Russian troops begin series of attacks in Eastern Ukraine
The Russian air force is heavily targeting the Charkiw region in Ukraine. According to a statement from the General Staff in Kiev, at least the small town of Wowtschansk was hit by at least six glide bombs. In addition, Russian combat aircraft reportedly attacked Ukrainian positions. There were no reports of casualties. The focus of Russian attacks was reportedly Pokrowsk. During the day, 16 attacks were repelled, with more ongoing. The information cannot be verified independently at this time. Reports of Russian attacks with artillery and combat drones were also received from the Dnipropetrowsk region. In the sector Liman in the east of the country, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian army positions. At least twelve attacks were registered, according to the General Staff.
19:18 Zelenskyy names three factors for a "just end" to the warPatience, support for Ukraine, and diplomatic pressure on Russia - these are the three factors for a just end to the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Japanese broadcaster NHK in an interview. "Patience, support, and diplomatic pressure are the three factors for a just end to the war. If the United States and European nations maintain their unity, the pressure increases and shows Moscow that there is no chance," the Ukrainian leader said. Zelenskyy stressed that he could not react to demands for a ceasefire as long as Russia continued to occupy Ukrainian territory.
18:38 NATO membership: Scientists call for Ukraine's invitation to the military alliance in an open letterScientists and researchers from various countries have called on NATO in an open letter to invite Ukraine to join the military alliance. According to the state Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform, up to 158 signatories have signed the letter, which was published in the British newspaper "Guardian". "The invitation of Ukraine to join NATO would be a final step away from appeasement policy and back to the rule of international law and the protection of human rights," it says in the letter. The previous attempts to appease Moscow's alleged "NATO expansion anxiety" were ignored by Russia's propaganda and systematic war crimes in the occupied territories of Ukraine, including massacres, mass rapes, and torture. "Russia's actions clearly show the intention to destroy Ukraine as a nation, rather than addressing its own security concerns," the authors emphasize. An invitation to the military alliance would, in their view, not create additional incentives for the Kremlin, "since Russia is determined to destroy Ukraine and does not need additional motivation." Moreover, it is a "fact that Russia has not attacked a single member of the military alliance." Instead, Moscow has threatened, attacked, and occupied other countries.
17:54 Reports of Ukrainian Surprise Attack on Russian Troops in LuhanskThe Ukrainian military, according to reports, inflicted heavy losses on Russian troops in Luhansk in the east of the country with a rocket attack using ATACMS-Rakets. Members of a tank infantry battalion were reportedly targeted during a gathering on a training ground, Ukrainian media reported, citing Russian social media and their own military sources. The surprise attack, which reportedly took place yesterday, resulted in the deaths of at least 19 Russian soldiers and injuries to 71 others. The information could not be independently verified. The Ukrainian troops usually only use ATACMS-Rakets against valuable targets. It is possible that the troop concentration at Luhansk was previously detected by a reconnaissance drone.
17:32 Dozens of Wagner Mercenaries Killed in Mali - Renowned Commander in CustodyRussian Wagner mercenaries in Mali suffered one of their heaviest losses in West Africa, with dozens of killed and captured fighters. Rebels of the separatist Tuareg people in the northern part of the Sahel state reportedly killed several dozen Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries during three days of fighting as they attempted to take the village of Tinzaouaten near the Algerian border. Russian mercenaries have been fighting alongside the Malian army against all rebel movements in the country since 2021, including islamist terror militias as well as the Tuareg. Russian channels close to the mercenaries, including a former commander of the forces in the north of Mali, reported over 80 deaths and 15 captures among their ranks. Among the dead is reportedly Wagner commander Anton Elisarov, who was involved in the Russian assault on the Ukrainian city of Soledar.
16:49 Fire in University Building in Cherson after Russian ShellingRussian forces attacked the Oblast Cherson and hit a university building. A fire broke out in the educational institution, according to Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the military administration of the Cherson region, in a report by "Ukrainska Pravda." "The enemy shelled the building of a university in the city center at night, causing a fire." No one was injured.
