Kiev seeks U.S. approval for long-range weaponry to strike Russian targets
08:36 Star Wars Actor Initiates Fundraising for Mine-Clearing Robots in Ukraine
Famous Star Wars actor Mark Hamill, renowned for his character Luke Skywalker, is spearheading a fundraising campaign to procure mine-clearing robots for Ukraine. In collaboration with Eastern Europe expert Timothy Snyder, they aim to amass $441,000 through the "Safe Terrain" initiative. These robots are designed to eliminate landmines in hard-to-reach locations, ensuring operator safety. As per Snyder, "One of the horrendous acts Russia has committed in Ukraine is the planting of millions of mines." In areas near the front lines, people face risks while helping others return to their homes and farms. With these robots, mines can be eliminated, saving lives. Ukraine is extensively contaminated with mines, and demining could take several decades.
08:01 Kremlin Prepares Russians for 'New Reality' Amid Kursk Attack
The Ukrainian assault on Kursk poses a problem for Moscow's propaganda. Although the regions are distant, a Kremlin-affiliated informant informed the independent Russian portal Meduza based in Riga, "Intrusion into Russian territory and the capture of control over villages is a new and particularly unsettling event." To soothe the prevailing tension, now much more palpable following the Kursk invasion, the Kremlin is attempting to acclimate Russians to life in a "new reality" and a "new normal." The message is clear: The adversary has encroached Russian territory, will eventually be vanquished, but retaking the territory will take time, and Russians must be patient. Concurrently, residents are encouraged to "translate negativity and shock into a positive direction" - specifically, by offering aid to the Kursk area. Meduza confirmed that all interviewed officials expect the fighting in the Kursk region to persist for several months.
07:30 Volgograd Military Facility Incident Caused by Ukrainian Drone Attack
Russian authorities have acknowledged reports of a Ukrainian drone attack on a military facility in Volgograd's southern district. Region governor Andrei Bocharov announced on Telegram that a drone had crashed into the compound, causing no casualties. Bocharov didn't disclose which military facility was compromised, but he confirmed that the village of Marinovka was targeted during the operation. Russia maintains an airbase in Marinovka.
06:56 McMaster: Putin Negatively Influenced Trump
According to former US Security Advisor, General Herbert Raymond McMaster, Russian President Vladimir Putin managed to manipulate former US President Donald Trump. This is detailed in McMaster's book "At War With Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House," as reported by "The Guardian." "Putin, a tenacious ex-KGB agent, capitalized on Trump's ego and insecurities with flattery," McMaster explains. Putin labeled Trump as 'an extraordinary individual, exceptionally talented,' exerting a nearly hypnotic influence on him. McMaster, who served as Trump's security advisor for approximately a year, warned Trump at that time, "Mr. President, he is the world's best liar." McMaster suggested that Putin was confident he could 'manipulate' Trump and garner relaxation of sanctions and an inexpensive withdrawal of US troops from Syria and Afghanistan.
06:20 Drone Strikes Reported in Russian City of Kalach
Loud explosions were reported during the night in Kalach on the Don in Volgograd, Russia. Various Telegram channels indicate that these were likely the results of a drone attack. A fire ensued at a nearby airfield. Volgograd, about 900 kilometers southeast of Moscow, was the focus of the attack. The Marinovka airbase, located in Oktyabrsky about 20 kilometers from Kalach on the Don, was probably the target. Witnesses in the vicinity heard six to ten extreme explosions accompanied by drone sounds, as per Telegram.
05:44 Klingbeil: Germany to Provide Additional Aid for Ukraine if Necessary
SPD party leader Lars Klingbeil has promised further support to Ukraine. If the planned billions in frozen Russian assets cannot be supplied for Ukraine, Germany will contribute additional funds, Klingbeil stated in podcast conductor deputy "Bild" editor-in-chief Paul Ronzheimer's podcast. "We must not reach the stage where we say: 'Now there's no more money for Ukraine,'" Klingbeil asserted. "In such a scenario, we are obviously under obligation to search within Germany for the necessary funds. We have commitments towards Ukraine. Solutions must be sought, and we will find them."
03:09 Elections in Russia's Kursk Region: Protection for Poll WorkersIn the tense border region of Kursk, Russia is planning to safeguard poll workers for the upcoming regional elections with bulletproof vests and helmets. Moreover, additional polling stations are being established in various parts of the nation for individuals who have been displaced from the region, as per Tatiana Malachova, the chair of the regional election commission, as reported by Russian media outlets. The area is currently operating under a state of emergency. The elections for governors and regional parliaments are scheduled from September 6 to 8 in numerous regions throughout Russia. The central election commission in Moscow has allowed citizens in border regions, such as Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk, to vote early.
