20:51 Rating agency sees rising seizure risk for Western banks in Russia
19:59 Western banks still operating in Russia should prepare for potential seizure of assets, says rating agency Scope. The risk of this happening is increasing, the Berlin-based credit watchers warn. Business transactions that cannot be completed due to international sanctions expose banks to a higher risk of such court rulings. Recently, a Russian court awarded a Russian company damages in the form of assets belonging to Commerzbank. Assets of Deutsche Bank and Italian UniCredit have also been targeted by Russian courts. Russia is now increasingly responding to Western sanctions, imposed due to its invasion of Ukraine, with countermeasures. Many companies operating there have already had their assets seized or frozen. Companies wishing to withdraw from Russia may have to sell their businesses at significant discounts to Russian firms. The European Central Bank (ECB) has been putting pressure on banks still operating in Russia to scale back their activities there for some time. It has, among other things, urged institutions with significant exposure to Russia to accelerate risk reduction and demanded clear plans for shrinking their businesses in Russia and exiting the Russian market.
20:29 Zelensky: We adhere to humanitarian lawUkrainian troops are strictly adhering to international conventions and humanitarian law as they advance into the Russian region of Kursk, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. This was discussed during a meeting of the Ukrainian leadership, Zelensky reported on Twitter. Humanitarian aid has been prepared for the civilian population in the occupied territories, and access will be granted to representatives of international organizations. The emphasis on adhering to humanitarian law is a response to atrocities committed by Russian troops during their advance on Kyiv nearly two and a half years ago, when numerous civilians were killed indiscriminately in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha before Russian forces had to retreat from the area. During the government meeting, it was decided to allow international organizations access to the occupied territories in western Russia, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations, and other international humanitarian organizations.**
20:05 Convicted in Nemtsov murder case volunteers for service in Russia's warOne of the convicted individuals in the case of murdered Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov has reportedly volunteered for service in the war zone in Ukraine, according to official statements. The exile-based, Kremlin-critical newspaper "Novaya Gazeta" reports that the convicted individual is currently stationed in the Russian-occupied city of Mariupol. He is currently said to be on leave in his home region of Chechnya in the North Caucasus. After signing up for service, he was pardoned and released in March, the state-run Russian news agency TASS reported, citing the Russian justice system. He reportedly signed a one-year contract with the Ministry of Defense to perform tasks in the area of the military special operation - the official term for the war in Russia.
19:50 Zelensky: Strategic Goals Achieved in Kursk - Moscow DisagreesAccording to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine has achieved its strategic goals in its push into the Russian region of Kursk. In his nightly address on Telegram, Zelensky reports good progress. Meanwhile, the Russian military states that its units, supported by the air force, drones, and artillery, have thwarted attempts by mobile enemy groups to advance deep into Russian territory with armored vehicles. The army's statement further claims that heavy losses have been inflicted on the Ukrainian side.
19:30 Freed Russian Activist Plans Wedding in Germany After Prisoner ExchangeSasha Skochilenko, arrested in Russia in 2022 for distributing anti-war messages, is sentenced to seven years in prison. However, the activist is released to Germany as part of a prisoner exchange, where she can openly live with her partner Sonya Subbotina.
18:55 Possible Sabotage Against German Armed Forces: Russia Suspected by Greens Politician NotzThe German Armed Forces cordon off and search two of their sites in North Rhine-Westphalia due to sabotage suspicions. At the Cologne-Wahn air base, there are suspicions of manipulations to the internal drinking water system, the Armed Forces announce. At the Geilenkirchen base, an intruder is reportedly repelled, but subsequent water tests show nothing unusual. The chairman of the Bundestag's Defense Committee, Marcus Faber, suspects Russia (see entry at 18:24). Similarly, the chairman of the Bundestag's Parliamentary Control Committee, Konstantin von Notz, tells Welt TV, "Of course, the suspicion arises that this could be a Russian sabotage action." This is a "concrete working hypothesis" for the investigations, says the Green politician.
18:24 Possible Sabotage at German Armed Forces: Defense Committee Chairman Suspects RussiaFollowing the suspected sabotage incidents in two German Armed Forces barracks, the chairman of the Bundestag's Defense Committee, Marcus Faber, points the finger at Russia. "Given the temporal proximity of the incidents in the two barracks, one can suspect that an enemy actor wants to demonstrate their sabotage capabilities here," Faber tells the Bild newspaper. "The actor who has the greatest interest in this is Putin," he adds, referring to the Russian president. However, further investigations must determine if this suspicion is confirmed, Faber says. Both the Cologne-Wahn Armed Forces site and the NATO base in Geilenkirchen were targets of suspected sabotage activities.
