3:00 p.m. Ukraine could produce several million drones a year
14:28 Germany Delivers More Leopard Tanks to Czech Republic
As compensation for military aid to Ukraine, Germany is delivering 14 more Leopard 2A4 battle tanks and one Buffalo-3 armored recovery vehicle to the Czech Republic. Both sides have signed the final documents for this, the Czech Ministry of Defense announced. The first tanks are expected to be delivered by the end of the year, with the rest by early 2026. This agreement builds on the delivery of 15 tanks from Germany in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, the NATO country plans to purchase more Leopard 2A4 and 2A8 tanks as part of its military modernization efforts, with talks ongoing.
13:49 Ukraine's SBU Suspects Putin Allies of Aiding War Against Ukraine
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has issued a suspicion notice to one of Russian leader Vladimir Putin's closest associates, Alexei Dyumin, and Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov. According to "RBC-Ukraine," citing the SBU press service, Dyumin, a former Putin bodyguard and current Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, is suspected of organizing partial mobilization of men, establishing the Center for Unmanned Systems, and developing the production of FPV drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles in the Tula region for combat operations in Ukraine. Yevkurov, the Russian Federation's Deputy Defense Minister, is suspected of being responsible for training contract soldiers and mobilized personnel who then participate in the fighting in Ukraine.
13:06 Russia Begins 'Third Phase' of Tactical Nuclear Weapons Drills
Russia has started the third phase of exercises to test the readiness of its forces to use non-strategic nuclear weapons, the Kyiv Independent reports, citing a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry. Units from the central and southern military districts are involved, including those stationed in the occupied territories of Ukraine. "During this phase of exercises, personnel from the rocket formations of the southern and central military districts will conduct combat training, including the acquisition of special training ammunition for the Iskander-M tactical missile systems," the ministry said. The first phase of exercises began in May, with Russian President Vladimir Putin presenting it as a response to alleged "provocative statements" from the West.
12:45 Authorities: Russians holding children from Luhansk in military campsChildren from the occupied Bilowodsk in the Luhansk region are being held in a Russian military camp in the Novosibirsk region of the Russian Federation. There, they are being taught by military personnel about firearms and drills. "Ukrinform" reports this, 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 drills, is considered a benevolent act in the Russian Federation," says Lysohor.
12:30 Duma legalizes cryptocurrency mining to bypass sanctionsThe Duma has passed a law legalizing cryptocurrency mining in Russia. "Meduza", a Russian media outlet based in Latvia, reports this, citing the website of the lower house of the Russian parliament. According to the document published there, Russian legal entities and individual entrepreneurs registered in the corresponding register are entitled 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 special payment for military serviceThe Russian leadership is offering more money to attract more volunteers for its attack on Ukraine. According to a decree signed by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, anyone who signs a contract for service at the front 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 195,000 rubles. In addition, a monthly salary is paid, which is significantly higher than the Russian average income. Since the forced conscription of reservists in the wake of a controversial mobilization in the fall of 2022, Russia has primarily relied on financial incentives to attract soldiers for the war. Many regions are paying signing bonuses. For example, the city of Moscow set a one-time bonus of 1.9 million rubles (about 20,300 euros) for contracts lasting one year or longer this month.
11:30 Russian man sentenced to seven years in prison for attempted arson in recruitment officeA man in Russia has been sentenced to seven years in prison. The Russian is accused of attempting to set fire to a recruitment office. The military court of the southern district of Russia also charges him with maintaining connections to the "Freedom of Russia" legion. The court finds him guilty of attempted terrorism and cooperation "on a confidential basis with a representative of a foreign state." The "Freedom of Russia" legion was founded in Ukraine in March 2022. It is an armed group of Russians fighting on the side of Ukrainian forces against Russia, with members also carrying out cross-border actions in Russia and reportedly sabotage operations within the country.
