At 14:28, Zelensky: Russia fired over 700 bombs and 100 drones on Ukraine within a week
Russian forces have fired over 700 guided air-to-ground bombs and more than 100 Shahed drones at Ukraine in the past week, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Telegram post, citing regional authorities. Yesterday alone, eleven people were killed and forty-one were injured in Russian air raids on four Ukrainian regions. The Ukrainians have been "suffering daily under Russian terror" and "deserve a fair and reliable protection from it." Zelenskyy urged allies to equip Kiev with long-range weapons and air defense equipment, adding that "every concrete decision by partners to strengthen our forces can save lives."
14:01 Report: F-16 Fighter Jets may not significantly influence the course of the warThe first F-16 fighter jets are expected to arrive in Ukraine in the coming weeks, but Ukrainian and Western officials warn that they may not have a significant impact on the course of the war, as Russia continues to make gains on the battlefield. The Washington Post reports that Ukraine will only receive a small number of F-16 fighter jets, while Russia has a large number of air defense systems that can shoot them down. This means that the first F-16 fighter jets to arrive in Ukraine are likely to be used to strengthen Ukrainian air defense, to shoot down Russian aerial targets, rather than attacking Russian ground troops.
According to the Washington Post, it is unlikely that the fighter jets will initially be stationed near the front lines and therefore will not be able to intercept Russian military aircraft. Officials refused to disclose how many F-16 fighter jets will be provided to Ukraine this year, but it is not expected to be more than about 20, which is the size of a squadron.
13:44 Ukraine confirms attack on oil refinery in KurskThe Ukrainian military confirms an attack on a Russian oil depot in the Kursk region in social media posts. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and the Ukrainian military cooperated to attack the Polyova oil depot at night. Previously, regional authorities in Kursk reported a drone attack that caused fires at several locations. According to local governor Alexei Smirnov, firefighters were still on the scene in the morning, trying to extinguish three fuel tanks (see entries at 08:00 and 06:36).
13:20 Agencies: Eight injured in Russian shelling of NikopolEight people, including children, were injured in Nikopol, a Ukrainian city in the Dnipro region, after Russian shelling, according to RBC-Ukraine, citing the State Emergency Service (SES) of Ukraine. "Eight residents of two multi-story buildings, including two children, were injured during the enemy shelling of Nikopol," the statement reads. The injured were taken to the hospital by rescue teams and the Red Cross.
13:01 Russia reports capture of two towns in DonetskRussia has captured two towns in the Donetsk region, Prohres and Evhenivka in eastern Ukraine, according to Russian news agencies, citing the Russian Defense Ministry.
12:44 Ukraine accuses Russia of killing 564 children since the beginning of the war
Russia is accused of killing 564 children and injuring at least 1487 since the beginning of its aggression in Ukraine, reports the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform" referring to the Prosecutor General's Office. Most of the children were affected in the regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Cherkasy, Kiev and Zaporizhzhia, according to a statement on Telegram.
12:24 Lindner counters Pistorius in discussion about defense budget
Finance Minister Christian Lindner defended his course on defense spending in a tug-of-war. "We have reached the two-percent target for NATO for the first time since many, many years," says the FDP chief in an interview with the ARD "Hauptstadtstudio." We spend more than France and Italy. In the coming years, at least two percent of the economic output will continue to be made available for security. "It's not the case that everything the Defense Minister says is automatically justified and correct," Lindner emphasizes. It's about tax money and the efficiency of funding allocation. "Mr. Pistorius has a 100-billion-euro special program for the strengthening of the armed forces, which no of his predecessors had," says Lindner.
12:01 Putin threatens response to US missiles in Germany
Due to plans to station US long-range missiles in Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened a reaction at the large naval parade in St. Petersburg. Russia will respond symmetrically if the plans are implemented and no longer feel bound by an earlier prohibition on land-based atomic medium-range missiles. The INF Treaty on the prohibition of these weapons expired after the US withdrawal in 2019. According to Putin, Russia had so far imposed a moratorium and adhered to the agreements. The USA, on the other hand, have long complained about Russian violations of the treaty. In a speech to sailors from Russia, China, Algeria and India, Putin said the USA could trigger a missile crisis reminiscent of the Cold War. "The flight time of such missiles, which could be armed with atomic warheads in the future, to targets on our territory will be approximately ten minutes," Putin said.
11:14 Authorities: Russians seize over 500 houses in Luhansk for themselves
In the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic," the Russian occupiers have seized 514 houses from evacuated residents unlawfully. This is reported by the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform" and refers to a Telegram message from the head of the regional administration of Luhansk, Artem Lysohord. These are objects that are subject to the "nationalization procedure," which begins 30 days after discovery, writes Lysohord and notes that a large part of the land seized by the occupation authorities will be nationalized.