18:00 Arms Fair: Russia Seeks New Partners from Over 120 CountriesRows upon rows of tanks, fighter jets, and firearms are on display in the Moscow region: At an international arms fair, the Ministry of Defense is signing new arms deals with foreign partners, reportedly worth around five billion euros.
17:40 Poland Charges Freed Man with Espionage After Prisoner SwapA Russian-Spanish dual national, known as Pablo G., has been charged with espionage in Poland. He was arrested in the Polish city of Przemysl near the Ukrainian border on February 28, 2022, just days after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Posing as a freelance journalist from Spain, he wrote reports for Spanish media. He was held in Poland until he was part of a prisoner swap with Russia on August 1. According to prosecutors, R. is suspected of being a GRU agent. He is accused of committing a crime related to espionage, punishable by three to 15 years in prison. It's unclear whether the trial will take place in his absence. No further details were provided by authorities.
17:27 Report: Over 10,000 Cases Opened for 'Insulting' Russian ArmySince the start of the Ukraine war in February 2022, Russian justice has opened over 10,000 cases for 'insulting' the army, according to media reports. "The ten-thousandth case was filed in court in the first week of August," writes independent Russian news portal Mediazona on its website. Most cases were reported in the first months of the war, with 5,614 cases by the end of 2022 and an additional 2,999 in 2023, making a total of 8,590 by the end of last year. So far this year, 1,410 cases have been opened. Mediazona counted these cases based on Russian court data. The basis for these cases is a law that imposes fines of up to 50,000 rubles (around 500 euros) for 'insulting' the armed forces. A second offense within a year can result in a five-year prison sentence. If the 'insult' leads to injuries, deaths, or significant disruption of public order, prison sentences of up to seven years may be imposed.
17:08 Kyiv Reports Downing of Russian Su-34 Fighter-Bomber in Kursk RegionUkrainian troops have destroyed a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber in the Kursk region, according to Ukrainian online newspaper "Ukrainska Pravda," citing a statement from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "Last night, the forces and means of the air defense missile troops of the Ukrainian Air Force in the Kursk region (Russia) destroyed a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber during a combat mission," the Ukrainian online newspaper quoted the explanation.
16:50 Kyiv to Create "Buffer Zone" in Kursk RegionThe Ukrainian army aims to establish a "buffer zone" in the Russian border region of Kursk to protect its population, according to its own statements. "Establishing a buffer zone in the Kursk region is a step to protect our population at the border from daily enemy fire," Interior Minister Ihor Klimenko said on the Telegram messaging service. Kyiv also announced plans to create a humanitarian corridor in the region. "Our forces are preparing to open a humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of civilians, both towards Russia and towards Ukraine," Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk also said on Telegram.
16:30 Authority, Corruption, Propaganda: Does the Kursk Offensive Threaten Putin's Power Structure?Internationally, politicians are surprised by Ukraine's advance into the Kursk region. Russia also seems caught off guard, with the Kremlin seemingly having no response ready. Does this mean a crack in Vladimir Putin's power structure?
15:59 Report: Ukraine Launches 'Largest Attack' on Russian Air Bases Since Start of WarLong-range drones of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Ukrainian defense forces launched the largest attack on Russian military air bases in Voronezh, Kursk, Novoselytsia, and Borisoglebsk overnight, Ukraine's national news agency "Ukrinform" reported, citing a source at the SBU. The attack was reportedly planned and was the largest since the start of the war. Its aim was to prevent Russia from using the air bases for guided bomb attacks on the front line and Ukrainian cities, the report said.
15:36 German Government: Ukraine Support Independent of Nord StreamThe preliminary findings of the investigation into the attack on the Nord Stream gas pipelines do not change Germany's support for Ukraine, said Wolfgang Büchner, deputy government spokesman, in Berlin. He stressed that the investigations are being conducted "according to law and without bias, regardless of the outcome." The investigations will not influence whether and to what extent Germany will continue to support Ukraine in the future, as they do not change the fact that "Russia is waging a war of aggression against Ukraine in violation of international law," he added. The clarification of the sabotage act is a top priority for the federal government, Büchner said. He declined to evaluate whether Polish authorities are cooperating sufficiently.
