Russia reinforces forces in the contested border region of Kursk
12:57 Mangott on Kiew's Goals in Kursk: "Third Reason: Humiliating Slap for Putin"Observers suspect that Ukraine's attack on Russian territory is an attempt to capture territory as bargaining power. Political scientist Gerhard Mangott believes that Kiew's troops will not succeed in holding onto territories for long, but he suspects other motives behind the raid.
12:34 Zelensky: Four Dead After Russian Attack on Supermarket in KostjantyniwkaAt least four people were killed and 24 injured in a Russian artillery attack on the city of Kostjantyniwka in the contested Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the X platform. The rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing. The Ukrainian governor of Donetsk, Vadym Filashkin, reported that the city came under Russian artillery fire. Images published by the governor on Telegram show thick black smoke rising from the destroyed building. Radio NV published images of the burning supermarket and the destroyed surroundings. The exact consequences of the attack are still unclear. "The attack on the supermarket in Kostjantyniwka is another case of Russian terror. War against civilians is all they can do," said the head of the presidential office, Andriy Yermak, on Telegram. Kostjantyniwka is regularly targeted by Russian forces. In a Russian attack on a local market in Kostjantyniwka in September 2023, 17 people were killed and over 30 injured.
11:53 Russian Emergency Ministry Declares Emergency in KurskThe Russian Emergency Ministry has declared a federal emergency in the Kursk region bordering Ukraine. According to the Moscow government, Russian forces in Kursk continue to repel the advance of Ukrainian units. The state news agency RIA reported this, citing the Ministry of Defense. Around a thousand Ukrainian soldiers had reportedly entered the region on Tuesday.
11:32 Video Shows Burnt Russian Military Trucks in KurskA video circulating on social media and verified by Reuters shows a convoy of burnt Russian military trucks in the Russian region of Kursk. The vehicles are lined up along a highway. The video shows around 15 trucks, including one with the marking 'Z', which is the symbol used in Russia for its "special military operation" in Ukraine. Reuters was able to verify the location in the video as the village of Oktyabr'skoe based on buildings, trees, and road layouts. However, it was not possible to determine exactly when the video was taken.
10:55 Media: Chain reaction in Russian Lipetsk destroys 700 bombsA drone strike on a military airfield in the Russian region of Lipetsk is said to have triggered a chain reaction, destroying over 700 bombs, according to a source from the Ukrainian intelligence agency "The Kyiv Independent". Previously, Russian authorities had reported that a drone strike in the region had caused a fire on a military airfield and damaged an energy facility. The source told "The Kyiv Independent" that the airfield was storing combat jets and helicopters. It is unknown how many were damaged or destroyed in the attack.
10:35 Kyiv claims attack on military airfield in LipetskThe Ukrainian military has claimed to have attacked a military airport in the Russian region of Lipetsk overnight. The strike damaged stocks of guided bombs, causing a large fire and several explosions, the Ukrainian military said on the Telegram messaging service. The airfield hosts Russian combat aircraft of types Su-34, Su-35, and MiG-31. Lipetsk is located east of the border region of Kursk, deeper into Russian territory.
10:08 Munz: "Russians unable to counterattack"Since the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been defending itself on its own territory. However, for the past three days, Ukrainian troops have also been attacking in the border region of Kursk, Russia. ntv Moscow correspondent Rainer Munz explains why this surprise offensive poses several challenges for the Russian military leadership.
09:44 Human rights activist: Russia regressing to Stalinist timesOleg Orlov, a human rights activist released in a prisoner exchange from Russian detention, criticizes the extent of repression in today's Russia in an interview with news agency AP. Orlov says that under Russian President Vladimir Putin, people are imprisoned for criticizing authorities, something not seen since the time of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. "We're sliding back into Stalinist times," says the co-chair of Memorial, one of Russia's oldest and most renowned human rights organizations, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. Orlov was sentenced to two and a half years in prison in February for criticizing the Russian war in Ukraine in an article. His release in the prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus, and several Western countries surprised him completely.
09:00 Ukraine publishes figures on Russian lossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new casualty figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to the report, Russia has lost around 588,540 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, including 1,030 in the past 24 hours. The report also states that three tanks, 49 artillery systems, and two air defense systems were destroyed. In total, Ukraine claims Russia has lost 8,434 tanks, 16,536 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,325 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine since the start of the large-scale offensive. Western estimates suggest lower casualty figures, although these are also likely to be minimum values.
08:19 Media: Mass Fires in Rylsk, Kursk RegionIntense explosions and mass fires were reported overnight in the city of Rylsk in the Russian region of Kursk, according to "The Kyiv Independent" citing reports on Russian-language Telegram channels. Residents of the village of Stepanovka reportedly heard four explosions. The cause of the explosions is unknown. The city of Rylsk is approximately 35 kilometers away from the Russian-Ukrainian border.
07:37 Russia: State of Emergency After Military Airbase AttackMassive explosions occurred following a Ukrainian drone attack on a military airbase near Lipetsk. A state of emergency has been declared in the city of Lipetsk to address the aftermath of the explosions, Governor Igor Artamonov announced on Telegram. Four villages around the military airport have been evacuated. Public transportation in Lipetsk and surrounding areas has been stopped. Six people were injured as a result of the attacks.
