19:44 Russia receives hundreds of ballistic missiles from Iran
Russia to Receive Hundreds of Fath-360 and Other Ballistic Missiles from Iran in Near Future
According to intelligence sources cited by Reuters, Russia is set to receive hundreds of Fath-360 and other ballistic missiles from Iran in the near future, following a deal signed between Moscow and Tehran in December 2023. The sources also report that dozens of Russian military personnel are currently being trained in Iran on the Fath-360 ballistic short-range missile system. Iran, one of Russia's closest allies, has deepened its military and political cooperation with Russia since the start of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Notably, Iran has provided Russia with thousands of Shahed kamikaze drones since the beginning of the war. In February, Reuters also reported that Tehran had sent "a large number of high-performance ballistic ground-to-ground missiles" to support Moscow's invasion.
18:36 Iskander Missile System Allegedly Kills 15 Ukrainian Commanders at Border
Russian news agency TASS reports that the Iskander-M missile system struck a unit of the 22nd mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the border of Kursk. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, 15 members of the unit's command staff were killed. "The attack was carried out by a calculation of the operational-tactical missile system Iskander-M. The missile carriers hit a reconnaissance post where the combat post of a unit of the 22nd separate mechanized brigade of the AFU was located in the border area of the Kursk region. As a result, the command staff of the 22nd separate mechanized brigade of the AFU, consisting of 15 people, was destroyed," the ministry said.
17:55 Russia Evacuates 76,000 Civilians in Kursk
Amid heavy fighting as Ukrainian forces push into Russian territory, the regional civil defense has already evacuated tens of thousands of people. Around 76,000 civilians have been evacuated from the border area and placed in other regions of Russia, the civil defense reports, according to state agency TASS. There were no reports from either the Russian or Ukrainian side about the actual combat situation. Ukrainian reconnaissance reports that Russia has begun moving a marine infantry brigade from the occupied Crimean peninsula to the Kursk region, with part of the vehicle column already destroyed en route. The claims cannot be independently verified. A state of rocket alert has been declared throughout the Kursk region. The governor of the region, Alexei Smirnov, warns of potential dangers on the Telegram platform and urges the population to seek shelter as much as possible.
17:28 Minsk Accuses Kyiv of 'Criminal Acts'
After the alleged incursion of Ukrainian combat drones into Belarusian airspace, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Minsk has warned of a possible escalation of the conflict. Such "criminal acts" could lead to a radical escalation of the situation, the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports, according to state agency Belta. They are also a "dangerous attempt to expand the current conflict zone in our region." Belarus will use its right to self-defense and will respond appropriately to any provocation or hostile actions. Earlier, leader Alexander Lukashenko reported the alleged downing of several Ukrainian flying objects. The air defense has been put on full alert because about ten flying objects from Ukraine entered the airspace of Belarus in the east of the country in the Kostyukovichy region, Lukashenko said about the incident the previous evening.
17:00 Zelensky thanks for "filling the exchange fund"Many questions remain unanswered around Ukraine's advance into Russian territory. President Zelensky has now spoken out, thanking the soldiers who took prisoners. Ukraine needs them for future prisoner exchanges with Russia.
16:27 Ukraine attacks gas platform in Black Sea, kills 40 Russian soldiersUkraine's naval forces say they have killed about 40 Russian soldiers in an attack on a gas platform in the Black Sea. Ukrainian media reports that marine and military intelligence forces attacked the location where the enemy had gathered personnel and equipment. The occupiers were reportedly using the platform for jamming navigation signals via satellite, which would have endangered civilian maritime traffic. "We cannot allow this," said Dmytro Pletentschuk of the online newspaper "Ukrayinska Prawda". There were no civilians on the gas platform, which is currently out of operation. The strike was carried out by rocket and artillery units of the coastal forces. A heavy explosion was seen in a published video, but its authenticity could not be verified by independent sources. Pletentschuk said this was not the first operation of this kind, as the enemy had previously used the platform to disrupt the navigation of grain carriers.