15:10 Kursk Offensive Progresses: "Advance Brings Ukraine No Closer to Peace"Ukraine's offensive on the Kursk region surprises Putin and his country. Thousands are being evacuated, and Russia seems not to have found the right military response yet. Security expert Gerhard Mangott sees no war-winning advantage for Ukraine - quite the opposite.
14:50 Russia Extends Oil Export Ban
Russia has extended its existing oil export ban. The move is aimed at stabilizing domestic fuel prices, which have recently risen sharply, according to the Moscow government. The ban will be in effect from September 1 until the end of the year. It is described as a response to "a period of sustained seasonal demand and planned repairs in oil refineries." Russia first implemented such a measure in the fall of 2023 in response to rising fuel prices. The ban was then lifted in November. At the beginning of the year, Moscow announced a six-month oil export ban starting March 1, which was later suspended between mid-May and late July, citing "saturation of the domestic market." The ban is now back in effect and is being extended beyond August.
14:19 Drones Accompany Ground Offensive: Ukrainians Film Themselves Far Behind Russian Border
The Ukrainian ground offensive on Russian territory has so far been a major success for Ukraine. Ukrainian soldiers have filmed themselves renaming a Russian village 100 kilometers behind the border. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy uses this development to deliver a confident message.
13:52 Ukraine: Russian Town of Sudja Fully Under Ukrainian Control
The town of Sudja in the Russian region of Kursk is fully under Ukrainian control, according to Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. "The search and destruction of the enemy in the town of Sudja is complete," he says in a video conference with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Footage is published on the president's Telegram channel. Sudja is where the pipeline runs that Russia uses to supply gas from West Siberia to Slovakia and other EU countries. Sudja has around 6,000 inhabitants.
13:31 Russian National Guard Reinforces Security at Kursk Nuclear Power Plant
The Russian National Guard, Rosgvardiya, is reinforcing security at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in the Kursk Oblast. Special attention is being paid to defending against Ukrainian drones, it said. The Ukrainian military entered the border-adjacent Oblast on August 6 and claims to have brought more than 1,000 square kilometers under its control. This cannot be independently verified. The NPP is located about 30 kilometers west of the city of Kursk and is operated by state corporation Rosenergoatom.
13:06 Zelenskyy: Ukrainian Troops Continuously Advancing in Russian Oblast Kursk
Ukrainian troops are continuously advancing in the Russian Oblast of Kursk, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. They have advanced one to two kilometers in various directions within 24 hours, the Ukrainian head of state says in a video conference with military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. The latter reports that Ukrainian units captured 100 Russian soldiers on Wednesday.
12:43 Kriewald: Ukraine "Under Pressure in Region of Donetsk"
Ukraine is maintaining pressure on the Russian Oblast of Kursk, but while it is seeing military successes there, Russian forces are advancing in the eastern Ukrainian combat zone of Donetsk. ntv reporter Nadja Kriewald reports on the current situation in the Ukraine war from Kyiv.
12:12 Ukrainian Soldiers Remove Russian Flag from Building in SudjaState Ukrainian television shows footage of Ukrainian soldiers removing a Russian flag from a public building in Sudja. In the video taken on Wednesday, a three-story building and three soldiers can be seen pulling down the flag while shouting: "Glory to Ukraine!" Sudja is located in the Russian oblast of Kursk, which borders Ukraine. In recent days, the Ukrainian military has reportedly advanced, but it was unclear which side controlled Sudja. The city is where the pipeline runs that Russia uses to supply gas from Western Siberia to Slovakia and other EU countries.
11:45 Russia Puts Peace Talks on HoldRussia has put peace talks on hold following the Ukrainian attack on the Kursk Oblast, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Special envoy Rodion Miroschnik told the state-run TASS news agency that Ukraine's attack on Kursk has effectively put any potential peace talks "on ice for the long term." Ukrainian forces surprised the Russian border region on August 6, claiming to have taken control of over 1000 square kilometers.
11:09 Why Belarus is Sending Tanks to the Front in RussiaBelarus is reportedly moving military equipment to the Russian region of Kursk, raising questions about whether the country is entering the Ukraine war. However, ntv Russia correspondent Rainer Munz believes that Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko's actions are intended to do the opposite.
