Prime Minister Kretschmer calls for cutting arms aid to Ukraine
Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer calls for a reduction in military aid to Ukraine, also considering the federal budget. "We can no longer provide funds for weapons to Ukraine that are being used up without effect. Everything must be in proportion," says the CDU politician to the German editorial network. "Support yes, but we can see that we are reaching our limits." Kretschmer points to the budget increase in recent years. "Before the corona crisis in 2019, we had a budget volume of 344 billion (euros). We are now at 480 billion, and yet the traffic light coalition cannot agree on the budget," says the Minister President. "That shows that everything is out of control."
23:35 Kiesewetter: Ukrainian offensive is legally and strategically justified CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter sees the latest Ukrainian military offensive on Russian territory as covered by international law. The surprise move by Ukraine is "clearly legally justified under the right to self-defense" and "militarily strategic," Kiesewetter tells the "Tagesspiegel." According to the assessment of the CDU defense expert, the Ukrainian troops' move aims to tie down Russian forces in the Kursk region and inflict significant losses on them. "This can reduce pressure on other fronts, as Russia has to tie down or deploy forces to Kursk," he says further.**
22:30 Pentagon: Ukraine's move into the Kursk region is in line with US policy The incursion of Ukraine into the Russian region of Kursk is "in line with our policy," says Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh, according to the news portal "Kyiv Independent" at a press conference. When asked if Ukraine can use weapons supplied by the US, Singh responds that the US "has supported Ukraine from the beginning in defending against attacks coming from the border." The Kursk region borders the Ukrainian region of Sumy over 245 kilometers, which has been subjected to daily Russian attacks since its liberation in April 2022. Ukraine is taking measures "to protect itself from attacks" and is operating "within the framework of US policy, where it can use our weapons, our systems, and our capabilities," says Singh.**
Singh says it is up to Ukraine to speak about its own operations. When asked how far into Russian territory Ukraine can attack, Singh says the US "does not support long-range attacks." However, she refuses to specify the exact distance. "I won't draw a circular map of where they can strike and where not, but we have been very clear with the Ukrainians," she says.**
22:09 BSW MEP De Masi calls for "a ceasefire and negotiations as soon as possible" After the Ukrainian troops' move into Kursk, BSW MEP Fabio De Masi calls for "a ceasefire and negotiations as soon as possible." Ukraine has "major problems defending its own territory," says De Masi to the "Tagesspiegel." Offensives "deep into Russian territory" only make sense "if the goal of Ukraine is to strengthen the escalation dynamic." The risks are enormous, says the Euro politician. "Consider, for example, the Russian nuclear power plant in the region. Russia is a nuclear power and has the escalation dominance."
21:50 Authorities in the Kursk region report at least five killed civiliansRussian troops have been fighting against a Ukrainian incursion for the third day in a row, according to reports from Moscow. Russian forces and border guards are preventing Ukrainian units from advancing deeper into Kursk, the Russian Ministry of Defense reports. Meanwhile, the Russian army is attacking Ukrainian forces attempting to retreat from the Ukrainian border region of Sumy. The Russian Ministry of Health reports that since the start of the Ukrainian incursion, 66 civilians have been injured, including nine children. Authorities in the Kursk region report at least five killed civilians, including two paramedics. Ukraine has not yet commented on the incursion.
21:30 EU foreign policy chief Borrell: Lukashenko regime involved in illegal deportation of Ukrainian childrenThe Belarusian regime is complicit in Russia's war against Ukraine, according to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Brussels. Besides political, military, and logistical support, Belarus has contributed to the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children from temporarily occupied territories in Ukraine, a statement from the European External Action Service says. Since 2021, the regime has also orchestrated migration pressure on the EU's external borders.
20:58 Robot dogs to assist Ukrainian soldiers in war against RussiaRobot dogs are being used to support and relieve Ukrainian soldiers in their war against Russia. A specialist from a British military solutions company, who wished to remain anonymous and went by "Yuri," demonstrated the "BAD One" robot model at a secret location in Ukraine. The four-legged robot can run, jump, and sit via remote control commands. Yuri said that soldiers sent on reconnaissance missions are "usually very well-trained, very experienced people" who are "constantly exposed to risks." The robot could replace these soldiers, potentially saving lives. The robot's battery lasts for two to three hours, allowing it to be used for tasks such as mine detection, scouting Russian positions, or carrying up to seven kilograms of ammunition or medical supplies to the front. Yuri could not say how many robots are currently in use in Ukraine or where, but he is convinced that the dogs make a difference in missions and improve soldiers' safety.
