22:04 Ukraine is pulling dozens of citizens out of Lebanon
Latest: U.S. and UK Urge Citizens to Leave Lebanon Amid Middle East Tensions
The U.S. and the U.K. have advised their citizens to leave Lebanon as soon as possible due to escalating security concerns in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Kyiv also appears worried about the safety of its citizens. According to the "Kyiv Independent," the country's military intelligence and foreign ministry have already evacuated the first 30 Ukrainians from Lebanon. The ongoing evacuation was ordered by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the report said.
21:20 Ukrainian Fencer, Who Once Refused Handshake, Leads Team to Olympic Victory
After winning bronze in individual competition, fencer Olha Charlan led the Ukrainian sabre team to victory and the first gold medal for the war-torn country in Paris. Charlan, along with Julija Bakastova and Alina Komaschuk, defeated South Korea 45-42 in the final. Japan took bronze. No German team qualified. The 33-year-old Charlan is one of the biggest stars on the Ukrainian Olympic team. Last year, she made headlines when she refused to shake hands with her Russian opponent, Anna Smirnova, at the World Fencing Championships in Milan. Charlan was disqualified, and the incident gained international attention.
20:23 Residents Film Attack on Russian Military Airbase in Morosovsk
Residents in the Russian city of Morosovsk have filmed multiple explosions and large fires: Ukraine has attacked the local military airbase with drones, with the Russian side reporting 55 drones in the area. A munitions warehouse was reportedly damaged in the attack.
19:34 Ukrainian Ombudsman Intervenes Over Photo Allegedly Showing Brutal Mutilation
Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinez has announced that he has filed a complaint with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations in response to a photo allegedly showing the body of a Ukrainian prisoner of war executed by Russia. The "Kyiv Independent" reports that the photo, currently circulating on social media with pixels, shows a body with its head, arms, and legs cut off. The "Kyiv Independent" has not yet verified the authenticity of the photo.
18:32 Freed German-Russian: "The Prison Warden Told Me on the First Day..."
Recently, over a dozen people imprisoned in Russia have been released to the West as part of a prisoner exchange, including several Germans. Kevin Lick, who holds both German and Russian citizenship, told "Bild" about his prison ordeal. "On the first day, the prison warden told me to my face: 'I know you sneaky bastards. Watch how you behave here with me,'" Lick was quoted as saying. "I spent two months in solitary confinement." Lick said he occasionally smiled in prison, which prompted fellow inmates to ask what he had to smile about. He said he was an optimist, according to the interview. The 19-year-old was arrested in the south of Russia in February 2023. He was accused of taking photos of a military unit and sending them to a representative of a foreign state. Court representatives said Lick opposed the war in Ukraine. He was sentenced to four years in prison for treason.
17:27 Sacharowa: Threats against Crimean Bridge could be part of US election campaignRussia sees recent Ukrainian threats to blow up the Crimean Bridge as a possible part of the US presidential election campaign, according to statements by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, as reported by TASS. She commented on remarks by Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, who recently said his country was working on a "complex solution" to destroy the Kerch Bridge on the Russian-occupied Crimea within the next few months. Zakharova said that Budanov "surprisingly specified a timeframe of several months." "Perhaps this is part of the US election campaign, where strong evidence of the successes of the White House and Kiev authorities is needed," she added.
16:42 Ukrainian military: Submarine "Rostov-on-Don" sunkUkraine claims to have sunk a Russian submarine and damaged an air defense system in attacks on the annexed Crimea. The Ukrainian military stated that the submarine "Rostov-on-Don" was sunk in the port of Sevastopol, and an S-400 missile system was significantly damaged. There has been no response from the Russian side yet. The "Rostov-on-Don" was reportedly heavily damaged in a previous incident in September 2021.
