At 20:03, Ukraine: Gathering of Belarusian Troops at the Border
Belarus Apparent Troop Buildup Near Border Alarming, Ukraine WarnsAccording to Ukraine, Belarus is allegedly amassing a notable number of troops and military equipment near its border. This alleged buildup, Ukraine claims, is under the guise of military exercises, as announced by its Foreign Ministry. However, Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has yet to comment on the matter.
19:30 Hotel Attack Aftermath: Missing Journalist Confirmed DeadThe missing Reuters journalist, who went missing following a Russian attack on a hotel in Kramatorsk, has been confirmed dead. Ukrainian authorities report that the deceased British journalist's body was discovered in the debris several hours later. Furthermore, four individuals were injured, as per the governor of the Donetsk region, Vadym Filaschkin, via Telegram. Previous reports only suggested two injured individuals.
18:49 Ukraine Continues Unconventional Anti-Drone StrategiesUkraine seems to persist in its unique methods in its fight against Russian drones. Various videos depict a Ukrainian helicopter crew, armed with a machine gun, pursuing drones. According to Forbes, this is a Mi-8 transport helicopter. One video demonstrates a Ukrainian soldier successfully shooting down an Iranian Shahed drone from the helicopter's cockpit.
17:34 Zelensky Raises Concerns Over India's Business with RussiaIn an interaction with Indian journalists, Ukrainian President Zelensky voiced concerns about India's business dealings with Russia. He noted that Putin is using the revenue from oil and gas sales to fund his conflict against Ukraine. Zelensky labeled this practice as "theft from his people." He also commented on how Putin's war economy is being financed by billions from India, China, and Arab states. However, Zelensky acknowledged that Ukraine cannot exert pressure on India, as it is an independent nation.
17:09 Musk Demands Release of Telegram CEOElon Musk, the CEO of X, has asked for the release of Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who was detained in Paris. Musk tweeted #FreePavel alongside a clip of an interview Durov had with US journalist Tucker Carlson. In another tweet, Musk wrote, "Liberté Liberté! Liberté?" (Freedom Freedom! Freedom?).
16:37 Söder Disagrees with Kretschmer's Stance on UkraineBavaria's Minister-President Markus Söder has distanced himself from his Saxon colleague Michael Kretschmer's (CDU) stance on Ukraine policy. "We have a clear position. Herr Kretschmer holds his, which I respect. However, we have significantly different positions," Söder said during an ARD summer interview. "Honestly, would World War II have ended if one had allowed Hitler?" Söder asked, alluding to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Do wars end when yields are given to the aggressor?" Kretschmer criticized Ukraine's arms deliveries. Söder deemed this perspective "naive."
16:09 Zelensky Affirms Trump's Support for UkraineUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky states that U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump has expressed his support for Ukraine and his desire to end the conflict. Zelensky expresses this in an interview with Indian journalists, shared on his social media channel.
15:41 Medvedev Claims to Have Warned Telegram CEO 'Long Ago'After the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in Paris, Medvedev, former Russian President, asserts that he had warned Durov "a long time ago" that his stance on user data privacy would lead to "serious issues" in various countries. "He misjudged," Medvedev writes on Telegram. "For our common adversaries, he is an unpredictable and hazardous Russian." Durov, Medvedev concludes, must eventually understand that one cannot choose one's homeland.
14:36 Zelensky Proposes India Host Second Peace SummitUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggests that India could serve as the host for a second peace summit. Zelensky expresses his support for this idea to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At present, discussions are underway with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and Switzerland regarding hosting a second conference. However, it's challenging to conduct the conference in a nation that didn't sign the final declaration of the initial summit. While India attended the initial meeting at Switzerland in June, it did not endorse the final declaration.
14:13 Pope Criticizes Orthodox Church Ban in UkrainePope Francis expresses disapproval of the ban on the pro-Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. In his Sunday prayer, the Pontiff remarked, "No Christian church should be prohibited directly or indirectly. Churches must not be meddled with!" Ukraine justifies the ban due to the Moscow Patriarchate's support for the Russian invasion. The Pope told his congregation in St. Peter's Square, "One does not commit evil because one prays. If someone perpetrates evil against their people, it indicates guilt. However, they cannot be guilty due to their prayers."
