Crimea's ferry service has temporarily halted operations at 13:03.
The Russian port of Kavkaz, crucial for supplying Crimea, remains closed to ferries a day after a Ukrainian attack. According to Russia's Ministry of Transport, ferry traffic will resume after cleanup operations are completed. Situated in the Kerch Strait, which connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov, Kavkaz is one of the most important transshipment points on the Black Sea. Fuel and ammunition are transported to Crimea through this port.
12:20 Russia Insider: "Eventually, we will witness Putin's retaliation"Russian President Vladimir Putin appears calm in the face of Ukrainian military triumphs in Kursk. "This is his typical behavior in such situations," remarks Russian political analyst Ekaterina Schulmann, referring to the unfavorable news for the Kremlin. "He disappears until the situation settles down and then acts as if nothing happened." Other Russia pundits believe that the Kremlin is currently considering the possibilities for a counterattack. In such a decision, the Russian president usually takes his time, it is said. "Eventually, we will see how Putin will respond," warns Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia-Eurasia Center in Berlin.**
11:41 Russian Petroleum Depot in Proletarsk still AblazeThe Russian petroleum depot in Proletarsk, located in the southern Russian region of Rostov, is still burning. According to NASA's Fire Monitoring Program, the facility is still on fire today, and the Telegram channel Baza, close to Russian law enforcement agencies, also reports that the fire is still raging. According to Baza, the depot was allegedly struck again by a Ukrainian drone last night.**
11:12 "Ukraine Aims to Symbolically Wrap Up Modi"While India, as a BRICS member, is closely aligned with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is now receiving Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and in Kyiv, they hope for mediation to end the conflict. Due to the Kursk offensive, the Ukrainians are "more eager than ever for peace talks," reports ntv reporter Nadja Kriewald.**
10:45 Ukrainian Air Defense in Action in Multiple RegionsThe Ukrainian military claims to have shot down 14 out of 16 Russian attack drones launched overnight. "The air defense system was operational in the regions of Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Poltava, and Sumy," the air force reports.**
10:16 Ukraine Comments on the Sunken Ferry in KavkazThe Ukrainian Navy comments on the destruction of a ferry in the Russian port of Kavkaz. "Another undeniably military target has been neutralized," says navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletentschuk on Ukrainian television. The ferry was intended to supply the enemy with fuel. The ferry has sunk, and the port is currently inaccessible. Local authorities claim that the attack took place on Thursday, with the ferry catching fire.**
09:44 Russian Ambassador: "No Buffer Zone on Russian Territory"Russian Ambassador to the USA, Anatoly Antonov, comments on the Kursk offensive and Kyiv's declared goal of establishing a buffer zone there: "That's impossible. There will be no buffer zone on Russian territory," TASS quotes him. Simultaneously, he warns that Moscow will not consult Washington to drive Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region. He accuses the US of "consistently testing the Russians' patience" and trying to provoke "emotional, hasty decisions."
09:10 Online Analysis Shows: Dissatisfaction with Putin Rising in RussiaIt's hardly unexpected: Since Ukrainian troops entered Russian territory two weeks ago, negative opinions towards President Vladimir Putin appear to be increasing across Russia. According to an analysis by FilterLabs AI, reported by the "New York Times," many online contributors believe the Ukrainian advance is a failure of the Russian government and Putin in particular. "Putin's response to the incursion was at best insufficient and at worst offensive," says Jonathan Teubner, CEO of FilterLabs, which tracks Russian sentiment through social media analysis.
08:36 Modi Arrives in KyivIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently visiting Ukraine, according to Indian and Ukrainian media. A meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is planned. Ukraine hopes for India's support due to its significant global influence, while also harboring doubts about its declared neutrality. In July, Modi visited Moscow. Images of him embracing Russian President Vladimir Putin were controversial in Ukraine and many Western countries.**
08:05 Russia's Warning on Nuclear Plant Attacks 'More Talk'Russian President Vladimir Putin accuses Ukraine of attempting to attack the Kursk nuclear power plant. ntv reporter Rainer Munz assesses the actual risk of a nuclear accident due to the war.**
07:33 China and Belarus Plan Enhanced Cooperation - Including SecurityChina and Belarus agree to strengthen cooperation in areas such as trade, security, energy, and finance, according to a joint statement following a meeting between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Belarusian Premier Roman Golovchenko. They also aim to enhance collaboration on industrial supply chains and improve trade facilitation to reduce costs for both sides. China is Belarus' second-largest trading partner and largest in Asia.
07:05 Ukrainian Commanders Worry Over Untrained Recruits Ukrainian leaders and troops express anxieties about the inadequate training of new recruits and Russia's significant advantage in air power and ammunition at the eastern front. A battalion commander from the 47th Brigade remarks, "Some individuals refuse to fire. They spot the enemy in a shooting position in the trench yet fail to respond. This is why our men are losing lives." He clarifies, "If they don't utilize their weapon, they're of no use." In May, the government executed an arguable mobilization law. Since then, sources reveal that tens of thousands of fighters are being enlisted each month. The highest demand is for infantry, but there are challenges with training, equipping, and compensating such a substantial number of new recruits.
06:35 Russia Anticipates US Lifting Weapons Restrictions for Ukraine As reported by the Russian ambassador to the US, Russia guesses that the United States will soon abolish all limitations on the utilization of weapons supplied to Ukraine. Ambassador Anatoli Antonov claims, "The current administration acts like someone extending a hand while concealing a dagger behind their back." They're preparing the ground to lift all current restrictions without a second thought at some point. Antonov stresses that a genuine dialogue with the US is only possible if they abandon their "hostile" policy towards Russia. He additionally confirms that a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during the UN General Assembly next month is improbable.
