20:57 Ukrainian forces reportedly entered Belgorod
Ukrainian Troops Apparently Infiltrate Russian Oblast Belgorod as Incursion into Oblast Kursk Continues, Ukrainian Media Reports
Ukrainian troops appear to have entered the Russian Oblast of Belgorod while the incursion into the Oblast of Kursk continues, according to Ukrainian media citing a video. In the video published by Ukrainian media, five uniformed men with blue armbands stand in front of a building, with one of them saying, "I wish you health. The 252nd Battalion is in the village of Poroz, Belgorod Oblast. Glory to Ukraine!" The soldiers in the video hold the battalion flag and a Georgian flag, and a sign behind them reads "Porozovsky Village Club." The Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne reports that the project VoxCheck, based in Ukraine, confirmed that the video was filmed in Poroz, three kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
20:22 Zelensky Wants to Exert Pressure on the Aggressor with Offensive in Kursk
A few days after the start of Ukraine's push into Russian territory in Kursk, President Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken out about the attack for the first time. He said that Defense Minister Oleksandr Syrsky had reported to him about "the advancement of the war into the territory of the aggressor," and that Ukraine is proving "that it can really deliver justice and build the necessary pressure - pressure on the aggressor." Neither Zelensky nor the military in Kyiv provided further details about the current status of the Ukrainian troops' push into Russian territory. In recent days, Zelensky has only made indirect references to the attack towards Kursk.
19:44 Russia to Receive Hundreds of Ballistic Missiles from Iran
Russia is set to receive hundreds of Fateh-360 and other ballistic missiles from Iran in the near future, following a December 2023 agreement between Moscow and Tehran, according to sources in intelligence services who spoke to Reuters. The sources say that dozens of Russian military officials are currently being trained in Iran on the Fateh-360 ballistic short-range missile system. Iran is one of Russia's closest allies, and the two countries have strengthened their military and political cooperation since the start of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Notably, Iran has provided Russia with thousands of Shahed kamikaze drones since the beginning of the war. In February, Reuters also reported that Tehran had sent "a large number of high-performance ballistic ground-to-ground missiles" to support Moscow's invasion.
18:36 Iskander Missile System Allegedly Kills 15 Ukrainian Commanders in Border Area
According to the Russian news agency TASS, the Iskander-M missile system struck a unit of the 22nd mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the border area of Kursk, killing 15 members of the unit's command staff. The Russian Ministry of Defense reports that the attack was carried out by a calculation of the Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system, which hit a reconnaissance post where the combat headquarters of the unit was located. As a result, the command staff of the 22nd separate mechanized brigade of the AFU, consisting of 15 people, was destroyed.
17:55 Russia Evacuates 76,000 Civilians in KurskFacing heavy fighting as Ukrainian forces advance into Russian territory, the regional civil defense has already evacuated tens of thousands of people. Around 76,000 civilians have been evacuated from the border region and accommodated in other parts of Russia, the civil defense reports, according to the state news agency TASS. No details were provided by either side about the actual combat situation. Ukrainian intelligence reports only that Russia has begun moving a marine infantry brigade from the occupied Crimean Peninsula to the Kursk region, with part of the convoy destroyed en route. These reports cannot be independently verified. A missile alert has been sounded throughout the Kursk region. The acting governor, Alexei Smirnov, warns on the Telegram platform about potential dangers and urges the population to seek shelter as much as possible.
17:28 Minsk Accuses Kyiv of 'Criminal Acts'After the alleged incursion of Ukrainian combat drones into Belarusian airspace, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Minsk has warned of an escalation of the conflict. Such "criminal acts" could lead to a radical escalation of the situation, the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports, according to the state news agency Belta. They are also a "dangerous attempt to expand the current conflict zone in our region." Belarus will use its right to self-defense and will respond appropriately to any provocation or hostile actions. President Alexander Lukashenko had previously reported the suspected downing of several Ukrainian aerial targets. Air defense has been put on full alert because about ten aerial objects from Ukraine had entered Belarusian airspace in the east of the country, in the area of Kostyukovichy, Lukashenko says about the incident the previous evening.
17:00 Zelensky Thanks for 'Filling the Exchange Fund'Many questions remain unanswered around the advance of Ukrainian troops into Russian territory. President Zelensky has now spoken out and thanked the soldiers who had taken prisoners. Ukraine needs them for future exchange deals with Russia.
