More than four million Ukrainians register for military service
From May 18th to July 16th, 2024, 4,690,496 men in military age in Ukraine have reported for military service. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry announced this in a Facebook post. To accelerate mobilization, Ukraine tightened the conscription rules for men in April. With exceptions, all men in military age had to update their military documents at public centers, draft offices, or the "Reserv+" app. Failure to comply was punishable. Among the over four million conscripts, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reports that 3 million will become reservists.
19:22 Putin warns against crypto mining power consumption in Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned against crypto mining power consumption in his country. Currently, "almost 1.5 percent of the total power consumption" goes to crypto mining, Putin said in a televised meeting with government officials. This number "is growing," the president cautioned. Russia is one of the most important countries for crypto mining. Thousands of computer servers, often housed in large halls, validate transactions and receive new crypto currency in return. The Kremlin is skeptical of the unregulated industry. Putin warned that uncontrolled growth of power consumption for crypto mining "could lead to power outages in certain regions." Accordingly, three Siberian regions have already experienced power shortages due to intensive crypto mining. Siberia has long been a hub for crypto mining due to its cheap electricity and cold weather.
18:53 EU grants Ukraine 4.2 billion Euro Ukraine is set to receive the first regular payment from the EU's new billion-dollar aid program. The country has met the conditions for this, the EU commission responsible for the audit announced. According to their assessment, nearly 4.2 billion Euro could be paid out. The conditions for the first payment reportedly included the Ukrainian government in Kiev passing new laws to enable a more effective fight against tax evasion and economic crime. In addition, fundamental principles for the management of state-owned enterprises had to be adjusted, and a national energy and climate plan had to be adopted.
18:17 Russia demolishes Holodomor memorials in Luhansk In the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk, occupied by Russia, memorials for victims of Stalin's repressions and victims of the Holodomor were demolished. This is reported by Radio Free Europe (RFE). RFE refers to videos that are being spread on Telegram. The Holodomor, also known as the Ukrainian Famine, was a famine caused by Stalin that affected millions of people in Ukraine from 1932 to 1933.
17:49 Power outages in the hot southern Russia Due to extreme heat and a failed atomic reactor, power consumption must be reduced in many regions in southern Russia. Planned power outages affect consumers in the Rostov region, as Governor Vasili Golubev announced on his Telegram channel. In Sevastopol on the annexed Crimean Peninsula, the local power supplier announced power cuts of twelve hours a day - every two hours with electricity, then every two hours without.
17:05 Russia ships first grain from new Baltic Sea terminal to CubaAccording to Russian statements, Russia has shipped the first grain from a new terminal in its Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga. The Agriculture Supervision Authority reported this to Reuters news agency. Russia is the world's largest wheat exporter, and approximately 90% of its exports go through ports in the Black Sea. Recently, Russia has been attempting to use various export routes. From the Lugaport terminal, the first 12,000 metric tons of grain were shipped in June. The destination was Cuba, according to data from the information provider LSEG. In January, Ust-Luga made headlines when a fuel terminal there caught fire. Ukrainian media reported that the cause was a drone attack by the Ukrainian intelligence services.
16:29 Ukrainian security service detains "Russian informant" in KharkivThe Ukrainian security service (SBU) has reportedly detained a "Russian informant" in the Kharkiv region. The SBU announced this in a statement. The woman is said to have shared information in a Telegram channel of the Russian intelligence services. The SBU claims to have documented how the woman was on the move in the eastern outskirts of Kharkiv and recorded the locations of Ukrainian troops' checkpoints and other military "fortifications" in secret.
15:44 NATO sends top British officials to KievNATO is strengthening its civilian representation in Ukraine and sending a high-ranking alliance representative to Kiev. The former deputy secretary-general, Patrick Turner, will lead the NATO representation in the Ukrainian capital from September and serve as the central point of contact for local authorities. Turner will also help coordinate military support for Ukraine and provide Allied information and assessments of the situation in the country, according to NATO.
