23:52 Air alert: Drones approaching Kiev
In Kyiv, an alarm has been triggered. Loud explosions can be heard above the city. Mayor Vitali Klitschko declared on Telegram that the air defense systems have been activated. In the central district of Darnytsky, debris have fallen, but damages are reportedly not significant according to initial findings. Shortly beforehand, the Ukrainian Air Force warned that drones from the East were heading towards Kyiv. Additionally, drones were reported in the regions of Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk. At least 43 people were killed by Russian air raids on Kyiv on July 8.
23:10 Estonia and Latvia ban cars with Belarusian license plates
Estonia and Latvia announce that they will not allow cars with Belarusian registration plates into their country at their borders with Russia and Belarus. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna says the ban has been imposed because Belarus "directly contributes to Russia's aggression in Ukraine and supports it." Lithuania recently announced a similar ban. The three countries, as well as Poland, Finland, and Norway, had already banned the entry of cars with Russian registration into their sovereign territory in 2023.
22:23 Zelenskyy on prisoner exchange: "We must bring them all back"
In his evening video address, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy welcomes back the 95 Russian soldiers who have returned (see entry at 14:36). Zelenskyy writes on X: "We are bringing our people home. Another 95 defenders have been released from Russian captivity. Among them are soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the National Guard, and the Border Guard." After thanking the United Arab Emirates for their mediation in this release, he continues: "We must bring them all back."
21:56 Moscow convicts Ukrainian collaborators to lengthy prison terms
A Moscow military court has sentenced two Russians to lengthy prison terms for attempting to join the "Freedom Legion of Russia" recruiters. Radio Free Europe (RFE) reports. The Legion is a paramilitary unit where Russian deserters and other Russian and Belarusian volunteers fight on the Ukrainian side against Russia. The 24-year-old Andrei Morozov was sentenced to twelve years in prison. The 56-year-old Muscovite Anatoli Poplavski was sentenced to five and a half years in prison. According to RFE, Poplavski has two small children living in Ukraine and a wife he is currently divorcing. The statement reads that the man lived in two countries.
21:00 Lavrov blames US for escalation of violence
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke at a UN Security Council meeting and blamed the US for the many deaths in Ukraine and the Palestinian territories. "By giving diplomatic protection to Israel and supplying it with weapons and ammunition, Washington has become - it's clear to everyone - a direct party to the conflict, just as in Ukraine," Lavrov told Russian news agencies in New York. Further, he said that as soon as the US ceases its support, the bloodshed would end in both cases. The unprecedented wave of violence in the Middle East is a result of US policy in the region, claimed the Russian chief diplomat, whose government itself initiated the aggression against Ukraine.
20:08 Over 4.69 million Ukrainians register for military service
From May 18 to July 16, 2024, 4,690,496 men in the military age in Ukraine have registered for military service. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry announced this in a Facebook post. To speed up mobilization, Ukraine tightened the conscription rules for men in April. Men in the military age were required to update their military documents at public centers, draft offices, or the "Reserv+“ app. Failure to comply was punishable. Among the over four million conscripts, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reports that three million will become reservists.
19:22 Putin warns against cryptocurrency mining in Russia draining power
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned against the mining of cryptocurrencies in his country due to high power consumption. Currently, "almost 1.5 percent of the total power consumption" is going towards crypto mining, Putin said during a televised meeting with government officials. This number "is growing," the president cautioned. Russia is one of the leading countries for mining new cryptocurrencies. Miners operating thousands of computers, often housed in large halls, validate transactions and receive new cryptocurrency in return. The Kremlin, however, is skeptical of the unregulated industry. Putin warned that uncontrolled growth in power consumption for crypto mining "could lead to power outages in certain regions." According to him, three Siberian regions have already experienced power shortages due to intensive crypto mining. Siberia has long been a hub for crypto mining due to its cheap electricity and cold weather.
18:53 EU releases 4.2 billion Euros to Ukraine
Ukraine is set to receive the first regular payment from the EU's new billion-dollar aid program. The country has met the conditions for this payment, the EU commission responsible for the evaluation announced. Approximately 4.2 billion Euros could be released. The conditions for the first payment reportedly included the Ukrainian government in Kiev passing new laws to effectively combat tax evasion and economic crime. Additionally, the government was required to adapt the foundations for managing state-owned enterprises and adopt a national energy and climate plan.
18:17 Russia demolishes Holodomor memorials in Luhansk
In the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk, occupied by Russia, memorials for victims of Stalin's repressions and victims of the Holodomor have been demolished. This is reported by Radio Free Europe (RFE). RFE refers to videos that are being spread on Telegram. The Holodomor, also known as the Ukrainian Famine, was a famine caused by Stalin that affected millions of people in Ukraine from 1932 to 1933.