16:27 Ukraine Attacks Gas Platform with 40 Russian Soldiers in Black SeaUkrainian naval forces have reportedly killed about 40 Russian soldiers in an attack on a gas platform in the Black Sea. Forces from the navy and military intelligence attacked the location where the enemy had gathered personnel and equipment, Ukrainian media reports, according to the naval command. The occupiers were reportedly using the platform to interfere with satellite navigation signals, endangering civilian maritime traffic. "We cannot allow this," said Dmytro Pletenchuk of the online newspaper "Ukrayinska Pravda". There were no civilians on the gas platform, which is out of operation, it is said. The rocket and artillery units of the coastal forces carried out the strike. A heavy explosion was seen in a published video. The authenticity of the footage could not be verified by an independent source. Pletenchuk says it was not the first operation of this kind. The enemy had previously used the platform to interfere with the navigation of grain carriers, for example.
15:49 NATO Interceptors Scramble Due to Russian Reconnaissance Aircraft over Baltic SeaA Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea region has prompted fighter jets from several NATO countries to take to the skies. Alert fighters from Laage, Sweden, and the NATO Air Policing mission in the Baltics have scrambled and escorted the Russian IL-20M reconnaissance aircraft, the German Air Force announced on X. "The aircraft was flying without a flight plan and without contact with civilian air traffic control," it added. Russia uses international airspace for military flights in accordance with international air law. According to previous statements by the German Armed Forces, Russian military aircraft almost always fly without a transponder, making them invisible to civilian air traffic control. These flights bring these aircraft close to NATO airspace without violating it. It is assumed that such flights also test reactions to them.
15:26 Lukashenko Orders Deployment of Iskander Missile Systems and Artillery to BorderAlexander Lukashenko, the ruler of Belarus, has ordered the reinforcement of troop groupings in the tactical areas of Gomel and Mozyr on the border with the Ukrainian regions of Kyiv and Chernihiv. The Belarusian state news agency BelTA reports this, citing statements by Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin. "The Commander-in-Chief [Lukashenko] has ordered the reinforcement of forces in the tactical areas of Gomel and Mozyr. Special forces, ground troops, and rocket units, including Polonez multiple rocket launchers and Iskander missile systems, have been tasked with deploying to the designated areas," Khrenin said. Earlier, Lukashenko had claimed that "several targets coming from Ukraine" had been shot down over Belarus.
14:49 At Least Two Children Among Dead After Russian Attack on SupermarketSince Friday, at least 18 people, including two children, have been killed and 60 more injured in several Russian attacks on Ukraine, regional authorities report. The majority of the victims were in the city of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region, where a Russian missile hit a supermarket on Friday. By 10 a.m. local time today, at least 14 people were killed, including two children aged 9 and 11, and 43 more were wounded, the Prosecutor General's Office reported on Telegram. In other settlements in the Donetsk region, two people were killed and one more was wounded in Russian attacks on Friday, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported in the early morning. More than 30 houses, an apartment building, an agricultural facility, and civilian infrastructure were damaged. In the Kharkiv region, a 80-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man were killed, and four people aged between 32 and 67 were injured in Russian attacks, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.
14:21 Interior Ministry Warns of Russian Influence on State ElectionsThe Federal Ministry of the Interior warns of possible manipulation attempts by Russia ahead of the upcoming state elections in Eastern Germany. "We must assume that all elections in our country are a potential target of illegitimate influence," a spokesperson for the ministry told the "Handelsblatt". Russia is attempting to "illegitimately influence the public debate and political will-formation in Germany" this way. Since the beginning of the Russian attack on Ukraine, there has been an increase in disinformation by Russian official bodies, state and state-affiliated media, and government-affiliated accounts in social networks. "They use false information to heat up emotionally charged discussions and play societal groups against each other," the spokesperson said.
13:42 Air Force: Russian IL-20M Reconnaissance Aircraft Spotted Off RügenA Russian reconnaissance aircraft flew into international airspace over the Baltic Sea without contacting air traffic control. Aircraft of the German and Swedish air forces, as well as NATO air policing in the Baltics, took off on Friday evening and escorted the Russian aircraft of type IL-20M. The maritime reconnaissance aircraft was traveling in the airspace off the island of Rügen "without a flight plan and contact with civilian air traffic control." Reports of non-communicating Russian military aircraft in international airspace over the Baltic Sea have been almost weekly in recent times, a spokesperson for the air force said. However, nothing is usually done about it if they do not behave suspiciously or quickly return to Russian airspace. In mid-June, a Russian SU-24 bomber flew over the Swedish Baltic Sea island of Gotland, which is about 350 kilometers from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
13:06 Lukashenko: Objects Fired from Ukraine Over Belarus DestroyedAccording to Belarusian reports, the armed forces of the country have destroyed several flying objects over Belarusian territory. It is presumably drones that were launched from Ukraine, Belarusian news agency Belta quotes Alexander Lukashenko, the president of the country allied with Russia. In the past, Lukashenko has repeatedly spoken of alleged incursions from Ukraine and then given the all-clear. Belarus claims not to be involved in the fighting in Ukraine.
