21:54 "Autumn is in the sign of results" - Ukraine plans new agreements
In his evening video address, Prime Minister Selenskyj announces that he is working on new bilateral security agreements and multilateral arrangements that will undoubtedly strengthen Ukraine. August is the time for preparation, and autumn is the time for results. Selenskyj also thanks the USA for a new support package, which includes NASAMS air defense missiles, "which are always in high demand." Additionally, ammunition for HIMARS and Javelins is included.
21:19 Selenskyj: Ukraine cannot object if the world wants Russia at the negotiating tableIn an interview with the French newspaper "Le Monde," Ukrainian President Selenskyj says, "I - like most countries - believe that Russian representatives must be present at the second peace summit in November, as we will not achieve any useful results otherwise. I don't want them to hinder us from working out a common plan. If the whole world wants them at the table, then we cannot object." Russia was not invited to the first peace summit in Switzerland. Moscow has recently indicated that it does not want to participate in a second event.**
20:28 Russia finds another close partner in the worldIn Moscow, President Vladimir Putin received the elected Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for talks on expanding relations between the two countries. Despite Western sanctions against Russia, trade between the two countries has doubled, Putin says. There is hope for further growth through a fundamentally signed free trade agreement between Indonesia and the Eurasian Economic Union led by Russia. Prabowo welcomed the fact that the state airline Aeroflot plans direct flights to the popular Russian holiday island of Bali. He also expressed interest in cooperation with the Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom. "We talked about small modules and also about large reactors," he says.**
19:45 "Nonsensical populism" - sharp criticism of SPD politician after Russia statementsThe Russian side keeps hinting that it is not really interested in peace, but rather wants to achieve its war goals and subjugate Ukraine entirely or in large parts. SPD MP Ralf Stegner still believes that one must engage in negotiations with Russia, as he says in the WDR. "That's difficult, I know, but armament is the worst option we can have," he says. Political scientist Thomas Jäger has sharp criticism of the statements on Twitter: "The argumentation cannot even be considered learning-resistant in the face of Moscow's behavior. That's nonsensical populism," he writes. Security expert Gustav Gressel supports Jäger by sharing the post.**
19:16 Breakthrough attempts - Russian troops increase pressureRussian troops are increasing pressure on defenders in eastern Ukraine. As reported by the General Staff in Kyiv in its daily situation report, Ukrainian positions near Torezk and Pokrovsk were repeatedly shelled while Russian soldiers attempted a breakthrough. Russian military has been focusing on this front section in the Donbass for some time, aiming to break through Ukrainian lines and capture important supply routes behind them. According to the Ukrainian account, the Russian attacks were repelled.
18:44 Is an imminent prisoner exchange between Germany, the USA, Russia, and Belarus imminent?Amidst speculation about an impending prisoner exchange between Russia and the USA, a court in Slovenia has sentenced two Russian citizens to over a year and a half in prison on suspicion of espionage. The couple pleaded guilty to "espionage and forgery of documents," the Ljubljana District Court ruled. The court also ordered their expulsion. A report by the Slovenian news platform N1 Info states, citing anonymous sources, that the two are part of a larger prisoner exchange between Russia, the USA, Germany, and Belarus, which is expected to take place in the coming hours.
18:03 First Western F-16 fighter jets reportedly arrive in UkraineThe Ukraine has received the first of the long-awaited F-16 jets. Bloomberg News reports this, citing sources familiar with the matter. However, it is said to be only a small number of the fighter jets from US production. The Ukrainian Air Force does not initially respond to a Reuters request. The Ukrainian army hopes that the aircraft will effectively combat Russian air attacks, but this year, Kyiv will likely only be able to deploy a few F-16s due to a shortage of trained pilots and maintenance personnel.
17:47 Former US soldier imprisoned in Russia goes missingAmidst speculation about an impending prisoner exchange, the lawyer of the former US soldier Paul Whelan, who is imprisoned in Russia, is checking on his whereabouts. A lawyer for the similarly imprisoned Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Mursa reports that a visit to his client has been denied for the second day in a row. "I have received inquiries from journalists asking where Paul (Whelan) is," explains the lawyer Olga Karlova to the Russian agency Interfax. She sent a request to the administration of his penal colony, but it did not respond. The 54-year-old former US soldier Paul Whelan, who also holds British, Irish, and Canadian citizenship, has been in Russian custody since December 2018. Whelan denies the espionage charges against him and claims he was set up by an acquaintance.
