20:42 Kiev: More than 14,000 civilians in Russian captivity
Last Saturday, ten civilians were received in Kiev from detention by the Russians. Over 14,000 civilians are still being held in Russian captivity, according to Ukraine's Human Rights Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets. Three categories of Ukrainians are being held by the Russians: children, prisoners of war, and civilians. The return of civilians is particularly complicated, Lubinets stated. Ukraine has no means to facilitate exchanges, and there is no legal procedure. Kiev continues to work on the return of 20,000 children and tens of thousands of Ukrainians who are listed as missing. In the case of children, the Vatican may potentially help.
20:01 Zelenskyy: Indirect negotiations with Moscow possibleUkraine is not planning direct negotiations with Russia, but could use the model of a trilateral agreement similar to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. In 2022, the agreement was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey. It played a decisive role in containing a global increase in food prices, which were partly caused by the invasion. Ukraine signed the agreement with Turkey, while the United Nations signed it, and Russia signed its own corresponding agreement with the same intermediaries.
19:21 Russian guided bomb hits post office in KharkivA Russian guided bomb exploded at a post office in Kharkiv, killing a civilian. Nine others were injured, including an 8-month-old child. The governor of the Kharkiv region reported this. Rescue workers are now searching for additional potential victims. Eight vehicles parked near the depot were destroyed. The building belongs to Nova Poshta, the largest private postal service in Ukraine. "All shift workers were in the air raid shelter and were not injured," the company stated. Previously, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had announced that Russia had used over 800 guided air-to-ground bombs against Ukraine in the past week.
18:43 Moscow: Two villages in Donetsk capturedRussia captured two more villages in eastern Ukraine. According to the Russian news agency RIA, citing the Defense Ministry in Moscow, the villages in question are Spirne and Nowoolexandriwka in the Donetsk region.
18:20 Ukraine: Russian fighter jet, Cruise missiles, and hundreds of drones destroyedThe Ukrainian commander of ground forces, Oleksandr Pavliuk, released a balance sheet of air defense in June. The defenders reportedly registered the shooting down of a Russian Su-25 fighter jet and three Cruise missiles in the past month. In total, they shot down 296 drones. "Under conditions of intense hostilities," Pavliuk wrote, "we managed to bring down a significant number of tactical drones from the sky."
17:27 Zelensky: Trump's possible peace plan in 24 hours "a bad idea"
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he doesn't know how to end the conflict in 24 hours, but if the plan involves making territorial concessions to Russia, then it's a "bad idea." In an interview with the "Philadelphia Inquirer," Zelensky said, "If Trump has such a model, then everyone would want to end the war." Perhaps it would be even better in an hour, he added. Giving up one's territory to Russia is not new. Putin won't solve the problem. He needs to be put in his place, as he is relying on "pseudo-victories."
16:49 Men attack Ukrainian border guards with machetes
A Ukrainian border guard was killed by two men with a machete during an attack, while one of the attackers was injured, according to the news portal "Ukrajinska Prawda," citing Ukrainian authorities. The incident reportedly occurred on a Saturday evening at the border with Romania. The motive is unknown. However, due to the war, men of military age have been trying to leave the country to avoid being drafted and sent to the front. Previously, 17 men were detained near the border with Hungary in a minibus, who, according to authorities, were trying to illegally leave Ukraine and pay their helpers between 3000 and 12,000 US dollars for a successful exit.
16:14 More casualties and damage after rocket attack on Vilniansk
After the lethal Russian rocket attack on civilians in Vilniansk, 75 people report damaged or destroyed property. The police in the Saporischschja region document "the crimes of the Russian army," according to the statement from the authorities. The number of registered casualties from the attack has risen to 38, including nine children. A mobile aid station is in operation. At least seven people, including a woman and three children, were killed in the attack on Saturday.
15:51 Controversial Kanye West reportedly in Moscow on private visit
The controversial US rapper Kanye West is reportedly in Moscow on a private visit, according to Russian media. "That's great news, he's in the heart of the capital," Tass news agency quotes producer Yana Rudkovskaya. Former Russian presidential candidate Yelena Sobchak published a short video, which she claims shows West observing the famous GUM shopping center from the rooftop of the Red Square. According to Sobchak, West is in Moscow to celebrate the 40th birthday of his friend Gosha Rubchinskiy, a well-known Russian fashion designer. West has expressed his admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past. In the US, the musician is now an outcast in the entertainment industry due to his antisemitic and Hitler-glorifying statements.
