Oorlog in Oekraïne #997: Het is wachten op de F-16s

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Ex-lawmaker Iryna Farion assassination – everything we know about 18-year-old suspect

^{Viacheslav Zinchenko, 18, suspected in murder of Iryna Farion during court session on July 26, 2024 in Lviv, Ukraine (Stanislav Ivanov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)}

After a "challenging" manhunt, a teenager has been detained over the assassination of former Ukrainian lawmaker and linguist, Iryna Farion, Ukrainian authorities announced on July 25.

Since then, details have begun to emerge about the potential motive of the suspected killer, including possible links to Russian neo-Nazi groups.

Here's everything we know so far:

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Ukrainian drones attack three Russian air bases, damage supersonic bomber
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) conducted an operation in Russia in the early morning hours of July 27, attacking three military airfields, hitting an oil refinery and damaging a supersonic bomber.

Sources in Ukrainian intelligence told Ukrinform that drones had attacked the military airfield in Engels, Saratov region, the Dyagilevo military airfield in the Ryazan region, and the Olenya military airfield in the Murmansk region.

An oil refinery in Ryazan was also targeted in the kamikaze drone attack.

According to eyewitnesses, the first explosions were recorded at the Dyagilevo air base at around 06:00 local time.

Social media channels reported hearing at least three explosions. Local users published a video of drones flying in the direction of the airfield and a picture showing a plume of black smoke rising above the air base.

The air base is home to the 43rd Guards Center of Combat Application and Air Crew Training. It houses Tu-95MS, Tu-22M3, Tu-134UBL and Il-78 aircraft and an aircraft repair plant.

The explosions at the Engels Air Base, which houses Russian strategic bombers, rang out at around 08:00.

Local social media channels reported that Russia's air defense forces unsuccessfully tried to shoot down UAVs but then explosions were heard.

According to preliminary reports, a UAV strike on the Olenya airfield damaged a Tu-22M3 long-range supersonic bomber.

The airfield is located about 1,800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

Russia's Defense Ministry stated that at least 12 kamikaze drones had been shot down in the Kursk, Belgorod, Rostov, Bryansk and Lipetsk regions.

The results of drone strikes on other Russian military facilities are currently being clarified, Ukrainian intelligence said.

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Ukrainian Intelligence cyberattack halts cash withdrawals in Russia, disrupts banking system
Cyber experts from the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) have launched a significant assault on Russia's banking sector, payment systems, and internet providers since July 23.

Following ongoing issues with the online services of most Russian banks over the past few days, Russians are now facing another challenge: as of July 27, they cannot withdraw cash from ATMs.

According to RBC-Ukraine, which cites its sources, the disruption is due to a cyberattack orchestrated by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's intelligence division. The objective is to paralyze operations within the banking sector involved in funding the war in Ukraine, as well as internet providers and social media platforms within the aggressor state.

When attempting to use ATMs, debit and credit cards of clients from several Russian banks are immediately blocked.

GUR specialists have also gained access to the databases of Russian financial institutions.

Initially, some Russian financial institutions, particularly Alfa Bank, denied that the disruption was due to external interference. However, other banks acknowledged facing a “massive DDOS attack planned from abroad” and are struggling to overcome its aftermath.

"Nonetheless, the online services of financial institutions across the country have been either completely offline or working erratically with frequent errors for three consecutive days. As a result, clients throughout Russia are unable to log into personal accounts, make service payments, use public transportation, or conduct any other financial transactions," Alfa Bank said.

Previously, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence had reported that cyber specialists and volunteers had targeted around one hundred Russian web resources. The objective of these attacks, according to Ukrainian intelligence, was to destroy internal information of companies that provide services to those involved in the aggression against Ukraine.

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Belarusian dictator Lukashenko is in bad shape

The Kremlin press service showed Alexander Lukashenko in poor condition.

During his visit to Putin on Valaam Island, it was evident that Lukashenko still feels unwell.

This is reported by the Belarusian opposition publication UDF. BY

It is hard for him to walk. And whenever possible, he tries to either sit down or lean on something.

This is how the Kremlin press service filmed the Belarusian ruler with a face twisted with pain.

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Decimated and defeated: Russian MP admits Black Sea Fleet’s collapse
Russian State Duma member Yevgeny Fedorov publicly acknowledged the decimation of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and urged acceptance of this defeat.

Today, the Russian Black Sea Fleet has ceased to exist as a combat unit. Russia has suffered a devastating defeat at sea. This bold statement came from Russian State Duma Deputy, member of the ultra-right political force NOD (National Liberation Movement), Yevgeny Fedorov.

Fedorov remarked that while the Russian Black Sea Fleet still exists physically, it is completely shattered. "The Russian fleet, as an operational mechanism in the Black Sea, does not exist! Not physically absent, but ineffective in terms of combat presence. This is a fact. Remember how it all began. Do you recall Snake Island, which was taken by our marines? Where is that now? What about the food control over the grain deal when all Ukrainian ships were inspected, including by our fleet? Where is it now? Now the Ukrainian commercial fleet transports this weaponry in any quantity it wants! A year ago, this was not the case. A year ago, NATO did not bring weapons to Ukraine through maritime roures. Now it does. Where is the fleet? It’s gone! This is indeed the enemy's victory! This is a fact. And the fact that some ships remain somewhere in Sevastopol or Novorossiysk, they stand still. But they do not exist as a strategic combat unit. They do not control the Black Sea, you see? This is a defeat, and it must be acknowledged, just as we accepted the defeat in Kherson. We surrendered Kherson," the Russian deputy stated.

He claims to have predicted the Black Sea Fleet's defeat from the beginning when Snake Island was still under Russian control and an amphibious landing in Odesa was being prepared. Today, Russia prefers not to remember these plans. "Putin and Medvedev correctly say: NATO cannot be defeated in the usual sense," Fedorov said.

It’s noteworthy that the destruction of Russia's Black Sea Fleet is credited to Ukraine's Defense Forces. Initially, the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed its flagship - the missile cruiser Moskva, and subsequently, employing explosive-laden unmanned vessels, they began to take out Russian warships one by one. Currently, there are no Russian military ships in the occupied Crimea; the remaining ones have been withdrawn to protect them from attacks.