10:45 Explosions reported in Charkiw - Air alarm declared in other regions of Ukraine
Ukrainian broadcasting station suspilne.media reports two explosions in Charkiw in the morning. Shortly after, the head of the regional military administration, Oleg Sinegubov, reported on Telegram about two missile attacks by the Russians. The type of missiles is being determined. According to the news portal "RBC-Ukraine", air alarm has been declared in some regions of Ukraine. This applies to Dnipro, Charkiw, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Donetsk. A threat through missiles cannot be ruled out in these regions, it is stated.
10:07 Governor reports 5 Dead, 15 Injured through Russian shelling in Donetsk region
Five civilians were killed and 15 others were injured by Russian shelling in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk on Saturday, regional governor Vadym Filashkin reported on Telegram. According to this, the Russians killed five residents of the Donetsk region. Among the dead were three in Iwaniwka, one in Kostiantyniwka, and one in Toretsk. Furthermore, 15 people in the region were injured during the day, Filashkin wrote. Since the beginning of the Russian offensive war in February 2022, according to the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform", 2110 civilians have been killed and 5515 injured in the Donetsk region. These figures do not include the victims in Mariupol and Volnovakha, it is stated.
09:46 IfW President: German fiscal policy is "security risk for Europe"
The President of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), Moritz Schularick, calls on the German government to significantly increase spending for security and defense - and criticizes the coalition's budget compromise at the same time. "The German government is currently making an irrational fiscal policy for what the country needs," Schularick says in an interview with t-online. "In addition, the fiscal policy is and remains a security risk for Europe." A future special fund for the Bundeswehr must "significantly larger than the current one with its size of 100 billion euros," the economist continues. "To close the budget gap in the next ten years, we are probably talking about a volume of 250 to 300 billion euros."
And even then it is clear: "Even with all these additional expenditures, Germany would still be spending proportionally less for the military than countries like Poland, Norway, or the USA, which have not reduced their investments to the same extent in the past two decades." In total, expenditures of 3 to 3.5 percent of the gross domestic product would be needed, Schularick says, to deter Putin's Russia through "strength and determination."
09:15 Expert: Donetsk region is "inevitably" lost for Ukraine (Thiele on ntv)
Ukrainian forces are under particular pressure from Russian attacks in the Donetsk region. Military expert Ralf Thiele sees no way for Ukraine to hold the region Donetsk in the future. The Russians are "step by step" advancing and the Ukrainians are retreating. The region is "inevitably" lost for Ukraine, Thiele says on ntv. "It's sadly inevitable when you have to say that," the military expert adds. The region is either on the negotiation table for "a ceasefire on equal terms" or it's lost "in reality". That means, either there's a conversation about "a ceasefire or a surrender ceasefire", Thiele explains. In both cases, the region "is the end of the day lost", he adds.
08:52 Ukraine reports 1180 Russian casualties in 24 hours
According to Ukraine's calculation, Russia has lost around 574,690 soldiers in Ukraine between February 24, 2022, and July 27, 2024. Among them are 1180 fatalities or injuries in the past 24 hours. The Ukrainian military's General Staff reported this in its daily update on Facebook. In addition, Russian losses include: 8344 tanks, 16,095 armored combat vehicles, 15,936 artillery systems, 11,270 multiple rocket launchers, 906 air defense systems, and 2,405 missile systems. The Russian army has also lost 363 combat aircraft, 326 helicopters, 12,766 tactical unmanned aerial systems, 28 warships/cutters, 1 submarine, 21,572 vehicles and tank trucks, and 2,671 pieces of special equipment since the beginning of their offensive war.
08:16 Thiele on the situation at the front: Ukrainians are "de facto on a step-by-step retreat"
The situation in the contested areas in the east of the country is not good for Ukraine, according to military expert Ralf Thiele. The military is trying to prevent a Russian breakthrough - but at the cost of a retreat. The military expert fears that Ukraine will lose the region Donetsk in every scenario.
08:00 Kursk reports fire in fuel depot under control
A Ukrainian drone attack has set a fuel depot in the Kursk region on fire, according to local Russian authorities. The fire was quickly brought under control, writes the regional governor Alexei Smirnov on Telegram. There were no injuries reported.
07:44 TASS: Russians destroy howitzer and Ukrainian ammunition depot in Kherson region
Russian paratrooper drones destroy a howitzer M-777 and a Ukrainian ammunition depot for field artillery in the Kherson region, according to the state Russian news agency TASS, citing the Russian Defense Ministry. After the drones were fired upon, the shrapnel penetrated the front line along the riverbank. At the same time, a reconnaissance drone identified as targets a 155-mm howitzer M-777 and a field artillery ammunition depot in the United States. Through a direct hit, the ammunition depot was destroyed and the howitzer was put out of order.
