20:12 Russian attack on Nikopol - two children injured
Russian troops have attacked the city of Nikopol in southern Ukraine. There are several injured, including two girls, one year and ten years old. This was reported by the head of the regional military administration in Dnipropetrowsk, Serhij Lyssak, on Telegram, as reported by the state news agency Ukrinform.
19:37 Russian troops launch series of attacks in Eastern UkraineThe Russian air force is bombarding the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv heavily. According to a statement from the General Staff in Kiev, at least six glide bombs hit the small town of Wowtschansk. In addition, Russian combat aircraft reportedly attacked Ukrainian positions. No information was provided on casualties. Another focus of Russian attacks was reportedly Pokrovsk. Throughout the day, 16 attacks were repelled, with more ongoing. The information cannot be independently verified at this time. Reports of attacks from the Dnipropetrowsk region also came in, involving artillery and combat drones. In the sector Liman in the east of the country, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian army positions. At least twelve attacks were registered, according to the General Staff.
19:18 Zelenskyy names three factors for "just end" to the warPatience, support for Ukraine, and diplomatic pressure on Russia - these are the three factors for a just end to the war. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with the Japanese broadcaster NHK. "Patience, support, and diplomatic pressure are the three factors for a just end to the war. If the USA and European nations maintain their unity, the pressure increases and shows Moscow that there is no chance", said the Ukrainian leader. Zelenskyy also emphasized that he could not react to demands for a ceasefire as long as Russia continued to occupy Ukrainian territory.
18:38 NATO membership: Scientists call for Ukraine's invitation to military alliance in open letterScientists and researchers from various countries have called on NATO in an open letter to invite Ukraine to join the military alliance. According to the state Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform, up to 158 signatories have signed the letter, which was published in the British newspaper "Guardian". "The invitation of Ukraine to NATO membership would be a final step away from appeasement policy and back to the rule of international law and the protection of human rights", it says there. The previous attempts to appease Moscow's alleged "NATO expansion anxiety" are ignored by Russia's propaganda and systematic war crimes in the occupied territories of Ukraine, including massacres, mass rapes, and torture. "Russia's actions show the clear intention to destroy Ukraine as a nation, rather than addressing its own security concerns", the authors emphasize. An invitation to the military alliance would, in their view, also not provide additional incentives for the Kremlin, "since Russia is determined to destroy Ukraine and does not need additional motivation". It is also a "fact that Russia has not attacked a single member of the military alliance". Instead, Moscow has threatened, attacked, and occupied third countries.
17:54 Reports of Ukrainian Surprise Attack on Russian Troops in LuhanskThe Ukrainian military, according to reports, inflicted heavy losses on Russian troops in Luhansk in the east of the country with a rocket attack using ATACMS-Rakets. Members of a tank infantry battalion were reportedly targeted during a gathering on a training ground, Ukrainian media reported, citing Russian social media and their own military sources. The surprise attack, which reportedly took place yesterday, resulted in the deaths of at least 19 Russian soldiers and injuries to 71 others. The information could not be independently verified. The Ukrainian troops usually only use ATACMS-Rakets against valuable targets. It is possible that the troop assembly at Luhansk was detected by a reconnaissance drone beforehand.
17:32 Dozens of Wagner Soldiers Killed in Mali - Commander in Custody from Ukraine WarRussian Wagner soldiers in Mali suffered one of their heaviest losses in West Africa, with dozens of killed and captured fighters. Rebels of the separatist Tuareg people in the northern part of the Sahel state reportedly killed several dozen Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries who were attempting to take control of the village of Tinzaouaten near the Algerian border. Russian mercenaries have been fighting alongside the Malian army against all rebel movements in the country since 2021, including Islamist terror militias and the Tuareg. Russian channels close to the mercenaries, including a former commander of the forces in the north of Mali, reported over 80 dead and 15 captured fighters on their side. Among them was reportedly Wagner commander Anton Elisarov, who was involved in the Russian assault on the Ukrainian town of Soledar.