10:46 Russia Attacks Energy Facilities in UkraineRussian forces have attacked energy facilities in northern and southern Ukraine, according to Ukrenergo, the Ukrainian power grid operator. On Wednesday morning, a facility in the south was shelled, Ukrenergo said on Telegram. Russian drones also targeted a facility in the north overnight, causing temporary power outages for consumers in parts of the Chernihiv region.
10:03 Chief of Staff Jermak Meets with US Diplomat O'BrianAndriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, met with high-ranking US diplomat James O'Brian. The two discussed the situation on the battlefield and security agreements, according to the Ukrainian presidential administration. O'Brian serves as the US State Department's special envoy for European and Eurasian affairs.
09:17 Expert: Chernobyl-like Scenario Possible at Kursk NPPA Chernobyl-like scenario at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) cannot be completely ruled out, according to Dmytro Humeniuk, an expert on nuclear safety analysis at the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety. The KNPP has the same reactor type as the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, increasing the likelihood of a similar scenario, he explained. Humeniuk believes that taking control of the KNPP is not the goal of the Ukrainian military's incursion, as operating the plant without proper maintenance could lead to damage. "It's not enough to capture it, it must also be operated. Therefore, capturing the Kursk NPP cannot be a goal."
08:48 Biden: Kursk Offensive is a "real dilemma" for PutinUS President Joe Biden sees the Ukrainian offensive in the Russian region of Kursk as a "real dilemma" for Russian President Vladimir Putin. The US is in constant exchange with Ukraine, but he does not want to say more about the advance.
08:19 Russia reports downing of 117 drones and four missilesThe Russian Ministry of Defense reports the downing of 117 drones and four missiles fired from Ukraine towards Russian regions. 37 drones were destroyed over the regions of Kursk and Voronezh each. The ministry does not provide information on whether any drones were not intercepted and what damage may have occurred.
07:32 Problem-solver Djumin: Putin sends his lifesaver to KurskAlexei Gennadyevich Djumin is set to lead Russia's "anti-terror operation" in Kursk, according to the Moscow Times, citing Russian military bloggers. President Putin has tasked Djumin with resolving coordination issues in the region. Last week, there were conflicting statements about the situation in Kursk. General Gerasimov had presented the situation more positively in a meeting than it actually was, the report says. This led Putin to take action. The need to bring in Djumin underscores "the scale of the disaster in inter-agency cooperation," the report says. The former chief of the security staff belongs to Putin's inner circle and is known as a problem-solver capable of handling coordination, combat, and civilian administration issues. Djumin himself claims to have once saved Putin from a bear.
06:59 Zelensky: Advance in Kursk brings us closer to our goalUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sees his country's military forces gaining momentum in light of the advance in the Russian region. "Ukraine can achieve its goals, defend its interests, and protect its independence," Zelensky says in a video message. The Ukrainian army has taken 74 settlements in the Kursk region - twice as many as claimed by the Russian side. Neither claim is verifiable.
06:30 "Upon urgent request" - Belarus sends military equipment to KurskBelarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko orders the delivery of Belarusian military equipment to Russian forces for support in the Kursk region. Belarusian news agency Belnovosti reports that the latest delivery is in response to an "urgent request from the Russian side" due to losses and lack of equipment in the Kursk region and other areas, according to an unnamed source in the country's defense ministry.
05:57 Governor of Belgorod declares state of emergencyThe governor of the Russian city of Belgorod declares a state of emergency. He reports daily shelling by Ukrainian forces that destroys houses and kills and injures civilians. "The situation in our Belgorod region remains extremely difficult and tense due to shelling by Ukrainian forces," Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov writes on Telegram, adding that a state of emergency will be declared on a regional level from Wednesday. He calls on Russia to declare a state of emergency for the region.
05:34 Russian Governors Report Air StrikesThe governors of the Russian regions of Kursk, Lipetsk, and Voronezh report drone and missile attacks on their areas. Russian Telegram channels report a fire in Voronezh, allegedly caused by a drone attack on a military airport, though official confirmation is yet to be provided. In Kursk, Governor Alexei Smirnov claims that the air defense shot down four missiles. An air alert was also sounded in Lipetsk.
04:08 EU Commission Transfers 4.2 Billion Euros to UkraineThe EU Commission has paid around 4.2 billion euros to Ukraine, which is under attack from Russia. The money is "to keep the Ukrainian state running while it fights for its survival," according to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on X. Europe stands firmly with Ukraine. These funds are part of the so-called Ukraine Facility, a EU aid program decided in early February that enables financial assistance of 50 billion euros until the end of 2027, with 33 billion euros as loans and the rest as grants. Last week, EU countries gave the green light for the payment. With this financial aid, the EU aims to support the Ukrainian state in rebuilding the country, modernizing it, and implementing important reforms for EU accession.
