21:31 Drone attack on Bombers: Zelensky thanks soldiers for "precision at a distance of 1800 kilometers"
Ukrainian media reported yesterday about a successful drone attack on a military airfield in the north of Russia, which is 1800 kilometers away from the Ukrainian border. According to "Ukrainska Pravda," quoting intelligence circles, a strategic bomber of the type TU-22M3 was hit. In the evening video address of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a statement can be understood as confirmation: The president thanks his soldiers, among them the 9th department of the Military Intelligence GUR. "Precision at a distance of almost 1800 kilometers from our border. Really very important! Thank you," Zelenskyy says. The Ukrainian president goes into more detail, but does not. Russia launches bombers from this airfield for rocket attacks on Ukraine.
20:46 Reports: Wagner-linked Propagandist Killed in Mali FightsDozens of Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries have reportedly been killed in fights with Tuareg separatist fighters in Mali's northern region. A well-known Russian propagandist, who is close to the Wagner mercenary group, is said to be among the dead, according to independent Russian news channels "The Insider" and "Mediazona." Nikita Fedyanin, administrator of the Telegram channel "Grey Zone" with around 500,000 subscribers, is said to have been killed in the fights. A photo of his alleged corpse is circulating on the internet, according to the reports. On the Telegram channel, which Fedyanin referred to as a "soldier community," he published pictures of Wagner deployments at various locations in Africa and repeatedly expressed his support for Russia's war in Ukraine. The commander of the soldiers, Evgeny Prigozhin, who died in a plane crash nearly a year ago, also regularly had videos and photos of Wagner fighters disseminated via "Grey Zone."
20:27 Zelenskyy: Ukraine to Present "Peace Plan" by End of NovemberUkraine will present a "Peace Plan for Peace" by the end of November, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with the Japanese broadcaster NHK. Ukraine organized the first global peace conference in Switzerland in June, at which 91 countries and eight international organizations signed a communiqué. The Ukrainian leader said Ukraine would begin "detailed talks with relevant countries" about territorial integrity and other issues. Ukraine plans to organize a second peace conference involving Russia before the US presidential elections in November. No official invitation has been sent yet. The Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Galuzin said Russia would not participate.
20:12 Russian Attack on Nikopol - Two Children InjuredRussian troops attacked the city of Nikopol in southern Ukraine. There are several injured, including two children - a girl aged one and a ten-year-old boy. This was written by the head of the regional military administration in Dnipropetrovsk, Serhiy Lysak, on Telegram, as reported by the state news agency Ukrinform.
19:37 Russian troops launch series of attacks in Eastern UkraineThe Russian air force is heavily bombing the Eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv. According to a statement from the General Staff in Kiev, at least the small town of Wowtschansk was hit by at least six glide bombs. In addition, Russian combat aircraft reportedly attacked Ukrainian positions. There were no reports of casualties. Another focus of Russian attacks was reportedly Pokrowsk. Throughout the day, 16 attacks were repelled, with more ongoing. The information cannot be independently verified at this time. Reports of multiple Russian attacks with artillery and combat drones were also received from the Dnipropetrowsk region. In the sector Liman in the east of the country, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian army positions. At least twelve attacks were reported, according to the General Staff.
19:18 Zelensky names three factors for "just end" to the warPatience, support for Ukraine, and diplomatic pressure on Russia - these are the three factors for a just end to the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with the Japanese broadcaster NHK. "Patience, support, and diplomatic pressure are the three factors for a just end to the war. If the USA and European nations maintain their unity, the pressure increases and shows Moscow that there is no chance", the Ukrainian leader said. Zelensky also emphasized that he could not react to demands for a ceasefire as long as Russia continued to occupy Ukrainian territory.
18:38 NATO membership: Scientists call for Ukraine's invitation to military alliance in open letterScientists and researchers from various countries have called on NATO in an open letter to invite Ukraine to join the military alliance. According to the state Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform, up to 158 signatories have signed the letter, which was published in the British newspaper "Guardian". "The invitation of Ukraine to NATO membership would be a final step away from appeasement policy and back to the rule of international law and the protection of human rights", it says in the letter. The previous attempts to appease Russian "NATO expansion anxiety" were ignored by Russia's propaganda and systematic war crimes in the occupied territories of Ukraine, including massacres, mass rapes, and torture. "Russia's actions show a clear intention to destroy Ukraine as a nation, rather than addressing its own security concerns", the authors emphasize. An invitation to the military alliance would, in their view, not create additional incentives for the Kremlin, "as Russia is determined to destroy Ukraine and does not need additional motivation". Moreover, it is a "fact that Russia has not attacked a single member of the Military Alliance". Instead, Moscow has threatened, attacked, and occupied third parties.