16:02 431 Ukrainian Settlements Without Power After Russian AttacksFollowing Russian attacks, there are 431 settlements in six regions in the north and northeast of Ukraine without power, the Ukrainian Energy Ministry announced on Facebook, according to the state news agency Ukrinform.
15:34 General Staff: Over 130 Fights with Russian Troops in One DayAccording to the Ukrainian General Staff of the Armed Forces, there were 129 fights with Russian troops along the front line yesterday. As Ukrinform reports, the Russian troops were particularly active in the areas of Pokrovsk, Torezk and Kurakhivka.
14:54 Kiev: Over 1200 Russian soldiers eliminated in a dayAccording to official figures from Kiev, personnel losses on the Russian side remain high: Within a day, approximately 1190 Russian soldiers reportedly died or were unable to continue fighting in the war. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry reports that since the start of the conflict in February 2022, a total of 574,690 Russian soldiers have been "eliminated." According to the Defense Ministry's daily reports on Russian losses, the enemy has also lost 13 more tanks (8344). Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Ukraine has counted over 16,000 armored vehicles and around 12,800 drones that are no longer in the possession of the Russian military or have been destroyed. These figures cannot be independently verified. Moscow itself keeps information about its own losses in Ukraine to itself.
14:28 Zelensky: Russia fired over 700 guided bombs and over 100 drones of the Shahed type onto Ukraine in a weekRussian forces, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky via Telegram, fired over 700 guided air-dropped bombs and more than 100 Shahed drones onto Ukraine in the past week. Zelensky writes that alone in Russian air raids on four Ukrainian regions yesterday, eleven people were killed and forty-one were injured. The Ukrainians "are suffering daily under Russian terror and deserve a fair and reliable protection from it." Zelensky urges allies to equip Kiev with long-range weapons and air defense equipment, adding that "every concrete decision by partners to strengthen our forces can save lives."
14:01 Report: F-16 fighter jets may not significantly influence the course of the warThe first F-16 fighter jets are expected to arrive in Ukraine in the coming weeks, but Ukrainian and Western officials warn that they may not have a significant impact on the course of the war, as Russia continues to make gains on the battlefield. The Washington Post reports that Ukraine will only receive a small number of F-16 fighter jets, while Russia has a large number of air defense systems that can shoot them down. This means that the first F-16 fighter jets to arrive in Ukraine are likely to be used to strengthen Ukrainian air defense, shooting down Russian air targets instead of attacking Russian ground troops.
According to the Washington Post, it is unlikely that the fighter jets will initially be stationed near the front lines and therefore will not be able to intercept Russian military aircraft. Official sources refused to disclose how many F-16 fighter jets will be provided to Ukraine this year, but it will not be more than about 20, which is the size of a squadron.
13:44 Ukraine confirms attack on oil refinery in KurskThe General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has confirmed in social media an attack on a Russian oil depot in the Kursk region. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and the Ukrainian military cooperated in the nighttime attack on the Polyova oil depot. Prior to this, regional authorities in Kursk reported a drone attack that caused fires at several locations. According to local governor Alexei Smirnov, firefighters were still on site in the morning to extinguish three fuel tanks (see entries 08:00 and 06:36).
13:20 Authorities: Eight injured by Russian shelling of apartment buildings in NikopolEight people, including children, were injured in Nikopol, a Ukrainian city in the Dnipro region, by Russian troop shelling, according to RBC-Ukraine, citing the State Emergency Service (SES) of Ukraine. "Eight residents of two multi-story buildings, including two children, were injured during the enemy shelling of Nikopol," the statement reads. The injured were taken to the hospital by rescue services and the Red Cross, the SES added.
13:01 Russia reports capture of two locations in DonetskRussia has captured two locations in the Donetsk region. They are Prohres and Evhenivka in eastern Ukraine, Russian news agencies reported, citing the Russian Defense Ministry.
12:44 Ukraine accuses Russia of killing 564 children since start of warRussia is accused of killing 564 children and injuring at least 1,487 since the start of its war in Ukraine, the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform reported, citing the Office of the General Prosecutor. The majority of the children were affected in the regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Kherson, Kiev and Zaporizhzhia, the statement on Telegram reads.
