20:49 "Eastern flank out of balance": Lithuania plans to allow cluster munitions
Lithuania, facing Russia's attack war against Ukraine, intends to withdraw from the international Convention on Cluster Munitions. The government of the Baltic EU and NATO country approves the corresponding bill proposed by the Defense Ministry. The parliament still needs to agree. Cluster munitions refer to rockets and bombs that burst in the air and scatter numerous sub-munitions. Lithuania's government considers them an effective defense weapon.
Russia and Belarus could use cluster munitions in case of armed conflict, thus gaining a military advantage. "Even if Allies wanted to use this tool on our territory, they couldn't, not even to transport it through Lithuania," says Lithuania's Defense Minister: "This completely disrupts the entire Eastern front and must be addressed." Estonia, Latvia, Finland, and Poland have not signed the agreement, like the USA.
20:12 White House: Russian offensive on Charkiw likely failedThe US government announces another security package for Ukraine, the seventh since the approval of aid in April. It includes rockets, artillery ammunition, additional rocket systems, and other military equipment from US military stocks. More systems are reportedly ordered with the allocated funds. Additionally, the White House Press Secretary commented on the situation in Ukraine. According to her, it is "clearer than ever" that the Russian offensive on Charkiw "has failed."
19:26 Ukraine's 47th Brigade: Russians use massive infantry, "huge cemeteries" of vehiclesThe surroundings of the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region are currently the focus of the frontline action. According to the 47th mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces deployed there, Russian troops are attempting to breach the Ukrainian defense lines: with massive infantry attacks supported by combat drones, explained Brigade spokeswoman Anastasia Blishchyk. "The fact that we have hardly seen armored vehicles on the battlefield for a month is at least unique, as they have run out of these weapons," said Blishchyk. Reconnaissance drones showed "huge cemeteries" of destroyed armored vehicles. Therefore, the Russian side is trying to dominate the combat situation with strong infantry forces. According to the General Staff in Kiev, the Russian military is attempting to increase the combat power in the Pokrowsk region.
18:49 House committee approves armament package with 105 Leopard 2A8 Tanks105 Battle tanks, four Patriot and Lenkflugkörper air defense systems, as well as artillery ammunition: The House committee of the German Parliament brings a more than six billion Euro package for the new equipment of the German military on its way. With the Leopard 2A8 tanks, the future Brigade Litauen should be equipped, and at the same time, significant and long-standing gaps in the German military should be filled, says Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) after the meeting. "The procurement of ammunition will be significantly accelerated and expanded. This provides the German industry with a substantial basis for planning for this decade, the Bundeswehr will have full stocks, and Ukraine will receive urgently needed supplies," share the government party reporters. German production capacities for ammunition will be significantly expanded. The Brigade Litauen is expected to be ready for deployment by 2027.
18:17 Zelensky: We want to know from Trump if US support will end after the electionUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asks Trump for clarity on how he plans to end the war in 24 hours. Zelensky expresses his readiness to meet with Trump and his team and listen to their proposals in an interview with "Bloomberg TV." "We want to know if we will have the powerful support of the USA in November (after the US elections) or if we will be alone," says Zelensky. Trump has repeatedly claimed that he can end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours. He never provided details. "If Trump knows how to end this war, he should tell us today," says Zelensky. "Should there be risks for Ukraine's independence, should we lose our sovereignty - we want to be prepared, we want to know that."
17:39 ROSATOM Chief complains about Ukrainian attacks on nuclear power plant substationIn a drone attack on a substation at the southern Ukrainian Enerhodar, eight employees of the nearby Saporischschja Nuclear Power Plant were reportedly injured, according to Russian statements. The men were engaged in repair work to restore power supply, says the head of the Russian Atomic Energy Agency, Alexei Likhachev. This not only compromises the safety principle of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), "it is a flagrant violation," complains Likhachev. The substation is part of the infrastructure of the nuclear power plant and supplies the city with power. There were reportedly three drone attacks within an hour. He demands a reaction from the IAEA regarding the attack. Russia took control of Europe's largest nuclear power plant shortly after the start of its military campaign and has held it since then. The nuclear power plant is located on the southern bank of the Dnipro, the northern bank of which is controlled by Ukraine.
