At 18:20, Russian intelligence is scrutinizing reporters from Deutsche Welle.
17:51 Zelensky: Ukraine can manufacture up to 2 million drones this year Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky predicts that Ukraine has the potential to produce 1.5 to 2 million drones this year. However, financial support is crucial, as Zelensky mentions. The president believes that dialogue is the key to ending the conflict with Russia. In order to strengthen the Ukrainian government's position during the planned conference this year, it's essential to have a strong standing, Zelensky advocates.
17:25 Grossi: The proximity of conflict to Kursk NPP is an urgent concern The proximity of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia to the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in the Russian border region of Kursk is deemed highly dangerous by the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) head, Rafael Grossi. Grossi highlights that having a nuclear power plant in such close proximity to a contact point or a military front is an extremely critical matter. He stresses that military activities just a few kilometers away make it an immediate point of interest, and any unprovoked attacks must be avoided at all costs. Grossi confirmed that the nuclear power plant is operating under normal conditions.
16:51 Syrskyj: 30,000 Russian soldiers deployed to Kursk Ukrainian military leader Oleksandr Syrskyj explains that one goal of the current operation in Kursk is to draw Russian forces away from other sections, especially in the Pokrovsk and Kurachovo areas in Donetsk. Syrskyj reveals that Russia has already deployed 30,000 soldiers to Kursk. This number is continuously increasing, he notes. With this deployment, Russia is reducing its activities in the southern part of Ukraine, but the pressure remains high in the Pokrovsk region, where Moscow is amassing powerful troops, according to Syrskyj.
16:25 Casualty in Kharkiv region due to Russian rocket attack Russian forces target the city of Bohoduchiw in the Kharkiv region with rockets, resulting in one fatality and six injuries, according to Ukraine's prosecutor general's office. One of the rockets hit a bus stop, leading to a 71-year-old woman's death. The Russian assault has also damaged industrial and residential facilities and vehicles.
15:57 Ukraine faces a $15 billion deficit Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal acknowledges the need for an additional $15 billion to cover Ukraine's budget deficit in 2025. He reveals that Ukraine projects the budget deficit to reach $35 billion in 2023, with plans to cover $20 billion of it. According to the Ukrainian government's estimates, the deficit was approximately $38 billion in 2024. To address this, Shmyhal suggests raising taxes and borrowing additional funds on the domestic debt market. This proposal will be presented to parliament in September.
15:32 Ukraine explores alternatives for self-defense Ukraine reports the largest bomb and missile attack by the Russian army since the war began. During this onslaught, Ukraine has begun seeking new defenses against Russian attacks, minimizing their reliance on Western military aid.
15:11 Zelensky confirms successful testing of Ukrainian-produced ballistic missile President Volodymyr Zelensky announces that Ukraine has successfully tested its first-ever ballistic missile, developed domestically. Zelensky praises the Ukrainian defense industry but remains tight-lipped about the missile's specifications.
14:45 Ryabkov: US involvement in Ukrainian incursion is confirmed Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov suggests that US involvement in the Ukrainian incursion into the Russian region of Kursk is indisputable. Ryabkov warns that Russia may respond more harshly than ever if the US continues to meddle in the conflict. He offers no evidence to support his claims, but the White House has denied any prior knowledge of the Ukrainian troops' surprise incursion into Kursk on August 6.
14:19 Zelensky: F-16s have already defended against Russian missiles Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declares that the newly supplied F-16 fighter jets from the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium have successfully intercepted several incoming Russian missiles. He claims that the aircraft played a crucial role in thwarting the devastating aerial attack on August 8.
13:59 Air alert near Russian Kursk Nuclear Power Plant An air alert sounds in the city of Kursk, Russian region of Kursk, triggering sirens. The air alert warns of an impending missile threat, as reported by a Reuters journalist in the area. The Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, which is currently being inspected by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, is located in Kursk.
13:44 Russian forces seize additional location close to PokrovskThe Russian military declares victory in capturing another village situated near the vital city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry proclaims that they have taken control of the village of Orlowka, located in the Donetsk region, as per their Telegram announcement. Orlowka is the Russian renaming of the Ukrainian village of Orliwka. Despite engaging in fierce clashes against the Ukrainian army in the Russian province of Kursk, Russia continues to push its offensive in Donetsk. The Defense Ministry frequently broadcasts the capture of new settlements. The region surrounding the significant logistics hub of Pokrovsk also garners attention.
13:21 Lavrov invokes nuclear threatRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov considers Ukraine's demand for its allies to utilize the weapons they obtained from the West to invade Russia as blackmail. Lavrov warns that it is hazardous for "Western nuclear powers" to "play with fire." Russia is revising its nuclear doctrine, but Lavrov does not share any specific details. The doctrine allows for the use of nuclear weapons should Russia's sovereignty or territorial integrity be threatened.
