21:41 Ukraine imports as much electricity in June as, rationed strictly
Ukraine imported over 858,000 Megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity in June 2024, which is 91% more than the amount imported in May and more than the entire year 2023. According to statistics from July 3rd. The largest electricity imports for Ukraine in June came from Hungary (42%). Slovakia and Romania each provided 17%, Poland 16%, and Moldavia 8%. Russia intensified attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure in the spring, bringing the power grid to the brink of collapse. Since mid-May, electricity has been rationed severely. The largest private energy company in Ukraine, DTEK, produces 90% less electricity.
20:49 "Eastern flank out of balance": Lithuania plans to allow stream ammunitionLithuania, considering Russia's war against Ukraine, intends to withdraw from the international agreement on stream ammunition. The government of the Baltic EU and NATO country is approving a corresponding bill from the Defense Ministry. Parliament still needs to approve it. Stream ammunition refers to rockets and bombs that explode in mid-air and scatter numerous small explosive charges. Lithuania's government sees it as an effective defense weapon.
Russia and Belarus could use stream ammunition in case of armed conflict, gaining a military advantage. "Even if allies were to use this tool on our territory, they couldn't do it, not even to transport it through Lithuania," says Lithuania's Defense Minister: "This brings the entire eastern flank completely out of balance and must be addressed." Estonia, Latvia, Finland, and Poland have not signed the agreement.
20:12 White House: Russian offensive on Kharkiv likely failedThe US government announces another security package for Ukraine, the seventh since the aid was passed in April. It includes rockets, artillery ammunition, additional rocket systems, and other military equipment from US military stocks. More systems are reportedly being ordered with the financial resources. Additionally, the White House spokesperson comments on the situation in Ukraine. According to her, it is "clearer than ever" that the Russian offensive on Kharkiv has "failed."
19:26 Ukraine's 47th Brigade: Russians use massive infantry, "huge cemeteries" of vehiclesThe area around the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region is currently the focus of the frontline action. According to the 47th mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces deployed there, Russian troops are attempting to breach the Ukrainian defense lines: with massive infantry attacks supported by drones, explained Brigadier Anastasija Blischtschik. "The fact that we have hardly seen armored vehicles on the battlefield for a month is at least unique, as their supplies have run out," said Blischtschik. Reconnaissance drones showed "huge cemeteries" of destroyed armored vehicles. Therefore, the Russian side is trying to dominate the combat situation with strong infantry forces. According to the General Staff in Kiev, the Russian military is trying to increase the firepower in the Pokrowsk region.
18:49 House Committee approves armament package with 105 Leopard 2A8 Tanks105 Battle tanks, four Patriot and Lenkflugkörper air defense systems, as well as artillery ammunition: The House Committee of the German Bundestag brings a more than six billion Euro package for the new equipment of the Bundeswehr on its way. With the Leopard 2A8 tanks, the future Brigade Litauen is to be equipped, and at the same time, significant and long-standing gaps in the Bundeswehr are to be closed, says Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) after the meeting. "The procurement of ammunition will be significantly accelerated and expanded. This will provide the German industry with a substantial basis for planning for this decade, the Bundeswehr will have full stocks, and Ukraine will receive urgently needed supplies," share the government spokespersons. German production capacities for ammunition are to be significantly expanded. The Brigade Litauen is expected to be ready for deployment by 2027.
18:17 Zelenskyy: We want to know from Trump if US support will end after the electionUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asks Trump for clarity on how he intends to end the war in 24 hours. Zelenskyy states in an interview with "Bloomberg TV" that he is willing to meet with Trump and his team and listen to their proposals. "We want to know if we will have the powerful support of the USA after the elections in November or if we will be alone." The former US President and designated candidate for the upcoming presidential elections has repeatedly claimed that he can end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours. He never provided details. "If Trump knows how to end this war, he should tell us that today," says Zelenskyy: "If there are risks for Ukraine's independence and we lose our statehood - we want to be prepared, we want to know that."
