5:00 PM Selensky thanks for "filling up the exchange fund"
16:27 Ukraine Attacks Gas Platform with 40 Russian Soldiers in Black Sea
Ukrainian naval forces claim to have killed approximately 40 Russian soldiers in an attack on a gas platform in the Black Sea. According to Ukrainian media reports, forces from the navy and military intelligence attacked the location where the enemy had gathered personnel and equipment. The occupiers were reportedly using the tower for jamming navigation signals via satellite, which would have put civilian maritime traffic at risk. "We cannot allow this," said Dmytro Pletentschuk of the online newspaper "Ukrajinska Prawda". There were no civilians on the gas platform, which is currently out of operation. The strike was carried out by rocket and artillery units of the coastal forces. A heavy explosion was seen in a published video, but its authenticity could not be verified by independent sources. Pletentschuk stated that this was not the first operation of this kind, as the enemy had previously used the tower to disrupt the navigation of grain carriers.
15:49 NATO Interceptors Scramble Due to Russian Reconnaissance Aircraft over Baltic Sea
A Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea region has prompted fighter jets from several NATO countries to scramble. Alert fighters from Rostock-Laage in Germany, Sweden, and the NATO mission Air Policing Baltikum took to the skies to escort the Russian reconnaissance aircraft IL-20M, the German Air Force announced on the short messaging service X. "The aircraft flew without a flight plan and without contact with civilian air traffic control," the statement said. Russia uses international airspace for military flights in accordance with existing air law. According to earlier statements by the German Armed Forces, Russian military aircraft almost always fly without a transponder, making them invisible to civilian air traffic control. These flights approach NATO airspace without violating it. It is assumed that these flights also test reactions to such flights.
15:26 Lukashenko Orders Deployment of Iskander Missile Systems and Rocket Artillery to Border
Alexander Lukashenko, the ruler of Belarus, has ordered the reinforcement of troop groupings in the tactical areas of Gomel and Mozyr on the border with the Ukrainian oblasts of Kyiv and Chernihiv. The Belarusian state news agency BelTA reported this, citing statements by Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin. "The Commander-in-Chief [Lukashenko] has given the order to reinforce the grouping of forces in the tactical areas of Gomel and Mozyr. Special forces, ground troops, and rocket units, including Polonez multiple rocket launchers and Iskander missile systems, have been tasked with moving to the designated areas," said Khrenin. Previously, Lukashenko had claimed that "several targets coming from Ukraine" had been shot down over Belarus.
14:49 Under the Dead: At Least Two Children Killed in Russian Supermarket StrikeSince Friday, at least 18 people, including two children, have been killed and 60 more injured in multiple Russian attacks on Ukraine, regional authorities report. The majority of casualties occurred in the city of Kostjantyniwka in the Donetsk region, where a Russian missile hit a supermarket on Friday. By 10 AM local time today, at least 14 people were killed, including two children aged 9 and 11, and 43 more were wounded, the General Prosecutor's Office reports on Telegram. Russian attacks on other settlements in the Donetsk region resulted in two deaths and one injury, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported early this morning. More than 30 houses, an apartment building, an agricultural facility, and civilian infrastructure were damaged. In the Kharkiv region, Russian attacks killed an 80-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man, and injured four people aged between 32 and 67, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reports.
14:21 Interior Ministry Warns of Russian Influence on State ElectionsThe Federal Ministry of the Interior warns of potential manipulation attempts by Russia ahead of the upcoming state elections in eastern Germany. "We must assume that all elections in our country are a potential target of illegitimate influence," a ministry spokesman told the "Handelsblatt". Russia is trying to illegitimately influence public debate and political will-formation in Germany in this way. Since the beginning of the Russian attack on Ukraine, there has been an increase in disinformation from Russian official bodies, state and state-affiliated media, and government-affiliated accounts on social networks. "They use false information to heat up emotionally charged discussions and play societal groups against each other," the spokesman said.
