At 22:17: 'Anti-European': Poland's Foreign Minister proposes Hungary's exit from EU and NATO
The Polish Foreign Ministry is urging Hungary, following controversial statements by Viktor Orban about the EU, the USA, and specifically Poland, to leave the EU and NATO. "If you don't want to be a member of a club, you can always leave," said the deputy Polish Foreign Minister Wladyslaw Bartoszewski, according to the Polish Press Agency (PAP). Orban caused outrage with his controversial statements on a podium at a summer university in Romania. The Hungarian prime minister reportedly accused Poland of "hypocrisy," praised US presidential candidate Donald Trump, and defended Russia. He also accused the USA of being responsible for the attack on the Nord Stream pipeline. The Polish Foreign Minister described Orban's current politics as anti-European, anti-Ukrainian, and anti-Polish. "We don't do business with Russia unlike Orban, who stands on the fringes of the international community," Bartoszewski said.
21:31 Drone attack on Bomber: Zelensky thanks soldiers for "precision from 1800 kilometers away" Ukrainian media reported yesterday about a successful drone attack on a military airfield in the north of Russia - 1800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. According to "Ukrainska Pravda," citing intelligence circles, a strategic bomber of the type TU-22M3 was hit. In his evening video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked his soldiers and specifically mentioned the 9th department of the Military Intelligence Service GUR. "Precision from almost 1800 kilometers from our border. Really important! Thank you," Zelensky said. Zelensky went into no further detail. Russia launches bombers from this airfield for rocket attacks on Ukraine.
20:46 Reports: Wagner-affiliated propagandist killed in fighting in Mali In fighting in Mali with fighters from the separatist Tuareg people in the north, more than dozens of Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries have reportedly been killed. A well-known Russian propagandist, who is close to the Wagner mercenary group, is said to have been among the dead, according to independent Russian news channels "The Insider" and "Mediazona." Nikita Fedjanin, administrator of the Telegram channel "Grey Zone" with around 500,000 subscribers, is reported to have been killed in the fighting. A photo of his alleged corpse is said to be circulating on the internet. On the Telegram channel, which Fedjanin referred to as a "soldier community," he published pictures of Wagner deployments in various locations in Africa and repeatedly expressed his support for Russia's war in Ukraine. The Wagner commander, who was killed by a plane crash nearly a year ago, Evgeny Prigozhin, also regularly had videos and photos of Wagner fighters distributed via "Grey Zone."
20:27 Zelenskyy: Ukraine to present "Peace Plan" by end of NovemberPresident Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in an interview with the Japanese broadcaster NHK that Ukraine will complete its "Peace Plan for Peace" by the end of November. The first global peace summit was organized by Ukraine in Switzerland in June, where 91 countries and eight international organizations signed a communique. The Ukrainian leader stated that detailed talks with relevant countries will begin on territorial integrity and other issues. Ukraine plans to organize a second peace summit involving Russia prior to the US presidential elections in November, but no official invitation has been issued yet. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin stated that Russia would not participate.
20:12 Russian attack on Nikopol - two children injuredRussian troops attacked the city of Nikopol in southern Ukraine. Several people were injured, including two girls, one year and ten years old. The head of the regional military administration in Dnipropetrovsk, Serhii Lyssak, reported this on Telegram, as reported by the state news agency Ukrinform.
19:37 Russian troops launch offensive in eastern UkraineThe Russian Air Force is heavily bombing the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv. The small town of Vovchansk was hit by at least six glide bombs, according to a statement from the Ukrainian General Staff in Kiev. In addition, Russian combat aircraft attacked Ukrainian positions. No information was provided on casualties. The main focus of Russian attacks appeared to be Pokrovsk. Throughout the day, 16 attacks were repelled, with more ongoing. The information cannot be verified independently at this time. Reports of multiple Russian attacks in the Dnipropetrovsk region with artillery and combat drones were also received. In the sector Liman in the east of the country, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian army positions. At least twelve attacks were registered, the General Staff reported.
