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