Strack-Carmmerman defends Ukrainian attack on "enemy on its territory"
17:21 Expert: German-supplied Tanks Involved in AttacksBritish security and defence expert Michael Clarke explains that tanks produced in Germany or the US are being deployed in the Kursk region. "It appears the Ukrainians have decided to support the push. And within about 48 hours, they've done so with some quite large units," Clarke tells Sky News. Among them are tanks and armoured vehicles provided by the US and Germany. Whether British-produced vehicles are also being used remains unclear, according to Sky News.
16:55 CDU Politicians Rebuke Kretschmer's Calls to Cut Military AidCDU foreign policy experts criticise Saxony's Minister-President Michael Kretschmer for his call to reduce military aid to Ukraine. "Germany has a great responsibility to stand by a country that itself was invaded in World War II," says Johann Wadephul, deputy chairman of the CDU parliamentary group in the Bundestag, to "Der Spiegel". "We stand on the side of freedom, and we will live up to our responsibility. That is the clear and unwavering position of the Union," the CDU politician emphasises. Jürgen Hardt, foreign policy spokesman for the Union faction, confirms: "The CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the German Bundestag has a unanimous opinion on this. We fear that Putin will only be ready for negotiations on an equal footing if he sees that he could suffer a serious defeat in his war against Ukraine." To achieve this, Kyiv needs to go on the offensive in defending its territory. "For that, Ukraine still needs military equipment from the free world," says Hardt.
16:28 Mexico Refuses to Arrest Putin During VisitThe Mexican government states that it will not arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin when he attends the inauguration of the new Mexican head of state. Ukraine had made a corresponding request. "We cannot do that," says Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador before journalists and adds that "it is not our task".
15:57 Gressel: Ukraine "Likely to Hold Territory Longer"According to Gustav Gressel, the attack on the Russian Kursk is not a "pinprick" like previous attacks behind the border. The military expert estimates that Ukrainian troops are both tying down Russian forces and gaining an advantage in potential negotiations over territories.
15:33 Death toll rises: Twelve killed in rocket attack on supermarket
A Russian rocket attack in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka has resulted in at least twelve deaths and 44 injuries, according to official reports. "A strike by Russian terrorists on an ordinary supermarket and a post office. People are trapped under the rubble," President Volodymyr Zelenskyj wrote on Telegram. Rescue efforts are ongoing. The head of state expressed his condolences to the victims' families. According to the Interior Ministry, a fire broke out over an area of around 1,000 square meters. Kostiantynivka is located just over ten kilometers from the front line between Ukrainian and Russian troops. (see entry at 12:34)
15:10 Faber: Kretschmer's behavior "disgusts me"
Saxon Minister President Michael Kretschmer's proposal to cut military aid to Ukraine has drawn criticism from the Bundestag. "It disgusts me how a Minister President is using the survival struggle of Ukrainian women and men for his regional election campaign," says Markus Faber, chairman of the Defense Committee. German arms deliveries are helping Ukraine defend itself, not out of warlust, "but because they don't want to live in a big Bucha where the Russian army is randomly killing, torturing, and raping," Faber added.
14:41 ISW: Ukraine operationally surprised Russia in Kursk
The lack of a coherent Russian response to Ukraine's incursion into the Kursk region and the reported pace of Ukraine's advance suggest that Ukrainian forces have achieved operational surprise along the border with Russia, according to the latest report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). In the past one and a half years of the Ukraine war, it has been difficult for both sides to surprise the opponent due to the partly confusing battlefield in Ukraine. Analysts say the Kremlin will try to recapture the Russian territory in the Kursk region seized by Ukrainian forces. Further advancement of Ukraine into Russia would be a strategic blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin's long-standing efforts to secure stability and security in Russia and its geopolitical resurgence.
14:14 Kretschmer proposes cuts to Ukraine military aid
Saxon Minister President Michael Kretschmer has proposed cuts to military aid to Ukraine amid the federal budget dispute. "We can no longer afford to provide weapons to Ukraine that will be used up and won't make a difference," Kretschmer told the German Press Agency. "Everything must be in proportion. Support yes, but we can see that we are reaching our limits." Kretschmer pointed to the growth of the budget in recent years. "Before the corona crisis in 2019, we had a budget volume of 344 billion euros. Now we are at 480 billion, and yet the traffic light coalition cannot agree on the budget," the CDU politician criticized. "That shows that everything is out of control. Citizens' money around 50 billion, migration dozens of billions, military aid tens of billions. That's not going to work."
