Kara-Mursa: If the exchange had taken place earlier, Navalny might still be alive
17:43 Kara-Mursa: "I was certain they would shoot me in the woods"
Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Mursa, freed in the large-scale prisoner exchange on August 1st and brought to Germany, told the "Zeit" in an interview that he was certain until the very last moment before his release that "they were taking me to my execution". On the night of July 27th to 28th, his cell door was opened, he recalls. "The prison director and a convoy of men in civilian clothes were there. They said: You have 20 minutes to pack. I was certain they would take me to the woods and shoot me. But they took me to the airport."
17:12 Record: Ukrainian border guards stop truck with 48 conscripts
Ukrainian border guards have prevented 48 conscripts from fleeing in a truck to the Moldovan region of Transnistria, controlled by pro-Russian forces, in the south of the country. This number sets a new record, the agency reports. Drone footage shows several groups of men boarding the truck's cargo bed one after another, and the truck later being stopped by border guards. The arrests took place in the Odessa region, near the village of Chornaya, about ten kilometers from the border. The men allegedly paid the smuggler around 3,300 euros each. They now face not only a fine for attempted illegal border crossing but also conscription into the Ukrainian army.
16:21 Russia: Up to 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers involved in border attack
According to the Russian General Staff, "up to 1,000" soldiers were involved in the Ukrainian military's attack on the border region of Kursk in western Russia. Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov announced this at a meeting with President Putin, broadcast on Russian television, after the attack began the previous day. "The enemy's deep penetration into the territory was stopped by air and artillery strikes," Gerasimov added.
16:02 Von der Leyen: 108 billion euros in aid provided since the start of the war
According to the President of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, the EU has provided 108 billion euros in aid to Ukraine since the start of the large-scale war. "The EU has been standing by Ukraine's side since the first day of the Russian war of aggression," she writes on X. "Ukraine will prevail in this struggle for survival. And the EU will stand by Ukraine and its people for as long as it is needed," she added.
15:32 Report: Ukrainian Soldier Killed in Russian CaptivityUkrainian soldier Oleksandr Ischchenko, who died in Russian captivity nine days ago, was likely killed. The 55-year-old Ukrainian died from blunt force trauma to the chest. The "Kyiv Independent" reports this, citing a forensic report published by the deputy commander of the Azov Brigade, Sviatoslav Palamar. Palamar described Ischchenko's death as "another brutal murder of a Ukrainian POW." The report reveals that the soldier's death was due to multiple rib fractures and shock. Ischchenko, 55, was from Mariupol and joined the Azov Brigade at the start of the invasion. He was captured in 2022 during fighting in Mariupol. He was one of the 24 Ukrainians charged in a sham trial by Russia last year and was being held in a prison in Rostov-on-Don.
14:44 Attacks on Kursk: Putin Calls it 'Large-Scale Provocation'Amid ongoing Ukrainian attacks on the Russian border region of Kursk, Putin accuses Kyiv of a "large-scale provocation." "As you know, the Kyiv regime has undertaken another large-scale provocation," Putin says during a televised meeting with government officials. Ukraine is "indiscriminately firing various weapons at civilian buildings, homes, and ambulances."
14:25 Russian Defense Ministry Confirms Ongoing Combat in KurskThe Russian Defense Ministry confirms ongoing combat in Kursk. "The operation to destroy the groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine continues," the ministry says. Clashes have occurred in border towns against Ukrainian infiltrators. Yesterday, the ministry claimed an attempt to break through the border had failed. Now, it says deep penetration on Russian territory has been prevented. According to the ministry, soldiers are fighting alongside border guards against the infiltrators.
13:35 Russia: Thousands Flee Kursk - Putin Takes ControlThousands of people have fled the border towns attacked by Ukrainian forces in the Russian region of Kursk, authorities say. The citizens left their homes in private vehicles, Governor Alexei Smirnov said in a video message. Additionally, 200 people were evacuated from the shelled towns in transport vehicles and buses. Smirnov said he spoke with President Vladimir Putin overnight, who took the situation under personal control. Emergency shelters with around 2,500 places have been set up, with psychologists also on duty.