17:39 ROSATOM Chief complains about Ukrainian attacks on nuclear power plant substationIn a drone attack on a substation at the southern Ukrainian Enerhodar, eight employees of the nearby Saporischschja Nuclear Power Plant were reportedly injured according to Russian statements. The men were engaged in repair work to restore power supply, says the head of the Russian Atomic Energy Agency, Alexei Likhachev. This not only compromises the safety principle of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), "it is a flagrant violation," Likhachev complains. The substation belongs to the infrastructure of the nuclear power plant and supplies the city with electricity. There were reportedly three drone attacks within an hour. He demands a reaction from the IAEA regarding the attack. Russia took control of Europe's largest nuclear power plant at the beginning of its offensive and has held it since then. The nuclear power plant is located on the southern bank of the Dnipro, the northern bank is controlled by Ukraine.
17:14 Video: Russian National Guards shoot at conscriptsIn the Russian city of Osinniki, conscripts are dancing on the roof of the draft board. This annoys the National Guards, who then attack the apparently drunk-looking men. Shots are heard, a woman falls to the ground. It is unclear whether she was hit by a crossfire.
16:39 Russian Army makes Tschassiw Jar quarter "level with the ground"According to Russian reports, the Russian Army is taking control of a district in the strategically important city of Tschassiw Jar in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donezk. The troops have reportedly "liberated" the neighborhood of Nowi, the Russian Defense Ministry announced. It is not known if the Russian soldiers were able to overcome a canal in the east of the small town that serves as a natural defensive line for the Ukrainian Army.
The military-affiliated news channel "DeepState" reports that the neighborhood has been "completely leveled to the ground." Further resistance would have resulted in heavy losses, it adds. Tschassiw Jar is approximately ten kilometers from Bachmut, which was captured by Russian troops in May 2023 after prolonged fighting. A breakthrough could give the Russian Army easier access to important mining towns in the Donbass still controlled by Ukraine, such as Kramatorsk.
16:04 Russian Intelligence: French "Agent" Vinatier confessesThe detained Frenchman Laurent Vinatier has confessed to the Russian security services, according to their statements, of gathering information about the Russian military. A worker for a Swiss non-governmental organization, Vinatier has reportedly admitted to his guilt "in full," the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) stated. Vinatier allegedly developed numerous contacts with military experts, scientists, and officials during his visits to Moscow. Through these contacts, the Frenchman reportedly collected "military and military-technical information that could be used against the security of the Russian Federation." Vinatier works for the Swiss non-governmental organization Zentrum für Humanitären Dialog (HD) and was arrested on June 6 in Moscow. He is charged with failing to register as a "foreign agent."
15:34 Video: Russians report massive Ukrainian drone attackThe Ukraine is attacking Noworossijsk, according to Russian reports, with drones from the air and water. The Russian Defense Ministry reports the downing of twelve objects. Sniper fire and explosions illuminate the night sky over the Black Sea port city on the shores of the Caucasus Mountains.
15:02 Poll: Ukrainians see Germany as conditionally reliable, fear US-Russian secret negotiationsAccording to a survey conducted nearly two and a half years into the war, almost half of the Ukrainians in the poll expressed concern that the USA could negotiate a peace plan with Russia behind their backs. Forty-seven percent share this fear, according to the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank, while forty-nine percent have little or no concern. The perception of allied partners in the defense war against Russia varies by country. Eighty-four percent view the United Kingdom as reliable or conditionally reliable, the highest percentage. Seventy-six percent felt this way about Germany, but only nineteen percent considered German support very reliable.
14:23 Scholz: Germany will not be a war party in the future
During the government questioning in the Bundestag, the topic of Ukraine also came up. When the Left faction's representative Gesine Lötzsch asks if Chancellor Olaf Scholz would give people "the guarantee" that Germany would not be a war party, Scholz replied: "Yes, I give this guarantee. I stand for that as Chancellor." As for when a ceasefire could be achieved, Lötzsch asked further. "In my opinion, a ceasefire that aims for Ukraine's capitulation is one that we cannot support from Germany," answered Scholz. This is not an abstract question, as one can see from Putin's "strange peace offer," he said. Putin had stated that he was ready for a ceasefire "if Ukraine also gives further annexations, in effect, for free on top." This shows "how cynically they think and that the Russian president does not at all intend to end his aggressive war." Putin speaks only of peace negotiations to continue the war. "We will not tolerate that," Scholz assured.
