21:33 US releases more military aid to Ukraine
USA Announces New Military Aid Package Worth $125 Million for Ukraine
The USA has announced a new military aid package worth $125 million for Ukraine, which will include Stinger missiles, artillery ammunition, and anti-tank systems. This military aid is the tenth tranche of equipment for Ukraine since President Joe Biden signed a law for a multi-billion-dollar aid package in April, said John Kirby, the White House National Security Council spokesman.
20:52 Video Shows Ukrainian HIMARS Strike on Russian Column in Kursk
Ukraine is using long-range weapons against the Russian army in its offensive in Kursk. A video shows multiple rocket impacts in the midst of a Russian column east of Rylsk last night. The Ukrainians appear to have used western rockets fired from the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) HIMARS. Videos from the day after the attack show several destroyed military vehicles. The "Kyiv Independent" reports 14 destroyed vehicles.
20:38 Iran to Supply Hundreds of Missiles to Russia
Iran is set to supply hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia, according to European intelligence sources. Dozens of Russian military personnel are already being trained in Iran to handle the ballistic short-range missile system Fath-360, two employees of European intelligence agencies told Reuters. While Russia has its own ballistic missiles, the delivery of Fath-360 could allow it to use a larger part of its arsenal for targets far from the frontline. Iranian warheads could then be used for targets with shorter range. A spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council said that the U.S. government and its NATO allies and G7 partners are prepared for a swift and tough response if Iran proceeds with such transfers. The Russian Ministry of Defense did not respond to a request for comment.
20:27 Schmid Defends Ukraine Aid After Kretschmer's Stance
The demand by Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer for a reduction in military aid to Ukraine has been criticized by the SPD. Nils Schmid, the SPD parliamentary group's spokesman on foreign affairs, told the "Tagesspiegel" that Ukraine is defending itself against a "violations of international law" by Russia. Russia could end the war at any time by withdrawing from Ukraine, Schmid said. "For Ukraine, however, an end to its self-defense would mean the loss of its territory and sovereignty, as well as the continued oppression of its population. Mr. Kretschmer knows this too," Schmid added. Kretschmer had previously called for a reduction in military aid to Ukraine, citing the dispute over the federal budget for 2025 in his interview with the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND).
19:56 Ukrainian Troops Attack Russian Positions on Dnipro PeninsulaUkraine's military intelligence reports a successful strike on Russian positions on the Kinburn Peninsula on the Russian-occupied Dnipro shore. According to Ukrainian reports, 30 Russian soldiers and six armored vehicles were destroyed. The Kinburn Peninsula is located at the mouth of the Dnipro, south of Kherson. A video released by the intelligence service shows troops landing by boat and attacks using kamikaze drones. The intelligence service's claims cannot be independently verified. Russia claims to have repelled the attacks, stating that some Ukrainians were stopped by mines and the rest by small arms fire.
19:43 New Sanctions Against BelarusFollowing the EU, the US, Canada, and the UK have imposed further sanctions on individuals and companies in Belarus. The new US sanctions, announced by the US Treasury Department in Washington, target 19 individuals and 14 companies, as well as the aircraft of Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Affected are mainly companies in the aviation, logistics, and electronics sectors, and their leaders, who allegedly attempted to circumvent existing sanctions to acquire components for military equipment for Russia. Canada has sanctioned ten individuals and six companies, while the UK has sanctioned three individuals and three companies. Earlier this week, the EU also imposed new sanctions on Belarus, further expanding the sanctions list that began four years ago following the disputed re-election of Lukashenko.
19:20 Ukraine Orders Special Rescue Stations from RheinmetallRheinmetall has received a further order from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense for the delivery of two rescue stations. The defense contractor announced this. The containerized rescue station for on-site operation is referred to as a "Forward Surgical Team (FST)". The five interconnected and expandable containers include a reception and triage area, an X-ray shelter, an operating room preparation area, an operating room shelter, and an intensive care unit. These can be deployed near the front and are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2023 or early 2024.
18:47 Ukraine Downs Another Russian Helicopter with DroneA first-person view (FPV) drone controlled by Ukraine's security service (SBU) has shot down another Russian military helicopter in the Kursk region. The "Kyiv Independent" reports this, citing a security service source. The targeted aircraft was a Mi-8 transport helicopter. It is unclear whether the helicopter was destroyed or forced to crash by the impact. Just a few days ago, Ukraine shot down a Mi-28 helicopter with a drone.
