Author: Rachel Amran

In a recent development, strong explosions and fires were reported in the town of Rylsk in Kursk Oblast overnight on Aug. 9. Russian-affiliated Telegram channels reported that residents heard four explosions in the village of Stepanovka, but the cause is still unknown. Ukrainian forces crossed the border into Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6, leading to clashes on Russian soil. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed on Aug. 8 that its forces were fighting Ukrainian troops near the border with Ukraine. President Putin labeled the incursion as a “large-scale provocation” and accused Ukrainian soldiers of attacking civilian infrastructure, although these claims are yet…

Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Become a member Support us just once The European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, announced on July 22 that Ukraine is expected to receive the first transfer of $1.5 billion in payments from Russian frozen assets at the beginning of August. The funds will be used for acquiring priority military equipment. EU ambassadors agreed to allocate windfall profits from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s defense needs. Ukraine is set to receive approximately $3.2 billion annually from these assets. This decision comes after Ukraine’s Western allies froze around $300 billion…

A Ukrainian Attack? Fire Erupts at Low-Voltage Equipment Plant in Kursk Oblast A massive fire engulfed a low-voltage equipment plant in Kursk Oblast, with Governor Alexei Smirnov pointing fingers at a Ukrainian aircraft dropping an explosive device on the facility in Korenevo. Fortunately, no plant workers were harmed in the blaze. While the validity of these accusations remains unconfirmed, Ukrainian intelligence services have allegedly been involved in various acts of sabotage on Russian soil. Recent incidents include drone attacks targeting Russia’s oil industry, pivotal to Moscow’s military operations. In May, strikes on oil depots in Krasnodar Krai disrupted operations at…

Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Become a member Support us just once NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized Ukraine’s “irreversible” path toward NATO, stating that ongoing commitments are paving the way for membership. The alliance reaffirmed Ukraine’s integration and encouraged its progress in democratic, economic, and security reforms. Despite hopes for a definitive NATO membership signal, American officials indicated no immediate invitation for Ukraine. During the summit, NATO allies pledged significant funding and support for Ukraine, including the dispatch of F-16s from Netherlands and Denmark. Plans for a new military command in Germany and the…

Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Become a member Support us just once Poland has declined Ukraine’s request to shoot down Russian missiles heading towards western Ukraine, citing the need for a NATO decision. Ukrainian President Zelensky had suggested Western allies, including Poland, take direct action in Ukraine’s defense, but the Polish Defense Minister emphasized that such decisions must be made collectively. Following a recent incident where a Russian missile briefly entered Polish airspace, discussions on the legal aspects of shooting down such missiles have been ongoing in Poland. President Zelensky and Polish Prime Minister Tusk…

Support Independent Journalism in Ukraine Join us in this fight to support independent journalism in Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg affirmed Ukraine’s right to self-defense during a press conference on July 10, addressing U.S. restrictions on the use of long-range weapons to strike targets in Russia. The U.S. recently allowed Ukraine to use American-supplied weapons near the border with Kharkiv Oblast, but restrictions on deeper strikes within Russia remain. President Zelensky called for U.S. assistance in using long-range U.S. weapons for strikes against Russian military and logistics in occupied territories to push the occupier out. However, the U.S. National…

Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Become a member Support us just once The French left-wing coalition, New Popular Front (NFP), is projected to win the most seats in France’s parliamentary election, surpassing President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist Ensemble party and the right-wing National Rally (RN) coalition. Macron requested snap elections in response to a defeat in the European Parliament elections. Current projections indicate the NFP winning the most seats but not enough for a majority, with Macron’s Ensemble and the RN party also gaining seats. The NFP employed a strategic withdrawal of candidates to resist far-right…

Russian air defense shot down 10 drones over Rostov Oblast, resulting in a large fire, as reported by Governor Vasily Golubev on July 5. The debris from the drones fell on the left bank of Rostov-on-Don, igniting a significant landscape fire. Images of the attack site engulfed in flames were later shared by the Russian Telegram news channel Astra, confirming the destruction caused by the drones. No casualties were reported in this incident. Rostov Oblast, bordering Ukraine to the southeast, has seen an increase in drone attacks targeting local oil infrastructure in the spring of 2024. Just earlier this month,…

The French far-right National Rally has emerged victorious in the first round of France’s parliamentary election on June 30, according to exit polls. President Emmanuel Macron had called for snap elections after a disappointing European Parliament defeat in June. The National Rally secured 34.2% of the vote, outperforming Macron’s party which received only 20%. However, the party may fall short of an absolute majority in the 577-seat lower house. If elected, Jordan Bardella of National Rally is set to become prime minister, pledging continued support for Ukraine through defense equipment. He opposes sending troops or long-range weapons to Ukraine. Bardella’s…

Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Become a member Support us just once Russian forces suffered major losses in Ukraine in June, with the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces revealing that 33,700 Russian soldiers, 350 tanks, and 58 air defense systems were destroyed. Ukraine’s military targeted over 330 enemy areas, including bases and ammunition warehouses. The General Staff’s report highlighted the destruction of 352 tanks, 58 air defense systems, three aircraft, and 1,758 military vehicles by Russian forces. The conflict intensified with Russia’s offensive in Kharkiv Oblast, resulting in intense fighting in Vovchansk. Despite initial…