13:42 Air Force: Russian IL-20M Reconnaissance Aircraft Spotted Near RügenA Russian reconnaissance aircraft flew into international airspace over the Baltic Sea without contacting air traffic control. German and Swedish air force machines, as well as NATO air policing in the Baltic, took off on Friday evening and escorted the Russian aircraft of the IL-20M type. The seaplane was traveling in the airspace off the island of Rügen "without a flight plan and contact with civil air traffic control." Reports of non-communicating Russian military machines in international airspace over the Baltic Sea have occurred almost weekly in recent times, an air force spokesman said. However, nothing is usually done about it if they do not behave unusually or quickly return to Russian airspace. In mid-June, a Russian SU-24 bomber flew over the Swedish Baltic Sea island of Gotland, which is about 350 kilometers from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
13:06 Lukashenko: Objects Fired from Ukraine over Belarus DestroyedAccording to Belarusian reports, the country's armed forces have destroyed several flying objects over Belarusian territory. They are believed to be drones launched from Ukraine, Belarusian news agency Belta quotes Alexander Lukashenko, the president of the Russia-aligned country. In the past, Lukashenko has repeatedly spoken of alleged incursions from Ukraine and then given the all-clear. Belarus claims it is not involved in the fighting in Ukraine.
12:43 Ukraine: Three Civilians Killed in Russian Attacks in Eastern UkraineAccording to Ukrainian reports, three people have died in Russian missile attacks in eastern Ukraine. One person was killed in an attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region, with several others injured, according to the region's governor, Vadym Filaschkin, on Telegram. The missile hit a critical infrastructure building, causing significant damage. Two people died in an attack on a private home in the Kharkiv region, as reported by the police.
12:00 Ukraine: Large Fire in Kherson After Russian AttackA large fire has broken out in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson due to a Russian attack, according to the Kherson Regional Administration on Telegram. The fire started on an open area outside the city of Kherson and quickly spread due to strong winds, engulfing almost the entire city. The Kherson Regional Administration reports that firefighters are battling the blaze.
11:28 Mangott on Arms Supplies: Kretschmer "Accepts Ukraine's Loss"Ukrainian soldiers have entered Russia. With this incursion into Kursk, Ukraine aims to show that Russia "cannot protect its citizens in the border regions," explains Gerhard Mangott, a political scientist. He also emphasizes that he does not believe Ukraine can maintain its presence in the region indefinitely.
10:53 Video Allegedly Shows Russian Troop Strength in KurskThe Russian Ministry of Defense releases another video, supposedly showing an increase in military presence in the region. The footage shows tanks taking up combat positions to destroy Ukrainian troops. The authenticity of the footage cannot be independently verified. The ministry also reports numerous intercepted Ukrainian drone attacks in the Kursk area.
10:29 Russian Nuclear Corporation: Nuclear Plant in Kursk Operating NormallyFighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces is ongoing near a nuclear power plant in the Russian region of Kursk. Despite the ongoing battles, operations are "normal," according to the plant's operator, Russian state-owned company Rosatom, in a statement to Reuters. Earlier, the nuclear corporation had evacuated workers from the construction site of two new reactors at the Kursk nuclear power plant (see entry 02:30) due to the advance of Ukrainian troops in Kursk.
09:57 Ukrainian Intelligence: Magura V5 Sinks Russian Boat in Black SeaSoldiers of the Ukrainian intelligence service HUR attacked the Russian navy off the coast of the occupied Crimean Peninsula. The attack, according to the Ukrainian intelligence service, took place off the coast near the settlement of Chornomorske in the west of Crimea. A sea drone of the type Magura V5 is said to have sunk a Russian patrol boat of the type KS-701 "Tunets". Three other Russian military boats were reportedly damaged. The Ukrainian intelligence service posted a video on social media purporting to show the attack.
09:19 ISW: Russia Not Moving Front Units from Eastern Ukraine to Kursk
The Russian military leadership may not be redeploying its forces from the front in eastern Ukraine to the contested Russian border region of Kursk to avoid disrupting its own offensive in the east of Ukraine. This is according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in its latest report. According to ISW analysts, it would likely take additional time for these units from eastern Ukraine to arrive in the Kursk region. The Russian military leadership appears to be relying on the already stationed troops in Kursk to stop the ongoing Ukrainian advance. Additionally, the Russian military leadership is reportedly deploying conscripts from the military intelligence agency Glawnoje Raswedywatelnoje Uprawlenije (GRU) and Spetsnaz, so-called special forces, including the Wagner mercenary group and the Kadyrovtsy, according to reports cited by the analysts.
08:35 Ukraine Publishes Figures on Russian Losses
The Ukrainian General Staff has published new loss figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to these figures, Russia has lost around 589,700 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of 1,160. According to a report from Kyiv, seven tanks, 69 artillery systems, and two air defense systems were destroyed on the previous day of fighting. Overall, Russia has lost 8,441 tanks, 16,605 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,325 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine, according to Ukrainian figures. Western estimates put the losses lower - but these are also likely to be minimum figures.