12:57 "Hidden by Occupiers" - Partisan Group Reports Discovery of Legendary Ship in CrimeaThe pro-Ukrainian partisan group Atesh, active in the Russian-occupied Crimea, claims to have discovered two Russian ships. They are said to be landing ships of the Project 775 type, many of which Ukraine has already sunk or damaged. "The occupiers hide their ships in the bays, hoping to save them," Atesh writes on Telegram. The two 775s are said to be located in the Bay of Kilen. One of them is the well-known "Konstantin Olshansky" in Ukraine, which was captured and stolen by the Russians in 2014. The legendary ship has a tumultuous history among both conflicting parties and was reportedly damaged in an attack a few months ago. Previously, the "Konstantin Olshansky" served as a storage ship for spare parts. The partisan group states that it has shared the location information with the Ukrainian armed forces. "There is no doubt that more ships will sink in the near future."
12:24 Russian Military Blogger Sentenced to Long Prison TermIn Russia, military blogger Andrei Kurshin has been sentenced to six and a half years in a labor camp. He was found guilty of spreading false information about the armed forces, the investigation agency reports. Kurshin ran the Telegram channel "Moscow Calling," which supported the goals of Russia's war against Ukraine. However, he criticized the way the military leadership conducted the campaign. Analysts from the Institute for War Research described Kurshin at the time of his arrest in August 2023 as an "ultranationalist on the extreme fringe" who had exceeded the boundaries of acceptable criticism of Russia's war efforts.
11:38 British Intelligence Comments on Sinking of Russian Navy SubmarineThe British Ministry of Defence has released an intelligence update on the sinking of the Russian submarine "Rostov-on-Don" off Crimea a few days ago. "Unlike some reports, the submarine was likely not fully repaired from an earlier attack on Crimea in September 2023," it says from London. The latest attack is "likely to be the last chapter for the submarine, as it is likely to be more economically viable to build a replacement submarine." The intelligence service speaks of a morale boost for Ukrainian forces from the attack. However, it is unlikely to have significant impacts on Russia's long-range attacks on Ukraine from the Black Sea Fleet. "The attack, however, highlights the increasing risks to Russian forces on Crimea and will likely force Russia to reassess all plans to redeploy significant naval forces to the peninsula."
11:03 Strategy Shift or Diversion? Ukraine "Unnerves the Enemy" with Unclear Kursk SituationThe Ukrainian military is facing immense pressure, particularly in the Donetsk region, where the Russians are "advancing every day," as reported by ntv correspondent Nadja Kriewald. Meanwhile, there are reports of Ukrainian advances in the north, but Kyiv is keeping the background details vague.
10:34 Moscow Reports Injuries from Ukrainian Incursion into Russian Region KurskAccording to the Russian Ministry of Health, 24 people have been injured, including six children, in the Ukrainian attack on the border region of Kursk. The state-run Russian news agency Interfax reported this, citing the ministry.
10:07 Russia Strikes with Drones - Ukraine Reports Perfect Shoot-Down RateThe Ukrainian air force claims to have intercepted and destroyed 30 Russian drones. This is all the drones that the Russian troops fired at targets in seven regions overnight, the Ukrainian air force announced on the Telegram messaging service.
09:29 ISW: Russia's Ex-Defense Minister Shoigu "Grossly Exaggerates" Territorial GainsAccording to Russia's former defense minister, Shoigu, the Kremlin's forces have captured 420 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory since June 14. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) calls this "grossly exaggerated" and puts the figure at 290 square kilometers, or about 0.05% of Ukraine's territory. The country is about 600,000 square kilometers in total. "The Russian military leadership has repeatedly exaggerated Russian territorial gains in Ukraine," the US think tank says. Russia often reports the capture of villages that are usually completely destroyed. Considering the overall size of Ukraine, Russia's advance over the past few months is still very slow. Kyiv's forces often withdraw from areas to protect soldiers.