13:04 Syrskyj: Advancement in Kursk - Difficulties in PokrowskArmy Chief Olexander Syrskyj reveals that Ukrainian troops are still making progress in the Russian region of Kursk. However, Russian forces are also pressuring towards the city of Pokrowsk, positioned in the Ukrainian region of Donetsk. Overall, the situation in Pokrowsk is challenging.
12:42 Munz: Escalating Russian attacks on Ukraine imminentFollowing the recent drone attacks, Russia is believed to be intensifying its rocket attacks on Ukraine. Munz, an ntv correspondent, explains that the increased assaults should not be dismissed as coincidental. Fall and the heating season are approaching, which could make life difficult for the Ukrainian people.
12:33 Syrskyj: 594 Russian soldiers captured in KurskCommander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Olexander Syrskyj, reveals that Ukrainian forces have captured a total of 594 Russian soldiers in the region of Kursk. Syrskyj has provided this information for the first time. Previous reports suggested that at least 247 Russian soldiers had been captured by Ukraine based on photo and video analysis published by the "Washington Post."
12:09 Restrictions and power outages to prevail in UkraineFollowing the most significant Russian attack on Ukraine since the war began, restrictions and power outages are likely to linger. Ivan Plachkov, President of the Ukrainian Energy Association, predicts that power outages and "severe" power restrictions could persist for a further one to two weeks. He mentioned that the Russian large-scale assault on Monday was one of the most extreme attacks targeted at causing "total disruption of the energy system."
11:46 Russia aims to trigger EU refugee crisis with attacksAccording to SPD foreign policy expert Michael Roth, Russia aims to provoke a refugee wave to Europe with their massive attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities. Roth asserts that the series of attacks is the "start of a new destruction campaign" aimed at paralyzing the Ukrainian armament production and making life difficult for people in Ukraine to force new refugee movements to Europe.
11:21 Ukrainian border guard: No enemy movements in BelarusThe Ukrainian Border Guard has reported no substantial troop movements detected in Belarus. Border Guard spokesman Andrij Demtschenko stated that there was no movement of troops or equipment near the border, despite recent statements from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry that Belarus had significantly gathered troops and equipment at the border.
10:56 Governor of Belgorod region verifies Ukrainian incursion attemptsThe governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, confirmed reports of Ukrainian attempts to breach the border. This confirmation supports earlier reports from Russian Telegram channels (see entry from 10:02). According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the situation at the border is challenging but manageable, stating that the population should remain calm and only rely on reliable information sources.
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10:50 Ukrainian military prepares new mechanized unitsAs per an independent Ukrainian military portal "MilitaryLand" report, Ukraine is preparing new mechanized brigades for the defensive struggle against Russian aggression. These new brigades could be ready for action by 2025. The majority of their personnel will be recruited from Ukrainians dwelling abroad, who will receive some of their training in those regions. A typical mechanized brigade comprises approximately 2,000 soldiers and substantial military equipment, such as tanks.
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10:44 IAEA Chief Grossi Investigates Russian NPP in KurskThe International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) boss, Rafael Grossi, has shown up for an investigation of the Kursk nuclear power plant situated in the adjacent Russian region, as reported by TASS. Grossi announced the previous day his intent to personally head the inspection of the plant close to Kursk city due to the severe situation. Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers dashed into the Kursk region unexpectedly on August 6. Russia alleges Ukraine of repeatedly attacking the facility. The Ukrainian government hasn't commented officially on this matter yet.
10:23 FSB Initiates Legal Proceedings Against Deutsche Welle Reporter and Ukrainian TV CorrespondentThe Russian security agency FSB is reportedly pursuing criminal charges against two foreign journalists. They are accused of illegally crossing the Russian border to report from Kursk region following the Ukrainian invasion. As per Reuters, the journalists are a reporter for Deutsche Welle and a correspondent for the Ukrainian TV channel 1+1. FSB already initiated legal proceedings against at least seven foreign journalists suspected of reporting from Kursk.
10:02 Ukrainian Troops Seem to Attack Russian Border in Belgorod RegionUkrainian soldiers seem to be attempting to breach the Russian border in the southern Belgorod region, as reported by The Guardian, citing Russian Telegram channels. The Telegram channel Mash reportedly stated that around 500 Ukrainian soldiers attacked two checkpoints in Nechoteyewka and Shebekino in Belgorod and that fighting took place at both locations. Belgorod shares borders with the Russian region of Kursk, where Ukrainian forces have been occupying Russian territory since early August.
