Authorities in the Kursk region report at least five civilian deaths.
Russian Troops Continue to Fight Ukrainian Incursion for Third Day
According to reports from Moscow, Russian troops have been battling a Ukrainian push across the border for the third consecutive day. Russian forces and border guards are preventing Ukrainian units from advancing deeper into Kursk, the Russian Ministry of Defense reports. Simultaneously, the Russian army is attacking Ukrainian forces attempting to retreat from the Sumy border region. The Russian Ministry of Health reports that 66 civilians, including nine children, have been injured since the start of the Ukrainian incursion. Authorities in the Kursk region report at least five civilian deaths, including two paramedics. Ukraine has not yet commented on the incursion.
21:30 EU Foreign Policy Chief Borrell: Lukashenko Regime Involved in Illegal Deportation of Ukrainian Children
The Belarusian regime is complicit in Russia's attack on Ukraine, according to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Brussels. Alongside political, military, and logistical support, Belarus has contributed to the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children from temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine. Since 2021, the regime has also orchestrated migration pressure on the EU's external borders, according to a statement from the European External Action Service.
20:58 Robot Dogs to Assist Ukrainian Soldiers in War Against Russia
Robot dogs are being used to support and relieve Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline against Russia. A specialist from a British military solutions company, who wished to remain anonymous and went by "Yuri," demonstrated the "BAD One" robot model at a secret location in Ukraine. The four-legged robot can run, jump, and sit via remote control commands. Yuri explained that soldiers sent on reconnaissance missions are often highly trained and experienced but constantly face risks. Using these robots could replace soldiers and potentially save lives. The robot's battery lasts for two to three hours.
The "BAD One" could be used to detect mines and scout Russian positions, or carry up to seven kilograms of ammunition or medical supplies to the frontline. Yuri could not disclose the number or locations of robots in use in Ukraine but expressed confidence that they are making a difference in operations and soldier safety.
20:20 Zelenskyy: Russia Must Feel the Consequences of the War it Started
Following the Ukrainian army's push into the Russian region of Kursk, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia must feel the consequences of the war it initiated. Russia brought the war to Ukraine, and now it should "feel what it has done," said the Ukrainian president in his daily address. However, Zelenskyy did not directly mention the Ukrainian troops' advance into Kursk. The incursion has also not been commented on by other Ukrainian officials. Thousands of people have been evacuated on both sides of the border. Zelenskyy reported receiving three reports from the military commander, Oleksandr Syrsky, describing the actions as "efficient" and "exactly what the country needs now." Some observers believe that the unprecedented advance of the Ukrainian army into Kursk aims to occupy Russian territory to gain a better position in future peace negotiations.
20:05 Zelensky Praises Ukrainian Army's Ability to Surprise
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praises his country's army for its ability to "surprise". However, he makes no mention of the ongoing battles in the Russian region of Kursk. Russian troops have been trying to repel an offensive in the border region for three days, but there has been no official statement from the Ukrainian side so far.
19:44 Russian Military Blog Claims West of Sudscha in Kursk Region Under Ukrainian Control
The Ukrainian army has been pushing its surprise offensive into the Russian region of Kursk for the third day, making territorial gains. While civilian Russian authorities in Kursk and the Ministry of Defense in Moscow officially stated that the Ukrainian advance has been stopped, the Russian military blog Rybar, which is close to the ministry, paints a different picture. According to Rybar, Ukrainians are continuing to advance, bringing in reserves at night and fortifying their positions. The blog reports that the western part of the town of Sudscha is under Ukrainian control, with fighting ongoing in the eastern part. Additionally, Ukrainians are said to have advanced north towards Anastassejewka and northeast towards Korenovo.
However, local reports suggest no Ukrainian presence in Sudscha itself, with only reports of shootings and artillery fire north and west of the town. Unconfirmed reports also suggest that Ukrainian reconnaissance units have advanced towards the Kursk nuclear power plant and have been spotted near Anastassejewka.