12:24 Lindner counters Pistorius in defense budget discussionFinance Minister Christian Lindner defended his budget course in the tug-of-war over defense spending. "We have reached the two-percent NATO target for the first time in many, many years," the FDP chairman said in an interview with the ARD "Hauptstadtstudio." We are doing more than France and Italy. In the coming years, at least two percent of the economic output will continue to be made available for security. "Now I have to turn the spear around: It's not the case that everything the Defense Minister says is automatically justified and correct," Lindner emphasized. Lindner stressed that it was about tax money and the efficiency of funding allocation. "Mr. Pistorius has a 100-billion-euro special program for the strengthening of the armed forces, which no of his predecessors had. That's how you can work, and that's how you have to earn money," Lindner said.
12:01 Putin threatens response to US missiles in Germany
Due to the plans for the stationing of US intermediate-range missiles in Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin at the large naval parade in St. Petersburg is threatening a reaction. Russia will respond symmetrically if the plans are implemented and will no longer feel bound by an earlier prohibition on land-based atomic medium-range missiles. The INF Treaty on the prohibition of these weapons, which the USA terminated in 2019, no longer applies. According to Putin, Russia had so far imposed a moratorium and adhered to the agreements. However, the USA have long complained about Russian violations of the treaty. In a speech to sailors from Russia, China, Algeria, and India, Putin says the USA could trigger a missile crisis reminiscent of the Cold War. "The flight time of these missiles, which could be equipped with atomic warheads in the future, to targets on our territory will be approximately ten minutes," Putin says.
11:14 Authorities: Russians seize over 500 houses in Luhansk for themselves
In the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic," Russian occupiers have seized 514 houses from evacuated residents illegally. This is reported by the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform," citing a Telegram message from the head of the regional administration of Luhansk, Artem Lysohord. These are objects that are subject to the "nationalization procedure," which begins 30 days after discovery, writes Lysohord and notes that a large part of the land seized by the occupation authorities will be nationalized.
10:45 Explosions reported in Kharkiv - Air alarm declared in several regions of Ukraine
Suspilne.media, the Ukrainian broadcasting corporation, reports explosions in Kharkiv in the morning. Shortly thereafter, the head of the regional military administration, Oleg Sinegubov, reports two missile attacks by the Russians. The type of missiles is being determined. At present, an air alarm has been declared in some regions of Ukraine according to the news portal "RBC-Ukraine." This applies to Donetsk, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Poltava, and Dnipro. A missile threat cannot be ruled out in these regions, it is stated.
10:07 Governor reports 5 Dead, 15 Wounded from Russian shelling in Donetsk region
Five civilians were killed and 15 others were injured by Russian shelling in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk on Saturday, regional governor Vadym Filashkin reports via Telegram. Five residents of the region Donetsk were killed. Among the dead were three in Ivanivka, one in Kostiantynivka, and one in Toretsk. Fifteen people in the region were injured during the day, Filashkin writes. Since the beginning of the Russian offensive war in February 2022, according to the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform," 2110 civilians have been killed and 5515 injured in the Donetsk region. These figures do not include the victims in Mariupol and Volnovakha.
09:46 IfW-President: German fiscal policy is "security risk for Europe"
The President of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), Moritz Schularick, is urging the German government to significantly increase spending on security and defense - while also criticizing the coalition's budget compromise. "The German government is currently not making reasonable fiscal policy for what the country needs," Schularick told t-online in an interview. "Much more than that: Fiscal policy is and will remain a security risk for Europe." A future special fund for the Bundeswehr should be "significantly larger than the current one with its size of 100 billion euros," the economist added. "Just to close the budget gap in the next ten years, we are probably talking about a volume of 250 to 300 billion euros."
