Faber: "I'm disgusted by the way you're acting"
For his push to cut military aid to Ukraine, Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer faces backlash from the Bundestag. "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 it 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 operatively 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 enemy due to the partly confusing 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 decades-long efforts to stabilize and secure Russia and its geopolitical revival.**
14:14 Kretschmer calls for cut in Ukraine military aidSaxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer calls for a reduction in military aid to Ukraine amid the federal budget dispute. "We can no longer take up funds for weapons for Ukraine that will be used up and won't bring anything," Kretschmer told the German Editorial Network. "Everything must be in proportion. Support yes, but we can see that we are reaching our limits." Kretschmer points to the increase in the budget in recent years. "Before the corona crisis in 2019, we had a budget volume of 344 billion euros. We are now at 480 billion euros, and yet the traffic light coalition cannot agree on the budget," the CDU politician criticized. "That shows that everything is out of control. Citizens' money around 50 billion euros, 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, bordering Russia. The order affects 28 locations under "enemy fire," the police explained on the Telegram online service. Local security forces are already deployed to accompany the measure. The Sumy region borders the Russian region of Kursk, where Ukrainian forces entered on Tuesday.**
13:22 Russia Reinforces Troops in Contested Border Region of KurskFollowing the advance of Ukrainian troops into the southern Russian border region of Kursk, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow is deploying units to reinforce its forces. Columns of Grad multiple rocket launchers, artillery, and tanks are being moved into 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 just a few dozen kilometers from 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 leverage in negotiations. Political scientist Gerhard Mangott does not believe that Kyiv's troops will be able to hold onto any captured territory, but he suggests that there may be other motives 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 contested eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, 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 published 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 another case of Russian terror. War against civilians is all they can do," said the head of the presidential office, Andriy Yermak, on Telegram. Konstantinovka is regularly targeted by Russian forces. In a Russian attack on a local market in Konstantinovka in September 2023, 17 people were killed and over 30 others injured.
11:53 Russian Emergency Ministry Declares Emergency in KurskThe Russian Emergency Ministry has declared a federal emergency in the Kursk region on the border with 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 Russian Military Trucks in KurskA video posted on social media and verified by Reuters shows a convoy of burnt Russian military trucks in the Russian region of Kursk. The vehicles are seen along a highway. The video shows around 15 trucks, including one with the marking '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 Oktyabrskoye based on buildings, trees, and road layouts. However, it was not possible to determine exactly when the video was taken.
10:55 Media: Chain explosion 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 explosion, destroying more than 700 bombs, according to a source from the Ukrainian intelligence agency "The Kyiv Independent". Previously, Russian authorities had reported that a drone attack in the region had caused a fire at a military airport and damaged an energy facility. The source told "The Kyiv Independent" that combat jets and helicopters were stored at the airport. It is not known how many 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. Russian combat aircraft of types Su-34, Su-35, and MiG-31 were stationed at the airport. Lipetsk is located east of the border region of Kursk, deeper into Russian territory.
10:08 Munz: "Russians unable to counterattack"Since the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been defending itself on its own territory. But for the past three days, troops have also been attacking in the border region of Kursk, Russia. ntv Moscow correspondent Rainer Munz explains why this surprise offensive poses several problems 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 surprised him completely.
09:00 Ukraine publishes figures on Russian lossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new casualty figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to the report, Russia has lost around 588,540 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, including 1,030 in the last 24 hours. The report from Kyiv also states 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 offensive. Western estimates put the losses lower, but these are also likely to be minimum figures.
08:19 News: Mass Fires in Rylsk, Kursk RegionIntense explosions and mass fires were reported overnight in the city of Rylsk in Russia's Kursk region, 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 approximately 35 kilometers away from the Russian-Ukrainian border.
07:37 Russia: State of Emergency After Military Airbase AttackMassive 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 News: 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 Neptune sea-launched cruise missile over the sea near Sevastopol. The Telegram channel "Crimeawind" reports on shots and a heavy explosion in Chornomorskyi, as well as the work of Russian air defense in the area of the Belbek airport. A black smoke column was reported to have risen over the airport, and a strong smell of fire was reported in the coastal area of the city, according to the Telegram channel "Crimeawind," citing subscribers. No information on possible casualties has been provided yet.
06:05 News: Fire at Military Airbase in Russian Region of LipetskA fire has broken out at a military airbase in the Russian region of Lipetsk, according to Russian news agencies Ria Novosti and Tass. The cause of the fire has not been specified initially. 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 mentioned are located near an air force base outside the city. No casualties have been reported, according to his report. Ukrainian authorities had not reported any attacks on the region. Lipetsk is approximately 300 kilometers away from the Ukrainian border.
05:02 Putin reportedly unaware of Ukrainian troop buildup near Russian 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 reports, citing a source close to the Kremlin. Ukrainian forces crossed into the Kursk region on August 6, bringing the conflict onto Russian territory. According to the report, Ukrainian forces began to concentrate near the border with the Kursk region two weeks before the start of their offensive. Russian President Vladimir Putin was not informed about the troop buildup.
03:21 Half of Germans fear conflict escalation with Russia due to US missiles
The German and US governments have agreed that the US will station long-range weapons systems, such as Tomahawk cruise missiles, in Germany from 2026, capable of reaching targets in Russia. Half of Germans expect this deployment to further escalate the conflict with Russia, according to a Civey survey for the Funke media group. 50% of respondents agreed that the stationing of long-range US weapons in Germany would lead to further escalation, while 38% did not believe so, and 12% were undecided. 44% viewed the deployment 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 federal budget. "We can no longer afford to provide weapons to Ukraine that will be used up and achieve nothing. 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 increase in the budget in recent years. "Before the COVID-19 crisis in 2019, we had a budget volume of 344 billion euros. Now we're at 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 advance is legally and strategically justified
CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter sees the latest Ukrainian military offensive on Russian territory as legally and strategically justified. The surprise move by Ukraine is "clearly legally justified under the right to self-defense" and "militarily strategic," Kiesewetter told the Tagesspiegel. According to the CDU defense expert, the advance of Ukrainian troops aims to tie down Russian forces in the Kursk region and inflict significant losses on them. "This can relieve pressure on other fronts, as Russia has to tie down or redeploy forces to Kursk," he added.
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 across the border." The Kursk region borders the Ukrainian region of Sumy for over 245 kilometers, which has been subject 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 MEP De Masi Calls for "Ceasefire and Negotiations as Soon as Possible"After Ukraine's push into Kursk, 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 dynamic." The risks are enormous, he says. "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 says. 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. Authorities in the Kursk region report at least five civilian deaths, including two medics. 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. 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.
The surprise Ukrainian advance into the Russian border region of Kursk has raised concerns of a potential cyberwar, as analysts worry about potential Russian retaliation in the digital realm.
The lack of a coherent Russian response to Ukraine's incursion in Kursk also highlights the potential vulnerabilities of both sides in a potential cyberwar, as both sides rely heavily on digital infrastructure to communicate, coordinate, and gain an upper hand.
