Kiesewetter calls Ukrainian advance in Kursk "military strategically sensible"
15:57 Ukraine: Two Dead in Russian Attack on Donetsk
In the city of Kostjantyniwka in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, at least two people were killed by Russian artillery fire, according to local authorities. The morning attack hit a residential area, regional governor Vadym Filshkin said on Telegram. Donetsk is a hotspot of 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. Just on Wednesday, at least four people were killed in Russian shelling in Donetsk.
15:36 Russia: Fighting Continues After Ukrainian Advance into Kursk
After Ukrainian troops advanced into the Russian region of Kursk, fighting in the border area has continued for the third day in a row, according to Russian defense ministry statements. Russian forces and border guards are preventing Ukrainian units from pushing deeper into Kursk, while the Russian army is attacking Ukrainian forces attempting to retreat from the Ukrainian border region of Sumy.
15:07 Wagenknecht Warns Against Use of German Weapons in Russia: "Red Line"
Sahra Wagenknecht has 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 demanded.
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. "Does the federal government now also approve of the Ukraine advancing into Russia with German weapons? That would be the next red line to be crossed," the Left party leader 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."
14:45 Chairman of the Defense Committee: Ukraine Can Use German Weapons in Kursk
The chairman of the Defense Committee in the German Bundestag, Marcus Faber, sees no problem with Ukraine using German-supplied weapons in its current advance onto Russian territory. "Once handed over to Ukraine, they are Ukrainian weapons," the FDP politician told the Funke media group. This applies "to any material," including the Leopard 2 battle tank. "With the Russian attack on Ukraine, the territory of both states has become a war zone," Faber explained his position. "The use of weapons is subject to the provisions of international law."
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 will assume 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 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 maintains diplomatic relations, including Russia, to the inauguration.
13:50 Monitoring services: Russian users cannot open YouTube
Users in Russia cannot open YouTube on their computers and mobile devices. Internet monitoring services downdetector.su, Failure Detector, and sboy.rf report a massive outage of the platform's availability. According to the sboy.rf service, over 15,000 complaints have been registered about 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 via virtual private networks (VPNs). Even Reuters reporters in Russia could not access YouTube. However, the website was still available via some mobile devices. YouTube is the last Western platform still accessible in Russia, making it the last bastion of free expression. According to Decoder, over 90 million users in Russia use YouTube monthly, making it the number one video and streaming platform. In mid-July, Russian media reported that the Russian government planned to block YouTube in September.
13:24 EU: Ukraine leads "lawful defensive war" in Russian Kursk
The EU sees the advance 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 lawful defensive war 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, have recently crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region at Sudzha and, according to reports, taken control of several villages. Russian reports claim 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 are said to have been captured. This was reported by the Ukrainian project "Khochu nayti" on Telegram. The humanitarian project, launched in January 2024 by the Ukrainian military intelligence, serves as a coordination center for Russian prisoners of war in Ukraine. It aims to help military personnel of the Russian army find their relatives. According to "Khochu nayti", among the captives are both conscripts and contract soldiers. "There is also information about the dead, whose bodies were not taken away by their comrades during the retreat," it says in the statement. 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 Kursk region is still unclear.
12:18 Gazprom: Gas Transit Running Normally Despite Fights in Kursk RegionThe Russian gas export through the border region of Kursk, attacked by Ukraine, is running largely normally, according to Gazprom. Today, about 37.3 million cubic meters of natural gas are expected to be transported, the company announced in Moscow. This is five percent less than the day before, the state-run Russian news agency Tass reports. 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 is said to have been captured by the Ukrainians, according to pro-Russian military blogger of Ukrainian origin, Yuri Podolyaka, on his Telegram channel. The town is nine kilometers from the Ukrainian border. According to Podolyaka, the city is full of Ukrainian military forces. "Sudja is basically lost for us. This is an important logistics hub," he writes further. Ukrainian military forces are reportedly 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 'Completely Surprised' MoscowInitially, the situation remains unclear, then it is confirmed: Ukrainian fighters attack on Russian territory. The incursion in the Kursk region has "completely surprised" Moscow, reports ntv correspondent Rainer Munz. However, there seems to be more behind the 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-owned 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 a stir 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 warEmployees of Russian penal colonies are already torturing Ukrainian prisoners of war during the first interrogations, according to the head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), Danielle Bell, in an interview with the Dutch broadcaster NOS. She says that the practice of torture in Russian captivity is "widespread and systematic." According to Bell, the Russian Federation has tortured 95% of Ukrainian prisoners of war in its prisons. Ukrainian prisoners of war are reportedly beaten with metal bars and sticks, stripped naked, and subjected to electric shocks. "This is undoubtedly the worst I've seen in the 20 years of my career," Bell 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 in the prison.
08:49 Estonia introduces stricter customs controls at border with RussiaEstonia is introducing full customs controls at its eastern EU external border with Russia. The government of the Baltic NATO state decided on this at the beginning of 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 security of the country. The border between Russia and Estonia is 294 kilometers long.