15:24 Russia disrupted GPS signals for hundreds of British military flights over Europe
This year, Russia disrupted the GPS navigation system for over a quarter of transport and surveillance flights of the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Europe, according to data analysis of thousands of flights reported by the British "Telegraph". This illustrates the extent of Russian interventions in aviation. "This is another example of Russia's recklessness and further proof that it has become an uncontrollable hostile state," quoted British Defense Minister Grant Shapps. Between January and April, 142 out of 504 transport and surveillance flights of the RAF over Europe experienced GPS disruptions.
14:41 Ukrainian hackers sabotage Russian systems
Activists, in collaboration with experts from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, conducted a series of attacks on Russian companies. According to the Ministry, hackers destroyed over 100 Terabytes of data from OrbitSoft, a software developer that collaborates with the Russian army, particularly with unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturers. They also deleted data on eight servers from Orient Systems, a supplier of navigation devices for Russian military manufacturers, especially for manufacturers of unmanned aerial vehicles. They also deleted the data of an Internet provider in Nizhny Novgorod and sent messages to all subscribers about an "inevitable retaliation" for Russia's war.
14:06 Ukraine begins mass production of long-range drones
Ukraine has begun mass producing long-range drones with a range of over 1,000 kilometers. According to the head of the state arms manufacturer Ukroboronprom, Herman Smetanin, in an interview with ArmyInform. Smetanin states that Russia's "vast resources and powerful industry" force Kiev to adopt a "more flexible and inventive" approach to weapons production. Ukraine uses long-range drones to attack military infrastructure such as airfields and logistics facilities, as well as oil refineries and depots deep in Russian territory.
13:36 Ukraine releases video of the liberation of Snake Island
The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has released new footage of the liberation of Snake Island on social media. In the post, SBU describes the "unique and extremely important operation". The footage is said to begin with an aerial view of a Russian air strike on the island, followed by Ukrainian troops landing with a helicopter and attacking Russian troops. "It consisted of several stages and was of strategic importance, as it marked the beginning of the gradual displacement of the enemy from the Black Sea," writes the SBU. On June 30, 2022, Ukrainian troops recaptured the strategic outpost from the Russian troops at the Black Sea.
13:14 Zelensky: Russia fired over 800 guided bombs on Ukraine in a week
In the past week alone, Russia fired over 800 guided bombs against Ukraine. This is stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the platform X. "Ukraine needs the necessary resources to destroy the carriers of these bombs, including Russian combat aircraft, wherever they are located. This step is essential," he writes further.
12:48 According to a Russian attack on Wilniansk in the Saporischja region of Ukraine, the number of wounded has increased (see entries 00:32, 05:41 and 07:24). According to official reports, at least seven people, three men, one woman and three children, have been killed. Thirty-six people, among them nine children, were reportedly injured in the rocket attack by the National Police via social media. Previously, 31 injured were known.
12:18 Ukraine publishes figures on Russian losses The Ukrainian General Staff has released new figures on Russian troop losses in Ukraine. According to this, Russia has lost approximately 542,700 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. In the past 24 hours alone, the losses amounted to 1,140. According to the report from Kiev, among other things, 24 tanks, 60 artillery systems, and an aircraft were reportedly destroyed. According to Ukraine, since the beginning of the large-scale attack, Russia has lost 8,080 tanks, 15,524 artillery systems, and 360 aircraft, 326 helicopters, 11,584 drones, 28 ships, and a submarine. Western estimates give lower loss figures - but these are also only minimum values.
11:45 OSCE: Russia is committing genocide in Ukraine The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has passed a resolution recognizing Russia's actions in Ukraine as genocide against the Ukrainian population. Pavlo Frolov, a member of the Kiev delegation, announced this on social media. The document also defines "the denazification of the Russian Federation as a necessary prerequisite for the creation of a lasting peace". The OSCE has 57 members, including Ukraine and Russia. With 57 countries from Europe, Central Asia, and North America, the OSCE is the largest regional security organization in the world.
11:11 Weichert: People in Odessa "are trying to live normal lives" While at least seven people were killed by Russian attacks in the vicinity of Saporischja, the beaches of the coastal city of Odessa are filled with bathing tourists. Jürgen Weichert, an ntv reporter, describes it as a much-needed break for the Ukrainians affected by the war.
10:44 Russia: Four firefighters injured in the Donezk region In the Russia-claimed region of Donezk in eastern Ukraine, according to Russian reports, four firefighters were injured in Ukrainian attacks. They had extinguished a fire caused by a Ukrainian attack in the Petrowski district and were then hit by new shelling, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations reported.