18:22 Russian Oligarch Calls War "Crazy"
Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska has drawn heavy criticism in Russia for his surprisingly blunt condemnation of the war against Ukraine. In an interview with the Japanese newspaper "Nikkei Asia," Deripaska called for an "immediate, unconditional ceasefire." "If you want to end the war, you have to stop the shelling first," he said this week on the sidelines of an economic conference in Japan, where he participated as an official representative of Russia. He described the violent conflict as "crazy." Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin, considered one of the main ideologists of this war, then sharply criticized the businessman. "This is a stab in the back of our forces and support for the terrorists of the Ukrainian army, which has invaded the Kursk region," Dugin explained via the Telegram messaging service.
17:54 Strack-Zimmermann Defends Ukrainian Attack on "Enemy on Its Own Territory"
The chair of the Defense Committee in the European Parliament, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, defends the use of Western weapons on Russian territory by the Ukrainian army: "The Ukrainians are sticking to all the agreements laid down by the donor countries," says the FDP politician to the Funke media group newspapers. Regardless of this, Ukraine has the right to self-defense. "This includes the right to attack the enemy on its own territory," Strack-Zimmermann emphasizes. She is pleased that the EU fully supports Ukraine's efforts to restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty and combat Russia's illegal aggression.
17:21 Expert: German-Supplied Tanks Involved in Attacks
British security and defense expert Michael Clarke explains that tanks produced in Germany or the USA are being used in the Kursk region. "It looks like the Ukrainians have obviously decided to support the push. And within about 48 hours, they've done so with some quite large units," Clarke said on Sky News. Among them are tanks and armored vehicles provided by the USA and Germany. Whether vehicles from British production are also being used remains unclear, according to Sky News.
16:55 CDU Politicians Oppose Kretschmer on Military Aid
CDU foreign policy experts criticize Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer for his call to cut military aid to Ukraine. "Germany has a great responsibility to stand by a country that it itself invaded in World War II," says Johann Wadephul, deputy chairman of the CDU parliamentary group in the Bundestag, to "Der Spiegel." "We stand on the side of freedom, and we will live up to our responsibility. That is the clear and unwavering position of the Union," the CDU politician emphasizes. Jürgen Hardt, the Union parliamentary group's foreign policy spokesman, confirms: "The CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the German Bundestag has a united opinion on this. We fear that Putin will only be ready for negotiations on an equal footing if he sees that he could suffer a serious defeat in the war against Ukraine. For this, Kyiv needs to go on the offensive again in the defense of its state territory. 'For this, Ukraine still needs military equipment from the free world,' says Hardt.
16:28 Mexico Refuses to Arrest Putin During VisitThe Mexican government has stated that they will not arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he attends the inauguration of the new Mexican head of state. Ukraine had made such a request. "We cannot do that," said Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador before journalists, adding that "it is not our task."
15:57 Gressel: Ukraine "likely to hold territory longer"According to Gustav Gressel, the attack on the Russian Kursk is not a "pinprick" like previous attacks behind the border. The military expert estimates that Ukrainian troops are binding Russian forces and gaining an advantage in potential negotiations over territories.
15:33 Death Toll Rises: 12 Killed in Russian Missile Strike on SupermarketAt least 12 people were killed and 44 injured in a Russian missile strike on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostjantyniwka, according to official reports. "A strike by Russian terrorists on an ordinary supermarket and a post office. People are under the rubble," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. Rescue operations are ongoing. The head of state expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. According to the Interior Ministry, a fire broke out on an area of about 1,000 square meters. Kostjantyniwka is only about 10 kilometers from the front line between Ukrainian and Russian troops. (see entry at 12:34)
15:10 Faber: Kretschmer's Behavior "disgusts me"Saxon Minister President Michael Kretschmer's push to cut military aid to Ukraine has drawn criticism from the Bundestag. "It disgusts me how a Minister President uses the survival struggle of Ukrainian women and men for his regional election campaign," said Markus Faber, chairman of the Defense Committee. German weapons deliveries would help Ukraine defend itself, not out of warlust, "but because they don't want to live in a big Bucha where the Russian army is randomly killing, torturing, and raping," Faber added.