16:58 Russian Foreign Ministry indirectly threatens German companyThe German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall plans to build a munitions factory in the Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry comments on this with an indirect threat; spokesman Andrei Nastasyin emphasizes that "every factory is a legitimate target":
16:17 Another Finnish volunteer soldier falls in UkraineThe fourth Finnish volunteer soldier has fallen in the war in Ukraine. The news site Yle reports this, citing the association "Sodan kokeneet ry" (War Veterans Association). According to the association, the Finn died in mid-July north of Donetsk. The Finnish authorities confirm this information. The family of the deceased soldier has been notified. The director of the association, Juha Kreus, says that the association works with the Finnish and Ukrainian authorities. On its Facebook page, the association states that it helps volunteers who are fighting in Ukraine and their families. Previously, three Finns who were fighting on the side of the Ukrainian forces were reportedly killed in Ukraine.
15:29 "Kremlin lies" - UK Defense Ministry sees Russian strugglesThe war against Ukraine is making the Russian economy thrive, especially in the defense industry, according to reports from the country. However, the UK Defense Ministry dismisses this, citing problems such as inflation double the central bank's target, unsustainable growth, and overheating. High interest rates are making Russia an unattractive place for investments, and the country is drawing from its sovereign fund to finance rising war costs, the ministry says.
15:00 Ukraine could produce millions of drones per yearUkraine currently has the capacity to produce three million drones per year, according to Anna Gvozdiar, deputy minister for strategic industries. However, funding is required, she adds. Drones are a crucial tool in Ukraine's defense against the Russian invasion, with some being funded by foreign donations and produced by volunteers.
14:28 Germany delivers more Leopard tanks to Czech RepublicAs compensation for military aid to Ukraine, Germany is delivering 14 more Leopard 2A4 battle tanks and one Buffalo-3 armored recovery vehicle to the Czech Republic. Both sides have signed final documents for the deal, the Czech Defense Ministry reports. The first tanks are expected by the end of the year, with the rest by early 2026. This follows the delivery of 15 tanks in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, the NATO country plans to buy more Leopard 2A4 and 2A8 tanks as part of its military modernization, with talks ongoing.
13:49 SBU suspects Putin's close associates of aiding war against UkraineThe Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has issued a suspicion notice to one of Russian leader Vladimir Putin's closest associates, Alexei Dyumin, and Russia's deputy defense minister, Yunitsky Bek Yevkurov. According to "RBC-Ukraine," Dyumin, a former Putin bodyguard and current State Council secretary, is suspected of mobilizing the Tula region for combat operations in Ukraine. Yevkurov, meanwhile, is suspected of training contract soldiers and mobilized personnel for combat in Ukraine.
13:06 Russia Initiates "Third Phase" of Tactical Nuclear Weapon ExercisesRussia has begun the third phase of exercises aimed at testing the readiness of its forces to deploy non-strategic nuclear weapons, according to the Kyiv Independent, citing a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense. Units from the central and southern military districts are involved, including those stationed in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. "During this phase of the exercise, personnel from the rocket formations of the southern and central military districts will conduct combat training, including the acquisition of special training ammunition for the Iskander-M tactical missile systems," the ministry said. The first phase of the exercises began in May. Russian President Vladimir Putin presented this as a response to alleged, unspecified "provocative statements" from the West.
12:45 Authorities: Russians Hold Children from Luhansk in Military CampsChildren from the occupied Bilowodsk in the Luhansk region are being held in a Russian military camp in the Novosibirsk region of the Russian Federation. There, they are being taught by military personnel how to handle firearms and drills. Ukrinform reports this, citing the Facebook page of the state regional administration of Luhansk. According to the head of the regional state administration, Artem Lysohor, schoolchildren from the Russian-occupied Bilowodsk are still in the military-patriotic tent camp of the "Youth Army" set up in the Novosibirsk region. "Sending children aged 11 to 17 to this camp, where combat officers teach them tactics, fire, and drill, is considered benevolent assistance in the Russian Federation," says Lysohor.