13:55 International Criminal Court investigates torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians in detention facilities in the formerly occupied territories and in Russia, according to the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform." The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office is working with the ICC on this matter. Ukrainian photographers Kostiantyn and Vlada Librov show on Instagram photos of Ukrainian soldiers who had fallen into Russian captivity and have since been freed. "This was the most difficult shooting of the last six months," the photographers wrote afterwards.
13:19 Russian postal workers to replace doctors in rural areas
Because there is not enough medical personnel in rural areas of Russia, postal workers are now taking on medical tasks in some regions. This was reported by the "Moscow Times" on Telegram. In rural post offices, medical stations and maternity wards are being set up. The postal workers are to diagnose patients and perform various medical procedures. Russian publicist Alexander Nevzorov described this practice as a return to the Middle Ages in an article in the "Kyiv Post."
12:58 NATO countries: No agreement on multi-year Ukraine aid
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg failed to convince NATO countries to make multi-year commitments for military aid to Ukraine. The 32 allies could only agree in the run-up to the Washington summit on providing support in the amount of at least 40 billion Euros within the next year. This was reported by the German Press Agency and relied on statements from several delegations.
12:24 Ukraine: 5 dead after attack on Dnipro
According to Ukrainian reports, the number of casualties from the Russian attack on Dnipro has risen to at least 5, with at least 39 people injured, including a 14-year-old girl. The attack reportedly used rockets and drones, causing several explosions and fires in the city. According to reports, a shopping mall and a weapons factory were hit.
11:31 Ukraine receives additional two billion from the IWFThe financially stricken Ukraine has received an additional tranche of over two billion Euro from the International Monetary Fund (IWF). The money is part of an ongoing credit program worth around 15 billion Euro. The money will be used by the government according to Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal, mainly for social aid and salaries of civil servants, including doctors and teachers. Since the Russian attack in February 2022, Ukraine has reportedly received over 80 billion Euro in financial aid from foreign partners in terms of household budget support.
11:01 Military base in Russian Kursk on fireVideos from the Russian city of Kursk show a large smoke cloud over the city. An Ukrainian attack is said to have set several vehicles on fire at a military base in the city. The regional governor has confirmed a fire in the city center.
10:40 Multiple civilians killed in Russian attacks in UkraineRussian troops shot at the village of Borova in the Charkiw region overnight, according to the Charkiw Military Administration on Telegram. They report that one man was killed and two others were injured. In a Russian rocket and drone attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, at least three people were reportedly killed and 18 others injured.
10:19 Kremlin denies talks with Trump over UkraineRussia is not in dialogue with former US President Donald Trump over Ukraine, according to the Kremlin. The Interfax news agency reported this, citing a spokesperson for the Russian Presidium. Trump had announced during a TV duel with President Joe Biden in the previous week that if he won the November election, he would resolve the war in Ukraine before his inauguration in January.
09:46 Ukraine lacks hangars to protect fighter jetsAccording to a report in the Ukrainian "Defense Express," the Ukrainian army does not have enough hangars to protect all its fighter jets from Russian attacks. The newspaper reports that a Ukrainian air force base in the Poltawa region does not have sufficient large hangar spaces for Su-27 fighter jets. Russian media have released footage of a recent air raid on the airfield, which shows several Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets damaged in the open. The Ukraine lacks hangars to protect all its fighter jets.
09:16 Defense committee approves purchase of 105 Leopard tanksThe Defense Committee of the German Bundestag will approve the purchase of 105 Leopard 2A8 combat tanks today. "We are exhausting all options," writes the new committee chairman Marcus Faber on the platform "X." "We are fully equipping the Brigade Litauen with combat tanks, replacing older Leo2 in the army, and creating space for further donations to Ukraine," adds the FDP politician. According to the proposal, the order has a volume of approximately three billion Euro. The defense company KNDS is expected to deliver the tanks to the Bundeswehr by 2030.
08:44 Russia: Ukrainian attack on Black Sea port repelled
According to Russian reports, two unmanned Ukrainian explosive boats attacked the Black Sea port of Novorossijsk but were repelled. The drones were destroyed in the Black Sea, the Defense Ministry reported. Novorossijsk is home to a large port of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, where Russia has stationed many of its warships used in the conflict with Ukraine after Ukrainian attacks on Crimean ports. The ministry did not comment on possible damages. The authorities in Novorossijsk urged people to stay in their homes and buildings during the night.
