Thiele on the situation at the front: Ukrainians are "de facto on step-by-step retreat
In contested areas in the east of the country, the situation looks "not good for Ukraine," according to Ralf Thiele. The military is trying to prevent a Russian breakthrough, but 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 of the Ukrainian armed forces on the eastern bank of the Dnieper 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 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 artillery ammunition depot. Through a direct hit, the ammunition depot was destroyed and the howitzer deactivated, 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 Russia's attack on Ukraine. "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 excluded from the Olympics by the International Olympic Committee due to the attack. "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 normally don't listen to politicians." The participation is a "strong signal that Ukraine not only survives, 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 Kursk: Old Depot is on Fire after Drone AttackIn the night, in the Kursk region of Russia, explosions have occurred due to a drone attack. In an old 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." In the region, at least two fires have broken out 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 "several 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 questions the payment of social benefits to Ukrainian refugees in Germany
CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann questioned the payment of social benefits to Ukrainian women and men in the Funke newspapers. "We need to discuss why more than 50 percent of Ukrainians work in many European countries, but only 25 percent in Germany," he said. "There are clearly no incentives for quick employment." The Ukrainians also defended the freedom of the Germans. "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 proportion of soldiers who return to duty after rehabilitation in Ukraine is reportedly very high. "We have a very high percentage of high-quality rehabilitation measures 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 recapture positions
According to the Institute for War Studies (ISW), Ukrainian forces have reportedly recaptured lost positions near Toretsk, north of Donetsk. This is shown in geolocated images. 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 in Russian attacks in different regions of Ukraine yesterday. In the region of Kherson, there were three deaths. In the northeastern border region of Sumy, a 14-year-old boy was killed and 12 other people were injured in a rocket attack on the small town of Hluchiv. In the region of Kharkiv, a man was killed by Russian shelling in a residential building.
23:46 Russia reports capture of another village in UkraineRussia has reportedly taken control of another village in eastern Ukraine. The settlement Losuwatske, located in the Donezk region, has been "liberated," according to the Russian Defense Ministry in its daily report. The settlement is approximately 25 kilometers east of the city Pokrovsk, in the area where the Russian army has made significant progress in recent months. Ukraine has not confirmed the takeover.
22:23 Blinken threatens China with "measures" over continued support for Russian defense industryUS 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 made this statement during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Laos. This came shortly after Blinken's Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba held talks with Wang in Guangzhou during his first China visit since the war broke out. "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.**
- Despite the efforts of the Ukrainian military to prevent a Russian breakthrough in contested areas, the expert Ralf Thiele believes that Ukraine is not likely to retain control over the Donetsk region.
- The Russian Defense Ministry reported the destruction of a Ukrainian howitzer M-777 and a munitions depot in the Cherson region by Russian paratrooper drones, according to state news agency TASS.
- In response to Russia's attack on Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, has highlighted the Olympic participation of Ukrainian athletes as a significant symbol and an opportunity to garner international attention and support for Ukraine.
- The Institute for War Studies (ISW) reported that Ukrainian forces had recaptured lost positions near Toretsk, north of Donetsk, following their offensive operations.
- Amidst the ongoing Ukraine-Conflict, NATO has condemned the attack on Ukraine by Russia and has provided military aid to Ukraine, including sophisticated cyberwar capabilities to bolster its defenses against potential cyberattacks.