06:52 Media: Explosion After Ukrainian Attack on CrimeaAn explosion occurred on the Russian-occupied Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, according to "Ukrainska Pravda" citing Telegram reports. The Russian governor of the city of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, wrote on Telegram that the forces of the Black Sea Fleet and air defense repelled an attack by Ukrainian forces on Sevastopol, destroying three drones. Additionally, the Russian air defense is said to have shot down a Ukrainian anti-ship missile R-360 Neptune over the sea near Sevastopol. The Telegram channel "CrimeaWind" reports on shots and a heavy explosion in Chornomorskyi, as well as the work of the Russian air defense in the area of the Belbek airport. A black smoke column was reported to have risen over the airport, and a strong smell of fire was reported in the coastal area of the city, according to the Telegram channel "CrimeaWind" citing subscribers. No information on possible casualties has been provided yet.
06:05 Media: Fire on Military Airbase in Russian Region LipetskA fire has broken out on a military airbase in the Russian region of Lipetsk, according to reports from Russian news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS. The cause of the fire is not yet known. Shortly before, the local governor announced evacuations due to a "massive" drone attack near the city of Lipetsk, which caused explosions and power outages, according to Igor Artamonov on Telegram. A state of emergency has been declared in the Lipetsk district, and four villages are being evacuated. Some of the villages mentioned are located near an air force base outside the city. No casualties have been reported, according to his report. Ukrainian authorities had not reported any attacks on the region. Lipetsk is approximately 300 kilometers away from the Ukrainian border.
05:02 Putin reportedly unaware of Ukrainian troop buildup near Kursk borderValery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, may have ignored intelligence warnings that Ukrainian forces were gathering near the border with the Kursk region, Bloomberg reports, citing a Kremlin source. Ukrainian forces crossed into the Kursk region on August 6, bringing the conflict onto Russian territory. According to the report, Ukrainian forces began concentrating near the Kursk border two weeks before their offensive began. Russian President Vladimir Putin was not informed of the troop buildup.
03:21 Half of Germans fear conflict escalation with Russia over US missilesThe German and US governments have agreed that the US will station long-range weapon systems like Tomahawk missiles in Germany from 2026, capable of reaching targets in Russia. Half of Germans surveyed by Civey for Funke Mediengruppe expect this to further escalate the conflict with Russia. 50% believe this, while 38% do not, and 12% are undecided. 44% view the stationing positively, while 42% view it negatively, with 14% undecided.
01:14 Minister-President Kretschmer calls for reduction in weapons aid to UkraineSaxony's Minister-President Michael Kretschmer is calling for a reduction in weapons aid to Ukraine, given the federal budget. "We can't keep providing funds for weapons to Ukraine that are being used up and aren't effective. Everything must be in proportion," Kretschmer told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. "Support yes, but we're seeing that we're reaching our limits." Kretschmer notes the budget growth in recent years. "Before the COVID-19 crisis in 2019, our budget was €344 billion. Now it's €480 billion, and yet the coalition can't agree on the budget. That shows that everything is out of control."
23:35 Kiesewetter: Ukrainian advance is legally and strategically soundCDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter sees the latest Ukrainian military offensive on Russian territory as legally and strategically sound. The surprise move by Ukraine is "clearly legal under international law, in line with the right to self-defense," and "militarily strategic," Kiesewetter told the Tagesspiegel. The advance of Ukrainian troops aims to tie down Russian forces in the Kursk region and inflict significant losses, thereby relieving pressure on other fronts, as Russia will have to bind or redeploy forces to Kursk.
22:30 Pentagon: Ukraine's Push into Kursk Region Aligns with US PolicyThe Ukrainian incursion 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 been supporting Ukraine from the start in defending against attacks coming from across the border." The Kursk region borders the Ukrainian region of Sumy for 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's 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'm not going to 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 MEP De Masi Calls for "Ceasefire and Negotiations as Soon as Possible"Following the Ukrainian troops' advance into Kursk, 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 "Tagesspiegel." Advances "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 MP. "Consider, for example, the Russian nuclear power plant in the region. Russia is a nuclear power and has the escalation dominance."
21:50 Authorities Report at Least Five Civilian Deaths in Kursk RegionRussian 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 further into Kursk, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Meanwhile, the Russian army is attacking Ukrainian forces attempting to retreat from the Ukrainian border region of Sumy. The Russian Health Ministry reports that 66 civilians, including nine children, have been injured since the start of the Ukrainian incursion. Authorities in the Kursk region report at least five civilian deaths, including two paramedics. Ukraine has not yet commented on the incursion.
21:30 EU's 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. Since 2021, the regime has also orchestrated migration pressure on the EU's external borders, according to a statement from the European External Action Service.
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The Russian attack on Kostjantyniwka is another example of Russian aggression towards civilian areas in Ukraine. The attack on Ukraine, as seen in the incursion into Kursk, is seen as a humiliating slap for Putin by some observers.
