21:30 Borrell: Lukashenko's regime is involved in illegal deportation of Ukrainian children
The Belarusian regime is complicit in Russia's attack on Ukraine, according to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. Alongside political, military, and logistical support, Belarus has contributed to the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children from temporarily occupied territories. Since 2021, the regime has also orchestrated migration pressure on the EU's external borders, according to a statement from the European External Action Service.
20:58 Robotic dogs to aid Ukrainian soldiers in war against RussiaRobotic dogs are set to assist and relieve Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline against Russia. At a secret location in Ukraine, a specialist from a British military solutions company, who wished to remain anonymous and went by "Yuri", demonstrated the "BAD One" robot model. The four-legged robot can run, jump, and sit via remote control commands. Soldiers sent on reconnaissance missions are "usually very well-trained, very experienced people" who are "constantly exposed to risks," Yuri said. The robot's deployment could replace these soldiers, potentially saving lives. The robot's battery life is reportedly two to three hours.
"BAD One" could be used to detect mines and scout Russian positions, or carry up to seven kilograms of ammunition or medical supplies to the frontline. Yuri couldn't specify how many robots are currently in use in Ukraine or their locations, but he's convinced they're making a difference in operations and soldier safety.
20:20 Zelensky: Russia must feel the consequences of the war it startedFollowing the Ukrainian army's push into the Russian region of Kursk, Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia must feel the consequences of the war it initiated. "Russia brought the war to Ukraine, now it should feel what it has done," the Ukrainian president said in his daily address. However, Zelensky didn't directly mention the Ukrainian troops' advance in Kursk. Neither have other Ukrainian officials commented on the offensive that began on Tuesday. Thousands of people have been evacuated on both sides of the border. Zelensky said he received three reports from military commander Oleksandr Syrsky, describing the actions as "efficient" and "exactly what the country needs now." Some observers believe the unprecedented advance of the Ukrainian army in Kursk aims to occupy Russian territory to strengthen its position in future peace negotiations.
20:05 Zelensky praises army's ability to surpriseVolodymyr Zelensky praised the Ukrainian army's ability to "surprise." However, the Ukrainian president made no mention of the fighting in the Russian region of Kursk. In the border-adjacent region, Russian troops have been trying to repel an offensive for three days. There's still no official statement from the Ukrainian side on this matter.
19:44 Russian Military Blog Sees West of Sudscha in Region Kursk Under Ukrainian Control
The Ukrainian army has been pushing its surprising offensive into the Russian region of Kursk for the third day in a row, making territorial gains. While civilian Russian authorities in Kursk and the Ministry of Defense in Moscow officially stated that the Ukrainian advance has been halted, the Russian military blog Rybar, which is close to the ministry, paints a different picture. According to Rybar, the Ukrainians are continuing to advance, bringing in reserves at night and beginning to fortify their positions. Rybar reports that the western part of the town of Sudscha is under Ukrainian control, with fighting ongoing for the eastern part of the town. Additionally, the Ukrainians have pushed north towards Anastassejewka and northeast towards Korenovo.
However, local reports suggest there is no Ukrainian presence in Sudscha itself. Only to the north and west of the town are there reports of shootouts and artillery fire. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Ukrainian reconnaissance units have also advanced towards the Kursk nuclear power plant and have been spotted near Anastassejewka.
19:04 SPD to Discuss Stationing of US Missiles in September
Wolfgang Hellmich, the defense policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, has announced a debate on the stationing of long-range US missiles in Germany in the Bundestag. "It's important that we consider everything on this important issue, take the concerns of citizens seriously, and address information gaps," Hellmich told the Funke media group. "We will deal with this topic in the faction and in the Bundestag overall in September after the parliamentary summer break to meet the existing information and discussion needs." The German government and the US government have agreed that the US will station long-range weapons systems such as Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany from 2026, which can reach targets in Russia. Many German citizens view this decision critically, according to polls.