19:18 Zelenskyy names three factors for a "fair end" to the warPatience, support for Ukraine, and diplomatic pressure on Russia - these are the three factors for a fair end to the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Japanese broadcaster NHK. "Patience, support, and diplomatic pressure are the three factors for a fair end to the war. If the USA and European nations maintain their unity, the pressure increases and shows Moscow that there is no chance," the Ukrainian leader said. 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 Invitation of Ukraine into Military AllianceScientists from various countries have called on NATO in an open letter to invite Ukraine to join the military alliance. According to the Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform, up to 158 researchers have signed the letter, which was published in the British newspaper "Guardian". The letter states, "The invitation of Ukraine to NATO membership would be a final step away from appeasement policy and back to the rule of international law and the protection of human rights." The attempts to appease Russia's alleged "NATO expansion anxiety" have been ignored by Russia's population murder 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 view, 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 third 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 during a gathering on a training ground with ATACMS rockets, according to Ukrainian media, citing Russian social media and their own military circles. 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 Mercenaries Killed in Mali - Renowned Commander CapturedRussian Wagner mercenaries in Mali have reportedly suffered one of their heaviest losses in West Africa, with dozens of killed and captured fighters. Rebels of the separatist Tuareg people in the northern part of the Sahel state reportedly killed several dozen Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries during three-day battles as they tried to take control of the village of Tinzaouaten at 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 killed and 15 captured fighters on their side. Among them was reportedly Wagner commander Anton Elisarov, who was involved in the Russian assault on the Ukrainian city of Soledar.
16:49 Fire in university building in Cherson after Russian shelling broke outRussian forces have attacked the Oblast of Cherson and hit a university building. A fire broke out in the educational institution, as Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the military administration of the Cherson region, reported in a "Ukrainska Pravda" report. "The enemy shelled the building of a university in the city center at night, resulting in a fire." No one was injured.
16:02 431 Ukrainian settlements without power after Russian attacksFollowing Russian attacks, there are 431 settlements without power in six regions in the north and northeast of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Energy Ministry reported on Facebook, according to Ukrinform.
15:34 General Staff: Around 130 engagements with Russian troops in one dayAccording to the Ukrainian General Staff of the Armed Forces, there were 129 engagements with Russian troops along the front line the previous day. As Ukrinform reports, the Russian troops were particularly active in the areas of Pokrowsk, Torezk and Kurachiwka.
14:54 Kiev: Over 1190 Russian soldiers eliminated in one dayPersonnel losses on the Russian side remain high, according to official figures from Kiev: 1190 Russian soldiers reportedly died or were incapacitated in one day. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported that since the start of the war in February 2022, a total of 574,690 Russian soldiers have been "eliminated." According to the Defense Ministry's daily reports on losses, the enemy had lost 13 additional tanks (8344). Since the start of the Russian invasion, Ukraine has counted more than 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 Ukraine to itself.
14:28 Zelensky: Russia has fired over 700 guided air bombs and over 100 drones of the Shahed type on Ukraine in one weekRussian forces, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, fired over 700 guided air bombs and more than 100 Shahed drones on Ukraine in the past week. As Zelensky wrote on Telegram, citing regional authorities, 11 people were killed and 41 were injured in Russian air raids 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 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 Combat Aircraft, while Russia has a vast array of Air Defense Systems that can shoot them down. This means that the first F-16 Combat Aircraft to arrive in Ukraine are likely to be used to strengthen Ukrainian air defense, shooting down Russian aerial targets instead of attacking ground troops.
According to The Washington Post, it is unlikely that the Combat Aircraft 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 Combat Aircraft the Ukraine will receive this year, but it will not be more than approximately 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 collaborated in attacking the Polyova oil depot at night. Previously, local authorities in Kursk reported a drone attack that caused fires at several locations. According to local governor Alexey 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 Authorities: Eight injured by Russian shelling of NikopolEight people, including children, were injured by Russian shelling of the Ukrainian city of Nikopol in the Dnipro region. This was reported by 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. They are Prohres and Evhenivka in eastern Ukraine, Russian news agencies reported, citing the Russian Defense Ministry.
12:44 Ukraine accuses Russia of killing 564 children since start of warRussia is accused of killing 564 children and wounding at least 1487 since the start of its aggression in Ukraine, the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform" reported, citing the Office of the Prosecutor General. Most of the children were affected in the regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Kherson, Kiev and Zaporizhzhia.
12:24 Lindner defends Budget for Military Spending in Discussion about Defense Budget
Finance Minister Christian Lindner defended his stance on military spending in a heated discussion with ARD-"Hauptstadtstudio". "We have reached the two-percent target for NATO for the first time in many, many years", says the FDP chief in the interview. Germany spends more than France and Italy. In the coming years, at least two percent of the economic output will still be allocated for security. "It's not the case that everything the Defense Minister says is automatically justified and correct.", Lindner emphasizes, focusing on budget funds and the efficiency of their allocation. "Mr. Pistorius has a 100-billion-euro special program for the strengthening of the armed forces, which none of his predecessors had. That's how we can work, and that's how we have to make economic sense", says Lindner.