19:04 SPD to Discuss Stationing of US Missiles in September
Wolfgang Hellmich, the defense policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, has announced a debate in the Bundestag on the stationing of long-range US missiles in Germany. "It's important that we consider everything and take the concerns of citizens seriously, and provide information to clear the way," Hellmich told the Funke media group. "We will deal with the topic in the faction and in the Bundestag overall after the parliamentary summer break in September to meet the existing information and discussion needs." The German and US governments have agreed that the US will station long-range weapons systems like Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany from 2026, capable of reaching targets in Russia. Many German citizens view this decision critically, according to polls.
18:19 US Woman Faces 15 Years in Prison in Russia for Collecting Money for Ukrainian Military
A Russian-American woman, Ksenia Khavana, faces 15 years in prison for allegedly collecting money for the Ukrainian military, according to a state media report. Khavana was arrested in Yekaterinburg in February. She pleaded guilty to the charges during a closed-door trial on Wednesday, media reports say. Her lawyer, Mikhail Muskalov, told the Interfax news agency that the prosecution has requested a 15-year sentence. A verdict is expected on August 15.
17:54 Moscow Reports Casualties in Ukrainian Attacks in Kursk RegionRussian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu tells President Vladimir Putin during a video conference that around 100 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and over 200 injured in the clashes. Russian news agencies report. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says that at least two people - a medic and an ambulance driver - were killed and 24 injured in Ukrainian shelling.
17:28 Stegner Cautious on Possible German Weapon Deployment in KurskSPD foreign policy expert Ralf Stegner is cautious about the possible deployment of German weapons in the Ukrainian advance. "Regarding the defense of Ukraine against the Russian invasion, there was an exceptional situation at the border when the city of Kharkiv was under great threat from attacks beyond the nearby border," Stegner told the "Handelsblatt". "This did not imply a general shift in strategy regarding the use of weapons supplied from Germany." The German government had allowed Ukraine, after a long debate in late May, to use weapons supplied by it against targets in Russia. However, this was only for the Russian border region near the Kharkiv region.
17:00 ISW: Ukraine Advances Kilometers into Russian TerritoryThe Ukrainian army has made significant progress in its offensive in the western Russian region of Kursk since Tuesday morning, according to estimates by experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in the US. The ISW states that the advance is "up to ten kilometers," while Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka reports that Ukraine has advanced more than 25 kilometers. Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak described the situation in western Russia as a result of Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine. Russian reports claim that "up to a thousand" Ukrainian soldiers, along with dozens of tanks and armored vehicles, are involved in the attack. So far, at least five civilians have been killed and 31 injured, according to Russian reports. The ISW further states that the "current extent and location of Ukrainian advances in the Kursk region (...) suggest that Ukrainian forces have breached at least two Russian defensive lines and a position." The goal appears to be a key Russian army supply hub near the town of Sudzha, eight kilometers from the border.
16:28 Kiesewetter calls Ukrainian advance in Kursk "militarily strategic"CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter described the Ukrainian advance in Kursk as "militarily strategic." He said it could relieve pressure on other fronts because Russia has to tie up or redeploy forces there. Kiesewetter told the "Tagesspiegel" that the Ukrainian advance is "clearly permissible under international law, in line with the right to self-defense" (see also entries from 14:45 and 15:07).
15:57 Ukraine: Two dead in Russian attack in DonetskAt least two people were killed in a Russian artillery attack on the city of Kostyantynivka in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, local authorities said. The morning attack hit a residential area, regional governor Vadym Lysychko said on Telegram. Donetsk is a hotspot of the fighting, with the Ukrainian-controlled parts of the region regularly subjected to Russian shelling. Russian troops are trying to advance on the strategically important logistics hub of Pokrovsk, an industrial and mining city. Four people were killed in a Russian attack in Donetsk on Wednesday.