17:49 Power outages in the hot southern Russia
Due to extreme heat and a failed atomic reactor, power consumption must be reduced in many regions in southern Russia. Planned power outages affect consumers in the Rostov region, as Governor Vasili Golubev announced on his Telegram channel. In Sevastopol on the annexed Crimean Peninsula, the local power supplier is warning of power cuts of twelve hours a day - every two hours with electricity, then two hours without.
17:05 Russia ships first grain from new Baltic Sea terminal to CubaAccording to Russian statements, Russia has shipped the first grain from a new terminal in its Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga. The Agriculture Supervision Authority announced this to the Reuters news agency. Russia is the world's largest wheat exporter, and about 90% of its exports go through ports in the Black Sea. Recently, Russia has been trying to use various export routes. From the Lugaport terminal, the first 12,000 tons of grain were shipped in June. According to data from the information provider LSEG, the destination was Cuba. In January, the Ust-Luga port made headlines when a fuel terminal there caught fire. Ukrainian media reported that the cause was a drone attack by the Ukrainian intelligence services.
16:29 Ukrainian security service arrests "Russian informant" in KharkivThe Ukrainian security service (SBU) has reportedly arrested a "Russian informant" in the Kharkiv region. The SBU announced this in a statement. The woman is said to have shared information in a Telegram channel of the Russian intelligence services. The SBU claims to have documented how the woman was on the move in the eastern outskirts of Kharkiv and recorded the locations of Ukrainian troops' checkpoints and other military "fortifications" in secret.
15:44 NATO sends top British officials to KievNATO is strengthening its civilian representation in Ukraine and sending a senior alliance representative to Kiev. The former deputy secretary-general, Patrick Turner, will lead the NATO representation in the Ukrainian capital from September and serve as the central point of contact for local authorities. The Briton will also help coordinate military support for Ukraine and provide Allied information and assessments of the situation in the country. NATO made this known.
15:03 Russia: Ukrainian drone kills two civilians in BelgorodAccording to Russian authorities, two people were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in the Russian border region of Belgorod. The victims were reportedly a young couple who were in a civilian vehicle outside the regional capital Belgorod.
14:36 Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners of warRussia and Ukraine have reportedly exchanged prisoners of war. According to Russian statements, there were 95 soldiers on each side involved. The Russian Defense Ministry and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced this on the platform X. The United Arab Emirates mediated the exchange. The returning Russian soldiers will first undergo medical checks in Moscow.
13:55 Sharma: Ukraine must give up symbolic village at the frontAccording to NTV reporter Kavita Sharma in Kiev, Ukraine is taking a series of setbacks at the front. After the Russian rocket attack on a children's clinic in the Ukrainian capital, the military reported withdrawals in the regions of Dnipro and Donetsk.
13:24 Kremlin casts doubts on offensive success
The Kremlin has dismissed speculation about the failure of the Russian offensive in the northeastern Ukraine. "The operation is continuing and it will, until it is successfully completed," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said today. Yesterday, the governor of Belgorod announced access restrictions to 14 villages on the Russian side near the border. This is to protect the population from Ukrainian attacks. In response to a question about whether the access restrictions meant that the offensive in the northeast had failed, Peskov said: "No, that's not the case."
12:48 Study: Citizen's income has little influence on employment of Ukrainian refugees
Social transfer payments such as citizen's income have little influence on the employment rate of refugees from Ukraine. However, factors such as social networks in the respective countries, the level of English language proficiency of the population on site, and childcare are significant. This is evident from a Europe-wide study by the Institute for Labor Market and Vocational Research (IAB). In Germany, the employment rate of Ukrainian refugees is 27%, which is in the middle range. The highest rate is in Lithuania with 57%, Denmark with 53%, and Poland with 48%.
11:53 For protection against rockets: Charkiw pupils to learn under ground
Children in the city of Charkiw in the northeastern Ukraine, which has been under almost daily Russian shelling since the start of the war, will reportedly be taught more intensively in underground schools in the future, according to city authorities. An underground school project has already been implemented. The construction of three more such facilities has begun. The children are supposed to be better protected from Russian air raids in this way.
11:22 Media: Ukraine to receive 32 outdated F-16s from Greece
Greece plans to decommission 32 outdated F-16 fighter jets and hand them over to the USA. According to a report by the portal "New Voice of Ukraine," these planes will then be modernized and delivered to Ukraine. Kiev already has 60 F-16 jets from Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands, but it needs at least 150 combat aircraft to launch rockets and missiles against Russia and repel aerial attacks on a broad front. There have been devastating bombing raids, the latest on a children's hospital in Kiev with at least seven fatalities.
