21:30 "DeepState"-Video should show Ukrainian advance at Bachmut city outskirts
Online analysts from "DeepState", who are close to the Ukrainian army, have posted a video on social media that allegedly shows a fight between Russian and Ukrainian forces at the outskirts of the contested eastern Ukrainian city of Bachmut. The city is of great strategic importance for both sides. Since May 2023, the city has been under Russian control.
20:27 Scholz draws second red line
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has rejected the demand of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to his western allies to shoot down Russian rockets and drones over Ukrainian territory with their own weapons. After the EU summit in Britain, the SPD politician once again denied Zelenskyy's request to lift the restrictions on the use of the supplied western weapons against Russian territory. Regarding whether he agrees with other NATO countries on these points, Scholz said at a press conference: "I see such a consensus that such steps are not an option, and the US is very clear about this."
20:11 Stoltenberg: Further US support for Ukraine "extremely important"
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has urged the US to continue its crucial support for Ukraine after the presidential election in November. It is "extremely important" that Washington maintains its support for Kiev, Stoltenberg said on the sidelines of the European Political Community (EPG) meeting in Britain. Beforehand, Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance had expressed his opposing stance on further US support for Ukraine. "European allies and Canada can certainly do more, but it is extremely important that the United States continue to support Ukraine," Stoltenberg told the AFP news agency in an interview. This must be "a joint effort from North America and Europe." The US is "by far" Ukraine's closest ally. "I therefore expect them to continue supporting Ukraine." It is also "in the security interest of the United States to support Ukraine," he emphasized.
19:29 Scholz wants to "tie up" Russian "shadow fleet"
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced after the European Political Community meeting that the fight against the old tankers Russia uses for its oil exports will be intensified. "Russia is trying to export oil using rather old tankers that it has acquired through straw men on the world market, and finance the war against Ukraine with it," Scholz said. "These oil traders are a risk for maritime security and of course also for our seas and the environment." The EU has already reacted with sanctions. "Now we want to bundle our forces in a global coalition to tie up this shadow fleet."
18:58 Ukraine reveals numbers on Russian lossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has released new figures on Russian troop losses in Ukraine. According to this, Russia has lost approximately 563,640 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. In just 24 hours, the losses amounted to 1,130. The report from Kiev states that, in addition, seven tanks, twelve armed combat vehicles, 54 artillery systems, and 50 drones have been destroyed. According to the Ukrainian General Staff's statements, Russia has lost 8,245 tanks, 15,883 artillery systems, and 361 aircraft, 326 helicopters, 12,274 drones, 28 ships, and a submarine since the beginning of the large-scale attack. Western estimations put the loss figures lower - these being only minimum values.
18:07 NATO command for Ukraine to be operational in SeptemberThe new NATO-Ukraine Command in Wiesbaden is expected to be operational in September. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg made this statement at the European Political Community summit in Oxford. The Command in Wiesbaden will coordinate international military aid and training for the Ukrainian armed forces in the future. Approximately 700 men and women are expected to be involved in the operation at several locations.
17:31 Britain: Ukrainians should decide on weapons use themselvesBritain intends to let Ukraine decide for itself on the use of western weapons against Russian territory. "It is important that Ukraine makes its own decisions about its deployments while it is fighting this war and its young men and women are at the front," says Foreign Secretary David Lammy in an interview with the German Press Agency on the question of whether he would lift the restrictions on the use of western weapons. Lammy spoke on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit, where around 50 heads of state and government had gathered in Oxfordshire, England. The Russian aggression war against Ukraine dominated the agenda as at previous meetings.
16:56 Ukrainian power grid operator reports "significant power deficit"Following the failure of two power plants in Ukraine, the power grid operator Ukrenergo has significantly reduced power supply. The restrictions between 8 pm and 10 pm local time affect eleven regions and the capital Kiev, according to Ukrenergo. "A significant power deficit in the Ukrainian energy system is the result of eight massive attacks that the enemy has carried out against energy facilities since the beginning of the year," Ukrenergo reports. No precise information is given about the allegedly affected facilities or the cause of the current failures. According to earlier statements from Ukraine, the country has lost nearly half of its production capacity due to the attacks Russia has intensified since the spring. As a result, there are frequent power outages, and Ukraine must import electricity in large quantities from the EU.