15:36 Russia: Fighting continues after Ukrainian advance into KurskFighting in the border region of Kursk continues for a third day, the Russian defense ministry said after Ukrainian troops advanced into the Russian territory. Russian forces and border guards are preventing Ukrainian units from pushing deeper into Kursk, while the Russian army is attacking Ukrainian forces trying to retreat from the Ukrainian border region of Sumy.
15:07 Wagenknecht warns against use of German weapons in Russia: "Red line"Sahra Wagenknecht warned against the use of German weapons in the Ukrainian advance into Russian territory. "This is a highly dangerous development," she told the Funke media group. "The federal chancellor must call the Ukrainian president and demand that no German weapons be used in the advance onto Russian territory," the co-chair of the Left party said. Chancellor Olaf Scholz had promised that Germany would not become a party to the war, but "first, he allowed the Ukraine to shoot at Russian territory with German weapons," Wagenknecht criticized. "Is the federal government now also approving the Ukraine's advance into Russia with German weapons? That would be the next red line to be crossed," she added. The federal government is "dragging Germany ever deeper into the war," she said, adding that "the risk of a major European war is growing."
14:24 Ukraine urges Mexico to arrest Putin at Sheinbaum's inauguration
The Ukrainian embassy in Mexico is calling on the Mexican government to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he attends the inauguration of elected President Claudia Sheinbaum. Sheinbaum assumes the presidency on October 1, 2024, becoming the first woman to hold this office in the Latin American country. "We trust that the Mexican government will comply with the international arrest warrant and hand over the named (Putin) to the judicial authorities of the United Nations in The Hague," the embassy said. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Putin for the alleged war crime of forcibly deporting Ukrainian children to Russia following Moscow's invasion in early 2022. Juan Ramon de la Fuente, elected as Sheinbaum's foreign minister, stated that it is "standard protocol" to invite the heads of state of all countries with which Mexico has diplomatic relations, including Russia, to the inauguration.
13:50 Monitoring Services: Russian Users Can No Longer Open YouTube
Users in Russia are unable to open YouTube on their computers and mobile devices. Internet monitoring services downdetector.su, Failure Detector, and sboy.rf report a major outage of the platform's availability. According to the sboy.rf service, over 15,000 complaints have been registered regarding the video-hosting service. Complaints came from people in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Saratov, Samara, Krasnodar, the occupied Crimea, and several other regions. Users reported that they could only access YouTube through virtual private networks (VPNs). Even Reuters reporters in Russia were unable to access YouTube. However, the website was still available via some mobile devices. YouTube is the last remaining Western platform in Russia that is still accessible. As such, YouTube is the last bastion of free expression in Russia. According to Decoder, over 90 million users access YouTube monthly in Russia, making it the number one video and streaming platform. In mid-July, Russian media reported that the Russian government was planning to block YouTube in September.
13:24 EU: Ukraine's advance into Russian Kursk is 'legitimate act of self-defense'
The EU sees the push of Ukrainian troops into the Russian region of Kursk in the context of the right to self-defense. "We believe that Ukraine is conducting a legitimate act of self-defense against an illegal aggression," a spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in Brussels. The right to self-defense includes the right to attack the enemy on its own territory. The EU fully supports Ukraine's efforts to restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty and combat Russia's illegal aggression. Ukrainian troops, supported by tanks and artillery, recently crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region at Sudzha and, according to reports, took control of several villages. Russian reports indicate that around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers are involved in the operation.
12:43 Ukraine: Dozens of Russian Soldiers Captured in KurskFollowing the incursion of Ukrainian forces into the Russian region of Kursk, "many" Russian soldiers have been captured, according to the Ukrainian project "Khochu nayti" on Telegram. Launched in January 2024 by the Ukrainian military intelligence, this humanitarian project serves as a coordination center for Russian prisoners of war in Ukraine, helping military personnel of the Russian army find their relatives. According to "Khochu nayti", the captives include both conscripts and contract soldiers. "There are also reports of the dead, whose bodies were not evacuated by their comrades during the retreat," the statement reads. The project published drone footage allegedly showing the capture of more than 30 Russian soldiers. Other videos on social media show dozens of Russian soldiers surrendering in the Kursk region. The total number of Russian soldiers captured since the Ukrainian offensive in the region remains unclear.