16:49 Fire in University Building in Cherson after Russian ShellingRussian forces attacked the Cherson Oblast and hit a university building. A fire broke out in the educational institution, according to a report by Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the military administration of the Cherson region, from Ukrainska Pravda. "The enemy shelled a university building in the city center at night, causing a fire." No one was injured.
16:02 431 Ukrainian Settlements Without Power After Russian AttacksFollowing Russian attacks, there are 431 settlements without power in six regions in the north and northeast of Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Energy Ministry on Facebook, as reported by the state news agency Ukrinform.
15:34 General Staff: Over 130 Battles with Russian Troops in One DayAccording to the Ukrainian General Staff of the Armed Forces, there were 129 battles with Russian troops along the frontline yesterday. As reported by the state news agency Ukrinform, the Russian troops were particularly active in the areas of Pokrovsk, Torezk and Kurachiwka.
14:54 Kiev: Over 1200 Russian soldiers eliminated in one dayAccording to official figures from Kiev, personnel losses on the Russian side remain high: Some 1190 Russian soldiers reportedly died or are unable to continue fighting in the war within one day. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry reports that since the start of the conflict in February 2022, a total of 574,690 Russian soldiers have been "eliminated." According to the Defense Ministry's daily reports on Russian losses, the enemy has also lost 13 more tanks (8344). Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Ukraine has counted over 16,000 armored vehicles and around 12,800 drones that are no longer in the possession of the Russian military or have been destroyed. These figures cannot be independently verified. Moscow itself keeps information about its own losses in Ukraine to itself.
14:28 Zelensky: Russia fired over 700 guided bombs and over 100 drones of the Shahed type onto Ukraine in one weekRussian forces have fired over 700 guided air-to-ground bombs and more than 100 Shahed drones onto Ukraine in the past week, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, citing regional authorities in a Telegram post. Yesterday alone, Russian air raids killed eleven people and injured 41 in four Ukrainian regions. The Ukrainians are "suffering daily under Russian terror" and "deserve a fair and reliable protection from it." Zelensky called on allies to provide Kiev with long-range weapons and air defense equipment, adding that "every concrete decision by partners to strengthen our armed forces can save lives."
14:01 Report: F-16 fighter jets may not significantly influence the course of the warThe first F-16 fighter jets are expected to arrive in Ukraine in the coming weeks, but Ukrainian and Western officials warn that they may not have a significant impact on the course of the war, as Russia continues to make gains on the battlefield. The Washington Post reports that Ukraine will only receive a small number of F-16 fighter jets, while Russia has a large number of air defense systems that can shoot them down. This means that the first F-16 fighter jets to arrive in Ukraine are likely to be used to strengthen Ukraine's air defense, rather than attacking Russian ground troops.
According to the Washington Post, it is unlikely that the fighter jets will initially be stationed near the front lines and therefore will not be able to intercept Russian military aircraft. Official sources refused to disclose how many F-16 fighter jets will be provided to Ukraine this year, but it is not expected to be more than approximately 20, which is the size of a squadron.
13:44 Ukrainian military confirms attack on oil refinery in Kursk, RussiaThe General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has confirmed in social media an attack on a Russian oil depot in the Kursk region. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and the Ukrainian military cooperated in the nighttime attack on the Polyova oil depot. Prior to this, local authorities in Kursk reported a drone attack that caused fires at several locations. According to local governor Alexei Smirnov, firefighters were still on the scene in the morning, trying to extinguish three fuel tanks (references 08:00 and 06:36).
13:20 Authorities: Eight injured by Russian shelling of Nikopol buildingsEight people, including children, were injured in Nikopol, a Ukrainian city in the Dnipro region, by Russian troop shelling. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the State Emergency Service (SES) of Ukraine. "Eight residents of two multi-story buildings, including two children, were injured during the enemy shelling of Nikopol," the statement reads. The injured were taken to the hospital by emergency services and the Red Cross, the SES added.
13:01 Russia reports capture of two settlements in DonetskRussia has captured two settlements in the Donetsk region. They are Prohres and Evhenivka in eastern Ukraine, according to Russian news agencies, quoting the Russian Defense Ministry.