08:21 Most Ukrainians feel unity in society
Forty-four percent of Ukrainians believe that Ukrainian society is united at present, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology on July 2. A smaller group of interviewees, 15 percent, consider Ukrainian society to be divided. Corruption is cited as the main problem, followed by language issues. Unfairness during the war, collaboration, and Russophile sentiments are also seen as factors contributing to societal division.
07:55 Kremlin: Ten Ukrainian attack drones destroyed
Russia reportedly shot down ten Ukrainian attack drones over Russian territory. Five drones were shot down over the Belgorod border region, four over the Brjansk border region, and one over the Moscow region, according to the Defense Ministry on Telegram. Additionally, two Ukrainian reconnaissance drones were destroyed that had approached the Noworossijsk Black Sea port in the Krasnodar region.
07:20 Ukrainian General Staff: nearly 1200 Russian losses yesterday
The Ukrainian General Staff reported 1,180 losses on the Russian side in the past 24 hours. This includes 16 destroyed tanks, 17 armored vehicles, 57 artillery systems, and 63 tank and other vehicles. Two Russian air defense systems and a missile were also reportedly destroyed by the Ukrainians. The number of dead or wounded Russian soldiers since the full-scale invasion began is over 546,000.
06:48 Putin arrives at SOZ summit in Kazakhstan
Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Kazakhstan, according to Kremlin reports. He is participating in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) partners in the capital Astana. During the two-day meeting, issues of regional security, defense, and cooperation will be discussed. The heads of state and government of the SCO member states will discuss "the current situation and prospects for further deepening of multifaceted cooperation," according to Moscow. Putin plans to hold bilateral talks, including with China and Turkey. The summit is attended by representatives from 16 countries - including India, Iran, and Pakistan. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is also expected.
06:11 Ukraine continues to reject territorial concessions to Putin
According to the words of Andrij Yermak, the chief of staff of the Ukrainian president, Ukraine continues to categorically reject territorial concessions to Russia to end the war. "We are not willing to make compromises on important things and values," Yermak said to journalists and named "independence, freedom, democracy, territorial integrity, sovereignty." In response to statements from Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump, who claimed he could end the conflict quickly, the government in Kiev is open for advice to achieve a "just peace." Trump said during a television debate that he would not accept Putin's conditions. Putin had declared that Russia would end the war if Kiev was willing to surrender the territories claimed and occupied by Moscow in the east and south of the country. In response to a question about how Ukraine views Trump's handling of the war, Yermak replied: "Honestly speaking: I don't know. We'll see."
05:42 USA to provide new military aid for Ukraine
The Ukrainian military is in urgent need of supplies. The USA will make available to Ukraine, in the near future, additional military aid in the amount of around 2.3 billion US dollars (around 2.14 billion Euros) to counter the Russian attack war in Ukraine. This was announced by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a visit by his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umjerów in Washington. The package approved by US President Joe Biden includes "additional surface-to-air missiles, anti-tank weapons, and other important ammunition from US stocks," explained Austin. A "realignment of some foreign military deliveries" will also allow the USA to provide Munition for Patriot and other air defense systems "in an accelerated timeframe."
04:49 NATO expanding presence in Kiev
The NATO is expanding its civilian presence in the attacked Ukraine. As a spokesperson confirmed, the 32 alliance members have decided to send a type of special envoys to the capital Kiev. The high-ranking official is to coordinate the political and practical support of the alliance on site. The background is that the NATO intends to give the start signal for a new deployment at the upcoming summit in Washington for the coordination of weapons deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian armed forces. The headquarters for this should be built in Wiesbaden. Who will receive the new NATO post in Kiev is still not known.
03:42 UN calls for release of Gershkovich
Experts of the United Nations are calling for the immediate release of US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who is in custody in Russia on espionage charges. "The deprivation of liberty of Evan Gershkovich is arbitrary" and violates several articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the experts write in a statement. Taking into account the circumstances of the case, the "immediate" release of Gershkovich is appropriate.
02:40 Serbian President Vucic receives Russian deputy foreign ministerThe Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received the Russian deputy foreign minister Alexander Gruschko in Belgrade. He spoke with Gruschko about the bilateral relations between Serbia and Russia and assessed them as "very good", Vucic stated on Instagram. He also thanked Russia "for its support of Serbia's territorial integrity, as well as in relation to the UN Resolution on Srebrenica". Moscow still refuses to recognize Kosovo's independence. Serbia has been an EU membership candidate since 2012 but continues to maintain good relations with the Kreml despite the Russian annexation of Crimea.