12:30 Duma Legalizes Cryptocurrency Mining to Evade SanctionsThe Duma has passed a law legalizing cryptocurrency mining in Russia, Meduza reports, citing the website of the lower house of the Russian parliament. The document published there allows Russian legal entities and individual entrepreneurs registered in the relevant register to engage in cryptocurrency mining. Individuals who do not exceed the energy consumption limits set by the government can mine cryptocurrencies without being included in the register.
12:06 Putin Doubles One-Time Payment for War ServiceRussia is offering more money to attract more volunteers for its war against Ukraine. According to a decree signed by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, anyone who signs a contract for frontline service between August 1 and December 31 will receive a one-time payment of 400,000 rubles (around 4,200 euros), more than double the previous amount of 195,000 rubles. In addition, there is a monthly salary that is significantly higher than the Russian average income. Since a forced mobilization of reservists in the fall of 2022, Russia has mainly relied on financial incentives to attract soldiers for the war. Many regions offer cash bonuses for signing contracts. For example, the city of Moscow set a one-time premium of 1.9 million rubles (about 20,300 euros) for contracts lasting one year or longer this month.
11:30 Russian sentenced to seven years in prison for attempted arson in recruitment office
A man in Russia has been sentenced to seven years in prison. The Russian is accused of attempting to set fire to a recruitment office. Additionally, the military court of the southern district of Russia charges him with maintaining connections to the "Liberty of Russia" legion. The court finds him guilty of attempted terrorism and collaboration "on a confidential basis with a representative of a foreign state." The "Liberty of Russia" legion was founded in Ukraine in March 2022. It is an armed group of Russians fighting on the side of Ukrainian forces against Russia. Its members have also carried out cross-border actions in Russia and, according to reports, sabotage operations within the country.
11:06 Fire after Ukrainian strike on weapons depot in Kursk
After a Ukrainian attack on the Russian border region of Kursk, a fire broke out in a warehouse for weapons and military equipment. The General Staff in Kyiv reports via Telegram that the strike was carried out using a modified rocket system of the Ukrainian Navy. Explosions were observed at the target. The Navy has anti-ship missiles of the Neptune type, which can reach targets up to 300 kilometers away. Kursk is only slightly over 80 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Previously, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that a cruise missile of this type had been shot down over the Kursk region. The fire has been contained, according to the governor of the region, Alexei Smirnov. Additionally, according to Russian military reports, a total of 19 Ukrainian drones were shot down over the cities of Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Kaluga, Rostov, and the annexed Crimea.
10:36 Munz on Russia's war tactics: Motorcycle attacks "follow a certain pattern"
The sightings of Russian soldiers on motorcycles in Ukraine are increasing, with observers seeing this as evidence that Russia is running out of armored vehicles. ntv correspondent Rainer Munz disagrees and explains the strategy behind these attacks.
10:02 Reisner: Russia could have lost up to 750,000 soldiers in Ukraine
Russia could have already suffered 500,000 to 750,000 casualties, including up to 150,000 killed, in its war against Ukraine, according to Markus Reisner, an Austrian Armed Forces colonel, in an interview with the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform." "Recently, an interesting study was published that, in my opinion, is very well-researched. It suggests that perhaps 100,000 to 150,000 Russian soldiers have already been killed," says Reisner. Considering the lessons of military history and "the fact that there are about 3-4 times more wounded than killed," the losses are enormous, the military expert estimates. "And that's realistic given the intensity of the conflict," he says, also noting that the Ukrainian side has suffered "very heavy losses." Kyiv reports current Russian losses of 578,120 military personnel (see entry at 07:35).
09:24 Ukraine: Weapons depot in Russian region Kursk attackedThe Ukrainian military reports that it has attacked a weapons and military equipment depot in the Russian region of Kursk overnight. Kursk borders Ukraine and has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian fire. On Monday night, the Ukrainian military reported attacking a Russian oil depot in the region. "Intelligence reports indicate that a fire broke out at the enemy's facility as a result of the attack," the Ukrainian General Staff said on Facebook yesterday.