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Op zaterdag 27 juli 2024 21:21 schreef michaelmoore het volgende:

[..]
Putin die kan luka missen als kiespijn

die heeft al een vervanger klaar staan, laat dat een les zijn voor Orban

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Ukraine "will never become a member of the EU or NATO" because "we Europeans do not have enough money for this," Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in the Romanian city of Baile Tusnad. During his speech, Orban also complimented Russian policy. In contrast to the "weakness" of the West, Russia's foreign policy position is "rational and predictable," and the Russian economy has adapted to Western sanctions after the annexation of Crimea, the Hungarian prime minister noted. In addition, according to Orban, Russia's policy aimed at discriminating against LGBT people has acquired "international appeal." In June, EU countries granted Ukraine the status of a candidate country for joining the European Union. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted that Ukraine's path to the EU will be "difficult, but full of opportunities." At the July NATO summit, Ukraine's "irreversible path" to the North Atlantic Alliance was announced.

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Op zaterdag 27 juli 2024 21:29 schreef polderturk het volgende:
Zou niet verkeerd zijn als we in Afrika anti-Wagner troepen gaan bewapenen.

https://x.com/clashreport(...)Kr5wHK2SoeUpuKA&s=19

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Escalating toll: report suggests Russian military losses in Ukraine may surpass 600,000
Russia continues to sustain significant losses in its ongoing war against Ukraine. As of the morning of July 27, the irrecoverable losses of the Russian occupation army possibly exceeded 600,000 personnel, reported the Russian Telegram channel, General SVR, linked to political analyst Valery Solovyov.

According to the post, a morning briefing was provided to Nikolai Patrushev, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, detailing "irrecoverable military-operational losses" during the so-called "special military operation." The report claimed that over the course of two and a half years, Russia has allegedly lost 571,985 regular soldiers and 76,192 mercenaries from various private military companies (PMCs).

"Irrecoverable losses" generally refer to several categories of soldiers: killed, missing in action, prisoners of war, and permanently injured. These categories indicate personnel who cannot return to service, thereby affecting the combat readiness of the army.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as of the morning of July 27, Russian losses in the war against Ukraine stand at 573,510 individuals. This number includes both killed and injured Russians.

Moscow has consistently kept the exact number of Russian casualties in the aggression against Ukraine confidential. This data remains classified.

However, Russian news outlets Mediazona and BBC's Russian Service have managed to identify over 61,000 Russian military personnel who have perished in the conflict. Their findings are based on publicly available information and only cover soldiers who have been confirmed dead through social and official channels.

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UK has sent 12,000 anti-tank missiles to Ukraine

^{A Ukrainian paratrooper firing an NLAW anti-tank weapon. Photo credits: the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine}

The United Kingdom has delivered more than 12,000 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine as part of military aid since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The UK Defense Journal reported on this.

This information was disclosed by Luke Pollard, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, in answer to a query from James Cartlidge, Conservative MP for South Suffolk.

Cartlidge asked the Secretary of State for Defence about the number of anti-tank missiles procured for Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war.

Pollard responded on 25th July 2024, stating, “The Ministry of Defence has supplied over 12,000 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine since the outbreak of that country’s conflict with Russia.”

However, the UK Ministry of Defense did not disclose details of what exactly is meant by the term “anti-tank weapons.” Pollard also emphasized Britain’s desire to cooperate with international allies to support Ukraine.

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Op zaterdag 27 juli 2024 21:29 schreef polderturk het volgende:
Zou niet verkeerd zijn als we in Afrika anti-Wagner troepen gaan bewapenen.

https://x.com/clashreport(...)Kr5wHK2SoeUpuKA&s=19

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[Azawad] Wagner and the Malian soldiers perished in the battle against the Azawad forces.

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Op zaterdag 27 juli 2024 22:04 schreef BEFEM het volgende:

[..]
Van zo'n foto kan je echt 0 afleiden. Kijk voor de grap maar door je selfies, dan zal je 100 van zulke foto's zien.

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Ukraine Releases Unique Multi-Purpose Battle Robot

^{The Ratel H robot at the time of testing. Source: Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov}

Amid the ongoing full-scale war in Ukraine, the Ratel N robot, designed for evacuating wounded soldiers from the battlefield, has successfully completed field trials and entered mass production. This was announced by Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, on social media.

The Ratel N robot, developed by members of the Brave1 defense cluster, is intended for transporting casualties. According to Fedorov, the robot can carry over 400 kg of live load, enabling it to transport several injured personnel at once. Its design allows it to navigate difficult terrain and operate quietly, making it less detectable by the enemy.

“Ratel N is equipped with night vision cameras, allowing it to perform effectively in low visibility conditions and at night,” Fedorov noted.

The robot can be fitted with various modules, including electronic warfare systems (EWS), mobile observation posts, combat modules, or demining equipment. With satellite communication capabilities, it can be operated from a significant distance.

“Ratel N has already undergone field trials and received positive feedback from the military,” the Minister added.

The deployment of such technologies is part of a strategy to enhance the effectiveness of defense operations and reduce risks for military personnel.

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The happiest dog in the Ukrainian army

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Hongarije laat Russen makkelijker toe: 'Directe bedreiging van onze veiligheid'
Opnieuw leidt de vriendschap tussen Hongarije en Rusland tot boosheid in Brussel. Drie dagen na het bezoek van premier Viktor Orbán aan president Vladimir Poetin trad nieuw beleid in werking waardoor Russen makkelijker in Hongarije kunnen komen werken.

Europarlementariërs vrezen dat Russen met kwade bedoelingen het Schengengebied in komen. "Russische staatsburgers krijgen zo carte blanche om zich door Europa te bewegen", zegt Raquel Garcia Hermida-van der Walle (D66). "Dit is een directe bedreiging voor onze veiligheid." De EU-politici pleiten voor stevige maatregelen tegen Hongarije, zoals het invoeren van grenscontroles.

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Hungary’s nationalist leader warns of EU’s demise and backs Trump in anti-Western speech
Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Saturday that the European Union was sliding toward oblivion in a rambling anti-Western speech in which he warned of a new, Asia-oriented “world order” while throwing his support for Donald Trump’s U.S. presidential bid.

“Europe has given up defending its own interests,” Orbán said in Baile Tusnad, a majority-ethnic Hungarian town in central Romania. “All Europe is doing today is following the U.S.’s pro-Democrat foreign policy unconditionally … even at the cost of self-destruction.”