And even then, it's clear: "Even with all these additional expenditures, Germany would still be spending proportionally less for the military than Poland, Norway, or the USA, which have not reduced their investments to the same extent in the past two decades," Schularick continued. The country would need spending of around 3 to 3.5 percent of its Gross Domestic Product to deter Putin's Russia with "strength and resolve," he added.
09:15 Expert sees Donetsk region "lost for Ukraine in every case"
Ukrainian forces are currently under particularly heavy Russian attack in the Donetsk region. Military expert Ralf Thiele sees no way for Ukraine to hold the region Donetsk in the future. The Russians are "inch by inch" on the offensive, while the Ukrainians are on the retreat. The region is "lost for Ukraine in every case," Thiele said on n-tv. "That's unfortunately sad when you have to say that," the military expert added. Donetsk is either on the negotiation table or "on the real table." That means, either there will be a ceasefire negotiation at eye level or a surrender ceasefire, Thiele explained. In both cases, the region "is ultimately lost," he added.
08:52 Ukraine reports 1180 Russian losses in one day
According to Ukraine's calculations, Russia has lost approximately 574,690 soldiers between February 24, 2022, and July 27, 2024. Among them were 1180 fatalities or injuries in the past 24 hours. The Ukrainian General Staff reported this in its daily update on Facebook. In addition, Russian losses included: 8344 tanks, 16,095 armored combat vehicles, 15,936 artillery systems, 11,271 multiple rocket launchers, 906 air defense systems, and 2,405 cruise missiles. The Russian army had also lost 363 combat aircraft, 326 helicopters, 12,766 tactical unmanned aerial systems, 28 warships/cutters, 1 submarine, 21,572 vehicles and tank trucks, and 2,671 pieces of special equipment since the start of its offensive war.
08:16 Thiele on the situation at the front: Ukrainians are "de facto on a step-by-step retreat" In contested areas in the east of the country, the situation for Ukraine "is not good," says Ralf Thiele. The military is trying to prevent a Russian breakthrough - albeit at the cost of a retreat. The military expert fears that Ukraine will certainly lose the region of Donetsk.
08:00 Kursk reports fire in tank depot under control A Ukrainian drone attack has set a tank depot in the Kursk region on fire, according to local Russian authorities. However, the fire was quickly brought under control, writes regional governor Alexei Smirnov on Telegram. There were no injuries reported.
07:44 TASS: Russians destroy howitzer and Ukrainian munitions depot in Cherson region Russian paratrooper drones destroy a howitzer M-777 and a munitions depot for field artillery of the Ukrainian armed forces on the eastern bank of the Dnepr in the Cherson region. This is reported by the state Russian news agency TASS, referring to the Russian Defense Ministry. After the launch of the drones, the armor-piercing shells reportedly penetrated the front line along the riverbank. At the same time, a reconnaissance drone identified as targets a 155-mm howitzer M-777 and a field munitions depot for field artillery. Through a direct hit, the munitions depot was destroyed and the howitzer was put out of order, it is stated in the statement.
07:11 Ukrainian Minister: Olympic participation is "our victory" The Olympic participation of Ukraine is seen as a strong symbol and an opportunity by Sports Minister Vadym Bidyovka to draw international attention to the situation in the country following the start of the Russian attack war. "It is a symbolic act and a sign that Ukraine is a strong country with resilient people," Bidyovka said at the opening of the Ukrainian house in Paris. It is very important that Russia is represented in Paris with only a small team of 15 neutral athletes. Russia as a nation was expelled from the Olympics by the International Olympic Committee due to the attack war. "There is no Russian flag here. There is only the Ukrainian flag. That is our victory," Bidyovka said.
It is now the task of the Olympic team to "bring the international community together in support of Ukraine and to speak to the people who usually do not listen to politicians." The participation is a "strong signal that Ukraine not only survived, but also has the will to win."
06:58 Russia reports shooting down of seven Ukrainian drones The Russian air defense shoots down seven Ukrainian drones, according to its own statements. Five were shot down over the Belgorod region and two over the Kursk region.