08:55 Kyiv reports one of the most intense Russian drone attacks since the start of the warThe Russian military attacked targets in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and other parts of the country with dozens of combat drones overnight. "Over 40 enemy drones were shot down over Kyiv and the outskirts of the capital in two waves," the Kyiv military administration said on Telegram. Not a single drone reached its target in the capital. The agency described the attack as one of the strongest on Ukraine during the entire war. Overall, there was an air alert in the three-million-strong city for over eight hours overnight (see also entries at 06:33 and 23:52). Russian drone attacks were also reported in other regions. Six were shot down over the southeastern Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk - four more over the region of Mykolajiw in the south of the country. A general overview of the Ukrainian air defense's operations overnight is still pending.
08:36 Ukraine reports 144 engagements along the frontline over the past dayOver the past day, there were 144 engagements along the frontline, according to the spokesperson of the Ukrainian General Staff, Dmytro Hutsulyak. "Over the past day, there were 144 combat engagements. Over the past day, Russian terrorists carried out a total of 1 missile attack with 1 missile on our troops' positions and residential areas, as well as 85 air strikes. During this time, 141 guided aerial bombs were dropped. In addition, more than 4,350 attacks were carried out, 90 of which were with multiple launch rocket systems," Hutsulyak said in the program "United News".
08:09 Governor: Man dies from Russian shelling in KhersonRussian forces shelled the outskirts of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson in the morning. A man was killed and a woman injured, the governor of the Kherson region, Roman Mrochko, wrote in a post on Telegram. According to him, the Russian army shelled the outskirts of Kherson from the occupied left bank of the Dnipro River. A 68-year-old man was fatally injured. Rescue workers reportedly retrieved his body from the rubble. A 73-year-old woman suffered a concussion and head injuries from an explosion. She was provided with medical assistance at the scene, the post said.
07:35 Ukraine Reports Over 1000 Russian Losses in a Day
Russia has lost 1060 soldiers, 30 artillery systems, 20 armored combat vehicles, and 9 tanks in the past day, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its Facebook update. The total combat losses of Russian forces since the start of the invasion on February 24, 2022, are 578,120 military personnel, 8,390 tanks, 16,161 armored combat vehicles, 16,086 artillery systems, 1,131 multiple launch rocket systems, 907 air defense systems, 363 fixed-wing aircraft, 326 helicopters, 12,853 strategic and tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, 2,407 cruise missiles, 28 ships and boats, 1 submarine, 21,739 vehicles and fuel tanks, and 2,697 special vehicles and other equipment. These figures cannot be independently verified. Russia does not provide information on its losses.
07:14 Ukraine Spots Two Russian Warships with Cruise Missiles in the Black Sea
Russia is reportedly maintaining two warships in the Black Sea armed with up to eight Kalibr cruise missiles each, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. There are no enemy ships in the Azov Sea. In the Mediterranean Sea, Russia has two warships, one of which is armed with up to 16 Kalibr cruise missiles, it is reported. However, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy, Dmytro Pletenchuk, told "RBC-Ukraine" that it is unlikely that Russia would dare to fire missiles from the Mediterranean at Ukraine, as such an action would violate NATO airspace.
06:33 Massive Drone Attack on Kyiv - Over 30 Drones Intercepted
The Ukrainian air defense intercepted more than 30 Russian drones over Kyiv overnight, according to the military administration of the capital on Telegram. This is one of the most massive drone attacks on Ukraine since the start of the war. Explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital, Reuters reported, citing eyewitnesses. The detonations sounded like air defense systems repelling enemy flight objects. An air raid alert had been sounded in Kyiv and parts of Ukraine earlier (see entry from 23:52). "This was the seventh enemy drone attack on Kyiv in July," wrote Serhii Popko, head of the military administration of the city, in a post. The air raid alarm lasted for more than seven hours. Enemy drones infiltrated Kyiv in waves from almost all possible directions, it was reported. There is no information available about possible damage or casualties.