“A change is coming that has not been seen for 500 years. What we are facing is in fact a world order change,” he added, citing China, India, Pakistan and Indonesia as becoming the “dominant center” of the world.

Orbán also alleged that the U.S. was behind the 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines built to carry gas from Russia to Germany, calling it “an act of terrorism carried out at the obvious direction of the Americans.” He didn’t offer any evidence to back up the claim.

The far-right leader’s remarks come amid growing criticism from his European partners after he embarked on rogue “peace mission” trips to Moscow and Beijing earlier this month aimed at brokering an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Orbán is widely considered to have the warmest relations with the Kremlin among all EU leaders.

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India and Russia look to boost bilateral trade by 50% by 2030
Target of $100bn set during Modi's Moscow visit comes amid U.S. concerns

India is looking to strengthen its economic ties with Russia even as its longtime ally faces Western sanctions over the Ukraine war. The two countries have set an ambitious bilateral trade target of $100 billion by 2030, up by 50% from the current $66 billion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Russia earlier this month -- his first trip there since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 -- for the two nations' annual summit, and their economic relationship dominated his discussions with President Vladimir Putin.

Modi "took up the need to broad-base the trade basket between the two countries, and in this regard spoke about greater market access for Indian goods, both in the agriculture and in the industrial sector," then-Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters on July 9.

While the $100 billion trade target appears achievable, India's main concerns are about containing the $57 billion trade deficit and finding an effective payment mechanism for transactions with Russia, said Ajay Srivastava, co-founder of the New Delhi-based think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI).

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Ukraine has started training Bradley infantry fighting vehicle crews by itself

^{Bradley infantry fighting vehicle in the Armed Forces. July 2024. Frame from the video of the Ukrainian Ground Forces}

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have started training crews for Bradley infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), which Ukraine receives as part of military aid.

The military discussed the training of crews.

The training center trains mechanics and drivers, gunners, and commanders of combat vehicles.

Before performing practical tasks on the M2 Bradley IFV, the soldiers undergo theoretical training.

The crews then practice their shooting and driving skills at the training ground under the supervision of instructors.

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The Armed Forces of Ukraine accepted the operation of a domestic mobile car repair shop

^{Mobile car repair workshop of the Armed Forces. July 2024. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine}

The Ministry of Defense has officially authorized the operation of a new Ukrainian-made mobile car repair shop in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The press service of the defense ministry announced this.

It is noted that this workshop was developed by specialists in one of the enterprises of the Ukrainian defense industry.

“The new model of the mobile repair shop is characterized by compactness and much better maneuverability compared to existing mobile workshops on the chassis of outdated Soviet ZIL-131 trucks,” the Defense Ministry said.

The new repair shop can be installed on the chassis of various pickup truck models from global manufacturers.

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The Kremlin Jails the Father of Russia’s Internet
The regime is punishing those who built modern Russia for what amounts to thought crimes.

Alexey Soldatov, a Russian Internet pioneer and a founder of the first Internet provider in the country, has been sentenced by a court to two years in a labor colony on charges of “abuse of power.” Soldatov, 72, had been detained by a court in Moscow. He is terminally ill.

Very few in Russia believe in the government charges against a man widely known as a Father of the Russian Internet — and who is less well known as the father of Andrei Soldatov, one of this article’s authors.

Soldatov was accused of abuse of power when managing a pool of IP-addresses by an organization he had no position at. This legal absurdity was enough to see him imprisoned even though the court knew of Soldatov’s illness, which meant the court had no legal right to pass a custodial sentence. His family believes that the decision is essentially a death sentence.

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The Ministry of Defense provided details on the operation of the Military Police

^{Military personnel of the Military Police of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Photo credits: ArmyInform}

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine provided details about the work and tasks of the Military Police.

ArmyInform reported on this.

According to Ilya Kostin, Defense Ministry’s authorized representative for military police, the department will work similarly to the Military Law Enforcement Service, but with more advanced functions.

Their main functions will include maintaining military discipline, conducting operational and investigative activities, and investigating war crimes.

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Drone attacks oil refinery in the Nizhny Novgorod region

^{A drone during an attack on an oil refinery in Kstovo. Photo credits: Telegram channel "Kstovo"}

A drone attacked an oil refinery in the city of Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod region of Russia.

This was reported by the Kstovo Telegram channel.

The video captures an attack drone starting to dive to hit an object on the territory of the refinery.

The video also captures the moment of the explosion, after which smoke began to rise into the sky.

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Putin threatens to restart production of medium-range nuclear weapons
If, as planned, the US deploys long-range missiles in Germany from 2026, Russia could resume production of medium-range nuclear weapons and station them in countries within striking distance of the West, Vladimir Putin warned on Sunday, in remarks reported by TASS.

Speaking at a parade to mark Russia’s Navy Day in St. Petersburg, Putin warned of a return to Cold War-style missile crises, and said that Russia would respond to the placement of US weapons in Germany with “mirror measures”.

“If the United States implements such plans, we will consider ourselves free from the previous unilateral moratorium on the deployment of medium- and short-range strike weapons”, Putin said.

The short- and medium-range nuclear weapons in question were banned in 1987 under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty signed by US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in a symbolic move that significantly reduced both countries’ nuclear arsenals.

The US withdrew from the treaty in 2019, accusing Russia of violating it by developing a new type of cruise missile, which Moscow denied.

Putin’s comments came following the US announcement earlier in July that it would begin “episodic deployments” of SM-6 and Tomahawk missiles and “developmental hypersonic weapons” in Germany in 2026 as part of its “commitment to NATO and its contributions to European integrated deterrence”.

That announcement drew the immediate ire of the Kremlin, with Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov accusing the West of “going the way of escalation” and “searching for far-fetched pretexts to accuse [Russia] of allegedly infringing on its security”.

Putin aide Nikolay Patrushev stressed that Russia had merely been responding to US plans, while former president and deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, told TASS that Russia’s objective was preventing the “maniacs in Washington from causing a global catastrophe”.

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Ukraine destroys Russian Su-30SM fighter, potentially damages another in strike on Saky airfield in Crimea - media

The Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed a Russian Su-30SM fighter jet during a recent attack on the Saky military air base in temporarily occupied Crimea on July 26

Defense Express reported the information on Sunday, July 28, citing satellite imagery released by Ukrainian OSINT specialists from the CyberBoroshno community.

