At 19:18, Zelensky names three factors for a "just end" to the war
Patience, support for Ukraine and diplomatic pressure on Russia - these are the three factors for a just end to the war. This is what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in an interview with the Japanese broadcaster NHK. "Patience, support, and diplomatic pressure are the three factors for a just end to the war. If the USA and European nations maintain their unity, the pressure increases and shows Moscow that there is no chance", said the Ukrainian leader. Zelenskyy also emphasized that he could not react to demands for a ceasefire as long as Russia continued to occupy Ukrainian territory.
18:38 NATO Membership: Scientists call for Ukraine's Invitation to Military AllianceScientists and scholars from various countries have called on NATO in an open letter to invite Ukraine to become a member. According to the Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform, over 158 signatories have signed the letter, which was published in the British newspaper "Guardian". "The invitation of Ukraine to NATO membership would be a final step away from appeasement policy and back to the rule of law and protection of human rights", it says there. The previous attempts to appease Russian "NATO expansion anxiety" ignored Moscow's war crimes propaganda and systematic war crimes in the occupied territories of Ukraine, including massacres, mass rapes, and torture. "Russia's actions clearly show the intention to destroy Ukraine as a nation, rather than addressing its own security concerns", the authors emphasize. A membership in the Military Alliance would, in their opinion, not create additional incentives for the Kremlin, "as Russia is determined to destroy Ukraine and does not need additional motivation". Furthermore, it is a "fact that Russia has not attacked a single member of the Military Alliance". Instead, Moscow has threatened, attacked, and occupied other countries.
17:54 Reports of Ukrainian Surprise Attack on Russian Troops in LuhanskThe Ukrainian military has reportedly inflicted heavy losses on Russian troops in Luhansk in eastern Ukraine with a rocket attack. Members of a tank infantry battalion were allegedly attacked with ATACMS rockets during a gathering on a training ground, according to Ukrainian media, citing Russian social media and their own military sources. The surprise attack, which reportedly took place yesterday, resulted in the deaths of at least 19 Russian soldiers and injuries to 71 others. The information could not be independently verified. The Ukrainian troops usually only use ATACMS rockets against valuable targets. It is possible that the troop concentration at Luhansk was detected by a reconnaissance drone.
17:32 Dozens of Wagner soldiers in Mali killed or captured - notorious Wagner commander in custodyRussian Wagner soldiers in Mali suffered one of their heaviest losses in West Africa, with dozens of killed and captured fighters according to their own accounts. Rebels of the separatist Tuareg people in the northern part of the Sahel state allegedly killed several dozens of Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries during three days of fighting, attempting to take the village of Tinzaouaten near the Algerian border. Russian mercenaries have been fighting alongside the Malian army against all rebel movements in the country since 2021, including islamist terror militias as well as the Tuareg. Russian channels close to the mercenaries, including a former commander of the forces in northern Mali, reported over 80 dead and 15 captured fighters on their side. Among them is reportedly Wagner commander Anton Elisarov, who was involved in the Russian offensive in the Ukrainian city of Soledar.
16:49 Fire in university building in Cherson after Russian shellingRussian forces attacked the Cherson oblast and hit a university building. A fire broke out in the educational institution, as reported by Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the military administration of the Cherson region, in a report from "Ukrainska Pravda". "The enemy shelled a university building in the city center at night, causing a fire." No one was injured.
16:02 Over 430 Ukrainian settlements without power after Russian attacksAccording to Ukrainian reports, over 430 settlements in six regions in the north and northeast of Ukraine are without power due to Russian attacks. The Ukrainian Energy Ministry announced this on Facebook, as reported by the state news agency Ukrinform.
15:34 General Staff: Over 130 battles with Russian troops in one dayThe Ukrainian General Staff reported over 129 battles with Russian troops along the front line the previous day. According to the state news agency Ukrinform, the Russian troops were particularly active in the areas of Pokrovsk, Torezk, and Kurachiwka.
