23:45 Court in Moscow sentences three brothers to 17 years in prison for treason
In Russia, a court sentenced three brothers to lengthy prison terms in Moscow because they wanted to join a pro-Ukrainian unit. The three men, aged between 19 and 24, were reportedly convicted of high treason, involvement in a terrorist organization, and illegal border crossing by the court. The eldest brother, 24-year-old Joann Aschtscheulow, was sentenced to 17 years and 6 months in prison. His brothers Timofej and Alexej must serve 17 years in prison as well. According to the prosecution, the brothers attempted to cross the border to Ukraine on foot in July 2023 to join the "Legion of Free Russia." They were reportedly arrested 1.5 kilometers before the border.
22:41 Russia allows Cryptocurrencies for international payments due to sanctionsThe Russian Central Bank encourages domestic companies to use alternative payment methods like cryptocurrencies for international transactions in response to Western sanctions. For international transactions, cryptocurrencies are now permitted, Central Bank Chair Elvira Nabiullina announced in St. Petersburg. VTB Bank's CEO, Andrei Kostin, urges the Russian government to classify these new payment methods as state secrets. "I can easily imagine that right now, in the US embassy, there's an undersecretary jotting down all our public statements," Kostin said. Whatever Russia does, the reaction from Western countries will be "very quick," he warned.
22:16 Erdogan offers "basis" for war end, Moscow denies intermediary roleFirst, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared after a meeting with Vladimir Putin in Kazakhstan that Turkey could help establish the foundation for ending the war. However, the Russian government spokesman Dmitri Peskov stated that Turkey would not act as a mediator, according to Russian news agencies. Peskov reportedly responded, "No, that's not possible." No statement from the Turkish government is available.
21:41 Ukraine imports more electricity in June than in entire year 2023, rations strictlyUkraine imported over 858,000 Megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity in June 2024, which is 91% more than the May import volume and more than the total import in 2023. According to statistics from July 3rd. The largest electricity imports to Ukraine came from Hungary (42%). Slovakia and Romania each contributed 17%, Poland 16%, and Moldavia 8%. Russia intensified attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure in the spring, bringing the power grid to the brink of collapse. Since mid-May, electricity has been strictly rationed. The largest private energy company in Ukraine, DTEK, produces 90% less electricity.
20:49 "Eastern Flank Disbalance": Lithuania Plans to Allow Streamlined Munition
Lithuania is considering exiting the international agreement on streamlined munition in light of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The Lithuanian government is endorsing a corresponding bill drafted by the Defense Ministry. Parliamentary approval is still required. Streamlined munition includes rockets and bombs that explode in mid-air and scatter numerous sub-munitions. The Lithuanian government views them as an effective defense tool.
Russia and Belarus could potentially employ streamlined munition in the event of a military conflict, thus gaining a military advantage. "Even if our allies intended to use this tool on our territory, they wouldn't be able to, not even to transport it through Lithuania," says Lithuania's Defense Minister: "This completely disrupts the entire Eastern Flank and must be addressed." Estonia, Latvia, Finland, and Poland have not signed the agreement, along with the United States.
20:12 White House: Russian Offensive on Kharkiv Likely Failed
The US government announces another security package for Ukraine, the seventh since its passage in April. This package includes rockets, artillery ammunition, additional rocket systems, and other military equipment from US military stocks. Furthermore, additional systems are reportedly being ordered with the allocated funds. Additionally, the White House Press Secretary commented on the situation in Ukraine. She stated that it is "clearer than ever" that the Russian offensive on Kharkiv has "failed."
19:26 Ukraine's 47th Brigade: Russians are Massively Employing Infantry, "Huge Cemeteries" of Vehicles
The surroundings of the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region are currently the focus of the frontline activity. According to the 47th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces deployed there, Russian troops are attempting to breach the Ukrainian defense lines: with massive infantry assaults supported by combat drones, explained Brigade Spokesperson Anastasia Blishchyk. "We haven't seen much armored vehicles on the battlefield for a month, which is at least unique, as they've run out of these weapons," Blishchyk stated. Reconnaissance drones revealed "huge cemeteries" of destroyed armored vehicles. Consequently, the Russian side is trying to dominate the combat situation with strong infantry forces. According to the General Staff in Kiev, the Russian military is attempting to increase its firepower in the Pokrowsk region.