11:06 Fire in Russian weapons depot in Kursk after Ukrainian strike
A fire has broken out in a Russian weapons and military equipment depot in the Kursk region following a Ukrainian strike. The General Staff in Kyiv reported on Telegram that the strike was carried out using a modified marine rocket system. Explosions were observed at the target. The Ukrainian navy has Neptune anti-ship missiles that can also be used against ground targets and have a range of nearly 300 kilometers. Kursk is only slightly over 80 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that a missile of this type had been shot down 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 suggest 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 Ukraine
Russia may have already suffered between 500,000 and 750,000 casualties, including up to 150,000 dead, in its invasion of Ukraine, according to Markus Reisner, an Austrian Armed Forces colonel, 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, says the military expert. And this is realistic given the intensity of the conflict," estimates Reisner, also noting that the Ukrainian side has suffered heavy losses. Kyiv puts the current number of Russian military losses at 578,120 (see entry from 07:35).
09:24 Ukraine: Attacked Russian weapons depot in Kursk region
The Ukrainian military claims to have attacked a Russian weapons and military equipment depot in the Kursk region overnight. Kursk borders Ukraine and has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian fire. Overnight, 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 facility as a result of the attack," the Ukrainian General Staff said on Facebook yesterday.
08:55 Kyiv Reports One of the Most Intense Russian Drone Attacks Since the Start of the War
The Russian military attacked targets in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and other parts of the country with dozens of combat drones overnight. "Over 40 enemy drones were shot down over Kyiv and the outskirts of the capital in two waves," Kyiv's military administration reported on Telegram. Not a single drone reached its target in the capital. The authority described the attack as one of the strongest on Ukraine during the entire war. Kyiv, a city of three million, was under air alert for over eight hours overnight (see also entries at 06:33 and 23:52). Russian drone attacks were also reported in other regions. Six were shot down over the southeastern 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 Front Line Over the Past Day
According to the spokesperson of the Ukrainian General Staff, Dmytro Hutsulyak, there were 144 engagements along the front line 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 missile attack with 1 missile on our troops' positions and residential areas, as well as 85 air strikes. In particular, 141 guided aerial bombs were dropped. Moreover, more than 4350 attacks were carried out, 90 of which were with multiple launch rocket systems," Hutsulyak said in the "United News" broadcast.
08:09 Governor: Man Killed by Russian Shelling in Kherson
Russian forces shelled the outskirts of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson in the morning. A man was killed and a woman injured, the governor of the Kherson region, Roman Mrochko, wrote 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 was fatally injured. Rescue workers reportedly retrieved his body from the rubble. A 73-year-old woman suffered a concussion and head injuries from an explosion. She was provided with medical assistance at the scene.
07:35 Ukraine Reports Over 1000 Russian Casualties in a Day
Russia lost 1060 soldiers, 30 artillery systems, 20 armored combat vehicles, and 9 tanks over the past day, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported in its Facebook update. According to the report, the total combat losses of the Russian troops since the start 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 missiles, 28 ships and boats, 1 submarine, 21,739 vehicles and fuel tanks, 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 Sea
Russia is reportedly maintaining two warships in the Black Sea armed with up to eight Kalibr cruise missiles, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. No enemy ships were present in the Azov Sea. In the Mediterranean, Russia has two warships, one of which is armed with up to 16 Kalibr cruise missiles, it is reported. However, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy, Dmytro Pletenchuk, told "RBC-Ukraine" that it is unlikely that Russia would dare to fire missiles from the Mediterranean at Ukraine, as doing so would violate NATO airspace.
06:33 Massive Attack on Kyiv - Over 30 Drones Intercepted
The Ukrainian air defense intercepted more than 30 Russian drones over Kyiv overnight, the military administration of the capital reported on Telegram. This was one of the most massive drone attacks on Ukraine since the start of the war. Explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital, Reuters reported, citing eyewitnesses. The detonations sounded like air defense systems repelling enemy flight objects. An air alert had been sounded in Kyiv and large parts of Ukraine earlier (see entry at 23:52). "This was the seventh enemy drone attack on Kyiv in July," wrote Serhii Popko, head of the military administration of the city. The air alert lasted for more than seven hours. Enemy drones infiltrated Kyiv in waves from almost all possible directions. There is no information about possible damage or casualties.