01:29 Russian court sentences 19-year-old to twelve yearsA Russian court sentenced a 19-year-old man to twelve years in prison for "treason," after he was accused of donating money to the Ukrainian army. "The Rostov Regional Court found him guilty and sentenced him to a twelve-year term in a penal colony," according to a comment from the Russian domestic intelligence service FSB, which was picked up by state Kremlin media. The teenager is alleged to have sent money to help the Ukrainian army buy food and drones. Thousands of Russians have been arrested and many of them imprisoned since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. According to Amnesty International, at least 21,000 people were targeted with repressions against war opponents in 2023.
00:20 One quarter of US citizens find US aid to Ukraine insufficientAlmost a quarter of Americans believe that the United States is not providing enough military aid to Ukraine. This percentage has risen since November last year, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center. According to the survey, 24 percent of respondents believe that the United States is not providing enough aid, compared to 18 percent in November 2023 when the survey was last conducted. However, more Americans (31 percent) believe that the United States is providing too much aid, and 25 percent believe that the US aid is sufficient.
22:53 Lithuania reports airspace violation by Russian aircraftLithuania reports a violation of its airspace by a Russian aircraft. The unspecified aircraft of the Russian airline Pobeda allegedly entered the airspace of the Baltic EU and NATO member unlawfully in the evening of June 30 and stayed there for approximately one minute. The representative of the Russian embassy was summoned and the Russian authorities were urged to take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The airspace violation occurred over the Baltic Sea, as the aircraft was on its way from Moscow to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad bordering Lithuania. The EU has closed its airspace to Russian aircraft as a reaction to Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
22:12 Survey in Member States: High Trust in NATO, Low Trust in Zelenskyy
Coming Week, NATO Celebrates its 75-year Anniversary. In member states, the transatlantic defense alliance is generally well-regarded, according to a Pew Research survey. On average in 13 countries, 63 percent of the population holds a positive view, while 33 percent hold a negative one. Germany stands out with 64 percent positive sentiment, just above the average. Exceptional is the assessment in Poland, where 91 percent hold a positive image of the alliance. The trust in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands at an average of 40 percent and has decreased in member states in the past year. Poland once again stands out, where the head of state has lost 22 percentage points - from 70 to 48 percent. In Germany, trust has decreased by 7 percentage points to 54 percent.
21:27 Zelenskyy Rejects Orban's Peace Proposal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected a peace proposal from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for peace talks, according to the Zelenskyy presidency spokesperson. During his first visit to Kiev since the war began, Orbán proposed a rapid ceasefire, which could "accelerate peace negotiations with Moscow," he said. "The president listened, but in response, he clarified Ukraine's position and rejected the proposal," the spokesperson said. Previously, Kiev had already rejected ceasefires, citing the risk that Russian forces could regroup during this time.
21:02 Ukraine: Moscow Recruits Minors
Russia is actively recruiting minors for the war in Ukraine, according to Ukraine. The recruitment contracts are reportedly being signed with minors, taking effect upon reaching adulthood. "They hope to recruit tens of thousands of teenagers with propaganda," says the Ukrainian agency "National Resistance Center": "We warn that any enemy on our territory will be eliminated." Russia also employs minors on occupied Ukrainian territory, for instance, to manufacture drones.
You can read about previous developments here.
- Despite the intensive cyberwar attacks against Ukraine, Volodymyr Selensky and his government continue to seek international support, including military aid from NATO.
- The conflict in Ukraine has resulted in increased electricity imports from neighboring countries, with Hungary becoming the largest supplier, as Russia intensified its attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure in the spring.
- The Cyberwar against Ukraine has put a significant strain on the country's military operations, with the largest private energy company, DTEK, producing 90% less electricity since mid-May due to the ransomware attacks.
- The attack on Ukraine's power grid has made the country highly dependent on imports, with severe electricity rationing causing a shortfall of 9.5 million MWh in the first half of 2024 compared to the previous year.
- The geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine have sparked various military responses, including Lithuania's decision to withdraw from the international agreement on stream ammunition, seeking to enhance its defense capabilities against potential attacks.