18:49 House Committee approves armament package with 105 Leopard 2A8 Tanks105 Battle tanks, four Patriot and Lenkflugkörper air defense systems, as well as artillery ammunition: The House Committee of the German Parliament brings a more than six billion Euro package for the new equipment of the German military on its way. With the Leopard 2A8 tanks, the future Brigade Litauen is to be equipped, and at the same time, significant and long-standing gaps in the German military are to be closed, says Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) after the meeting. "The procurement of ammunition will be significantly accelerated and expanded. This will provide the German industry with a substantial basis for its planning for this decade, the Bundeswehr will have full stocks, and Ukraine will receive urgently needed supplies," share the government reporters. German production capacities for ammunition are to be significantly expanded. The Brigade Litauen is expected to be ready for deployment by 2027.
18:17 Zelenskyy: We want to know from Trump if US support will end after the electionUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asks Trump for clarity on how he intends to end the war in 24 hours. Zelenskyy states in an interview with "Bloomberg TV" that he is ready to meet with Trump and his team and listen to their proposals. "We want to know if we will have the powerful support of the USA in November (after the US elections) or if we will be alone." The former US President and designated candidate for the upcoming presidential elections has repeatedly claimed that he can end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours. He never provided details. "If Trump knows how to end this war, he should tell us that today," says Zelenskyy: "If there are risks for the independence of Ukraine, we should be prepared, we should know."
17:39 ROSATOM Chief complains about Ukrainian attacks on nuclear power plant substationIn a drone attack on a substation at the southern Ukrainian Enerhodar, eight employees of the nearby Saporischschja Nuclear Power Plant were reportedly injured, according to Russian statements. The men were engaged in repair work to restore power supply, says the head of the Russian Atomic Energy Agency, Alexei Likhachev. This not only compromises the safety principle of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), "it is a flagrant violation," Likhachev complains. The substation is part of the infrastructure of the nuclear power plant and supplies the city with electricity. Within an hour, there were reportedly three drone attacks. He demands a reaction from the IAEA regarding the attack. Russia took control of Europe's largest nuclear power plant shortly after the start of its offensive and has held it since then. The nuclear power plant is located on the southern bank of the Dnipro, while the northern bank is controlled by Ukraine.
17:14 Video: Russian National Guards shoot at conscriptsIn the Russian city of Osinniki, conscripts are seen dancing on the roof of the draft board. The National Guards do not like this and attack the apparently drunk-looking men. Then shots are heard, a woman falls to the ground. She may have been hit by a stray bullet.
16:39 Russian Army makes "Newi" district of Chassiv Yar "level with the ground"According to Russian reports, the Russian Army is taking control of a district in the strategically important city of Chassiv Yar, in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. The troops have reportedly "liberated" the neighborhood of Nowi, the Russian Defense Ministry announced. It is not clear if the Russian soldiers managed to overcome a canal in the eastern part of the small town that serves as a natural defensive line for the Ukrainian Army.
The military-affiliated news channel "DeepState" reports that the neighborhood has been "completely leveled." Further resistance would have led to heavy losses, it adds. The retreat from the neighborhood is therefore a "logical, if difficult decision," it further states. Chassiv Yar is approximately ten kilometers from Bachmut, which was captured by the Russian troops in May 2023 after long battles. A breakthrough could give the Russian Army easier access to important mining towns in the Donbass region, such as Kramatorsk, that are still under Ukrainian control.
16:04 Russian Security Service: French "Agent" Vinatier confessesAccording to Russian reports, the Frenchman Laurent Vinatier, who is being held in Russia, has confessed to gathering information on the Russian military. The employee of a Swiss non-governmental organization, Vinatier, has reportedly admitted to his guilt "in full," the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said. Vinatier allegedly established numerous contacts with military experts, scientists, and officials during his visits to Moscow. Through these contacts, the Frenchman reportedly collected "military and military-technical information that could be used against the security of the Russian Federation." Vinatier works for the Swiss non-governmental organization Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) and was arrested in Moscow on June 6. He is charged with failing to register as a "foreign agent."
15:34 Video: Russians report massive Ukrainian drone attackAccording to Russian reports, Ukraine is attacking Novorossiysk with drones from the air and the water. The Russian Defense Ministry reports the shooting down of twelve objects. Sniper fire and explosions illuminate the night sky over the Black Sea port city on the shores of the Caucasus Mountains.
15:02 Poll: Ukrainians see Germany as conditionally reliable, fear US secret talks with MoscowAccording to a survey conducted nearly two and a half years into the war, almost half of the Ukrainians in the survey expressed the fear that the USA could negotiate a peace plan with Russia behind their backs. Forty-seven percent of those surveyed by the European Council on Foreign Relations shared this concern, while forty-nine percent had little or no concern. The perception of allied partners in the defense war against Russia varies by country. Eighty-four percent see Britain as reliable or conditionally reliable, the highest percentage. Seventy-six percent felt this way about Germany, but only nineteen percent considered German support to be very reliable.