20:20 Zelensky: Russia must feel the consequences of the war it startedFollowing the Ukrainian army's advance into the Russian region of Kursk, Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Russia must feel the consequences of the war it initiated. Russia brought the war to Ukraine, and now it should "feel what it has done," said the Ukrainian president in his daily address. However, Zelensky did not directly mention the Ukrainian troops' push into Kursk. Neither have other Ukrainian officials commented on the Ukrainian army's offensive that began on Tuesday. Thousands of people have been evacuated on both sides of the border. Zelensky said he had received three reports from the commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrsky, stating that the military actions were "efficient" and "exactly what the country needs now." Some observers believe that the unprecedented advance of the Ukrainian army into Kursk aims to occupy Russian territory to strengthen its position in future peace negotiations.
20:05 Zelensky praises army's ability to surpriseVolodymyr Zelensky has praised the Ukrainian army for its ability to "surprise." However, the Ukrainian president made no mention of the fighting in the Russian region of Kursk. In the border area, Russian troops have been trying to repel a Ukrainian offensive for three days. There has been no official statement from the Ukrainian side on this matter so far.
19:44 Russian military blog reports western part of Sudja in Kursk region under Ukrainian controlThe Ukrainian army has continued its surprise offensive across the border into the Russian region of Kursk for the third day, making territorial gains. While civilian Russian authorities in Kursk and the Ministry of Defense in Moscow officially stated that the Ukrainian advance had been stopped, the Russian military blog Rybar, which is close to the ministry, paints a different picture. According to Rybar, the Ukrainians are continuing their advance, reinforcing their positions at night, and beginning to fortify their positions. Rybar reports that the western part of the town of Sudja is under Ukrainian control. Fighting is ongoing for the eastern part of the town. Additionally, the Ukrainians have advanced north towards Anastasyevka and northeast towards Korenovo. However, local reports suggest there is no Ukrainian presence in Sudja itself. Only to the north and west of the town are there reports of shootings and artillery fire. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Ukrainian reconnaissance units have also advanced towards the Kursk nuclear power plant and have been spotted near Anastasyevka.
19:04 SPD to Discuss US Missile Stationing in September
The defense policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, Wolfgang Hellmich, has announced a debate in the Bundestag on the stationing of long-range US missiles in Germany. "It's important that we consider everything on this crucial topic, take the concerns of citizens seriously, and address the information gaps," Hellmich told the Funke media group newspapers. "We will address this issue in the faction and in the Bundestag as a whole after the parliamentary summer break in September to meet the existing information and discussion needs." The federal government and the US government have agreed that the USA will station long-range weapon systems such as Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany from 2026, which can reach targets in Russia. Many German citizens view this decision critically, according to polls.
18:19 US Citizen Faces 15 Years in Prison in Russia for Allegedly Collecting Money for Ukrainian Military
The Russian prosecutor's office is seeking a 15-year prison sentence for a Russian-American woman accused of treason, Russian state media reports. Ksenia Khavana was arrested in Yekaterinburg in February. She was accused of collecting money for the Ukrainian military. During a closed-door trial on Wednesday, she reportedly pleaded guilty to the charges. News agency Interfax reports today that the prosecutor's office has requested a 15-year sentence, citing Khavana's lawyer Mikhail Muskalov. The verdict is expected on August 15. Khavana reportedly became a US citizen after marrying an American and moving to Los Angeles. She had traveled to Russia to visit family members. An activist group claims that the charges against Khavana stem from a $51 (approximately €47) donation to a US charity organization that supports Ukraine. Since Russia sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022, it has enacted laws that criminalize criticism of its actions there. Concerns have grown that Russia may target US citizens for arrest.
17:54 Moscow Reports Ukrainian Losses in Kursk Region
Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov told President Vladimir Putin during a video conference that around 100 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and more than 200 injured in the fighting. Russian news agencies report. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that at least two people were killed - a paramedic and an ambulance driver - and 24 others were injured in Ukrainian shelling.
17:28 Stegner expresses caution regarding potential use of German weapons in KurskSPD foreign policy expert Ralf Stegner expresses caution regarding the potential use of German weapons in the Ukrainian advance. "As far as the defense of Ukraine against the Russian invasion is concerned, there was an exceptional situation at the border when the city of Kharkiv had to be defended against attacks from just across the border," Stegner told the "Handelsblatt". "This did not imply a general shift in strategy regarding the handling of weapons delivered from Germany." The German government had allowed Ukraine, after a long debate in late May, to use weapons delivered by it against targets in Russia. However, this only applied to the Russian border region near Kharkiv.