17:54 Reports of Ukrainian Surprise Attack on Russian Troops in LuhanskThe Ukrainian military, according to reports, inflicted heavy losses on Russian troops in Luhansk in the east of the country with a rocket attack using ATACMS-Rakets. Members of a tank infantry battalion were reportedly targeted during a gathering on a training ground, Ukrainian media reported, citing Russian social media and their own military sources. The surprise attack, which reportedly took place yesterday, resulted in the deaths of at least 19 Russian soldiers and injuries to 71 others. The information could not be independently verified. The Ukrainian troops usually only use ATACMS-Rakets against valuable targets. It is possible that the troop assembly at Luhansk was detected by a reconnaissance drone beforehand.
17:32 Dozens of Wagner Soldiers Killed in Mali - Commander in Custody from Ukraine WarRussian Wagner soldiers in Mali suffered one of their heaviest losses in West Africa with dozens of killed and captured fighters. Rebels of the separatist Tuareg people in the northern part of the Sahel state reportedly killed several dozen Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries during three days of fighting as they tried to take control of the village of Tinzaouaten near the Algerian border. Russian mercenaries have been fighting alongside the Malian army against all rebel movements in the country since 2021, including Islamist terror militias as well as the Tuareg. Russian channels close to the mercenaries, including a former commander of the forces in the north of Mali, reported over 80 deaths and 15 captures among their ranks. Among the dead is reportedly Wagner commander Anton Elisarov, who was involved in the Russian assault on the Ukrainian town of Soledar.
16:49 Fire in University Building in Cherson after Russian ShellingRussian forces attacked the Cherson oblast and hit a university building. A fire broke out in the educational institution, as Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the military administration of the Cherson region, reported in a "Ukrainska Pravda" report. "The enemy shelled the building of a university in the city center at night, causing a fire." No one was injured.
16:02 430 Ukrainian Settlements Without Power after Russian AttacksFollowing Russian attacks, there are 431 settlements in six regions in northern and northeastern Ukraine without power, the Ukrainian Energy Ministry announced on Facebook, according to the state news agency Ukrinform.
15:34 General Staff: Over 130 Battles with Russian Troops in One DayAccording to the Ukrainian General Staff of the Armed Forces, there were 129 battles with Russian troops along the front line yesterday. As Ukrinform reports, the Russian troops were particularly active in the areas of Pokrovsk, Torezk and Kurachiwka.
14:54 Kiev: Over 1200 Russian soldiers eliminated in one dayAccording to official figures from Kiev, personnel losses on the Russian side remain high: Reportedly, 1190 Russian soldiers have been killed or incapacitated in the war within one day. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry reports that since the start of the war in February 2022, a total of 574,690 Russian soldiers have been "eliminated". According to the Defense Ministry's daily reports on Russian losses, the enemy has also lost 13 more tanks (8344). Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Ukraine has counted over 16,000 armored vehicles and around 12,800 drones that are no longer in the possession of the Russian military or have been destroyed. These figures cannot be independently verified. Moscow itself keeps information on its own losses in Ukraine to itself.
14:28 Zelensky: Russia has fired over 700 guided bombs and over 100 drones of the Shahed type onto Ukraine in one weekRussian forces have fired over 700 guided air-to-ground bombs and more than 100 Shahed drones onto Ukraine in the past week, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, citing regional authorities. Alone yesterday, during Russian air raids on four Ukrainian regions, eleven people were killed and forty-one were injured. The Ukrainians are "suffering daily under Russian terror" and "deserve a fair and reliable protection from it". Zelensky calls on allies to equip Kiev with long-range weapons and air defense equipment, adding that "every concrete decision by partners to strengthen our armed forces can save lives".
14:01 Report: F-16 fighter jets may not significantly influence the course of the warThe first F-16 fighter jets are expected to arrive in Ukraine in the coming weeks, but Ukrainian and Western officials warn that they may not have a significant impact on the course of the war, as Russia continues to make gains on the battlefield. The Washington Post reports that Ukraine will only receive a small number of F-16 fighter jets, while Russia has a large number of air defense systems that can shoot them down. This means that the first F-16 fighter jets to arrive in Ukraine are likely to be used to strengthen Ukrainian air defense, to shoot down Russian aerial targets, rather than attack Russian ground troops.