15:03 Russia: Ukrainian drone kills two civilians in BelgorodTwo people were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in the Russian border region of Belgorod, according to local authorities. The victims were identified as a young couple who were traveling in a civilian vehicle outside the regional capital Belgorod, Regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported.
14:36 Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners of warRussia and Ukraine have reportedly exchanged prisoners of war. According to Russian statements, each side handed over 95 soldiers. The Russian Defense Ministry and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the exchange on the platform X. The United Arab Emirates mediated the exchange. The returning Russian soldiers will first undergo medical examination in Moscow.
13:55 Sharma: Ukraine must give up symbolic village at the frontAccording to NTV reporter Kavita Sharma from Kiev, Ukraine is experiencing a series of setbacks at the front. Following the Russian rocket attack on a children's clinic in the Ukrainian capital, the military reported withdrawals in the regions of Dnipro and Donetsk.
13:24 Kremlin casts doubts on offensive success
The Kremlin has dismissed speculation about the failure of the Russian offensive in the northeastern Ukraine. "The operation is continuing and will do so until it is successfully completed," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said today. Yesterday, the governor of Belgorod announced access restrictions to 14 villages on the Russian side near the border. This is to protect the population from Ukrainian attacks. In response to a question about whether the access restrictions meant that the offensive in the northeast had failed, Peskov said: "No, that is not the case."
12:48 Study: Citizen's income has little effect on employment of Ukrainian refugees
Social benefits such as citizen's income have little effect on the employment rate of refugees from Ukraine. Instead, factors such as social networks in the respective countries, the level of English language proficiency of the population on site, and childcare are significant. This is evident from a Europe-wide study by the Institute for Labor Market and Vocational Research (IAB). In Germany, the employment rate of Ukrainian refugees is 27%, which is in the middle range. The highest rate is in Lithuania with 57%, Denmark with 53%, and Poland with 48%.
11:53 Schoolchildren in Charkiw to be taught under ground
Children in the city of Charkiw, which has been under almost daily Russian shelling since the start of the war in the northeastern Ukraine, will reportedly be taught more frequently in underground schools in the future, according to local authorities. An underground school project has already been implemented. The construction of three further such facilities has begun. The children will be better protected from Russian air raids in this way.
11:22 Media: Ukraine to receive 32 outdated F-16s from Greece
Greece plans to decommission 32 outdated F-16 fighter jets and hand them over to the USA. According to a report by the portal "New Voice of Ukraine", these aircraft will then be modernized and delivered to Ukraine. Kiev already has 60 F-16 jets from Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands, but needs at least 150 fighter jets to launch rockets and cruise missiles against Russia and repel aerial attacks on a wide front. There have been devastating bombing raids, the latest being on a children's hospital in Kiev with at least seven fatalities.
10:35 Ukraine reports 112 frontline clashes since yesterday
The Ukrainian military general staff recorded 112 clashes at the frontline in the past 24 hours. Among these were reportedly four rocket attacks on Ukrainian military positions and populated areas, as well as 71 air raids with 119 guided air-to-ground bombs. In addition, Russia carried out more than 4,300 artillery attacks, of which 121 were with multiple rocket launchers.
09:54 Russia and China begin joint naval exercise
Russia and China have begun a naval exercise in the South China Sea. The exercise is expected to last three days, according to Russian and Chinese state media today. During this time, air and underwater defense exercises are to be conducted. Sharp ammunition is also to be used. Only a few days before the Russian invasion in Ukraine in 2022, Russia and China announced a strengthening of their partnership and described it as "boundless".
08:43 The German authorities report 42,000 missing UkrainiansIn Ukraine, approximately 42,000 people are currently missing, both soldiers and civilians. The figure was published by the Interior Ministry. The number had previously been higher, at around 51,000 missing persons, according to the ministry. However, about 4000 soldiers reported missing in action have since been found and identified. Around 3000 missing persons have been found alive, many of whom were prisoners of war. Difficulties in identifying the dead arise due to the Defense Ministry not taking DNA samples from soldiers it sends into the field.
