At 23:10, Estonia and Lithuania no longer allow cars with Belarusian license plates into the country.
Estonia and Latvia announce they will no longer allow cars with Belarusian registration into their territory at their borders with Russia and Belarus. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated that the ban was imposed because Belarus "directly contributes to Russia's aggression in Ukraine and supports it". Latvia recently announced a similar ban. The three countries, along with Poland, Finland, and Norway, had already banned the entry of cars with Russian registration into their jurisdiction in 2023.
22:23 Zelenskyy on Prisoner Exchange: "We must bring them all back"
In his evening video address, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy welcomes back the 95 prisoners of war who have returned from Russia (see entry from 14:36). Zelenskyy writes on X: "We are bringing our people home. Another 95 defenders have been released from Russian captivity. Among them are soldiers of the Ukrainian armed forces, the National Guard, and the Border Guard." After thanking the United Arab Emirates for their mediation in this release, he continues: "We must bring them all back."
21:56 Moscow sentences Russian Defectors to Harsh Prison Terms
A Moscow military court has sentenced two Russians to lengthy prison terms for attempting to join the "Freedom Legion of Russia" recruiting station. According to Radio Free Europe (RFE), the Freedom Legion is a paramilitary unit where Russian deserters and other Russian and Belarusian volunteers fight for Ukraine against Russia. The 24-year-old Andrei Morozov was sentenced to twelve years in prison. The 56-year-old Muscovite Anatoli Poplavski was sentenced to five and a half years in prison. RFE reports that Poplavski has two small children living in Ukraine and is in the process of divorcing his wife. The announcement states that the man lived in two countries.
21:00 Lavrov holds US responsible for escalation of violence
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke at a UN Security Council meeting and held the US responsible for the many deaths in Ukraine and the Palestinian territories. "By providing diplomatic protection and weapons and ammunition to Israel, Washington has become - it's clear to everyone - a direct party to the conflict, just as in Ukraine," Lavrov told Russian news agencies in New York. He further stated that as soon as the US ceased its support, the bloodshed would end in both cases. The unprecedented wave of violence in the Middle East is a result of US policy in the region, claimed the Russian chief diplomat, whose government itself initiated the attack on Ukraine.
20:08 Over 4 million Ukrainians register for military service
From May 18 to July 16, 2024, 4,690,496 men of military age in Ukraine have registered for military service. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry announced this in a Facebook post. To speed up mobilization, Ukraine tightened conscription rules in April. According to the law, all men of military age were required to update their military documents at public centers, draft offices, or the "Reserv+“ app. Failure to comply was punishable by law. Among the over four million conscripts, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reports that three million will become reservists.
19:22 Putin warns against cryptocurrency mining in Russia consuming 1.5% of total power
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned against cryptocurrency mining in his country due to the high power consumption. Currently, nearly 1.5% of the total power consumption is being used for crypto mining, Putin said during a televised meeting with government officials. This number is "growing further," the president cautioned. Russia is one of the major countries for mining new cryptocurrencies. Thousands of computer servers, often housed in large halls, validate transactions and receive new cryptocurrency in return. The Kremlin, however, is skeptical of the unregulated industry. Putin warned that uncontrolled growth in power consumption for crypto mining "could lead to power outages in certain regions." According to reports, three Siberian regions have already experienced power shortages due to intensive crypto mining. Siberia has been a hub for crypto mining due to its cheap electricity and cold weather for a long time.
18:53 EU releases 4.2 billion Euros to Ukraine
Ukraine is set to receive the first regular payment from the EU's new billion-dollar aid program. The country has met the conditions for this payment, according to the EU commission responsible for the evaluation. Nearly 4.2 billion Euros could be disbursed. The conditions for the first payment reportedly included the Ukrainian government passing new laws to make fighting tax evasion and economic crime more effective. Additionally, principles for managing state-owned enterprises had to be adjusted, and a national energy and climate plan had to be adopted.
18:17 Russia demolishes Holodomor memorials in Luhansk
In the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk, occupied by Russia, memorials for victims of Stalin's repressions and the Holodomor, also known as the Ukrainian famine, have been demolished. This is reported by Radio Free Europe (RFE). RFE refers to videos that are being circulated on Telegram. The Holodomor, or Ukrainian famine, was a man-made famine in Ukraine from 1932 to 1933 that resulted in millions of deaths.