12:18 Gazprom: Gas Transit Running Normally Despite Fights in Kursk RegionAccording to the Russian energy giant Gazprom, the gas transit through the Kursk border region, attacked by Ukraine, is running largely normally. Today, around 37.3 million cubic meters of natural gas are expected to be pumped through, the company announced in Moscow. This is five percent less than the previous day, Russia's state news agency Tass reported. Ukrainian troops have taken at least partial control of the city of Sudja during their incursion across the border, also capturing a key gas pipeline measurement station en route to Western Europe. From there, the transit goes through Ukraine and further into Slovakia and Austria. In 2023, despite the ongoing war, 14.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas were transported to the European Union via this route.
11:37 Military Blogger: Russia Loses 'Important Logistics Hub' to UkraineThe Russian city of Sudja in the Kursk region has reportedly been taken by Ukrainian forces, according to pro-Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka on his Telegram channel. The town, located nine kilometers from the Ukrainian border, is "basically lost" for Russia, Podolyaka writes. "Sudja is, in fact, an important logistics hub for us," he adds. Ukrainian forces are advancing north towards Lgov. "In general, the situation is difficult and deteriorating, although the pace of the Ukrainian offensive has noticeably slowed down."
11:04 Munz: Kursk Incursion Has 'Completely Surprised' MoscowInitially, the situation remains unclear, but it is later confirmed: Ukrainian fighters are attacking on Russian territory. The incursion in the Kursk region has "completely surprised" Moscow, reports ntv correspondent Rainer Munz. However, there seems to be more to this attack than just a diversionary maneuver.
10:48 Russia: Situation in Kursk after Ukrainian advance "under control"
Russian forces have been engaged in combat with infiltrating Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region for the third day in a row. The situation is "stable and under control," according to the vice-governor of the border region, as reported by the state-run Russian news agency RIA Novosti. Around 3,000 people have been evacuated to safety. Russian troops are actively fighting against Ukrainian units in the Sudja district and pushing them back, according to the news agency TASS citing local authorities. Four people have been killed in the Ukrainian attacks. The Ukrainian military has not yet commented on the offensive in Kursk. Several pro-Russian military bloggers also report ongoing fighting.
10:18 Kriewald on new offensive: "Ukrainians advance 15 kilometers into Kursk region"
The Ukrainian army's advance into the Russian region of Kursk is causing turmoil in Moscow. Ukrainian soldiers are reported to have advanced up to 15 kilometers, and there are also reports of dozens of prisoners of war. ntv reporter Nadja Kriewald reports from Odessa on the background of the situation.
09:35 UN: Russians torture 95% of Ukrainian prisoners of war
Employees of Russian penal colonies are reportedly torturing Ukrainian prisoners of war from the very beginning of interrogations. Furthermore, the practice of torture in Russian captivity is "widespread and systematic," according to Danielle Bell, head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), in an interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS. She says that the Russian Federation has tortured 95% of Ukrainian prisoners of war in its prisons. According to Bell, Ukrainian prisoners of war are beaten with metal rods and sticks, stripped naked, and subjected to electric shocks. "This is undoubtedly the worst I've seen in the 20 years of my career," she says. Information about Ukrainian prisoners in Russia is mainly collected through interviews with Ukrainian prisoners of war after their release. At the same time, the UN mission has direct access to Russian prisoners of war and can assess the conditions of the detention facility.
08:49 Estonia introduces stricter customs controls at Russian border
Estonia is introducing full customs controls at its eastern EU external border with Russia. The government of the Baltic NATO state decided on this in early August. From August 8, all persons crossing the border with Russia, as well as all cargo, will be subject to control. The controls at the road and rail border crossings in Narva, Koidula, and Luhamaa will be gradually introduced. Previously, checks on passengers and vehicles were random and risk-based. With the tightening, Prime Minister Kristen Michal aims to prevent the transit and transport of EU-sanctioned goods through Estonia and to strengthen the country's security. The border between Russia and Estonia is 294 kilometers long.