16:10 Russian jets over Baltic Sea - German Eurofighters conduct "Alpha Scramble"On Saturday, there was a joint deployment of the air force with Swedish NATO colleagues over the Baltic Sea near Latvia due to initially unidentifiable Russian combat aircraft. Two German Eurofighters and two Swedish aircraft took off as a precaution to make contact with the pilots, as the machines were heading towards the NATO country of Latvia. The transponders were turned off, and the pilots did not respond to radio calls. Additionally, the flight plan of the machines had not been communicated, which is unusual in the heavily trafficked Baltic Sea area. The German and Swedish military aircraft then took off for a so-called "Alpha Scramble" (real alert takeoff) to find out "what's going on, what kind of aircraft they are," the spokesman said. Once the machines turned back later, the NATO operation was also ended.
15:24 Memorial co-founder Sherbakova delighted by release of detaineesIrina Sherbakova, co-founder of the Russian human rights organization Memorial, welcomed the release of detainees in Russia as part of the prisoner exchange agreed with Moscow. "We were very happy yesterday that these people are now safe and free," she told WDR 5. Everyone in Russian camps or prisons is in danger of their lives. In Sherbakova's view, Russian President Vladimir Putin is sending two signals with the prisoner exchange: "That Putin is hugging someone, we haven't seen that before," she said, referring to the greeting of the released Russians in Moscow by the president. "That's obviously the sign of what's important and dear to him, and it's supposed to show, we don't abandon our own." The second signal is that "you can negotiate with me."
14:34 Disinformation Campaign about Baerbock and Nigerian GigoloA bizarre story is currently causing a stir on social media and has even prompted a reaction from the Foreign Office. It's about an alleged prostitute who, in a video on a Nigerian news site, talks about how he runs his business with his clients, whom he claims are mostly emotionally hungry white European women. The ironic part is that he mentions a special client who is a powerful minister. Casually, he drops the name "Annalena". Several channels and portals, whose shoddiness has since been exposed by journalists from t-online, then share the story. There is an article on the site "zeitgeschenen.de", which operates without an imprint, with the title "Where do German tax dollars go? Baerbock makes sex tourism with an African prostitute on official trips". t-online assumes, based on the publication and distribution history of the story and the involved actors in social media, that it is a fabricated scandal story created by pro-Russian agents. Fake news, in other words. The Foreign Office states in response to the medium's inquiry that the report is "false, made up, and completely absurd".
13:54 Ukraine Records 120 Engagements Along the Front Line in One DayAccording to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, more than 120 engagements were recorded along the front line in Ukraine in the last 24 hours. "Yesterday, the enemy carried out a rocket attack with three rockets on positions of Ukrainian units and residential areas, as well as 80 air strikes with 114 guided air bombs. Furthermore, the enemy carried out 4,693 artillery attacks, including 93 with multiple launch rocket systems," the situation report reads.
13:25 Russia: 75 Ukrainian Drones Shot DownAfter the nighttime attacks by Ukraine on Russian territory, the Russian Ministry of Defense in Moscow reports that 75 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight. While these figures are not independently verifiable, the number suggests a larger attack involving drone swarms.
13:00 Hired by Wagner Group: Two Men Charged in LondonTwo more men have been charged with arson in London on behalf of the Russian private army Wagner. This is in connection with an arson attack on a commercial property in East London in March. The affected company is said to have ties to Ukraine. The authorities have charged the 22 and 19-year-old suspects under a new security law. The law is intended to enable a tougher response to hostile actions against the UK, including espionage. The Wagner Group is banned as a terrorist organization in the UK. Five other men had already been charged in this case. A 20-year-old is said to have orchestrated attacks and hired and paid other men on behalf of Wagner. A court hearing is scheduled for early October.
12:42 SPD Politician Wiese: Germans Should Not Travel to RussiaThe deputy chairman of the SPD parliamentary group, Dirk Wiese, warns against traveling to Russia and Belarus. "Constructed allegations and legal accusations, such as in tax evasion cases, are not uncommon," he told the Tagesspiegel. Russian President Vladimir Putin is deliberately using the instrumentalization of innocent people.