13:43 "Inhumane War Atrocity" - Ukraine Frowns upon "Premeditated Assault" on Hotel in KramatorskThe Ukrainian Foreign Office critiques the Russian assault on a hotel in Kramatorsk housing foreign journalists. This was shared by the Foreign Office spokesperson, Georgiy Tykhyi, on X. "Last night, yet another gruesome and premeditated Russian attack on the residential area of Kramatorsk wounded foreign media correspondents residing in the hotel," the spokesperson communicated. According to Tykhyi, such targeting of media personnel has evolved into a recurring tactic in the Russian war campaign. "These barbarous war crimes must be denounced and penalized," the Foreign Office spokesperson further added.
13:14 After Russian Assaults on Sumy: Police Document 4 fatalities and 13 injuriesThe Russian military bombarded the Ukrainian area of Sumy 261 times yesterday, as per local police reports. At least four individuals were killed, and thirteen were injured in these attacks on the northern region. The Ukrainian newspaper "Ukrainska Pravda" discloses that six apartment blocks, 26 houses, a learning institution, outbuildings, automobiles, a gas pipeline, and numerous shops were damaged. Moreover, dry grass in a two-hectare area was set ablaze.
12:42 Zelensky Jests at Putin: "Ailing Senior Politician from Red Square"On Ukraine's Independence Day, President Volodymyr Zelensky not only showcased the recently developed Ukrainian drone Palianytsia. In a video address, the head of state also derided Russian leader Vladimir Putin, referring to him as an "ailing senior politician from Red Square" due to his nuclear threats. The 71-year-old, Zelensky stated, "is an ailing senior politician from Red Square who persistently threatens everyone with the red button, he will not dictate any of his red lines to us."
12:14 Ministry of Energy: More than 500 Ukrainian settlements remain powerless after assaultsMore than 500 settlements in Ukraine are still without electricity after Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy confirms through the state news agency Ukrinform. The energy sector is enduring difficulties, but no constraints have been imposed on customers. Over 7,200 individuals have already had their electricity restored. The ministry encourages citizens to save electricity and utilize it responsibly, especially during the evenings. Due to the intense attacks by Russian troops, the energy system is severely damaged and still highly vulnerable to disruptions.
11:38 Ukraine: 160 skirmishes with Russian soldiers at the frontline within a dayThe Ukrainian side noted 160 combat incidents at the frontline yesterday. Hostilities were fervent in ten sectors, with the situation around Pokrovsk being the most tense, as per the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in their situation report this morning. Russian troops carried out five attacks with 15 missiles and 95 attacks with 127 guided aerial bombs on Ukrainian positions, along with cities and villages.
10:57 Reuters Staff Member Missing Post Rocket Attack on Hotel - Search for Survivor Continues in DebrisRussian troops struck a hotel in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk during the night, according to Ukrainian reports. A Reuters staff member is now unaccounted for, with two others injured. A Reuters update revealed that a six-person team was present at the Hotel Sapphire during the assault. The structure was "apparently struck by a rocket" the previous night. "One of our colleagues is still missing, two others were admitted to the hospital," it stated. They are coordinating with local authorities in Kramatorsk. The governor of the Donetsk region, Vadym Fillaschkin, posted on Telegram that "the Russians attacked Kramatorsk." Two journalists were wounded, one is still missing. "Authorities, police, and rescue services are on the scene. Demolition of the debris and rescue operations are underway." The Russian Defense Ministry failed to respond to a request for comment immediately. "Russian troops bombarded the city of Kramatorsk, likely employing an Iskander-M missile," intimated a statement from the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office, which has initiated a preliminary investigation into the attack. The missile hit at 22:35 local time the previous night.
Update at 1:30 PM: The count of injured Reuters employees has been revised to four. This was announced by the head of the regional military administration of Donetsk, Vadym Fillaschkin, through Telegram.
10:44 Air Force Chief: Almost All Russian Suicide Drones Intercepted and Destroyed OvernightUkraine's air defense executed impressively well during the night: eight out of nine Russian suicide drones were intercepted and annihilated by Ukrainian air defense forces. This information was divulged by the state news agency Ukrinform citing the air force commander, Mykola Oleschtschuk. According to him, not only were almost all kamikaze drones intercepted, but most of the rockets they released were also neutralized.