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, according to estimates by experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in the US. The ISW reports "up to ten kilometers" of advancement, while Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka claims the Ukraine has advanced more than 25 kilometers. Ukrainian President's advisor Mykhailo Podoliak described the situation in western Russia as a consequence of Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine. Russian reports claim "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 31 injured. The ISW further states that the "current extent and location of Ukrainian advances in the Kursk region (...) suggest that Ukrainian forces have breached at least two Russian defensive lines and a position". The Ukraine is reportedly targeting 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 allows "pressure to be taken off other parts of the front, as Russia has to bind or redeploy forces to Kursk," Kiesewetter told the "Tagesspiegel". The Ukrainian advance is "of course legally permissible in terms of the right of self-defense" (see also entries from 14:45 and 15:07).
15:57 Ukraine: Two dead in Russian attack in DonetskAt least two people were killed in a Russian artillery attack on the city of Kostyantynivka in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, according to local authorities. The attack in the morning hit a residential area, regional governor Vadym Filshkin said on Telegram. Donetsk is a hotspot of the fighting. The parts of the region controlled by Ukraine are regularly targeted by Russian fire. Russian troops are trying to advance on the strategically important logistics hub of Pokrovsk, an industrial and mining city. Four people were killed in a Russian attack in Donetsk on Wednesday.
15:36 Russia: Clashes continue after Ukrainian advance into Kursk regionFighting continues for the third day in the border region after Ukrainian troops pushed into the Russian territory of Kursk, according to Moscow. Russian forces and border guards are preventing Ukrainian units from advancing deeper into Kursk, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Simultaneously, 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," says Wagenknecht to the Funke media group. "The Federal Chancellor must call the Ukrainian President and demand that no German weapons be used in advances 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. "Is the federal government now also allowing the Ukraine to advance into Russia with German weapons? That would be the next red line to be crossed," adds the BSW party leader. The federal government is drawing Germany "ever deeper into the war," she continues. "The danger of a major European war is thus 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 on Russian territory. "Upon delivery 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," explains Faber. "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 assumes 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," says the embassy. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Putin for the 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, explained that it is "standard protocol" to invite the heads of state of all countries with which Mexico has 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 report a significant outage of the platform. According to the service sboy.rf, over 15,000 complaints have been registered regarding the video hosting service. Complaints came from individuals 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 were unable to access YouTube, though the website was available on some mobile devices. YouTube is the last remaining Western platform accessible in Russia, making it the last bastion of free expression in the country. According to Decoder, over 90 million users access YouTube monthly in Russia, placing it at the top of video and streaming platforms. 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 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," says a spokesperson for EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell in Brussels. The right to self-defense includes the right to attack the enemy on their 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, recently crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region at Sudzha and reportedly took control of several villages. Russian reports indicate that around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers are involved in the operation.
12:43 Ukraine: Dozens of Russian Soldiers Captured in KurskAfter the incursion of Ukrainian forces into the Russian region of Kursk, "many" Russian soldiers have been captured, according to the Ukrainian project "Khochu nayti" on Telegram. The project, launched in January 2024 by the Ukrainian military intelligence, serves as a coordination center for Russian POWs in Ukraine. It aims to help military personnel of the Russian army find their relatives. According to "Khochu nayti", the captives include both conscripts and contract soldiers. "There is also information about the dead, whose bodies were not evacuated by their comrades during the retreat," the statement says. The project published drone footage allegedly showing the capture of over 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 remains unclear.
12:18 Gazprom: Gas Transit Runs Normally Despite Fighting in Kursk Region
Gazprom reports that gas exports through the Kursk border region, attacked by Ukraine, are running largely normally. Today, around 37.3 million cubic meters of natural gas is expected to be transported, the company announced in Moscow. This is five percent less than the previous day, according to Russia's state news agency Tass. Ukrainian troops have reportedly taken control of the city of Sudscha, which also houses a key gas pipeline hub towards Western Europe. In 2023, despite the ongoing war, 14.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas was transported to the European Union via this route.
11:37 Military Blogger: Russia Loses 'Important Logistics Hub' to Ukraine
The Russian city of Sudscha in the Kursk region is reported to have been captured by Ukrainian forces. Pro-Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka, of Ukrainian origin, wrote this on his Telegram channel. The town is nine kilometers from the Ukrainian border. According to Podolyaka, the city is full of Ukrainian soldiers. "Sudscha is basically lost for us. It's an important logistics hub," he wrote further. Ukrainian 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' Moscow
Initially, the situation remains unclear, but it is later confirmed: Ukrainian fighters attack on Russian territory. The incursion in the Kursk region has "completely surprised" Moscow, reports ntv correspondent Rainer Munz. However, there may be more to the attack than just a diversionary maneuver.