15:49 NATO interceptors take off due to Russian reconnaissance aircraft IL-20M over Baltic SeaA Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea region has called for the deployment of fighter jets from several NATO countries. Alert fighters from Rostock-Laage, Sweden, and the NATO mission Air Policing Baltikum took off to secure the alliance's airspace and escorted the Russian reconnaissance aircraft IL-20M, the German Air Force announced on the short messaging service X. "The aircraft was flying without a flight plan and without contact with civilian air traffic control," it said. Russia uses international airspace for military flights in accordance with existing air law. According to previous statements by the German Armed Forces, Russian military aircraft almost always fly without a transponder signal, making them invisible to civilian air traffic control. These flights approach NATO airspace without violating it. It is assumed that these flights also test the reaction to such flights.
15:26 Lukashenko orders deployment of Iskander missile systems and rocket artillery to borderAlexander Lukashenko, the ruler of Belarus, has ordered the reinforcement of troop groupings in the tactical areas of Gomel and Mozyr on the border with the Ukrainian regions of Kyiv and Chernihiv. The Belarusian state news agency BelTA reports this, citing statements by Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin. "The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces [Lukashenko] has ordered the reinforcement of troop groupings in the tactical areas of Gomel and Mozyr. Special forces, ground troops, and rocket units, including Polonez multiple rocket launchers and Iskander missile systems, have been tasked with deploying to the designated areas," said Khrenin. Previously, Lukashenko had claimed that "several targets coming from Ukraine" had been shot down over Belarus.
14:49 Under the Dead: At Least Two Children Killed in Russian Attack on Supermarket
Since Friday, at least 18 people, including two children, have been killed and 60 more injured in several Russian attacks on Ukraine, regional authorities report. The majority of the casualties occurred in the city of Kostyantyniwka in the Donetsk region, where a Russian rocket hit a supermarket on Friday. By 10 a.m. local time today, at least 14 people, including two children aged 9 and 11, were killed and 43 more wounded, the General Prosecutor's Office reports on Telegram. In other settlements in the Donetsk region, two people were killed and another injured in Russian attacks on Friday, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported early this morning. More than 30 houses, an apartment building, an agricultural facility, and civilian infrastructure were damaged. In the Kharkiv region, Russian attacks killed an 80-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man, and injured four people aged between 32 and 67, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.
14:21 Interior Ministry Warns of Russian Influence on State Elections
The Federal Ministry of the Interior warns of possible manipulation attempts by Russia ahead of the upcoming state elections in eastern Germany. "We must assume that all elections in our country are a potential target of illegitimate influence," a ministry spokesperson told the "Handelsblatt". Russia is trying to take illegitimate influence on public debate and political will-formation in Germany in this way. Since the beginning of the Russian attack on Ukraine, there has been an increase in disinformation by Russian official bodies, state and state-affiliated media, and government-affiliated accounts in social networks. "They use false information to heat up emotionally charged discussions and play societal groups against each other," the spokesperson said.
13:42 Air Force: Russian IL-20M Reconnaissance Aircraft Spotted Off Rügen
A Russian reconnaissance aircraft flew into international airspace over the Baltic Sea without contacting air traffic control. German and Swedish air force machines, as well as NATO air policing in the Baltic, took off on Friday evening and escorted the Russian aircraft of type IL-20M. The maritime reconnaissance aircraft was traveling in the airspace off the island of Rügen "without flight plan and contact with civil air traffic control". Reports of non-communicating Russian military machines in international airspace over the Baltic Sea have been almost weekly in recent times, an air force spokesperson said. However, no action is usually taken if they do not behave unusually or quickly return to Russian airspace. In mid-June, a Russian SU-24 bomber flew over the Swedish Baltic Sea island of Gotland, which is about 350 kilometers from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
13:06 Lukashenko: Objects Fired from Ukraine Over Belarus Destroyed
According to Belarusian reports, the country's armed forces have destroyed several flying objects over Belarusian territory. They are presumably drones that were launched from Ukraine, Belarusian news agency Belta quotes Alexander Lukashenko, the president of the Russia-aligned country. In the past, Lukashenko has repeatedly spoken of alleged incursions from Ukraine and then given the all-clear. Belarus claims not to be involved in the fighting in Ukraine.