12:21 Amnesty: Don't Forget More Prisoners in RussiaAfter the unprecedented prisoner exchange between Russia and the West, Amnesty International is calling on the German government to push for more releases of political prisoners in Moscow. "The German government must advocate just as loudly and clearly for their release," says Christian Mihr, deputy secretary general of the organization, in Deutschlandfunk. Human rights groups estimate there are around 700 political prisoners in Russian jails, with some putting the number above 1,000. "We must not forget about them," Mihr warns.
11:47 London: Russian Losses Remain HighThe UK expects Russian casualties to remain high due to ongoing attacks in Ukraine. In August, the British Ministry of Defense reports, it is likely that more than 1,000 Russian soldiers will continue to be killed or wounded daily on average. This is due to sustained offensives across a broad front between Kharkiv in the northeast and Robotyne in the south. In the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine, the Russians have consolidated their positions, the UK reports, which has slightly reduced their losses.
11:25 Pianist and War Opponent Kuschnir Dies in Russian CustodyRussian pianist and war opponent Pavel Kuschnir has died in a detention center in Birobidzhan in the Far East of the country, human rights activists report. The 39-year-old died from the consequences of a hunger strike, according to the Russian human rights portal OVD-Info. In Germany, pianist Olga Shkrygunova, a long-time acquaintance, confirms Kuschnir's death on Facebook. The artist worked at the Philharmonic in Birobidzhan and was reportedly arrested at the end of May on charges of extremism. Kuschnir had openly expressed his opposition to Russia's attack on neighboring Ukraine, wrote a book against the war, and ran a small YouTube channel with antifascist manifestos.
11:06 Zelensky: Russia Used Over 600 Guided Bombs This WeekAccording to Ukrainian President Zelensky, Russia has attacked his country with more than 600 guided bombs this week alone. "Russian air forces must be destroyed everywhere they are located with all effective means," Zelensky says. Therefore, it is also fair to attack Russian military airfields. "And we need this joint solution with our partners." This is necessary for the security of Ukraine.
10:41 Ukraine Confirms Attack on Russian Military AirbaseThe Ukrainian military confirms the attack on the Russian military airbase Morosovsk (see entry 06:40), initially reported by Russia. In the attack in the Russian border region of Rostov, a munitions depot containing guided bombs was hit, the military reports. Additionally, several oil and fuel depots in the Russian border regions of Belgorod, Kursk, and Rostov were attacked, with two oil tanks catching fire. The Russian side reports no casualties.
10:17 Report: "Diplomat among Spies" was Scholz's Chief Negotiator in the DealGermany played a central role in the prisoner exchange between Western states and Russia and Belarus. According to a report by the "Wall Street Journal", the Russian and American intelligence services initially negotiated bilaterally. When the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny threatened to derail the talks, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reportedly stepped in. The German negotiating team was led by Philipp Wolff, the vice president for central tasks of the foreign intelligence service BND, who is known in security circles as "the diplomat among spies" according to the "Wall Street Journal". "His unusual method of easing tensions in negotiations: He offers chocolate bars, which he carries in his briefcase," the newspaper writes. Under German influence, the deal, in which Germany, for example, released the Tiergarten murderer Wadim Krasikow, was concluded.
09:47 Ukraine Reports Shelling in 14 Regions - Five DeadRussian attacks on Ukraine over the past day have resulted in five deaths and eleven injuries, according to Ukrainian reports. A total of 14 regions were attacked, the "Kyiv Independent" reports. According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia shot down 29 drones of the Shahed type from various locations in the night. 24 drones were intercepted by Ukrainian forces.