10:48 Russia: Situation in Kursk After Ukrainian Incursion 'Under Control'
Russian forces have been engaged in fighting with infiltrating Ukrainian troops in the Kursk Oblast for the third consecutive day. The situation is "stable and under control," according to the vice-governor of the border region, as reported by Russia's state news agency RIA Novosti. Around 3,000 people have been evacuated to safety. Russian troops are actively fighting against Ukrainian units in the Sudscha 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.
09:35 UN: Russians Torture 95% of Ukrainian POWsUN human rights observers claim that Russian prison camp staff are already torturing Ukrainian POWs during initial interrogations. Furthermore, torture is "widespread and systematic" in Russian captivity. This is according to Danielle Bell, head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), in an interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS. She says that the Russian Federation has tortured 95% of Ukrainian POWs in their custody. According to her, Ukrainian POWs are beaten with metal rods and sticks, stripped naked, and subjected to electric shocks. "This is undoubtedly the worst I've seen in my 20 years of career," Bell states. Information about Ukrainian prisoners in Russia is primarily gathered through interviews with Ukrainian POWs after their release. Simultaneously, the UN mission has direct access to Russian POWs and can assess the prison conditions.
08:49 Estonia Introduces Enhanced Border Controls with RussiaEstonia has introduced full border controls at its eastern EU border with Russia. This decision was made by the government of the Baltic NATO state at the beginning of August. As of August 8, all persons and cargo crossing the border with Russia will be subject to inspection. Controls at the road and rail border crossings in Narva, Koidula, and Luhamaa will be gradually introduced. Previously, inspections of passengers and vehicles were random and risk-based. According to Prime Minister Kristen Michal, the tightening of controls aims to prevent the transit and transport of EU-sanctioned goods through Estonia and to strengthen the country's security. The border between Russia and Estonia is 294 kilometers long.
08:11 Ukraine Publishes Russian Casualty FiguresThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new casualty figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to the report, Russia has lost approximately 587,510 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with 1,140 losses in the past 24 hours alone. The report from Kyiv also claims that two tanks, 36 artillery systems, 81 drones, and one helicopter have been destroyed. In total, Russia is said to have lost 8,431 tanks, 16,487 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,293 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine since the start of the large-scale offensive. Western estimates provide lower casualty figures, but these are also likely to be 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 Ukrainian advances into the Russian border region of Kursk. The Russian military operation should no longer be limited to securing territories in Ukraine that Russia considers its own, says the former president. Instead, military forces should advance towards the cities of Odessa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and beyond. The offensive will only stop when Russia deems it advantageous. According to Russian reports, Ukrainian troops have advanced deep into Russian territory in the region during a counterattack, leading to fierce fighting. The region has been placed under a state of emergency.
07:05 Russia: 14 Ukrainian aerial objects destroyed over Kursk and Belgorod
Russian air defense forces destroyed fourteen unmanned Ukrainian aerial objects overnight, eight over the Belgorod region and six over the Kursk region, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense on Telegram. Air defense systems shot down six drones and five other missiles over the Kursk region, said regional governor Alexei Smirnov. In the early hours of August 6, Ukrainian forces attacked the border areas of the Kursk region. According to the latest reports from the Russian General Staff, there are still clashes in border areas. An emergency situation has been declared in Kursk (see entries 19:08, 19:38, and 20:41), and residents are being evacuated.
06:25 Ukraine declares air alert due to Russian MiG-31K attack
The Ukrainian Air Force has declared an air alert across the entire country. The Ukrainian Air Force attributes the air attack warning to a missile threat from a Russian MiG-31K. This aircraft type is a Soviet-era interceptor named after the Mikoyan-Gurevich aircraft manufacturer and is capable of carrying hypersonic missiles like the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal.
05:32 ISW: Ukrainian armored vehicles ten kilometers inside Russian border in Kursk
According to an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian troops have advanced up to ten kilometers into the Russian region of Kursk. This was 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. A Russian source claims that Ukrainian forces 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 in the region yesterday.