08:11 Ukraine publishes figures on Russian lossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new casualty figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to the data, Russia has lost approximately 587,510 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. In the past 24 hours alone, the number of losses is said to be 1,140. According to a report from Kyiv, two tanks, 36 artillery systems, 81 drones, and one helicopter have also been destroyed. In total, Russia is said to have lost 8,431 tanks, 16,487 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,293 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine since the start of the large-scale invasion. Western estimates put the losses at lower figures, but these are also likely to be minimum values.
07:32 Medvedev threatens escalation of Russian invasion in UkraineDmitri Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, has threatened to escalate the Russian invasion in Ukraine in response to the Ukrainian advance into the Russian border region of Kursk. The Russian military operation should no longer be limited to securing the territories in Ukraine that Russia considers its own, says the former president. Instead, the armed forces should advance towards the cities of Odessa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and beyond. The offensive will only be halted when Russia deems it advantageous. According to Russian reports, Ukrainian troops have advanced deep into Russian territory in the region during a counterattack, with intense fighting reported. The state of emergency has been declared in the region.
07:05 Russia: 14 Ukrainian aerial objects destroyed over Kursk and BelgorodThe Russian air defense forces have destroyed 14 Ukrainian unmanned aerial objects over the Belgorod and Kursk regions, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram. Six drones and five more missiles were shot down over the Kursk region, according to Governor Alexei Smirnov. In the early hours of August 6, Ukrainian forces attacked the border areas of the Kursk region. According to the latest reports from the Russian General Staff, clashes are continuing in border areas. The state of emergency has been declared in Kursk (see entries 19:08, 19:38, and 20:41), and residents are being evacuated.
06:25 Ukraine declares air alert due to Russian MiG-31K attackThe Ukrainian Air Force has declared an air alert across the entire country. The air attack warning is attributed to a missile threat from a Russian MiG-31K, a type of interceptor aircraft that dates back to the Soviet era and is named after the aircraft manufacturer Mikoyan-Gurevich. The MiG-31K is capable of carrying hypersonic missiles such as the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal.
05:32 ISW: Ukrainian armored vehicles spotted 10 km inside Russian border in KurskAccording to an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian troops have advanced up to 10 kilometers into the Russian region of Kursk. This was confirmed by footage of armored vehicles behind the border. Ukrainian forces are reported to have breached at least two Russian defense lines and a fortress. According to a Russian source, the Ukrainians have captured 45 square kilometers in the Kursk region since the start of the operation on August 6, the ISW writes. Russian authorities declared a state of emergency in the region yesterday.
02:30 Ukraine raises threshold for prison sentence in petty theft casesPresident Selenskyj has signed a new law that reclassifies petty theft as an administrative offense instead of a criminal one. This means that thefts valued at up to around 67 euros will now be punished with fines instead of prison time. Previously, the threshold for petty theft was around 6.7 euros. The change is due to the martial law imposed since the Russian invasion, which carries prison sentences of up to eight years for looting and theft. An example given in the bill was a theft of diapers from a supermarket in the western Ukrainian city of Rivne in January 2023, valued at around 8 euros. The thief in this case had received a prison sentence of over three years, but would now face only a fine.
00:27 Klingbeil: Stationing of US long-range missiles in Germany is necessarySPD leader Lars Klingbeil has defended plans to station long-range US weapons in Germany, saying that it is necessary to deter potential Russian aggression. "This stationing is necessary because it helps us defend ourselves if Russia were to consider attacking us," he told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. He described it as part of a credible deterrence strategy. At the NATO summit in July, the White House and the German government announced plans for the US to station weapons systems with long ranges in Germany from 2026. These include Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons. Some SPD members have criticized the plan, with parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich warning of the risk of military escalation.