12:43 Ukraine: Three Civilians Killed in Russian Strikes in Eastern Ukraine
According to Ukrainian reports, three people have died in Russian missile attacks in eastern Ukraine. One person was killed in an attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region, with several others injured, the region's governor, Vadym Filashkin, wrote on Telegram. The missile hit a critical infrastructure building, causing significant damage. Two people died in an attack on a private home in the Kharkiv region, according to police.
12:00 Ukraine: Major Fire in Kherson After Russian Attack
A major fire has broken out in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson due to a Russian attack, the Kherson Regional Administration said on Telegram. The fire started on an open area outside the city of Kherson and quickly spread due to strong winds, engulfing almost the entire city. The Kherson Regional Administration said firefighters are battling the blaze.
11:28 Mangott on Arms Shipments: Kretschmer "Accepts Ukraine's Loss"
Ukrainian soldiers have entered Russia. With the incursion into Kursk, Ukraine aims to show that Russia "cannot protect its citizens in border regions," said Gerhard Mangott, a political scientist. He also stressed that he does not believe Ukraine can maintain control of the region in the long term.
10:53 Video Allegedly Shows Russian Troop Strength in Kursk
The Russian Ministry of Defense has published another video, allegedly showing an increase in military presence in the region. The footage shows tanks taking up combat positions to destroy Ukrainian troops. The footage is not independently verifiable. The ministry also reported numerous intercepted Ukrainian drone attacks in the Kursk area.
10:29 Russian Nuclear Corporation: Nuclear Power Plant in Kursk Operating Normally
Fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces is taking place near a nuclear power plant in the Russian region of Kursk. Despite ongoing clashes, operations are "normal," said Rosatom, the Russian state-owned company operating the plant, to Reuters. Earlier, the nuclear corporation had evacuated workers from the construction site of two new reactors at the Kursk nuclear power plant due to the advancement of Ukrainian troops in Kursk.
09:57 Ukrainian Intelligence: Magura V5 Destroys Russian Boat in Black Sea
Soldiers of the Ukrainian intelligence service HUR attacked the Russian navy off the coast of the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. The attack took place near the village of Chornomorske on the western coast of Crimea, where a sea drone of the Magura V5 type allegedly sank a Russian patrol boat of the type KS-701 "Tunets." Three other Russian military boats were reportedly damaged. Ukrainian intelligence posted a video of the attack on social media.
09:19 ISW: Russia Not Moving Front Units from Eastern Ukraine to Kursk
The Russian military leadership may not be redeploying its forces from the front in Eastern Ukraine to the contested Russian border region of Kursk to avoid disrupting its own offensive in the east of Ukraine. This is according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in its latest report. According to ISW analysts, it would likely take additional time for these units to arrive in the Kursk region from Eastern Ukraine. The Russian military leadership appears to be relying on the already stationed troops in Kursk to halt the ongoing Ukrainian advance. Additionally, the Russian military leadership is reportedly deploying conscripts from the military intelligence agency Glawnoje Raswedywatelnoje Uprawlenije (GRU) and Spetsnaz, so-called special forces, including the Wagner mercenary group and the Kadyrovtsy, according to reports cited by the analysts.
08:35 Ukraine Publishes Figures on Russian Losses
The Ukrainian General Staff has published new casualty figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to the data, Russia has lost around 589,700 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of 1,160. According to a report from Kyiv, seven tanks, 69 artillery systems, and two air defense systems were destroyed on the previous day of fighting. Since the start of the large-scale offensive, Russia has reportedly lost a total of 8,441 tanks, 16,605 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,325 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine, according to Ukraine. Western estimates put the losses lower - though these are likely minimum figures.
07:40 Russia: Su-34 Fighter-Bomber Strikes Ukrainian Forces in Russian Kursk
A Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber has reportedly struck Ukrainian forces in the Russian border region, according to the Russian Defense Ministry on Telegram. The air strike was carried out using an ODAB-500 bomb, according to the ministry. The Russian forces continue to repel the surprise advance of Ukraine in the Russian region of Kursk, with the air strike aimed at pushing back the Ukrainian offensive, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. A video of the combat aircraft's deployment was published on the Telegram channel of the Defense Ministry.