According to the Washington Post, it is unlikely that the fighter jets will initially be stationed near the front lines and therefore will not be able to intercept Russian military aircraft. Official sources refused to disclose how many F-16 fighter jets will be provided to Ukraine this year, but it is not expected to be more than about 20, which is the size of a squadron.
13:44 Ukrainian military confirms attack on oil refinery in Kursk, RussiaThe General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has confirmed in social media an attack on a Russian oil depot in the Kursk region. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and the Ukrainian military cooperated in the nighttime attack on the Polyova oil depot. Prior to this, regional authorities in Kursk reported a drone attack that caused fires at multiple locations. According to local governor Alexei Smirnov, firefighters were still on site in the morning to extinguish three fuel tanks (references 08:00 and 06:36).
13:20 Authorities: Eight injured by Russian shelling of Nikopol buildingsEight people, including children, were injured in Nikopol, a Ukrainian city in the Dnipro region, by Russian troop shelling. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the State Emergency Service (SES) of Ukraine. "Eight residents of two multi-story buildings, including two children, were injured during the enemy shelling of Nikopol," the statement reads. The injured were taken to the hospital by rescue teams and the Red Cross, the SES added.
13:01 Russia reports capture of two locations in DonetskRussia has captured two locations in the Donetsk region. They are Prohres and Evhenivka in eastern Ukraine, according to Russian news agencies, citing the Russian Defense Ministry.
12:44 Ukraine accuses Russia of killing 564 children since start of warRussia is accused of killing 564 children and injuring at least 1,487 since the start of its war in Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform," citing the Office of the Prosecutor General. Most of the children were affected in the regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Kherson, Kiev, and Zaporizhzhia.
12:24 Lindner responds to Pistorius on defense budget discussionFinance Minister Christian Lindner defended his stance on defense budget spending in a heated exchange with Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (Pistorius) on the ARD "Hauptstadtstudio" program. "We have reached the two-percent NATO target for the first time in many, many years," Linder said in the interview. "We spend more than France and Italy. In the coming years, we will continue to provide at least two percent of our economic output for security." Lindner then turned the tables: "It's not that everything the defense minister says is automatically justified and correct. It's about tax money and efficient use of funds." Lindner emphasized the 100-billion-euro special program for the strengthening of the armed forces, which no previous leaders had, and added, "That's how it works, and that's how we have to make it work."
12:01 Putin threatens response to US missiles in Germany
Due to the plans for the stationing of US long-range missiles in Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin at the large naval parade in St. Petersburg is threatening a reaction. Russia will respond symmetrically if the plans are implemented and will no longer feel bound by an earlier prohibition on land-based atomic medium-range missiles. The INF Treaty on the prohibition of these weapons expired after the US withdrawal in 2019. According to Putin, Russia had so far imposed a moratorium and adhered to the agreements. However, the US has been complaining about Russian violations of the treaty for a long time. In a speech to sailors from Russia, China, Algeria, and India, Putin says the US could trigger a missile crisis reminiscent of the Cold War. "The flight time of such missiles that could be armed with atomic warheads and reach targets on our territory will be approximately ten minutes," Putin says.
11:14 Authorities: Russians seize over 500 homes in Luhansk for themselves
In the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic," Russian occupiers have illegally taken possession of 514 homes from evacuated residents. This was reported by the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform," which refers to a Telegram message from the head of the regional administration of Luhansk, Artem Lysohord. These are objects that are subject to the "nationalization procedure," which begins 30 days after discovery, Lysohord writes and notes that a large part of the land seized by the occupation authorities will be nationalized.
10:45 Explosions reported in Kharkiv, air alarm declared in other Ukrainian regions
The Ukrainian broadcasting corporation suspilne.media reported two explosions in Kharkiv in the morning. Shortly thereafter, the head of the regional military administration, Oleg Sinegubov, reported two missile attacks by the Russians. The type of missiles is being determined. According to RBC-Ukraine news portal, air alarm has been declared in some regions of Ukraine. This applies to Donetsk, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Poltava, and Dnipro. A missile threat cannot be ruled out in these regions, it is said.
10:07 Governor reports 5 Dead, 15 Wounded from Russian shelling in Donetsk region
Five civilians were killed and 15 others were injured by Russian shelling in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk on Saturday, regional governor Vadym Filashkin reported via Telegram. According to him, the Russians killed five residents of the region Donetsk. Among the dead were three people in Ivaniwka, one in Kostiantyniwka, and one in Toretsk. Another 15 people were injured in the region, Filashkin wrote. Since the beginning of the Russian offensive war in February 2022, Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform" reported that 2110 civilians had been killed and 5515 injured in the Donetsk region. These figures do not include the victims in Mariupol and Volnovakha, it was noted.