10:35 Ukraine reports 112 frontline engagements since yesterday
The Ukrainian General Staff reported 112 engagements along the front line in the past 24 hours. Among them were four rocket attacks on Ukrainian troops and populated areas, as well as 71 air raids with 119 guided air-to-ground bombs. In addition, Russia conducted over 4,300 artillery attacks, including 121 with multiple rocket launchers.
09:54 Russia and China launch joint naval exercise
Russia and China have begun a naval exercise in the South China Sea. The exercise is expected to last three days, according to Russian and Chinese state media today. During the exercise, they will reportedly practice air and submarine defense. Sharp ammunition is also expected to be used. Just a few days before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, both countries announced a strengthening of their partnership and described it as "boundless."
08:43 The German authorities report 42,000 missing Ukrainians
Approximately 42,000 people are currently missing in Ukraine, among them soldiers and civilians, according to the German authorities. The number was previously higher, at around 51,000 missing persons, the ministry stated. However, around 4000 soldiers reported missing in battle have since been found and identified. About 3000 missing persons have been found alive, many of them prisoners of war. Identifying the dead is reportedly difficult due to the Defense Ministry's refusal to take DNA samples from soldiers before sending them into the field.
08:15 Hungary lobbies for a peace summit with Russia
Hungary is lobbying for Russia's participation in the planned second Ukraine peace conference. There are efforts to hold another peace conference this year, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said. This is welcome news, Szijjarto added. "If we want to hope for the success of a future peace conference, we must ensure that both sides are represented." Hungary currently holds the EU presidency. The first peace conference took place in mid-June at the request of Ukraine, with representatives from over 90 countries attending in Switzerland. Russia declared its disinterest in the conference early on and was therefore not invited.
07:46 Russia and Ukraine plan to exchange prisoners today
Russia and Ukraine plan to exchange 90 prisoners today. This was reported by the news agency Bloomberg, citing a source. Ukrainian media reported last week that the parliament's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinez, had announced that the government was planning, with the help of the United Arab Emirates, a large prisoner exchange with Russia soon. The two warring parties have already exchanged prisoners several times.
06:55 Ukrainian startups develop robots for the front lines
Ukrainian startups are developing affordable robots for mine clearance, evacuation of battlefields, transportation of equipment, and combat support. This was reported by the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform. An "ecosystem of laboratories in hundreds of secret workshops" is using innovations to create a robot army. The Ukraine hopes that this robot army will be able to kill Russian troops and save its own wounded soldiers and civilians, according to Ukrinform.
06:20 State and government leaders from 47 countries to discuss Ukraine
At the invitation of the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, state and government leaders from 47 countries will meet tomorrow. The 27 EU member states, plus 20 third countries, plan to discuss further aid for Ukraine in its war against Russia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also registered. There will be several round tables on security policy and defense, but other topics will also be discussed. Ukraine is represented at the conference.
04:37 Japan grants Ukraine a loan from frozen Russian assets
Japan is reportedly granting Ukraine a loan of 3.3 billion dollars from frozen Russian assets. The sum is part of the 50 billion dollar package from the G7 countries, according to the Japanese news agency Kyodo, citing informed sources. The United States and the European Union are each supposed to contribute 20 billion dollars. Japan, Great Britain, and Canada are contributing a total of ten billion dollars. The package is expected to be adopted at a G7 summit at the sidelines of the G20 finance summit at the end of the month in Brazil.
03:26 German government gives Kiev ten million Euros for reconstruction of children's clinic
According to the "Rheinische Post" report, citing ministry statements, the German Development Ministry has offered ten million Euros to the Ukrainian government for the reconstruction of a children's hospital in Kiev. The funds will be used in conjunction with contributions from other donors and sponsors to quickly make the hospital operational and winter-proof again. This includes repairs and maintenance on facades, treatment rooms, and electrical and heating systems.
02:10 Medvedev warns NATO of "point of no return"
Following the NATO summit's promise to consider Ukraine's membership, former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev renewed his threats against the alliance. In an article for the Russian news portal Argumenty I Fakty, he described a potential Ukrainian membership as a declaration of war against Russia. "This would, in essence, be a declaration of war - albeit with a delay. The measures that Russia's adversaries have taken against us for years, by expanding the alliance, ... are bringing NATO to a point of no return." Russia does not threaten NATO, but will react to attempts by the alliance to advance its interests. "The harder their attempts, the harsher our responses will be," Medvedev said. "Whether this tears the whole planet apart depends only on the wisdom of the (NATO) side."