18:19 US Woman Faces 15 Years in Prison in Russia for Allegedly Collecting Money for Ukrainian Military
The Russian prosecutor's office is seeking a 15-year prison sentence for a Russian-American woman accused of high treason, according to state media reports. Ksenia Khavana was arrested in Yekaterinburg in February. She was accused of collecting money for the Ukrainian military. In a closed-door trial on Wednesday, she reportedly pleaded guilty to the charges. The news agency Interfax reports today, citing Khavana's lawyer Mikhail Muskalov, that the prosecutor's office has requested a 15-year sentence. The verdict is expected on August 15.
Khavana reportedly became a US citizen after marrying an American and moving to Los Angeles. She had come to Russia to visit family members. An activist group says the charges against Khavana stem from a $51 (around €47) donation she made to a US charity organization that supports Ukraine. Russia has enacted laws since the deployment of troops to Ukraine in February 2022 that criminalize criticism of its actions there. Concerns have grown that Russia could target US citizens for arrest.
17:54 Moscow Reports Casualties in Ukrainian Attacks in Kursk RegionRussian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov tells President Vladimir Putin during a video conference that about 100 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and over 200 injured in the fighting. Russian news agencies report that Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says that at least two people - a medic and an ambulance driver - have been killed and 24 injured by Ukrainian shelling.
17:28 Stegner Cautious on Possible Deployment of German Weapons in KurskSPD foreign policy expert Ralf Stegner is cautious about the possible deployment of German weapons in the Ukrainian offensive. "As for the defense of Ukraine against the Russian invasion, a special situation applied in the border area when the city of Kharkiv had to be defended against attacks beyond the nearby border," Stegner told the "Handelsblatt". "This did not imply a general shift in strategy regarding the handling of weapons supplied from Germany." The German government had allowed Ukraine, after a long debate in late May, to use weapons supplied by it against targets in Russia. However, this only applied to the Russian border region near the Kharkiv region.
17:00 ISW: Ukraine Advances Kilometers into Russian TerritoryThe Ukrainian army has made significant progress in its offensive in the west Russian region of Kursk since Tuesday morning, according to estimates by experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The ISW states that the advance is "up to ten kilometers", while Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka reports that Ukraine has advanced more than 25 kilometers. Ukrainian President's advisor Mykhailo Podolyak described the situation in western Russia as a consequence of Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine. Russian reports say that "up to a thousand" Ukrainian soldiers, as well as dozens of tanks and armored vehicles, are involved in the attack. So far, at least five civilians have been killed and 31 injured. The ISW further states that the "current extent and location of Ukrainian advances in the Kursk region (...) indicate that Ukrainian forces have breached at least two Russian defensive lines and a position". Ukraine is reportedly targeting a key Russian army supply hub near the town of Sudzha, eight kilometers from the border.
16:28 Kiesewetter Calls Ukrainian Offensive in Kursk "Militarily Strategic"CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter described the Ukrainian offensive in Kursk as "militarily strategic". This allows "pressure to be taken off the front at other points because Russia has to tie up or redeploy forces to Kursk," Kiesewetter told the "Tagesspiegel". The Ukrainian offensive is "self-evidently legally permissible under the right of self-defense" (see also entries from 14:45 and 15:07).
15:57 Ukraine: Two Dead in Russian Attack in DonetskIn the city of Kostyantynivka in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, at least two people have been killed by Russian artillery fire, according to local authorities. The morning attack hit a residential area, regional governor Vadym Finkelstein said on Telegram. Donetsk is a hotspot of fighting, with the Ukrainian-controlled parts of the region regularly subjected to Russian shelling. Russian troops are trying to advance on the strategically important logistics hub city of Pokrovsk. Just on Wednesday, at least four people were killed by Russian shelling in Donetsk.
15:36 Russia: Fighting Continues After Ukrainian Advance into KurskFighting in the border region of Kursk has continued for the third day in a row, according to Russian reports. Russian forces and border guards are preventing Ukrainian units from advancing deeper into Kursk, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Meanwhile, the Russian army is attacking Ukrainian forces trying to retreat from the Ukrainian border region of Sumy.