12:44 Ukraine accuses Russia of killing 564 children since start of warRussia is accused of killing 564 children and wounding at least 1487 since the start of its war in Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform," citing the Office of the Prosecutor General. The majority of the children were affected in the regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Kherson, Kiev, and Zaporizhzhia.
12:24 Lindner counters Pistorius in defense budget discussionFinance Minister Christian Lindner defended his budget position in the debate over defense spending. "We have reached the two-percent NATO target for the first time in many, many years," the FDP leader said in an interview with the ARD "Hauptstadtstudio." We spend more than France and Italy. In the coming years, we will continue to provide at least two percent of the economic output for security. "Now I have to turn the spear around: It's not the case that everything the Defense Minister says is automatically justified and correct." Lindner emphasized that it's about tax money and the efficiency of funding allocation. "Mr. Pistorius has a 100-billion-euro special program for the strengthening of the armed forces, which no of his predecessors had. That's how you can work, and that's how you have to earn," Lindner added.
12:01 Putin threatens response to US missiles in Germany
Due to the plans for the stationing of US intermediate-range missiles in Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin at the large naval parade in St. Petersburg is threatening a reaction. Russia will respond symmetrically if the plans are implemented and will no longer feel bound by an earlier prohibition on land-based atomic medium-range missiles. The INF Treaty on the prohibition of these weapons, which the USA withdrew from in 2019, no longer applies. According to Putin, Russia has so far imposed a moratorium and adhered to the agreements. However, the USA has been complaining for a long time about Russian violations of the treaty. In a speech to sailors from Russia, China, Algeria, and India, Putin says the US could trigger a missile crisis reminiscent of the Cold War. "The flight time of such missiles that could be armed with atomic warheads and targeted at our territory will be approximately ten minutes," Putin says.
11:14 Authorities: Russians seize over 500 houses in Luhansk for themselves
In the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic," Russian occupiers have seized 514 houses from evacuated residents illegally. The Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform" reports this and refers to a Telegram message from the head of the regional administration of Luhansk, Artem Lysohord. These are objects that are subject to the "nationalization procedure," which begins 30 days after discovery, Lysohord writes and notes that a large part of the land seized by the occupation authorities will be nationalized.
10:45 Explosions reported in Kharkiv - Air alarm declared in other Ukrainian regions
Suspilne.media, the Ukrainian broadcasting corporation, reports two explosions in Kharkiv in the morning. Shortly thereafter, the head of the regional military administration, Oleg Sinegubov, reports two missile attacks by the Russians. The type of missiles is being determined. Currently, air alarm has been declared in some regions of Ukraine according to the news portal "RBC-Ukraine." This applies to Donetsk, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Poltava, and Dnipro. A missile threat cannot be ruled out in these regions, it is reported.
10:07 Governor reports 5 Dead, 15 Wounded from Russian shelling in Donetsk region
Five civilians were killed and 15 others were wounded by Russian shelling in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk on Saturday, regional governor Vadym Filashkin reports via Telegram. According to him, five residents of the region Donetsk were killed. Among the dead were three in Ivanivka, one in Kostiantynivka, and one in Toretsk. In addition, 15 people in the region were injured during the day, Filashkin writes. Since the beginning of the Russian offensive war in February 2022, according to the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform," 2110 civilians have been killed and 5515 injured in the Donetsk region. These figures do not include the victims in Mariupol and Volnovakha, it is noted.
09:46 IfW-President: German fiscal policy is "security risk for Europe"
The President of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), Moritz Schularick, is urging the German government to significantly increase spending on security and defense - while also criticizing the coalition's budget compromise. "The German government is currently not making reasonable fiscal policy for what the country needs," Schularick stated in an interview with t-online. "Much more than that: Fiscal policy remains a security risk for Europe." A future special fund for the Bundeswehr must be "substantially larger than the current one with its size of 100 billion euros," the economist added. "To close the budget gap in the next ten years, we are likely talking about a volume of 250 to 300 billion euros."