09:54 US Tech Exports to Russia Under Scrutiny: China Slams New US Export Rules
China has voiced its disapproval of the US's tightened regulations on numerous exporters from China. As per the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, these new US rules disrupt the global trading order and obstruct routine trade exchanges. China will undertake needed measures to firmly safeguard the legal rights of its companies. This reaction comes in the wake of the US government's decision last Friday to include 105 companies - 42 from China, 63 from Russia, and 18 from other nations - on a list subject to trade restrictions. These companies were chosen for various reasons, such as shipping US electronics to the Russian military and manufacturing thousands of drones used by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. These companies will now need to acquire difficult-to-obtain licenses.
09:29 Ukraine: 250 Russian Targets within Striking Distance, Says ISW
The ISW, based in the US, is advocating for the unrestricted use of long-range weapons on Russian territory by Ukraine. Even after the repositioning of air forces to deeper rear areas, numerous strategic targets within Ukraine remain reachable by US ATACMS missiles, which Ukraine already has but cannot use for strikes within Russia due to restrictions from Washington. "The ISW estimates that at least 250 military and paramilitary targets in Russia are within range of the ATACMS missiles provided by the US to Ukraine," according to a recent analysis by the ISW. However, only attacks with HIMARS multiple rocket launchers and GLMRS missiles are currently permitted. "This means Ukraine can target at most 20 of the 250 targets," the ISW stated.
09:06 Kyiv: 1190 Russian Soldiers "Neutralized" in One Day
Ukrainian authorities continue to report high personnel losses among the Russian forces. Over the past 24 hours, 1190 Russian soldiers are allegedly dead or incapacitated, according to official figures from Kyiv. Since the inception of the war in February 2022, a total of 607,680 Russian soldiers have reportedly been "neutralized" by Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. The ministry also announced the loss of five more tanks (8,547 in total) since the Russian invasion began. Ukraine claims to have destroyed or seized more than 16,600 armored vehicles and around 14,000 drones. However, these figures cannot be independently verified as Moscow does not provide information regarding its losses in Ukraine.
08:39 Ukrainian Air Defense: Most of Russian Missiles and Drones Fail over Night
Ukraine states that Russia launched several missiles and drones at northern and eastern parts of the country during the night. "Most of the missiles did not reach their target," the air defense reported. Russia utilized a ballistic missile of the Iskander-M type, a cruise missile of the Iskander-K type, and six guided missiles during this attack. The exact number of these that were shot down was not disclosed. At the same time, eight out of nine Russian attack drones were reportedly shot down.
08:08 Six Injured in Russian Overnight Rocket Attack on Kharkiv's Slobidsky District
The number of injured has risen to six following an overnight Russian rocket attack on the Slobidsky district in Kharkiv. This was reported by the mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, via Telegram, as reported by the state news agency Ukrinform.
07:32 Zelensky Commends Launch of New Ukrainian Palianytsia Rocket Drones
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the newly developed Palianytsia rocket drones from Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader stated that these rocket drones and other military innovations are essential for the country due to the delays experienced by some of its international partners. "Today, the first successful deployment of our new weapon took place," he said, as reported by "Kyiv Independent." "A new class of Ukrainian rocket drone, Palianytsia."
06:55 Azov Commander Blasts Prisoner Swap: No Azov Fighters Among Released Soldiers
According to Ukrainian sources, no Azov soldiers were involved in yesterday's prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine. This was reported by "Kyiv Independent" citing Brigade Commander Denys Prokopenko. The commander of the Azov Regiment criticized the recent prisoner exchange and expressed his disappointment that none of the Azov fighters, who have been in Russian captivity for over two years, were included.
06:14 Governor: Five Killed in Ukrainian Strike on Russian Border Region of Belgorod
Five civilians were killed and twelve others injured, four seriously, in a Ukrainian air strike on the Russian border region of Belgorod last night, according to local authorities. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that three minors were also injured, two of whom were hospitalized. Ukraine has recently increased its attacks on Russian territory and advanced into the Kursk region bordering Belgorod in early August. Belgorod is frequently targeted by Ukrainian air and drone strikes as retaliation for attacks from the Russian side.