17:14 Video: Russian National Guards shoot at conscriptsIn the Russian city of Osinniki, conscripts are dancing on the roof of the draft board. The National Guards cannot stand this and attack the apparently drunk-looking men. Then shots are heard, a woman falls to the ground. It is unclear whether she was hit by a quoits or a bullet.
16:39 Russian Army makes Tschassiw Jar quarter "level with the ground"According to Russian reports, the Russian Army is taking control of a district in the strategically important city of Tschassiw Jar in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donezk. The troops have reportedly "liberated" the neighborhood of Nowi, the Russian Defense Ministry announced. It is unclear if the Russian soldiers managed to overcome a canal in the east of the small town that serves as a natural defense line for the Ukrainian Army.
The military-affiliated news channel "DeepState" reports that the neighborhood has been "completely leveled." Further resistance would have resulted in heavy losses, it adds. The retreat from the neighborhood is therefore a "logical, if difficult decision," it further states. Tschassiw Jar is about ten kilometers from Bachmut, which was captured by the Russian troops in May 2023 after long battles. A breakthrough could give the Russian Army easier access to important mining towns in the Donbass region, such as Kramatorsk, which are still controlled by Ukraine.
16:04 Russian Intelligence: French "Agent" Vinatier confessesAccording to Russian intelligence, the Frenchman Laurent Vinatier, who is being held in Russia, has confessed to gathering information on the Russian military. The employee of a Swiss non-governmental organization, Vinatier, has reportedly admitted to his guilt "in full," the Russian domestic intelligence service FSB reported. Vinatier allegedly established numerous contacts with military experts, scientists, and officials during his visits to Moscow. Through these contacts, the Frenchman reportedly collected "military and military-technical information that could be used against the security of the Russian Federation." Vinatier works for the Swiss non-governmental organization Zentrum für Humanitären Dialog (HD) and was arrested in Moscow on June 6. He is accused of failing to register as a "foreign agent."
15:34 Video: Russians report massive Ukrainian drone attackAccording to Russian reports, Ukraine is attacking Noworossijsk massively from the air and water. The Russian Defense Ministry reports the downing of twelve objects. Sniper fire and explosions illuminate the night sky over the Black Sea port city on the shores of the Caucasus Mountains.
15:02 Poll: Ukrainians see Germany as conditionally reliable, fear US secret negotiations with MoscowAccording to a survey conducted after nearly two and a half years of war, almost half of the Ukrainians in a poll conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations think that the USA could negotiate a peace plan with Russia behind Ukraine's back. 47% expressed this concern, while 49% had little or no concern. The perception of the allied partners in the defense war against Russia varies depending on the country. 84% see Great Britain as reliable or conditionally reliable, the highest percentage. 76% felt the same way about Germany, but only 19% considered the support of Berlin to be very reliable.
14:23 Scholz: Germany will not be a war party in the future
During the government questioning in the Bundestag, the topic of Ukraine also came up. When the Left's parliamentarian Gesine Lötzsch asks if Chancellor Olaf Scholz would give people "the guarantee" that Germany would not be a war party, Scholz replied: "Yes, I give this guarantee. I stand for that as Chancellor." As for when a ceasefire could be achieved, Lötzsch asked further. "In my opinion, a ceasefire that aims for Ukraine's capitulation is one that we cannot support from Germany," answered Scholz. This is not an abstract question, as one can see from Putin's "strange peace offering," he said. Putin has stated that he is ready for a ceasefire "if Ukraine also gives further annexations, essentially for free," Scholz added. This shows "how cynically they think and that the Russian president does not at all intend to end his aggressive war." Putin speaks only of peace negotiations to continue the war. "We will not tolerate that," Scholz assured.
13:55 International Criminal Court investigates torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians in detention facilities in the formerly occupied territories and in Russia, according to the Ukrainian agency "Ukrinform." The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office is working with the ICC on this matter. Ukrainian photographers Kostiantyn and Vlada Librov show on Instagram photos of Ukrainian soldiers who had fallen into Russian captivity and have since been released. "This was the most difficult shooting of the last six months," the photographers write later.