And even then, it's clear: "Even with all these additional expenditures, Germany would still be spending proportionally less for the military than countries like Poland, Norway, or the USA, which have not reduced their investments to the same extent in the past two decades," Schularick continued. "It would take an expenditure of around 3 to 3.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product to deter Putin's Russia with 'strength and resolve,'" he added.
09:15 Expert sees Donetsk region "lost for Ukraine in every case"
Ukrainian forces are currently under particularly heavy pressure from Russian attacks in the Donetsk region. Military expert Ralf Thiele sees no chance for Ukraine to hold the Donetsk region in the future. The Russians are "making progress inch by inch," while the Ukrainians are on the retreat. The region is "lost for Ukraine in every case," Thiele stated on ntv. "That's unfortunately sad when you have to say that," the military expert added. Donetsk is on the negotiating table or "the real one." That means, either there will be a ceasefire agreement or a surrender ceasefire," Thiele explained. Both alternatives mean that "in the end, the region is gone," he added.
08:52 Ukraine reports 1180 Russian casualties within 24 hours
Russia has lost approximately 574,690 soldiers in Ukraine between February 24, 2022, and July 27, 2024, according to Ukrainian calculations. Among them were 1180 fatalities or injuries in the past 24 hours. The Ukrainian General Staff reported this in its daily update on Facebook. In addition, Russian losses were recorded: 8344 tanks, 16,095 armored combat vehicles, 15,936 artillery systems, 11,271 multiple rocket launchers, 906 air defense systems, and 2,405 missiles. The Russian army has also lost 363 combat aircraft, 326 helicopters, 12,766 tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, 28 warships/cutters, 1 submarine, 21,572 vehicles and tank trucks, and 2,671 pieces of special equipment since the beginning of their offensive war.
08:16 Thiele on the situation at the front: Ukrainians are "de facto on a step-by-step retreat" In the contested areas in the east of the country, the situation for Ukraine is "not good," says Ralf Thiele. The military is trying to prevent a Russian breakthrough - albeit at the cost of a retreat. The military expert fears that Ukraine will certainly lose the region of Donetsk.
08:00 Kursk reports fire in tank depot under control A Ukrainian drone attack has set a tank depot in the Kursk region on fire, according to local Russian authorities. However, the fire was quickly brought under control, writes regional governor Alexei Smirnov on Telegram. There were no injuries reported.
07:44 TASS: Russians destroy howitzer and Ukrainian munitions depot in the Cherson region Russian paratrooper drones destroy a M-777 howitzer and a Ukrainian munitions depot for field artillery in the Cherson region, according to the state Russian news agency TASS, citing the Russian Defense Ministry. After the launch of the drones, the armor-piercing shells reportedly penetrated the front line along the riverbank. At the same time, a reconnaissance drone identified as targets a 155-mm howitzer M-777 and a field munitions depot for field artillery. Through a direct hit, the field munitions depot was destroyed and the howitzer was put out of order, the statement says.
07:11 Ukrainian Minister: Olympic participation is "our victory" The Olympic participation of Ukraine is seen as a strong symbol and a chance by Sports Minister Vadym Bidny to draw international attention to the situation in the country following the start of the Russian offensive war on Ukraine. "It is a symbolic act and a sign that Ukraine is a strong country with resilient people," says Bidny at the opening of the Ukrainian house in Paris. It is very important that Russia is represented in Paris with only a small team of 15 neutral athletes. Russia as a nation was expelled from the Olympics by the International Olympic Committee due to the aggression war. "There is no Russian flag here. There is only the Ukrainian flag. That is our victory," says Bidny.
It is now the task of the Olympic team to "bring the international community together in support of Ukraine and to speak to the people who normally don't listen to politicians." The participation is a "strong signal that Ukraine not only survives but also has the will to win."
06:58 Russia reports shooting down of seven Ukrainian drones The Russian air defense shoots down seven Ukrainian drones, according to Russian Defense Ministry statements on Telegram. Five were shot down over the Belgorod region and two over the Kursk region.