06:48 Kyiv Bookkeeper Stopped with Millions in Cash
Ukrainian investigators have discovered over 4.7 million euros in undeclared cash in the trunk of a company bookkeeper's car. "The woman could not explain the origin of the money," the Economic Crime Investigation Bureau in the Kyiv region said. Photos show investigators standing by an open trunk filled with cash bundles. The company in question had reportedly supplied food worth over 320 million euros to the Ukrainian army in 2022 and 2023, with tax liability reduced through a fictional loan. Investigations are underway for large-scale money laundering and tax evasion, with those involved facing up to eight years in prison.
06:10 Ukraine Evacuates 28 Villages in Border Region SumyUkrainian volunteers assist residents and their pets in the northern border region of Sumy in leaving the border area. According to local governor Vladimir Artiukh, 28 villages in a ten-kilometer-wide zone along the border with Russia are being evacuated. Ukrainian police report that 20,000 people must leave their homes.
05:30 Kyiv Adds "Glory to Ukraine!" to New BanknotesThe Ukrainian central bank supplements the design of all Ukrainian banknotes with the national motto "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!". Money is not only a measure of value and a means of payment, but also a symbol of the state that everyone holds daily, said Central Bank Chief Andriy Pyshnyi in a statement in Kyiv. "To honor the resilience of our people and this turning point in the formation of the Ukrainian nation that we live in today, we are adding our motto to all banknotes, which is heard throughout the world," Pyshnyi said. The change is to mark the upcoming 33rd Independence Day on August 24. It will begin with banknotes for 1000 (around 22.3 Euro) and 500 Hryvnia, followed by all other denominations of 200, 100, 50, and 20 Hryvnia. The motto will be placed in the top right corner of the banknotes, with the rest of the appearance remaining unchanged. The patriotic motto "Glory to Ukraine!" dates back to the emerging Ukrainian national movement at the end of the 19th century and has a tumultuous history. In the form "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!", it was used by Ukrainian nationalists who collaborated with the Nazis. The greeting remained present in the Ukrainian independence movement against the Soviet Union.
04:37 Report: Russia Plans to Block WhatsAppIn its action against internet services (see entry 22:33), Russia is reportedly planning to block WhatsApp, the news site "Kyiv Independent" reports. According to the report, Moscow has made preparations to block the messaging app. WhatsApp could be blocked in Russia in the fall, the independent Russian publication Verstka reports, citing sources at the Russian IT company VK, which is developing an application to replace WhatsApp. In July, the Kremlin-linked media outlet Gazeta.ru reported that the Russian government was planning to fully block YouTube in September. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied these alleged plans.
04:05 USA Approves Additional Military Aid to Kyiv Worth $125 MillionThe USA has approved additional military aid to Ukraine worth $125 million (around $114 million). The aid package underscores "our unwavering support for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russian aggression," said John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, before journalists. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the aid would include intercepting missiles for air defense systems, ammunition for rocket systems and artillery, multipurpose radars, and anti-tank weapons, and would come from US stockpiles. The equipment "will help Ukraine protect its troops, its population, and its cities from Russian attacks and strengthen its capabilities across the entire front," Blinken said further.
03:19 Russia to have issued 2.2 million passports in occupied territoriesRussia claims to have issued 2.2 million passports in the Ukrainian regions occupied by its invasion. Since October 2020, these have been distributed in Saporischschja, Donezk, Luhansk, and Cherson, according to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. These figures cannot be independently verified. In the past, there have been repeated reports that Russian authorities have systematically coerced people into accepting these passports.
02:30 IAEA warns of nuclear accident at Kursk power plant due to fighting in regionThe International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warns of the risk of a nuclear accident at the Kursk nuclear power plant due to fighting in the region. "At this point, I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid a nuclear accident with potentially severe radiological consequences," says IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. He is "in personal contact with the relevant authorities of both countries." The Kursk NPP is located near the city of Kursk, about 100 kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border. The state-owned Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported that everything is functioning normally at the plant with usual radiation levels. However, residents of Kursk are currently without power. According to regional governor Alexei Smirnov, a power plant was set on fire by falling debris from intercepted Ukrainian drones.