12:01 Putin Threatens Response to US Rocket Deployment in Germany
Due to plans to station US long-range missiles in Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened a response during the grand naval parade in St. Petersburg. Russia will react "symmetrically" if the plans are implemented and no longer feel bound by the earlier prohibition on land-based atomic medium-range missiles. The INF Treaty, which prohibits these weapons, was nullified by the US in 2019. In a speech to sailors from Russia, China, Algeria, and India, Putin warned that the US could trigger a missile crisis reminiscent of the Cold War. "The flight time of such missiles, which could be equipped 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", Russian occupiers have illegally seized 514 houses from evacuated locals. The Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform" reports this, 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 Kharkiv - Air Alarm Declared in Several Regions of Ukraine
Suspilne.media, the Ukrainian broadcasting corporation, reports two explosions in Kharkiv in the morning. Shortly thereafter, the head of the regional military administration, Oleg Sinegubov, reports two rocket attacks by the Russians. The type of rockets is being determined. There is currently no information about casualties, he writes on his Telegram channel. Air alarm has been declared in several regions of Ukraine, according to the news portal "RBC-Ukraine". This applies to Donetsk, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Poltava, and Dnipro. There is no guarantee against a rocket threat in these regions, it is stated.
10:07 Governor reports 5 Dead and 15 Wounded through Russian shelling in the Donetsk region
During the Russian shelling of the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk on Saturday, five civilians were killed and 15 more were injured, regional governor Vadym Filashkin reported on Telegram. Five residents of the Donetsk region were reportedly killed by the Russians. Among them were three in Iwaniwka, one in Kostiantyniwka, and one in Toretsk. Furthermore, 15 more people in the region were injured during the day, according to Filashkin. Since the beginning of the Russian aggression war in February 2022, the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform" reports that in the Donetsk region, 2110 civilians have been killed and 5515 injured. These numbers do not include the victims in Mariupol and Volnovakha, it is noted.
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, is urging 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 not making sensible fiscal policy for what the country needs," Schularick says in an interview with t-online. "Much more than that: 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 adds. "Just 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," says Schularick. In total, Germany would need spending of around 3 to 3.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product to deter Putin's Russia with "strength and resolve," Schularick adds.
09:15 Expert sees Donetsk as "inevitably lost" for Ukraine
The Ukrainian forces are currently under particularly heavy pressure from Russian attacks in the Donetsk region. Military expert Ralf Thiele sees no chance for Ukraine to hold the Donetsk region in the future. The Russians are "inch by inch" on the offensive and the Ukrainians are on the retreat. The region is "inevitably lost for Ukraine," Thiele says on ntv. "That's unfortunately sad when you have to say that," the military expert adds. Donetsk is either "on the negotiation track for a ceasefire on equal terms or we have a surrender ceasefire," Thiele explains. That are the alternatives he sees. But in both cases, the region "is ultimately lost," Thiele concludes.
08:52 Ukraine reports 1180 Russian casualties in the past 24 hoursRussia allegedly suffered 1180 casualties among its troops in Ukraine between February 24, 2022, and July 27, 2024, according to the Ukrainian General Staff's daily update on Facebook. The update also mentioned the following Russian losses: 8344 tanks, 16095 armored combat vehicles, 15936 artillery systems, 1127 multiple rocket launchers, 906 air defense systems, and 2405 missile systems. The Russian army reportedly lost 363 combat aircraft, 326 helicopters, 12766 tactical unmanned aerial systems, 28 warships/cutters, 1 submarine, 21572 vehicles and tank trucks, and 2671 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 gradual retreat"Ralf Thiele assessed the situation at the frontlines in the eastern part of the country, stating that it's not looking good for Ukraine. The military is trying to prevent a Russian breakthrough, but at the cost of a retreat. Thiele fears that Ukraine will inevitably lose the region of Donetsk.
08:00 Kursk reports fire in a fuel depot under controlA Ukrainian drone attack reportedly set a fuel depot in the Kursk region on fire, according to local Russian authorities. The fire was quickly brought under control, and there were no injuries reported, Telegram messages from the regional governor Alexei Smirnov stated.
07:44 TASS: Russians destroy a howitzer and Ukrainian ammunition depot in the Cherson regionRussian paratrooper drones destroyed a self-propelled howitzer M-777 and a Ukrainian ammunition depot for field artillery at the eastern bank of the Dnieper River in the Cherson region, according to the state Russian news agency TASS, citing the Russian Defense Ministry. After the drone attack, the armor-piercing shells reportedly penetrated the front line along the riverbank. Simultaneously, a reconnaissance drone identified as targets a 155-mm self-propelled howitzer M-777 and a field artillery ammunition depot. The howitzer was reportedly knocked out, and the ammunition depot was destroyed by a direct hit.
