23:39 Kiev reports 123 battles in the Donetsk region
In the east of Ukraine, heavy fighting is taking place. "The situation was hottest today in the area of Pokrovsk, in addition, the enemy was active in the direction of Lyman and Kurachowe," the Ukrainian General Staff reported in its evening situation report. All three mentioned cities lie in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. There were 123 engagements in total during the day. Forty-one of these were reportedly in the area of Pokrovsk. There were 19 attacks in Lyman and 17 in Kurachowe. While the General Staff reports that 29 attacks at Pokrovsk have been repelled, 12 battles are still ongoing. The defenders are doing everything they can to stabilize the situation and prevent the enemy from advancing deep into Ukrainian territory, according to the military leadership in Kiev.
22:18 Russians reportedly lost thousands of soldiers at Tschassiw Jar
Russian troops suffered heavy losses in the battle for Tschassiw Jar - according to a Ukrainian military spokesperson, 5000 men were reportedly wounded or killed. The tenacious resistance of the Ukrainian defenders had withdrawn from part of the village. The village has been a focal point of fighting for months.
21:49 Ukraine: Russia targeted decoys in air raid
In a previous Wednesday air raid, Russia reportedly destroyed a Mig-29 and two Patriot missile batteries - but, according to the Ukrainian Air Force commander, Nikola Oeschtschuk, the Russians had fallen for a decoy. They had only destroyed decoys, he said. The raid targeted a military airfield in the Dnipropetrovsk oblast and a - supposed - Patriot battery in the Odessa oblast.
21:11 Chinese soldiers arrive for maneuvers in Belarus
Chinese soldiers have arrived for a joint anti-terror exercise in Belarus (formerly White Russia). The exercise is scheduled to take place from July 8 to 19, according to the Belarusian Defense Ministry's Telegram channel. "This joint training helps to exchange experiences, improve cooperation between Belarusian and Chinese units, and lay the groundwork for further development of Belarusian-Chinese relations in the field of joint military training." No details have been provided about the planned exercises yet.
20:28 Zelenskyy: Russia will never again rule the Black Sea
President Zelenskyy announced a new naval strategy in his daily video address. This strategy is expected to be presented to the Security and Defense Council of Ukraine in the near future. The war has changed the power balance in the Black Sea, he said. The Russian fleet will never rule the region again.
19:41 Alarm - Romania scrambles F16s
The Romanian government has scrambled two F16 fighter jets after Russian drones approached Ukrainian territory - near the border. They did not have to intervene. No damage has been reported from drone wreckage, according to the Romanian Defense Ministry.
19:13 Hodges sees Ukraine on the winning side
Retired US Army Lieutenant General Ben Hodges believes that Ukraine will defeat Russia. It is now all the more important to consistently supply the besieged country with weapons. He wishes for clearer support from the US government.
18:24 Russian air raid on village - two fatalitiesIn the Cherson Oblast, two people, a woman and a man, die in a Russian attack. In the village of Chreschtscheniwka, Russian bombs destroy a residential house. Emergency services are currently attempting to recover the bodies of the two victims.
17:49 Severe accident: 14 fatalities in the northwestIn a severe traffic accident in the northwest of Ukraine, 14 people have died. Among the deceased is a six-year-old child, according to Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko on his Telegram channel. A fuel tanker collided with a taxi in the Rivne region. Emergency services and police are on site. The doctors are reportedly still fighting for the life of the only survivor, a severely injured woman. The bus was almost completely destroyed, as photos from the disaster response team show.
17:33 Zelenskyy calls Starmer, new British Prime MinisterPresident Zelenskyy congratulated the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer by phone - and thanked him. For his statement that he would continue to support Ukraine in its defense campaign against Russia. Zelenskyy shared that he had coordinated positions with Starmer ahead of the NATO summit coming week (9th to 11th July) in Washington.
17:17 Ukraine to receive help with landmine removalJapan and Cambodia will help Ukraine with landmine clearance. This was announced by Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa during a visit to Phnom Penh. Japan will make a powerful mine-clearing machine available to Ukraine in the coming week. In August, Ukrainian specialists are to be trained in Cambodia, a leading country in this field, in mine clearance and operation of the machine.
16:36 Biden could receive Selenskyy next week at the White HouseUS President Joe Biden could receive his Ukrainian counterpart Selenskyy at the White House next week. During the NATO summit coming week (9th to 11th July) in Washington, it could happen, according to a press briefing at the President's residence. Several bilateral meetings with other government leaders are being prepared, including one with Selenskyy.