09:26 Zelensky: Heaviest Fighting Currently in PokrovskIn his evening video message, Zelensky said he had been briefed by the commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrsky, on the situation at the front. The heaviest fighting is currently taking place in Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. There, a strong response is needed against the Russian occupiers, Zelensky said. Despite Russian assaults, the soldiers are holding their ground and ensuring protection in the entire east of the country. Defense efforts are also not letting up in the Kharkiv region and other parts.
08:56 Green Politician Alarmist over Hungary's Visa EasementsGreen Party interior policy spokesman Marcel Emmerich warns of the danger from Russia. "Therefore, it must be ensured that through thorough and strict visa checks, Russian spies and saboteurs do not gain access," he told the "Tagesspiegel" and added: "Against this background, the planned easing of visa requirements for Russians and Belarusians in Hungary is causing great concern and could require action."
08:22 CDU Politician Hardt: This Must Have Been the Last Prisoner DealAfter the largest prisoner exchange between Russia, Germany, the USA, and other Western states since the end of the Cold War, politicians fear that hostage diplomacy could become a trend. "This exchange of lawfully convicted criminals on the Western side and political hostages on the Russian and Belarusian side must have been the last one," said the foreign policy spokesman of the Union faction, Jürgen Hardt, to the "Tagesspiegel". He has great concern that Putin could take more Western citizens hostage "to potentially press for the release of more Russian criminals."
07:54 Report: Hundreds of Ukrainian Doctors Wait in Germany for Licensing
Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, at least 1674 fleeing Ukrainian doctors have applied for licensing to practice in Germany, according to a media report. The "World on Sunday" reported this after querying the responsible authorities in all federal states. So far, only 187 applications have been approved, and 1402 are still being processed. The numbers are based on responses from 14 states, with incomplete data provided by Bremen and Hesse. The waiting times are not only long for Ukrainians, the newspaper writes. Between the application submission by doctors from countries outside the European Union and the approval of their license, it typically takes between 15 months and three years.
07:29 Russia: Oil Depot in Belgorod Hit by Drone
According to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, an oil depot in the Russian region of Belgorod was hit by a drone overnight, leading to an explosion and a tank fire. Firefighters extinguished the fire, and there were no injuries, Gladkov said. Ukraine has not yet commented on this.
07:04 Zelenskyy Wants to Streamline Military
After more than two years of fighting against Russia's invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced plans to streamline the military. "We are preparing new, completely modern solutions for our fighters that will definitely eliminate a lot of unnecessary bureaucracy and paperwork in the units," Zelenskyy said in his evening video address from Kyiv. He made the announcement after a meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Defense. He did not provide details.
06:40 Governors: Several Drone Attacks on Russia
According to Russian reports, there have been several drone attacks on the country. In the Rostov region, residents reported explosions in the cities of Rostov-on-Don, Bataisk, and Morozovsk, the "Kyiv Independent" writes. In Morozovsk, a fire broke out at a military airport. In the Kamensk district, fuel tanks caught fire. "As a result of a massive drone attack, a number of storage facilities in the Kamensk and Morozovsk districts were damaged," Governor of the Rostov region Vasily Golubev said on Telegram. It is currently being clarified whether there were any casualties. In the Oryol region, two drones also hit a residential building, according to the local governor.
06:00 Report: Exchanged Prisoners Housed in Koblenz
The prisoners released as part of the prisoner exchange between Russia and the West at Cologne/Bonn Airport were reportedly taken to the German Armed Forces Hospital in Koblenz. They are expected to stay there at least until the weekend, the "Tagesspiegel" (Saturday edition) reported, citing German government circles. German security authorities such as the Federal Criminal Police Office and the Federal Intelligence Service are conducting talks with those previously imprisoned in Russia and Belarus. Additionally, the federal security authorities are in contact with the federal states. The German Armed Forces Hospital is also being additionally secured, the "Tagesspiegel" reported further.