01:34 Fico: Influence of Western Opinion in DemocraciesSlovak Prime Minister Robert Fico expresses feeling the "influence of opinion" from Western democracies. He claims that individuals who deviate from the majority view on significant foreign policy issues are subjected to "arbitrary pressure and threats of isolation" by Western democracies, as stated in a declaration commemorating the 1968 Moscow invasion. In the declaration, Fico compares the violent suppression of the 'Prague Spring' in 1968 by Warsaw Pact forces to what he perceives as present-day opinion pressure in Europe. Fico is antagonistic towards the EU's military aid to Ukraine and has faced accusations of being pro-Russian as a result.
00:12 Ukrainian Front: 46 Russian Attacks Near PokrovskUkraine reports 46 Russian attacks along the front line near the city of Pokrovsk in the eastern part of the country over the course of the day. Of these, 44 were thwarted, the general staff reports. Fighting is still in progress at the remaining two sections as of 9 PM CET. The attacks resulted in 238 Russian soldiers being killed or wounded. No information is available on Ukrainian casualties. Russia has yet to comment on the situation.
23:09 Russia: Ukrainian Infiltration in Bryansk RepelledRussia claims to have repelled a Ukrainian "infiltration" attempt by "saboteurs" in the Bryansk border region, adjacent to Kursk. The infiltration by the "Ukrainian reconnaissance-sabotage group" was forestalled by forces from the Russian security service FSB and military units, as per the governor of Bryansk, Alexander Bogomaz, in a Telegram post. "The enemy was targeted," the post states. The situation is now "under control."
22:15 Zelensky: Ukraine Awaits Promised Billion-Dollar AidUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky anticipates the expeditious distribution of the billion-dollar aid pledged by the West, which is to be partially funded by proceeds from frozen Russian state assets. While various political statements have been made by Kyiv's international partners, further commitments are expected, Zelensky states in his evening video address. "But we require a functional mechanism." Ukraine requires the proceeds from Russia's frozen assets to bear the brunt of Russian aggression. "The relevant discussions have been protracted, and we need decisions now." The G7 nations agreed on new financial assistance for Kyiv at their June summit, with a generous $50 billion loan to be secured by interest earnings from frozen Russian assets.
21:52 Putin Commends Trade Ties with ChinaRussian President Vladimir Putin commends the strengthened cooperation with China, asserting, "Our trade interactions are thriving (...) The attention both governments devote to trade and economic relations is yielding fruit," during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in the Kremlin. China and Russia have "significant-scale joint plans and projects in the economic and humanitarian sectors," Putin continues. Li, as per the Kremlin, states that Chinese-Russian relations are at an "unprecedented peak." The strategic partnership between Russia and China has strengthened since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. For Russia, China serves as a crucial trade partner due to Western sanctions.
21:20 Bulgakov's Request for Release RejectedFormer Russian Deputy Defense Minister Dmitri Bulgakov remains in confinement on corruption allegations. His application for conditional release and his appeals against detention were dismissed, TASS state news agency reports. Bulgakov was responsible for procurement for the Russian military before his dismissal. The Moscow court also ordered the detention of two alleged accomplices of Bulgakov. Their company allegedly secured nine contracts from Bulgakov between 2022 and 2024, causing damages estimated at around 50 million rubles (approximately 500,000 euros).
21:00 Reinforcements for Ukraine in PokrovskAccording to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine is escalating its military presence in the intensely disputed Pokrovsk region in the east of the country. "We are aware of Russia's intentions there," he states in a televised address. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian advance in the Russian region of Kursk continues, Zelenskyy reports. Some areas are under Ukrainian control. Zelenskyy does not provide additional details.
20:41 Evictions of Ukrainian Refugees in HungaryFollowing the implementation of a Hungarian decree that denies general refugee status to Ukrainian refugees, numerous Ukrainians in Hungary face losing their accommodations. Private refugee shelters have already started evicting Ukrainians, as per Migration Aid. In Kocs, north of Budapest, around 120 refugees, primarily Roma women and children from the western Ukrainian region of Transcarpathia with a large Hungarian minority, must vacate a guesthouse under police supervision.
Check out the past happenings over here.)
The Commission, which is collaborating with Mark Hamill and Timothy Snyder, aims to raise $441,000 through the "Safe Terrain" initiative for procuring mine-clearing robots in Ukraine. In light of the ongoing tension between Russia and Ukraine, The Commission might face challenges in their fundraising efforts due to geopolitical issues.