10:08 Russia: Ukrainian forces driven back from the left bank of Cherson The fighting in the Cherson region is currently taking place on the islands, as Ukrainian forces have been driven back from the left bank of the Dnipro, according to Cherson Governor Wolodymyr Saldo, speaking to the Russian news agency TASS. "The fighting has shifted to the islands, and the Russian army has intensified its activities," he said. The islands and the Dnipro River in the Cherson region form a natural border at the front.
09:43 Ukraine: A Person Dead and Two Injured after Russian Attack in Cherson
At a Russian attack on the Ukrainian region of Cherson, one person is reportedly dead and two people injured. The governor of the region Cherson, Oleksandr Prokudin, announced this on Telegram. A 67-year-old man in Odradokamyanka was allegedly killed by a drone attack. A 76-year-old woman in Kozatske was injured by artillery fire and was admitted to the hospital with severe injuries. Additionally, a 63-year-old woman in Komysany is reportedly injured by Russian troops who shot at a farm. There were no injured in a drone attack on a residential building in Mykhailivka, and the damage is currently being assessed.
09:08 Ex-NATO Chief: "Putin's Plan A has failed"
The former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen believes that the Russian war against Ukraine will continue for at least the rest of 2024. "Putin's Plan A, which was to take over all of Ukraine in just a few days, has failed," Rasmussen said in an interview with ntv.de. "His Plan B is now a frozen conflict and the Russian occupation of Eastern Ukraine, in the hope that the West will weaken and give in." The presidential elections in the USA on November 5 are particularly significant for Putin in terms of possible changes that could help him.
08:40 Russia: 36 Ukrainian Drones Shot Down
Russia claims to have shot down 36 Ukrainian drones in various regions of the country. Fifteen drones were intercepted over the border region of Kursk, nine over the region of Lipezk some hundred kilometers south of Moscow, and four each over the regions of Woronesh and Brjansk, according to the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow. The governors of Lipezk and Brjansk announced on Telegram that there were no casualties or major damage.
07:55 Sweden's Defense Minister: Russia wants to split EU and NATO
Russia is interested in politically splitting the EU and NATO. This is what the Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said in an interview with the "Bild" newspaper. "I believe that the Kremlin and Putin himself are aware that they would lose this war. But I believe that Russia is very interested in politically dividing us, both within the EU and in NATO," Jonson said. To maintain peace, it is best to make NATO stronger and focus on deterrence and defense. According to Jonson, this means more responsibility for European security, especially more investment in military forces. Sweden abandoned its neutrality in response to the Russian attack on Ukraine. In March 2024, Sweden became the 32nd NATO member.
07:24 Zelenskyy: After Russian Attack on Velyka Nova Hrebleivka, the Casualty Count may still rise
In a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Velyka Nova Hrebleivka in the region of Zaporizhzhia, there are reported fatalities and injuries (see entries 00:32 and 05:41). According to official reports, at least seven people have been killed, including children. Thirty-one other people were injured in the missile attack, according to the Civil Defense. "Unfortunately, the number of casualties may still rise," wrote Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the platform X.
06:55 Ukraine: Russian troops bomb Derhachi with fighter bombs
Russian troops have attacked the city of Derhachi in the Charkiw region. This was announced by the head of the military administration of Derhachi, Vyatscheslav Zadorenko, on Telegram. According to Zadorenko, three people were injured in the attack. It was the most massive attack on Derhachi since 2022, during which four fighter bombs were dropped. Two men aged 68 and 75, and a 71-year-old woman were hospitalized. According to Zadorenko, the shelling damaged several buildings, including at least 25 residential houses, agricultural buildings, a garage cooperative, cars, and a civilian company, and partially destroyed power lines.
06:20 Export of weapons increases again: Germany exports weapons for 7.5 billion Euros
After a record year for arms exports in the previous year, arms export authorizations in the first half of 2024 have increased significantly due to further increasing arms deliveries to Ukraine. From January 1 to June 18, the German government authorized the export of military goods for at least 7.48 billion Euros abroad. This represents an increase of over 30% compared to the entire first half of 2023. Almost two-thirds of the exports (65% or 4.88 billion Euros) were destined for Ukraine. This is evident from the Federal Ministry of Economics' response to a query from Bundestag deputy Sevim Dağdelen of the Left Party (The Left).
05:41 Dead in Vilnjansk: Moscow targeted military objective
After the Russian shelling of the Ukrainian city of Vilnjansk in the Saporischschja region with at least seven fatalities, the Russian Defense Ministry speaks of an attack on a military objective. According to Interfax news agency, a railway station with ballistic Iskander missiles was attacked near Saporischschja. The Russian military leadership claims that a train loaded with military cargo was hit. On photos and videos, it can be seen that residential houses and parked cars in the city center were hit.