14:41 ISW: Ukraine 'operationally surprised' Russia in KurskThe lack of a coherent Russian response to Ukraine's incursion into the Kursk region and the reported pace of Ukraine's advance suggest that Ukrainian forces have achieved operational surprise along Russia's border. This is according to the latest report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). In the past 1.5 years of the Ukraine war, "due to the partly confusing battlefield in Ukraine," it has been difficult for both sides to surprise the enemy. Analysts say the Kremlin will try to retake the Russian territory in the Kursk region captured by Ukrainian forces. Further advancement of Ukraine into Russia would be a strategic blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin's decades-long efforts to establish stability and security in Russia and its geopolitical revival.
14:14 Kretschmer suggests cuts to Ukraine arms aidSaxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer, in light of the budget dispute at the federal level, is proposing cuts to arms aid to Ukraine. "We can no longer afford to provide funds for weapons to Ukraine that are being used up and not making a difference," Kretschmer told the German Editorial Network. "Everything must be in proportion. Support yes, but we're seeing that we're reaching our limits." Kretschmer points to the increase in the budget over the past years. "Before the COVID-19 crisis in 2019, our budget volume was 344 billion. Now we're at 480 billion, and yet the traffic light coalition can't agree on the budget," the CDU politician criticizes. "That shows that everything is out of control. Citizens' money around 50 billion, migration dozens of billions, arms aid tens of billions. That's not going to work."
13:52 Ukraine: Police order evacuation of around 20,000 people in border region SumyUkrainian authorities have issued an evacuation order for around 20,000 people in the eastern region of Sumy, which borders Russia. The order affects 28 locations under "enemy fire," the police said on the Telegram messaging service. Local security forces are already on the ground to assist with the operation. The Sumy region borders the Russian region of Kursk, where Ukrainian forces entered on Tuesday.
13:22 Russia reinforces troops in contested border region of KurskAfter Ukrainian troops advanced into the southern Russian border region of Kursk, the defense ministry in Moscow is sending units to reinforce its forces. Columns of Grad multiple rocket launchers, artillery, and tanks are being deployed to the region, the Interfax news agency reported, citing the ministry. According to local authorities, fighting with the invading Ukrainian troops continues. "Fighting is still ongoing some dozen kilometers away from the city of Kursk and the Kursk nuclear power plant," a local official said on the Telegram messaging service.
12:34 Zelensky: Four Dead After Russian Strike on Supermarket in KostiantynivkaAt least four people were killed and 24 injured in a Russian artillery strike on the city of Kostiantynivka in the contested Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the X platform. The rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing. According to the governor of Donetsk, Vadym Fillaschkin, the city came under Russian artillery fire. Images published by the governor on Telegram show thick black smoke rising from the destroyed building. Radio NV published images of the burning supermarket and the destroyed surroundings. The exact consequences of the attack are still unclear. "The attack on the supermarket in Kostiantynivka is another case of Russian terror. War against civilians is all they can do," said the head of the presidential office, Andriy Yermak, on Telegram. Kostiantynivka is regularly targeted by Russian forces. In a Russian attack on a local market in Kostiantynivka in September 2023, 17 people were killed and over 30 others injured.
11:53 Russian Emergency Ministry Declares Emergency in KurskThe Russian Emergency Ministry has declared a federal emergency in the Kursk region bordering Ukraine. According to the Moscow government, Russian forces continue to repel the advance of Ukrainian units in Kursk. The state news agency RIA reported this, citing the defense ministry. Around a thousand Ukrainian soldiers were reportedly repulsed there on Tuesday, according to Russian reports.
11:32 Video Shows Burned Russian Military Trucks in KurskA video published on social media and verified by Reuters shows a convoy of burned Russian military trucks in the Russian region of Kursk. The vehicles are seen along a highway. The video shows around 15 trucks, including one marked with the letter 'Z', which is the symbol used in Russia for its "special military operation" in Ukraine. Reuters was able to verify the location in the video as the village of Oktyabr'skoe based on buildings, trees, and road layouts. However, it was not possible to determine exactly when the video was taken.
10:55 Media: Chain Reaction in Russian Lipetsk Destroys 700 BombsA drone strike on a military airport in the Russian region of Lipetsk is said to have caused a chain reaction in which over 700 bombs detonated, according to a source from the Ukrainian intelligence agency "The Kyiv Independent". Previously, Russian authorities had reported that a drone strike had caused a fire at a military airport and damaged a power plant. The source told "The Kyiv Independent" that fighter jets and helicopters were stored at the airport. It is not known how many of them were damaged or destroyed in the attack.