05:36 Unique mosaic at Mariupol station destroyed during occupation
The train station in Mariupol, occupied by Russia, has reopened - but the famous mosaic panel is missing. The panel, created by local monumental artists Valentyn Konstantinov and Lel Kuzminkov, was located in the waiting room on the first floor of the building and has been completely destroyed, according to the Mariupol City Council on Telegram. "Occupiers boast on propaganda channels about having repaired the Mariupol station they themselves destroyed. The Russians destroyed over 80 percent of the station's territory in the spring of 2022," the council said in a statement. The large mosaic panel, dedicated to Mariupol workers, was created in 1974 and adorned the main station hall for over 40 years, becoming a symbol of the city. In 2019, the mosaic was exhibited at the UN headquarters in New York.
04:29 Ukrainian intelligence chief: Kerch bridge could be destroyed in coming months
The Ukrainian military intelligence service, HUR, is working on a "complex solution" to destroy the Kerch Bridge on the Russian-occupied Crimea in the coming months, according to the chief of military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, in an interview on national television, as reported by the Ukrainian newspaper "Kyiv Independent". "Work on destroying the structure that connects the Russian mainland to the peninsula and serves as a vital supply route for the Russian military in Ukraine is not yet complete," Budanov said. "Everyone is working on long-range attacks and (destroying the Kerch Bridge)," he added.
03:35 Deadline missed: Rating agency downgrades Ukraine's payment ability
The agency S&P Global has downgraded Ukraine's creditworthiness to "selective" payment default. The reason is that the country missed an international bond payment this week, the agency said. Although the payment of $34 million is still in the grace period, S&P said there's little chance it will be made soon. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law allowing debt payments to be suspended while the country finalizes its restructuring. "We do not expect the payment to be made within the ten business days of the grace period," S&P said, adding that the country's bonds would be classified as "D" for a full default after the restructuring is completed.
02:03 Foreign Ministry: Russia has refused contact with detained Germans for two years
German authorities have had no contact with German citizens detained in Russia. This is reported by the "Tagesspiegel" newspaper, citing the Federal Foreign Office. "For about two years, Russian authorities have refused direct consular access in the form of prison visits to German-Russian dual nationals, treating them exclusively as Russian citizens," the ministry was quoted as saying. The Foreign Ministry does not share this view and is "actively" seeking consular access.
01:04 CDU Politician: Prisoner Exchange Puts People in Danger - "Including in Germany"
The human rights spokesperson of the Union faction warns about the consequences of the prisoner exchange between Russia and Western states. "No one will not rejoice that unguilty hostages of a dictator like Putin are released," said Michael Brand to the editorial network Germany (RND). "But we must also know that this leads Putin to continue his strategy of contract killings abroad." By releasing contract killers, one puts people in Russia, "maybe also in Germany," in danger, said the CDU politician. With the deal, Putin sends a signal to other killers that they do not have to stay long in Western prisons. "That's not the best outlook, for no one."
23:51 UN Experts: Up to 1400 Political Prisoners Still Detained in Russia
After the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War, UN experts have expressed concern about the fate of up to 1400 political prisoners still detained in Russia. They are "deeply concerned" that between 700 and 1372 political prisoners are still detained in Russia "on fabricated or politically motivated charges," a joint statement by several independent UN experts said. All activists, journalists, and war opponents convicted in sham trials must be "immediately" and "unconditionally" released.
23:17 Report: Ukraine Uses More Long-Range Drones Than Russia
According to a media report, Ukraine has carried out more long-range drone attacks in a month than Russia for the first time since the start of the war. As "Forbes" reports, Russia attacked with 426 drones in July, while Kyiv countered with 524 attack drones. The US magazine cites, among others, the X-channel Shahed Tracker, which collects data on Russian drone attacks. According to this, Moscow launched around 380 long-range drone attacks in January and February. In March, the number increased to 601, and there were 336 attacks in June. For Ukrainian attacks, "Forbes" relies on the figures of the Russian authorities, which reported fewer than 200 attacks in the months of May and June. The figures cannot be independently verified.