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Mali rebels offer to hand over captured Wagnerites to Ukraine
The Tuareg rebels (CSP-PSD) in the north of the African country of Mali, who defeated a large group of Wagnerites and captured a significant number of militants, offered to hand them over to the Ukrainian side.
According to Ukrinform, this is stated in a post by a representative of the CSP-PSD on the social network X.

"We, the armed forces of the CSP-DPA, want to express our solidarity with your fight against Russian criminals. We have captured a significant number of Wagner mercenaries and would like to hand over these prisoners to you as a sign of support and solidarity. This gesture is aimed at helping you in your struggle for justice and freedom," the statement said.

The group hopes that this step will help strengthen "our ties and our common victory".

Earlier today it became known that rebels of an association of armed groups in the north of Mali, inhabited mainly by Tuareg, announced the killing of dozens of soldiers of the Malian Armed Forces and Russian mercenaries from the Wagner PMC in a clash near the border with Algeria.

As reported, after a military coup in May 2021, Mali has been ruled by a military junta that maintains close ties with Russia and uses the services of mercenaries from the Wagner PMC controlled by the Russian special services.

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Nine prisoners recruited by the Ministry of Defense escaped from a training ground in the Belgorod region

Nine prisoners who had signed contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry escaped from a training ground in the Korocha District of the Belgorod Region, the local Telegram channel Pepel reports , citing descriptions received by the Shebekino police departments.

Two of the escapees, Denis Mustyakov and Aleksey Gryazyutin, were serving time for murder (Article 105 of the Criminal Code); three, Roman Ser, Aleksandr Ivanov, and Aleksandr Kasatkin, were serving time for causing grievous bodily harm (Article 111 of the Criminal Code); and another, Nikolay Bagrov, was serving time for illegal deprivation of liberty (Article 127 of the Criminal Code). The others, Eduard Arutyunyan, Igor Bolonin, and Pavel Migunov, were serving time for theft, fraud, and drug use, respectively.

Six escaped from the training ground on July 26, and three more the following day. A reward of 100,000 rubles has been offered for information leading to their whereabouts and arrest. The police believe that the prisoners are hiding in Belgorod or Shebekino.

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Russia reports massive drone attack overnight and air defense operations in 5 regions
In Voronezh region, Russia, a fire broke out in the Ostrogozhsky district as a result of a drone attack and air defense operations. This region became the fifth area on the night of July 29 where efforts were made to repel drone raids, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense and Voronezh region Governor Alexander Gusev.

According to the morning statement from Russian Ministry of Defense, air defense systems reportedly intercepted and destroyed 39 drones, specifically:

• 19 UAVs in the Kursk region;
• 9 drones in the Belgorod region;
• 5 drones in the Bryansk region;
• 3 UAVs in Voronezh region;
• 3 drones in the Leningrad region.

The ministry traditionally blames Ukraine for the nighttime drone attacks on targets within Russia.

Regarding the outcomes of the air defense operations and the repelling of this aerial assault in the regions, the Russian agency provided no details.

Instead, the Governor of the Voronezh region reported in the morning that a drone was allegedly detected and suppressed by air defense and electronic warfare (EW) systems in the Ostrogozhsky district.

"During its descent, a communal infrastructure facility in the village of Gazoprovod was damaged," said the Russian official, adding that emergency services were dispatched to the scene.

Drone attack in Russia on July 29
Earlier reports indicated that explosions occurred in the Belgorod region last night due to a drone attack, which resulted in damage to a substation in the village of Tomarovka, where a fire broke out.

Additionally, authorities in the Kursk region claimed that 13 aircraft-type UAVs were supposedly shot down by air defense systems. However, online sources reported explosions and drone impacts across several districts in the region, including damage to a substation.

In the Oryol region, a fire at an electrical substation was confirmed by the local governor as a result of a drone strike.

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Power plant damaged in drone attack on Russia's Oryol Oblast – video
According to local authorities, no one was allegedly injured as a result of the attack

Overnight, kamikaze drones attacked Oryol Oblast of Russia, as a result of which a power plant was damaged, regional governor Andrey Klychkov reported.

In the early hours of Monday, videos of drones and the sounds of explosions appeared in local media. Around 1:00 a.m., Klychkov wrote that two drones were allegedly shot down in the sky over the Glazunovsky district.

The official noted that there were allegedly no injured, but a local power plant was damaged.

"The operative services are dealing with the elimination of the consequences of the air attack, law enforcement officers are working at the scene," he concluded.

Орлов�ька обла�ть 29 липн�

Орлов�ька обла�ть

Overnight on July 27 in Russia's Kursk Oblast, after a drone attack, a fire broke out at the Polevaya oil depot.

Subsequently, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that it was engaged by the forces and means of the SBU security service in interaction with other components of the Defense Forces.

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Air defense forces shot down one enemy missile, nine Shahed UAVs overnight
On the night of July 29, 2024, the enemy attacked Ukraine with a Kh-59/Kh-69 guided missile launched from the airspace of occupied Donetsk region and 10 Shahed-type strike UAVs from Cape Chauda, Crimea.
Ukrainian Air Force Commander, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk said this in a post on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

One Kh-59/Kh-69 guided missile and nine Shahed-131/136 UAVs were intercepted and shot down in the Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson and Kirovohrad regions.

Anti-aircraft missile and EW units of the Air Force and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defense Forces were involved in repelling the air attack.

As reported, on the night of July 29, an air raid alert was announced in some regions of Ukraine due to the threat of the enemy launching attack UAVs on the country.

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Op maandag 29 juli 2024 14:58 schreef ExTec het volgende:

[..]
https://www.telegraph.co.(...)to-fly-new-f-16-jet/

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Op maandag 29 juli 2024 09:01 schreef icecreamfarmer_NL het volgende:

[..]
Ik vind dit wel heel sterk er is toch een waterleidingnet in de buurt?

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Fighterbomber
Oh, fuck, what a morning.

In one of the letters dedicated to the problematic issues with the food of the fighting units, there was a request to help with the food of one of the units based in Crimea.

The guys have been fighting from jump points for several months and for several months the food situation is bad.
You could say there is none.

If everything was resolved with dry rations every other time, then with water everything turned out to be difficult.

It turns out that pilots are not supposed to have water.
None.
After the intervention of the negligence, the issue with rations was essentially resolved within 24 hours, and the water issue was partially resolved. A water standard was introduced.