06:09 Harris Affirms Support for NATO and Ukraine Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris reaffirms her loyalty to NATO and endorses continued support for Ukraine, which is under assault from Russia. "I will stand steadfastly with Ukraine and our NATO allies," she says in her speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, however, threatened to forsake NATO and even encouraged Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade Europe.
05:38 President of Network Agency: "Federal Government Remains on Alert" Despite adequately stocked gas storage facilities, the president of the Federal Network Agency, Klaus Müller, advocates caution in gas consumption. "The federal government remains on high alert. We must continue to be mindful," Müller tells the Augsburger Allgemeine. He also points out to the Ukrainian army's advance into Russian territory, which could worsen the situation. "It is not the gas infrastructure itself that is contested, but the area surrounding this infrastructure is a battlefield on both sides," Müller explains to the newspaper. This includes the Gazprom gas station in Sudzha, which is situated just a few kilometers from the Ukrainian border on Russian territory and serves as a primary distribution point for gas exported to Europe. Gas from Siberia is pumped here into EU countries like Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria via Ukraine.
04:40 Modi Visits Kyiv: "No Conflict Can Be Settled through War" Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Ukraine for the first time today. A meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky is planned in the capital Kyiv, as announced by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. India maintains a neutral stance on the Russian invasion, does not impose western sanctions on Moscow, and has become one of the largest buyers of low-priced Russian oil on the global market. New Delhi consistently advocates for a resolution through dialogue. "India firmly believes that no conflict can be settled through war. The loss of innocent lives during war is the greatest challenge for humanity," Modi said during a visit to Poland on Thursday. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk encouraged Modi to act as a mediator in the conflict.
03:31 Sources: US to Send Additional Military Aid to Ukraine According to government sources, the US plans to send extra military aid to Ukraine worth around $125 million. The latest aid package includes air defense missiles, ammunition for Himars multiple rocket launchers, Javelin missiles, and a range of other weapons, equipment, and vehicles, the sources said on condition of anonymity. The official announcement is expected today, one day before Ukraine's Independence Day. The weapons will be procured from Pentagon stocks, enabling swift delivery.
02:12 Ukraine Reports 53 Russian Attacks Near Pokrovsk in a Day The Ukrainian military documented a total of 53 Russian attacks near the city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine throughout Thursday. The capture of Pokrovsk remains the primary objective of Russian forces in Ukraine, according to a statement from the General Staff. No statement has been issued by the Russian government as of yet. According to available information, Russian troops have been gradually advancing towards Pokrovsk in recent days.
01:16 SPD Leader: Without Weapon Supplies, Ukraine Would Be "Erased" Just before the state elections in Thuringia and Saxony, SPD leader Saskia Esken reiterates military support for Ukraine against Russia. Chancellor Olaf Scholz is working towards a fair and sustainable peace, Esken told the Funke media group newspapers. "As long as Putin does not abandon his ambition to wage war against Ukraine, peace cannot be achieved diplomatically." Esken links her statements to criticism of Die Linke party leader Sahra Wagenknecht. "If, as Frau Wagenknecht and others propose, we were to halt supplying weapons to Ukraine today, the country would be conquered tomorrow and erased the day after. This would have disastrous repercussions for security throughout Europe, which would not result in less armament and definitely not in peace."
11:56 PM Ukraine Braces for Severest Winter EverUkraine expects a grim and chilly winter due to the displacement of its energy and power framework by Russian assaults. "We are confronting the hardest winter in our history," expresses Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Haluschtschenko during a video call. This winter will be even more rigorous than the last one, as harm from continuous Russian assaults has stacked up. The Russian military deploys assorted weapons in combined assaults to cause extensive harm, he reveals. In a gentle winter, power usage is approximately 18 gigawatts, and in a serious one, it's 19 gigawatts. Moreover, reserves of one gigawatt ought to be made, says Haluschtschenko. Russian assaults have wiped out around 9 gigawatts of capacity.
11:08 PM NATO Lifts Security Degree at Airbase in GeilenkirchenNATO has uplifted its security level at the airbase in Geilenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, in view of a possible danger. All additional staff have been sent back home, discloses a representative for the base. This choice is based on intelligence data indicating a potential danger. "This isn't a reason for worry and is a cautionary measure to guarantee we can keep up our fundamental tasks," the representative says. Police affirm they are available at the scene. Subsequent subtleties and the number of deployed powers are not being uncovered.
10:43 PM Ukraine Affirms Assault on Russian Base in KurskThe Ukrainian military reports another assault on Russian troops in the Kursk region. Utilizing precision-guided US rockets, they focused on a Russian base in the afternoon, as per the commander of the air force, Mykola Oleshchuk. "A drone order focus, a radio-electronic battle unit, gear, weapons, and up to 40 Russian armed force personnel were hit," Oleshchuk composes, joining a video of the assault.
10:13 PM First Subsequent Meeting Held After Swiss Peace SummitFollowing the peace summit in Switzerland in June, a first subsequent meeting has occurred, as per Ukraine. Representatives from more than 40 states and associations participated in the virtual meeting. Further such working gathering meetings are arranged.
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The Russian government is working on resuming ferry traffic to Kavkaz after the port was closed due to a Ukrainian attack. This is crucial as Kavkaz is one of the most important transshipment points for supplying fuel and ammunition to Crimea. (Follows from the first text)
In response to the Kursk offensive and Ukrainian military triumphs, Putin typically disappears until the situation settles down before acting. According to Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia-Eurasia Center, "eventually, we will see how Putin will respond." (Follows from the second text)
