22:15 "This is the worst" - Ukrainian firefighter experiences particularly terrible operation
Ukrainian Civil Defense reports a horrifying incident involving the family of a firefighter in the Kharkiv region. The man was called to an emergency in the village of Veliky Burlyuk and found himself amidst the ruins of his own home. "This is the worst for rescue workers," a Facebook post reads. The 37-year-old wife of the man died as a result of the Russian attack, and his 10-year-old son was hospitalized with burn injuries.
21:54 "Autumn is the season of results" - Ukraine plans new agreementsIn his evening video address, Prime Minister Selenskyy announces that he is working on new bilateral security treaties and multilateral agreements, "which will undoubtedly strengthen Ukraine." August is the season of preparation, autumn the season of results. Selenskyy also thanks the USA for a new support package, which includes NASAMS air defense missiles, "which are always in great demand." The package also contains ammunition for HIMARS and Javelins.
21:19 Selenskyy: Ukraine cannot oppose the world's desire to have Russia at the negotiating tableIn an interview with the French newspaper "Le Monde," Ukrainian President Selenskyy says, "I, like most countries, believe that Russian representatives should be present at the second peace summit in November, as otherwise we will not achieve any meaningful results. I don't want them to hinder our work on a common plan. If the whole world wants them at the table, we cannot oppose it." 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 worldRussian President Vladimir Putin has received the elected Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Moscow 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 largely signed free trade agreement between Indonesia and the Eurasian Economic Union led by Russia. Subianto welcomed the plan by the state airline Aeroflot to introduce direct flights to the Russian-popular holiday island of Bali. He also expressed interest in cooperation with the Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom. "We discussed small modules and also large reactors," he says.
19:45 "Nonsensical populism" - sharp criticism of SPD politician after Russia statementsThe Russian side repeatedly suggests that it is not really interested in peace, but rather in achieving its war aims and subjugating Ukraine entirely or in large parts. SPD MP Ralf Stegner believes that one must still engage in negotiations with Russia, as he says in WDR. "That's difficult, I know, but armament is the worst option we can have." Political scientist Thomas Jäger has sharp criticism of the statements on Twitter: "The argumentation cannot even be considered learning-resistant. That's nonsensical populism," he writes. Security expert Gustav Gressel supports Jäger by sharing the post.
19:16 Breakthrough Attempts - Russian Troops Increase Pressure Further
Russian troops are escalating pressure on Ukrainian defenders in the east of the country. According to the daily situation report by the General Staff in Kyiv, Ukrainian positions in Torezk and Pokrovsk have been repeatedly shelled while Russian soldiers attempted to break through. Russian military has been focusing on this front section in the Donbass for some time, aiming to breach Ukrainian lines and capture crucial supply routes behind them. According to Ukrainian reports, the Russian attacks were repelled.
18:44 Imminent Prisoner Exchange Between Germany, USA, Russia, and Belarus?
Amidst speculations 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. According to a report by the Slovenian news platform N1 Info, citing anonymous sources, the two are part of a larger prisoner exchange between Russia, the USA, Germany, and Belarus, expected to take place in the coming hours.
18:03 First Western F-16 Fighter Jets Reportedly Arrive in Ukraine
Ukraine has received the first of the long-awaited F-16 jets, Bloomberg News reports, citing sources familiar with the matter. However, it's said to be only a small number of the US-produced fighter jets. The Ukrainian Air Force does not initially respond to a Reuters request. The Ukrainian army hopes the planes will help effectively combat Russian aerial attacks. However, Kyiv is expected to operate only a few F-16s this year due to a severe shortage of trained pilots and maintenance personnel.
17:47 Imprisoned Ex-US Soldier Missing in Russia
Amidst speculations about an impending prisoner exchange, the lawyer of imprisoned former US soldier Paul Whelan is checking on his whereabouts. A lawyer for imprisoned Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Mursa says that a visit to his client has been denied for the second day in a row. "I've received inquiries from journalists asking where Paul is," lawyer Olga Karlova told the Russian news agency Interfax. She sent a request to the administration of his penal colony but received no response. The 54-year-old former US soldier, who also holds British, Irish, and Canadian citizenship, has been in Russian custody since December 2018. Whelan denies the espionage charges against him, claiming he was set up by an acquaintance.