15:07 Wagenknecht Warns Against Use of German Weapons in Russia: "Red Line"Sahra Wagenknecht has warned against the use of German weapons in the Ukrainian advance into Russian territory. "This is a highly dangerous development," she told the Funke media group. "The Chancellor must call the Ukrainian President and demand that no German weapons be used in the advance onto Russian territory," she said, adding that Chancellor Olaf Scholz had promised that Germany would not become a party to the war. "But then he allowed the Ukraine to use German weapons to shoot at Russian territory," she criticized. "Does the German government now also allow the Ukraine to advance into Russia with German weapons? That would be the next red line to be crossed," she said, adding that the German government was "dragging Germany ever deeper into the war," and increasing the risk of a large European war.
14:45 Chairman of the Defense Committee: Ukraine Can Use German Weapons in KurskThe chairman of the Defense Committee in the German parliament, Marcus Faber, sees no problem with Ukraine using German-supplied weapons in its current advance into Russian territory. "Once delivered to Ukraine, they are Ukrainian weapons," he told the Funke media group. This applies to "any material," including the Leopard 2 battle tank. "With the Russian attack on Ukraine, the territory of both states is a war zone," he explained. "The use of weapons is governed by international law."
14:24 Ukraine demands Mexico arrest Putin at Sheinbaum's inaugurationThe Ukrainian embassy in Mexico is calling on the Mexican government to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he attends the inauguration of elected President Claudia Sheinbaum. Sheinbaum assumes the presidency on October 1, 2024, becoming the first woman to hold this office in the Latin American country. "We trust that the Mexican government will comply with the international arrest warrant and hand over the named (Putin) to the judicial authorities of the United Nations in The Hague," the embassy said. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Putin for the crime of war, particularly the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia following Moscow's invasion in early 2022. Juan Ramon de la Fuente, elected as Sheinbaum's foreign minister, stated that it is "standard protocol" to invite the heads of state of all countries with which Mexico has diplomatic relations, including Russia, to the inauguration.
13:50 Monitoring services: Russian users can no longer open YouTubeUsers in Russia are unable to open YouTube on their computers and mobile devices. Internet monitoring services downdetector.su, Failure Detector, and sboy.rf report a massive outage of the platform's availability. According to the sboy.rf service, over 15,000 complaints have been registered about the video hosting service. Complaints came from people in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Saratov, Samara, Krasnodar, the occupied Crimea, and several other regions. Users reported being able to access YouTube only through virtual private networks (VPNs). Even Reuters reporters in Russia were unable to access YouTube. However, the website was still available through some mobile devices. YouTube is the last remaining Western platform in Russia that is still accessible. As such, YouTube is the last bastion of free expression in Russia. According to Decoder, over 90 million users access YouTube monthly in Russia, making it the leading video and streaming platform. In mid-July, Russian media reported that the Russian government planned to block YouTube in September.
13:24 EU: Ukraine leads 'lawful defensive war' in Russian KurskThe EU views the advance of Ukrainian troops into the Russian region of Kursk in the context of the right to self-defense. "We believe that Ukraine is conducting a lawful defensive war against an illegal aggression," a spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in Brussels. The right to self-defense includes the right to attack the enemy on its own territory. The EU fully supports Ukraine's efforts to restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty and combat illegal Russian aggression. Ukrainian troops, supported by tanks and artillery, recently crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region near Sudzha and, according to reports, took control of several villages. Russian reports suggest that around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers are involved in the operation.
