Experts say German tanks have been used in attacks.
16:55 CDU Politicians Oppose Kretschmer
CDU foreign policy experts criticize Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer for his call to cut military aid to Ukraine. "Germany has a great responsibility to stand by a country that it itself invaded in World War II," says Johann Wadephul, deputy faction leader of the CDU in the Bundestag, to "Spiegel". "We stand on the side of freedom, and we will fulfill our responsibility. That is the clear and unwavering position of the Union," emphasizes the CDU politician. Jürgen Hardt, spokesman on foreign affairs of the Union faction, confirms: "The CDU/CSU faction in the German Bundestag has a unanimous opinion on this. We fear that Putin will only be ready for negotiations on an equal footing when he sees that he could suffer a serious defeat in the war against Ukraine." For this, Kyiv must again go on the offensive in the defense of its territory. "For that, Ukraine still needs military equipment from the free world," says Hardt.
16:28 Mexico Refuses to Arrest Putin on Visit
The Mexican government says it will not arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he attends the inauguration of the new Mexican head of state. Ukraine had made a corresponding request. "We can't do that," says Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador before journalists and adds that "it's not our job".
15:57 Gressel: Ukraine "likely to hold territory longer"
According to Gustav Gressel, the attack on the Russian Kursk is not a "pinprick" like previous attacks behind the border. The military expert estimates that Ukrainian troops are both binding Russian forces and gaining an advantage in potential negotiations over territories.
15:33 Death Toll Rises: Twelve Dead in Rocket Attack on Supermarket
At least twelve people were killed and 44 injured in a Russian rocket attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostjantyniwka, according to government reports. "A strike by Russian terrorists on an ordinary supermarket and a post office. People are under the rubble," writes President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Telegram. Rescue operations are ongoing. The head of state expressed his condolences to the relatives of the victims. According to the interior ministry, a fire broke out on an area of over 1,000 square meters. Kostjantyniwka is only about ten kilometers from the front line between Ukrainian and Russian troops. (see entry at 12:34)
15:10 Faber: Kretschmer's behavior "disgusts me"Saxon Minister President Michael Kretschmer faces criticism from the Bundestag for his proposal to reduce military aid to Ukraine. "It disgusts me how a Minister President is using the survival struggle of Ukrainian women and men for his regional election campaign," says Markus Faber, chairman of the Defense Committee. German arms deliveries would help Ukraine defend itself. They wouldn't do this out of warlust, "but because they don't want to live in a big Bucha, where the Russian army is randomly killing, torturing, and raping," Faber added.
14:41 ISW: Ukraine operationally surprises Russia in KurskThe lack of a coherent Russian response to Ukraine's incursion into the Kursk region and the reported pace of Ukraine's advance suggest that Ukrainian forces have achieved an operational surprise along the border with Russia, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in its latest report. In the past one and a half years of the Ukraine war, it has been difficult for both sides to surprise the opponent due to the partially unclear battlefield in Ukraine. Analysts say the Kremlin will try to retake the Russian territory captured by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region. Further advancement of Ukraine into Russia would be a strategic blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin's long-term efforts to establish stability and security in Russia and Russia's geopolitical revival.
14:14 Kretschmer proposes cuts to Ukraine military aidSaxon Minister President Michael Kretschmer proposes cuts to military aid to Ukraine due to the budget dispute at the federal level. "We can no longer take up funds for weapons for Ukraine that are used up and bring nothing," Kretschmer told the German Press Agency. "Everything must be in proportion. Support yes, but we can see that we are reaching our limits." Kretschmer points to the growth of the budget in recent years. "Before the Corona crisis in 2019, we had a budget volume of 344 billion. We are now at 480 billion, and yet the traffic light coalition cannot agree on the budget," criticizes the CDU politician. "This shows that everything is out of control. Citizen's money around 50 billion, migration dozens of billions, military aid tens of billions. That won't work."
13:52 Ukraine: Police orders evacuation of around 20,000 people in border region SumyUkrainian authorities have issued an evacuation order for around 20,000 people in the eastern region of Sumy, which borders Russia. The order affects 28 locations under "enemy fire," the police said on the Telegram messaging service. Local security forces are already deployed to assist with the measure. The Sumy region borders the Russian region of Kursk, where Ukrainian forces entered on Tuesday.