10:35 Kyiv Claims Attack on Military Airbase in LipetskThe Ukrainian military reports that it attacked a military airbase in the Russian region of Lipetsk overnight. The strike damaged storage facilities containing guided bombs, causing a large fire and several explosions, according to a Telegram message from the Ukrainian military. The airbase hosts Russian combat aircraft including Su-34, Su-35, and MiG-31 models. Lipetsk is located east of the border region of Kursk, deeper into Russian territory.
10:08 Munz: "Russians Unable to Counterattack"Since the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been defending itself within its borders. However, for the past three days, Ukrainian troops have also been attacking in the Russian border region of Kursk. ntv-Moscow correspondent Rainer Munz explains why this surprise offensive presents multiple challenges for the Russian military leadership.
09:44 Human Rights Activist: Russia Regressing to Stalinist TimesOleg Orlov, a human rights activist released in a prisoner exchange from Russian detention, criticizes the extent of repression in today's Russia in an interview with news agency AP. Orlov says that under Russian President Vladimir Putin, people are imprisoned for criticizing authorities, something not seen since the time of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. "We're sliding back into Stalinist times," says the co-chair of Memorial, one of Russia's oldest and most renowned human rights organizations, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. Orlov was sentenced to two and a half years in prison in February for criticizing the Russian war in Ukraine in an article. His release in the prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus, and several Western countries surprised him completely.
09:00 Ukraine Publishes Figures on Russian LossesThe Ukrainian General Staff publishes new loss figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to the report, Russia has lost around 588,540 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of 1,030. The report from Kyiv also states that 3 tanks, 49 artillery systems, and 2 air defense systems were destroyed. Overall, Ukraine claims Russia has lost 8,434 tanks, 16,536 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,325 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine since the start of the large-scale offensive. Western estimates suggest lower loss figures, but these are also likely minimums.
08:19 Media: Mass Fires in Rylsk, Kursk RegionStrong explosions and mass fires were reported overnight in the city of Rylsk in the Russian region of Kursk, according to "The Kyiv Independent," citing reports on Russian-language Telegram channels. Residents in the village of Stepanovka reportedly heard four explosions. The cause of the explosions is unknown. The city of Rylsk is located around 35 kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border.
07:37 Russia: State of Emergency Declared After Drone Attack on Military AirbaseMassive explosions have occurred following a Ukrainian drone attack on a military airbase near Lipetsk. Governor Igor Artamonov announced on Telegram that a state of emergency has been declared in the city of Lipetsk to address the aftermath of the explosions. Four villages around the military airport have been evacuated. Public transportation in Lipetsk and surrounding areas has been halted. Six people were injured as a result of the attacks.
06:52 Media: Explosion After Ukrainian Attack on CrimeaAn explosion has occurred on the Russian-occupied Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, according to "Ukrainska Pravda" citing Telegram reports. Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian governor of the city of Sevastopol, wrote on Telegram that the forces of the Black Sea Fleet and air defense have repelled an attack by Ukrainian forces on Sevastopol, destroying three drones. Additionally, the Russian air defense is said to have shot down a Ukrainian Neptune sea-launched cruise missile over the sea near Sevastopol. The Telegram channel "Crimeawind" reports on shots and a heavy explosion in Chornomorskyi, as well as the work of the Russian air defense in the area of the Belbek airport. A black smoke column was said to have risen over the airport, and there was a strong smell of fire in the coastal area of the city, according to the Telegram channel "Crimeawind" citing subscribers. No information on possible casualties has been provided yet.
06:05 Media: Fire at Military Airbase in Russian Region of LipetskA fire has broken out at a military airbase in the Russian region of Lipetsk, according to Russian news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS. The cause of the fire has not been initially reported. Shortly before, the local governor announced evacuations due to a "massive" drone attack near the city of Lipetsk, which caused explosions and power outages, according to Igor Artamonov on Telegram. A state of emergency has been declared in the Lipetsk district, and four villages are being evacuated. Some of the villages mentioned are located near an air force base outside the city. No casualties have been reported, according to his statement. Ukrainian authorities have not reported any attacks on the region. Lipetsk is located approximately 300 kilometers away from the Ukrainian border.
05:02 Putin Allegedly Unaware of Ukrainian Troops BuildupValery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, may have ignored intelligence warnings that Ukrainian forces were gathering near the border with the Kursk Oblast, Bloomberg reports citing a source close to the Kremlin. Ukrainian forces crossed the border into the Kursk Oblast on August 6, and fighting has since spilled over onto Russian territory. According to the report, Ukrainian forces began gathering near the border with the Kursk region two weeks before the start of their offensive. Russian President Vladimir Putin was not informed about the troop buildup.