12:43 Ukraine: Dozens of Russian Soldiers Captured in KurskFollowing the incursion of Ukrainian forces into the Russian region of Kursk, "many" Russian soldiers have been captured, according to the Ukrainian project "Khochu nayti" on Telegram. Launched in January 2024 by the Ukrainian military intelligence, this humanitarian project serves as a coordination center for Russian prisoners of war in Ukraine, helping military personnel find their relatives. According to "Khochu nayti", the captives include both conscripts and contract soldiers. "There are also reports of the dead, whose bodies were not evacuated by their comrades during the retreat," the statement reads. The project published drone footage allegedly showing the capture of over 30 Russian soldiers. Other videos on social media show dozens of Russian soldiers surrendering in the Kursk region. The total number of Russian soldiers captured since the Ukrainian offensive in the region remains unclear.
12:18 Gazprom: Gas Transit Running Normally Despite Clashes in Kursk RegionAccording to Gazprom, the Russian gas export through the Kursk border area attacked by Ukraine is running largely normally. Today, about 37.3 million cubic meters of natural gas are expected to be transported, the company announced in Moscow. This is five percent less than the previous day, Russian state news agency Tass reported. Ukrainian troops have seized at least part of the city of Sudja during their incursion, also taking control of a key gas pipeline measurement station en route to Western Europe. In 2023, despite the ongoing war, 14.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas were transported to the European Union via this route.
11:37 Military Blogger: Russia Loses 'Important Logistics Hub' to UkraineThe Russian city of Sudja in the Kursk region has been taken by Ukrainian forces, according to pro-Russian military blogger of Ukrainian origin, Yuri Podolyaka, on his Telegram channel. The town, located nine kilometers from the Ukrainian border, is reportedly full of Ukrainian military forces. "Sudja is basically lost for us. This is an important logistics hub," Podolyaka writes. Ukrainian forces are reportedly advancing north towards Lgov. "In general, the situation is difficult and deteriorating, although the pace of the Ukrainian offensive has noticeably slowed down."
11:04 Munz: Kursk Incursion Has 'Completely Surprised' MoscowInitially, the situation remains unclear, then it's confirmed: Ukrainian fighters are attacking on Russian territory. The incursion in the Kursk region has "completely surprised" Moscow, reports ntv correspondent Rainer Munz. However, there seems to be more to this attack than just a diversionary maneuver.
10:48 Russia: Situation in Kursk after Ukrainian advance "under control"Russian forces have been engaged in combat with infiltrating Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region for the third day in a row. The situation is "stable and under control," according to the vice-governor of the border region, as reported by the state-owned Russian news agency RIA Novosti. Around 3,000 people have been evacuated to safety. Russian troops are actively fighting against Ukrainian units in the Sudja district and pushing them back, according to the news agency TASS, citing local authorities. Four people have been killed in the Ukrainian attacks. The Ukrainian military has not yet commented on the offensive in Kursk. Several pro-Russian military bloggers also report ongoing fighting.
10:18 Kriewald on new offensive: "Ukrainians push 15 kilometers into Kursk region"The Ukrainian army's advance into the Russian region of Kursk is causing turmoil in Moscow. Ukrainian soldiers are reported to have advanced up to 15 kilometers. Additionally, there are reports of dozens of prisoners of war. ntv reporter Nadja Kriewald reports from Odessa about the background of the situation.
09:35 UN: Russians torture 95% of Ukrainian prisoners of warEmployees of Russian penal colonies are said to torture Ukrainian prisoners of war from the very first interrogations. Moreover, the practice of torture in Russian captivity is "widespread and systematic," according to Danielle Bell, head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), in an interview with the Dutch broadcaster NOS. She says that the Russian Federation has tortured 95% of Ukrainian prisoners of war in their prisons. According to her, Ukrainian prisoners of war are beaten with metal rods and sticks, stripped naked, and subjected to electric shocks. "This is undoubtedly the worst I've seen in the 20 years of my career," Bell says. Information about Ukrainian prisoners in Russia is mainly collected through interviews with Ukrainian prisoners of war after their release. At the same time, the UN mission has direct access to Russian prisoners of war and can get an impression of the detention conditions.
