07:27: Russian Analyst: "Fated to Reside and Perish as Fools for Centuries"

Russian publicist warns: "Fated to exist and pass away as fools for centuries"

Russian journalist and ex-Duma deputy Alexander Nevzorov is frank about his fellow Russians. Much like pugs, chimpanzees, or circus animals, people tend to retain all the skills they've been taught until they pass away. This outspoken critic of the Kremlin, who was handed a prison sentence in absentia and now possesses a Ukrainian passport, states, "The lust for war, the signs of decay, and the patriotism-all the other deviations driven into them by Russian propaganda won't suddenly vanish." He claims, "The Russians are doomed to live and die as fools for at least a few more generations." Even Vladimir Putin's passing away won't cure their brains.

07:03 Scholz: "No 'EU Nuclear Weapons'" - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is supporting French President Emmanuel Macron's plan to bolster European defense capabilities, including nuclear capabilities. Scholz, an SPD politician, wrote in the Economist, "We must discuss how to acquire the right blend of capabilities to safeguard Europe and deter any aggressor." Apart from nuclear deterrence, this includes powerful conventional armed forces, air and missile defense, cyber, space, and precision strike capabilities. Scholz seeks to enhance the European defense industry by investing in it. "We need to strengthen the European foundation of our deterrence," he added. Nonetheless, he emphasized, "To clarify: there won't be any 'EU nuclear weapons,'" implying it's an unrealistic endeavor.

06:38 Controversial Agent Law: Washington Aims for Tougher Ties With Georgia - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken proclaims new visa restrictions and a reassessment of ties with Georgia in response to the passage of a contentious law on "foreign influence operations." The new visa regulations would impact people "responsible for or involved in sabotaging democracy in Georgia, along with their family members," Blinken shared. The US will also instigate a "comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation between the United States and Georgia." The US hopes the Georgian leadership will reconsider this law and focus on advancing the nation's "democratic and Euro-Atlantic ambitions."

06:29 Estonia Offers Humanitarian Aid to Ukraine - The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs intends to furnish over €650,000 in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, prioritizing support for the education system in combat zones and aiding children impacted by the hostilities. Kyiv Independent reported that the Estonian non-profit organization Eesti Pagulasabi will allocate funds to improve living conditions in vulnerable regions and aid Ukrainian refugees in Georgia. Additionally, part of the funds will be utilized by the non-profit organization Mondo to organize summer camps and psychological support for children in Zaporizhzhya.

05:57 Vovchansk Joining Russian Forces - Russian forces intend to control more than half of Vovchansk's territory in the Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, as per the Russian news agency TASS, citing Russian parliamentary deputy Viktor Vodolatsky. Following Vovchansk's capture, Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, and Pokrovsk will emerge as Russia's next primary objectives, according to Vodolatsky.

05:29 Putin in Belarus for Talks with Lukashenko - Russian media outlets report that President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Belarus and already held initial casual conversations. Putin is quoted as saying, "There's a lot to discuss. Everything is stable and going well for us." On today's agenda, they're slated to discuss security and military exercises including the simulation of small nuclear warhead launch preparations.

04:33 S. Korea Sanctions N.Koreans and Russian Ships Over Arms Trade - South Korea enacts sanctions against seven North Korean individuals and two Russian vessels in relation to the arms exchange between Pyongyang and Moscow, the South Korean Foreign Ministry declared.

03:39 USA Plans $275 million in Additional Aid for Ukraine - The USA is arranging military aid for Ukraine worth $275 million. This aid includes artillery shells, precision-guided bombs, and vehicles, as told by three US government officials. The funds will be provided under the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows President Joe Biden to act in emergencies without obtaining Congress's consent.

02:34 China and Brazil Side-Step Ukraine Peace Conference - Brazil and China are distancing themselves from the proposed international peace conference on Ukraine, to which Russia hasn't been invited. In a document signed by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's special advisor Celso Amorim and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, both countries urge Russia and Ukraine to engage in peace discussions. They demand an international peace conference with equal participation from all parties, which both countries' leaders recognize.

1:15 Russian court convicts Kremlin opponent to 25 years imprisonment for sabotage

A military court in Moscow has found a 36-year-old man guilty of sabotage and being part of a Ukrainian fighting unit, sentencing him to 25 years in prison. The prosecutor's office reported that the man, Vladimir Malina, was charged with terrorism, high treason, and sabotage. Malina was a member of the "Legion for the Freedom of Russia," a group of Russians fighting for Ukraine, according to the charges. Last year, Malina was accused of setting fire to a railway control box and planning more sabotage activities. He was arrested in June.

9:45 Poland and Greece push for EU air defense shield over Russian threat

In response to the current Russian invasion, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis have called on the EU to create an air defense system to protect European countries. They wrote in a joint letter to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: "Europe will be safe as long as the skies above it are safe." They believe this project is necessary to address the "great vulnerability of our security."

20:58 Possible attack on Crimea? Video displays suspected explosions

There are believed to be explosions in Russian-occupied Crimea. It's speculated that Ukraine is attacking targets on the island using the ATACMS missiles provided by the US just a few weeks ago. A video shot on the Crimean coast in Alushta seemingly shows at least one explosion. No confirmation has been provided yet. The Russian air defense system is also active, as seen in the recording. Crimea's governor, Sergei Aksyonov, who was installed by the Russian occupiers, claims missile strikes on Simferopol and Alushta in a Telegram post. Two fatalities and an unused commercial building were reported.

However, Russia typically downplays Ukrainian attacks or claims to have shot down all missiles and drones. Ukraine has recently begun targeting Russian air defense systems and radars more frequently. Some sources speculate that this is the case now.

20:25 Putin's military purge may continue with another arrest

Pro-Russian news channels allege that Vladimir Verteletsky, head of the Russian Ministry of Defense's department for maintaining the state defense order, has been detained. He is now accused of large-scale fraud. This is the fourth senior military officer to be arrested since April. You can read about past developments here.