13:22 Russia Reinforces Troops in Disputed Border Region of KurskFollowing the advance of Ukrainian troops into the southern Russian border region of Kursk, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow is dispatching units to reinforce its forces. Columns of Grad multiple rocket launchers, artillery, and tanks are being redeployed to the region, according to the news agency Interfax, citing the ministry. Local authorities report that fighting with the infiltrating Ukrainian troops continues. "Fighting is still ongoing within 'some dozen kilometers' of the city of Kursk and the nearby nuclear power plant," a local official said on the Telegram messaging service.
12:57 Mangott on Kyiv's Goals in Kursk: "Third Reason: Humiliating Slap in the Face for Putin"Observers suspect that Ukraine's attack on Russian territory is an attempt to seize territory as a bargaining chip. Political scientist Gerhard Mangott does not believe that Kyiv's troops will be able to hold onto any captured land, but he suggests that there may be other motivations behind the incursion.
12:34 Zelensky: Four Dead After Russian Attack on Supermarket in KonstantinovkaAt least four people were killed and 24 injured in a Russian artillery attack on the city of Konstantinovka in the disputed Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the X platform. The governor of Donetsk, Vadym Filashkin, reported that the city came under Russian artillery fire. Images shared by the governor on Telegram show thick black smoke rising from the destroyed building. Radio NV published images of the burning supermarket and the surrounding destruction. The exact consequences of the attack are still unclear. "The attack on the supermarket in Konstantinovka is yet another case of Russian terrorism. War against civilians is all they know how to do," said the head of the presidential office, Andriy Yermak, on Telegram. Konstantinovka is regularly targeted by Russian forces. In September 2023, a Russian attack on a local market in Konstantinovka resulted in 17 deaths and over 30 injured.
11:53 Russian Emergency Ministry Declares Emergency in KurskThe Russian Emergency Ministry has declared a federal emergency in the Kursk region bordering Ukraine. According to the Moscow government, Russian forces in Kursk continue to repel the advance of Ukrainian units. The state news agency RIA reported this, citing the Ministry of Defense. Around a thousand Ukrainian soldiers had reportedly infiltrated the area on Tuesday, according to Russian statements.
11:32 Video Shows Burnt-out Russian Military Trucks in KurskA video published on social media and verified by Reuters shows a convoy of burnt-out Russian military trucks in the Russian region of Kursk. The vehicles are lined up along a highway. The video shows around 15 trucks, including one marked with the letter 'Z', which is the symbol used in Russia for its "special military operation" in Ukraine. Reuters was able to verify the location in the video as the village of Oktyabr'skoe by matching buildings, trees, and road layouts. However, it was not possible to determine exactly when the video was taken.
10:55 Media: Chain Reaction in Russian Lipetsk Destroys 700 BombsA drone strike on a military airport in the Russian region of Lipetsk is said to have triggered a chain reaction, destroying over 700 bombs, according to a source from the Ukrainian intelligence service "The Kyiv Independent". Earlier, Russian authorities had reported that a drone strike in the region had caused a fire at a military airport and damaged an energy facility. The source told "The Kyiv Independent" that the airport was storing combat jets and helicopters. It is not known how many of these were damaged or destroyed in the attack.
10:35 Kyiv Claims Attack on Military Airport in LipetskThe Ukrainian military has claimed to have attacked a military airport in the Russian region of Lipetsk overnight. The strike damaged stocks of guided bombs, causing a large fire and several explosions, the Ukrainian military said on the Telegram messaging service. The airport is home to Russian combat aircraft including Su-34, Su-35, and MiG-31 fighters. Lipetsk is located east of the border region of Kursk, further inland in Russia.
10:08 Munz: "Russians Unable to Counterattack"Since the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been defending itself on its own territory. However, for the past three days, troops have also been attacking in the Russian border region of Kursk. ntv Moscow correspondent Rainer Munz explains why this surprise offensive poses several challenges for the Russian military leadership.
