Russian users can no longer access YouTube
Users in Russia cannot open YouTube on their computers and phones. Internet monitoring services downdetector.su, Failure Detector, and sboy.rf report a major outage of the platform. According to the sboy.rf service, more than 15,000 complaints about the video hosting service have already been registered. 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 via virtual private networks (VPNs). Even Reuters reporters in Russia could not access YouTube. However, the website was still available on some mobile devices. YouTube is the last Western platform still accessible in Russia, making it the last bastion of free expression. According to Decoder, more than 90 million users in Russia use YouTube monthly, placing it first among video and streaming platforms. In mid-July, Russian media reported that the Russian government plans to block YouTube in September.
13:24 EU: Ukraine leads "legitimate defense war" in Russian KurskThe EU sees 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 legitimate defense 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, backed 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 say around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers are involved in the operation.**
12:43 Ukraine: Dozens of Russian soldiers captured in KurskAfter Ukrainian forces entered the Russian region of Kursk, "many" Russian soldiers were reportedly captured. This was announced by the Ukrainian project "Khochu nayti" on Telegram. The humanitarian project, launched in January 2024 by the Ukrainian military intelligence, is 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 is also information about the dead, whose bodies were not taken away by their comrades during the retreat," the statement said. 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 still unclear.**
12:18 Gazprom: Gas Transit Running Normally Despite Fighting in Kursk RegionRussian gas exports through the Kursk border region, attacked by Ukraine, are running largely normally, Gazprom reports from Moscow. Around 37.3 million cubic meters of natural gas are expected to be transported today, which is five percent less than the previous day, according to the state-owned Russian news agency Tass. Ukrainian troops have reportedly taken control of the city of Sudscha, including a key gas pipeline measurement station en route to Western Europe. 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: Ukraine Captures 'Important Logistics Hub' in RussiaThe Russian city of Sudscha in the Kursk region has reportedly been captured by Ukrainian forces, according to pro-Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka on his Telegram channel. The town, located nine kilometers from the Ukrainian border, is now fully occupied by Ukrainian troops, Podolyaka writes. "Sudscha is essentially lost for us. It's an important logistics hub," he adds. Ukrainian forces are reportedly advancing north towards Lgov. "Overall, the situation is difficult and deteriorating, although the pace of the Ukrainian offensive has noticeably slowed down."
11:04 Munz: Kursk Incursion 'Completely Surprised' MoscowInitially, 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 may be more to the attack than just a diversionary maneuver.
10:48 Russia: Situation in Kursk 'Under Control' After Ukrainian IncursionRussian 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," the vice-governor of the border region tells 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 Sudscha district and pushing them back, Tass reports, 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 Kursk region is causing a stir in Moscow. Ukrainian soldiers are said to have advanced up to 15 kilometers, and there are reports of dozens of prisoners of war. ntv reporter Nadja Kriewald reports from Odessa on the background of the offensive.
09:35 UN: Russians Torture 95% of Ukrainian POWs
UN officials claim that Russian prison camp staff are already torturing Ukrainian prisoners of war during initial interrogations. Furthermore, torture is widespread and systematic in Russian captivity. This was stated by 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 prisoners of war in their custody. According to her, Ukrainian prisoners 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-year career," Bell says. Information about Ukrainian prisoners in Russia is primarily collected through interviews with Ukrainian prisoners after their release. Simultaneously, the UN mission has direct access to Russian prisoners and can assess the conditions of the detention facility.
08:49 Estonia Introduces Enhanced Border Controls with Russia
Estonia 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. Starting from August 8, all persons crossing the border with Russia, as well as all cargo, will be subject to inspection. Controls will be gradually introduced at the road and rail border crossings in Narva, Koidula, and Luhamaa. Previously, passenger and vehicle checks were random and risk-based. With this tightening, Prime Minister Kristen Michal 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 Figures
The Ukrainian General Staff has published new casualty figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to the report, Russia has lost around 587,510 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with 1,140 losses in the past 24 hours alone. Additionally, two tanks, 36 artillery systems, 81 drones, and one helicopter were reportedly destroyed. In total, Russia has 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 invasion. Western estimates provide lower casualty figures, but these are also likely to be minimum values.
