in the 20 years of my career," Bell says. The information about Ukrainian prisoners in Russia is mainly collected through interviews with Ukrainian prisoners of war after their release. At the same time, the UN mission has direct access to Russian prisoners of war and can get a picture of the detention conditions.
08:49 Estonia introduces enhanced customs controls at Russian borderEstonia is introducing full customs controls at its eastern EU external border with Russia. This decision was made by the government of the Baltic NATO state at the beginning of August. From August 8, all persons crossing the border with Russia, as well as all cargo, will be subject to control. The controls at the road and rail border crossings in Narva, Koidula, and Luhamaa will be gradually introduced. Until now, checks of passengers and vehicles were random and risk-based. With the tightening, Prime Minister Kristen Michal aims to prevent the transit and transport of EU-sanctioned goods through Estonia and to strengthen the security of the country. The border between Russia and Estonia is 294 kilometers long.
08:11 Ukraine publishes figures on Russian lossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new casualty figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to them, Russia has lost around 587,510 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with 1,140 losses in the past 24 hours alone. A report from Kyiv also states that two tanks, 36 artillery systems, 81 drones, and one helicopter have been destroyed. In total, Russia is said to have lost 8,431 tanks, 16,487 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,293 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine since the start of the large-scale invasion. Western estimates put the losses lower, but these are also likely to be minimum figures.
07:32 Medvedev threatens escalation of Russian invasion in UkraineDmitri Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, has threatened to escalate the Russian invasion in Ukraine in response to Ukrainian advances into the Russian border region of Kursk. The Russian military operation should no longer be limited to securing territories in Ukraine that Russia considers its own, says the former president. Instead, the forces should push towards the cities of Odessa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and beyond. The advance will only stop when Russia deems it advantageous. Ukrainian troops have reportedly made significant advances into Russian territory in the region, with heavy fighting reported. The region has been placed under a state of emergency.
07:05 Russia: 14 Ukrainian aerial objects destroyed over Kursk and BelgorodRussian air defense forces have destroyed 14 unmanned Ukrainian aerial objects over the Belgorod and Kursk regions, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram. Six drones and five other missiles were shot down over the Kursk region, according to Governor Alexei Smirnov. Early on August 6, Ukrainian forces attacked the border areas of the Kursk region. According to the latest reports from the Russian General Staff, there are still clashes in border areas. The state of emergency has been declared in Kursk, and residents are being evacuated.
06:25 Ukraine declares air alert due to Russian MiG-31K attackThe Ukrainian Air Force has declared an air alert across the entire country. The air attack warning is attributed to a missile threat from a Russian MiG-31K aircraft. This aircraft type is a Soviet-era interceptor that can carry hypersonic missiles like the Kinzhal.
05:32 ISW: Ukrainian armored vehicles 10 kilometers behind Russian border in KurskAccording to an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian troops have now advanced up to 10 kilometers into the Russian region of Kursk. This was confirmed by footage of armored vehicles behind the border. Ukrainian forces have reportedly breached at least two Russian defense lines and a fortress. According to a Russian source, the Ukrainians have captured 45 square kilometers in the Kursk region since the start of the operation on August 6, the ISW reports. Russian authorities had declared a state of emergency over the region yesterday.
02:30 Ukraine raises threshold for prison sentence in petty theftPresident Zelenskyy has signed a law raising the threshold for prison sentences in cases of petty theft in Ukraine. Henceforth, thefts valued at up to around 67 euros will be treated as administrative offenses and punished with fines. Previously, the threshold for petty theft was around 6.7 euros. The move is aimed at preventing long prison sentences for minor offenses under the current martial law, which provides for up to eight years in prison for looting and theft. For example, a case of stealing diapers from a supermarket in the western Ukrainian city of Rivne in January 2023, valued at around 8 euros, would no longer result in a prison sentence. However, the perpetrator in that case had already received a prison sentence of over three years.