One
Liter
of Water
Per Day
Per Person.

In their free time from combat sorties, pilots are forced to drive around the surrounding villages in search of water.
I think this is wrong.

Therefore, I ask you to write to me in a private message about the MANUFACTURING COMPANIES that can help pilots with bottled water.
Write @fbsha
We will not be able to take water from citizens. It is not safe.
If it doesn't work out with the companies, then we'll announce a collection and buy water ourselves. We'll

solve the issue with delivery to the points.

We only need to deliver water to the nearest military airfield. Preliminary, this is Voronezh, Rostov, and any military airfield in Crimea. Wherever is more convenient for you.
Water in one-and-a-half-liter bottles is more convenient, but we'll take any.

All other problematic issues regarding food have been transferred and are being solved. If we don't solve it, write.

And you say shelters...

quote:

Op maandag 29 juli 2024 16:52 schreef Idisrom het volgende:

[..]
[..]
Het zijn wel allemaal kleine dorpjes in de buurt van Prohres. Die dorpen zijn te klein om als schuilpunt en als bufferpunt te dienen. De aanvoerlijnen vanuit Avdiivka worden nu wel steeds langer.
Nog zo ruim tien kilometer westelijker liggen de plaatsen Hrodivka en Novohodrivka. Als de Russen deze plaatsen kunnen innemen, en met name Novohrodivka, dan hebben ze wel weer grote hubs waar ze kunnen schuilen op industrieterreinen en bij hoogbouw.

Edit: die 16 km van De Telegraaf lijkt mij een fout. Volgens mij en Google Maps is het hemelsbreed al minimaal 26 kilometer.

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Ukraine's reserve fund for urgent reconstruction and fortifications nearly empty
Only half a billion hryvnias remain in the Reserve Fund of the Ukrainian state budget, which was allocated UAH 56 billion (US$1.37 billion) for 2024 to cover urgent reconstruction and fortification needs.

Source: Roksolana Pidlasa, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament and Head of the Budget Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, in an Economy Chronicles podcast by Ekonomichna Pravda

As part of the budget increase by half a trillion hryvnias, with UAH 495 billion (US$12.1 billion) allocated to the military, the government also proposes to allocate UAH 4.5 billion (US$109.8 million) to replenish the Reserve Fund of the state budget. This fund covers urgent expenditures for reconstruction and restoration, as well as defence needs and fortification construction.

Quote: "During the budget approval, about UAH 42 billion (US$1.02 billion) was allocated to the Reserve Fund. Over the course of this year, the Cabinet of Ministers (the government) increased its size to UAH 56 billion. However, only UAH 592 million remains from this amount," said Pidlasa.

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Warships reported damaged or destroyed by Ukraine absent from Russia’s Navy Day parade
None of the Russian warships reported damaged or destroyed by Ukrainian forces over the past year took part in St. Petersburg’s Navy Day parade on Sunday, BBC News Russian reported, the closest to confirmation there is that the warships have indeed been put beyond use.

Indeed, only two boats from Russia’s beleaguered Black Sea Fleet — the corvette Merkury and the frigate Admiral Grigorovich — were shown in Russian state media’s coverage of the event on St. Petersburg’s Neva River, BBC News Russian said, with the Black Sea Fleet itself only being mentioned by commentators twice.

A voiceover during Russia’s coverage of the event said that ships from the country’s Black Sea Fleet were “on combat duty protecting Russia’s southern borders and carrying out tasks as part of the special military operation”, the official euphemism for the war in Ukraine used in Russia.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour, Ukraine has attacked over 20 Russian warships, destroying at least seven, including its flagship guided missile cruiser the Moskva, in April 2022.

By late 2023, Russia’s Black Sea Fleet was coming under such frequent attack that the bulk of its vessels were relocated from annexed Crimea, where the fleet had been based for over 240 years, to the port city of Novorossiysk in southern Russia.

According to the Kremlin, a total of 25 vessels took part at this year’s Navy Day parade including representatives of “friendly” foreign navies including those of China, Algeria and India.

The 2021 parade, the last before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, saw over 50 ships and submarines on display, just three of which were not from Russia, BBC Russian said.

Speaking at the parade, Vladimir Putin warned that Russia could resume production of medium-range nuclear weapons and station them in countries within striking distance of the West should the US go ahead with plans to deploy long-range missiles in Germany from 2026.

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The drone found in Kyiv region turned out to be a new Russian Gerbera UAV

^{A Russian Gerbera drone. July, 2024. Frame from the video by the Gastello Design Bureau}

The drone discovered last week in the Kyiv region is a new Russian multifunctional drone called Gerbera.

This became known when comparing the available photos in the Ukrainian media and a video published by the Russian invaders, where they talk about a new model of their military drone.

This UAV, whose body is made of foam, has only recently been used by the Russians against Ukraine.

On Sunday, July 28, the Russian Stalin’s Falcons unit published a video showing the Gerbera drone developed by the Gastello Design Bureau. It is stated that this UAV could be used for electronic reconnaissance, as a kamikaze drone or as a decoy for air defense systems.

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The Ukrainian paratroopers armed with rare Haenel MK 556 assault rifles

^{Haenel MK 556 assault rifles in service with the 82nd Air Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, July 2024. Photo credits: 82nd Air Assault Brigade}

The soldiers of the 82nd Air Assault Brigade received Haenel MK 556 rifles, known from a scandalous German defense contract.

Photos of the soldiers with the new weapons have been posted online.

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Putin’s family values tsar ‘leaves Orthodox priest husband for billionaire’
Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, accused of hypocrisy over alleged affair with oligarch Konstantin Malofeev

^{Maria Lvova-Belova with oligarch Konstantin Malofeev who she has reportedly left her husband for}

Vladimir Putin’s “family values” tsar has reportedly left her Orthodox priest husband for a Russian billionaire.

Maria Lvova-Belova was filmed walking hand-in-hand with Konstantin Malofeev at a church procession in Yekaterinburg last week, sparking speculation that the two were romantically involved.

Neither she nor Mr Malofeev have commented on claims but sources close to the Orthodox Church said they were true.

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The State Security Service reacted to the removal of the 80th brigade commander Ishkulov: they promise a higher position
The Command of the Airborne Assault Forces announced that the commander of the 80th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade of the Galician Air Force, Colonel Emil Ishkulov, will be appointed to a higher position, and the brigade will have a new commander.