09:44 Human Rights Activist: Russia Regressing to Stalinist TimesOleg Orlov, a human rights activist released in a prisoner exchange from Russian detention, criticizes the extent of repression in today's Russia in an interview with news agency AP. Orlov says that under Russian President Vladimir Putin, people are being imprisoned for criticizing authorities, something not seen since the time of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. "We're sliding back into Stalinist times," says the co-chair of Memorial, one of Russia's oldest and best-known human rights organizations, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. Orlov was sentenced to two and a half years in prison in February for criticizing the Russian war in Ukraine in an article. His release in the prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus, and several Western countries came as a complete surprise to him.
09:00 Ukraine Releases Figures on Russian LossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new figures on Russian troop losses in Ukraine. According to the report, Russia has lost around 588,540 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with 1,030 losses in the past 24 hours alone. The report also claims that three tanks, 49 artillery systems, and two air defense systems were destroyed. Overall, Ukraine claims that Russia has lost 8,434 tanks, 16,536 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,325 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine since the start of the large-scale invasion. Western estimates put the loss figures lower, but these are also likely to be minimum values.
08:19 Media: Mass Fires in Rylsk in the Kursk RegionIntense explosions and mass fires were reported overnight in the city of Rylsk in the Russian region of Kursk, according to "The Kyiv Independent" citing reports on Russian-language Telegram channels. Residents of the village of Stepanovka reportedly heard four explosions. The cause of the explosions is unknown. The city of Rylsk is located approximately 35 kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border.
07:37 Russia: State of Emergency After Attack on Military AirbaseMassive explosions occurred following a Ukrainian drone attack on a military airbase near Lipetsk. A state of emergency has been declared in the city of Lipetsk to address the aftermath of the explosions, Governor Igor Artamonov announced on Telegram. Four villages around the military airport have been evacuated. Public transportation in Lipetsk and surrounding areas has been halted. Six people were injured as a result of the attacks.
06:52 Media: Explosion After Ukrainian Attack on CrimeaAn explosion occurred on the Russian-occupied Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, according to "Ukrainska Pravda" citing Telegram reports. The Russian governor of the city of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, wrote on Telegram that the forces of the Black Sea Fleet and air defense repelled an attack by Ukrainian forces on Sevastopol, destroying three drones. Additionally, the Russian air defense is said to have shot down a Ukrainian sea-targeting drone R-360 Neptune over the sea near Sevastopol. The Telegram channel "Crimeawind" reports on shots and a heavy explosion in Chornomorskyi, as well as the work of the Russian air defense in the area of the Belbek airport. A black smoke column was reportedly rising over the airport, and there was a strong smell of fire in the coastal area of the city, according to the Telegram channel "Crimeawind" citing subscribers. There are no reports of possible casualties yet.
06:05 Media: Fire on Military Airbase in Russian Region LipetskA fire has broken out on a military airbase in the Russian region of Lipetsk, according to Russian news agencies Ria Novosti and Tass. They initially did not provide information on the cause of the fire. Shortly before, the local governor announced evacuations due to a "massive" drone attack near the city of Lipetsk, which caused explosions and power outages, according to Igor Artamonov on Telegram. A state of emergency has been declared in the Lipetsk district, and four villages are being evacuated. Some of the villages he mentioned are located near an air force base outside the city. There have been no reported casualties, according to his report. Ukrainian authorities had not reported any attacks on the region. Lipetsk is located approximately 300 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
05:02 Putin reportedly unaware of Ukrainian troop buildup near Kursk border
Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, may have ignored intelligence warnings that Ukrainian forces were gathering near the border with the Kursk region, Bloomberg reported, citing a Kremlin source. Ukrainian forces crossed into the Kursk region on August 6, bringing the conflict onto Russian territory. According to the report, the Ukrainian forces began gathering near the Kursk region border two weeks before the start of their offensive. Russian President Vladimir Putin was reportedly not informed of the troop buildup.
03:21 Half of Germans fear conflict escalation with Russia over US missiles
The German and US governments have agreed that the US will station long-range weapon systems like Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany from 2026, capable of reaching targets in Russia. Half of Germans expect this to further escalate the conflict with Russia, according to a Civey poll for the Funke media group. 50% of respondents agreed that stationing long-range US weapons in Germany would lead to further escalation, while 38% did not believe this would happen, and 12% were undecided. 44% viewed the stationing positively, while 42% had a negative view, and 14% were undecided.