14:54 Kiev: Nearly 1200 Russian soldiers eliminated in one dayThe personnel losses on the Russian side, according to official figures from Kiev, remain high: Over 1190 Russian soldiers reportedly died or became incapacitated in the war within one day. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry announced in its daily reports on losses that the enemy had lost 13 more tanks (8344). Since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has counted over 16,000 armored vehicles and around 12,800 drones that are no longer in the possession of the Russian military or have been destroyed. These figures cannot be independently verified. Moscow itself keeps information on its own losses in the Ukraine to itself.
14:28 Zelensky: Russia fired over 700 guided bombs and more than 100 drones at Ukraine in a weekAccording to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian forces have fired over 700 guided air-dropped bombs and more than 100 Shahed drones at Ukraine in the past week. Zelensky wrote on Telegram, citing regional authorities, that eleven people were killed and forty-one were injured in Russian air strikes on four Ukrainian regions yesterday. The Ukrainians are "suffering daily under Russian terror" and "deserve a fair and reliable protection from it". Zelensky called on allies to equip Kiev with long-range weapons and air defense systems, adding that "each concrete decision by partners to strengthen our forces can save lives".
14:01 Report: F-16 fighter jets may not significantly alter 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 receive only 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. Official sources 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 staff confirmed in social media an attack on a Russian oil depot in the Kursk region. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and the Ukrainian military cooperated to attack the Polyova oil depot last night. Prior to that, regional authorities 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 08:00 and 06:36).
13:20 Agencies: Eight injured in Russian shelling of Nikopol buildingsEight people were injured, including children, in Nikopol's shelling by Russian troops in the Dnipro region. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the State Emergency Service (SES) of Ukraine. "Eight residents of two multi-storey buildings, including two children, were injured during the enemy shelling of Nikopol," the statement reads. The injured were taken to the hospital by rescue services and the Red Cross.
13:01 Russia reports taking control of two locations in DonetskRussia has taken control of two locations in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. They are Prohres and Evheniwka in the east, according to Russian news agencies, quoting the Russian Defense Ministry.
12:44 Ukraine accuses Russia of killing 564 children since start of warRussia is reported to have killed 564 children and wounded at least 1487 since the start of its offensive in Ukraine, reports the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform," citing the Office of the Prosecutor General. Most of the children were affected in the regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Cherkasy, Kiev and Zaporizhzhia, the statement on Telegram says.
12:24 Lindner counters Pistorius in defense budget discussionFinance Minister Christian Lindner defended his stance on defense spending in a tussle with Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (CDU). "We have reached the two-percent NATO target for the first time since many, many years," says the FDP leader in an interview with ARD-"Hauptstadtstudio." We spend more than France and Italy. In the coming years, we will continue to provide at least two percent of the economic output for security. "But 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. "Mr. Pistorius has a 100-billion-euro special program for the strengthening of the armed forces, which none of his predecessors had," says Lindner.
12:01 Putin threatens response to US missiles in GermanyIn response 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 will 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 US, on the other hand, has long complained about Russian violations of the treaty. In a speech to sailors from Russia, China, Algeria and India, Putin said the US could trigger a missile crisis reminiscent of the Cold War. "The flight time of these missiles, which could in the future be equipped with atomic warheads, to targets on our territory will be approximately ten minutes," Putin said.
11:14 Authorities: Russians seize over 500 homes in Luhansk for themselvesIn the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic," the Russian occupiers have illegally seized 514 homes from evacuated locals. This is reported by the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform," citing 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, Lysohord writes, adding 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 According to suspilne.media, the Ukrainian broadcasting corporation, there were two explosions reported in Charkiw this 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 investigated. According to RBC-Ukraine news portal, air alarm has been declared in some regions of Ukraine, including Dnipro, Sumy, Poltawa, Tschernihiw, Charkiw, and Donetsk. A threat of missile attacks cannot be ruled out in these regions, it is stated.
10:07 Governor reports 5 Dead and 15 Injured by 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. Five residents of the region Donetsk were killed. Three of them 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 attack campaign in February 2022, according to Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform, 2110 civilians have been killed and 5515 injured in the Donetsk region. These numbers do not include the victims in Mariupol and Wolnowacha, it is stated.