16:58 Russian Foreign Ministry Issues Indirect Threat to German Company
German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall plans to build a munitions factory in Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry comments on this with an indirect threat; spokesman Andrei Nastenko 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 have confirmed this information. The family of the deceased soldier has been notified. The director of the association, Juha Kreus, says that the association is working with Finnish and Ukrainian authorities. On its Facebook page, the association explains that it helps volunteers fighting in Ukraine and their families. Previously, three Finns fighting on the side of the Ukrainian forces were killed in Ukraine.
15:29 "Kremlin Lying" - British Defense Ministry Sees Russian ProblemsThe war against Ukraine is making the Russian economy flourish, especially in the defense industry, according to reports from the country. However, the British Defense Ministry calls this a lie and sees problems. "Inflation is twice the target of the central bank, and war spending is causing unsustainable growth and an overheated economy," it says from London. High interest rates are making Russia a bad place for investments, and the country is drawing from its state fund to finance rising war costs, the Defense Ministry says.
15:00 Ukraine Could Produce Several Million Drones per YearUkraine currently has a production capacity of three million drones per year. This is what Anna Gvozdiar, the deputy minister for strategic industries of Ukraine, told the media outlet Suspilne. However, this requires funding, Gvozdiar said. Drones are one of the most important means in Ukraine's defense against the Russian invasion. Some of the drones are funded by donations from abroad 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 recovery tank to the Czech Republic. Both sides have signed the final documents for this, the Czech Defense Ministry announced. The first tanks are expected to be delivered by the end of the year, with the rest to follow by early 2026. This agreement builds on the delivery of 15 tanks from Germany in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, the NATO country plans to buy more Leopard tanks of types 2A4 and 2A8 as part of its military modernization. Talks about this are ongoing, the Czech Republic announced.
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 the Russian Deputy Defense Minister, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov. "RBC-Ukraine" reports this, citing the press service of the Security Service of Ukraine.
According to investigations, Alexei Dyumin, a former bodyguard of Putin and current Secretary of the State Council of the Russian Federation, was involved in mobilizing the Tula region for combat operations in Ukraine. He is said to have organized partial mobilization of men, established the Center for Unmanned Systems, and developed the production of FPV drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles. Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, Deputy Defense Minister of the Russian Federation, is reportedly responsible for training contract soldiers and mobilized personnel who will then participate in the fighting in Ukraine.
13:06 Russia Begins "Third Phase" of Tactical Nuclear Weapon ExercisesRussia has begun the third phase of exercises aimed at testing the readiness of its forces to use non-strategic nuclear weapons, according to "Kyiv Independent," citing a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry. 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 exercises, personnel of the rocket formations of the southern and central military districts will conduct combat exercises, including the acquisition of special training ammunition for the Iskander-M tactical missile systems," the ministry's statement says. The first phase of the exercises began in May. Russian President Vladimir Putin presented this as a response to alleged and unspecified "provocative statements" from the West.
12:45 Authorities: Russians Hold Children from Luhansk in Military CampChildren from the occupied Bilowodsk in the Luhansk region are in a Russian military camp in the Novosibirsk region of the Russian Federation, where they are being taught shooting and drills by military personnel, according to "Ukrinform," 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 a benevolent act in the Russian Federation," Lysohor says.
12:30 Duma Legalizes Cryptocurrency Mining to Evade SanctionsThe Duma has passed a law legalizing cryptocurrency mining in Russia, according to "Meduza," a Russian media outlet based in Latvia, 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 Bonus for War DeploymentRussia's leadership is offering more money to attract more volunteers for its attack on Ukraine. According to a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin, anyone who signs a contract for frontline duty 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. Additionally, they will receive a monthly salary that is significantly higher than the average Russian income. Since the forced conscription of reservists in the fall of 2022, Russia has been relying heavily on financial incentives to recruit soldiers for the war. Many regions offer cash bonuses for signing contracts.