22:17 Low Double-Digit Number of Germans in Russian Prison
After the prisoner exchange between Russia and several Western states like Germany, the Federal Foreign Office continues to report a "low double-digit number" of people with German citizenship in Russian prisons. "The Federal Foreign Office is aware of a low double-digit number of persons who are in detention in Russia and also possess German citizenship," the "Tagesspiegel" quoted the German Foreign Ministry. There is no contact with the prisoners. "For about two years, the Russian authorities have refused direct consular access in the form of prison visits to German-Russian dual nationals," the Foreign Office said, according to the report. "They treat persons with Russian and another citizenship exclusively as Russian citizens." The Foreign Office does not share this view and is "actively" seeking consular access.
21:48 Kara-Mursa: Sanctions against ordinary Russians are "not fair"The opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Mursa, released from Russian captivity, continues to advocate for sanctions against the "murderous regime of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin." He believes that targeted sanctions against individual members of the power structure are the most effective. However, he notes that many of the sanctions imposed due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine also affect ordinary people. "That's not fair," he says in a press conference in Bonn.
21:28 Ukraine expects increased emigration in 2024 and 2025Ukraine expects an increase in emigration due to the destruction of its energy infrastructure as a result of Russia's escalating attacks. According to a report by the Ukrainian central bank, it is estimated that 400,000 Ukrainians will leave the country this year, with another 300,000 potentially leaving next year. This trend will be exacerbated by the near-total destruction of Ukraine's energy system, which is leading to longer power outages and increasing risks for the heating season, the central bank explains.
20:51 Opposition figures: Don't equate Russian people with Putin's regimeKara-Mursa and Andrei Pivovarov, another Russian opposition figure released on Thursday, urge the world to distinguish between the Russian people and their president. "There are many people in Russia who are against the war and do not believe Kremlin propaganda," Kara-Mursa says at the press conference in Bonn. "It's wrong to associate the Russian people with the government's policies," Pivovarov adds. They say it's their duty to work towards making Russia "free and democratic" and thank everyone who contributed to their release and that of 14 other political prisoners from Russian prisons.
20:23 Kara-Mursa: "No one asked for our consent"The Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Mursa, who also participated in the press conference, said he, like Yashin, had "flatly refused" to write a pardon request to Putin. He cited the Russian constitution, which prohibits the expulsion of Russian citizens without their consent. "No one asked for our consent," Kara-Mursa said. The politician thanked Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the Germans. "It wasn't an easy decision for Chancellor Scholz," he said. "Yesterday, 16 lives were saved," he emphasized. "I don't think there's anything more important in the world." The 42-year-old also expressed his gratitude to "all the people in Germany who have been working and continue to work for the release of political prisoners."
19:27 Jaschin: I did not want to be exchangedRussian opposition politician Ilya Yashin sees his release not as a prisoner exchange, but as an "illegal expulsion against my will". This is what the politician said at a press conference in Bonn. "From the first day behind bars, I said that I was not ready for an exchange. I publicly asked not to be included in the exchange lists," said the 41-year-old. "This was my conscious stance." Before his imprisonment, despite the threat of arrest, he refused to leave Russia, "as I consider myself a Russian politician and patriot," said Yashin. "I understood my imprisonment not only as a fight against the war, but also as a fight for my right to live in my country and engage in independent politics there." It was illegal to expel him from Russia against his will. His first thought upon arrival in Germany was to buy a ticket and fly back to Russia. However, he decided against it because such a step would reduce the chances for further extraditions of political prisoners from Russia.
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The European Union has expressed concern over the escalating tensions in Lebanon and urged its citizens to exercise caution due to the increased security risks. The foreign ministers of EU countries are scheduled to discuss the situation in Lebanon during an upcoming meeting.
Additionally, representatives of various European Union member states have expressed solidarity with Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. EU officials have called for continued support for Ukraine, including the provision of military aid and economic assistance, to help the country defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