09:46 IfW President: German fiscal policy is "Security risk for Europe" Moritz Schularick, President of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), called on the German government to significantly increase spending for security and defense - and criticized the coalition's budget compromise at the same time. "The German government is currently not making reasonable fiscal policy for what the country needs," Schularick said in an interview with t-online. "Far from it: The fiscal policy is and remains a security risk for Europe." A future special fund for the Bundeswehr should be "significantly larger than the current one with its size of 100 billion Euro," the economist continued. "Just to close the budget gap in the next ten years, we are probably talking about a volume of 250 to 300 billion Euro."
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," Schularick added. "It would take at least 3 to 3.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product to deter Putin's Russia with 'strength and determination'."
09:15 Expert: Donetsk region is "inevitably" lost for Ukraine (Thiele on ntv)
The Ukrainian forces are currently under heavy pressure of Russian attacks in the Donetsk region. Military expert Ralf Thiele sees no chance for Ukraine to hold the region Donetsk in the future. The Russians are "step by step" advancing and the Ukrainians are on the retreat. The region is "inevitably" lost for Ukraine, Thiele says on ntv. "It's sadly inevitable when you have to say that," says the military expert. Donetsk is either on the negotiation table or on the "real" one. This means, either there is a conversation about "a ceasefire on equal terms or we have a surrender ceasefire," Thiele explains. These are the alternatives he sees. But in both cases, the region "is at the end of the day lost," Thiele adds.
08:52 Ukraine reports 1,180 Russian casualties in the last 24 hours
Russia has lost approximately 574,690 soldiers in Ukraine between February 24, 2022, and July 27, 2022, according to the Ukrainian military. Among them are 1,180 fatalities or injuries in the past 24 hours. The Ukrainian General Staff reported this in its daily update on Facebook. In addition, Russian losses include: 8,344 tanks, 16,095 armored combat vehicles, 15,936 artillery systems, 11,271 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 tankers, 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 - albeit 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 on the eastern bank of the Dnieper in the Kherson region, TASS reports, citing the Russian Defense Ministry. After the drone attack, 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 disabled, the statement says.
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 Sports Minister Vadym Bidny to draw international attention to the situation in the country following the start of the Russian offensive 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 offensive 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 shooting down 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, explosions occur in the Kursk region of Russia due to a drone attack. In an oil depot and several areas, fires break out, reports the governor of the region Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, on 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." At least two fires have broken out, one in the Medwenka 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 hearing "several strong explosions" near the oil depot at night. In addition, an explosion occurred in the city of Sudzha, a house in the Medva district is on fire, it says.
05:41 Linnemann raises question of refugee cash benefits for Ukrainians
CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann raises the question of cash benefits for Ukrainian women and men in an interview with Funke media. "We need to discuss why more than 50 percent of 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 up work."
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 the service. This is also noted 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 deaths. In the northeastern border region of Sumy, a 14-year-old boy was killed and 12 others were injured by 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 additional village in UkraineRussia claims to have captured another village in eastern Ukraine. The village of Losuwatske in the Donezk 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 advanced relatively quickly 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, shortly after his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba held talks with Wang in Guangzhou 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.**
- In light of the ongoing Ukraine-Conflict, scientists and scholars from various countries have called on NATO to invite Ukraine to become a member, citing the rule of law and protection of human rights as reasons.
- The Ukrainian military has reportedly inflicted heavy losses on Russian troops in Luhansk with a rocket attack, following Russian threats and attacks on Ukrainian territory.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, highlighted the importance of patience, support, and diplomatic pressure on Russia for a just end to the war, emphasizing that he cannot react to demands for a ceasefire as long as Russian troops occupy Ukrainian territory.
- NATO Membership: The invitation of Ukraine to NATO membership would not create additional incentives for the Kremlin, according to the authors of an open letter to NATO, as Russia is determined to destroy Ukraine anyway.
- The Ukrainian General Staff reported over 129 battles with Russian troops along the front line the previous day, with Russian troops being particularly active in the areas of Pokrovsk, Torezk, and Kurachiwka.