03:40 Kremlin Advises Russian Scientists Not to Publish with Foreign PublishersThe Russian Ministry of Education and Science has advised scientists not to submit articles to the Dutch publisher Elsevier, which specializes in publishing scientific and medical research, or other "similar foreign organizations," according to the state news agency Iswestija. In March 2022, Elsevier and other scientific publishers announced that Russian and Belarusian researchers could still submit articles for publication, but sales of their journals to Russian organizations would be suspended due to the invasion of Ukraine. One of Russia's leading universities, the University of the Friendship of the Peoples, had already banned its employees from publishing in Elsevier research journals. The vice-rector for strategic communication, Elena Apasova, claimed that Elsevier had "transferred the fees paid by authors for the publication of articles to support Ukraine." In late January, Novaya Gazeta Europe estimated that at least 2,500 Russian scientists had left the country since the start of the invasion, as it had become much harder for many researchers to participate in international projects and publish in scientific journals.
02:51 US Representative: Ukraine Aims to Force Russia to Withdraw TroopsA high-ranking US government official told Reuters that the Ukrainian advance into the Russian region of Kursk might be an attempt to force Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine. By pushing into Russian territory, Ukraine is forcing Russia to defend its own land, which could weaken Russian forces within Ukraine, according to the Washington assessment.
01:24 USA: Not involved in Ukrainian advance into RussiaThe U.S. State Department has stated that the U.S. is in no way involved in the planning or preparation of the advance of Ukrainian troops into Russian territory. This was stated by the deputy spokesperson of the U.S. State Department, Vedant Patel, in a press briefing. The U.S. is a key ally of Ukraine and has been providing the country, which was invaded by Russia in February 2022, with weapons and ammunition.
00:18 Russia sanctions: Customs searches two companies in BerlinIn Berlin, customs officers raided two companies suspected of violating EU Russia sanctions. Around 100 officers from the Central Office for Customs Enforcement searched a building complex at the request of the competent regional court, the General Customs Directorate in the capital announced. Both companies are subject to the EU's sanctions regime, freezing the assets of listed natural or legal persons. "There is a suspicion of violations of the law on the enforcement of economic sanctions," the customs office explained. The search was aimed at "securing and searching for assets in the district of Tempelhof-Schöneberg." Interrogations were also conducted and evidence was seized. According to media reports, the searched companies are two unnamed Russian logistics companies.
23:59 Fitch downgrades Ukraine credit rating furtherRating agency Fitch has downgraded Ukraine's creditworthiness to "RD" from the previous "C". The U.S. credit rating agency justified the move with the expiration of a payment deadline for interest on a $750 million bond with a maturity date in 2026. The payment was due on August 1. "RD" in Fitch's rating system stands for "Restricted Default", roughly translated as "restricted default". No statement from the government in Kyiv has been issued so far.
23:08 Russia reports two deaths from Ukrainian shelling in LysychanskAccording to Russian reports, two people have been killed in the Ukrainian city of Lysychansk in eastern Ukraine due to Ukrainian shelling. The state-run Russian news agency TASS reported this, citing authorities in the city, which is under Russian control. Earlier, representatives installed by Russia had spoken of more than 30 injured.
22:11 Russia reportedly moving fleeing civilians from Kursk to occupied UkraineAfter Ukraine's advance into the Russian region of Kursk, local authorities want to move refugees to a Russian-occupied area in Ukraine. The acting governor of Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, announced this on Telegram, saying he had discussed this solution with the governor of the Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia, Yevgeny Balitsky. Balitsky had suggested using sanatoriums and pension facilities on the Sea of Azov for the accommodation of evacuees. "In the coming days, we will form the first transport to move people to the temporary shelters in the Zaporizhzhia region." Russia annexed the Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia in the autumn of 2022 and had already installed the pro-Moscow Balitsky as its governor before that. While Moscow does not fully control the region, it has occupied the access to the Sea of Azov, where there are still sanatoriums today.
