DAccording to Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Berbach (Greens), the Ukrainian armed forces must be equipped with the appropriate weapons to overcome Russian landmines. Berbock in Berlin says there are “huge mining belts, especially in eastern Ukraine,” roughly the size of West Germany.
That is why Ukraine has made it clear that it needs material to overcome these mines. “We are working at full speed (…),” Baerbach said when asked when Germany would deliver the Taurus cruise missiles requested by Ukraine.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SDPD) is still hesitant about whether Germany should make Taurus missiles available to Ukraine. The Taurus is a German-made medium-range missile with a range of up to 500 kilometers. So far, Scholes has justified his reluctance by saying that the missiles should not be used to hit targets in Russia itself, lest the situation worsen. Therefore, the industry should check whether the range of the missiles can be reduced.
Berbach countered that Ukraine could already launch rockets from its border with Russia in the north at targets in Russia. In this regard, he said in a joint press conference with Estonian Foreign Minister Markus Sagna that the question of the limit is not decisive.
All Improvements in Live Ticker:
14:50 – Ukrainian troops appear to be advancing southeast
According to the government, Ukrainian armed forces are advancing their offensive in the country’s southeast. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maljar wrote in a telegram that Ukrainian troops have advanced to the strategic location of Robotine. The evacuation of the site is now being organized, but soldiers are still coming under fire from Russian troops. Robotin is ten kilometers south of the front-line town of Origiv in Zaporizhia Oblast. The road leads to the Russian-occupied transport hub of Dokmok.
Current situation in Ukraine
Source: Infographic World
A video released by the Ukrainian military shows a woman kissing Ukrainian soldiers. “We are very grateful to the boys,” says an old woman. Reuters was able to verify that the video belonged to Robotine. However, registration time could not be verified. One of the main goals of the ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive in the country’s southeast is to push further toward the city of Melitopol, far from the coast of the Sea of Azov. If it does, Ukrainian forces will wedge Russian garrisons along the coast.
1:05 pm – EU owes Ukraine billions
Ukraine received another 1.5 billion euro bailout loan from the European Union. As Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced, she will help the country, which has been attacked by Russia, run its government and repair its infrastructure. “We are doing everything we can to support Ukraine,” the former German defense minister said.
The funding is part of a loan program of up to 18 billion euros for this year by EU member states last December. Along with the funding, the EU wants the Ukrainian government to continue paying salaries and pensions. Also, the functioning of hospitals, schools and emergency shelters for the resettled population should be guaranteed. Additionally, the money could also be used to restore infrastructure destroyed by the Russian war of aggression. For example, these include power lines, water systems, and roads and bridges.
11:35 am – Russia wants to ramp up drone production
Russia wants to expand production of drones for military and civilian use. The country is currently producing 6,000 of the roughly 30,000 drones needed for civilian use, Deputy Industry Minister Vassily Shpak told state agency TASS in an interview. “If we are talking about military needs, the level of production is high.” He did not provide any statistics.
During airstrikes in its war against Ukraine, Russia often uses Iranian-made combat drones that are destroyed when they hit the target. These drones are now also manufactured in Russia. Ukraine is also developing its own combat drones. For battlefield reconnaissance, both sides fly hundreds of small aircraft that have been converted for military use.
By 2024, production of civilian drones in Russia should increase to 18,000 units per year, Shpak said in an interview on Tuesday. By 2030 it should be 30,000 pieces. This includes all types of aircraft or helicopter-like drones to multi-rotor multicopters. They should be used in agriculture, construction sites or for transportation in inaccessible areas.
11:00 am – Destroyed in Russian long-range bomber attack
According to British estimates, a Russian long-range bomber was destroyed in an attack on a Russian military airfield. The British Ministry of Defense said it was a Tupolev Tu-22M3 (NATO code: Backfire) engine that would fire Ch-22 Burja cruise missiles (NATO: AS-4 Kitchen) at Ukrainian targets.
“This is at least the third successful attack on a long-range airfield, again raising questions about Russia’s ability to defend strategic locations deep inland,” the UK ministry said.
Tupolev Tu-22M3 long-range bomber
Quelle: Image Alliance/Russian Look/Photo Agency Interpress
The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Saturday that a Ukrainian drone had struck the Solsi airfield in western Russia’s Novgorod region, 650 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. A fire broke out and the engine was damaged.
The British ministry cited Russian reports that the attack was carried out by a “helicopter-like drone”. “This underscores the assessment that, if true, some drone strikes on Russian military targets are being launched from Russian territory,” it said. Because if such drones were launched outside of Russia, they would not have enough range to reach Solsi.
10:40am – Russia says drone strikes foiled
According to its own reports, Russia repelled four Ukrainian drone strikes overnight. The Defense Ministry announced that the drone had smashed windows and damaged vehicles at a residential building in the western suburbs of the capital Moscow. No injuries were reported.
Flight operations at several Moscow airports were temporarily suspended on Tuesday due to security concerns, officials said. According to the Defense Ministry, two drones were electronically intercepted and crashed in the western region of Bryansk, bordering Ukraine. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the attack.
08:00 – Drones attack Zaporizhia
According to media reports, the city of Zaporizhia in southeastern Ukraine was hit by Shahed drones on Tuesday night. An explosion was heard in the area. Earlier, the Ukrainian Air Force told Telegram that a group of attack drones had been spotted near the city. Due to this, an aerial alert was issued in the area. The information could not be independently verified. There were no initial reports of possible damage or injuries. In Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Moscow has repeatedly used Iranian-made drones.
Ukrainian soldier in Zaporizhia province (photo: 11.8.2023)
Source: dpa/—
06:03 – Russia: Ukrainian spy boat breaks down in Black Sea
According to the Defense Ministry in Moscow, the crew of a Russian warplane destroyed a spy boat belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Russian gas production facilities in the Black Sea. This was stated by the Ministry in a telegram. Fighter aircraft Su-30 engine. The information could not be independently verified.
02:39 – DASS: Moscow’s airspace closed after drone attacks
According to the Russian news agency Tass, three major airports in Moscow have stopped taking off and landing. “The airspace over Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo is closed,” Doss quoted a person familiar with the matter as saying. Russia had reported several Ukrainian drone strikes on Monday and Tuesday, including in Moscow.
11:22 pm – Russia: Shoots down Ukrainian drones over sea
The Russian Defense Ministry says it has shot down two Ukrainian drones over the Black Sea. They fell into the water 40 kilometers from northwestern Crimea.
10:14 pm – US approves sale of Apache attack helicopters to Poland
The US government has approved the sale of 96 Apache attack helicopters to Poland. The agency responsible for defense cooperation approved a $12 billion arms deal with Congress on Monday, the US State Department said. This amount includes 96 combat helicopters manufactured by Boeing and associated weapons and equipment.
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