16:01 Armenia holds military exercises with US troopsArmenia, a neighboring country of Turkey and a former Soviet republic, is moving closer to the US. From July 15 to July 25, the country plans to hold joint military exercises with the US. The focus is on peacekeeping. The relations of Armenia with Moscow have deteriorated recently. The government in Yerevan is disappointed with Russia's behavior during the war with Azerbaijan over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. They did not come to Armenia's aid. Previously, Armenia had already distanced itself from Russia, after it attacked Ukraine.
15:20 Estonia delivers several Mistral systemsThe Ukraine is receiving a new air defense system, this time from Estonia. The attacked country has already received several short-range anti-aircraft missile systems with ammunition, according to the Estonian Defense Ministry on X. It concerns a French-made system that has a range of six kilometers. It is intended to provide protection against low-flying helicopters and aircraft.
14:44 Turkey proposes "Peace Platform" for Ukraine peace efforts
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan presented a new proposal for peace in Ukraine. According to a Turkish newspaper, a "Peace Platform" could expand peace efforts by preventing deepening polarization, having a wide participant base and representation, and prioritizing diplomacy. "A Peace Platform that prevents deepening polarization, has a broad participant base and representation, and prioritizes diplomacy should be established," he reportedly said. He provided no details. Previously, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also offered to help mediate an end to the war at an international summit in Kazakhstan. Russia rejected the offer.
13:53 Russia reports capture of additional settlement in Donetsk
Russian troops, according to Moscow's reports, have taken control of another settlement in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. The approximately 30-kilometer northwest of the city of Donetsk located village of Sokil was "liberated," the Russian Defense Ministry announced. The region of Donetsk, along with Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, is one of the Ukrainian regions that Moscow declared annexed in September 2022. According to Ukrainian reports, the fiercest fighting along the entire front line is currently taking place in the region.
13:40 Le Pen: No French long-range weapons to Russian targets in case of RN victory
Marine Le Pen, the leader of the right-wing National Rally (RN), announced that, in the event of an RN victory in the French elections, French long-range weapons would not be allowed for use against Russian targets. She made this statement in an interview with the US broadcaster CNN. Similarly, her party would not allow French troops to be stationed in Ukraine, which French President Emmanuel Macron has not ruled out. "If Emmanuel Macron wants to send troops to Ukraine and the prime minister is against it, then there will be no troops in Ukraine," Le Pen stated. The only red line, according to her, is to prevent France from becoming a warring party. The French are voting for their parliament tomorrow.
12:49 ISW: Putin confirms goal of destroying Ukraine as a state
During his recent visit to Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin once again decisively rejected the idea of a negotiated ceasefire. The US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported this. Instead, Putin aims for an end to the war that erases Ukraine's sovereignty. Among the conditions for peace talks are the cession of significant Ukrainian territories to Russia and the complete surrender of the Ukrainian military.
12:30 Ukraine: Half of electricity generation capacity lost due to Russian attacksAccording to a report by the EU Ambassador of the country in the "Financial Times" in June, Ukraine has lost more than half of its electricity generation capacity that was available before the full-scale Russian invasion, due to Russian attacks on critical infrastructure. The hostile attacks of the past three months have reportedly reduced the country's electricity generation by approximately nine Gigawatts - nearly half of what was required for the electricity supply of the state territory during the previous winter. There is a risk that Ukraine may not have electricity, and possibly also no heat and no water, during the upcoming winter.
11:58 Ukrainian General Staff: 139 engagements yesterdayThe Ukrainian General Staff reported in its daily report 139 engagements along the front lines for the past 24 hours. Most of these engagements took place in the Pokrovsk sector in the Donetsk Oblast in the southeast of Ukraine. The army recorded six rocket attacks and 55 air raids with 72 bombs, as well as over 3000 attacks using grenades. In the northern region, around Kharkiv, Russian troops also used combat jets.
11:22 Ukraine calls for ban on Russian athletes who support the warUkraine is calling for Russian athletes to be excluded from participating in the Olympics in Paris if they are found to be supporting the military. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had decided in December that Russian and Belarusian athletes could compete as "neutral athletes" if they met strict participation conditions. They were not allowed to participate in teams, present flags, or anything else associated with their home country. The Ukrainian Olympic Committee now reports that some Russian athletes who have qualified for the Olympics have been found to be supporting the Ukrainian war and Putin's politics on the internet. Some athletes have also participated in propaganda tournaments.