04:38 Pistorius on new US weapons: It's about 'real deterrence'
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius dismisses criticism of the German government's approach to the agreement with the US on the deployment of long-range weapons. He sees no objection to discussing this topic openly in the Bundestag, but emphasizes that it is not a matter that should have been previously debated in parliament. "It's not comparable to the NATO Double-Track Decision from the 1980s," he says. At the recent NATO summit in Washington, the US and Germany announced the deployment of Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons from 2026 onwards, justified as a response to threats from Russia. Pistorius stresses that these are conventional weapons not intended to be equipped with nuclear warheads. "We must emphasize this clearly to reassure those who are concerned." The deployment is about "real deterrence," the defense minister says (see also the criticism by former SPD chairman Norbert Walter-Borjans in the 22:05 entry).
02:33 Finnish volunteer killed in Ukraine
A Finnish volunteer fighting on the side of Ukraine has been killed in the northern Donetsk region in mid-July, the Finnish War Veterans' Association reports. The authorities have informed his family. He is the fourth Finnish citizen to have been killed in Ukraine. In February, the Finnish Foreign Ministry reported that 20 to 30 Finns were serving at the Ukrainian front.
23:52 Air Force reports numerous drones over Ukraine
The Ukrainian army has sounded air raid alerts in several regions overnight as Russia attacks the country from multiple directions with drones. An explosion was heard in Kyiv, according to reporters from the "Kyiv Independent". It is not yet clear whether the capital has been hit.
22:05 Medium-range missiles from the US in Germany: Former SPD leader criticizes 'solo move'
Former SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans regrets the lack of debate over the planned stationing of US weapons in Germany. "The fact that such a far-reaching decision is practically not debated, that it is made and announced more or less unilaterally, is problematic," he says in an interview with the "Deutschlandfunk". He also questions whether such a move would actually enhance security or, conversely, make Germany a target for a first strike. Recently, the White House and the German government announced that the US would resume stationing weapons systems in Germany from 2026 that can reach far into Russia. These include Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons.
21:35 Ukrainians face less "condemnation" for contact with Russian occupiersMany Ukrainians live in their own country under Russian occupation, inevitably coming into contact with the invaders of the brutal illegal war - something that elsewhere is frowned upon or seen as treason. However, "Ukraine is currently experiencing a decrease in the level of condemnation towards citizens from temporarily occupied areas for their various forms of communication with the occupation authorities," says Daria Svyrydova, member of the Advisory Board for De-Occupation and Reintegration of the Crimea regions, at an event in the Media Center Ukraine. "In general, the Ukrainian population considers possible communication of people in the occupation acceptable in certain situations." According to Svyrydova, this is an important factor for future reintegration processes and an indication of what the state should focus on in developing reintegration policy. Many people believe in a "shared future with the people in the temporarily occupied territories," says Svyrydova.
20:54 Reports of large fire in Russian arms factoryAmong others, the Ukrainian medium Euromaidan Press reports on a fire in a factory in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg. The factory produces parts for military rockets, according to the report. The factory has been under Western sanctions since 2014 and is an important actor in the Russian defense industry. There has been no official confirmation yet, and the authenticity of the videos on social media has not been confirmed. The cause of the fire is also unknown.
20:32 Zelensky visits troops at border with BelarusUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky inspects the fortifications and defensive positions of his troops at the border with Belarus. Accompanied by senior military officials during his working visit to the Volhynia region, as reported by the presidential administration in Kyiv, "The head of the state border guard service, Serhiy Deineko, reports on the protection of the border, including the number of soldiers involved, their skills and weapons," the statement said. Zelensky gets a firsthand look at the construction of fortifications, trenches, and shelters. "We have a strong defense, both in terms of personnel and defensive lines," he says. "And we will continue to strengthen it." Ukrainian military forces have significantly reinforced the border with neighboring Belarus in recent months.
You can read all previous developments here.**
The Commission plays a role in the second peace summit in November, as Selenskyj believes that Russian representatives should be present to achieve useful results.
The Commission is mentioned in an interview with Ukrainian President Selenskyj, where he expresses his belief that Russia's representatives should be at the second peace summit to work out a common plan.