11:30 Russian Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Attempted Arson at Recruitment OfficeA man in Russia has been sentenced to seven years in prison for attempting to set fire to a recruitment office. The military court of the southern district of Russia also charged him with maintaining connections with the "Freedom of Russia" legion and conspiring with a representative of a foreign state. The "Freedom of Russia" legion was established in Ukraine in March 2022 and is an armed group of Russians fighting alongside Ukrainian forces against Russia. Its members have also carried out cross-border actions in Russia and, reportedly, sabotage operations within the country.
11:06 Fire at Weapon Depot in Kursk After Ukrainian StrikeA fire broke out at a weapons and military equipment storage facility in the Russian border region of Kursk following a Ukrainian attack. The General Staff in Kyiv reported that the strike was carried out using a modified rocket system of the Ukrainian navy. Explosions were observed at the target. The navy possesses anti-ship missiles of the Neptune type that 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 shooting down a missile of this type over the Kursk region. The fire has been contained, according to the governor of the region, Alexei Smirnov. Additionally, Russian military reports claim that 19 Ukrainian drones were shot down over the cities of Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Kaluga, Rostov, and the annexed Crimean Peninsula.
10:36 Munz on Russia's War Tactics: Motorcycle Attacks "Follow a Certain Pattern"Sightings of Russian soldiers on motorcycles in Ukraine have increased, leading some observers to believe that Russia is running out of armored vehicles. ntv correspondent Rainer Munz disagrees and explains the strategy behind these attacks.
10:02 Reisner: Russia may have lost up to 750,000 soldiers in UkraineRussia may have suffered between 500,000 and 750,000 casualties, including up to 150,000 killed, in its war against Ukraine, according to Markus Reisner, a colonel in the Austrian Armed Forces, 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 this is realistic given the intensity of the conflict," says Reisner, also noting that the Ukrainian side "has also suffered heavy losses". Kyiv puts the current Russian losses at 578,120 military personnel (see entry from 07:35).
09:24 Ukraine: Claims to have attacked weapons depot in Russian region of KurskThe Ukrainian military claims to have 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. Overnight from Monday to Tuesday, the Ukrainian military claimed to have attacked a Russian oil depot in the region. "According to intelligence reports, 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 massive 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. "In two waves, over 40 enemy drones were shot down over the Kyiv area and on the outskirts of the capital," the Kyiv military administration said on Telegram. Not a single drone reached its target in the capital. The attack was described as one of the strongest on Ukraine during the entire war. Overall, there was an air alert in the city of three million for over eight hours overnight (see also entries 06:33 and 23:52). Reports of Russian drone attacks were also made 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 dayAccording to the spokesman of the Ukrainian General Staff, Dmytro Hutsulyak, there were 144 engagements along the frontline over the past day. "Over the past day, 144 combat engagements took place. Over the past day, Russian terrorists carried out a total of 1 rocket attack with 1 rocket on the positions of our troops and residential areas, as well as 85 air strikes. During this, 141 guided air bombs were dropped. In addition, more than 4,350 attacks were carried out, 90 of which were with multiple launch rockets," says Hutsulyak in the program "United News".
08:09 Governor: Man Dies from Russian Shelling in KhersonRussian forces shell the outskirts of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson in the morning, killing a man and injuring a woman, according to the governor of the Kherson region, Roman Mrochko, in a Telegram post. According to him, the Russian army shelled the outskirts of Kherson from the occupied left bank of the Dnieper River. A 68-year-old man sustained fatal injuries. Rescue workers reportedly retrieved his body from the rubble. A 73-year-old woman suffered a concussion from an explosion and head injuries. She was provided medical assistance at the scene.