10:52 Ukraine: 12 civilians killed by Russian attacksThe Russian army, according to Ukrainian reports, dropped 19 bombs on the Charkiw region in the past 24 hours. The head of the military administration of the Charkiw region reported this to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform. Three people were reportedly killed and six others injured in Charkiw. Eleven civilians were reported killed and 43 injured in the Donetsk Oblast.
10:08 Ukrainian General Staff: 1260 Russian losses since yesterdayThe Ukrainian General Staff reports 1260 losses on the Russian side for the past 24 hours. According to Ukrainian sources, the total number of Russian soldiers killed and injured since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022 is approximately 547,000. The General Staff also reports that since yesterday, eleven tanks, 58 drones, 18 armored vehicles, and nine Russian missile systems have been destroyed.
09:29 It could happen that Putin attacks the Baltic regionSecurity experts consider a Russian attack on the Baltic region in the next few years to be possible to realistic. NATO assures its members of support, but the alliance's solidarity leaves room for different reactions from other states. How could an attack on NATO's northern flank unfold?
09:11 NATO summit brings news of F-16 jets for UkraineDuring the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, Ukraine can expect new statements regarding the delivery of F-16 fighter jets. This was announced by a high-ranking US government official during a briefing, according to Ukrinform. The training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s has reportedly made significant progress. The Ukrainian army is still waiting for the first jets to arrive. The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium have pledged to supply them.
08:30 One-third of Russians support atomic attack on UkraineAccording to an opinion poll presented by Russian propagandist Sergey Mardan on Russian state television, one-third of the Russian population is in favor of attacking Ukraine with atomic weapons. They align with Vladimir Solovyov, who consistently calls for the use of atomic weapons in the Ukrainian conflict. In the Russian nightlife, patriotism is on the rise. Russian artists are making clear patriotic appeals.
08:17 AfD welcomes Orban's visit to PutinThe AfD welcomes the criticized Ukraine talks between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Hungary is taking the lead and speaking with both direct conflict parties from the first day of its EU presidency," explains the foreign policy spokesperson of the faction, Matthias Moosdorf. "The AfD faction welcomes the fact that, at the highest European level, the possibilities of a ceasefire with the goal of peace talks are being prioritized." The "EU and its personnel" he refers to as warmongers.
07:52 Ukraine: Invaders threaten to deport Ukrainians without Russian passportsIn the occupied territories of Ukraine, the Russians are reportedly threatening to deport residents without Russian passports, according to Ukrainian reports. The National Resistance Center reports that the occupiers have used this practice before. "The occupiers have taken people to the checkpoint and forcibly expelled them from their homeland," the resistance center states. In some of the latest raids in the south, residents were reportedly threatened with deportation and confiscation of their property.
07:19 SPD expert calls for more money for defense
Members of the German government are also concerned about the financing of the Bundeswehr in light of the agreement on the 2025 federal budget. The military must procure weapons and ammunition, which it hands over to Ukraine, from its own budget. SPD budget expert Andreas Schwarz spoke of a "disappointing figure" in response to the meager increase in defense spending of only 1.2 billion euros. This does not meet "what we need in the defense sector," Schwarz told the "Tagesspiegel." The president of the Reservists' Association, Patrick Sensburg, also noted that this would make Germany "not war-ready."
06:37 Ukraine: Drones attacked Belgorod, Russia
In drone attacks on the Russian city of Shebekino in the Belgorod region, several buildings, vehicles, and an industrial plant were damaged, and one person was injured, according to the local governor. The attacks reportedly damaged a total of 11 houses and power lines in the community, as well as social infrastructure.
06:10 Zelensky thanks new British prime minister
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his support of Ukraine. "I am grateful to Keir Starmer for his assurance that the United Kingdom's support for Ukraine remains unchanged," Zelensky wrote on Telegram. He and Starmer had aligned their positions ahead of the NATO summit coming up in the next week. According to a high-ranking US official, NATO will present a "bridge to membership" for Ukraine at the meeting in Washington.