08:49 Estonia introduces stricter customs controls at border with RussiaEstonia is introducing full customs controls at its eastern EU external border with Russia. This decision was made by the government of the Baltic NATO state at the beginning of August. From August 8, all persons crossing the border with Russia, as well as all cargo, will be subject to controls. The controls at the road and rail border crossings in Narva, Koidula, and Luhamaa will be gradually introduced. Previously, checks of passengers and vehicles were random and risk-based. With the tightening, Prime Minister Kristen Michal aims to prevent the transit and transport of EU-sanctioned goods through Estonia and to strengthen the security of the country. The border between Russia and Estonia is 294 kilometers long.
08:11 Ukraine publishes figures on Russian lossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new casualty figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to these figures, Russia has lost around 587,510 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of 1,140 in the last 24 hours. A report from Kyiv also states that two tanks, 36 artillery systems, 81 drones, and one helicopter have been destroyed. Since the start of the large-scale invasion, Russia has reportedly lost a total of 8,431 tanks, 16,487 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,293 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine. Western estimates put the losses lower, but these are also minimum figures.
07:32 Medvedev threatens escalation of Russian invasion in UkraineDmitri Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, has threatened to escalate the Russian invasion in Ukraine in response to Ukraine's advance into the Russian border region of Kursk. The former president said that the Russian military operation should no longer be limited to securing territories in Ukraine that Russia considers its own. Instead, he suggested that military forces should push towards the cities of Odessa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and beyond. The advance will only stop when Russia deems it advantageous. According to Russian reports, Ukrainian troops have advanced deep into Russian territory in the region, with fierce fighting reported. The region has been placed under a state of emergency.
07:05 Russia destroys 14 Ukrainian aerial objects over Kursk and BelgorodRussian air defense forces have destroyed 14 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the Belgorod and Kursk regions, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram. Six drones and five other missiles were shot down over the Kursk region, according to Governor Alexei Smirnov. Early on August 6, Ukrainian forces attacked the border areas of the Kursk region. According to the latest reports from the Russian General Staff, clashes continue in border areas. The state of emergency has been declared in Kursk, and residents are being evacuated.
06:25 Ukraine issues air alert due to Russian MiG-31K attackThe Ukrainian Air Force has issued an air alert across the entire country. The air attack warning is due to a rocket threat from a Russian MiG-31K aircraft, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. The MiG-31K is an interceptor aircraft developed during the Soviet era by Mikoyan-Gurevich. It can carry hypersonic missiles such as the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal.
05:32 ISW: Ukrainian armored vehicles reported 10 kilometers inside Kursk region, Russia
According to an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian troops have advanced up to 10 kilometers into the Russian region of Kursk. This is confirmed by footage of armored vehicles behind the border. Ukrainian forces are said to have breached at least two Russian defense lines and a fortress. According to a Russian source, the Ukrainians have captured 45 square kilometers in the Kursk area since the start of the operation on August 6, the ISW reports. Russian authorities declared a state of emergency in the region yesterday.
02:30 Ukraine raises threshold for prison sentence in petty theft cases
President Selenskyj has signed a new law that reclassifies petty thefts worth up to around 67 euros as administrative offenses, punishable by fines. Previously, the threshold was around 6.7 euros. The change is due to the martial law imposed after the Russian invasion, which carries up to eight years in prison for looting and theft. For example, a theft of baby diapers worth around 8 euros in a supermarket in the western Ukrainian city of Rivne in January 2023 would no longer result in a prison sentence. However, the perpetrator in that case was still sentenced to over three years in prison.
00:27 Klingbeil: Stationing of US long-range missiles in Germany is right
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil defends plans to station far-reaching US weapons in Germany against criticism from within his own party. "This stationing is right because it helps us to defend ourselves if Russia were to consider attacking us," he told the German editorial network. It is part of credible deterrence. At the NATO summit in July, the White House and the German government announced that the US would again station weapons systems in Germany from 2026 that can reach deep into Russia. These include Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons. There are critical voices within the SPD, with the parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich warning of the risk of military escalation.