01:55 Russia implements anti-terror measures in Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk regionsRussia is implementing anti-terror measures in three regions bordering Ukraine, according to Russian media reports. According to a report by the RIA news agency, these measures include possible evacuation of residents, traffic restrictions in certain areas, increased security at sensitive locations, and wiretapping of phones and other communication devices. According to local authorities and the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, these anti-terror regulations apply to the Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk regions, the news agency reports.
00:36 Nouripour on heads of state: Cowardice does not bring peace in UkraineThe Green Party's co-leader, Omid Nouripour, criticizes the ministers-presidents of Brandenburg, Thuringia, and Saxony for their recent statements on Ukraine policy. Dietmar Woidke, Bodo Ramelow, and Michael Kretschmer are "running away from reality," says Nouripour to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). "They act as if one can achieve peace by burying one's head in the sand. But: Cowardice does not bring peace." Woidke says he has good contacts with Russia and can mediate. However, "it's strange that he only thinks of this two and a half years after the start of the war and a few weeks before the state election," says Nouripour. Ramelow calls for a non-aggression pact with Russia. However, such a pact was initiated by Germany 85 years ago and brought great suffering to other European countries, the Green politician adds. Kretschmer, meanwhile, acts "as if he doesn't know that only Putin can end this war quickly." Kretschmer had called for a reduction in military aid to Ukraine and advocated for diplomatic initiatives in the Ukraine conflict.
00:13 July Deadliest Month for Civilians in Ukraine Since October 2022According to the United Nations, more Ukrainian civilians have died from Russian shelling in July than in any other month since October 2022. "The high number of casualties in July continues an alarming trend since March 2024," the UN observer mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) reports.
23:43 Construction Workers Pulled from Kursk NPPDue to the advance of Ukrainian troops in the Russian region of Kursk, workers are being withdrawn from the construction site of two new nuclear reactors at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. The number of construction workers will be temporarily reduced, Atomstroiexport, a subsidiary of the state-owned Russian nuclear company Rosatom, reports. Other specialists continue their work as planned. The Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in the city of Kursk has repeatedly been mentioned as a possible target of the offensive on Russian territory that began on Tuesday. However, it is located about 60 kilometers from the border. The farthest advances of Ukrainian troops, which have been reported but not confirmed, have reached about 30 kilometers into Russia. After the start of the Ukrainian offensive, the Russian National Guard reportedly reinforced the protection of the power plant. Two reactors are being built at the NPP to replace the two oldest, already decommissioned blocks of the plant. Two more reactors are currently in operation.
23:11 Ukraine Captures Gazprom Facility in Kursk RegionAccording to a video published by Ukrainian media, Ukrainian soldiers have taken control of a Gazprom facility in the Russian region of Kursk. Ukrainian soldiers in the video state that the facility in the city of Sudzha and the city itself have been captured.
22:33 Russia Blocks Encrypted Chat Service SignalIn its crackdown on foreign internet services, Russia is also blocking the encrypted chat service Signal due to alleged legal violations. Signal is not complying with legal measures necessary to counter terrorism and extremism, the responsible agency Roskomnadzor in Moscow reports. Throughout the day, complaints from Signal users in Russia have been accumulating that the messaging service is unavailable. Portals like Sboj.rf, which collect reports of outages, reported about 2000 complaints. Signal was developed in the US and is valued by its users for its high level of security. On Thursday, users in Russia also complained that YouTube was working slowly and videos were difficult to download. The Russian authorities have not provided an official explanation for this. However, they have stated in recent days that they have the extremely popular video service in their sights because it allegedly refuses to remove extremist videos. Large social networks with US ownership like X and Facebook have already been blocked in Russia and can only be accessed via protected connections (VPN). Even before the attack on Ukraine, Moscow had made preparations for a possible internet shutdown in the country. Since the start of the war in 2022, Roskomnadzor has blocked thousands of websites that are not approved by the Russian government.
You can read all previous developments [here].
- The European Union has expressed concern over Russia's increasing military cooperation with Iran, particularly the potential deployment of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia.
- The European Union has called on Russia to respect international law and cease its military aggression against Ukraine, urging for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