13:19 Russian postal workers to replace doctors in rural areas
Due to a lack of medical personnel in rural areas, postal workers in some regions of Russia are now taking on medical tasks. This was reported by the "Moscow Times" on Telegram. In rural post offices, health and midwife stations are being set up. The postal workers are to diagnose and perform various medical procedures. Russian publicist Alexander Nevzorov called this practice a return to the Middle Ages, according to the "Kyiv Post."
12:58 NATO countries: No agreement on multi-year Ukraine aid
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg failed to convince NATO countries to make multi-year commitments for military aid to Ukraine. The 32 allies could only agree in the run-up to the summit in Washington on providing support in the amount of at least 40 billion euros within the next year. This was reported by the German Press Agency and refers to statements from several delegations.
12:24 Ukraine: 5 dead after attack on Dnipro
According to Ukrainian reports, the number of casualties from the Russian attack on Dnipro has risen to at least 5, with at least 39 people injured, including a 14-year-old girl. The attack reportedly took place with rockets and drones, causing several explosions and fires in the city. Reports indicate that a shopping mall and a weapons factory were hit.
11:31 Ukraine receives additional two billion euros from the IWFThe financially stricken Ukraine has received an additional tranche of over two billion Euros from the International Monetary Fund (IWF). The money is part of an ongoing credit program worth around 15 billion Euros. The money will be used by the government according to Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal, primarily for social aid and salaries of civil servants, including doctors and teachers. Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has reportedly received over 80 billion Euros in financial aid from foreign partners in the form of household budget support.
11:01 Military base in Russian Kursk on fireVideos from the Russian city of Kursk show a large smoke cloud over the city. An Ukrainian attack is reported to have set several vehicles on fire on a military base in the city. The regional governor has confirmed a fire in the city center.
10:40 Multiple civilians killed in Russian attacks in UkraineRussian troops reportedly shot at the village of Borova in the Charkiw region overnight. The Military Administration of Charkiw reports on Telegram that one man was killed and two others were injured. In a Russian rocket and drone attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, at least three people were reportedly killed and 18 others injured.
10:19 Kremlin: No talks with Trump over UkraineRussia is not in dialogue with former US President Donald Trump over Ukraine, according to the Kremlin. The news agency Interfax reports this based on a spokesperson for the Russian Presidium. Trump had stated during a TV duel with President Joe Biden last week that if he won the November election, he would resolve the war in Ukraine before his inauguration in January.
09:46 Ukraine lacks hangars to protect fighter jetsAccording to a report in the Ukrainian "Defense Express," the Ukrainian army does not have enough hangars to protect all its fighter jets from Russian attacks. The newspaper reports that a military airbase in the Poltava region does not have sufficient large hangar spaces for Su-27 fighter jets. Russian media has released footage of a recent air raid on the airfield, showing several Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets damaged in the open. The Ukraine lacks hangars to protect all its fighter jets.
09:16 Defense Committee approves purchase of 105 Leopard 2A8 tanksThe Defense Committee of the German Bundestag is expected to approve the purchase of 105 Leopard 2A8 battle tanks today. "We are exhausting all options," writes the new committee chairman Marcus Faber on the platform "X." "We are fully equipping the Brigade Litauen with battle tanks, replacing older Leo2 in the army, and creating room for further commitments to Ukraine," adds the FDP politician. According to the proposal, the order has a volume of approximately three billion Euros. The defense company KNDS is expected to deliver the tanks to the Bundeswehr by 2030.
08:44 Russia: Ukrainian attack on Black Sea port repelled
According to Russian reports, two unmanned Ukrainian explosive boats attacked the Black Sea port of Novorossijsk but were repelled. The drone boats were destroyed in the Black Sea, the Defense Ministry reported. Novorossijsk is home to a large port of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Russia has stationed many of its warships used in the conflict with Ukraine there after Ukraine attacked the ports on the Crimean peninsula. The ministry did not comment on possible damages. The authorities in Novorossijsk urged people to stay in their homes and apartments during the night.
08:21 Most Ukrainians feel unity in society
Forty-four percent of Ukrainians believe that Ukrainian society is united at present, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on July 2. A smaller proportion, 15 percent, consider Ukrainian society to be split. Corruption is cited as the main problem, followed by language issues. Unfairness during the war, collaboration, and pro-Russian sentiment are also seen as factors contributing to division within society.
