Moscow gives figures on Ukrainian casualties in fighting in the Kursk region
17:28 Stegner expresses caution about potential use of German weapons in KurskSPD foreign policy expert Ralf Stegner expresses caution about the potential use of German weapons in the Ukrainian advance. "Regarding the defense of Ukraine against the Russian invasion, a special situation applied in the border region when the city of Kharkiv was under great threat from attacks beyond the nearby border," Stegner told the "Handelsblatt". "This did not imply a general shift in strategy regarding the handling of weapons supplied from Germany." The German government had allowed Ukraine, after a long debate in late May, to use weapons supplied by it against targets in Russia. However, this was limited to the Russian border region near the Kharkiv region.
17:00 ISW: Ukraine advances kilometers into Russian territoryThe Ukrainian army has made significant progress in its offensive in the western Russian region of Kursk since Tuesday morning, according to assessments by experts. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) based in the US states that the advance is "up to ten kilometers," while Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka reports that Ukraine has advanced more than 25 kilometers. Ukrainian President's advisor Mykhailo Podolyak described the situation in western Russia as a result of Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine. According to Russian reports, "up to a thousand" Ukrainian soldiers, as well as dozens of tanks and armored vehicles, are involved in the attack. So far, at least five civilians have been killed and another 31 injured. The ISW further states that the "current extent and location of Ukrainian advances in the Kursk region (...) indicate that Ukrainian forces have breached at least two Russian defensive lines and a position." The Ukrainian aim is reportedly a key Russian army supply hub near the town of Sudzha, eight kilometers from the border.
16:28 Kiesewetter calls Ukrainian advance in Kursk "militarily strategic"CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter described the Ukrainian advance in Kursk as "militarily strategic". This could "ease pressure on the front at other points because Russia has to tie up or redeploy forces there," Kiesewetter told the "Tagesspiegel". The Ukrainian advance is "clearly legally permissible under the right of self-defense" (see also entries from 14:45 and 15:07).
15:57 Ukraine: Two Dead in Russian Strike in DonetskA Russian artillery attack in the city of Kostiantynivka in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk has resulted in at least two deaths, according to local authorities. The morning strike hit a residential area, regional governor Vadym Filshkin reported on Telegram. Donetsk is a hotspot of the conflict. The parts of the region controlled by Ukraine are regularly subjected to Russian shelling. Russian troops are trying to advance on the strategically important logistics hub city of Pokrovsk. Just on Wednesday, at least four people were killed in Russian shelling in Donetsk.
15:36 Russia: Fighting Continues After Ukrainian Advance Towards KurskFighting in the border region of Kursk continues for the third day in a row, according to Russian reports. Russian forces and border guards are preventing Ukrainian units from advancing deeper into Kursk, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Meanwhile, the Russian army is attacking Ukrainian forces trying 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," says Wagenknecht to 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," demands the BSW chairwoman.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz had promised that Germany would not become a party to the war. But: "First, he allowed the Ukraine to shoot with German weapons onto Russian territory," criticizes Wagenknecht. "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," adds the BSW party leader. The federal government is "dragging Germany ever deeper into the war," she continues. "The risk of a major European war is becoming greater."
14:45 Chairman of the Defense Committee: Ukraine Can Use German Weapons in KurskThe chairman of the Defense Committee in the Bundestag, Marcus Faber, sees no problem with Ukraine using German-supplied weapons in its current advance onto Russian territory. "Upon transfer to Ukraine, they become Ukrainian weapons," says the FDP politician to 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 explains his position. "The use of weapons is subject to the provisions of international law."
14:24 Ukraine calls on Mexico to arrest Putin at Sheinbaum's inaugurationThe 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 aforementioned (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, who was 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 can no longer open YouTubeUsers in Russia are unable to open YouTube on their computers and mobile devices. Internet monitoring services downdetector.su, Failure Detector, and sboy.rf are reporting a major 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 through virtual private networks (VPNs). Even Reuters reporters in Russia were unable to access YouTube. However, the website was still available through some mobile devices. YouTube is the last remaining Western platform in Russia that is still accessible. As such, YouTube is the last bastion of free expression in Russia. According to Decoder, over 90 million users access YouTube monthly in Russia, making it the top video and streaming platform. In mid-July, Russian media reported that the Russian government planned to block YouTube in September.
13:24 EU: Ukraine is leading a 'lawful defensive war' in Russian KurskThe EU views 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 illegal Russian 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 suggest that around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers are involved in the operation.
12:43 Ukraine: Dozens of Russian Soldiers Captured in Kursk
Following the incursion of Ukrainian forces into the Russian region of Kursk, "many" Russian soldiers are said to have been captured. This was announced 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", both conscripts and contract soldiers are among the captives. "There are also reports of the dead, whose bodies were not removed by their comrades during the retreat," it said 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 region is currently unclear.
12:18 Gazprom: Gas Transit Runs Normally Despite Fighting in Kursk Region
According to the Russian gas company Gazprom, the export of gas through the border region of Kursk, which was attacked by Ukraine, is running largely normally. Today, around 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, Russian state news agency Tass reported. Ukrainian troops have taken at least partial control of the city of Sudja during their incursion across the border, including a key gas pipeline measurement station en route to Western Europe. From there, the transit goes through Ukraine and on to 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 Ukraine
The Russian city of Sudja in the Kursk region is said to have been taken by the Ukrainians, according to pro-Russian military blogger 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 wrote further. Ukrainian military forces are said to be 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' Moscow
Initially, the situation remains unclear, but it is later confirmed: Ukrainian fighters are attacking on Russian territory. The incursion in the Kursk region has "completely surprised" Moscow, reports ntv correspondent Rainer Munz. However, there is likely more to 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 consecutive day. 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 has caused 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 war
Employees 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 rods and sticks, stripped naked, and subjected to electric shocks. "This is undoubtedly the worst I have seen in the 20 years of my career," says Bell. 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 inspect the detention facilities.