07:35 Ukraine Reports Over 1000 Russian Losses in a DayRussia loses 1060 soldiers, 30 artillery systems, 20 armored combat vehicles, and 9 tanks in the course of the previous day, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its Facebook update. According to the report, the total combat losses of the Russian Armed Forces since the beginning of the invasion on February 24, 2022, amount to 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 tankers, 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 SeaRussia 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 of the Ukrainian Navy, Dmytro Pletenchuk, considers it unlikely that Russia would dare to fire missiles from the Mediterranean at Ukraine, as reported by "RBC-Ukraine". If they did, Russian missiles would violate NATO airspace, according to Pletenchuk.
06:33 Massive Drone Attack on Kyiv - Over 30 Drones InterceptedThe Ukrainian air defense intercepts more than 30 Russian drones over Kyiv overnight, according to the military administration of the capital on Telegram. This is reportedly one of the most massive drone attacks on Ukraine since the beginning of the war. Explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital, according to Reuters, citing eyewitnesses. The detonations reportedly sounded like air defense systems repelling enemy flying objects. An air raid alert had previously been sounded in Kyiv and parts of Ukraine (see entry from 23:52). "This was the seventh enemy drone attack on Kyiv in July," writes Serhii Popko, head of the military administration of the city, in a post. The air raid alert lasted for over seven hours. Enemy drones infiltrated Kyiv in waves from almost all possible directions, it is reported. There is no information available on possible damages or casualties.
06:10 Zelensky to Protect Schoolchildren from Russian Attacks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants to ensure special protection for schoolchildren in his country from the war. "The new school year is approaching, and the priority is to ensure that children, wherever possible thanks to shelters, can learn normally and not remotely," Zelensky said in his evening video address. The government has been instructed to accelerate its efforts to build shelters.
04:38 Pistorius on New US Weapons: "Real Deterrence"
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius dismisses criticism of the federal government's approach to the agreement with the US on the deployment of long-range weapons. While he sees no objection to discussing this topic openly in the Bundestag, the SPD politician argues that "it is originally not a topic that should be discussed in parliament beforehand. It is also not comparable to the NATO Double Decision from the 1980s." 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, justifying it as a response to threats from Russia. Pistorius emphasizes that the deployment involves conventional weapons that are not intended to have nuclear warheads. "This must be clearly stated to reassure those who are concerned here." The defense minister describes it as "real deterrence" (see also the criticism of the former SPD chairman Norbert Walter-Borjans in the 22:05 entry).
02:33 Finnish Volunteer Killed in Ukraine
A Finnish volunteer who fought on the side of Ukraine has been killed in the northern Donetsk region in mid-July. The Finnish War Veterans' Association announced this, stating that the authorities had informed his family. He is the fourth Finnish citizen to have fallen in Ukraine. In February, the country's foreign ministry reported that 20 to 30 Finns were deployed at the Ukrainian front.
23:52 Air Force Reports Numerous Drones over Ukraine
In several regions of Ukraine, the army is sounding the air alarm at night. Russia is attacking the country from several 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 US Medium-Range Missiles in Germany: Ex-SPD Chairman Criticizes "Solo Action"
Former SPD chairman Norbert Walter-Borjans regrets the lack of debate about the planned deployment of US weapons in Germany. "The fact that such a far-reaching decision is practically not debated, that it is more or less made and announced in a solo action, is problematic," Walter-Borjans told the "Deutschlandfunk" in an interview. Moreover, from the perspective of the former SPD chairman, it is not clear whether such a measure "actually increases security or whether it could not also make us a target for a first strike." Recently, the White House and the federal government announced that the US would again station weapons systems in Germany from 2026 onwards that can reach far into Russia. Named were 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 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 major fire in Russian arms factoryAmong others, the Ukrainian media outlet Euromaidan Press reports 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 leading military figures, as reported by the presidential administration in Kyiv, Zelensky is briefed by the head of the State Border Guard Service, Serhiy Deineko, about border protection, including the number of soldiers involved, their capabilities, and weapons. 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 European Union could potentially play a role in supporting Ukraine's recovery, given its strength in providing aid and assistance to nations in need.
In discussions regarding peace negotiations, there might be a call for the Russian delegation to be represented by officials from the European Union, considering its influence and commitment to promoting peace.