09:45 Kyiv Reported High Russian LossesRussia reportedly lost 1280 soldiers within a day, according to the Ukrainian General Staff. The total number of Russian soldiers killed or incapacitated since the war's commencement has now reached 610,100. Kyiv also reported that within the last 24 hours, 12 Russian tanks, 19 armored vehicles, 52 artillery systems, 120 drones, 103 missiles, and a multiple rocket launcher were destroyed. These figures cannot be independently confirmed. Russia has remained tight-lipped about its own losses.
09:21 "Everything Headed Towards Kyiv's Capital Was Destroyed"Ukraine's air force reportedly destroyed five Russian-launched missiles and 60 drones. Russia targeted Ukraine with ten missiles and 81 drones in total, as per the air force, which reported this on Telegram. Around 15 drones and several missiles were intercepted near Kyiv, as per the head of the local military administration, Serhiy Popko. "Everything heading towards Kyiv's capital was destroyed." Ten drones were still flying in Ukrainian airspace at 9 am local time (8 am CEST). Other drones had crashed. Three hypersonic Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles and two Iskander missiles could not be shot down, the air force commander, Mykola Oleschuk, said on Telegram. The military's numbers are not fully verifiable but provide a broad overview of the attack's scale.
08:57 Overnight Attacks Claim Several Lives - Russia Fires Kinzhal MissilesRussia launched heavy air attacks on Ukraine for the second night in a row, using a variety of weapons. At least four people were reportedly killed by initial reports from Ukrainian authorities - two due to a missile strike on a hotel in Kryvyi Rih and two others due to drone attacks on Saporizhzhia. The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia used long-range bombers from which cruise missiles were launched. Kinzhal hypersonic missiles were also fired.
08:33 Beijing Advocates for Its Own Peace PlanChina is urging broader support for its own peace plan. Li Hui, China's special envoy for Eurasian affairs, said after diplomatic talks with Indonesia, Brazil, and South Africa that these three countries represented the Global South and had significant influence in promoting world peace. They had maintained communication with both Ukraine and Russia and were committed to resolving the conflict through dialogue and negotiations, Li said. China and Brazil published a joint peace plan earlier this year, which calls for a peace conference involving all parties and no further expansion of the battlefield. China and Russia did not attend a peace conference in Switzerland in June. Russia was not invited, and China decided not to participate.
08:05 Russian Commander: Two Settlements in Kursk "Liberated"
In the ongoing battles in the Russian region of Kursk, the Russian military claims to have "liberated" two more settlements. As per the Russian state news agency TASS, quoting the deputy head of the military-political main department of the Russian Armed Forces and the commander of the Chechen special unit Achmat, Major General Apti Alaudinow, "I am pleased to inform you that the Arbat unit has completely cleared the two settlements of Nizhnya Parovaya and Nechayev today, and the 1427th regiment is moving in. Thus, this area has also been cleaned up and brought under control." The situation on the front line has not changed significantly today, the general said. "The enemy has suffered heavy losses today. They attacked all day and therefore suffered very heavy losses." These claims cannot be independently verified. However, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) confirms that geographical images published on Monday showed that Ukrainian forces were operating immediately west of Nechayev.
07:37 Biden Condemns Latest Russian Attacks as "Unconscionable"
Joe Biden has denounced the latest Russian assaults on Monday as "inhumane." "I strongly denounce Russia's persistent conflict against Ukraine and its attempts to submerge the Ukrainian people in darkness," Biden declared. Russia will never prevail in Ukraine. Moscow is "attacking Ukraine's life sources" with assaults and trying to "destroy resources," the German Foreign Office stated on X. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss denounced the Russian attacks as "despicable."
07:05 ISW: An Invasion of Ukraine by Belarus is Unlikely
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) still believes that an invasion of Ukraine by Belarus is unlikely. The US think tank refers to a recent report by the Ukraine-based open-source news organization Frontline Insight and Rochan Consulting, which suggests that Belarusian battle units usually operate at only 30 to 40 percent of their total strength and require mobilization to increase their numbers. No such mobilization has occurred. Instead, it is most likely that the current focus is on diverting Ukrainian forces from their efforts elsewhere along the front line, thereby supporting Russian troops. The current number of Russian troops in Belarus is also insufficient to launch a well-coordinated invasion into Ukraine from the Gomel region's border. An invasion of Ukraine by Belarus, or even military involvement in the war, would further weaken the power of leader Alexander Lukashenko to safeguard his regime. Domestic dissatisfaction could greatly intensify. The upcoming presidential elections are already scheduled for February 2025.