16:22 Germany takes in critically ill children from Kiev
According to a joint statement from the German Federal Ministry of the Interior and Home Affairs and the Federal Health Ministry, Germany has admitted eight children from Kiev who were previously being treated at the Ochmatdyt Children's Hospital. The children are between a few months and 15 years old, with most being oncology patients. "The rocket attack on the children's clinic in Kiev once again showed the inhumane cruelty with which Putin is waging his war against Ukraine," says German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. The children are accompanied by a total of ten close relatives. Since March 2022, more than a thousand severely injured and critically ill people from Ukraine have been brought to Germany for medical treatment. "Germany's humanitarian support for Ukraine will be continued with all forces," Faeser adds.
15:51 Russia considers deploying more atomic missiles
Russia is not ruling out the deployment of additional atomic missiles and speaks of a response to the recently announced deployment of conventional US weapons in Germany. The defense of the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad is said to be the focus, according to Vice Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, in reference to the part of Russia's territory that is located furthest west between NATO countries Poland and Lithuania. The USA and the German government had announced the previous week that the USA plans to station long-range US weapons such as Tomahawk cruise missiles and currently developing hypersonic weapons in Germany from 2026. "I exclude no options," Ryabkov says in response to a question about a Russian reaction.
15:12 Ukraine: Russian munitions depot on the Crimea destroyed
Ukraine claims to have attacked military targets on the annexed Crimean Peninsula with flying and swimming drones. Security sources report that, among other things, a command center and a munitions depot at the Donuslav Sea in the west of the Crimea have been destroyed or damaged. Russia had previously reported the downing of 33 Ukrainian drones over the Crimea but made no specific statements about the targets.
14:29 Starmer to Zelenskyy: "We will stand with you"
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warns of a Russian threat at the European summit and pledges lasting support to Ukraine. "You have no doubt: We will stand with you as long as it is necessary," Starmer tells Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy again calls on allies to allow the use of Western weapons against targets in Russia. "The fewer restrictions we have, the more peace Russia will seek," he says in his speech at Blenheim Palace in Oxford. He refers to the fact that the permission of some Western countries to allow attacks on targets near Kharkiv in Russia has not led to an escalation.
14:02 Ukrainian Army withdraws from another villageThe Ukrainian military has withdrawn from the village of Uroschaine in the Donezk region, according to "Kyiv Independent". A spokesperson for the Chortyzja military group confirmed the withdrawal. Previous media reports stated that Uroschaine had been captured by Russian forces. The village is located along the southern frontline in a region of Donezk that borders Saporischschja. According to the spokesperson, the Ukrainian military withdrew "because the enemy has almost completely destroyed everything in Uroschaine". The decision was made "to protect the lives and health of our soldiers who were defending there".
13:20 US Citizen sentenced to 13 years in prison in Russia for "drug trafficking"A Russian court has sentenced a US citizen to 13 years in prison on charges of drug trafficking, according to the Moscow Justice Press Service on Telegram. Michael Travis Leake was found "guilty of drug sales", the statement reads. He was sentenced to serve his time in a strict penal colony. The former paratrooper and musician from the US was arrested in June of last year and charged with organizing drug sales to minors. According to CNN, Michael Travis Leake is a musician and music producer who has lived in Russia for many years.
12:43 Behind closed doors: Second hearing for US journalistThe trial against US journalist Evan Gershkovich in Russia is continuing. The second hearing in the case is taking place behind closed doors, according to a court spokesperson in Yekaterinburg. Journalists have been denied entry to the courtroom. Gershkovich, a 32-year-old journalist for the Wall Street Journal, is accused of espionage. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in a penal colony. The second hearing, which was moved up from August 13 to July 18 at the request of the defense, was closed to the public from the outset. Gershkovich is the first western journalist to be arrested in Russia since the end of the Cold War on espionage charges. He has been in pre-trial detention since his arrest in March 2023. President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia is open for a prisoner exchange with the US.