17:49 Power outages in the hot southern Russia
Due to extreme heat and a failed atomic reactor, power consumption must be reduced in many regions in southern Russia. Planned power cuts affect consumers in the Rostov region, as Governor Vasili Golubev announced on his Telegram channel. In Sevastopol on the annexed Crimean Peninsula, the local power supplier is warning of power outages lasting twelve hours a day - two hours with electricity, then two hours without.
17:05 Russia ships first grain from new Baltic Sea terminal to Cuba
Russia has reportedly shipped the first grain from a new terminal in its Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga. The agricultural regulatory body announced this to the news agency Reuters. Russia is the world's largest wheat exporter, and over 90% of its exports go through ports in the Black Sea. Recently, Russia has tried to use various export routes. From the new Lugaport, 12,000 tons of grain were shipped for the first time in June. The destination was Cuba, according to data from the information provider LSEG. In January, the port of Ust-Luga made headlines when a fuel terminal caught fire. Ukrainian media reported that the cause was a drone attack by the Ukrainian intelligence services.
16:29 Ukraine detains "Russian informant" in CharkiwThe Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has reportedly detained a "Russian informant" in the Charkiw region. The SBU announced this in a press release. The woman is said to have shared information in a Telegram channel of the Russian security services. According to the SBU's own statements, they documented how the woman was on the move in the eastern outskirts of Charkiw and recorded secretly the locations of Ukrainian troops' checkpoints and other military "fortifications".
15:44 NATO sends top British officials to Kiev
NATO is strengthening its civilian representation in Ukraine and sending a senior alliance representative to Kiev. The former deputy secretary-general, Patrick Turner, will lead the NATO representation in the Ukrainian capital from September and act as the central point of contact for local authorities. The British will also help coordinate military support for Ukraine and provide Allied information and assessments of the situation in the country, NATO announced.
15:03 Russia: Ukrainian drone kills two civilians in Belgorod
According to local authorities in Belgorod, two people were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in the Russian border region of Belgorod. The victims were reportedly a young couple traveling in a civilian vehicle outside the city of Belgorod, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported.
14:36 Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners of war
Russia and Ukraine have reportedly exchanged prisoners of war. According to Russian Defense Ministry reports, there were 190 soldiers on each side. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also confirmed this on the platform X. The United Arab Emirates mediated the exchange. The returning Russian soldiers will first undergo medical checks in Moscow.
13:55 Sharma: Ukraine must give up symbolic village
Ukraine is reportedly suffering a series of setbacks at the front, as reported by NTV reporter Kavita Sharma from Kiev. Following the Russian rocket attack on a children's clinic in the Ukrainian capital, the military reported withdrawals in the regions of Dnipro and Donetsk.
13:24 Kremlin denies doubts about offensive success
The Kremlin has dismissed speculation about the failure of the Russian offensive in the northeastern Ukraine. "The operation is ongoing and will continue until it is successfully completed," Kreml spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today. Yesterday, the governor of Belgorod announced access restrictions to 14 villages on the Russian side near the border. This is to protect the population from Ukrainian attacks. In response to a question about whether the access restrictions meant the offensive in the northeast had failed, Peskov said: "No, that's not the case."
12:48 Study: Citizen's Benefits have little influence on the employment of Ukrainian refugeesSocial transfer payments such as citizen's benefits have little influence on the employment rate of refugees from Ukraine. However, factors such as social networks in the respective countries, the level of English language proficiency of the local population, and childcare are significant. This is evident from a European study by the Institute for Labor Market and Vocational Research (IAB). In Germany, the employment rate of Ukrainian refugees is 27%, which is in the middle range. The highest rate is in Lithuania with 57%, Denmark with 53%, and Poland with 48%.
11:53 Protection against Rockets: Charkow pupils to learn under groundChildren in the city of Charkow, which has been under almost daily Russian shelling since the beginning of the war in the east of Ukraine, will reportedly be taught more frequently in underground schools according to official statements. An underground school project has already been implemented, and the construction of three more such facilities has begun. The children will supposedly be better protected from Russian air raids in this way.
11:22 Media: Ukraine to receive 32 outdated F-16s from GreeceGreece plans to decommission 32 outdated F-16 fighter jets and hand them over to the USA. According to a report by the portal "New Voice of Ukraine", these aircraft will then be modernized and delivered to Ukraine. Kiev already has 60 F-16 jets from Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands, but according to its own statements, it needs at least 150 combat aircraft to launch rockets and missiles against Russia and repel aerial attacks along a broad front. There have been devastating bombing raids, the latest being on a children's hospital in Kiev with at least seven fatalities.
