At 5:09 PM, Musk advocates for the liberation of Telegram's CEO
16:37 Söder Disagrees with Kretschmer's Ukraine Policy PositionBavarian Minister-President Markus Söder disagrees with his Saxon counterpart Michael Kretschmer (CDU)'s stance on Ukraine policy. "We have a clear position. Mr. Kretschmer has his, which I respect. But we have a fundamentally different one," says the CSU leader in an ARD summer interview. "In my opinion, if we let Hitler continue in World War II, the war wouldn't have ended. Would wars end by surrendering to the aggressor?" says Söder, comparing Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kretschmer criticizes weapons deliveries to Ukraine. Söder considers it naive to believe Putin would change his policy if he conquered Ukraine.
16:09 Zelensky Affirms Trump's Support for Ukraine's PeaceUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claims US presidential candidate Donald Trump has assured him of his support for Ukraine and his desire to end the war. Zelensky shares this in a conversation with Indian reporters, which he publishes on his social media channel.
15:41 Medvedev Warned Durov of Global Consequences for Privacy StanceAfter Telegram CEO Pavel Durov's arrest in Paris, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says he warned Durov "a long time ago" that he would face "serious problems in all countries" due to his stance on user data privacy. "He underestimated," writes Medvedev on Telegram: "For our common enemies today, he is a Russian, and therefore unpredictable and dangerous." Durov must now comprehend "that you can't choose your homeland."
14:36 Zelensky Proposes India Host Peace Summit's Second EditionUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggests India could host a second edition of a peace solution summit. Zelensky shares this in a conversation with Indian journalists, which he publishes on social media. He has expressed his support for this to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Currently, talks are ongoing with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and Switzerland about hosting a second meeting. However, it's challenging to organize the conference in a country that didn't sign the final declaration of the previous summit. Although India participated in the first meeting in Switzerland, it didn't support the final declaration.
14:13 Pope Criticizes Orthodox Church Ban in UkrainePope Francis criticizes the ban on the pro-Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Regarding the law issued by President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Pontiff said in his Sunday prayer: "No Christian church should be abolished directly or indirectly. Churches should not be touched!" Ukraine justifies the ban with the Moscow Patriarchate's support for the Russian war of aggression. The Pope said to tens of thousands of believers in St. Peter's Square: "One does not do evil because one prays. If someone does evil to their people, they are guilty. But they cannot have done evil because they prayed."
13:43 "Cruel War Crime" - Ukraine Condemns "Deliberate Attack" on Hotel in KramatorskThe Ukrainian Foreign Ministry condemns the Russian attack on a hotel in Kramatorsk where foreign journalists were staying. The Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Georgiy Tykhyi, announced this. "Last night, another brutal and deliberate Russian attack on the residential areas of Kramatorsk injured foreign media journalists staying in a hotel," the spokesperson wrote. According to Tykhyi, attacks on media representatives have become a systematic tactic of the Russian war. "These barbaric war crimes must be condemned and punished," the Foreign Ministry spokesperson added.
13:14 After Russian Attacks on Sumy: Police Report 4 Dead and 13 InjuredThe Russian military attacked the Ukrainian Sumy oblast 261 times yesterday, the local police reported. At least 4 people died and 13 were injured in the attacks on the northern region. According to Ukrainian newspaper "Ukrainska Pravda", 6 apartment blocks, 26 houses, an educational institution, outbuildings, cars, a gas pipeline, and shops were damaged. Additionally, dry grass on an area of approximately 2 hectares caught fire.
12:42 Zelensky Ridicules Putin: "Sick Old Man from Red Square"On the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky not only presented the newly developed Ukrainian drone Palianytsia but also ridiculed Russian leader Vladimir Putin in a video address. Zelensky called Putin a "sick old man from Red Square" due to his nuclear rhetoric. The 71-year-old "is a sick old man from Red Square who constantly threatens everyone with the red button, and he will not dictate any of his red lines to us."
12:14 Energy Ministry Reports Over 500 Ukrainian Settlements Without Power After AttacksMore than 500 settlements in Ukraine are still without power after Russian attacks on the country's energy infrastructure, the Ukrainian Energy Ministry reported via the state news agency Ukrinform. The situation in the energy sector is challenging, but no restrictions have been imposed on consumers. Technicians have already restored power to more than 7200 people. The ministry encourages citizens to use electricity sparingly and responsibly, especially in the evenings. Due to the massive damage caused by Russian troops' attacks, the energy system remains very vulnerable to disruptions.
11:38 Ukraine: 160 Conflicts with Russian Soldiers at the Front in 24 Hours The Ukrainian side documented 160 conflict situations at the frontline yesterday. Fighting was significant in ten locations, with the situation in the Pokrovsk sector being the most volatile, as reported by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in their morning update. Russian troops initiated five attacks using 15 missiles and 95 attacks using 127 guided aerial bombs on Ukrainian positions and settlements.