12:10 Ukraine sends wheat for 100,000 Palestinian familiesDespite the war and continuous shelling: Ukraine has sent 1,000 tons of wheat flour to the Palestinian territories, according to "Kyiv Independent". This is the first of three humanitarian aid packages to be sent as part of the "Grain from Ukraine" program. The first package is sufficient to feed more than 100,000 Palestinian families for a month, the Foreign Ministry reports.
11:34 Russia: 33 Ukrainian drones shot down over Crimea
According to Russian statements, Russian forces shot down 33 Ukrainian drones over Crimea in the night. The Russian Defense Ministry reports that Russian troops in the Black Sea also destroyed ten remotely operated watercraft that were on their way to the annexed peninsula. The governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Rasvozhayev, announced that loud noises in the port city on the Crimean peninsula were due to the repulsion of an "attempted attack by an over-water drone". Two more drones were intercepted by the Russian Defense Ministry in the border region of Bryansk. "There were no casualties or damage," the governor Alexander Bogomas reported on Telegram.
11:05 Tens of thousands affected: All kindergartens near Belgorod closed
According to official reports, all kindergartens in the immediate vicinity of the Ukrainian border in the southern Russian region of Belgorod have temporarily halted operations. The reason given by the responsible official, Anna Kutasova, to Russian media reports is a "significant danger due to shelling". The measure applies from Wednesday initially for the rest of the week for institutions within a radius of 20 kilometers from the border. According to Russian media, the kindergarten closures affect 50,000 people in the region.
10:32 Joint exercise concluded - "Trust between the Chinese and Russian Navy strengthened"
China and Russia have concluded a joint naval exercise. The Chinese Navy reports that all planned projects and exercises of the "Joint Sea 2024" maneuvers were completed on Wednesday. The six-day maneuver, during which a "joint response to threats to maritime security" was trained, involved among other things seven warships. The maneuver strengthened "professional exchanges, mutual understanding, and trust between the Chinese and Russian Navy", and improved "the standardization and systematization of practical bilateral cooperation", according to the Chinese Navy. The maneuver took place off the coast of the Chinese port city of Zhanjiang in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong.
10:06 Von der Leyen: "We must give Ukraine everything it needs"
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen demonstrates the EU's resolve against Russia. "Russia is counting on Europe and the West giving in," she says. "And some in Europe are playing along." Von der Leyen criticizes the trip of Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, which she described as a "pacification mission". However, the EU's support for Ukraine is permanent. "We must give Ukraine everything it needs to resist and emerge victorious."
09:38 Heavy Russian attacks on Ukrainian Eastern Front
The Ukrainian General Staff reports on heavy Russian attacks on the front in the eastern part of the country. There were 29 storm attacks by the Russians at the frontline near the small town of Torezk, according to the Military in its morning report. A village named New York was particularly contested there. The enemy also used parachute bombs dropped from planes. Torezk is located in the Donesk region, as is the second heavily affected frontline sector Pokrowsk. There, talks of 26 attacks are mentioned. Russian troops are gradually advancing in this area after the capture of the city Avdiivka in February. The General Staff reports 144 Russian attack attempts since Wednesday morning. According to an unofficial report, Ukrainian troops are supposed to give up the village of Kaliniwka near the city of Chassiw Jar.
09:00 Kiev reports success in drone defense
The Ukrainian Air Force reportedly intercepted all 16 drones fired by the Russian forces at targets in Ukraine at night. In addition, two out of three Russian rockets were intercepted. The projectiles were destroyed over five regions.
08:17 How much does Russia pay its soldiers
The Russian government is reportedly paying between 2.75 trillion and 3 billion Rubles – roughly translated to $31-33.9 billion US dollars - in salaries and compensation to soldiers and their families from July 2023 to June 2024. According to the group Re:Russia, which condemns the war against Ukraine, this amount corresponds to 1.4-1.6% of the expected Russian Gross Domestic Product in 2024 and 7.5-8.2% of the budget expenditures.