Source: statement of the Airborne Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Details: The DSHV command stated that Ishkulov is a very experienced personnel combat officer who successfully performed extremely difficult combat tasks.

Literally: "Accordingly, taking into account the invaluable combat and commanding experience of this officer, by the decision of the military leadership, Colonel Ishkulov will be appointed to a higher position.

This will allow him to apply his knowledge, skills and leadership qualities, acquired during the planning and organization of combat operations, already on the scale of the Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

It should be noted that the newly appointed commander of the 80th separate Halych assault brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is a competent combat officer who is a People's Hero of Ukraine and a full knight of the orders of "Bohdan Khmelnytskyi" of all degrees, and for a long time successfully conducted combat operations as part of this legendary brigade.

Details: At the same time, interlocutors of the UP in the brigade call Ishkulov's promotion a "cover-up and fading of the resonance that arose around this story." Ishkulov is already submitting cases.

Prehistory:
Earlier on Monday, the 80th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Force, which recently received information about the potential removal from the post of Brigadier Colonel Emil Ishkulov, opposed such a decision.

quote:

Some 80% of Russian payments to China returned amid increasing Western pressure
Chinese banks are returning approximately 80% of bank transfers in yuan made by Russian customers buying goods in China, state-affiliated business daily Kommersant reported on Monday.

Bank transfers can be held up for weeks at a time before a decision is reached on whether to approve it or not. The transfer can subsequently be cancelled without an explanation, which can lead to losses for the Russian customer in terms of exchange rate and commission.

It can now take a Chinese supplier as long as six months to receive payment for goods sold and exported to Russia, which has forced Russians wanting to buy goods to go via intermediaries at extra cost.

Problems began in December when US President Joe Biden issued an executive order that allowed Washington to impose sanctions on financial institutions facilitating prohibited transactions, according to Clyde and Co., a global law firm specialising in trade.

The situation became even more complex after the US imposed sanctions on the Moscow Stock Exchange in early June, Kommersant said, with a source telling the outlet that Chinese businesses were demanding more and more paperwork in their dealings with Russian clients.

“Clients are having to resort to intermediaries — payment agents or trading houses,” Oleg Ushakov of Sagrada Legal, a Russian law firm specialising in financial matters, told the newspaper.

A Kommersant source said agents now handle about 30% of payments between Russia and China, despite the fact that using an intermediary entails extra costs and an average commission of 3–5%, which can sometimes rise to 10%.

Chinese banks have tacitly begun to divide yuan associated with Russia into “dirty” and “clean” yuan, state-affiliated business daily Vedomosti reported on Friday, confirming cases of banks refusing to accept any yuan originating from Russia at all.

quote:

Death allegations
Some Russian Wagner-affiliated Telegram channels reported that Yelizarov was killed during the battle of Tinzaouaten in July 2024, however his death was not independently confirmed.[9] According to Russian war correspondent Boris Rozhin, known on Telegram as Colonelcassad, Yelizarov was captured and has already been exchanged. There is no reliable and confirmed information about Yelizarov's fate yet.

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Russia Infiltrates Ukrainian Military Communications
A Ukrainian military consultant said Russia has managed to infiltrate Ukrainian military communications posing as Ukrainian soldiers using a mobile app and cautioned troops to stay vigilant.

Serhii Beskrestnov, a Ukrainian military consultant specializing in communication and electronic warfare (EW) who posts under the pseudonym “Flash,” said Russian forces have been able to infiltrate communications that use Signal, an encrypted mobile communication app favored by the Ukrainian military.

Beskrestnov said a profile using photos of another service member as its avatar had been uncovered which, upon further investigation “pulled out a whole nest of Signal accounts run by agents of the Russian Federation.”

He said the imposters were able to lure Ukrainian personnel into the groups they created through which they were able to acquire sensitive information having set themselves up as group administrators.

“They got into dozens of profile groups and even into those where there is a document check.

“Moreover, they themselves created thematic groups and dragged people from other groups of the Armed Forces into them, then using the trust of the administrator status, they obtained the information they wanted,” Beskrestnov said in his July 27 Facebook announcement.

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Biden Administration Announces Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine
Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs. This includes the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package valued at up to $200 million to provide Ukraine with key capabilities, including: air defense interceptors; munitions for rocket systems and artillery; and anti-tank weapons.

In addition, DoD is announcing a significant package of support using approximately $1.5 billion in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds. This package includes capabilities to augment Ukraine's air defenses, fires, and anti-tank weapons, as well as funding to sustain equipment previously committed by the United States.

The capabilities in this announcement include:
• Munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS);
• Short- and medium-range air defense munitions;
• RIM-7 missiles for air defense;
• Electronic Warfare equipment;
• Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
• 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;
• 120mm mortar rounds;
• Precision aerial munitions;
• Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;
• Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;
• Small arms;
• Explosives material and demolitions equipment and munitions;
• Secure communications systems;
• Commercial satellite imagery services; and
• Spare parts, maintenance and sustainment support, and other ancillary equipment.

This is the Biden Administration's twentieth USAI package and sixty-second tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine and since August 2021.

The United States will continue to work together with some 50 Allies and partners to ensure Ukraine's brave defenders receive the critical capabilities needed to fight Russian aggression.

quote:

A junior sergeant destroyed 40 units of armored vehicles

A junior sergeant with the call sign “Gagauz” destroyed 40 units of armored vehicles of the Russian occupation forces, of which 14 were tanks.

The serviceman is from the 79th separate air assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

In one battle, his crew destroyed five armored vehicles of the Russian occupiers, stopping the advance of the column.

“Gagauz” became an anti-tank fighter more than a year ago. He completed a special training course and now uses the acquired skills very successfully.

“After the tank was defeated, I gained excitement and self-confidence. And the desire to smoke more,” says the defender.

Anti-tank crews always work in pairs: one finds the target, the other prepares the missiles for battle.

But even in conditions of mortal risk, anti-tank crews carry out their work to the end.

Video. The best anti-tanker of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: a fighter with the call sign “Gagauz” burned 40 units of Russian equipment!

quote:

Germany Sends Ukraine Additional Tanks, Radar and Ammunition for Gepard

^{Danish instructors train Ukrainian tank crews in Germany. Photo credits: Nora Stone}

On Monday, July 29, Germany announced a new military aid package for the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

As part of this assistance, Germany, in coordination with Denmark, will transfer eight additional Leopard 1A5 tanks. This brings the total number of Leopard 1A5 tanks provided to Ukraine to 58, up from the previous count of 50.