12:43 Ukraine: Three Civilians Killed in Russian Attacks in Eastern UkraineAccording to Ukrainian reports, three people have died in Russian missile attacks in eastern Ukraine. One person was killed and several injured in an attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region, the governor of the region, Vadym Filaschkin, wrote on Telegram. The missile hit a building of critical infrastructure and severely damaged it. Two people died in an attack on a private house in the Kharkiv region, the police reported.
12:00 Ukraine: Major Fire Rages in Kherson After Russian AttackDue to a Russian attack, a major fire has broken out in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson, the Kherson Regional Administration reported on Telegram. The fire started on an open area outside the city of Kherson. Due to strong winds, the smoke spread quickly and engulfed almost the entire city of Kherson. According to the Kherson Regional Administration, the fire service is on site to extinguish the fire.
11:28 Mangott on arms deliveries: Kretschmer "accepts that Ukraine might lose"Ukrainian soldiers have infiltrated Russia. With their push into Kursk, Ukraine also aims to show that Russia "cannot protect its citizens in the border regions," says Gerhard Mangott, a political scientist. He also emphasizes that he does not believe Ukraine can maintain its presence in the region in the long run.
10:53 Video allegedly shows Russian troop strength in KurskThe Russian Ministry of Defense has published another video, supposedly showing an increase in military presence in the region. The footage shows tanks taking up combat positions to destroy Ukrainian troops. The authenticity of the footage cannot be independently verified. The ministry also reports numerous Ukrainian drone attacks repelled in the Kursk area.
10:29 Russian nuclear corporation: Nuclear power plant in Kursk operating normallyFighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces is taking place near a nuclear power plant in the Russian region of Kursk. Despite the ongoing battles, operations are "normal," according to Rosatom, the Russian state-owned nuclear energy corporation. Earlier, the nuclear corporation had withdrawn workers from the construction site of two new reactors at the Kursk nuclear power plant due to the advancement of Ukrainian troops in the region.
09:57 Ukrainian intelligence: Magura V5 destroys Russian boat in Black SeaSoldiers of the Ukrainian intelligence service HUR attacked the Russian navy off the coast of the occupied Crimean Peninsula. The attack took place near the settlement of Chornomorske on the western coast of Crimea. A sea drone of the Magura V5 type is said to have sunk a Russian patrol boat of the type KS-701 "Tunets." Three other Russian military boats were reportedly damaged. The Ukrainian intelligence service posted a video of the attack on social media.
09:19 ISW: Russia not redeploying frontline units from Eastern Ukraine to KurskThe Russian military may not be redeploying its forces from the front in Eastern Ukraine to the contested Russian border region of Kursk to avoid disrupting its own offensive in the east of Ukraine. This is according to the latest report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). ISW analysts believe it would likely take additional time for these units to arrive in the Kursk region. The Russian military appears to be relying on the already stationed troops in Kursk to halt the ongoing Ukrainian advance. Additionally, the Russian military is reportedly deploying conscripts from the military intelligence agency Glawnoje Raswedywatelnoje Uprawlenije (GRU) and special forces, including the Wagner mercenary group and the Kadyrovtsy, according to reports cited by the analysts.
08:35 Ukraine Releases Figures on Russian LossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new figures on Russian troop losses in Ukraine. According to the data, Russia has lost approximately 589,700 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of 1,160. A report from Kyiv claims that on the last day of fighting, seven tanks, 69 artillery systems, and two air defense systems were destroyed. In total, Ukraine claims that Russia has lost 8,441 tanks, 16,605 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,325 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine since the start of the large-scale attack. Western Estimates suggest lower figures, but these are also likely to be minima.