06:32 Gabbard Supports Trump: Former Democratic Presidential Candidate Backs Republican Candidate
Former Democratic presidential candidate and congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who has since severed ties with her party, is backing the Republican candidate Donald Trump for the November election. She pledged to do everything in her power to assist him in regaining the White House, Gabbard said. Regarding the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, the former National Guard soldier claimed that Trump would initially work to pull the U.S. "back from the brink of war" if elected again. Gabbard ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 but had little chance of success and eventually endorsed Joe Biden, who went on to win the election for the Democrats. Gabbard campaigned at the time for a demilitarization of U.S. foreign policy. The 43-year-old politician had to defend herself against accusations that her campaign was backed by Russia and was simply intended to undermine the Democrats.
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06:17 Biden Compliments Modi's Visit to Ukraine
U.S. President Joe Biden praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visit to Ukraine last week. Modi, who represents a neutral position in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, tweeted that he had spoken with Biden about India's full support for a quick return to peace and stability in Ukraine. The White House said Biden had commended Modi's engagement with Ukraine and his visit to Poland last week. Warsaw is one of Ukraine's closest allies in Eastern Europe. "Any country that is open to listening to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's perspective and wants to help him strive for a fair peace is welcome," said John Kirby, the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, to reporters.
05:45 Witnesses Report Several Explosions in Kyiv
In the most recent drone attack on Kyiv, witnesses reported at least three sets of explosions. No immediate reports of casualties have been made. The air defense systems in the Kyiv region have been active all night to intercept missiles and drones targeting the capital, the regional military administration announced on Telegram. The attacks happen just a day after the largest Russian air strike to date in this war.
05:03 Ukrainian Air Force: Russian Bombers and Drones Heading Towards Ukraine
Russia has launched bombers and drones towards Ukraine, according to Ukrainian reports. The Tu-95ms bombers took off from the Engels air base in southwestern Russia, the Ukrainian air force stated on Telegram. Attack drones are also on their way to Ukraine. Air raid alerts have been issued in several parts of Ukraine, according to local authorities.
04:04 Two Dead After Russian Rocket Strike on Kryvyi RihThe number of fatalities in the Russian rocket attack on the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih has risen to two, according to Ukrainian reports. Ukrainian authorities report that a Russian rocket hit a hotel. Up to five people could be trapped under the building's rubble, with rescue efforts ongoing, Ukrainian media report, citing military administrations of the district and city. The city administration reports that the hotel was hit by a ballistic missile. These claims cannot be verified independently.
02:04 Another Drone Attack on KyivThere has been another Russian drone attack in the Kyiv region, according to Ukrainian reports. "Movement of enemy UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) detected," the Kyiv region military administration reports on Telegram. "Air defense systems are active in the region."
00:35 Ukraine: At Least One Dead in Russian Rocket Strike on Kryvyi RihAt least one person has been killed in a Russian rocket attack on a civilian infrastructure building in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih. Five more people may still be under the rubble, regional authorities report. The head of the Kryvyi Rih military administration, Oleksandr Vilkul, reports on Telegram that four people have been hospitalized with injuries. The governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, Serhiy Lysak, states on Telegram that the civilian building has been "reduced to rubble." These reports cannot be verified independently. No response has been received from the Russian side as of yet.
10:19 Zelensky Warns Russia of Retaliation for AirstrikesFollowing significant Russian airstrikes against Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a warning of retaliation. He reveals that the response will be geared up using the F-16 fighter jets, a gift from the West, as he delivers his evening video address. Zelensky, however, does not disclose specifics about the impending retaliation. Instead, he brings up the ongoing Ukrainian offensive in the Russian region of Kursk, which has been active for three weeks.
19:03 USA: Russia Aims to "Drive Ukrainians into Darkness"The United States accuses Russia of trying to "drive the Ukrainian people into darkness as autumn begins," citing the Russian bombardments of Ukraine, according to White House spokesperson John Kirby. He finds the attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure to be appalling. The US strongly condemns "Russia's continued war against Ukraine."
18:20 More Evacuations in Donetsk RegionUkrainian officials have issued orders for additional evacuations in the Donetsk region due to the Russian advance. The security situation has deteriorated, leading to an expansion of the forced evacuation zone, as reported by Donetsk governor Vadym Fillaschkin. A total of 27 settlements in the Kostyantynivka and Selydove areas are affected. Earlier, evacuations were ordered in the Pokrovsk area, as Russian troops advanced.
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The European Union could provide financial assistance to help Ukraine achieve its drone manufacturing goals, given the critical role of financial support in this process.
In order to strengthen the Ukrainian government's position during international negotiations, it would be beneficial for the European Union to consider offering expertise and resources to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities.