06:10 Zelenskyy Wants to Protect Schoolchildren from Russian Attacks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to ensure special protection for the schoolchildren of his country from the war. "The school year is approaching, and the priority now is to ensure that children, wherever possible thanks to the shelters, can learn normally and not remotely," Zelenskyy 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 dismissed criticism of the German government's approach to the agreement with the US on the stationing of long-range weapons. While he sees no problem in discussing this topic openly in the Bundestag, he argues that it is not a matter that should have been discussed in parliament beforehand. Unlike the NATO Double-Track Decision from the 1980s, this is not comparable, he says. At the recent NATO summit in Washington, the US and Germany announced the stationing 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 these are conventional weapons not intended as weapons with nuclear warheads. "This must be clearly stated to reassure those who are concerned here," he said. The stationing is about "real deterrence," the defense minister added.
02:33 Finnish Volunteer Killed in UkraineA Finnish volunteer who fought on the side of Ukraine has been killed in mid-July in the northern Donetsk region. The Finnish War Veterans' Association announced this, stating that the authorities had informed his family. This makes him the fourth Finnish citizen to fall in Ukraine. In February, the country's Foreign Ministry had reported that 20 to 30 Finns were deployed on the Ukrainian front.
23:52 Air Force Reports Numerous Drones Over UkraineThe army is calling for air alerts in numerous regions of Ukraine overnight. Russia is attacking the country from several directions with drones. An explosion was heard in Kyiv, according to reporters of the "Kyiv Independent". It is still unclear whether the capital was hit.
22:05 US Medium-Range Missiles in Germany: Ex-SPD Leader Criticizes "Lone Decision"Former SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans regrets the lack of debate over the planned stationing of US weapons in Germany. He told the "Deutschlandfunk" in an interview that "the fact that such a far-reaching decision is practically not debated, that it is more or less made and announced unilaterally, is problematic." Moreover, Walter-Borjans questions whether such a move would actually enhance security or, conversely, make Germany a target for a first strike. Recently, the White House and the German government announced at the NATO summit that the US would again station weapons systems in Germany from 2026, with a range extending far into Russia. These include Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons.
21:35 Ukrainians Judged Less for Contact with Russian InvadersMany Ukrainians living in their own country under Russian occupation inevitably come into contact with the invaders of the brutal illegal war - something that is frowned upon or seen as treason elsewhere. However, "Ukraine is currently experiencing a decrease in the level of condemnation towards citizens from temporarily occupied territories 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 the 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," Svyrydova says.
20:54 Reports of Major Fire in Russian Arms FactoryMedia outlets including Ukrainian Euromaidan Press report a fire in a factory in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg. The factory produces parts for military rockets, among other things, and has been under Western sanctions since 2014. It is considered an important player in the Russian defense industry. There has been no official confirmation yet, and the authenticity of videos on social media is not confirmed. The cause of the fire is also unknown.
20:32 Zelensky Visits Troops at Border with BelarusUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is inspecting the fortifications and defensive positions of his troops at the border with Belarus. Accompanied by senior military officials during his working visit to the Volhynia region, Zelensky is receiving a briefing from the head of the State Border Guard Service, Serhiy Deyneko, about border protection, including the number of soldiers involved, their capabilities, and weapons. Zelensky is assessing the construction of fortifications, trenches, and underground 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.
Catch up on all previous developments here.
The President of the Council of the European Union may discuss the increase in military aid to Ukraine, as governments continue to provide assistance in response to Russia's invasion.
In light of allegations of Russian officials aiding the war against Ukraine, the President of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly may consider launching an investigation.