03:21 Due to US Missiles: Half of Germans Fear Escalation with RussiaThe German and US governments have agreed that the US will station long-range weapon systems like Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany from 2026, capable of reaching targets in Russia. Half of Germans expect further escalation of the conflict with Russia due to the stationing of these US weapons in Germany. 50 percent of respondents in a Civey survey for the Funke media group agreed with this statement. 38 percent do not believe that the plans will lead to further escalation, while 12 percent are undecided. 44 percent view the stationing positively, while 42 percent view it negatively, with 14 percent undecided.
01:14 Minister-President Kretschmer Calls for Reduction in Weapons Aid to UkraineSaxony's Minister-President Michael Kretschmer is calling for a reduction in weapons aid to Ukraine, given the federal budget. "We can no longer afford to provide weapons to Ukraine that will be used up and achieve nothing. Everything must be in proportion," the CDU politician told the German Press Agency. "We should support Ukraine, but we're reaching our limits." Kretschmer points to the increase in the budget over the past years. "Before the COVID-19 crisis in 2019, our budget was €344 billion. Now it's €480 billion, and yet the coalition can't agree on the budget. This shows that everything is out of control."
23:35 Kiesewetter: Ukrainian Offensive is Legally and Strategically JustifiedCDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter sees the latest Ukrainian military offensive on Russian territory as legally and strategically justified. The surprise offensive is "clearly legally justified under the right to self-defense" and "militarily sensible," Kiesewetter told the Tagesspiegel. According to the CDU defense expert, the Ukrainian troops' advance aims to tie up Russian forces in the Kursk region and inflict significant losses on them. "This can ease pressure on other fronts, as Russia has to tie up or redeploy forces to Kursk," he said.
22:30 Pentagon: Ukrainian Incursion into Kursk Region Aligns with US PolicyThe incursion of Ukrainian forces into the Russian region of Kursk aligns with US policy, according to Sabrina Singh, deputy press secretary of the US Department of Defense, as reported by the Kyiv Independent. In response to a question about whether Ukraine can use weapons supplied by the US, Singh said that the US has "supported Ukraine from the beginning in defending against attacks coming from across the border." The Kursk region borders the Ukrainian region of Sumy over 245 kilometers, which has been subjected to daily Russian attacks since its liberation in April 2022. Singh said that Ukraine is taking measures to protect itself from attacks and is operating within the framework of US policy, using US weapons, systems, and capabilities.
22:09 BSW MEP De Masi calls for "as soon as possible ceasefire and negotiations"
Following the Ukrainian troops' advance into Kursk, BSW MEP Fabio De Masi calls for "as soon as possible a ceasefire and negotiations". The Ukraine has "major difficulties defending its own territory", De Masi told the "Tagesspiegel". Advances "deep into Russian territory" only make sense "if the goal of Ukraine is to strengthen the escalation dynamics". The risks are enormous, the Euro MP said. "Consider, for example, the Russian nuclear power plant in the region. Russia is a nuclear power and has the escalation dominance".
21:50 Authorities in the Kursk region report at least five civilian deaths
Russian troops have been fighting against a Ukrainian incursion for the third day in a row, according to reports from Moscow. Russian forces and border guards are preventing Ukrainian units from advancing further into Kursk, the Russian Defense Ministry said. At the same time, the Russian army is attacking Ukrainian forces attempting to retreat from the Ukrainian border region of Sumy. According to the Russian Health Ministry, 66 civilians have been injured since the start of the Ukrainian incursion, including nine children. Authorities in the Kursk region report at least five civilian deaths, including two paramedics. Ukraine has not yet commented on the incursion.
21:30 EU foreign policy chief Borrell: Lukashenko regime involved in illegal deportation of Ukrainian children
The Belarusian regime is complicit in Russia's war against Ukraine, according to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Brussels. Alongside political, military, and logistical support, Belarus has contributed to the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children from temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine. 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.
You can read all previous developments here.
- The escalation of cyberwarfare between Ukraine and its adversaries could potentially lead to a more aggressive response in the physical conflict, as advanced technology is increasingly being used in military operations.
- There have been concerns that Russia, with Iran's assistance, may be developing a cyberwarfare capability against Ukraine, adding another layer of potential danger to the already tense situation in the region.