13:52 Ukraine: Police orders evacuation of around 20,000 people in border region SumyUkrainian authorities have issued an evacuation order for around 20,000 people in the eastern region of Sumy, bordering Russia. The order affects 28 locations under "enemy fire," according to police on the Telegram service. Local security forces are already deployed to assist in the operation. The Sumy region borders the Russian region of Kursk, where Ukrainian forces entered on Tuesday.
13:22 Russia reinforces troops in contested border region KurskAfter Ukrainian troops advanced into the southern Russian border region of Kursk, the defense ministry in Moscow is sending reinforcements. Columns of Grad multiple rocket launchers, artillery, and tanks are being deployed to the region, Interfax news agency reports, citing the ministry. Local authorities say fighting with the invading Ukrainian troops continues. "Several dozen kilometers" from the city of Kursk and the nearby Kursk nuclear power plant, there are still ongoing clashes, a local official said on Telegram.
12:57 Mangott on Kyiv's goals in Kursk: "Third reason: humiliating slap in the face for Putin"Observers suspect that Ukraine's attack on Russian territory is an attempt to gain negotiating leverage by seizing territory. Political scientist Gerhard Mangott does not believe Kyiv's troops will succeed in holding onto areas for long, but he suspects other motives behind the incursion.
12:34 Zelensky: Four dead after Russian attack on supermarket in KostiantynivkaAt least four people were killed and 24 injured in a Russian artillery attack on the city of Kostiantynivka in the contested eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the X platform. Rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing. Donetsk Governor Vadym Filashkin said the city came under Russian artillery fire. Images posted 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 Kostiantynivka 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. Kostiantynivka is regularly targeted by Russian forces. In a Russian attack on a local market in Kostiantynivka in September 2023, 17 people were killed and over 30 injured.
11:53 Russian Emergency Ministry declares state of emergency in KurskThe Russian Emergency Ministry has declared a federal state of emergency for the Kursk region on the border with Ukraine. According to the Moscow government, Russian forces in Kursk are continuing to repel an advance by Ukrainian units, RIA state news agency reports, citing the defense ministry. Around a thousand Ukrainian soldiers entered the region on Tuesday, according to Russian reports.
11:32 Video Shows Burnt Russian Military Trucks in KurskA video published 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 the "special military operation" in Ukraine. Reuters verified the location in the video as the village of Oktyabr'skoe by matching 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 airport in the Russian region of Lipetsk is said to have triggered a chain reaction that destroyed over 700 bombs, according to a source from the Ukrainian intelligence agency "The Kyiv Independent". Earlier, Russian authorities had reported that a drone strike had caused a fire at a military airport and damaged an energy facility. The source told "The Kyiv Independent" that the airport was storing combat jets and helicopters. It is unknown how many of these were damaged or destroyed in the attack.
10:35 Kyiv Claims Attack on Military Airport in LipetskThe Ukrainian military has claimed to have attacked a military airport in the Russian region of Lipetsk overnight. The attack damaged stocks of guided bombs, causing a large fire and several explosions, the Ukrainian military said on the Telegram messaging service. The airport was reportedly home to Russian combat aircraft including Su-34, Su-35, and MiG-31 fighters. Lipetsk is located east of the border region of Kursk, further inland in Russia.
10:08 Munz: "Russians Can't Launch a Counterattack"Since the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been defending itself on its own territory. However, for the past three days, troops have also been attacking in the border region of Kursk in Russia. ntv Moscow correspondent Rainer Munz explains why this surprise offensive is presenting the Russian military leadership with several challenges.
09:44 Human Rights Activist: Russia is Slipping Back into Stalinist TimesOleg Orlov, a human rights activist released in a prisoner exchange from Russian detention, criticized the extent of repression in today's Russia in an interview with news agency AP. Orlov said that under Russian President Vladimir Putin, people are being imprisoned for criticizing authorities, something that hasn't been seen since the time of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. "We're sliding back into Stalinist times," said the co-chair of Memorial, one of Russia's oldest and most well-known human rights organizations, which was 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 Releases Figures on Russian LossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has released new figures on Russian troop losses in Ukraine. According to the data, Russia has lost approximately 588,540 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of 1,030. A report from Kyiv also states that 3 tanks, 49 artillery systems, and 2 air defense systems were destroyed. Since the start of the large-scale invasion, Russia has reportedly lost 8,434 tanks, 16,536 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,325 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine. Western Estimates suggest lower casualty figures, but these are 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 located approximately 35 kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border.
07:37 Russia Declares Emergency After Drone Attack on Military AirbaseA Ukrainian drone attack on a military airbase near Lipetsk has resulted in massive explosions. Governor Igor Artamonov announced on Telegram that an emergency situation has been declared in the city of Lipetsk to deal with the aftermath of the explosions. Four villages around the military airport have been evacuated. Public transportation in Lipetsk and surrounding areas has been suspended. Six people were injured as a result of the attacks.