07:42 Umerov: US election not decisive for Ukraine
Ukrainian Defense Minister Umerov, according to his own statements, does not consider the outcome of the US election to be decisive for the success of Ukraine's defense against Russian aggressors. Ukraine will find a way to combat the Russian aggressors, even if the republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is re-elected in November and thus important US support is endangered, says Rustem Umerov. He refers to the diplomatic and military difficulties that Ukraine faces following Trump's official nomination as presidential candidate and J.D. Vance as his vice presidential candidate. "We believe in the leadership role of the US, and we believe that America wants its partners and allies to also be strong," so Umerov. "In this phase, we will focus on the battlefield." Vance advocates for blocking military and financial aid for Ukraine, while Trump wants to end the war immediately.
07:11 Lawrow: "Not all territories have been liberated" and rejects peace conference
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov sharply criticizes Western plans for another peace conference on Ukraine. There are points that are unacceptable for his country, Lavrov says. "A course was taken to forcefully implement the so-called Zelenskyy Plan, which has the clear form of an ultimatum," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine a condition for peace. However, Lavrov insists on the demand of Moscow to seize more Ukrainian territories. "There (in the east and southeast of Ukraine) are still not all territories liberated. We cannot leave the people who have voted for a return to Russia under the regime that is eliminating everything Russian," Lavrow says. The claim that the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine needs to be protected was used by Vladimir Putin as a pretext for the war against the neighboring country. Traditionally, many Ukrainians, particularly in the east of the country, speak Russian but do not want to belong to Russia.
06:35 Lawrow: "Undeniable evidence" for Journalist Gershkovich's spying
According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, there are "undeniable evidence" for the fact that the detained "Wall Street Journal" reporter Evan Gershkovich is a spy. As the Associated Press writes, Lavrov also accuses US journalists of delaying negotiations between the US and Russia on a possible prisoner exchange by reporting on confidential negotiations. According to Lavrov, the case of Gershkovich has nothing to do with "attacks on journalism." In fact, there are no independent media left in Russia, many journalists have fled abroad, and others have been subjected to massive repression. Gershkovich himself was arrested in Yekaterinburg at the end of March 2023 while working on a report about the recruitment methods of the Wagner mercenary group and the opinions of Russian citizens about the war in Ukraine. The journalist has been in pre-trial detention since then on charges of espionage. A hearing is taking place today.
05:53 Pistorius: We must be able to defend against attacks
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius understands the fears of the population regarding the planned stationing of US long-range missiles in Germany. "We must protect ourselves as best we can. I understand the concern of the people about an escalation," the SPD politician tells the "Rheinische Post" and the "General-Anzeiger." The framework conditions are completely different than they were five or ten years ago. "At the eastern flank of NATO, there is an aggressor again." Facing this, Pistorius calls for a change of direction in the country and defends his demand to be "battle-ready" in the coming years. "I don't like the term 'battle-ready' myself. But it's the truth that we best protect ourselves if we are able to repel a potential attack war."
05:03 Alarm for Drones in Russian Black Sea Port
The mayor of the Russian Black Sea port city of Noworossijsk, Andrey Krawtchenko, warns of drones at sea. Via Telegram, he calls on citizens to keep away from the coast. Ukrainian drones have in the past attacked Russian ships near the harbor and disrupted traffic. Noworossijsk is Russia's largest Black Sea port and an important transshipment point for the export of oil and oil products. Meanwhile, the Russian-appointed governor of Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula, Mikhail Raswoschayev, reports that Russian forces have destroyed a Ukrainian drone in the Black Sea near the city.
03:18 Zelensky Remembers MH17 Shootdown Anniversary
Ukrainian President Zelensky remembers the victims of the MH17 shootdown in his daily video address. "There are no doubts that the trial and the work of international justice as a whole will lead to absolutely just sentences for all those responsible for this tragedy," he says. This punishment is also necessary, he adds, just as for all other crimes Russia has committed in the war. The MH17 plane of Malaysia Airlines was shot down on July 17, 2014, over contested territory in eastern Ukraine by pro-Russian rebels with a Russian surface-to-air missile.
02:13 Pistorius: More Applicants for the Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr is reporting an increasing number of applicants. "There are also more and more people who are volunteering, precisely because they want to serve their homeland," says Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to the "Rheinische Post." Compared to the previous year, there were 15 percent more people who had applied for military service by July 8. However, Pistorius wants to quickly implement his new conscription model. "I need a quick entry into military registration, because we are threatened. That's why I'm starting with the men, and then the women will come as soon as possible," he says. The draft legislation is expected to be completed in the fall.