In addition, the Ukrainian military has received a new shipment of 21,000 rounds of ammunition for Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.

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Kyiv says 'no significant changes' at Robotyne after ISW said Russia captured village
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said on July 28 that according to geolocated footage, Russia has likely "seized all of Robotyne" in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

The Tavria group of forces spokesperson, Dmytro Lykhovii, disputed this claim in a comment for the Kyiv Independent on July 29, saying that the situation in the sector was "without any major changes."

The village of Robotyne, which lies some 15 kilometers (9 miles) south of Orikhiv and 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) southeast of Zaporizhzhia, was liberated by Ukraine during its counteroffensive in the summer of 2023 and has been on the front line since.

Russia said it had captured the settlement already back in May, a claim that Ukraine had denied at the time.

The ISW referred to geolocated footage shared on both Ukrainian and pro-Kremlin Telegram channels on July 27 showing Russian ground troops north of the village.

"Elements of the Russian 42nd Motorized Rifle Division... are reportedly operating near Robotyne," the U.S.-based think tank said in its report.

While denying any significant changes in the area, Lykhovii did not disclose additional details on the situation in Robotyne.

In its morning report on July 29, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said Russian forces continue in their attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from positions in the Orikhiv and Huliaipole directions in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

The General Staff's report named battles near Mala Tokmachka, Huliaipole, Novodanylivka, and Novoandriivka but did not mention any engagements near Robotyne.

If confirmed, the loss of Robotyne would mean the loss of another settlement liberated during Ukraine's 2023 counteroffensive. Earlier in July, the Ukrainian army confirmed the withdrawal from the village of Urozhaine in Donetsk Oblast, which was liberated in August 2023.

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Russia reports explosions in Kursk, several missiles allegedly downed – video
Locals reported the sounds of explosions

Russian citizens complain about overnight explosions in Kursk. Local authorities said that several missiles were allegedly shot down over the region, according to acting governor Aleksey Smirnov.

Overnight, in the sky over Kursk, Russian air defense allegedly shot down four missiles. They were allegedly launched by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In the morning, Smirnov wrote that as a result of an attack on an oil depot in Kursk Oblast, a fire broke out, which was extinguished by emergency personnel.

Locals reported the sounds of explosions.

Кур�ьк

Кур�ьк

LIGA.net asked the Ukrainian special services to comment on these statements.

quote:

Drones strike oil depot in Russia's Kursk Oblast, governor says
Ukrainian drones struck an oil depot in Russia's Kursk Oblast overnight on July 28-29, causing at least three fuel tanks to catch fire, Governor Alexei Smirnov said.

Almost 150 first responders were involved in putting out the blaze, which Smirnov claimed was extinguished as of 5:50 a.m. local time on July 30. According to the governor, no one was injured in the attack and resulting fire.

Earlier in the morning of July 30, Smirnov claimed that air defenses in the oblast had intercepted four Ukrainian missiles.

The previous day, Ukraine's General Staff said that its forces had struck at least four power substations in Kursk Oblast.

The attacks were carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine's (SBU) Special Operations Center, along with other components of the Defense Forces, according to the statement.

Russia's Defense Ministry corroborated that there had been an attack in Kursk Oblast, and claimed that 19 drones had been shot down in the region.

On July 28, the SBU, in cooperation with the Ukrainian military, hit the Polyova oil depot in Kursk Oblast, the General Staff confirmed.

Kursk Oblast lies on the border with Ukraine's Sumy Oblast. In recent months, Ukrainian forces have been regularly attacking military facilities and infrastructure in Russian regions bordering Ukraine.

quote:

Russian authorities starve migrants and beat them to sign military contracts – ISW

^{Migrants in Russia. Photo: TASS, a Kremlin-aligned Russian news outlet}

Russian authorities are illegally detaining migrants without food and water and using physical violence against them to force them to sign military contracts.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: The Russian opposition news outlet Okno (Window) has highlighted concerns raised by lawyers and human rights activists, who report that nearly all detained migrants are being pressured into signing military contracts. Russian authorities are reportedly using threats of stripping naturalised citizens of their Russian citizenship and offering citizenship to migrants as incentives for military enlistment.

Okno noted that the frequency of raids targeting migrants has escalated since the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in March 2024.

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Russia considers extending military service for new citizens by a year
The speaker of Russia’s State Duma has proposed the introduction of legislation that would extend the duration of military service required of newly naturalised Russian citizens from one to two years, according to a statement issued by Russia’s lower house of parliament on Monday.

Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin indicated that an amendment to the existing law on military service would be considered by the Duma before the end of its current session on 5 August, and charged four senior deputies from the ruling party United Russia with introducing the legislation.

The deputies are also planning to tighten the rules on registering newly naturalised Russian citizens for military service, making it a precondition for being granted a passport.

Meanwhile, deputies introduced an amendment on Monday that, if adopted, would oblige anybody in Russia with over 10,000 subscribers on social media to inform Russia’s media regulator Roskomnadzor. Failure to do so would prohibit them from accepting donations or posting ads, Duma Deputy Alexander Khinshtein said on Telegram.

The amendment would apply to all types of social media profile on any platform, including Telegram and YouTube, Khinshtein said, adding that the amendment had been introduced to the second reading of a bill designed to tighten the conditions around the sale of SIM cards, which was all part of what he called “the fight against the spread of false information”.

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Lukashenko pardons German man facing death sentence in Belarus
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned German citizen Rico Krieger, who was sentenced to death in the country last month, Telegram channel Pul Pervogo reported on Tuesday, citing the presidential press service.

According to Belarusian prosecutors, Krieger, a former Red Cross employee, was instructed by the Security Service of Ukraine to carry out reconnaissance and take photographs of Belarusian military installations in October.

Krieger was also found guilty of planting explosives along a railway line and causing an explosion on 5 October. In a video posted by Belarusian state television on Friday, Krieger admitted that he planted the explosives before making a tearful appeal to Lukashenko, and begging for forgiveness for what he said had been the greatest mistake of his life.

Although no date had been set for Krieger’s execution, having exhausted all avenues of appeal, it could have been carried out at any moment.