01:00 Ukrainian soldiers use expired ammunition
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has returned a "significant amount" of old ammunition to the military, which should have been disposed of before the first Russian attack on Ukrainian territory in 2014. The ammunition is already being used on the battlefield. "We are looking for internal reserves to supply Ukrainian soldiers with ammunition. We know that every shot, every rocket, and every grenade on the battlefield is life-saving today," said Deputy Defense Minister Yuriy Dzhyharyov. Anything that can be repaired and reused is given a second life.
23:37 Ukrainian troops abandon positions in the southeast
Ukrainian troops have reportedly had to give up positions in the southeast of the country, according to unofficial reports, in Krynky in the Cherson region and Uroschajne in the Donezk region, under Russian pressure. "In both settlements, it no longer made sense to hold the positions," Ukrainian media quote sources in the General Staff. The battles for the settlement of Krynky on the southern bank of the Dnipro River in the Cherson region were criticized from the start due to their futility. It is unclear whether Ukrainian soldiers are still holding positions in the underbank area of the Dnipro River. Read more here.
22:07 New Aid for Ukraine
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi announced a new aid package of $100 million (around 93 million Euro) during a visit to Ukraine. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) will support winter preparation and continue to assist the Ukrainian government in Kiev in helping displaced or otherwise war-affected Ukrainians, according to Grandi during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kiev. The Agency will also mobilize future funds to support the attacked country. Zelenskyy thanked for the aid, which he said was urgently needed due to the damage to the energy infrastructure from Russian attacks. According to a statement from the Presidential Administration, the country still needs further help to rebuild destroyed houses and install bomb shelters in schools and hospitals. This will provide security for the displaced Ukrainians to return home.
21:27 Ukraine reports destruction of Russian S-300 Air Defense System
Ukraine claims to have destroyed a Russian S-300 Air Defense System in the occupied Donetsk Oblast, according to its own reports. Ukrainian General Staff Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi announced this on Twitter. A video shared by the Ukrainian military shows several alleged ATACMS rocket hits with cluster munitions. According to Syrskyi, several launch pads and a radar station of the system were destroyed.
20:49 Report: Ukrainian Government may be on the brink of resignation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is reportedly on the verge of reshuffling his cabinet and possibly asking for the resignation of Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal. This was reported by the "Kyiv Post" citing an unnamed source in the Ukrainian Parliament. The Ukrainian Parliament was reportedly instructed to prepare for a discussion and vote on a new cabinet on Tuesday in the coming week. Zelenskyy himself also addressed the rumors of a possible cabinet reshuffle on Monday. "Could there be changes in the government? Yes, probably," said the Ukrainian President. "We are in a process."
20:02 Baltic States to disconnect from Russian power grid
The Baltic States have reportedly informed Russia and its ally Belarus of their intention to leave the power grid of the former Soviet Union. "We will cut the last energy connections with Russia," explains the head of the state Lithuanian power grid operator Litgrid, Rokas Masiulis. This step is expected to take place in February 2025. Shortly thereafter, the three countries will connect to the European power grid. "In six months, we will not only disconnect from the Russian and Belarusian power grids, but also dismantle the last power lines," explains Masiulis.
19:20 Lindner criticizes Orbán's "Alone Actions" towards Orbán
Following the scandal over Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Moscow trip, Germany and other EU partners are increasing pressure on Budapest. During a Finance Ministers meeting in Brussels, most member states called on Hungary to keep Ukraine aid as a priority. German Finance Minister Christian Lindner accused Orbán of "Alone Actions." "Hungary should know that the peace and freedom order of Europe as a whole is being defended in Ukraine," Lindner stated in the public debate. This should remain a "Top-Priority" during Hungary's EU Presidency by the end of the year. Hungary's Finance Minister Mihaly Varga had previously presented seven priorities, ranging from combating illegal migration to competitiveness, but Ukraine was not mentioned.
You can read about all previous developments here.**
- In response to the escalating Ukraine-Conflict, NATO is strengthening its civilian representation in Ukraine and sending a senior representative to Kiev to help coordinate military support and provide assessments.
- Due to Russia's aggression in Ukraine, Estonia and Latvia have imposed a ban on cars with Belarusian license plates at their borders with Russia and Belarus.
- The cyberwar against Ukraine continues, as Mayor Vitali Klitschko of Kyiv reported activation of air defense systems after suspicious drones were spotted heading towards the city.
- Russia's military presence in Ukraine has led to increased military deployments, with over 4.69 million Ukrainians registering for military service in response to tightened conscription rules.
- As the Ukraine-Conflict continues, President Zelenskyy calls for the release of all Ukrainian prisoners of war, emphasizing the importance of bringing all defenders home.
