Closing summary
And, on that note, we will be closing the blog for today.
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Ceuta’s conservative president Juan Jesús Vivas told European lawmakers that the Spanish enclave’s residents were left feeling “sad, helpless, anxious” after last week’s storm on the border with Morocco.
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He said that up to 80,000 irregular migrants crossed the border, and while most later returned to Morocco, 3,000 to 5,000 still remained in the territory (14:21).
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Some 100 people died during the border crisis, Vivas said.
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EU migration commissioner Magnus Brunner accepted that the situation “has shaken” European politics and prompted concern about the bloc’s external borders among EU citizens, but insisted the integrity of the travel-free Schengen zone remained “preserved” as he praised Spain’s response to the situation (14:29).
In other news,
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Lithuanian defence minister warned that Russia could be considering possible “false flag” provocations against Nato countries in the Baltic region to undermine their support for Ukraine (11:18).
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Seeking to reassure the public, the country’s prime minister, stressed that citizens should not be “additionally concerned” as the threat level remains generally stable (15:45).
Elsewhere,
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German media reported that one of the Ukrainian planes near where the drone was spotted at Leipzig airport was carrying “military ammunition” transported from France and “likely intended for onward transport” (12:42).
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Authorities in Hungary (13:24) and Romania (13:48) adopted further energy-saving measures as the countries are still gripped by unprecedented heatwave and drought, impacting their energy generation.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com.
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
Lithuanian PM tells citizens not to be 'additionally worried' after warnings over possible Russian 'false flag' operation
Meanwhile, Lithuanian prime minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said there was no reason for Lithuanians to be “additionally worried,” despite earlier warning about a potential Russian “false flag” attack on the Baltics or Poland (11:18).
He acknowledged that “a certain level of threat exists,” but stressed that the country “has faced various hybrid attacks before,” LRT reported.
“The state is preparing and doing its work quietly. We do not explain everything because we do not want unfriendly neighbouring states to know too much,” he said.
He said the growing number of Russia-linked incidents in Europe – specifically referencing the drone incident at Leipzig airport earlier this week – shows that “as [Ukraine] war approaches its climax, there is often desperation.”
‘Morocco feels emboldened’: Trump’s influence in spotlight after Ceuta disaster
in Madrid
The cosy relationship between Washington and Rabat has long been flaunted by both sides, from Morocco’s announcement this year that it would be the first African state to join Donald Trump’s Board of Peace to the congratulatory message recently sent by Trump to mark King Mohammed VI’s 27 years in power.
The latest example landed this week. As Spain grappled with the aftermath of the sudden influx – and swift return – of more than 70,000 people into Ceuta, Morocco’s monarch confirmed he had named a $1bn highway flanking the disputed territory of Western Sahara after Trump.
The deepening ties have come under renewed scrutiny as questions continue to swirl over what exactly led to the deadly mass border crossing into the tiny Spanish territory in north Africa.
“I think there’s enough evidence to hypothesise or claim that Morocco is behind this,” said Riccardo Fabiani, the north Africa project director for the International Crisis Group. “But there was no clear trigger for this, and this is what is puzzling for everyone.”
While Morocco had probably not “masterminded” the surge into Ceuta, he said, its relationship with the Trump administration – along with the Moroccan king’s desire to keep its claim to Ceuta in the spotlight – may have affected how it responded to fast-spreading online rumours about the Spanish border being thrown open.
EU’s Brunner also says the EU should use “all leverage” it can in talks with Morocco.
He says the two sides are “discussing a comprehensive partnership,” and the EU could also use its influence on visa policy, trade, development aid to shape the relationship.
“We really have to use all the leverage we have,” he says.
Brunner now keeps going through ideas on how to strengthen the bloc’s external borders.
But then he says there is also one “very important” reminder that the EU needs to work with its neighbours, with a comment on Morocco.
“We must cooperate with our neighbours, of course, but as long as control depends on the goodwill of one neighbouring state, we remain … vulnerable. And we know that unless something changes, migrant smugglers will try it again.”
He says the EU needs to enhance cooperation with third countries on returns and readmission, and step up its social media monitoring for any hints of possible attempts to cross the border.
Updated
Events in Ceuta have shaken European politics, EU migration commissioner says
EU migration commissioner Magnus Brunner is speaking next.
He begins by saying that overall irregular migration into the EU is being controlled more tightly than in the last decade, with the number of asylum applications going down across the bloc.
But he says this was understandably “overshadowed” by the events in Ceuta last week.
“These dramatic images beat actually [even] the best statistics and all the numbers I have just given to you on the falling arrivals, the restoration of control … in the eyes of the public across Europe, an event that that last[ed] three days, at one beach in one town, has shaken the politics of an entire continent.”
He says the EU “cannot accept such a breach of integrity of our external borders and violation of the union.”
But he commends Spain and Morocco for their work on “swift returns,” and pointedly praises Spain’s “commitment to prevent any movements towards the mainland.”
“Thanks to these efforts, I think, altogether the integrity of the Schengen are was preserved,” he says, pointing to the fact that Ceuta is covered by a special migration regime with border controls before leaving the enclave towards mainland Europe.
Updated
Ceuta residents 'sad, helpless, anxious' as up to 5,000 migrants remain in the city, president says
Over in Brussels, Ceuta’s conservative president Juan Jesús Vivas is briefing European lawmakers on the situation in the city in the aftermath of last week’s migration crisis with Morocco.
He tells MEPs that the incident amount to “an invasion” defined as “an anomalous or ir regulation occupation of a specific place.”
He says 3,000 to 5,000 people migrants of the 80,000 who he says crossed the border still remain in the city, which “in no way allows us to say that our city has returned to normal.”