07:40 Russia: Su-34 Fighter-Bomber Strikes Ukrainian Forces in Russian KurskA Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber has reportedly struck Ukrainian forces in the Russian border region of Kursk. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced this on Telegram. According to the ministry, the air strike was carried out using an ODAB-500 bomb. The Russian forces continue to repel the surprise advance of the Ukrainian forces in the Russian region of Kursk. The air strike was intended to push back the Ukrainian advance, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. A video showing the deployment of the fighter aircraft was published on the Telegram channel of the Ministry of Defense.
06:48 Kyiv Accountant Stopped with Millions in CashUkrainian investigators have discovered over 4.7 million euros in undeclared cash in the trunk of a company accountant's car. "The woman could not explain the origin of the money," the Economic Crime Investigation Bureau in Kyiv reported. Photos show investigators standing in front of an open trunk filled with cash bundles. The company in question had supplied food worth over 320 million euros to the Ukrainian army in 2022 and 2023, with the tax burden reduced through a fictional loan. Investigations are ongoing for large-scale money laundering and tax evasion, with penalties of up to eight years in prison.
06:10 Ukraine Evacuates 28 Villages in Sumy Border RegionUkrainian volunteers are helping residents and their pets leave the northern border region of Sumy. According to local governor Vladimir Artiukh, 28 villages in a ten-kilometer-wide zone along the border with Russia are being evacuated. According to Ukrainian police, 20,000 people must leave their homes.
05:30 Kyiv Inscribes "Glory to Ukraine!" on New BanknotesThe Ukrainian central bank is supplementing the design of all Ukrainian banknotes with the national motto "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!". Money, it says, is not just a measure of value and a means of payment, but also a symbol of the state that everyone holds daily, according to central bank chief Andrij Pyshnyj in a statement from Kyiv. "To honor the resilience of our people and this turning point in the formation of the Ukrainian nation that we live in today, we are adding our motto to all banknotes, which is heard throughout the world," Pyshnyj said. The change is intended to honor the upcoming 33rd Independence Day on August 24, it was announced. It will begin with the 1000 (approximately 22.3 euros) and 500 hryvnia banknotes, followed by all other denominations of 200, 100, 50, and 20 hryvnia. The motto will be placed in the upper right corner of the banknotes, leaving the rest of their appearance unchanged. The patriotic motto "Glory to Ukraine!" dates back to the emerging Ukrainian national movement at the end of the 19th century and has a complex history. In the form "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!", it was used by Ukrainian nationalists who collaborated with the Nazis. The greeting remained present in the Ukrainian independence movement against the Soviet Union.
04:37 Report: Russia Plans to Block WhatsAppIn its action against internet services (see entry 22:33), Russia is reportedly planning to block WhatsApp, according to the news site "Kyiv Independent". Moscow has allegedly made preparations to block the messaging app, which could be blocked in Russia as early as this fall, according to the independent Russian publication Verstka, citing sources at the Russian IT company VK, which is developing an application to replace WhatsApp. In July, the Kremlin-linked media outlet Gazeta.ru reported that the Russian government was planning to fully block YouTube in September. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov denied these alleged plans.
04:05 US Approves Additional $125 Million in Military Aid for KyivThe US has approved an additional $125 million (approximately €114 million) in military aid for Ukraine. The aid package "underscores our unwavering support for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russian aggression," said John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, to journalists. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the aid would include air defense interceptors, ammunition for rocket systems and artillery, multi-purpose radars, and anti-armor weapons, and would come from US stockpiles. The equipment, he said, would "help Ukraine protect its troops, its population, and its cities from Russian attacks and strengthen its capabilities across the entire front."
03:19 Russia Claims to Have Issued 2.2 Million Passports in Occupied RegionsRussia claims to have issued 2.2 million passports in the Ukrainian regions occupied by its invasion. Since October 2020, these have been distributed in Saporischschja, Donezk, Luhansk, and Cherson, according to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. These claims cannot be independently verified. In the past, there have been repeated reports that Russian authorities have systematically forced people to accept these passports.
02:30 IAEA warns of nuclear accident at Kursk NPP due to fighting in the regionThe International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warns, in light of Ukraine's large-scale offensive in the Kursk region in western Russia, of fighting near a nuclear power plant. "At this point, I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid a nuclear accident that could have potentially severe radiological consequences," IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said, referring to fighting near the Kursk NPP. He is "in personal contact with the relevant authorities of both countries." The Kursk NPP is located near the city of Kursk, about 100 kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border. The state-owned Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing the press service of the plant, that "everything is normal" at the facility with usual radiation levels. However, residents of Kursk are currently without power. According to regional governor Alexei Smirnov, a power plant was set on fire by falling debris from intercepted Ukrainian drones.