14:23 Scholz: Germany will not be a war party in the future
During the government questioning in the Bundestag, the topic of Ukraine also came up. When the Left's parliamentarian Gesine Lötzsch asks Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz if he would give the people "the guarantee" that Germany would not be a war party, Scholz replied: "Yes, I give this guarantee. I stand for that as Chancellor." When a ceasefire can be achieved, Lötzsch further asked. "In my opinion, a ceasefire that aims for Ukraine's capitulation is one that we cannot support from Germany," answered Scholz. This is not an abstract question, as I see from this strange 'peace offering' from Mr. Putin. He has said that he is ready for a ceasefire "if Ukraine also gives further annexations, essentially for free on top." This shows "how cynically they think and that the Russian president does not at all intend to end his aggressive war." Putin speaks only of peace negotiations to continue the war. "We will not tolerate that," Scholz assured.
13:55 International Criminal Court investigates torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians in detention facilities in the previously occupied territories and in Russia, according to the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform." The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office is working with the ICC on this matter. Ukrainian photographers Kostiantyn and Vlada Librov show on Instagram photos of Ukrainian soldiers who fell into Russian captivity and have since been released. They write that it was "the most difficult shooting of the last six months."
13:19 Russian postal workers to replace doctors in rural areas
Due to a lack of medical personnel in rural areas, postal workers in some regions of Russia are now taking on medical tasks. This is reported by the "Moscow Times" on Telegram. In rural post offices, health and midwife stations are being set up. The postal workers are supposed to diagnose and perform various medical procedures. Russian publicist Alexander Nevzorov called this practice, as reported by the "Kyiv Post," a return to the Middle Ages.
12:58 NATO countries: No agreement on multi-year Ukraine aid
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg failed to convince NATO countries to make multi-year commitments for military aid to Ukraine. The 32 allies could only agree in the run-up to the summit in Washington on providing support in the amount of at least 40 billion euros within the next year. This is reported by the German Press Agency and refers to statements from several delegations.
12:24 Ukraine: 5 dead after attack on Dnipro
According to Ukrainian reports, the number of casualties from the Russian attack on Dnipro has risen to at least 5, and at least 39 people were injured, including a 14-year-old girl. The attack reportedly took place with rockets and drones and caused several explosions and fires in the city. According to reports, a shopping mall and a weapons factory were hit.
11:31 Ukraine receives additional two billion euros from the IWFThe financially stricken Ukraine has received an additional tranche of over two billion Euros from the International Monetary Fund (IWF). The money is part of an ongoing credit program worth around 15 billion Euros. The money will be used according to Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal mainly for social aid and salaries of civil servants, including doctors and teachers. Since the Russian attack in February 2022, Ukraine has reportedly received over 80 billion Euros in foreign aid in terms of household budget support.
11:01 Military base in Russian Kursk on fireVideos from the Russian city of Kursk show a large smoke cloud over the city. A Ukrainian attack is said to have set several vehicles on fire on a military base in the city. The regional governor has confirmed a fire in the city center.
10:40 Multiple civilians killed in Russian attacks in UkraineRussian troops shot at the village of Borova in the Charkiw region overnight. The Military Administration of Charkiw reports this on Telegram. According to their reports, one man was killed, two others were injured. In a Russian rocket and drone attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, at least three people were reportedly killed and 18 others injured.
10:19 Kremlin: No talks with Trump about UkraineRussia is not in a dialogue with former US President Donald Trump about Ukraine, according to Kremlin statements. The Interfax news agency reports this, citing a spokesman for the Russian Presidium. Trump had announced during a TV duel with President Joe Biden in the previous week that if he won the November election, he would resolve the war in Ukraine before his inauguration in January.
09:46 Ukraine lacks hangars to protect fighter jetsAccording to a report in the Ukrainian "Defense Express" newspaper, the Ukrainian army does not have enough hangars to protect all its fighter jets from Russian attacks. The newspaper reports that a Ukrainian air force support point in the Poltava region does not have large enough hangar spaces for Su-27 fighter jets. Russian media recently released footage of a recent air raid on the airfield, showing several damaged Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets in the open. The Ukraine lacks hangars to protect all its fighter jets.
09:16 Defense Committee approves purchase of 105 Leopard 2A8 tanksThe Defense Committee of the German Bundestag is set to approve the purchase of 105 Leopard 2A8 battle tanks today. "We are exhausting all options," writes the new committee chairman Marcus Faber on the platform "X." "We are fully equipping the Brigade Litauen with battle tanks, replacing older Leo2 tanks in the army, and creating room for further budget contributions to Ukraine," adds the FDP politician. According to the proposal, the order has a volume of approximately three billion Euros. The defense company KNDS is expected to deliver the tanks to the Bundeswehr by 2030.