21:37 Moscow's UN Envoy: After Kursk Attack, Putin Retracts "Generous" Peace Offer
A Kremlin official says Vladimir Putin's "generous" peace offer is no longer on the table following Ukraine's incursion into the Russian border region of Kursk. Dmitri Poljanskij, Russia's deputy envoy to the UN, says at a meeting at the organization's headquarters, "In June, Russia made a generous offer to Ukraine, but last week, the Zelensky regime chose escalation and attacked the Kursk region. Therefore, the offer is no longer on the table." He adds, "This is a step Ukraine will regret later." Russia has stated it is ready for peace talks "tomorrow" if Ukrainian troops withdraw from the regions of Saporishzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk, and if Ukraine abandons its plans to join NATO. If Ukraine agrees, Russia will cease fire and engage in negotiations, Putin said. However, Ukraine, NATO, and the Pentagon rejected the offer, with Kyiv calling it a "complete hoax."
21:08 Evaluation Claims Over 300 Russian POWs in Kursk
An evaluation claims that Ukrainian forces captured at least 303 Russian soldiers during the offensive in the Kursk region. The list, created by an Austrian X-user based on social media videos, also includes 15 more POWs, but the creator notes uncertainty about these entries. The list is incomplete as not all POWs were documented in videos. Ukrainian military chief Olexander Syrskyj reports "hundreds" of Russian POWs in his daily briefing to the Ukrainian president. Social media reports suggest up to 2000 Russian POWs in the Kursk region. Many of the newly captured Russians are very young, which, the X-user speculates, could make them more valuable for a prisoner exchange than men from poor backgrounds and remote Russian regions.
20:36 Moscow Recognizes Gravity of Situation, Moves Troops from Kaliningrad to Kursk
Lithuania's defense minister, Laurynas Kasciunas, announces that Russia is moving troops from Kaliningrad to the Kursk region, where Ukrainian soldiers continue to advance, according to their own reports. Kasciunas makes the announcement during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, as shown in a video on Zelensky's Telegram channel. Russia has not yet commented on this. Previously, the US magazine Politico reported that the Russian military had reportedly ordered a small number of soldiers from the occupied Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Saporishzhia to Kursk. Moscow has not confirmed this.
20:10 In Donetsk, Russia's advance continues; battle for Torez already underwayThe situation around the city of Torez in the Donetsk region remains challenging for Ukrainian troops. Russian soldiers continue to attack, with fighting already taking place on the outskirts of the city. Oleksandr Bordiian, deputy spokesperson of the 32nd mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, told Radio Liberty that Russia is also deploying sabotage groups within the city. However, he noted that the number of Russian soldiers surrendering has increased over the past week. There's no significant relief yet, such as from the Ukrainian offensive in the Russian region of Kursk. "As for ground attacks, their intensity has somewhat decreased," Bordiian said. However, Russian forces are compensating with intensified air attacks using guided bombs. According to the Ukrainian General Staff, the intensity of Russian attacks in the Donetsk region has not decreased. There were 52 attacks within 24 hours alone in the area around the city of Pokrovsk.
19:34 "How can Russia escalate further?"Carlo Masala believes Moscow's threat to respond to Ukrainian advances with a harsh counterattack is an empty threat. He argues that the Russian army is already acting with extreme brutality, making a nuclear attack unlikely.
19:01 More casualties than new soldiers: Moscow's secret recruitment wave suspected?The Russian army is reportedly struggling to replenish its losses at the front with new soldiers. According to Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources close to the Kremlin and the Russian Defense Ministry, this is the heaviest loss since the invasion began. The situation has become more pressing due to Ukraine's incursion into the border regions of the Russian regions of Kursk and Belgorod. Russia may be forced to consider a new mobilization, Bloomberg reports. Officials could present this as a rotation to give military personnel at the front a break, with the announcement possibly coming by the end of this year. A person familiar with the situation told Bloomberg that regional authorities are currently unable to meet more than a third of their conscription quotas. On July 31, Russian President Vladimir Putin already increased the signing bonus for new recruits to fight in Ukraine from 195,000 (1,955 USD) to 400,000 (4,011 USD) rubles.
You can read about all previous developments here.
Despite the increasing threats and seizures of assets by Russian courts towards Western banks operating in Russia, military operations against Ukraine continue. Recently, a Russian court awarded damages to a Russian company in the form of assets belonging to Commerzbank, indicating a potential escalation. Additionally, the Russian Ministry of Defense is reportedly signing new arms deals with foreign partners, suggesting that military operations are not just limited to its border regions.