08:55 Russia: Kursk Targeted by Ukrainian Air Strikes AgainA day after Ukrainian attacks on the Russian region of Kursk left several dead, the region has again been targeted by Ukrainian air strikes, according to local authorities. Two Ukrainian missiles were shot down by air defense systems, regional governor Alexei Smirnov said on Telegram. Yesterday, Russia reported that Ukrainian forces had attempted to attack Kursk, involving around 300 soldiers, 11 tanks, and about 20 other armored vehicles.
08:22 Russia Reports Intercepted Drones in Several Border RegionsRussia's air defense has intercepted 11 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight, according to the defense ministry in Moscow. The affected regions are Kursk, Voronezh, Belgorod, and Rostov, all of which border Ukraine, state news agency RIA reported, citing the ministry.
07:47 Pro-Ukrainian Channel Deepstate Wants Contact with Ukrainian Units in Russian KurskThe pro-Ukrainian military channel Deepstate also hints at a possible incursion into the Russian border region of Kursk. In a brief statement, it said it would not provide an update on the situation in the border region to ensure the safety of defense force personnel. "We are closely monitoring the situation there, maintaining contact with some units, and will provide information as accurately as possible, but only when the time is right. Everyone feels like a strategist - that's normal - but for now, it's important not to get in the way of the guys and the military leadership making decisions that could determine the fate of all."
07:06 Alleged Attack on Russian Region Kursk: Speculations about Far-Right Russian Unit
Russian military bloggers claim that the alleged incursion of Ukrainian troops onto Russian territory involved the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC). The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) finds no confirmation of this, while a source from the Ukrainian military intelligence service told the media Voice of Ukraine that the RVC was not involved. The Russian Volunteer Corps consists of Russian far-right extremists and nationalists fighting on the Ukrainian side against Russia. In Kyiv, however, they have distanced themselves from the group in the past and emphasized that it acts independently. The RVC has occasionally drawn attention with alleged incursions into Russian border regions, which critics have largely dismissed as media stunts. According to ISW, another similar unit, the Legion for the Freedom of Russia, has not commented on a possible involvement. Both groups often report on their actions via their Telegram channels, but there are no indications of involvement in Kursk.
06:23 Ukrainian Troops Allegedly Entered Russian Territory: Possible Attack Raises Many Questions
The alleged incursion of Ukrainian troops into Russian territory in the border region of Kursk remains shrouded in mystery. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), geolocated footage shows damaged and abandoned armored vehicles about seven kilometers north of the border. However, ISW cannot confirm whether these armored vehicles are Russian, Ukrainian, or both. Similarly, the Russian Ministry of Defense's claim that the Chechen Achmat special unit was involved in repelling the attack cannot be confirmed. "Russian military bloggers published footage allegedly showing the aftermath of the Ukrainian raids, although the majority of the damage shown in the footage is due to routine Ukrainian shelling and does not suggest ground activity in the area."
05:52 Ukraine Orders One Million Drones
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine is expanding the production of drones as an important means of warfare. "We have already ordered one million drones from our manufacturers for this year," Zelenskyy said in his evening video address. Next year, it should be significantly more. "We are not disclosing all the details at this time, but our production capacity for drones is increasing steadily, and we are working with both state funds and partners to invest in our drone production." The increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles is due to the refusal of Western partners to allow the Ukrainian military to use the heavy weapons they have supplied against targets on Russian territory.
05:06 Russia Reports Five Civilian Deaths in Clashes in Kursk
According to Russian reports, five civilians, including two medics, were killed in a clash with Ukrainian soldiers in the Russian border region of Kursk. There are also at least 20 injured, the region's governor, Alexei Smirnov, reported on Telegram. Two missiles were also fired over the region early in the morning.
02:30 Niger severs diplomatic ties with UkraineFollowing neighboring Mali, Niger has now cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine. The reason cited is alleged Ukrainian support for a rebel attack in Mali. At the end of July, Tuareg rebels claimed to have killed at least 84 Russian Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers. They then released a photo supposedly showing them with the Ukrainian flag. However, investigations by the independent Russian investigative portal iStories suggest that this is a montage. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba is currently touring southern African states such as Malawi and Zambia, as well as Mauritius, seeking support for Kyiv's stance against Russia. Russia, meanwhile, is expanding its influence in the Sahel region through the Wagner Group.