10:35 Ukraine reports 112 frontline engagements since yesterdayThe Ukrainian military General Staff recorded 112 engagements along the front line in the past 24 hours. Among them were reportedly four rocket attacks on Ukrainian military positions and populated areas, as well as 71 air raids with 119 guided air-to-ground bombs. In addition, Russia conducted over 4,300 artillery attacks, 121 of which were with multiple rocket launchers.
09:54 Russia and China begin joint naval exerciseRussia and China have begun a naval exercise in the South China Sea. The exercise is scheduled to last three days, according to Russian and Chinese state media. During this time, they will reportedly practice air and submarine defense. Sharp ammunition is also expected to be used. Only a few days before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, both countries announced a strengthening of their partnership and described it as "boundless".
08:43 Ministry reports 42,000 missing UkrainiansApproximately 42,000 people are currently missing in Ukraine, including soldiers and civilians. The Interior Ministry made this announcement. The number was previously higher at around 51,000, but approximately 4,000 of the missing soldiers have been found and identified, and about 3,000 were found alive, many of whom were prisoners of war. Identifying the dead is reportedly difficult because the Defense Ministry does not take DNA samples from the soldiers it sends into the field.
08:15 Hungary calls for peace summit with Russia
Hungary is calling for Russia's participation in the planned second peace conference on Ukraine. There are efforts to hold another peace summit this year, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said. "If we want to hope for the success of a future peace conference, we must ensure that both sides are represented," he added. Hungary currently holds the EU presidency. The first peace summit took place in the middle of June at the request of Ukraine, with representatives from over 90 countries attending in Switzerland. Russia expressed its disinterest early on and was therefore not invited.
07:46 Russia and Ukraine to exchange prisoners today
Russia and Ukraine are set to exchange 90 prisoners today. This was mediated by the United Arab Emirates, according to the Bloomberg news agency, citing a source. Last week, Ukrainian media reported that the parliament's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinez, had announced that the government was planning a large prisoner exchange with Russia with the help of the United Arab Emirates. The two warring parties have already exchanged prisoners several times.
06:55 Ukrainian startups develop robots for the front
Ukrainian startups are developing affordable robots for mine clearance, evacuation of battlefields, transportation of equipment, and combat support. The Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform reports that an "ecosystem of labs in hundreds of secret workshops" is using innovations to create a robot army. Ukraine hopes that this robot army will be able to kill Russian troops and save its own wounded soldiers and civilians, according to Ukrinform.
06:20 State and government heads of 47 countries to speak about Ukraine
At the invitation of the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, state and government heads of 47 countries will meet tomorrow. The 27 EU member states plus 20 third countries will discuss additional aid for Ukraine in its defense war against Russia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also registered. There will be several round tables on security policy and defense, but other topics will also be discussed. Ukraine is represented at the conference.
04:37 Japan grants Ukraine a loan from frozen Russian assets
Japan is reportedly granting Ukraine a loan of 3.3 billion dollars from frozen Russian assets. The sum is part of the 50-billion-dollar package from the G7 countries, according to the Kyodo news agency, citing informed sources. The United States and the European Union are each supposed to contribute 20 billion dollars, while Japan, Great Britain, and Canada together provide ten billion dollars. The package is expected to be approved at a G7 summit on the sidelines of the G20 finance summit at the end of the month in Brazil.
03:26 German government gives Kiev ten million euros for hospital rebuilding
Following the rocket attack on the children's hospital in Kiev, the German Development Ministry is providing the Ukrainian government with ten million euros for the hospital's rebuilding. The funds will be used together with contributions from other donors and sponsors to make the hospital operational and winter-proof again as soon as possible, according to the "Rheinische Post" newspaper, citing ministry statements. This includes repairs and maintenance work on facades, in treatment rooms, and the power and heating supply.
02:10 Medvedev warns NATO of "point of no return"
At the NATO summit's promise to offer Ukraine membership, former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev renewed his threats against the alliance. In an article for the Russian news portal Argumenty I Fakty, he labeled a potential Ukrainian membership as a potential declaration of war against Russia. "That would essentially be a declaration of war - albeit with a delay. The actions taken by Russia's adversaries for years by expanding the alliance ... are bringing NATO to a point of no return." Russia does not threaten NATO but will react to attempts by the alliance to advance its interests. "The harder the attempts, the harsher our responses will be," Medvedev said. "Whether it tears the whole planet apart depends solely on the composure of the (NATO) side."