01:14 Minister-President Kretschmer calls for reduction in weapons aid to Ukraine
Saxony's Minister-President Michael Kretschmer is calling for a reduction in weapons aid to Ukraine, given the current federal budget situation. "We can no longer afford to provide funds for weapons to Ukraine that are being used up and not making a difference. Everything must be in proportion," Kretschmer told the German Press Agency. "Support yes, but we can see that we're reaching our limits." Kretschmer pointed to the significant increase in the budget over the past few years. "Before the COVID-19 crisis in 2019, our budget was 344 billion euros. Now it's 480 billion, and yet the traffic light coalition can't agree on the budget. That shows that everything is out of control."
23:35 Kiesewetter: Ukrainian offensive lawful and sensible
CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter sees the latest Ukrainian military offensive on Russian territory as lawful and sensible. The surprise offensive is "clearly lawful under international law, in the sense of the right to self-defense," and "militarily strategic," Kiesewetter told the Tagesspiegel. The offensive by Ukrainian troops aims to tie down Russian forces in the Kursk region and inflict significant losses, taking pressure off other fronts, as Russia will have to bind or redeploy forces to Kursk, Kiesewetter said.
22:30 Pentagon: Ukraine's Push into Kursk Region Aligns with US PolicyThe Ukrainian incursion into the Russian region of Kursk is "in line with our policy," says Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh, according to the news portal "Kyiv Independent" at a press conference. When asked if Ukraine can use weapons supplied by the US, Singh responds that the US "has been supporting Ukraine from the start to defend against attacks coming from over the border." The Kursk region borders the Ukrainian region of Sumy over 245 kilometers, which has been subjected to daily Russian attacks since its liberation in April 2022. Ukraine is taking measures "to protect itself from attacks" and is operating "within the framework of US policy, where it can use our weapons, our systems, and our capabilities," says Singh.
Singh says it's up to Ukraine to speak about its own operations. When asked how far into Russian territory Ukraine can attack, Singh says the US "does not support long-range attacks." However, she refuses to specify the exact distance. "I'm not going to draw a circular map of where they can strike and where not, but we have been very clear with the Ukrainians," she says.
22:09 BSW MEP De Masi Calls for "Ceasefire and Negotiations as Soon as Possible"Following the Ukrainian troops' push into Kursk, BSW MEP Fabio De Masi calls for "a ceasefire and negotiations as soon as possible." Ukraine has "major problems defending its own territory," says De Masi to "Tagesspiegel." Advances "deep into Russian territory" only make sense "if Ukraine's goal is to strengthen the escalation dynamics." The risks are immense, says the Euro MP. "Consider, for example, the Russian nuclear power plant in the region. Russia is a nuclear power and has the escalation dominance."
21:50 Kursk Region Authorities Report at Least Five Civilian DeathsRussian troops have been fighting against a Ukrainian incursion for the third day in a row, according to Moscow. Russian forces and border guards are preventing Ukrainian units from advancing further into Kursk, the Russian Defense Ministry reports. Meanwhile, the Russian army is attacking Ukrainian forces trying to retreat from the Ukrainian border region of Sumy. The Russian Health Ministry reports that 66 civilians have been injured, including nine children, since the start of the Ukrainian incursion. The 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's Borrell: Lukashenko Regime Involved in Illegal Deportation of Ukrainian ChildrenThe Belarusian regime is complicit in Russia's war against Ukraine, according to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Brussels. Besides political, military, and logistical support, Belarus has contributed to the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children from temporarily occupied territories in 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.
You can read all previous developments here.
In light of the CDU politicians' criticism of Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer for suggesting cuts to military aid to Ukraine, stating that Germany has a responsibility to stand by Ukraine due to its history of invading the country during World War II, it is worth noting that Mexico has also refused to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he visits for the inauguration of the new Mexican head of state, despite a request from Ukraine.
Adding to this, Ukrainian authorities have issued an evacuation order for around 20,000 people in the eastern region of Sumy, which borders Russia, in response to Russian forces in the area. This reiterates the ongoing tension between Ukraine and Russia and the potential for further conflict.