02:30 Ukraine raises threshold for imprisonment in petty theft cases
President Zelenskyy has signed a law raising the threshold for imprisonment in petty theft cases in Ukraine. Henceforth, thefts of up to approximately 67 euros will be treated as administrative offenses and fined accordingly. Previously, the threshold for petty theft was around 6.7 euros. This change is due to the martial law imposed since the Russian invasion, which prescribes up to eight years in prison for looting and theft. An example given in the draft law was a theft of baby diapers from a supermarket in the western Ukrainian city of Rivne in January 2023, worth around 8 euros, which would no longer result in imprisonment. However, the perpetrator in this case still received a prison sentence of over three years.
00:27 Klingbeil: Stationing of US missiles in Germany is correctSPD leader Lars Klingbeil defends plans for the stationing of long-range US weapons in Germany against criticism from within his own party. "This stationing is correct because it helps us to defend ourselves in case Russia gets the idea of attacking us," Klingbeil told the German editorial network. It is part of credible deterrence. At the NATO summit in July, the White House and the German government announced that the US would again station weapons systems in Germany from 2026 that reach far into Russia. Named were Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons. There are critical voices within the SPD, including the parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich, who warns of the risk of military escalation.
22:38 Human rights activist Orlow wants to fight for Russian prisonersOleg Orlow, the Moscow human rights activist released in a prisoner exchange between Russia and Western states, wants 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 Memorial, which he co-founded and which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, also advocates for political prisoners in Russia. Orlow estimates that there are still at least 800 political prisoners in Russia - conservatively estimated. His new role in exile in Germany is difficult for Orlow, as he told his story. He would prefer to be in his homeland, but fears prosecution. Orlow now hopes that he can use his exile to advocate for the release of more political prisoners, including eight who are seriously ill. "When it turned out that these people were not on the list, we were very disappointed - we who were exchanged." Memorial continues to work in Russia despite repression, but also from abroad.
21:30 Not dead after all? Known Russian propagandist injuredThe well-known Russian propagandist Yevgeny Poddubny was injured in the Kursk region. The state television company VGTRK reports on Telegram that Poddubny was injured in an attack by a Ukrainian drone in the Kursk region and was taken to hospital. Previously, numerous Russian media had reported the death of Poddubny in agreement. Yevgeny Poddubny is one of the best-known Russian "war correspondents" in Russia. His Telegram channel has around 734,000 followers. Preliminary information suggests that he was filming a report on the fighting in the Kursk region on Wednesday.
20:41 Region Kursk declares state of emergencyIn the Russian region of Kursk, a state of emergency has been declared in the midst of a Ukrainian ground offensive. This was announced by the governor of the region, Alexei Smirnov, in a Telegram post. Ukraine has advanced far onto Russian territory in 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 Clashes Nearby: Russia Reinforces Protection of Kursk Nuclear PlantDue to Ukraine's advance into the Russian border region of Kursk, Russia's National Guard is bolstering 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 reports. This is happening in cooperation with Russian border troops and the army. The nuclear plant, with four units and a capacity of nearly two gigawatts, is located just over 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 Sudzha, reportedly advancing up to 15 kilometers towards the nuclear plant.
19:38 Attacks in Kursk Region: 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 in a month increased by 5.7 percent to 38.78 euros per megawatt hour (MWh) in Amsterdam. Market sources point to Ukraine's attacks on the Russian region of Kursk. The clashes are reportedly taking place near Sudzha, an important gas injection point that supplies Western Europe through Ukrainian pipelines. Gazprom, the Russian energy giant, currently reports no changes to 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, according to Sumy's military governor, Vladimir Artjuch, in Ukrainian television. Around 6,000 people, including over 400 children and adolescents, are to be moved to safety from the border area. The day before, Ukrainian troops launched an incursion across the Ukrainian-Russian border towards the city of Sudzha in the Kursk region, advancing several kilometers onto Russian territory. Moscow reported around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers equipped with heavy weapons. Kyiv has not yet commented on the situation. In May, local authorities had already ordered evacuations from a 10-kilometer border zone due to regular Russian shelling of border areas.
You can read about previous developments here.
In light of Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer's calls for reducing military aid to Ukraine due to budget constraints, it's worth noting:
The Ukrainian conflict, particularly in light of the recent budget increase in Germany, has led some politicians to question the long-term sustainability of military aid to Ukraine.
Furthermore, in the context of the CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter's assessment of the Ukrainian offensive on Russian territory, we can add:
Despite the legal justification and strategic advantages of Ukraine's military offensive, the financial implications of such conflicts for donor countries like Germany must be considered carefully.
These two sentences address the budget-related implications of the Ukrainian conflict and the role of political considerations, including financial constraints, in shaping decisions regarding military aid.