08:15 Hungary lobbies for Russia's participation in the peace summitHungary is lobbying for Russia's participation in the planned second Ukraine peace conference. There are efforts to hold another peace summit this year, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said. This is to be welcomed, he added. "If we want to hope for the success of a future peace conference, we must ensure that both sides are represented." Hungary currently holds the EU presidency. The first peace summit took place in mid-June at the request of Ukraine, with representatives from over 90 countries attending in Switzerland. Russia declared its disinterest in the conference early on and was therefore not invited.
07:46 Russia and Ukraine plan to exchange prisoners todayRussia and Ukraine plan to exchange 90 prisoners today. This was reported by the Bloomberg news agency, citing a source. Ukrainian media reported last week that the parliament's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinez, had announced that the government was planning, with the help of the United Arab Emirates, a large prisoner exchange with Russia soon. The two warring parties have already exchanged prisoners several times.
06:55 Ukrainian startups develop robots for the frontlineUkrainian startups are developing affordable robots for mine clearance, evacuation of battlefields, transportation of equipment, and combat support. This was reported by the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform. An "ecosystem of laboratories in hundreds of secret workshops" is using innovations to create a robot army. The Ukraine hopes that this army will be able to kill Russian troops and rescue its own wounded soldiers and civilians, according to Ukrinform.
06:20 Heads of state and government from 47 countries speak about UkraineAt the invitation of the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the heads of state and government of 47 countries will meet tomorrow. The 27 EU member states plus 20 third countries will discuss, among other things, further aid for Ukraine in its war against Russia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also registered. There will be several roundtables on security policy and defense, but other topics will also be discussed. Ukraine is represented at the conference.
04:37 Japan grants Ukraine a loan from frozen Russian assetsJapan is reportedly granting Ukraine a loan of 3.3 billion dollars from frozen Russian assets. The sum is part of the 50-billion-dollar package from the G7 countries, according to the Kyodo news agency, citing informed sources. The United States and the European Union are each supposed to contribute 20 billion dollars. Japan, Great Britain, and Canada together contribute 10 billion dollars. The package is expected to be adopted at a G7 summit at the end of the month in Brazil.
03:26 German government provides ten million Euros for rebuilding of Kyiv children's clinic
According to reports in the "Rheinische Post" newspaper, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development has offered ten million Euros to the Ukrainian government for the rebuilding of a children's clinic in Kyiv. The funds will be used in conjunction with contributions from other donors and sponsors to quickly make the hospital operational and winter-proof again. This includes repairs and maintenance on facades, treatment rooms, and electrical and heating systems.
02:10 Medvedev warns NATO of "point of no return"
Following the NATO summit's promise to consider Ukraine for membership, former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev renewed his threats against the alliance. In an article for the Russian news portal Argumenty I Fakty, he described a potential Ukrainian membership as a declaration of war against Russia. "This would essentially be a declaration of war - albeit with a delay. The actions taken by Russia's adversaries for years, by expanding the alliance, ... are bringing NATO to a point of no return." Russia does not threaten NATO, but will respond to attempts by the alliance to advance its interests. "The harder their attempts, the harsher our responses will be," Medvedev said. "Whether this tears the entire planet apart depends solely on the wisdom of the (NATO) side."
01:00 Ukrainian soldiers use expired ammunition
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has returned a "considerable amount" of outdated ammunition to the military, which should have been disposed of before the first Russian attack on Ukrainian territory in 2014. The ammunition is already being used on the battlefield. "We are looking for internal reserves to supply Ukrainian soldiers with ammunition. We know that every shot, every rocket, and every grenade on the battlefield is a matter of life and death," said Deputy Defense Minister Yuriy Dzhyharyov. Anything that can be repaired and reused is given a second life.
23:37 Ukrainian troops abandon positions in the southeast
Ukrainian troops have reportedly had to give up positions in the southeast of the country in Krynky in the Cherson region and Urozhajne in the Donetsk region under Russian pressure. "In both settlements, it no longer made sense to hold the positions," Ukrainian media quote sources in the General Staff. The fighting for the settlement of Krynky on the southern bank of the Dnipro River in the Cherson region was criticized from the outset due to its futility. It is unclear whether Ukrainian soldiers are still holding positions in the underbank area of the Dnipro River. Read more here.