07:11 Ukrainian Minister: Olympics participation is "our victory"
The participation of Ukraine in the Olympics is seen as a strong symbol and an opportunity by Sport Minister Vadym Bidny to draw international attention to the situation in the country following the start of the Russian aggression war. "It is a symbolic act and a sign that Ukraine is a strong country with resilient people," says Bidny at the opening of the Ukrainian house in Paris. It is very important that Russia is represented in Paris with only a small team of 15 neutral athletes. Russia as a nation was expelled from the International Olympic Committee due to the aggression war. "There is no Russian flag here. There is only the Ukrainian flag. That is our victory," says Bidny.
It is now the responsibility of the Olympic team to bring the international community together and speak to the people who normally do not listen to politicians. The participation is a strong signal that Ukraine not only survived but also has the will to win.
06:58 Russia reports downing of Ukrainian drones
The Russian air defense shoots down seven Ukrainian drones, according to their own statements. Five were over the Belgorod region and two over the Kursk region, says a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry on Telegram.
06:36 Governor: Oil depot in Kursk on fire after drone attackIn the night, there are explosions in the Kursk region of Russia due to a drone attack. In an oil depot and several areas, fires have broken out, according to the governor of the region Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, via Telegram and the channel Baza. The air defense forces are "on alert," writes the Russian official and urges the residents of the region to "vigilance." In the region, at least two fires have broken out during the defense against the drone attack, one in the Medvenka district and one in the Kursk district, it says. In an oil storage facility in the village of Polyova, a fire is reported to have been caused, according to the Shot channel on Telegram. Witnesses report several strong explosions near the oil depot at night. Additionally, there was an explosion in the city of Sudzha and a house in the Medva district was on fire, it says.
05:41 Linnemann questions welfare payments to Ukrainian refugees in Germany
CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann raises the question of welfare payments to Ukrainian women and men in the Funke newspapers. "We need to discuss why more than 50 percent of the Ukrainians work in many European countries, but only 25 percent in Germany," he says. There are clearly missing incentives for quick employment." The Ukrainians also defend the freedom of the Germans. "But if there is a performance, it is linked to a counter-performance. That includes taking on a job."
04:49 Ukraine: Over 75 percent of wounded soldiers return to duty
In Ukraine, the proportion of soldiers who return to duty after rehabilitation, according to the deputy defense minister Natalia Kalmykova, is reported to be very high. "We have a very high percentage of high-quality rehabilitation measures and returnees to duty. This is also confirmed by our Western partners," she says according to the news agency Interfax. Kalmykova speaks of over 75 percent of the wounded.
03:13 ISW: Ukrainians regain positions near Toretsk, north of DonetskAccording to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian forces have reportedly retaken positions near Toretsk, north of Donetsk. Geolocated footage shows this. The Russian side is said to have continued their offensive operations in the area.
01:08 Ukraine reports multiple civilians killed by Russian shelling - including a childAccording to Ukrainian authorities, at least five civilians were killed by Russian attacks in various regions of Ukraine yesterday. In the region of Kherson, there were three fatalities. In the northeastern border region of Sumy, a 14-year-old boy was killed and 12 others were injured in a rocket attack on the town of Hluchiw. In the region of Kharkiv, a man was killed by Russian shelling in a residential building.
23:46 Russia reports capture of another village in UkraineRussia claims to have captured another village in eastern Ukraine. The village of Losuwatske in the Donetsk region is "liberated," according to the Russian Defense Ministry in its daily report. It is located about 25 kilometers east of the city of Pokrovsk, in the area where the Russian army has made relatively quick progress in recent months. Ukraine confirms the capture.
22:23 Blinken threatens China with "measures" over continued support for Russian defense industryUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China that the US would take "measures" if Beijing continued to support Russia's defense industry. According to the Ukrainian newspaper "Kyiv Independent," Blinken made this statement during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Laos. Blinken's Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba had held talks with Wang Yi during his first visit to China since the war began. "The Minister reaffirmed his serious concern over China's support for the People's Republic of China's defense industrial base and made it clear that the United States would continue to take appropriate measures if the PRC did not address this threat to European security," Miller said.
You can read about previous developments here.**
1. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged NATO allies to equip Ukraine with long-range weapons and air defense equipment, citing the need for "fair and reliable protection" from Russian attacks during the Ukraine-Conflict.
2. The attack on Ukraine by Russian forces has resulted in the death of 564 children and injury of at least 1487, according to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office.
3. The F-16 fighter jets expected to be sent to Ukraine may not significantly influence the course of the Cyberwar, as Russia continues to make gains on the battlefield and has a large number of air defense systems.
4. Russian forces have reportedly captured two towns in the Donetsk region, Prohres and Evhenivka, according to Russian news agencies.
5. Russia has threatened a response to US missile deployments in Germany, as the INF Treaty on the prohibition of land-based atomic medium-range missiles expired after the US withdrawal in 2019.