00:56 Report: Heavy Losses for Kiev in Battle for Dnipro Bridgehead
According to media reports, Ukraine has suffered heavy losses in the battle for a now abandoned bridgehead at the Dnipro in the southeast of the country. More than 1000 soldiers on the Ukrainian side are said to have died in the months-long battle for the small town of Krynki. 788 soldiers stationed there are listed as missing, reports the Internet portal Slidstvo.Info, citing police sources. 262 soldiers were found dead in the same period. The battles for the town of Krynki were criticized from the outset due to their futility. The troops there could hardly be supplied with reinforcements across the river. Dead and wounded could only be transported away in rare cases.
23:52 Alarm: Drones approach KyivIn Kyiv, there is another air alarm. Loud explosions can be heard over the city. Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced on Telegram that the air defense systems have been activated. In the central district of Darnytsky, debris have fallen, but there are no reported damages as of the first findings. Shortly before that, the Ukrainian Air Force warned that drones from the East were heading towards Kyiv. Furthermore, drones were reportedly spotted in the regions of Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk. At least 43 people were killed by Russian air raids on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities on July 8.
23:10 Estonia and Lithuania ban cars with Belarusian license platesEstonia and Lithuania announce that they will not allow cars registered in Belarus across their borders with Russia and Belarus. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna says the ban was imposed because Belarus "directly contributes to Russia's aggression in Ukraine and supports it." Lithuania had recently announced a similar ban. The three countries, as well as Poland, Finland, and Norway, had already banned the entry of cars with Russian registration into their territorial waters in 2023.
22:23 Zelenskyy on prisoner exchange: "We must bring them all back"In his evening video address, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy welcomes back the 95 soldiers who have returned from Russia (see entry at 14:36). Zelenskyy writes on X: "We are bringing our people home. Another 95 defenders have been released from Russian captivity. Among them are soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the National Guard, and the Border Guard." After thanking the United Arab Emirates for their role in the prisoner exchange, he continues: "We must bring them all back."
21:56 Moscow sentences Ukrainian collaborators to lengthy prison termsA Moscow military court sentences two Russians to long prison terms for attempting to join the "Freedom Legion of Russia" recruiter. Radio Free Europe (RFE) reports. The Legion is a paramilitary unit where Russian deserters and other Russian and Belarusian volunteers fight for Ukraine against Russia. The 24-year-old Andrei Morozov is sentenced to twelve years in prison, and the 56-year-old Muscovite Anatoli Poplavski to five and a half years. RFE reports that Poplavski has two young children living in Ukraine and a wife he is currently divorcing. The statement reads that the man lived in two countries.
21:00 Lavrov blames the USA for the escalation of violenceRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accuses the USA of being responsible for the many deaths in Ukraine and the Palestinian territories during a UN Security Council meeting. "By granting diplomatic protection to Israel and supplying it with weapons and ammunition, Washington has - it's clear to all - become a direct party to the conflict, just as in Ukraine," Lavrov told Russian agencies in New York. He further states that as soon as the USA stops its support, the bloodshed will end. In fact, Russia began the armed conflict in the east of Ukraine in 2014 and expanded it to the entire country in February 2022. A Russian troop withdrawal from Ukraine would also end the deaths in Ukraine.
All former developments can be read here.**
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed support for NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg's call for the US to continue its support for Ukraine, stating that it's "extremely important" for Washington to maintain its aid.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, has urged western allies to lift restrictions on the use of weapons against Russian territory, a request that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other NATO leaders have so far refused.
- The conflict in Ukraine is also playing out in the cyber realm, with both Russia and Ukraine reportedly engaging in cyberwarfare against each other.
- The Attack on Ukraine has led to significant military deployments from various countries, with NATO establishing a command center in Wiesbaden, Germany to coordinate international military aid and training for the Ukrainian armed forces.
- The Russia-Ukraine conflict has also had a significant impact on politics, with politicians from various nations expressing their support for Ukraine and calling for increased aid and sanctions against Russia.