07:55 Kremlin: Ten Ukrainian attack drones destroyed
Russia reportedly shot down ten Ukrainian attack drones over Russian territory. Five drones were destroyed over the Belgorod border region, four over the Brjansk border region, and one over the Moscow region, according to the Defense Ministry on Telegram. Two Ukrainian reconnaissance drones were also destroyed, which had been heading towards the Noworossijsk port in the Krasnodar region.
07:20 Ukrainian General Staff: almost 1200 Russian losses yesterday
The Ukrainian General Staff reported 1,180 losses on the Russian side in the past 24 hours. Additionally, 16 tanks, 17 armored vehicles, 57 artillery systems, and 63 tank and other vehicles were destroyed. Two Russian air defense systems were reportedly destroyed by the Ukrainians, along with a missile. The number of dead or wounded Russian soldiers since the full-scale invasion exceeded 546,000, according to the General Staff.
06:48 Putin arrives at SOZ summit in Kazakhstan
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Kazakhstan, according to Kremlin reports. He is participating in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SOZ) partners in the capital Astana. The two-day meeting will focus on regional security, defense, and cooperation issues. The heads of state and government of the SOZ member states will discuss "the current situation and prospects for deepening multifaceted cooperation," according to Moscow. Putin plans to hold bilateral talks, including with China and Turkey. The summit is attended by representatives from 16 countries - including India, Iran, and Pakistan. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to attend.
06:11 Ukraine continues to reject territorial concessions to Putin
According to the words of Andrij Yermak, the chief of staff of the Ukrainian president, Ukraine continues to categorically reject territorial concessions to Russia to end the war. "We are not willing to make compromises on important things and values," Yermak said to journalists and named "independence, freedom, democracy, territorial integrity, sovereignty." In response to statements from Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump, who claimed he could quickly end the conflict, the government in Kiev is open to advice to achieve a "just peace." Trump stated during a television debate that he would not accept Putin's conditions. Putin had declared that Russia would end the war if Kiev was willing to surrender the territories claimed and occupied by Moscow in the east and south of the country. In response to a question about how Ukraine views Trump's handling of the war, Yermak replied: "Honestly speaking: I don't know. We'll see."
05:42 USA to provide new military aid for Ukraine
The Ukrainian military is in urgent need of supplies. The USA will make additional military aid to Ukraine available in the near future in the amount of around 2.3 billion US dollars (around 2.14 billion Euro). This was announced by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a visit by his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umjerow in Washington. The package approved by US President Joe Biden includes "additional air defense missiles, anti-tank weapons, and other important ammunition from US stocks," Austin explained. A "realignment of some foreign military deliveries" will also enable the USA to make munition for Patriot and other air defense systems "available in a quicker timeframe."
04:49 NATO expanding presence in Kiev
The NATO is expanding its civilian presence in the attacked Ukraine. A spokesperson confirmed that the 32 alliance members have decided to send special representatives to the capital Kiev. The high-ranking official is to coordinate political and practical support from the alliance on site. The background is that the NATO intends to give the starting signal for a new deployment at the upcoming summit in Washington for the coordination of weapons deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian armed forces. The headquarters for this should be built in Wiesbaden. Who will receive the new NATO position in Kiev is still not known.
03:42 UN call for Gershkovich's release
Experts from the United Nations are calling for the immediate release of US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who is in Russian custody on espionage charges. "The deprivation of Evan Gershkovich's freedom is arbitrary" and violates several articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the experts wrote in a statement. Taking into account the circumstances of the case, the "immediate" release of Gershkovich is appropriate.
02:40 Serbian President Vucic receives Russian deputy foreign ministerThe Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received the Russian deputy foreign minister Alexander Gruschko in Belgrade. He spoke with Gruschko about the bilateral relations between Serbia and Russia and assessed them as "very good", Vucic stated on Instagram. He also thanked Russia "for its support of Serbia's territorial integrity, as well as in relation to the UN Resolution on Srebrenica". Moscow still refuses to recognize Kosovo's independence. Serbia has been an EU membership candidate since 2012 but continues to maintain good relations with the Kreml despite the Russian annexation of Crimea.