22:38 Human rights activist Orlov wants to fight for Russian prisoners
Oleg Orlov, the Moscow human rights activist released in a prisoner exchange between Russia and Western states, wants to continue his civil rights work in exile. "Memorial cannot be destroyed," the 71-year-old said at a press conference at the Center for Liberal Modernity in Berlin. The organization he co-founded, Memorial, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, also advocates for political prisoners in Russia. Orlov estimates that at least 800 political prisoners are still being held in Russia - conservatively. His new role in exile in Germany is difficult for him, as he told reporters. He would prefer to be in his homeland, but fears prosecution. Orlov now hopes to be able to advocate for the release of more political prisoners, including eight who are seriously ill. "We were very disappointed when it turned out that these people were not on the list - we who were exchanged." Memorial continues to work in Russia, despite repression, and also from abroad.
21:30 Not Dead Yet? Known Russian Propagandist InjuredKnown Russian propagandist Yevgeny Poddubny has been injured in the Kursk region. State TV channel VGTRK reports on Telegram that Poddubny was injured in an attack by a Ukrainian drone in the Kursk region and was taken to hospital. Earlier, numerous Russian media outlets had reported Poddubny's death. Yevgeny Poddubny is one of Russia's most famous "war correspondents," with around 734,000 followers on Telegram. Preliminary information suggests he was filming a report on the fighting in the Kursk region on Wednesday.
20:41 Emergency Declared in Region KurskAn emergency has been declared in the Russian region of Kursk amid a Ukrainian ground offensive, the region's governor, Alexei Smirnov, announced on Telegram. Ukraine has advanced deep into Russian territory near Kursk in a counterattack. The offensive began on Tuesday, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, and reached the northwest of the city of Sudja on Wednesday.
20:14 Fighting Nearby: Russia Reinforces Protection of Kursk NPPDue to Ukraine's advance into the Russian border region of Kursk, Russia's National Guard has reinforced protection of the Kursk NPP. Additional forces have also been deployed to combat sabotage and reconnaissance units in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, the agency said. This is being done in cooperation with Russian border troops and the army. The nuclear power plant, with four units and a capacity of almost two gigawatts, is located about 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The day before, Ukrainian troops supported by tanks and artillery crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region near Sudja. Unconfirmed reports suggest they advanced up to 15 kilometers towards the NPP.
19:38 Attacks in Kursk Region: European Gas Price Hits Yearly HighThe price of European natural gas has risen to its highest level this year. The benchmark TTF contract for delivery next month rose by 5.7 percent to 38.78 euros per megawatt hour (MWh) in Amsterdam. Market participants are pointing to Ukraine's attacks on the Russian region of Kursk. The fighting is reportedly taking place near Sudja, an important gas injection point for pipelines that supply Western Europe with gas. Gazprom is currently reporting normal gas supplies.
19:08 Ukraine Evacuates Border Areas Near Russian KurskAmid heavy fighting in the Russian Kursk region, Ukrainian authorities have ordered the evacuation of more settlements in the neighboring Sumy region. The measures affect 23 settlements, said the military governor of Sumy, Vladimir Artjuch, on Ukrainian television. Around 6,000 people, including over 400 children and teenagers, are to be moved to safety from the border area. The day before, Ukrainian troops crossed the Ukrainian-Russian border near the city of Sudja in the Kursk region and advanced several kilometers into Russian territory. Moscow said around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers equipped with heavy weapons were involved. Kyiv has not yet commented on the events. Earlier, local authorities had ordered evacuations from an area within 10 kilometers of the border due to regular Russian shelling of border areas.
You can read about previous developments here.
The European Union has expressed concern over the Belarusian regime's involvement in supporting Russia's attack on Ukraine, which includes the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children and pressure on EU's external borders.
In response to Russia's attack on Ukraine, the European Union has not yet discussed the potential deployment of US missiles on its territory.