07:40 Russia: Su-34 Fighter Bomber Strikes Ukrainian Forces in Russian Kursk
A Russian Su-34 fighter bomber has attacked and hit Ukrainian forces in the Russian border region, according to the Russian Defense Ministry's Telegram channel. The air strike was carried out using an ODAB-500 bomb, according to the ministry. The Russian forces continue to repel the surprise advance of Ukraine in the Russian region of Kursk, and the air strike was intended to push back the Ukrainian advance, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. A video showing the deployment of the combat aircraft was published on the Telegram channel of the Defense Ministry.
06:48 Kyiv Accountant Stopped with Millions in Cash
Ukrainian investigators have discovered over 4.7 million euros in undeclared cash in the trunk of a company accountant's car. "The woman could not explain the origin of the money," the Economic Crime Investigation Bureau in the Kyiv region said. Photos show investigators in front of an open trunk filled with cash bundles. The company in question had supplied food worth over 320 million euros to the Ukrainian army in 2022 and 2023 alone, with the tax burden reduced through a fictitious loan. Investigations are ongoing for money laundering and tax evasion on a large scale, with those involved facing up to eight years in prison.
06:10 Ukraine Evacuates 28 Villages in Border Region SumyUkrainian volunteers assist villagers and their pets in the northern border region of Sumy in leaving the border area. According to local governor Volodymyr Artiukh, 28 villages in a ten-kilometer-wide zone along the border with Russia are being evacuated. According to Ukrainian police, 20,000 people must leave their homes.
05:30 Kyiv Adds "Glory to Ukraine!" to New BanknotesThe Ukrainian central bank is supplementing the design of all Ukrainian banknotes with the national motto "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!". Money is not only a measure of value and a means of payment, but also a symbol of the state that everyone holds daily, says central bank chief Andriy Pyshnyi in a statement from Kyiv. "To honor the resilience of our people and this turning point in the formation of the Ukrainian nation, in which we live today, we are adding our motto to all banknotes, which is heard throughout the world," Pyshnyi said. The change is to mark the upcoming 33rd Independence Day on August 24. It will begin with the banknotes for 1000 (around 22.30 EUR) and 500 Hryvnia. The other denominations of 200, 100, 50, and 20 Hryvnia will follow. The motto will be placed in the top right corner of the banknotes. The rest of the appearance of the notes will remain unchanged. The patriotic motto "Glory to Ukraine!" dates back to the emerging Ukrainian national movement at the end of the 19th century. It has a complex history. In the form "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!", it was used by Ukrainian nationalists who collaborated with the Nazis. The greeting remained present in the Ukrainian independence movement against the Soviet Union.
04:37 Report: Russia Plans to Block WhatsAppRussia is reportedly planning to block the messaging app WhatsApp as part of its action against internet services (see entry 22:33), the news site "Kyiv Independent" reports. According to the report, Moscow has made preparations to block the app. WhatsApp could be blocked in Russia in the fall, the independent Russian publication Verstka reports, citing sources at the Russian IT company VK, which is developing an application to replace WhatsApp. In July, the Kremlin-backed media outlet Gazeta.ru reported that the Russian government plans to fully block YouTube in September. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied these alleged plans.
04:05 USA Approves Additional Military Aid for Kyiv Worth $125 MillionThe USA has approved additional military aid for Ukraine worth $125 million (around €114 million). The aid package underscores "our unwavering support for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russian aggression," said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the aid would include air defense interceptors, ammunition for rocket systems and artillery, multi-purpose radars, and anti-armor weapons, and would come from US stockpiles. The equipment "will help Ukraine protect its troops, its population, and its cities from Russian attacks and strengthen its capabilities across the entire front," Blinken said.
03:19 Russia to have issued 2.2 million passports in occupied territoriesRussia claims to have issued 2.2 million passports in the Ukrainian regions occupied by its military aggression. Since October 2020, these have been distributed in Saporischschja, Donezk, Luhansk, and Cherson, according to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. These figures cannot be independently verified. In the past, there have been repeated reports that Russian authorities are systematically coercing people to accept these passports.
02:30 IAEA warns of nuclear accident at power plant due to fighting in Kursk regionThe International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warns of the risk of a nuclear accident at a power plant as a result of fighting in the Kursk region in western Russia. "At this point, I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid a nuclear accident with potentially serious radiological consequences," says IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. He is "in personal contact with the relevant authorities of both countries." The Kursk nuclear power plant is located near the city of Kurtschatov, about 100 kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border. The state-owned Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing the press service of the power plant, that "everything is functioning normally" with usual radiation levels. However, the residents of Kurtschatov are currently without electricity. According to the governor of the region, Alexei Smirnov, a power plant was set on fire by falling debris from intercepted Ukrainian drones.