22:38 Human rights activist Orlov to fight for Russian prisonersOleg Orlov, a Moscow human rights activist released in a prisoner exchange between Russia and Western states, has said he will continue his civil rights work in exile. "Memorial cannot be destroyed," the 71-year-old said at a press conference at the Center for Liberal Modernity in Berlin. Memorial, the human rights organization he co-founded and which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, campaigns for political prisoners in Russia. Orlov estimates that at least 800 political prisoners are still being held in Russia - a conservative estimate. He finds his new role in exile in Germany difficult, he said, preferring to be in his homeland but fearing prosecution. Orlov hopes to use his exile to advocate for the release of more political prisoners, including eight who are seriously ill. "We were very disappointed when we found out that these people were not on the list," he said, referring to those who were exchanged. Despite repression, Memorial continues to work in Russia and from abroad.
21:30 Not Dead Yet? Known Russian Propagandist InjuredKnown Russian propagandist Yevgeny Poddubny has been injured in the Kursk region. State TV channel VGTRK reports on Telegram that Poddubny was injured in an attack by a Ukrainian drone in the Kursk region and was taken to the hospital. Earlier, numerous Russian media outlets had reported Poddubny's death. Yevgeny Poddubny is one of Russia's most famous "war correspondents," with around 734,000 followers on Telegram. Preliminary information suggests he was filming a report on the fighting in the Kursk region on Wednesday.
20:41 Emergency Declared in Region KurskAn emergency has been declared in the Russian region of Kursk amid a Ukrainian ground offensive. Governor Alexei Smirnov announced this on Telegram. The Ukraine has advanced deep into Russian territory near Kursk in a counterattack. The offensive began on Tuesday, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, and reached the northwest of the city of Sujaga on Wednesday.
20:14 Fighting Nearby: Russia Reinforces Protection of Kursk NPPDue to the Ukrainian advance into the Russian border region of Kursk, the Russian National Guard is reinforcing the protection of the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. Additional forces have also been deployed to combat sabotage and reconnaissance units in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, the agency said. This is being done in cooperation with the Russian border troops and the army. The nuclear power plant, which has four units and a capacity of almost two gigawatts, is located only about 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The day before, Ukrainian troops supported by tanks and artillery crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region at Sujaga. Unconfirmed reports suggest they advanced up to 15 kilometers towards the NPP.
19:38 Attacks in Region Kursk: European Gas Price Hits Yearly HighThe price of European natural gas has risen to its highest level this year. The benchmark TTF contract for delivery next month rose by 5.7 percent to 38.78 euros per megawatt hour in Amsterdam. Market participants are pointing to the attacks by Ukraine on the Russian region of Kursk. The fighting is reportedly taking place near Sudza, an important gas injection point for Europe. This gas reaches Western Europe through Ukrainian pipelines. Gazprom is currently reporting normal gas supplies, according to the Bloomberg news agency.
19:08 Ukraine Evacuates Border Areas Near Russian KurskAmid heavy fighting in the Russian Kursk region, Ukrainian authorities have ordered the evacuation of more settlements in the neighboring Sumy region. The measures affect 23 settlements, said Sumy military governor Vladimir Artyukh on Ukrainian television. Around 6,000 people, including over 400 children and adolescents, are to be taken to safety from the border region. The day before, Ukrainian troops crossed the Ukrainian-Russian border towards the city of Sujaga in the Kursk region and advanced several kilometers into Russian territory. Moscow spoke of around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers equipped with heavy equipment. Kyiv has not yet commented on the events. Due to regular Russian shelling of border areas, local authorities had already ordered evacuations from a 10-kilometer-wide area along the border in May.
Read about previous developments here.
Here are two sentences that contain the words 'Military operations' and follow from the given text:
The Ukrainian army is engaging in military operations to push back Russian forces in the Kursk region for the third day.Russian military operations in the Ukrainian border region of Sumy are being countered by Ukrainian forces, with intense battles reported.