08:11 Ukraine Releases Figures on Russian LossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has released 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, with 1,140 losses in the past 24 hours alone. A report from Kyiv also claims that two tanks, 36 artillery systems, 81 drones, and one helicopter have been destroyed. Since the start of the large-scale invasion, Russia has reportedly lost a total of 8,431 tanks, 16,487 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,293 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine. Western estimates suggest lower casualty figures, but these are likely to be minimum values.
07:32 Medvedev Threatens Escalation of Russian Invasion in UkraineDmitri Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council and former President, has threatened to escalate the Russian invasion of Ukraine in response to Ukrainian advances in the Russian border region of Kursk. Medvedev stated that the Russian military operation should not be limited to securing territories in Ukraine that Russia considers its own, and that military forces should push towards the cities of Odessa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and beyond. The advance will only stop when Russia deems it advantageous. Ukrainian troops have reportedly made significant advances into Russian territory in the region, with intense fighting reported. The region has been placed under a state of emergency.
07:05 Russia: 14 Ukrainian Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Destroyed Over Kursk and BelgorodThe Russian air defense forces have destroyed 14 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the Belgorod and Kursk regions, according to a statement by the Russian Ministry of Defense on Telegram. Six drones and five more missiles were shot down over the Kursk region, according to Governor Alexei Smirnov. In the early morning of August 6, Ukrainian forces attacked the border areas of the Kursk region. According to the latest reports from the Russian General Staff, clashes continue in border areas. The state of emergency has been declared in Kursk, and residents are being evacuated.
06:25 Ukraine Issues Air Raid Alert Due to Russian MiG-31K AttackThe Ukrainian Air Force has issued an air raid alert across the entire country. The alert is due to a rocket threat from a Russian MiG-31K aircraft, a type of interceptor aircraft developed in the Soviet Union and named after the aircraft manufacturer Mikoyan-Gurevich. The MiG-31K can carry hypersonic missiles such as the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal.
05:32 ISW: Ukrainian armored vehicles spotted 10 kilometers inside Russian border in KurskAccording to an analysis 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 have reportedly 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 theftPresident Selenskyj has signed a new law that reclassifies petty theft as an administrative offense instead of a crime. This means that thefts up to around 67 euros will no longer result in a prison sentence. Previously, the threshold was around 6.7 euros. The change is due to the martial law imposed since the Russian invasion, which carries a prison sentence of up to eight years for looting and theft. An example given in the bill is a theft of diapers from a supermarket in the western Ukrainian city of Rivne in January 2023, worth around 8 euros. The thief in this case received a prison sentence of over three years.
00:27 Klingbeil: Stationing of US missiles in Germany is rightSPD leader Lars Klingbeil has defended plans to station long-range US weapons in Germany against criticism from within his own party. "This stationing is right because it helps us defend ourselves if Russia were to attack us," he told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. It is part of credible deterrence. At the NATO summit in July, the White House and the German government announced that the US would station weapons systems in Germany from 2026 that can reach deep into Russia. These include Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons. There are critical voices within the SPD, with parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich warning of the risk of military escalation.
22:38 Human rights activist Orlow wants to fight for Russian prisonersOleg Orlov, the Moscow human rights activist released in a prisoner exchange between Russia and Western states, wants to continue his work advocating for civil rights 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 organization he co-founded and which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, advocates for political prisoners in Russia. Orlov estimates that at least 800 political prisoners are still being held in Russia - conservatively. He finds his new role in exile in Germany difficult, but fears persecution if he returns home. Orlov hopes to be able 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 - those of us who were exchanged." Memorial continues to work in Russia despite repression, but also from abroad.
21:30 Not Dead Yet? Famous Russian Propagandist InjuredFamous 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 hospitalized. 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 about 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 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 Sudzha on Wednesday.
20:14 Fighting Nearby: Russia Reinforces Nuclear Power Plant KurskDue to the Ukrainian advance into the Russian border region of Kursk, the Russian National Guard has reinforced 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 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 near Sudzha. Unconfirmed reports suggest they advanced up to 15 kilometers towards the nuclear power plant.
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 Ukrainian attacks on the Russian region of Kursk. The fighting is reportedly taking place near Sudzha, an important gas injection point for pipelines to Western Europe. Gazprom is currently reporting normal gas supplies.
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 the military governor of Sumy, Vladimir Artyukh, on Ukrainian television. About 6,000 people, including over 400 children and adolescents, are to be moved to safety from the border area. The day before, Ukrainian troops crossed the Ukrainian-Russian border near the city of Sudzha in the Kursk region and advanced several kilometers into Russian territory. Moscow said about 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers equipped with heavy weapons were involved. Kyiv has not yet commented on the events. In May, local authorities had already ordered evacuations from an area within 10 kilometers of the border due to regular Russian shelling of border areas.
You can read about previous developments here.
In response to the escalating conflict, some experts have warned that the cyberwar between Ukraine and Russia could intensify, with potential attacks targeting critical infrastructure and digital services.
The Russian government has denied such allegations, but the Ukrainian Cyber Police has reported a surge in cyber attacks originating from Russia, including attempts to sabotage electricity grids and disrupt communications networks. These cyberwar tactics could further destabilize the region and prolong the conflict.
