Ukraine War Live Ticker +++ 07:20 Norway Supports Ukraine with $551 Million for Combat Drones
Norway Provides Ukraine with €551 Million for Purchase of Combat Drones
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Norway is providing Ukraine with a massive financial boost of 6.5 billion Norwegian Kroner (over 551 million Euros) to help Ukraine purchase drones and related technology from local and European manufacturers, as announced by the Norwegian government. "Drones are a crucial tool in Ukraine's defense against the Russian invasion, protecting vital infrastructure and aiding frontline operations," said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. "Norway's support will significantly enhance Ukraine's ability to conduct necessary surveillance and drone operations."
06:46 Moscow Airport under Lockdown - Suspected Ukrainian Drone Attack Explosions were reported in Moscow overnight, causing temporary lockdowns at Vnukovo and Kaluga airports near Moscow. As reported by the "Kyiv Independent", two Ukrainian drones may have been shot down by Russian air defenses.
06:20 NATO: Donald Trump's Legacy Lives On According to political scientist and military expert Carlo Masala, the NATO summit in The Hague did not yield much. "NATO didn't leave this summit strengthened," said Masala. Ukraine wasn't mentioned at the summit, and the Russian threat was not clearly stated. In essence, NATO took a step back. The fact that member states want to spend five percent of their GDP on defense by 2035 is primarily due to a fear of losing US security guarantees if they don't meet Trump's expectations.
05:41 Kremlin Ready to Launch Digital Ruble in 2026 Russia's largest banks will start offering the digital ruble from September 1, 2026. VTB, the first credit institution to be technically ready, has announced this. This electronic currency will be issued, regulated, and guaranteed by the Central Bank of Russia. It is currently being tested in a pilot project and can be bought on special platforms like Bitcoin and used for transfers and online purchases.
04:48 Kyrgyzstan: Focus on Kyrgyz Culture The former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan has passed a law to strengthen the Kyrgyz language over Russian. "If we remain indifferent to our culture, we will cease to be a nation in the next few years," said the speaker of the Kyrgyz parliament. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the five former Soviet states in the region have taken steps to strengthen their national identities. In Kyrgyzstan, places with Russian-sounding names have been renamed to emphasize national identity, which has caused displeasure in Russian political circles.
Compared to traditional military equipment, combat drones have grown in importance in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, with both sides using them extensively for offensive and defensive operations. Ukraine has leveraged drones for precision strikes deep within Russian territory, while Russia employs a diverse drone arsenal for reconnaissance, strike, and disruption operations. This dynamic highlights drones' role as vital force multipliers and critical tools in modern warfare.
03:48 Switzerland to Limit Ukrainian Refugee Acceptance Switzerland will only accept Ukrainian refugees without lengthy administrative procedures if they face immediate danger to their lives at home. All others will have to go through an asylum procedure. Switzerland plans to differentiate between "safe" and "unsafe" regions in new applications. Ukrainians who have already fled to Switzerland will not be affected, but conditions will tighten for those who stay in Ukraine for more than 15 days per half-year (previously 15 days per quarter).
02:53 Moscow: Two Drones Shot Down Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that Russian air defenses shot down two drones heading towards the capital. The international airport Vnukovo in Moscow temporarily suspended flights due to drone alerts, and there were also temporary restrictions at airports along the Volga.
01:43 Zelensky Seeks Putin’s Trial for War Crimes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is calling for legal proceedings against Russian war crimes, including Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. "Strong political and legal cooperation is needed to ensure that every Russian war criminal, including Putin, is brought to justice," Zelensky said in Strasbourg. Ukraine and the Council of Europe signed an agreement to establish a special tribunal for Russian crimes, to be based in The Hague, Netherlands.
00:47 UN Organizations Concerned About German Budget Cuts United Nations aid organizations have appealed to the German government not to proceed with planned cuts to humanitarian aid. The cuts could jeopardize essential protection, urgent healthcare, food assistance, and economic cooperation. Adequate funding is critical, as the cuts would threaten years of progress in these areas. The relevant German ministries are preparing to adjust their work in light of the budget cuts.
23:52 Kyiv: No Anti-War Protest Contrary to misinformation spread by Russian Telegram channels, there was no anti-war protest organized by the Ukrainian military in Kyiv. Pro-Kremlin propagandists claimed that police dismantled a tent camp set up by "demonstrators" and arrested "participants of the action." The Central Democratic Party of Ukraine has confirmed that a demonstration took place, but it did not have an anti-war character, and illegal actions by the police did not occur.
Follow all previous developments here.
- The escalating use of drones in the Ukraine-Russia conflict has led to a focus on employment policy in the defense sector, as both countries employ diverse drone arsenals for various operations.
- In the political arena, discussions surrounding war-and-conflicts, general-news, and crime-and-justice have become increasingly prominent, with leaders such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seeking to bring Russian war criminals, including Vladimir Putin, to justice.