06:36 Gouverneur: Oil depot in Kursk is on fire after drone attackIn the night, in the Kursk region of Russia, explosions have occurred due to a drone attack. In an oil depot and several areas, fires have broken out, according to Kursk region governor Alexei Smirnov via Telegram and the Baza channel. The air defense forces are "on alert," writes the Russian official and urges the region's residents to "stay alert." In the region, at least two fires have broken out during the "defense" of the drone attack, one in the Medvenka district and one in the Kursk district, it is reported. A fire is said to have been caused in the village of Polyova's oil storage facility, according to the Shot channel on Telegram. Residents reportedly heard "multiple strong explosions" near the oil depot at night. Previously, the characteristic sound of a drone flying over the area was heard. After the explosions, witnesses reported seeing heavy smoke in the sky. Additionally, there was an explosion in the city of Sudzha, a house in the Medva district was on fire, it is reported.
05:41 Linnemann questions welfare payments to Ukrainian refugeesCDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann has questioned the welfare payments to Ukrainian women and men in an interview with Funke media. "We need to discuss why more than 50 percent of Ukrainians work in many European countries, but only 25 percent in Germany," he says. There are clearly no incentives for quick employment. "But if there is a performance, it comes with a counter-performance. That includes taking up work."
04:49 Ukraine: Over 75 percent of wounded soldiers return to dutyAccording to Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Natalia Kalmykova, the percentage of soldiers who return to duty after rehabilitation in Ukraine is reportedly very high. "We have a very high percentage of high-quality rehabilitation programs and returnees to the service. This is also acknowledged by our western partners," she said, according to the Interfax news agency. Kalmykova speaks of over 75 percent of the wounded.
03:13 ISW: Ukrainian forces recapture positionsAccording to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian forces have reportedly recaptured lost positions near Toretsk, north of Donetsk. This is indicated by geolocated images. The Russian side is said to have continued its offensive operations in the area.
01:08 Ukraine reports several deaths after Russian shelling - including a childAccording to Ukrainian authorities, at least five civilians were killed in Russian attacks in various regions of Ukraine yesterday. In the region of Kherson, there were three deaths. In the northeastern border region of Sumy, a 14-year-old boy was killed and 12 people were injured in a rocket attack on the small town of Hluchiv. In the region of Kharkiv, a man was killed by Russian fire in a residential building.
23:46 Russia reports capture of another village in UkraineRussia has reportedly taken control of another village in eastern Ukraine. The settlement Losuwatske, located in the Donezk region, was "liberated," according to the Russian Defense Ministry in its daily report. The settlement is approximately 25 kilometers east of the city Pokrowsk, in the area where the Russian army has made significant progress in recent months. Ukraine has not confirmed the takeover.
22:23 Blinken threatens China with "measures" over continued support for Russian defense industryUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China that the US would take "measures" if Beijing continued to support Russia's defense industry. According to the Ukrainian newspaper "Kyiv Independent," Blinken made this statement during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Laos. The warning came shortly after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba held talks with Wang during his first visit to China since the conflict began in Guangzhou. "The minister reiterated his serious concern over China's support for Russia's defense industrial base and made it clear that the United States would continue to take appropriate measures if China did not address this threat to European security," Miller said.
You can read about previous developments here.**
- The Russian military continues its escalation in Eastern Ukraine, with the General Staff in Kiev reporting at least 16 attacks repelled in Pokrovsk alone.
- Amidst the ongoing Ukraine-Conflict, NATO is under pressure to invite Ukraine to join the military alliance, with scientists and researchers advocating for this move in an open letter.
- The attack on Ukraine by Russian forces has resulted in significant military deployments and casualties, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urging for patience, support for Ukraine, and diplomatic pressure on Russia to bring about a just end to the war.
- The Russian air force has been heavily bombing the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, with reports of glide bombs hitting the small town of Wowtschansk and combat aircraft attacking Ukrainian positions.
- In response to Russian attacks, Ukrainian forces have launched a surprise attack on Russian troops in Luhansk, resulting in heavy losses for the Russian side, according to Ukrainian media reports.