10:57 Missing Reuters Employee After Ukrainian Hotel Attack - Search Ongoing in Debris Russian troops targeted a hotel in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk last night, according to Ukrainian reports. A Reuters employee is now missing, with two others injured. A Reuters statement said a six-person team was at Hotel Sapphire when the attack occurred. The building was clearly hit by a rocket yesterday. "One of our colleagues is still missing, two others were taken to a hospital for treatment," it said. They are cooperating with Kramatorsk authorities. The Donetsk region governor wrote on Telegram that "Russian forces attacked Kramatorsk." Two journalists were injured, and one is still missing. "Authorities, police, and rescue services are on the scene. Debris clearance and rescue operations are underway." The Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "Russian troops attacked the city of Kramatorsk, possibly using an Iskander-M missile," said a statement from the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office, which has launched an initial investigation into the attack. The missile struck at 22:35 local time yesterday.
Update at 13:30: The number of injured Reuters employees has been revised to four. This was reported by the head of the regional military administration of Donetsk, Wadym Filaschkin, via Telegram.
10:44 Ukrainian Air Force: Most Russian Shahed Drones Intercepted and Destroyed Last Night Ukraine's air defense did well last night: eight out of nine Russian Shahed drones were intercepted and destroyed by Ukrainian air defense forces. This was reported by Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform citing the air force commander, Mykola Oleschuk. According to him, not only were almost all kamikaze drones intercepted, but most of the rockets launched by them were also neutralized.
10:20 Ukrainian City Hit - Several Western Journalists Injured Several Western journalists were injured overnight in a Russian attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, according to official reports. A hotel was hit, with two people injured and one still trapped under debris, wrote the Donetsk region governor, Wadym Filaschkin, on Telegram. "All three victims are journalists: Ukrainians, Americans, and Brits." The attack was confirmed in pro-Russian sources. According to them, Kramatorsk was attacked with heavy glide bombs of the FAB-1500 kind. However, it was reported that a machine-building factory and several military targets were hit.
09:54 US Electronics to Russia: New US Export Restrictions Draw Criticism from China
China has criticized the stricter rules imposed by the US on over fifty exporters from China. The US measures, as per the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, disrupt the global trade order and obstruct normal trade interactions. China will take necessary measures to safeguard the legal rights of its companies. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce responded to a decision by the US government last Friday, which classified 105 companies - 42 Chinese, 63 Russian, and 18 from other countries - on a restricted trade list. They were targeted for various reasons, including the transfer of US electronics to the Russian military and the manufacturing of thousands of drones used by Russia in its attack on Ukraine. These companies will now need to obtain difficult-to-obtain licenses.
09:29 "250 Potential Targets" for Ukraine: ISW Calls for Unlimited Use of Long-Range Missiles
The US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is calling for the unrestricted approval of the use of long-range weapons on Russian territory by Ukraine. Despite the relocation of air forces to deeper rear areas, many military targets are still within reach of US ATACMS missiles, which Ukraine currently possesses but cannot use for attacks on Russian territory due to restrictions from Washington. "ISW estimates that at least 250 military and paramilitary objectives in Russia are within reach of the ATACMS missiles provided to Ukraine by the United States," according to a recent analysis. However, only attacks with HIMARS multiple rocket launchers and GLMRS rockets are currently permitted. "This allows Ukraine to target at most 20 of the 250 objectives," says ISW.
09:06 Kyiv: 1190 Russian Soldiers "Eliminated" in One Day
Russian personnel losses remain high, according to official figures from Kyiv. Within one day, 1190 Russian soldiers are said to have been killed or incapacitated. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, a total of 607,680 Russian soldiers have been "eliminated" since the start of the war in February 2022. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported in its daily report on Russian losses that the enemy also lost five more tanks (8547). Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Ukraine has counted more than 16,600 armored vehicles and around 14,000 drones that are no longer in Russia's possession or have been destroyed. These figures cannot be independently verified. Moscow remains silent about its own losses in Ukraine.
08:39 Ukrainian Air Force: Most Russian Missiles and Drones Intercepted Last Night
Last night, Ukraine claimed that Russia launched several missiles and drones towards its northern and eastern regions. The air force stated that most of the missiles failed to reach their targets. Russia reportedly used Iskander-M ballistic missiles, Iskander-K cruise missiles, and six guided missiles in the attack. However, the number of missiles that were destroyed was not disclosed. Additionally, eight out of nine Russian attack drones were reportedly shot down.
08:08 Six Individuals Sustained Injuries in Nocturnal Rocket Attack on KharkivThe number of casualties has climbed to six following a nocturnal Russian rocket assault on the Slobidsky district in the Kharkiv Oblast. This information was shared by Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov via a Telegram message, as reported by the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform.
07:32 Zelensky Commends Unveiling of Newly Produced Ukrainian Palianytsia Rocket DronesUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commended the new Palianytsia rockets that were manufactured in Ukraine. The Ukrainian head of state asserted that these rocket drones, along with other military innovations by Ukraine, are essential for the country given the delays in decisions by some of its international partners. "Today, the first successful debut of our new weapon occurred," he stated, as reported by "Kyiv Independent". "A completely new class of Ukrainian rocket drone, Palianytsia."