06:36 Gouverneur: Oil depot in Kursk is on fire after drone attackIn the night, explosions have occurred in the Kursk region of Russia due to a drone attack. In an oil depot and several areas, fires have broken out, according to Kursk region governor Alexei Smirnov via Telegram and the Baza channel. The air defense forces are "on alert," writes the Russian official and urges the region's residents to "stay alert." At least two fires have broken out in the region during the "defense" of the drone attack, one in the Medvenka district and one in the Kursk district, it is reported. A fire is said to have been caused by an explosion in an oil storage facility in the village of Polyova, according to the Shot channel on Telegram. Residents reportedly heard "multiple strong explosions" near the oil depot at night. Previously, the characteristic sound of a drone flying over the area was heard. After the explosions, witnesses reported seeing heavy smoke in the sky. Additionally, there was an explosion in the city of Sudzha, a house in the Medva district was on fire, it is reported.
05:41 Linnemann raises question of welfare payments for Ukrainian refugees in Germany
CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann has questioned the welfare payments for Ukrainian women and men in German media. "We need to discuss why more than 50 percent of Ukrainians work in many European countries, but only 25 percent in Germany," he says. There are clearly no incentives for quick employment. "But if there is a performance, it comes with a counter-performance. That includes taking a job."
04:49 Ukraine: Over 75 percent of wounded soldiers return to duty
According to Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Natalia Kalmykova, the percentage of soldiers who return to duty after rehabilitation in Ukraine is reportedly very high. "We have a very high percentage of high-quality rehabilitation programs and returnees to the service. This is also acknowledged by our western partners," she said, according to the Interfax news agency. Kalmykova speaks of over 75 percent of the wounded.
03:13 ISW: Ukrainian forces retake positions near Toretsk
According to the Institute for War Studies (ISW), Ukrainian forces have reportedly retaken lost positions near Toretsk, north of Donetsk. This is indicated by geolocated imagery. The Russian side is said to have continued its offensive operations in the area.
01:08 Ukraine reports several deaths after Russian shelling - including a child
According to Ukrainian authorities, at least five civilians were killed by Russian attacks in various regions of Ukraine yesterday. In the region of Kherson, there were three fatalities. In the northeastern border region of Sumy, a 14-year-old boy was killed and 12 others were injured by a rocket attack on the small town of Hluchiv. In the Charkiv region, a man was killed by Russian shelling in a residential building.
23:46 Russia reports capture of another village in Ukraine
According to Russian reports, Russia has taken control of another village in eastern Ukraine. The settlement Losuwatske, located in the Donezk region, has been "liberated," the Russian Defense Ministry announced in its daily report. The settlement is approximately 25 kilometers east of the city Pokrowsk, in the area where the Russian army has advanced relatively quickly in recent months. Ukraine has not confirmed the takeover.
22:23 Blinken threatens China with "measures" over continued support for Russian defense industry
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China that the US would take "measures" if Beijing continued to support Russia's defense industry, according to the Ukrainian newspaper "Kyiv Independent." Blinken met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Laos, shortly after his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba held talks with Wang during his first China visit since the war broke out in Guangzhou. "The minister reaffirmed his serious concern over China's support for Russia's defense industrial base and made it clear that the United States would continue to take appropriate measures if China did not address this threat to European security," Miller said.
You can read about previous developments here.**
- The focus of Russian attacks in Ukraine has shifted to the town of Wowtschansk in the Charkiw region, with at least six glide bombs reportedly hitting the area.
- In a call to Japan's NHK, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that a just end to the Ukraine-Conflict requires patience, support for Ukraine, and diplomatic pressure on Russia.
- Scientists and researchers from various countries have called on NATO to invite Ukraine to join the military alliance in an open letter published in the British newspaper "Guardian", citing Russia's systematic war crimes and disregard for international law.
- Reports suggest that the Ukrainian military carried out a surprise attack using ATACMS-Rakets on Russian troops in Luhansk, resulting in at least 19 deaths and 71 injuries among Russian forces.
- Russian Wagner mercenaries suffered heavy losses in Mali, with dozens of killed and captured fighters reported by the separatist Tuareg people in the northern part of the Sahel state.