01:55 Russia implements anti-terror measures in Kursk, Belgorod, and BryanskRussian media reports that Russia is implementing anti-terror measures in three regions bordering Ukraine. According to a report by the RIA news agency, the measures include possible evacuation of residents, traffic restrictions in certain areas, increased security at sensitive locations, and wiretapping of phones and other communication devices. According to local authorities and the National Anti-Terror Committee, the anti-terror regulations apply to the regions of Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk, the news agency reported.
00:36 Nouripour on heads of government: Cowardice does not bring peace in UkraineThe chairman of the Greens, Omid Nouripour, criticizes the ministers-presidents of Brandenburg, Thuringia, and Saxony for their recent statements on Ukraine policy. Dietmar Woidke, Bodo Ramelow, and Michael Kretschmer are "running away from reality," says Nouripour to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). "They act as if peace can be achieved by burying one's head in the sand. But: Cowardice does not bring peace." Woidke says he has good contacts with Russia and can mediate. However, it is "strange that this only occurs to him two and a half years after the start of the war and a few weeks before the state election," says Nouripour. Ramelow calls for a non-aggression pact with Russia. However, such a pact was initiated by Germany 85 years ago and brought great suffering to other European countries, the Green politician adds. Kretschmer, meanwhile, acts "as if he doesn't know that only Putin can end this war quickly." Kretschmer had called for a reduction in military aid to Ukraine and advocated for diplomatic initiatives in the Ukraine conflict.
00:13 July deadliest month for civilians in Ukraine since October 2022According to the United Nations, more Ukrainian civilians have died from Russian shelling in July than in any other month since October 2022. "The high number of casualties in July continues an alarming trend since March 2024," the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) said.
23:43 Construction Workers Pulled from Kursk NPPDue to the advancement of Ukrainian troops in the Russian region of Kursk, workers are being temporarily reduced at the construction site for two new nuclear reactors at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). The company Atomstroiexport, a subsidiary of the state-owned Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom, announced this reduction. Other specialists continue their work as planned. The Kursk NPP in the city of Kursk has been repeatedly mentioned as a potential target of the Ukrainian offensive that began on Tuesday, although it is about 60 kilometers from the border. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Ukrainian troops have advanced up to 30 kilometers into Russia. After the Ukrainian offensive was announced, the Russian National Guard reportedly reinforced the protection of the power plant. The NPP is currently building two new reactors to replace the two oldest, already decommissioned blocks of the plant. Two more reactors are in operation.
23:11 Ukraine Takes Control of Gazprom Facility in Kursk RegionAccording to a video published by Ukrainian media, Ukrainian soldiers have taken control of a facility belonging to the gas company Gazprom in the Russian region of Kursk. The facility in the city of Sudzha and the city itself have been captured, according to Ukrainian soldiers in the video.
22:33 Russia Blocks Encrypted Chat Service SignalIn its efforts against foreign internet services, Russia has also blocked the encrypted chat service Signal, citing alleged legal violations. Signal is not complying with legal measures necessary to counter terrorism and extremism, according to the relevant authority, Roskomnadzor, in Moscow. Throughout the day, there have been numerous complaints from Signal users in Russia that the messaging service is unavailable. Portals like Sboj.rf, which collect reports of outages, reported around 2000 complaints. Signal was developed in the US and is valued by its users for its high level of security. On Thursday, Russian users also complained about YouTube working slowly and videos being difficult to download. The Russian authorities have not provided an official explanation for this. They have previously stated that they are targeting the extremely popular video service because it allegedly refuses to remove extremist videos. Russia has already blocked large social networks with US ownership, such as X and Facebook, which can now only be accessed via protected connections (VPN). Even before the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow had made preparations for a possible internet shutdown in the country. Since the beginning of the war in 2022, Roskomnadzor has blocked thousands of internet sites that are not approved by the Russian authorities.
You can read all previous developments here.
In light of the ongoing tensions, there have been concerns about the potential escalation of cyberwarfare between Ukraine and Russia.
Given the recent developments, Ukraine's cybersecurity forces have heightened their preparedness to defend against potential cyberattacks from Russia.
In response to the Ukrainian troop infiltration in the Russian Oblast of Belgorod and the ongoing operation in Kursk, Russia might use cyberwarfare as an additional tool to exert pressure on Ukraine.