08:49 Estonia introduces stricter customs controls at the border with Russia
Estonia has introduced full customs controls at its eastern EU external border with Russia. This decision was made by the government of the Baltic NATO state at the beginning of August. From August 8, all persons crossing the border with Russia, as well as all cargo, will be subject to inspection. The controls at the road and rail border crossings in Narva, Koidula, and Luhamaa will be gradually introduced. Previously, passenger and vehicle inspections 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 Reports Russian Casualty FiguresThe Ukrainian General Staff has published 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 a daily loss of 1,140 in the last 24 hours. Additionally, two tanks, 36 artillery systems, 81 drones, and one helicopter have been destroyed, according to a report from Kyiv. Since the start of the large-scale invasion, Russia has 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 also considered minimum values.
07:32 Medvedev Threatens Escalation of Russian Invasion in UkraineDmitri Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, has threatened to escalate the Russian invasion in Ukraine in response to Ukraine's advance into the Russian border region of Kursk. The former president said that the Russian military operation should no longer be limited to securing territories in Ukraine that Russia considers its own. Instead, he suggested that military forces should push towards the cities of Odessa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and beyond. The offensive will only stop when Russia deems it advantageous. Ukrainian troops have reportedly advanced deep into Russian territory in the region, with intense fighting reported. The region has been placed under a state of emergency.
07:05 Russia Destroys 14 Ukrainian Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Over Kursk and BelgorodRussian air defense forces have destroyed 14 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the Belgorod and Kursk regions, according to the Russian Defense Ministry's Telegram channel. Six drones and five other missiles were shot down over the Kursk region, according to Governor Alexei Smirnov. Early on August 6, Ukrainian forces attacked the border areas of the Kursk region. According to the latest reports from the Russian military's 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 Alert Due to Russian MiG-31K AttackThe Ukrainian Air Force has issued an air alert across the entire country due to a rocket threat from a Russian MiG-31K aircraft. The MiG-31K is a Soviet-era interceptor aircraft named after the Mikoyan-Gurevich aircraft manufacturer. It is capable of carrying hypersonic missiles such as the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal.
05:32 ISW: Ukrainian armored vehicles are 10 kilometers inside Kursk, behind Russian border
According to an assessment by the Institute for War Studies (ISW), Ukrainian troops have now advanced up to 10 kilometers into the Russian region of Kursk. This is confirmed by footage of armored vehicles behind the border. Ukrainian forces are reported to have 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 reports. Russian authorities declared a state of emergency over the region yesterday.
02:30 Ukraine raises threshold for prison sentence in petty theft cases
President Selenskyj has signed a new law that reclassifies petty theft as an administrative offense instead of a crime. The new law sets the threshold for petty theft at around 67 euros, up from the previous limit of around 6.7 euros. This change is in response to the martial law imposed due to the Russian invasion, which previously carried a prison sentence of up to eight years for looting and theft. An example cited in the bill is a theft of baby diapers from a supermarket in the western Ukrainian city of Rivne in January 2023, valued at around 8 euros. Under the new law, this would no longer result in a prison sentence. However, the perpetrator in this case was still sentenced to over three years in prison.
00:27 Klingbeil: Deployment of US missiles in Germany is correct
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil has defended plans to deploy long-range US weapons in Germany against criticism from within his own party. "This deployment is right because it helps us defend ourselves if Russia were to attack us," Klingbeil 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 prisoners
Oleg Orlow, the Moscow human rights activist released in a prisoner exchange between Russia and Western states, plans to continue his civil rights work in exile. "Memorial cannot be destroyed," the 71-year-old said at a press conference at the Center for Liberal Modernity in Berlin. The organization he co-founded, Memorial, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, campaigns for political prisoners in Russia. Orlow estimates that at least 800 political prisoners are still being held in Russia - a conservative estimate. His new role in exile in Germany is difficult, Orlow said, as he would prefer to be in his homeland but fears prosecution. He now hopes to advocate for the release of more political prisoners, including eight who are seriously ill. "We were very disappointed when it turned out that these people were not on the list - those of us who were exchanged." Memorial continues to work both in Russia and from abroad despite repression.
21:30 Not Dead Yet? Known Russian Propagandist InjuredKnown 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 taken to the hospital. 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 on 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, the region's 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 Sudja 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 security at 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 only 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 at Sudja. 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 (MWh) in Amsterdam. Market participants are referring to the attacks by Ukraine on the Russian region of Kursk. The fighting is reportedly taking place near Sudja, an important gas injection point for Europe. This gas reaches Western Europe through Ukrainian pipelines. Gazprom is currently reporting normal gas supplies, according to the Bloomberg news agency.
19:08 Ukraine Evacuates Border Areas with 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 Artjuch, on Ukrainian television. Around 6,000 people, including over 400 children and young people, are to be moved to safety from the border area. The day before, Ukrainian troops launched an advance across the Ukrainian-Russian border towards the city of Sudja in the Kursk region, penetrating several kilometers into Russian territory. Moscow spoke of around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers equipped with heavy equipment. Kyiv has not yet commented on the events. Due to regular Russian shelling of border areas, local authorities had already ordered evacuations from a 10-kilometer-wide border zone in May.
You can read about previous developments here.
- The European Union may need to reevaluate its stance on the use of German-supplied weapons in the ongoing conflict if Ukrainian forces continue to advance into the Russian territory of Kursk.
- In the context of the escalating conflict in the Kursk region, the European Union stands by Ukraine's right to self-defense and its ability to use German-supplied weapons within the framework of international law.