09:46 IfW-President: German fiscal policy is "security risk for Europe"
The President of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), Moritz Schularick, is urging the German government to allocate significantly more money for security and defense - while also criticizing the coalition's budget compromise. "The German government is currently not making reasonable fiscal policy for what the country needs," Schularick stated in an interview with t-online. "Much more than that: Fiscal policy is and remains a security risk for Europe." A future special fund for the Bundeswehr must "be significantly larger than the current one with its size of 100 billion euros," the economist added. "To close the budget gap in the next ten years, we are probably talking about volumes of 250 to 300 billion euros."
And even then, it's clear: "Even with all these additional expenditures, Germany would still be spending proportionally less for the military than Poland, Norway, or the USA, which have not reduced their investments to the same extent in the past two decades," Schularick continued. It would take expenditures of around 3 to 3.5% of the Gross Domestic Product to deter Putin's Russia through "strength and determination," he added.
09:15 Expert sees Donetsk region "lost for Ukraine in every case"
The Ukrainian armed forces are currently under particularly heavy pressure from Russian attacks in the Donetsk region. Military expert Ralf Thiele sees no chance for Ukraine to hold the Donetsk region in the future. The Russians are "inch by inch" on the offensive, while the Ukrainians are on the retreat. The region is "lost for Ukraine, in every case," Thiele stated on ntv. "That's naturally sad when one has to say that," the military expert added. Donetsk is either on the negotiation table or on the "real" one. That means, either there will be a ceasefire agreement or a surrender ceasefire," Thiele explained. In both cases, the region "is at the end of the day lost," he concluded.
08:52 Ukraine reports 1180 Russian losses in one day
Russia has lost approximately 574,690 soldiers in Ukraine between February 24, 2022, and July 27, 2024, according to Ukrainian calculations. Among them were 1180 fatalities or injuries in the past 24 hours. The Ukrainian General Staff reported this in its daily update on Facebook. In addition, Russian losses included: 8344 tanks, 16,095 armored combat vehicles, 15,936 artillery systems, 11,271 multiple rocket launchers, 906 air defense systems, and 2,405 cruise missiles. The Russian army had also lost 363 combat aircraft, 326 helicopters, 12,766 tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, 28 warships/cutters, 1 submarine, 21,572 vehicles and tank trucks, and 2,671 pieces of special equipment since the beginning of their offensive war.
08:16 Thiele on the situation at the front: Ukrainians are "de facto on a step-by-step retreat" In the contested areas in the east of the country, the situation for Ukraine "is not good," says Ralf Thiele. The military is trying to prevent a Russian breakthrough - albeit at the cost of a retreat. The military expert fears that Ukraine will certainly lose the region of Donetsk.
08:00 Kursk reports fire in tank depot under control A Ukrainian drone attack has set a tank depot in the Kursk region on fire, according to local Russian authorities. However, the fire was quickly brought under control, writes regional governor Alexei Smirnov on Telegram. There were no injuries reported.
07:44 TASS: Russians destroy howitzer and Ukrainian munitions depot in Cherson region Russian paratrooper drones destroy a howitzer M-777 and a munitions depot for field artillery of the Ukrainian armed forces on the eastern bank of the Dnieper in the Cherson region. This is reported by the state Russian news agency TASS, referring to the Russian Defense Ministry. After the launch of the drones, the armor-piercing shells reportedly penetrated the front line along the riverbank. Simultaneously, a reconnaissance drone identified as targets a 155-mm howitzer M-777 and a field munitions depot for field artillery. Through a direct hit, the field munitions depot was destroyed and the howitzer disabled, it is stated in the statement.
07:11 Ukrainian Minister: Olympic participation is "our victory" The Olympic participation of Ukraine is seen as a strong symbol and an opportunity by Sports Minister Vadym Bidny to draw international attention to the situation in the country following the start of the Russian attack war on Ukraine. "It is a symbolic act and a sign that Ukraine is a strong country with resilient people," says Bidny at the opening of the Ukrainian house in Paris. It is very important that Russia is represented in Paris with only a small team of 15 neutral athletes. Russia as a nation was excluded from the Olympics by the International Olympic Committee due to the attack war. "There is no Russian flag here. There is only the Ukrainian flag. That is our victory," says Bidny.
