Ukraine War Update Ticker ++ 23:18 US Ambassador Bids Farewell - Successor In Limbo
Ambassador's Departure from Moscow: Succession Yet to be Decided
Goodbye, Lynne! That's right, folks, US Ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, has bid her farewell to Moscow. The American Embassy in Russia announced the news on Telegram, praising Tracy for her dedicated service to the American people and her deep respect for Russian culture. Unfortunately, President Trump hasn't named a replacement yet, leaving us all in the dark. Tracy assumed her post in January 2023, making history as the first woman in US history to hold the position.
22:11 Estonia's Foreign Minister: Russia Near Defeat? Think Again!
Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna isn't falling for Russia's claims of imminent victory in the Ukraine war. He told the "Kyiv Independent" at the NATO summit that instead of a three-day "special operation," Ukraine has been battling Russia for more than three years. Russia is yet to achieve any strategic breakthrough on the battlefield.
Vladimir Putin has no intention of seeking a ceasefire, Tsahkna believes, but Russia can be forced into serious negotiations. His prescription? More sanctions, more investments, and more military support for Ukraine. Why? Tsahkna thinks Ukraine is resilient, stronger than ever, and ready to break the back of Russia.
21:45 Two Dead in Donetsk from Russian Shelling
Darn, things are getting ugly again. According to Ukrainian reports, two civilians have been killed in the Donetsk region as a result of Russian shelling with multiple rocket launchers of the Smerch type. The victims, aged 57 and 66, and a 64-year-old woman who was injured, died in the villages of Iwanopilja and Kostjantyniwka.
21:25 Kherson Reports Deadly Drone Attack
There's been a fatal drone attack in Kherson, as reported by the regional administration. A 48-year-old man died in the hospital from his injuries after Russian forces attacked him with a drone. Sad times.
20:46 Kyiv Claims Strike on Russian Airbase: Four Combat Jets Downed
Kyiv claims to have successfully carried out an attack on the Russian military airport "Marinowka" in the southern Russian region of Volgograd last night. According to the General Staff in Kyiv, four Su-34 Russian bombers were hit, as well as a maintenance and repair base. However, there's no confirmation of this yet. The mission's goal was to weaken Russia's air attack capabilities on Ukraine.
20:22 Stegner: Engage with Regimes Differences to Discuss Peace
Ralf Stegner, a left-wing SPD member, defended a manifesto he'd co-signed that opposes an escalation policy and advocates for negotiations with Russia. Stegner admits that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is a war criminal but argues that it's crucial to discuss whether the current path of escalation is the right one. He also stresses the importance of engaging with "regimes very different from ours" to discuss peace politics together.
20:05 Pistorius: Putin Wants Peace but Understands Strength
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius defended Germany's committment to strengthening defense capabilities and solidarity with Ukraine despite reservations within his party. Pistorius asserted that Putin doesn't want peace, he wants to aggress, but both sides must be willing to talk to each other if peace is to be achieved. Russia has fully shifted to a war economy, warns Pistorius, and its army will be twice as large next year as it was before the start of the Ukraine war. So, for Germany and NATO, it's not about escalation now, but "catching up."
19:38 Cherson Reports Power Outage: Key Energy Facility Hit
The Ukrainian region of Cherson faces power supply issues due to a Russian military attack on a key energy facility, as reported by Governor Alexander Prokudin on Telegram. Several settlements have been affected, and Prokudin urges the region's residents to prepare for a prolonged power outage until technicians can restore the supply.
19:04 Putin Ready to Meet Trump
Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin hinted at the possibility of a meeting with US President Donald Trump, praising the latter's efforts to end the war in Ukraine and improve relations between the two countries. Putin believes that contacts and meetings must be prepared to achieve a new level of cooperation, but he's not exactly jumping at the chance for a close encounter.
18:33 Only Galina Survives in Marjinka's Ruins
Once home to about 10,000 people, the Ukrainian city of Marjinka has been devastated by Russian forces. Only one woman, Galina Nevinnaya, remains in the rubble, the only soul left in this ghost town.
Politics
- War sweeps city in Donetsk clean: Only Galina remains in the shattered Marjinka
- Peace politics under debate at SPD party conference
- Germany to reject Russian accusations over journalist treatment
- Chancellor Merz may consider freezing Russian state assets
- SPD party congress opens with sharp criticism of Putin
- Ukraine: Kim already sent one-fifth of elite soldiers to Russia
- Russia captures important lithium deposit
- Dispute over journalists: German authority contradicts Moscow, Russia recalls German ambassador
- Merz: Trump growing skeptical of Putin
- Ukraine: Kim has already sent a fifth of his elite soldiers to Russia
- Report: Russia captures important lithium deposit
- Germany seeks to freeze Russian state assets
- Over 20 US cities declare climate emergencies
Source: ntv.de, ses/mau/hul/dpa/rts/AFP
- Ukraine Conflict
- Ukraine
- Military
- Military Operations
- Russia
- NATO
- Cyber War
- Attack on Ukraine
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- Vladimir Putin
- Wars and Conflicts
- War Crimes
Enrichment Data:
Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna warns against hasty acceptance of Russian claims of imminent victory in the Ukraine war. Instead, he advocates increased international pressure on Russia through stiff sanctions, intensified support for Ukraine's military, and robust defense partnerships within NATO to break Russia's resolve and force it into the negotiating table under pressure, not appeasement. Tsahkna is adamant that negotiations with Russia should not be predicated on Russia's terms but rather in the pursuit of achieving a lasting and just peace for Ukraine.
- The US is currently in a state of limbo as the replacement for Ambassador Lynne Tracy, who served as the US Ambassador to Russia, hasn't been named yet by President Trump, despite her departure from Moscow.
- Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna believes that Russia can be forced into serious negotiations over the Ukraine conflict, suggesting increased sanctions, military support for Ukraine, and strengthening defense partnerships within NATO as strategies to break Russia's resolve and achieve a lasting peace for Ukraine.