23:23 Russia: Ukrainian attack on Kursk repelledRussia claims to have repelled Ukrainian advances into the Russian region of Kursk. "After suffering significant losses, the remnants of the sabotage group retreated to Ukrainian territory," the Moscow Defense Ministry said. Russia used artillery, combat aircraft, and drones to fend off the attack. However, the Ukrainian military authorities in the Sumy region, on the other side of the border with the Russian Kursk region, claim that Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian ballistic missile, two drones, and a helicopter in the region. The Ukrainian General Staff's regular update, however, does not report any Ukrainian attacks in the border region.
22:22 Kremlin pressure - Activist ends protest for return of Russian soldiersUnder increasing pressure from the Kremlin, a leading activist in the campaign for the return of Russian soldiers from the front has withdrawn from public appearances. Maria Andreyeva, one of the leaders of the group Put Domoy (Return Home), told the AFP news agency that she would "go underground." She explained on Telegram that she had been classified as a "foreign agent." "Foreign agents are not only deprived of their rights but also stripped of their livelihood." The Put Domoy group consists of wives and mothers who regularly urge Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring their men and sons back from Ukraine. After initially tolerating or ignoring the demonstrators, the Kremlin is now increasingly cracking down on them.
21:39 Zelensky: Ukraine pouring more capital into missile programAccording to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, additional funds are being allocated to Ukraine's domestic missile program. The aim, he wrote on Telegram, is to reduce the gap with Russia, which has a range of long-range weapons. "Additional funds have been allocated for our missile program. More domestically produced missiles are coming," he said, without providing further details. In July, the Ukrainian leader said Kyiv was working to reduce its dependence on missiles supplied by its allies, including those for air defense.
20:54 Russian Spy Couple Gives Interview After ReleaseUpon their return to Russia as part of a large-scale prisoner exchange, a Russian spy couple speaks out publicly for the first time. "When I saw the honor guard from the window of the plane, I cried," Anna Dulzewa said in an interview on Russian state television, describing the moment of her return to Russia. Together with her husband Artiom, Dulzewa lived in Slovenia as a Russian spy for five years. Both were arrested in 2022. "We told the children that we are Russians, that they are Russians, and that we are the Dulzews," said mother Anna Dulzewa, who reportedly only spoke Spanish with her children. Dulzewa said she wants to "continue serving Russia."
20:04 Moscow Declares Moldovan Diplomat 'Persona Non Grata'In response to the expulsion of a Russian diplomat over a spy scandal, Moscow has declared a Moldovan diplomat persona non grata. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced it had summoned the ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to "strongly protest against the ongoing unfriendly steps" by Chisinau against Moscow. A member of the Moldovan embassy in Russia has been declared persona non grata. Last week, Chisinau accused an employee of an unnamed embassy in the country of communicating with two officials suspected of conspiring against the Moldovan government and passing information to foreign countries. The Russian diplomat was later expelled from the country.
19:15 Shoigu: Window for Negotiations Closing for KyivFormer Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu urges Ukraine to start peace talks. "The window of opportunity for Ukraine is getting smaller," the Security Council secretary said on state television. The longer Ukraine hesitates, the more territory it will lose, he added. Moscow has stressed that talks can only take place if Ukraine cedes a fifth of its territory and abandons plans to join NATO. Ukraine rejects this.
Catch up on previous developments [here].
In light of the recent discussions about border conflicts, it's important to consider the potential escalation of such situations into a cyber realm. Here are two sentences that incorporate the concept of 'Cyberwar' following the provided text:
- As cybersecurity experts warn, the ongoing border conflicts in regions like Kursk could potentially escalate into a realm of 'Cyberwar', with both Ukraine and Russia targeted by potential cyber attacks aimed at disrupting critical infrastructure and communication systems.
- To mitigate such risks, international cybersecurity teams should collaborate to establish protocols and mechanisms to deter and respond to potential 'Cyberwar' scenarios arising from the ongoing border conflicts in the aforementioned regions.