In footage taken earlier on Tuesday, Lukashenko was seen discussing the case with a group of advisors and seeking their advice over what he described as one of the toughest decisions he had faced as a head of state, while also reminding them that the final word on the issue would be his.

quote:

Slovakia Issues Ultimatum to Ukraine Over Russian Oil Transit
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has threatened Ukraine with consequences if the transit of Russian oil from Lukoil is not restored.

“If the transit of Russian oil through Ukraine is not restored soon, Slovnaft will cease supplying diesel fuel to Ukraine, which accounts for a tenth of Ukrainian consumption,” he said in a video address on Monday, July 29. “If the EU wants to reduce its total dependence on the USA, will need to consider forms of cooperation with the Russian Federation that involve strategic raw materials,” said the Slovak Prime Minister.

As reported by TASR, Fico informed the Ukrainian Ambassador to Slovakia, Myroslav Kaspran, about this.

“I told [the ambassador] that we stand by the measures and statements we have made. Further implementation of this senseless sanction [the suspension of supplies oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia via Ukraine] will only harm Ukraine, Slovakia and Hungary. And Russia will be virtually unaffected,” he said.

Fico noted that on Friday he offered Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal a “technical solution” for restoring the transit of Lukoil's Russian oil through Ukrainian territory. While the Slovak Prime Minister did not provide details of his proposal, he mentioned that it should involve several countries.

“However, several countries have to participate in this. On behalf of Slovakia, I repeat that we are ready. I welcome reports which confirm that relevant commercial companies are already considering how to implement this technical solution in the shortest possible time,” said Fico.

Hungary and Slovakia were granted exemptions from the Europe-wide ban on Russian oil imports following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, Kyiv recently ordered the suspension of the transit of Lukoil’s oil products via the Druzhba pipeline.

Ukraine insists that the pipeline continues to transport the same amount of oil as before, thanks to other Russian companies. Hungary and Slovakia, on the other hand, argue that Kyiv’s decision threatens their energy security.

quote:

The Electronic Data of Nearly Every Russian Has Been Leaked – Moscow’s Tech Watchdog
A Russian mainstream news site has reported that in the first six months of 2024, 140 million Russian mobile numbers and 46 million e-mail addresses have been leaked to the Internet.

Izvestia said, citing a report produced by Russia’s data leak intelligence and darknet monitoring service (DLBI), between January and June this year alone, almost 150 separate data leaks resulted in 140 million Russian mobile numbers along with 46 million e-mail addresses, being compromised.

The July 29 article warned that fraudsters could use this information to deceive individuals, companies, and organizations and implied the authorities were getting things under control – something the DLBI statistics do not support.

Despite the fact that the number of individual leaks had reduced from more than 200 in the same period of 2023, the volume of information appearing on networks had increased by 14 percent. It also showed that the annual volume of identity theft in Russia has grown at a rate of about 40 percent per year since the service started studying the phenomena in 2019.

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Kherson region: A Ukrainian FPV drone rammed a Russian UAV Supercam

^{Interception of the Russian Supercam S350 reconnaissance drone in the Kherson region. July 2024. Frame from Prizrak_seti's Tiktok video}

A Ukrainian FPV drone intercepted a Russian Supercam S350 reconnaissance drone on the left bank of the Kherson region.

User Prizrak_seti published the video of the incident on his TikTok page.

A Ukrainian drone operator used a battering ram to shoot down the Russian UAV.

After several hits, the Russian Supercam S350 UAV suffered wing damage and released its parachute to land.

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A defense plant is on fire in Russia

The Yekaterinburg defense plant, NPO defense, is on fire in Russia.

It is reported that one of the buildings of the enterprise is on fire. The area of the fire covered more than 1000 square meters.

“NPO Automatics is named after N.A. Semikhatov.” – one of the largest enterprises of the Russian Federation in the field of the development of control systems.

The plant manufactures control systems and radio-electronic equipment for space technology.

It also manufactures electronics for intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Russian authorities have not yet named the cause of the fire at the plant.

quote:

Social media platforms to hand over user data in Russian crackdown on ‘spreading false information’
The lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, has voted for an amendment which requires social media networks with more than 500,000 daily users to hand over user data to the FSB and Russian media regulator Roskomnadzor upon request, state-owned news agency TASS reported on Tuesday.

In the second and third reading of legislation regulating the provision of telecommunications services, deputies also accepted an amendment obliging any individual in Russia with over 10,000 subscribers on any social media platform to register with Roskomnadzor. Failure to do so would prohibit them from accepting donations or posting ads, Duma Deputy Alexander Khinshtein said on Telegram.

Another amendment banning so-called “trash streams”, the live broadcast of violent abuse typically carried out by male streamers on their girlfriends to earn tips from those watching, was also approved by the Duma, with such broadcasts to be punishable by fines of up to 1 million rubles (¤10,500).

The State Duma also limited the number of SIM cards a person can have, with foreign citizens limited to 10 per person, while Russians may have no more than 20.

The new amendments have been introduced to “protect Russian citizens from online crime”, according to TASS, while Khinshtein said this was all part of what he called “the fight against the spread of false information”.

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Defense Ministry truck rams car in Rostov region, killing woman and 6-year-old child

^{Press service of the State Automobile Inspectorate}

A woman and her six-year-old son died in a traffic accident involving a Russian Defense Ministry KamAZ and a Kia Ceed passenger car in Novoshakhtinsk, Rostov Oblast. This was reported by the regional traffic police press service.

According to law enforcement, the driver of a military truck was driving on a secondary road and failed to yield to a passenger car at a controlled intersection. As a result of the collision, the passengers of the passenger car died - a 39-year-old woman with her young son. Children aged 9, 16 and 17 were also injured; they were taken to hospital with injuries of varying severity.

This is at least the third case since the beginning of the month, when military transport causes fatal accidents on Russian roads. Thus, on July 24 in the Borisovsky district of the Belgorod region, a tank crushed a Niva car, the driver of the car died. Photos that appeared on the Internet show that almost nothing was left of the front part of the car. Eyewitnesses claim that the tank crew "was in an insane state" at the time of the accident.

In early July, under similar circumstances, drunken servicemen in a tank ran over the car of Grayvoron resident Andrey Alekseyev, who died. The crew of the armored vehicle tried to escape from the scene, but were eventually caught. Police conducted a medical examination of the detainees, which confirmed the presence of alcohol in their blood. A criminal case was opened against the soldier who drove the tank . He is in pretrial detention.