live blog
The Ukrainian army again attacked Russian targets from the air during the night. Saxony’s Prime Minister Kretschmer called for increased diplomatic efforts. All developments in the live blog.
In July, too, the German retail trade recorded a minus in sales compared to the previous month. According to the Federal Statistical Office, it fell by 0.8 percent in real terms. From the point of view of the scientific director of the Institute for Macroeconomics and Business Cycle Research (IMK) of the Hans Böckler Foundation, Sebastian Dullien, this is a clear sign that “the energy and food price shock after the Russian invasion of Ukraine is still in a stranglehold on the German economy has”. As before, people in Germany “tightened their belts”.
The Russian air force is said to have shot down an enemy drone over Moscow. This was announced by the mayor of the Russian capital, Sergei Sobyanin, on Telegram. According to the first findings, there were no injuries or damage. Several media had previously reported that planes were temporarily unable to take off or land at Moscow Airport.
In its defense against the Russian invasion, Ukraine also attacked Russian targets from the air during the night. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, anti-aircraft guns shot down a cruise missile from Ukraine over the annexed peninsula of Crimea. Two drones were also intercepted over the Bryansk region on the border with Ukraine. According to the region’s governor, Alexander Bogomas, there were no casualties or damage.
On Wednesday night, the Ukrainian armed forces flew their most massive drone strikes to date, attacking six Russian areas as far as Moscow and Crimea.
Shaded: territories occupied by Russia
conflicting parties as a source
Information on the course of the war, shelling and casualties provided by official bodies of the Russian and Ukrainian conflict parties cannot be directly checked by an independent body in the current situation.
In order to stop the bloodshed in Ukraine, Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer is calling for increased diplomatic efforts.
“Every day when the guns are silent and you try diplomacy is a good day because no people die,” said the CDU politician to the “Augsburger Allgemeine”. He is firmly convinced that “you have to rely much more on diplomatic initiatives”. Kretschmer rejects arms deliveries to Ukraine, in sharp contrast to his party leadership.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has denounced what he called “systematic corruption in the medical exemption of conscientious objectors”.
An investigation by the National Security and Defense Council shows the extent of false exemptions, bribery and flight abroad since the Russian invasion began in February 2022, Zelenskyy said in his evening video address. “There are examples of regions where the number of exemptions from military service due to decisions by the medical commission has increased tenfold since February last year.” It is completely clear “what kind of decisions are involved: corrupt decisions.” Bribes are between $3,000 and $15,000.
The government in Kiev wants to step up action against corruption as part of the EU membership it is striving for.
Six Ukrainian servicemen have been killed aboard two helicopters operating in eastern Ukraine. There is no indication what happened to two widely used Mi-8 helicopters on Tuesday, the Ukrainian military said on Telegram.
News site Ukrainska Pravda reported that the incident happened near the town of Kramatorsk. Accordingly, the two helicopters were “completely destroyed” and the bodies were found. An Air Force spokesman told public broadcaster Suspilne that the men on board were officers.
Russia is in secret talks with North Korea over possible supplies of ammunition for Moscow’s fight in Ukraine, according to the White House.
Negotiations on arms sales between Russia and North Korea are “actively progressing,” said White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. One focus of the talks is artillery ammunition for Moscow’s armed forces.
Kirby said North Korea last year supplied infantry missiles and other missiles to Russia for use by the Wagner mercenary force, despite its denials. Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu recently traveled to North Korea to procure additional ammunition for the war.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield added that “Russia is negotiating with North Korea potential deals on significant quantities and different types of munitions to be used against Ukraine”. She declared that “such an arms deal would be in serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions.” She urged Pyongyang to end negotiations with Moscow and threatened sanctions against individuals and organizations surrounding a possible deal between Russia and North Korea.
Among other things, Germany has delivered ten main battle tanks and other reconnaissance drones to Ukraine. The EU is proposing to train 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers more than planned this year. Wednesday’s developments to read.