01:29 Russian court sentences 19-year-old to twelve yearsA Russian court sentenced a 19-year-old man to twelve years in prison for "treason," after he was accused of donating money to the Ukrainian army. "The Rostov Regional Court found him guilty and sentenced him to a twelve-year term in a penal colony," says a comment from the Russian domestic intelligence service FSB, which was picked up by the state-controlled Kremlin media. The teenager is alleged to have sent money to help the Ukrainian army buy food and drones. Thousands of Russians have been arrested and many of them have been imprisoned since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. According to Amnesty International, at least 21,000 people were the target of repressions against war opponents in 2023.
00:20 One quarter of US citizens find US aid to Ukraine insufficientAlmost a quarter of Americans believe that the United States is not providing enough military aid to Ukraine. This percentage has risen since November last year, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center. According to the survey, 24 percent of respondents believe that the United States is not providing enough aid to Ukraine, compared to 18 percent in November 2023, when the survey was last conducted. However, more Americans (31 percent) believe that the United States is providing too much aid, and 25 percent believe that the US aid is sufficient.
22:53 Lithuania reports airspace violation by Russian aircraftLithuania reports a violation of its airspace by a Russian aircraft. The unspecified aircraft of the Russian airline Pobeda entered the airspace of the Baltic EU and NATO member illegally in the evening of June 30 and stayed there for approximately one minute, according to the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry in Vilnius. The representative of the Russian embassy was summoned and the Russian authorities were requested to take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The airspace violation occurred over the Baltic Sea, as the aircraft was on its way from Moscow to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad bordering Lithuania. The EU closed its airspace to Russian aircraft as a reaction to Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
22:12 Survey in Member States: High Trust in NATO, Low Trust in Zelenskyy
Coming Week, NATO Celebrates Its 75-Year Anniversary. In member states, the transatlantic defense alliance is generally well regarded, according to a Pew Research survey. On average in 13 countries, 63 percent of the population holds a positive view, 33 percent a negative. Germany stands out with 64 percent positive sentiment, just above the average. Poland's assessment of the alliance is exceptional: 91 percent hold a positive image. The trust in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy averages 40 percent and has decreased in member states over the past year. Poland is also notable, where the head of state has lost 22 percentage points - from 70 to 48 percent. In Germany, trust has declined by 7 percentage points to 54 percent.
21:27 Zelenskyy Rejects Orban's Peace Proposal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected a peace proposal from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for peace talks, according to a spokesperson from the Presidential Administration. During his first visit to Kiev since the conflict began, Orbán suggested a quick ceasefire that could "accelerate peace negotiations with Moscow," he said. "The president listened to him, but as a response, he clarified Ukraine's stance and rejected the proposal," the spokesperson said. Previously, Kiev had already rejected ceasefires, citing the risk that Russian forces could regroup during this time.
21:02 Ukraine: Moscow Recruits Minors
Russia is actively recruiting minors for the war in Ukraine, Ukraine claims. The recruitment contracts are reportedly signed with minors, taking effect upon their reaching adulthood. "They hope to recruit tens of thousands of teenagers with propaganda," says the Ukrainian agency "National Resistance Center": "We warn that any enemy on our territory will be eliminated." Russia also employs minors on occupied Ukrainian territory, for instance, to manufacture drones.
You can read about earlier developments here.
- Lithuania, concerned about Russia's conflict with Ukraine, plans to withdraw from the international Convention on Cluster Munitions, citing the potential use of these weapons by Russia and Belarus in future conflicts.
- In a political repercussion of the Ukraine conflict, the US government announced another security package for Ukraine, including rockets, artillery ammunition, and other military equipment, in response to the Russian offensive on Charkiw.
- Volodymyr Selensky, the President of Ukraine, requested clarity from US President Trump about potential changes in US support after the election, expressing concerns about being left alone in the conflict if US support were to end.
- Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have "liberated" the neighborhood of Nowi in Tschassiw Jar, contributing to military operations in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donezk, which has been a focus of the conflict for months.
- In response to a drone attack on a substation at the Saporischschja Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, Alexei Likhachev, the head of the Russian Atomic Energy Agency, criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency for failing to address the violation of safety principles, raising concerns about the potential escalation of the cyberwar aspect of the Ukraine conflict.