01:00 Ukrainian soldiers use "expired" ammunition
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry, according to its own statements, has returned a "considerable amount" of old ammunition to the military, which should have been disposed of before the first Russian attack on Ukrainian territory in 2014. The ammunition is already being used on the battlefield. "We are looking for internal reserves to supply Ukrainian soldiers with ammunition. We know that every shot, every rocket, and every grenade on the battlefield is vital today," said Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Dshyhar. Everything that can be repaired and reused is given a second life.
23:37 Ukrainian troops give up positions in the southeast
Ukrainian troops, according to unofficial reports, have had to give up positions in the southeast of the country in Krynky in the Cherson region and Uroschajne in the Donezk region under Russian pressure. "In both settlements, it made no sense to hold the positions any longer," Ukrainian media quote sources in the General Staff. The battles for the settlement of Krynky on the southern bank of the Dnipro River in the Cherson region were criticized from the start due to their futility. It is unclear whether Ukrainian soldiers are still holding positions in the underflow of the Dnipro River on the southern bank. Read more here.
22:07 New aid for Ukraine
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi announced a new aid package of $100 million (around 93 million Euros) during a visit to Ukraine. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) will support the preparation for winter and will continue to support the Ukrainian government in helping displaced or otherwise war-affected Ukrainians, Grandi said during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kiev. The aid agency also plans to mobilize future funds to support the war-torn country. Zelenskyy thanked for the help, which is urgently needed due to the damage to the energy infrastructure caused by Russian attacks. At the same time, Zelenskyy, according to a statement from the Presidential Administration, emphasized that the country still needs more help to rebuild destroyed houses and install bomb shelters in schools and hospitals. This gives displaced Ukrainians the security to return home.
21:27 Ukraine reports destruction of Russian S-300 air defense system
Ukraine reports destruction of Russian S-300 air defense system in occupied Oblast Donetsk. The Ukrainian General Staff Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on Twitter. A video spread by the Ukrainian military shows several hits of alleged ATACMS missiles with cluster munition. According to Syrskyi, several launchers and a radar station of the system were destroyed.
20:49 Report: Ukrainian government may be reshuffling
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is reportedly on the verge of reshuffling his cabinet and demanding the resignation of Premier Minister Denys Schmyhal. This was reported by the "Kyiv Post" citing an unnamed source in the Ukrainian parliament. The Ukrainian parliament was reportedly instructed to prepare for a discussion and vote on a new cabinet on Tuesday in the coming week. Zelenskyy himself also addressed the rumors of a possible cabinet reshuffle on Monday. "Could there be changes in the government? Probably, yes", so the Ukrainian president. "We are in a process."
20:02 Baltic States disconnecting from Russian power grid
The Baltic States have reportedly informed Russia and its ally Belarus of their exit from the power grid of the former Soviet Union. "We will cut the last energy connections with Russia", explains the head of the state-owned Lithuanian power grid operator Litgrid, Rokas Masiulis. The step is reportedly scheduled for February 2025. Shortly thereafter, the three countries are to connect to the European power grid. "In six months, we will not only disconnect from the Russian and Belarusian power grid, but also dismantle the last power lines", explains Masiulis.
19:20 Lindner criticizes Orbán's "solo actions"
Following the controversy over Viktor Orbán's Moscow trip, Germany and other EU members are increasing pressure on Budapest. At a finance ministers' meeting in Brussels, most EU members called on Hungary to continue prioritizing Ukraine aid. German Finance Minister Christian Lindner criticized Orbán for "solo actions". "Hungary should know that the peace and freedom order of Europe as a whole is being defended in Ukraine", said Lindner in the public debate. The Ukraine issue must also remain a top priority during Hungary's EU presidency until the end of the year. Hungary's Finance Minister Mihaly Varga had previously presented seven priorities from fighting illegal migration to competitiveness, but Ukraine was not mentioned.
- The conflict in Ukraine continues to impact politics, with Estonia and Latvia banning cars with Belarusian registration due to their perceived support of Russia's aggression.
- Following a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urges to bring all prisoners of war back home.
- Two Russians are sentenced to lengthy prison terms in Moscow for attempting to join a paramilitary unit fighting for Ukraine against Russia, highlighting the military deployment in the conflict.
- Amidst the ongoing conflict, Ukraine announces that over 4 million men of military age have registered for military service, emphasizing the country's military readiness.
- Russia criticizes NATO for escalating the violence in Ukraine and blames the United States for supporting Israel in the Palestinian territories, accusing the US of becoming a direct party to the conflict in Ukraine.