03:45 Burning oil depots after drone attack in Russia
Ukrainian drones reportedly attacked several areas in the Russian region of Krasnodar during the night. The Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported that debris from a downed drone damaged a cell phone tower in Jeisk. In other locations, several fuel tanks were said to have caught fire. There were no reported injuries.
02:07 Sumy without water and power due to drone attacks
According to local authorities, Russian drone attacks have disrupted the water and power supply in the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy. The public broadcaster Suspilne reported a series of explosions in the city. The Sumy region is almost daily targeted by Russian positions across the border.
00:28 Eight people killed, 28 injured in Russian attacks in Eastern Ukraine
According to Ukrainian reports, eight people were killed and at least 28 were injured in Russian attacks in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. "Every city and every village in the Donetsk region is constantly threatened by enemy attacks," Governor Wadym Filaschkin wrote on Telegram. Independent of this, Russian troops reportedly dropped guided bombs on the further southwest located village of Komar, killing a 32-year-old woman and injuring 20 other people. Thirteen private houses, four businesses, and two residential buildings, as well as two infrastructure facilities, were damaged in the attack.
23:16 Starmer confirms "unwavering" support for Biden on UkraineBritain's new Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed Britain's "unlimited" support for Ukraine in its war against Russia during his first phone call with US President Joe Biden. The two leaders reaffirmed their "unwavering commitment" to Ukraine, with Starmer emphasizing that "the United Kingdom provides Ukraine with unlimited support," according to a statement from Starmer's office just hours after his swearing-in.
21:49 US military drills with Georgia postponedThe US is postponing planned joint military drills with Georgia amid tensions with the Georgian government. The US military participation in the "Noble Partner" exercises, originally scheduled between July 25 and August 6, is "suspended indefinitely," the US Defense Department announced. The background is "false accusations" from the Georgian government. The Pentagon refers to statements that the US pressured Georgia to go to war with Russia and was involved in "two coup attempts" against the government.
20:35 Insider: Hungary cancels planned meeting with BaerbockThe planned Monday trip of Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to Budapest is canceled. The Hungarian side unexpectedly canceled the appointment with Baerbock, according to the Foreign Office.
21:20 Zelensky thanks Germany for third Patriot systemUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanks Germany for the delivery of the third Patriot air defense system. "This is great news," says Zelensky in his evening video message. He also thanks the US for further steps to strengthen Ukrainian air defense. He does not provide details but says that the country's partners have fulfilled their commitments. "Ukraine has already shown that it has no Russian rockets that we cannot shoot down," says Zelensky. The country is doing everything to ensure that Russian terror ends.
20:48 NATO expert: "We must bring down Russia"NATO expert Stefanie Babst calls for a more decisive approach by the alliance against Russia. "We can only keep up with this adversary by bringing down the Russian regime. And not only from Ukraine but also in its area of influence, so that it no longer exerts its toxic influence in Europe," Babst said in the t-online Tagesanbruch podcast. For this, more decisive action is needed. "We look at Putin like Lord Voldemort and are afraid that he will pull out his wand. We have to get rid of this notion," Babst appeals. The 60-year-old is a former leading staff member of the International Staff of NATO.
20:15 Kreml not optimistic after Labour victory in Britain
The Russian leadership does not expect any changes in the strained relations between Moscow and London following the Labour Party's victory in Britain. The Kreml is "not optimistic" according to its spokesperson Dmitri Peskov in Moscow. "Based on their previous statements, they do not lean towards any flexibility or creativity to normalize the bilateral Russian-British relations."
You can read about previous developments here.
- The heavy fighting in the east of Ukraine, specifically in Pokrovsk, Lyman, and Kurachowe, is a concern for the Ukrainian military leadership in Kiev, as they work to stabilize the situation and prevent further Russian advancement.
- The situation in Pokrovsk has seen 29 attacks repelled by the defenders, with 12 ongoing battles, as reported by the Ukrainian General Staff.
- The ongoing Ukraine conflict has also led to discussions in the realm of politics, with President Zelenskyy announcing a new naval strategy to counter Russia's influence in the Black Sea.
- Cyberwar is not just limited to the battlefield, as Russia reportedly suffered losses in the digital sphere, with thousands of soldiers potentially affected in the Tschassiw Jar battle, according to Ukrainian military information.
- Volodymyr Selensky, the President of Ukraine, has been actively engaged in politics, both domestically and internationally, coordinating positions ahead of the NATO summit in Washington and thanking the new British Prime Minister for his continued support.