00:27 Klingbeil: Deployment of US missiles in Germany is rightSPD leader Lars Klingbeil has defended plans to deploy long-range US weapons in Germany against criticism from within his own party. "This deployment is right because it helps us to defend ourselves if Russia were to have the idea of attacking us," he told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. It is part of a credible deterrent. At the NATO summit in July, the White House and the German government announced that the US would resume stationing weapons systems in Germany from 2026 that can reach deep into Russia. These include Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons. There are critical voices within the SPD, with parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich warning of the risk of military escalation.
22:38 Human rights activist Orlov wants to fight for Russian prisonersOleg Orlov, the Moscow human rights activist released in a prisoner exchange between Russia and Western states, plans to continue his civil rights work in exile. "Memorial cannot be destroyed," the 71-year-old said at a press conference at the Center for Liberal Modernity in Berlin. The organization he co-founded, Memorial, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, campaigns for political prisoners in Russia. Orlov estimates that there are still at least 800 political prisoners in Russia - a conservative estimate. He finds his new role in exile in Germany difficult, as he would prefer to be in his homeland but fears prosecution. Orlov hopes to be able to advocate for the release of more political prisoners in exile, including eight who are seriously ill. "We were very disappointed when it turned out that these people were not on the list - we who were exchanged." Memorial continues to work both in Russia and from abroad despite repression.
21:30 Not Dead Yet? Known Russian Propagandist InjuredKnown Russian propagandist Yevgeny Poddubny has been injured in the Kursk region. State TV channel VGTRK reports on Telegram that Poddubny was injured in an attack by a Ukrainian drone in the Kursk region and was taken to the hospital. Earlier, numerous Russian media outlets had reported Poddubny's death. Yevgeny Poddubny is one of Russia's most famous "war correspondents," with around 734,000 followers on Telegram. Preliminary information suggests he was filming a report on the fighting in the Kursk region on Wednesday.
20:41 Emergency Declared in Region KurskAn emergency has been declared in the Russian region of Kursk amid a Ukrainian ground offensive. Governor Alexei Smirnov announced this in a Telegram post. Ukraine has advanced deep into Russian territory near Kursk in a counterattack. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the offensive began on Tuesday and reached the northwest of the city of Sudja on Wednesday.
20:14 Fighting Nearby: Russia Bolsters Nuclear Power Plant ProtectionDue to Ukraine's advance into the Russian border region of Kursk, Russia's National Guard is reinforcing protection of the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. Additional forces have also been deployed to combat sabotage and reconnaissance units in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, the agency said. This is being done in cooperation with Russian border troops and the army. The nuclear power plant, with four units and a capacity of almost two gigawatts, is located about 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The day before, Ukrainian troops supported by tanks and artillery crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region near Sudja. Unconfirmed reports suggest they advanced up to 15 kilometers towards the NPP.
19:38 Attacks in Kursk Region: European Gas Price Hits Yearly HighThe price of European natural gas has risen to its highest level this year. The benchmark TTF futures contract for delivery next month rose 5.7% to €38.78 per megawatt-hour (MWh) in Amsterdam. Market participants are pointing to Ukraine's attacks on the Russian Kursk region. The fighting is reportedly taking place near Sudza, an important gas injection point for pipelines to Western Europe. Gazprom is currently reporting normal gas supplies.
19:08 Ukraine Evacuates Border Areas Near Russian KurskAmid heavy fighting in the Russian Kursk region, Ukrainian authorities have ordered the evacuation of more border settlements in the neighboring Sumy region. The measures affect 23 settlements, according to Sumy military governor Vladimir Artjuch on Ukrainian TV. Around 6,000 people, including over 400 children and adolescents, are to be moved to safety from the border area. The day before, Ukrainian troops crossed the Ukrainian-Russian border near the city of Sudja in the Kursk region and advanced several kilometers into Russian territory. Moscow reported around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers equipped with heavy weapons. Kyiv has not yet commented on the events. Earlier, local authorities had ordered evacuations from an area within 10 kilometers of the border due to regular Russian shelling of border areas.
You can find all previous developments here.
The Commission in the Bundestag could potentially discuss the use of German weapons in the Ukrainian advance into Russian territory, as suggested by Wolfgang Hellmich.
The Commission might also be involved in addressing the concerns of German citizens regarding the stationing of long-range US missiles in Germany, as it has a role in providing information and addressing doubts about such topics in the Bundestag.