08:44 Russia: Ukrainian attack on Black Sea port repelled
According to Russian reports, two unmanned Ukrainian explosives boats attacked the Black Sea port of Novorossijsk but were repelled. The drones were destroyed in the Black Sea, according to the Defense Ministry. Novorossijsk is home to a large port for the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Russia has stationed many of its warships used in the conflict with Ukraine there after Ukrainian attacks on Crimean ports. The ministry did not comment on possible damages. The authorities in Novorossijsk urged people to stay in their homes and apartments during the night.
08:21 Majority of Ukrainians feel unity in society
Forty-four percent of Ukrainians believe that Ukrainian society is currently united, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on July 2. A smaller portion, 15 percent, view Ukrainian society as split. Corruption is cited as the main problem, followed by language issues. Unfairness during the war, collaboration, and pro-Russian sentiment are also identified as factors contributing to societal division.
07:55 Kremlin: Ten Ukrainian attack drones destroyed
Russia claims to have shot down ten Ukrainian attack drones over Russian territory. Five drones were reportedly shot down over the Belgorod border region, four over the Brjansk region, and one over the Moscow region, according to the Defense Ministry on Telegram. Additionally, two Ukrainian seed drones were destroyed that were heading towards the Noworossijsk Black Sea port in the Krasnodar region.
07:20 Ukrainian General Staff: nearly 1200 Russian losses yesterday
The Ukrainian General Staff reports 1,180 losses on the Russian side in the past 24 hours. This includes 16 destroyed tanks, 17 armored vehicles, 57 artillery systems, and 63 tank and other vehicles. Two Russian air defense systems were also reportedly destroyed by the Ukrainians, along with a missile. The number of dead or wounded Russian soldiers since the full-scale invasion began is over 546,000.
06:48 Putin arrives at SOZ summit in Kazakhstan
According to Russian reports, President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Kazakhstan. He is participating in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SOZ) partners in the capital Astana. The two-day meeting focuses on regional security, defense, and cooperation issues. The heads of state and government of the SOZ member states discussed "the current situation and prospects for further deepening of multifaceted cooperation," according to Moscow. Putin plans to hold bilateral talks, including with China and Turkey. The summit is attended by representatives from 16 countries - including India, Iran, and Pakistan. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is also expected.
06:11 Ukraine continues to reject territorial concessions to Putin
According to the words of Andrij Yermak, the chief of staff of the Ukrainian president, Ukraine continues to categorically reject territorial concessions to Russia to end the war. "We are not willing to make compromises on important things and values," Yermak said to journalists and named "independence, freedom, democracy, territorial integrity, sovereignty." In response to statements from Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump, who claimed he could quickly end the conflict, the government in Kiev is open for advice to achieve a "just peace." Trump stated during the television debate that he would not accept Putin's conditions. Putin had declared that Russia would end the war if Kiev was willing to surrender the territories claimed and occupied by Moscow in the east and south of the country. In response to a question about how the Ukraine views Trump's handling of the war, Yermak replied: "Honestly speaking: I don't know. We'll see."
05:42 USA to provide new military aid for Ukraine
The Ukrainian military is in urgent need of supplies. The USA will make additional military aid to Ukraine available in the near future, in the amount of approximately 2.3 billion US dollars (around 2.14 billion Euros), announced US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a visit by his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umjerow in Washington. The package approved by US President Joe Biden includes "additional air defense systems, anti-tank weapons and other important ammunition from US stocks," explained Austin. A "realignment of some foreign military deliveries" will also allow the USA to make Munition for Patriot and other air defense systems "available in an accelerated timeframe."
04:49 NATO expanding presence in Kiev
The NATO is expanding its civilian presence in the attacked Ukraine. A spokesperson confirmed that the 32 alliance members have decided to send a special representative to the capital Kiev. The high-ranking official is to coordinate political and practical support from the alliance on site. The background is that the NATO intends to give the start signal for a new deployment at the upcoming summit in Washington for the coordination of weapons deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian armed forces. The headquarters for this should be built in Wiesbaden. Who will receive the new NATO post in Kiev is still unknown.
03:42 UN calls for release of Gershkovich
Experts of the United Nations are calling for the immediate release of US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who is in Russian custody on espionage charges. "The deprivation of liberty of Evan Gershkovich is arbitrary" and violates several articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, write the experts in a statement. In light of the circumstances of the case, the "immediate" release of Gershkovich is appropriate.