07:32 Medvedev Threatens Escalation of Russian Invasion in Ukraine
Dmitri Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, has threatened to escalate the Russian invasion in Ukraine in response to Ukrainian advances in 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 push towards the cities of Odessa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and beyond. The advance will only stop when Russia deems it advantageous. According to Russian reports, Ukrainian troops have advanced deep into Russian territory in the region, leading to fierce fighting. The state of emergency has been declared in the region.
07:05 Russia: 14 Ukrainian aerial objects destroyed over Kursk and Belgorod
Russian air defense forces destroyed fourteen unmanned Ukrainian aerial objects over the Belgorod region and two over the Kursk region overnight, 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. Early on 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 issues air alert due to Russian MiG-31K attack
The Ukrainian Air Force has issued 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 an interceptor that dates back to the Soviet era and is named after the Mikoyan-Gurevich aircraft manufacturer. The MiG-31K can carry hypersonic missiles like the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal.
05:32 ISW: Ukrainian armored vehicles ten kilometers behind Russian border in Kursk
According to an analysis 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 said 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 writes. Russian authorities declared a state of emergency in the region yesterday.
02:30 Ukraine raises threshold for prison sentence in petty theft
In Ukraine, theft of small value will no longer result in a prison sentence. President Zelensky has signed a corresponding law amendment, according to which thefts valued at up to approximately 67 euros will henceforth be considered administrative offenses and punished with fines. Previously, the value of stolen goods of around 6.7 euros was considered the maximum for petty theft. The background to this is the state of martial law that has been in effect since the Russian invasion. This provides for up to eight years in prison for looting and theft. A case of diaper theft in a supermarket in January 2023 in the western Ukrainian city of Rivne, valued at around 8 euros, was cited in the draft law as an example. Henceforth, this will no longer result in a prison sentence. 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 to station long-range US weapons in Germany against criticism from within his own party. "This stationing is correct because it helps us to defend ourselves if Russia gets the idea to attack us," Klingbeil told the German editorial network. It is part of credible deterrence. At the margins of the NATO summit in July, the White House and the German government announced that the US wants to station weapons systems in Germany from 2026 that can 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 prisonersThe Moscow human rights activist Oleg Orlow, released in a prisoner exchange between Russia and Western states, wants to continue his civil rights work in exile. "Memorial cannot be destroyed," says the 71-year-old 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 at least 800 political prisoners are still incarcerated in Russia - conservatively estimated. His new role in exile in Germany is difficult for Orlow, as he told the press. He would prefer to be in his homeland, but fears prosecution. Orlow now hopes that he can advocate for the release of more political prisoners in exile, 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 is 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. Earlier, numerous Russian media had reported Poddubny's death in agreement. Yevgeny Poddubny is one of the best-known Russian "war correspondents". His Telegram channel has around 734,000 followers. Preliminary information suggests that he was filming a report about 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 amid a Ukrainian ground offensive. This was announced by the governor of the region, Alexei Smirnov, in a Telegram post. 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 Sudzha on Wednesday.
20:14 Clashes Nearby: Russia Bolsters AKW Kursk DefenseDue to Ukrainian advances into the Russian border region of Kursk, the Russian National Guard is reinforcing the protection of the AKW Kursk nuclear power plant. Additionally, extra forces are being deployed to combat sabotage and reconnaissance units in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, the agency reports. This is happening in coordination with Russian border troops and the army. The nuclear power 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 power 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 next month rose by 5.7 percent to 38.78 euros per megawatt hour in Amsterdam. Market participants are pointing to the attacks by Ukraine on the Russian region of Kursk. The fighting is reportedly taking place near Sudzha, an important gas injection point that supplies Western Europe through Ukrainian pipelines. Gazprom is currently reporting normal gas supplies.
19:08 Ukraine Evacuates Border Towns Near Russian KurskIn light of heavy fighting in the Russian Kursk region, Ukrainian authorities have ordered the evacuation of more towns in the neighboring Sumy region. The measures affect 23 settlements, according to the Sumy military governor, Vladimir Artjuch, on Ukrainian television. Around 6,000 people, including over 400 children and teenagers, 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 events. Local authorities had already ordered evacuations from an area within 10 kilometers of the border in May due to regular Russian shelling of border towns.
You can read all previous developments [here].
The EU has not taken any action against The Commission for its role in the ongoing situation with YouTube in Russia.
Despite the ongoing conflict in the Kursk region, The Commission has not issued any statements or taken any measures regarding Russian violations of human rights or international law.