06:52 Media: Explosion After Ukrainian Attack on CrimeaAn explosion has 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 have repelled an attack by Ukrainian forces on Sevastopol, destroying three drones. Additionally, the Russian air defense is said to have shot down a Ukrainian sea-targeting 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 reportedly rising over the airport, and there was a strong smell of fire in the coastal area of the city, according to the Telegram channel "Crimeawind," citing subscribers. There are no reports yet of possible casualties.
06:05 News: Fire at military airport in Russian region of LipetskA fire has broken out at a military airport in the Russian region of Lipetsk, according to Russian news agencies Ria Novosti and Tass. The cause of the fire has not yet been reported. Shortly before, the local governor announced evacuations due to a "massive" drone attack near the city of Lipetsk. The attack caused explosions and disrupted power supply, Igor Artamonov wrote on Telegram. An emergency situation has been declared in the Lipetsk district, and four villages are being evacuated. Some of these villages are located near an airbase outside the city. No casualties have been reported. 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 buildupValery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, may have ignored intelligence warnings that Ukrainian forces were gathering near the border with the Kursk Oblast, Bloomberg reports, citing a source close to the Kremlin. Ukrainian forces crossed the border into the Kursk Oblast on August 6, and fighting has since spread to Russian territory. According to the report, Ukrainian forces began gathering near the border with the Kursk region two weeks before the start of their offensive. Russian President Vladimir Putin was not informed about the troop buildup.
03:21 Half of Germans fear conflict with Russia will escalate due to US missilesThe German and US governments have agreed that the US will station long-range weapons systems like Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany starting in 2026, capable of reaching targets in Russia. Half of Germans expect this deployment to further escalate the conflict with Russia, according to a Civey survey for the Funke media group. 50 percent of respondents believe this, while 38 percent do not, and 12 percent are undecided. 44 percent view the deployment positively, while 42 percent view it negatively, and 14 percent are 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, even considering the federal budget. "We can no longer keep providing funds for weapons to Ukraine that are being used up and not making a difference. Everything must be in proportion," the CDU politician told the German Press Agency. "Support yes, but we can see that we're reaching our limits." Kretschmer points to the budget growth in recent years. "Before the COVID-19 crisis in 2019, we had a budget volume of 344 billion euros. Now we're at 480 billion, and yet the traffic light coalition can't agree on the budget. That shows that everything is out of control."
23:35 Kiesewetter: Ukrainian Advance is Lawfully and Strategically JustifiedCDU 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 lawful under the right to self-defense" and "militarily strategic," Kiesewetter told the "Tagesspiegel." According to the assessment of the CDU defense expert, the advance of Ukrainian troops aims to tie down Russian forces in the Kursk region and inflict significant losses on them. "This can relieve pressure on other fronts, as Russia has to tie down or redeploy forces to Kursk," he said.
22:30 Pentagon: Ukraine's Advance into Kursk Region Aligns with US PolicyThe incursion of Ukraine into the Russian region of Kursk is "in line with our policy," said 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 responded that the US "has been supporting Ukraine from the start in defending against attacks coming across 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, using our weapons, our systems, and our capabilities," Singh said.
Singh stated that it is up to Ukraine to speak about its own operations. When asked how far into Russian territory Ukraine can attack, Singh said that the US "does not support attacks with long range." However, she refused 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 said.
22:09 BSW MEP De Masi Calls for "Ceasefire and Negotiations as Soon as Possible"Following the advance of Ukrainian troops into Kursk, BSW MEP Fabio De Masi called for "a ceasefire and negotiations as soon as possible." Ukraine has "major difficulties defending its own territory," De Masi told the "Tagesspiegel." Advances "deep into Russian territory" only make sense "if Ukraine's goal is to escalate the situation further," the MEP said. The risks are enormous, he added. "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 civilian deaths
Russian forces have been battling a Ukrainian incursion across the border for the third consecutive day, according to reports from Moscow. Russian military 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 have been injured since the start of the Ukrainian incursion, including nine children. 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 Foreign Policy Chief Borrell: Lukashenko regime involved in illegal deportation of Ukrainian children
The Belarusian regime is complicit in Russia's attack on Ukraine, according to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Brussels. Alongside political, military, and logistical support, Belarus has contributed to the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children from temporarily occupied areas of 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.
You can read all previous developments here.
- The European Union has expressed its support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, with many EU politicians arguing that it is important for the EU to stand by a country that itself was invaded during World War II.
- The European Union has also been providing military aid to Ukraine, with Germany and the US being among the countries supplying tanks and armored vehicles to Ukrainian forces.