05:47 Russia: Civilians Killed in Ukrainian Shelling
Five civilians were killed and twelve others injured in artillery shelling in the town of Rakitnoe in southwestern Russia. This was reported by the governor of the region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, on Telegram. The reports could not be independently verified, and there has been no statement from Ukraine.
04:26 City of Sumy Reports Rocket Attacks and Casualties
The city of Sumy has reported rocket attacks, according to the regional military administration. Two rocket attacks were reported, with seven people injured, two in serious condition. The authorities reported that Russia attacked the civilian infrastructure in Sumy on Saturday evening.
03:35 Kharkiv and Chuhuiv: Rocket assault initiated by RussiansThe leader of Kharkiv's region, Oleh Synyehubov, issues a warning: The Russian military has launched rocket assaults on the towns of Kharkiv and Chuhuiv. So far, one person has been hurt. A more significant explosion is reported in Kharkiv. The mayor of the city, Ihor Terechow, shared on Telegram that a considerable explosion was heard. He urges caution among the city's residents. The reason for the explosion is yet to be determined.
03:06 Ukraine's air defenses alert to intruding combat dronesDuring the early hours, an air warning is activated across Eastern and Southern Ukraine. The Ukrainian forces caution, among other things, about a swarm of Shahed combat drones flying over the Black Sea toward the Southern Ukrainian area of Mykolaiv. Around Ukraine's Independence Day, which happened on Saturday, intensified Russian attacks were anticipated. However, a large-scale wave of attacks has not materialized yet.
01:32 European Commission suspected of suspending Hungary's oil suppliesHungary believes the EU Commission is responsible for discontinuing Russian oil supplies. As Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto expressed, "The fact that the European Commission has declared that it is not prepared to aid in securing Hungary and Slovakia's energy supply suggests that the command emanating from Brussels was directed to Kyiv to (...) create chaos in Hungary and Slovakia's energy supply." The EU Commission initially refuses to comment. In June, the Ukrainian government added Russian oil producer Lukoil to the sanctions list and blocked the Druzhba pipeline, which also traverses Ukrainian territory. This move has largely severed countries like Hungary and Slovakia from their principal oil provider.
22:12 Four women injured in Russian troops' assault on Kupiansk's villageRussian soldiers attacked the village of Novoosynove in Kupiansk's district of Kharkiv Oblast, injuring four women, reports Oleh Syniehubov, head of Kharkiv's military administration. At around noon, the invaders attacked the village of Novoosynove in Kupiansk's district, resulting in a private building being set ablaze, explained Syniehubov. The injured females were given medical attention. Investigations into the attack's aftermath are still ongoing.
21:03 UK's Defense Minister: "Ukraine has consistently fought against Russia's more substantial forces"
John Healey, the UK's Defense Minister, celebrates Ukraine's Independence Day in a guest article on "European Pravda." "Thirty-three years ago, Ukraine declared independence, vowing a better, more prosperous future as a sovereign democracy, free from Soviet Russia's control," Healey writes. Today, Ukrainians are celebrating their Independence Day amidst a conflict. It is a life-or-death struggle for independence in the face of Putin's merciless unlawful invasion. "Ukraine has consistently fought against Russia's exponentially more powerful forces and resources. Today, we honor the Ukrainian people," Healey asserts. They continue to fight bravely, both the military and the civilian population. The British must reassure their Ukrainian allies that they will stand behind them for as long as necessary. Therefore, the UK is initiating a campaign today, encouraging people throughout Britain and beyond to demonstrate their support for the Ukrainians. "On social media, we ask you to 'Make Noise for Ukraine' and share relevant posts. Because, in addition to the military and economic assistance we offer Ukraine, we have also pledged our friendship and solidarity," Healey says.
20:05 Zelensky promotes Syrsky to GeneralUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has promoted Oleksandr Syrsky, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, to the rank of General. This is in accordance with a decree issued by Zelensky. Previously, Syrsky held the rank of Colonel General. The reason for the promotion is the successful advance of Ukrainian troops in the Russian border region of Kursk.
You can read all earlier developments here.
The European Union could express concern over Belarus amassing troops and military equipment near its border, given the recent allegations from Ukraine.
If the European Union decides to take action, it could impose sanctions on Belarus, as a response to its alleged military buildup near its border with Ukraine.