04:53 Kiev's Mine Clearance Corps: 30,000 square kilometers have been cleared
Specialists from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry have cleared 30,000 square kilometers of Ukraine of mines in the past two years - an area comparable to the size of Belgium or Moldova. This was reported by the "Kyiv Independent" with reference to Colonel Ruslan Berehulia, head of the department for environmental safety and mine clearance. Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, approximately 174,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian soil have been contaminated with explosives. The Ukraine founded the Mine Clearance Corps in April 2022. Units of the Defense Ministry and the Ukrainian Armed Forces joined in. These units, with 5000 specialists, are currently active in the regions of Mykolajiw, Cherson, and Charkiw.
03:53 IFO Survey: Nearly Half of Personnel Heads Dismiss "Jobturbo" and the Skilled Labor Immigration Law as Unhelpful
According to a survey by the Munich IFO Institute among 627 personnel heads in Germany, nearly half find the "Job-Turbo" and the Skilled Labor Immigration Law unhelpful for their companies. The initiative aims to quickly integrate Ukrainian refugees into the labor market. However, one in four companies report positive effects: Nearly every fourth company states that more skilled workers are available due to the new regulations. In addition, language barriers have been reduced thanks to mandatory language courses before job placement. Eighteen percent of personnel heads praise shorter hiring procedures and simpler recognition of degrees. The interviewees were allowed multiple answers. Nearly half of them find that the bureaucracy in hiring foreign labor is still too high, although 17 percent also observe a bureaucracy reduction.
02:37 Governor: Russian Region Kursk Shelled All Day
According to local governor Alexej Smirnow, Ukraine continued to shell the Russian border region Kursk all day on Saturday. Smirnow posted on Telegram that Ukrainian forces had shelled eight border villages repeatedly. Two people were injured in the process. A video Smirnow posted in his Telegram channel shows a destroyed house and debris. Previously, Smirnow reported the deaths of five people due to a Ukrainian drone attack early on Saturday morning.
01:29 "Putin loves Farage": Activists Mock Farage
The British campaign group Led by Donkeys pranked Reform UK party chief Nigel Farage during a campaign appearance. After Farage recently claimed that the West, not Russian President Vladimir Putin, had provoked the war in Ukraine, the activists dropped a banner with Putin's image behind him. Farage was not pleased, according to the activists.
00:32 Emergency Services Work Through the Rubble in Velyka Nova Hreblivka
Emergency services clear the rubble of a Russian attack on the city of Velyka Nova Hreblivka in the Saporischschja region. After completion of the search and rescue operations, it is determined that seven people were killed, including two children, and 31 people were injured, including eight children. "The fire was extinguished simultaneously at two locations: in a two-story building and near parked cars on a 300 square meter area, as well as in two one-story buildings on a 150 square meter area. The search and rescue operations are completed", the Ukrainian state emergency services report.
21:24 Seehofer: No accommodation for young Ukrainian men
Approximately 1.2 million Ukrainians have found refuge in Germany from the war in their homeland. CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt recently called for the expulsion of Ukrainians who do not work. "The proposal can be misunderstood," says CSU honorary chairman Horst Seehofer to the "Augsburger Allgemeine." Mothers and children from the war-torn land find it difficult to work; be it due to lack of language skills or a lack of kindergarten places. "It belongs to a humane state to offer protection." Young men who evade military service in Germany, however, should not be granted asylum, according to him.
20:51 Man lights grenade in Luzk city center
A resident of the city of Chmelnytskyi lights a grenade in the city center of Luzk and is arrested. There are no injured reported. The Ukrainian Security Service SBU reports this. The motive of the 23-year-old is still unclear.
You can read about all previous developments here.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the possibility of indirect negotiations with Moscow, suggesting using a trilateral agreement model like the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
- Russia is reportedly holding over 14,000 civilians in captivity, according to Ukraine's Human Rights Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets.
- The Ukrainian ground forces reportedly destroyed a Russian Su-25 fighter jet, three Cruise missiles, and 296 drones in the past month, according to Oleksandr Pavliuk.
- Russia disrupted the GPS navigation system for over a quarter of transport and surveillance flights of the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Europe, according to data analysis.
- Ukrainian hackers in collaboration with experts from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry conducted a series of attacks on Russian companies, destroying over 100 Terabytes of data from OrbitSoft.