07:11 Ukrainian Minister: Olympic participation is "our victory"Sport Minister Vadym Bidny views Ukraine's Olympic participation as a significant symbol and an opportunity to draw international attention to the situation in the country following the Russian offensive war on Ukraine. "It is a symbolic act and a sign that Ukraine is a strong country with resilient people," Bidny said at the opening of the Ukrainian house in Paris. It's crucial that Russia is represented by a small team of 15 neutral athletes in Paris. Russia as a nation was excluded from the Olympics by the International Olympic Committee due to the aggression. "There is no Russian flag here. There is only the Ukrainian flag. That is our victory," Bidny said.
The Olympic team is now tasked with "bringing the international community together in support of Ukraine and speaking to the people who normally don't 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 seven Ukrainian drones
The Russian air defense shoots down seven Ukrainian drones according to their own statements. Five of them were over the Belgorod region and two were over the Kursk region, the Russian Defense Ministry reports on Telegram.
06:36 Governor: Oil depot in Kursk is on fire after drone attackA drone attack in the night caused explosions in the Kursk region of Russia. In an oil depot and several areas, fires broke out, Kursk region governor Alexei Smirnov reports on Telegram and the channel Baza. The air defense forces are "on alert," the Russian official writes and urges the residents of the region to "vigilance." At least two fires broke out during the drone attack, one in the Medvenka district and one in the Kursk district, he says. A fire was reportedly caused in the Polyova oil depot by a drone, reports the Shot channel on Telegram. Witnesses reportedly heard "multiple strong explosions" near the oil depot at night. Previously, they had heard the characteristic sound of a drone flying overhead. After the explosions, witnesses reported seeing heavy smoke in the sky. In addition, there was an explosion in the town of Sudzha, a house in the Medva district was on fire, he says.
05:41 Linnemann questions welfare payments to Ukrainian refugeesCDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann questions the welfare payments to Ukrainian women and men in an interview with Funke media. "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 no incentives for quick employment." The Ukrainians also defended the freedoms of the Germans. "But if there is a performance, it is linked to a counter-performance. That includes taking a job."
04:49 Ukraine: Over 75 percent of wounded soldiers return to dutyAccording to Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Natalia Kalmykova, the percentage of soldiers who return to duty after rehabilitation in Ukraine is very high. "We have a very high percentage of high-quality rehabilitation programs and returning soldiers," she says, according to the Interfax news agency. Kalmykova speaks of over 75 percent of the wounded.
03:13 ISW: Ukrainian forces retake positions near ToretskAccording to the Institute for War Studies (ISW), Ukrainian forces have reportedly retaken lost positions near Toretsk, north of Donetsk. This is shown in geolocated images. The Russian side is said to have continued its offensive operations in the area.
01:08 Ukraine reports several dead after Russian shelling - including a childAccording to Ukrainian authorities, at least five civilians were killed in Russian attacks in different 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 other people were injured in a rocket attack on the small town of Hluchiv. 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 Ukraine
Russia has reportedly taken control of another village in eastern Ukraine. The settlement Losuwatske, located in the Donezk region, has been "liberated," according to the Russian Defense Ministry in its daily report. The settlement is approximately 25 kilometers east of the city Pokrowsk, in the area where the Russian army has advanced relatively quickly in recent months. Ukraine has not confirmed the capture.
22:23 Blinken threatens China with "measures" over continued support for Russian defense industry
US 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. The meeting came shortly after Blinken's Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba held talks with Wang in Guangzhou during his first China visit since the war broke out.
"The Minister reaffirmed his serious concern over China's support for Russia's defense industrial base and made clear that the United States would continue to take appropriate measures if China did not address this threat to European security," Miller said, according to the report.
You can read about previous developments here.**
- The Polish Foreign Ministry strongly criticized Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who defended Russia during his controversial statements about the EU, USA, and Poland, accusing him of having anti-European, anti-Ukrainian, and anti-Polish politics.
- Following the successful drone attack on a Russian military airfield in the north, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked his soldiers for their precision, highlighting the 9th department of the Military Intelligence Service GUR.
- The Ukrainian military has reportedly inflicted heavy losses on Russian troops in Luhansk with a rocket attack, according to Ukrainian media, citing Russian social media and their own military circles.
- Russian ambassador Anatoly Antonov accused NATO of provoking tensions in Ukraine and escalating the conflict during a meeting with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
- In response to the cyberwarfare attacks on Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky called for stronger cybersecurity measures and international cooperation to protect critical infrastructure, emphasizing the need for all nations to work together to combat cyber threats.