22:07 New Aid for Ukraine
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, announced a new aid package of $100 million US-Dollars (around 93 million Euros) during a visit to Ukraine. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) will support the preparation for winter and continue to assist the Ukrainian government in Kiev, helping displaced or otherwise war-affected Ukrainians, Grandi said during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kiev. The agency also plans to mobilize future funds to support the attacked country. Zelenskyy thanked for the aid, which he said was urgently needed due to the destruction of the energy infrastructure by Russian attacks. According to a statement from the Presidential Administration, the country still needs help to rebuild destroyed houses and install bomb shelters in schools and hospitals. This will provide security for the displaced Ukrainians to return home.
21:27 Ukraine reports destruction of Russian S-300 Air Defense System
Ukraine has reportedly destroyed a Russian S-300 Air Defense System in the occupied Oblast Donetsk, according to Ukrainian General Staff Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi's statement on Twitter. A video spread by the Ukrainian military shows several hits from alleged ATACMS rockets with cluster munitions. According to Syrskyi, multiple launchers and a radar station of the system were destroyed.
20:49 Report: Ukrainian Government may be on the brink of resignation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is reportedly on the verge of reshuffling his cabinet and demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal. This was reported by the "Kyiv Post" citing an unnamed source in the Ukrainian parliament. The Ukrainian parliament was instructed to prepare for a discussion and vote on a new cabinet on Tuesday in the coming week, the newspaper reported. Zelenskyy himself also addressed the rumors of a possible cabinet reshuffle on Monday. "Could there be changes in the government? Yes, probably," the Ukrainian president said. "We are in a process."
20:02 Baltic States to disconnect from Russian power grid
The Baltic States have reportedly informed Russia and its ally Belarus of their intention to leave the power grid of the former Soviet Union. "We will cut the last energy connections with Russia," explains the head of the state Lithuanian power grid operator Litgrid, Rokas Masiulis. The step is expected to take place in February 2025. Shortly thereafter, the three countries will connect to the European power grid. "In six months, we will not only disconnect from the Russian and Belarusian power grids, but also dismantle the last power lines," Masiulis explained.
19:20 Lindner criticizes Orbán's "Alone Actions" towards Orbán
Following the scandal surrounding Viktor Orbán's Moscow trip, Germany and other EU partners are increasing the pressure on Budapest. During a Finance Ministers meeting in Brussels, most member states called on Hungary to keep Ukraine aid as a priority. German Finance Minister Christian Lindner accused Orbán of "Alone Actions." Lindner stated in the public debate, "Hungary should know that the peace and freedom order of Europe as a whole is being defended in Ukraine." This should remain a "Top-Priority" during Hungary's EU Presidency by the end of the year. Hungary's Finance Minister Mihaly Varga had previously presented seven priorities, ranging from the fight against illegal immigration to competitiveness, but Ukraine was not mentioned.
You can read about all previous developments here.**
- Despite the 4.69 million men in military age who have reported for military service in Ukraine, there are concerns about the country's ability to withstand potential cyberwar attacks from Russia, as mentioned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- The escalating Ukraine-Conflict has led NATO to send top British officials to Kiev to strengthen its civilian representation and provide military support and assessments.
- The attack on Ukraine has also resulted in political tensions, with Russia demolishing Holodomor memorials in Luhansk, occupied by Russia, and Ukraine detaining a "Russian informant" in Kharkiv for sharing information with Russian intelligence services.
- In response to the Ukraine-Conflict, Russia has deployed military forces and implemented access restrictions to 14 villages on the Russian side near the border, claiming that it is necessary to protect the population from Ukrainian attacks.
- The NATO representatives in Kiev have reported an increase in Russian military deployments and attack on civilian targets in Ukraine, which has raised concerns about the potential of a wider conflict and the need for further international intervention.