06:55 Azov Commander Laments Prisoner Swap: No Azov Soldiers Among Freed PrisonersAccording to Ukrainian reports, no Azov soldiers were involved in the prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine yesterday. This information was reported by "Kyiv Independent" citing Brigade Commander Denys Prokopenko. The commander of the Azov Regiment criticized the latest prisoner exchange and expressed disappointment that none of the Azov fighters, who have been in Russian captivity for over two years, were included.
06:14 Governor: Five Casualties in Ukrainian Strike on Russian Border Region BelgorodFive individuals were killed and 12 others were injured, four seriously, in a Ukrainian air strike on the Russian border region of Belgorod last night, according to local authorities. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said two minors were also injured, with two hospitalized. Ukraine has been stepping up its attacks on Russian territory and advancing into the Kursk region bordering Belgorod since early August. Belgorod has been regularly targeted by Ukrainian air and drone strikes in retaliation for attacks from the Russian side.
05:47 Russia: Civilians Killed in Ukrainian ShellingFive civilians were killed and 12 others were injured in artillery shelling in the town of Rakitnoye in southwestern Russia, according to the region's governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, via Telegram. The reports could not be independently verified, and Ukraine has not commented.
04:26 City of Sumy Reports Rocket Hits and InjuriesThe city of Sumy has been struck by rockets, as reported by the regional military administration. Two rocket strikes are mentioned, with seven individuals injured, two seriously. Russia attacked the civilian infrastructure in Sumy on Saturday evening, as reported.
03:35 Kharkiv: Rocket Attack Targets Two Cities
The governor of the Kharkiv region, Oleh Syniehubov, warns: The Russian military has launched rocket attacks on the cities of Kharkiv and Chuhuiv. As of now, one person has been injured. A larger explosion is reported in Kharkiv. The mayor of the city, Ihor Terechow, writes on Telegram that a massive explosion was heard. He urges caution among the population. The cause of the explosion is currently unknown.
03:06 Ukrainian Air Defense Warns of Combat Drones
An air alert is active in the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine during the night. The Ukrainian air forces issue a warning, among other things, about a group of Shahed combat drones moving towards the southern Ukrainian region of Mykolaiv over the Black Sea. Increased Russian attacks were expected around Ukrainian Independence Day, which was on Saturday. However, a significant wave of attacks has not occurred so far.
01:32 Hungary Accuses Brussels of Preventing Oil Supply
Hungary suspects the EU Commission of being behind the interruption of Russian oil supplies. "The fact that the European Commission has stated that it is not ready to assist in securing the energy supply of Hungary and Slovakia suggests that the order from Brussels was sent to Kyiv to (...) create problems with the energy supply of Hungary and Slovakia," says Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. The EU Commission initially declines to comment. In June, the Ukrainian government added the Russian oil company Lukoil to the sanctions list and blocked the Druzhba pipeline, which also runs through Ukrainian territory. This has largely cut off countries like Hungary and Slovakia from their main oil supplier.
22:12 Russian Troops Injure Four Women in Attack on Village in Kupiansk
Russian troops attacked the village of Novoosynove in the Kupiansk district of the Kharkiv region, injuring four women, reports Oleh Syniehubov, head of the military administration of the Kharkiv region. "The occupiers attacked the village of Novoosynove in the Kupiansk district around 12:00. As a result of the attack, a private building was set on fire," said Syniehubov. The injured were taken to a medical facility. Investigations into the aftermath of the attack are ongoing.
21:03 UK Defense Minister: "Ukraine has always been the underdog against Russia's larger forces"
The UK's Defense Minister, John Healey, pens a piece for "European Pravda," commemorating Ukraine's Independence Day. Three decades ago, Ukraine declared its sovereignty, vowing a brighter, wealthier life as a self-governed democracy, liberated from Soviet Russia's grasp. This year, Ukrainians celebrate their Independence Day amidst conflict. It's an uphill battle to preserve freedom and independence in the face of Putin's ruthless, unlawful invasion. Healey acknowledges, "Ukraine has consistently fought against Russia's overwhelming military power and resources. Today, we honor the Ukrainian people." Both the military and civilians show tremendous bravery in their fight. The British vow to stay by Ukraine's side, providing unwavering support as long as required. Consequently, the UK kicks off a campaign, urging Britons and others worldwide to show their support for Ukraine via social media. Healey encourages, "Share the 'Make Noise for Ukraine' posts on social media, as friendship and solidarity aside from military and economic aid, is crucial."
20:05 Zelensky Promotes Syrsky to General
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Oleksandr Syrsky, the chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, to the rank of General. This, as per a decree signed by Zelensky, upgrades Syrsky from his previous Colonel General status. The promotion stems from the remarkable progress made by Ukrainian troops in the Russian borderlands of Kursk.
You can find all previous developments here.
In the context of cybersecurity and the ongoing geopolitical conflict, two potential sentences could be:
- The fear of retaliation in a potential cyberwar against Russia could deter some Western countries from providing critical technological support to Ukraine.
- If cyberwarfare significantly impacts Ukraine's infrastructure, it could further escalate tensions in the region, possibly leading to a conventional war or an intensification of the ongoing conflict.