It is now the task of the Olympic team to "bring the international community together in support of Ukraine and to speak to the people who normally do not listen to politicians." The participation is a "strong signal that Ukraine not only survives, but also has the will to win."
06:58 Russia reports shooting down of seven Ukrainian drones The Russian air defense shoots down seven Ukrainian drones, according to its own statements. Five were shot down over the Belgorod region and two over the Kursk region.
06:36 Gouverneur: Oil depot in Kursk is on fire after drone attackIn the night, in the Kursk region of Russia, explosions have occurred due to a drone attack. In an oil depot and several areas, fires have broken out, according to Kursk region Governor Alexei Smirnov via Telegram and the channel Baza. The air defense forces are "on alert," writes the Russian official and urges the region's residents to "stay alert." In the region, at least two fires have broken out during the "defense" of the drone attack, one in the Medvenka district and one in the Kursk district, it is reported. A fire is said to have started in an oil storage facility in the village of Polyova, according to the Shot channel on Telegram. Residents reportedly heard "multiple strong explosions" near the oil depot at night. Previously, the characteristic sound of a drone flying over the area was heard. After the explosions, witnesses reported seeing heavy smoke in the sky. Additionally, there was an explosion in the city of Sudzha, a house in the Medva district was on fire, it is reported.
05:41 Linnemann questions welfare payments to Ukrainian refugeesCDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann has questioned the welfare payments made to Ukrainian women and men in an interview with Funke Media Group. "We need to discuss why more than 50 percent of Ukrainians work in many European countries, but only 25 percent in Germany," he says. "There are clearly no incentives for quick employment." The Ukrainians also defended the rights of the Germans. "But if there is a performance, it comes with a counter-performance. That includes taking a job."
04:49 Ukraine: Over 75 percent of wounded soldiers return to dutyAccording to Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Natalia Kalmykova, in an interview with Interfax News Agency, the percentage of soldiers who return to duty after rehabilitation in Ukraine is very high. "We have a very high percentage of high-quality rehabilitation programs and returnees to duty," she says. Kalmykova speaks of over 75 percent of the wounded.
03:13 ISW: Ukrainian forces recapture positionsAccording to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian forces have reportedly recaptured lost positions near Toretsk, north of Donetsk. This is indicated by geolocated imagery. The Russian side is said to have continued its offensive operations in the area.
01:08 Ukraine reports several deaths after Russian shelling - including a childAccording to Ukrainian authorities, at least five civilians were killed in Russian attacks in various regions of Ukraine yesterday. In the region of Kherson, there were three fatalities. In the northeastern border region of Sumy, a 14-year-old boy was killed and 12 other people were injured in a rocket attack on the small town of Hluchiv. In the region of Kharkiv, a man was killed by Russian shelling in a residential building.
23:46 Russia reports capture of another village in UkraineRussia has reportedly taken control of another village in eastern Ukraine. The settlement Losuwatske in the Donezk region is said to have been "liberated," according to the Russian Defense Ministry in its daily report. It is located about 25 kilometers east of the city Pokrowsk, in the area where the Russian army has advanced relatively quickly in recent months. Ukraine confirms the takeover.
22:23 Blinken threatens China with "measures" over continued support for Russian defense industryUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China that the US would take "measures" if Beijing continued to support Russia's defense industry. According to the Ukrainian newspaper "Kyiv Independent," Blinken made this statement during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Laos. This came shortly after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba held talks with Wang during his first visit to China since the war began in Guangzhou. "The minister reaffirmed his serious concern over China's support for the People's Republic of China's defense industrial base and made it clear that the United States would continue to take appropriate measures if the People's Republic did not act against this threat to European security," Miller said.
You can read about previous developments here.**
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his address, acknowledged the successful drone attack on a Russian military airfield in the north near the Ukrainian border, highlighting the precision and importance of the strike.
- The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Ukraine's plan to present a "Peace Plan for Peace" by the end of November, emphasizing the need for unity and diplomatic pressure on Russia to end the war justly.
- According to reports, NATO scientists have called for Ukraine's invitation to join the military alliance in an open letter, citing the need for unity and upholding international law away from appeasement policies.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy identified patience, support for Ukraine, and diplomatic pressure on Russia as the key factors for a fair and just end to the war, emphasizing the importance of unity and pressure from allies to deter Russian aggression.
- The Ukrainian army reported carrying out a successful rocket attack on a Russian tank infantry battalion gathering in Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, causing significant casualties and potentially disrupting Russian military operations.