01:55 Russia implements anti-terror measures in Kursk, Belgorod, and BryanskAccording to Russian media reports, Russia is implementing anti-terror measures in three regions bordering Ukraine. According to a report by the RIA news agency, the measures include possible evacuation of residents, traffic restrictions in certain areas, increased security at sensitive locations, and wiretapping of phones and other communication devices. According to local authorities and the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, these anti-terror regulations apply to the regions of Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk, the news agency reports.
00:36 Nouripour on heads of government: Cowardice does not bring peace in UkraineThe chairman of the Greens, Omid Nouripour, criticizes the ministers-presidents of Brandenburg, Thuringia, and Saxony for their recent statements on Ukraine policy. Dietmar Woidke, Bodo Ramelow, and Michael Kretschmer are "running away from reality," says Nouripour to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). "They act as if peace can be achieved by burying one's head in the sand. But: Cowardice does not bring peace." Woidke says he has good contacts with Russia and can mediate. However, it is "strange that this only occurs to him two and a half years after the start of the war and a few weeks before the state election," says Nouripour. Ramelow calls for a non-aggression pact with Russia. However, such a pact was initiated by Germany 85 years ago and brought great suffering to other European countries, the Green politician continues. Kretschmer, meanwhile, acts as if he does not know that only Putin can quickly end this war. Kretschmer had called for a reduction in military aid to Ukraine and advocated for diplomatic initiatives in the Ukraine conflict.
00:13 July Deadliest Month for Civilians in Ukraine Since October 2022According to the United Nations, no month since October 2022 has seen as many Ukrainian civilians die from Russian shelling as this July. "The high number of casualties in July continues an alarming trend since March 2024," the UN observer mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) reports.
23:43 Construction Workers Pulled from Kursk NPPDue to the advance of Ukrainian troops in the Russian region of Kursk, workers are being pulled from the construction site of two new nuclear reactors at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. The number of construction workers will be temporarily reduced, Atomstroiexport, a subsidiary of the state-owned Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom, reports. Other specialists continue their work as planned. The Kursk NPP in the city of Kursk has been repeatedly mentioned as a possible target of the offensive on Russian territory that began on Tuesday. However, it is located about 60 kilometers from the border. The farthest reported advances of Ukrainian troops, which have not been confirmed, reached about 30 kilometers into Russia. After the announcement of the Ukrainian offensive, the Russian National Guard reportedly reinforced the protection of the power plant. Two reactors are being built to replace the two oldest, already decommissioned blocks of the plant. Two more reactors are in operation.
23:11 Ukraine Takes Control of Gazprom Facility in Kursk RegionAccording to a video published by Ukrainian media, Ukrainian soldiers have taken control of a facility belonging to the gas company Gazprom in the Russian region of Kursk. The facility in the city of Sudzha and the city itself have been captured, Ukrainian soldiers explain in the video.
22:33 Russia Blocks Encrypted Chat Service SignalIn its crackdown on foreign internet services, Russia is also blocking the encrypted chat service Signal due to alleged legal violations. Signal is not complying with legal measures necessary to counter terrorism and extremism, the responsible agency Roskomnadzor in Moscow reports. Throughout the day, complaints from Signal users in Russia have been accumulating that the messaging service is unavailable. Portals like Sboj.rf, which collect reports of outages, reported about 2000 complaints. Signal was developed in the US and is valued by its users for its secure communication capabilities. On Thursday, users in Russia also complained that YouTube was working slowly and videos were difficult to download. The Russian authorities have not given an official explanation for this. However, they have been targeting the extremely popular video service in recent days, accusing it of refusing to remove extremist videos. Large social networks with US ownership like X and Facebook have already been blocked in Russia and can only be accessed via protected connections (VPN). Even before the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow had made preparations for a possible internet shutdown in the country. Since the start of the war in 2022, Roskomnadzor has blocked thousands of websites that are not approved by the Russian power apparatus.
You can read about all previous developments here.
In light of the ongoing conflict, the Ukrainian government may need to address the potential security risks associated with the Ukrainian conflict spilling over into adjacent regions. For instance, there could be a need for enhanced border security measures to prevent infiltration or aggression from neighboring countries supporting the Russian side. Additionally, diplomatic efforts should be made to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the conflict and ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, including gas platforms in the Black Sea that are being used for hostile purposes.