02:40 Serbian President Vucic receives Russian deputy foreign ministerThe Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received the Russian deputy foreign minister Alexander Gruschko in Belgrade. He spoke with Gruschko about the bilateral relations between Serbia and Russia and assessed them as "very good", Vucic stated on Instagram. He also thanked Russia "for its support of Serbia's territorial integrity as well as in relation to the UN Resolution on Srebrenica". Moscow still refuses to recognize Kosovo's independence. Serbia has been an EU membership candidate since 2012 but maintains good relations with the Kreml despite the Russian annexation of Crimea.
01:29 Russian court sentences 19-year-old to twelve yearsA Russian court sentenced a 19-year-old man to twelve years in prison for "high treason", after he was accused of donating money to the Ukrainian army. "The Rostov Regional Court found him guilty and sentenced him to a twelve-year term in a penal colony", says a comment from the Russian domestic security service FSB, taken up by the state-controlled Kremlin media. The teenager is alleged to have sent money to help the Ukrainian army buy food and drones. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, thousands of Russians have been arrested and many of them imprisoned. According to Amnesty International, at least 21,000 people were targeted by repressions against opponents of the war in 2023.
00:20 One quarter of US citizens find US aid to Ukraine insufficientAlmost a quarter of Americans believe that the United States is not providing enough military aid to Ukraine. This percentage has risen since November last year, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center. Twenty-four percent of respondents believe that the United States is not providing enough aid, compared to 18 percent in November 2023, when the survey was last conducted. However, more Americans (31 percent) believe that the United States is providing too much aid, and 25 percent think that the US aid is sufficient.
22:53 Lithuania reports airspace violation by Russian aircraftLithuania reports a violation of its airspace by a Russian aircraft. The unspecified aircraft of the Russian airline Pobeda entered the airspace of the Baltic EU and NATO member unlawfully in the evening of June 30 and stayed there for approximately one minute, according to the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry in Vilnius. The representative of the Russian embassy was summoned and the Russian authorities were urged to take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The airspace violation occurred over the Baltic Sea, as the aircraft was on its way from Moscow to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad bordering Lithuania. The EU has closed its airspace to Russian aircraft as a reaction to Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
22:12 Survey in Member States: High Trust in NATO, Low Trust in Zelenskyy
Coming Week, NATO Celebrates Its 75-Year Anniversary. In member states, the transatlantic defense alliance is generally viewed favorably, according to a Pew Research survey. On average in 13 countries, 63% of the population holds a positive view, 33% a negative one. Germany stands out with 64% positive sentiment, just above the average. Exceptional is the assessment in Poland: 91% have a positive image of the alliance. The trust in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy averages 40% and has decreased in member states in the past year. Poland stands out again, where the head of state has lost 22 percentage points - from 70% to 48%. In Germany, trust has decreased by 7 percentage points to 54%.
21:27 Zelenskyy Rejects Orban's Peace Proposal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected a peace proposal from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for peace negotiations, according to a spokesperson from the Presidential Administration. During his first visit to Kiev since the war began, Orban proposed a rapid ceasefire. This could "accelerate peace negotiations with Moscow," he said. "The president listened to him, but in response, he clarified Ukraine's position and rejected the proposal," the spokesperson said. Previously, Kiev had already rejected ceasefires, citing the possibility that Russian forces could reorganize during this time.
21:02 Ukraine: Moscow Recruits Minors
Russia is actively recruiting minors for the war in Ukraine, Ukraine claims. The recruitment contracts are reportedly signed with minors, taking effect upon reaching adulthood. "They hope to recruit tens of thousands of teenagers with propaganda," says the Ukrainian agency "National Resistance Center": "We warn that any enemy on our territory will be eliminated." On occupied Ukrainian territory, Russia also employs minors, for example, to manufacture drones.
You can read about previous developments here.
- The three Russian brothers, wanting to join a pro-Ukrainian unit, were sentenced to lengthy prison terms in Moscow for high treason, involvement in a terrorist organization, and illegal border crossing, aiming to join the "Legion of Free Russia" during the Ukraine conflict.
- Russia views the use of streamlined munition in a military conflict as a potential threat, with Lithuania considering withdrawing from the international agreement, fearing it could disrupt the Eastern Flank and provide an advantage in military operations.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed concern that US support for Ukraine might end after the US elections, asking for clarity on how Trump intends to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours.
- The Ukrainian 47th Brigade reported that Russian troops were attempting to breach their defense lines in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk with massive infantry assaults, supported by combat drones, during the ongoing military operations.
- The International Criminal Court (ICC) launched an investigation into the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians in detention facilities in previously occupied territories and in Russia, as part of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