“We have a situation where the influx has led to a humanitarian emergency of enormous proportions, compounded by disturbances to public order and a high risk to public safety.”
He warns lawmakers that “our people feel sad, helpless, anxious, fearful and worried, and they have good reason to, because it is inevitable to wonder whether this will happen again at some point.”
Vivas also says that “it has become evident” that “our security and integrity are in the hands of a third country, Morocco, that does not recognise our sovereignty.”
He calls upon Spanish national authorities to “adopt whatever measures necessary to restore the normality,” including “immediate expulsion” of all people who crossed the border irregularly.
He also laments the death of some 100 people who died during the crisis.
Updated
Ukraine moves to develop own ballistic, anti-ballistic system amid delivery shortages
Meanwhile in Ukraine, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy hosted a meeting on the military’s plans to develop their own anti-ballistic capabilities in the face of delivery shortages for existing missile systems.
He said:
”Developing one’s own ballistic capabilities and creating a new anti-ballistic system is a task that only a tiny minority of countries worldwide have managed to accomplish. Ukraine has this capability. Ukrainians have the necessary scientific foundation and expertise. We can state that our weapons manufacturers have also reached the required level. We expect Ukraine to achieve the necessary results in 2026–2027.”
The meeting looked into some of the “key challenges” including “access to critical components” and “technological cooperation with partners.”
“We support and expect more of our partner countries that are capable of contributing to join the Anti-Ballistic Coalition. We also discussed work with partners on PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles. I expect results from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense in their communication with the partners that have already been identified and mentioned on numerous occasions.”
Bucharest dims street lighting to save energy amid heat pressures
Similar measures were adopted over in Romania.
The capital city Bucharest dimmed street lighting by a third on Wednesday evening and switched off lighting at night at landmark buildings and museums to save energy, AP said.
Other cities are enforcing similar measures.
The country’s prime minister, Ilie Bolojan, said on Thursday that the government will preemptively give power grid operator Transelectrica the authority to limit power access for industrial consumers in stages and with a 24 hours advance notice.
Bolojan added households, hospitals and other critical institutions will be exempt from the limits.
He said there was no need to enforce the limits for industrial consumers at the moment but that the framework needed to be in place, Reuters said.
Hungary turns off decorative, non-essential lighting amid drought-related energy crunch
In other news, Hungary has switched off decorative and non-essential lighting at all state institutions, including its parliament, most of the Buda Castle and Chain Bridge, at night to save energy as the country battles another heatwave putting strain on its energy system, AP reported.
Record-low water levels on the Danube have forced the country to largely shut down its sole nuclear plant, which uses the river for cooling, stretching power supply capacity to its limits.
I appreciate that’s not the main point here, but German authorities will hardly be thrilled that another confidential report on the Leipzig incident has leaked to the media.
This could put more pressure on them to explain what they know in a bit more detail than during Dobrindt’s briefing last night.
Updated
Ukrainian plane next to drone at Leipzig was carrying ammunition for 'onward transport' - reports
Back to the drone incident in Leipzig, German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung is reporting that one of the planes near where the drone was spotted was carrying “military ammunition” transported from France and “likely intended for onward transport.”
The paper says the revelation comes from a confidential police report, but it has not been confirmed by the authorities at this stage.
The commission also got repeatedly asked about last week’s events in Ceuta and media reports that social media accounts seen calls for another attempt to overwhelm the border on 15 August.
A spokesperson said the commission was aware of various threats to the EU’s external border, and “that’s why we need to step up our work.”
The commission also said it was aware of reports that Russian-related channels joined in to “amplify” disinformation about the events in Ceuta, but it’s the Spanish national authorities that lead on this issue.
Answering some concerns, the commission also said that “illegal movement onwards to mainland Spain and Europe has so far been successfully prevented.”
Updated
EU preparing for solar eclipse impact on energy production next week
Oh, that’s interesting.
Talking about energy security in the EU during the continuing heatwaves and droughts affecting multiple countries, an EU spokesperson pointed to another phenomenon likely to have an impact: next week’s solar eclipse.
“I can point you to the solar eclipse next week on the 12th, which will have an impact on energy production.
We have established a operational group that is dedicated to the preparation of this and … my understanding is that they have a meeting tomorrow, Friday, where they are preparing for possible impacts.
But given the fact that it should be taking place, the solar eclipse, towards afternoon, its impacts is not expected to be huge, but this is just to show you that we are really looking very holistically… at the situation and, and any possible, factors that might [have an] impact.”
The EU also got asked about yesterday’s Leipzig drone incident over in Germany.
But a transport spokesperson declined to speculate on what happened, pointing strongly towards the German authorities instead.
“It’s for the national authorities to investigate. We do have aviation safety legislation in place … Before making any assessments or any kind of statement … we need to first let the national authorities look into this. And obviously we are closely, closely in contact or in close contact with them on this.”
EU disbursed €8.5bn of its €90bn loan for Ukraine's defence
Over in Brussels, the European Commission is giving its regular midday briefing, with reporters’ questions focusing on Ukraine at the moment.
The EU has already disbursed €8.5bn out of its €90bn loan for Ukraine, focusing on financing Ukraine’s defence needs, including fighter jets, missiles, drones.
Asked if Ukraine could use the money to spend on missile interceptors for its air defence, an EU spokesperson confirmed that’s the case.
“Ukraine defines the needs: Ukraine looks at the situation on the battlefield, identifies the needs, submits what we call a product schedule. We examine the project schedule and we proceed on that basis. So, it is very much a possibility for Ukraine to request, for example, interceptors or related equipment, and then we can look at it.”
Afghan man given life sentence for deadly Munich car-ramming attack
A 25-year-old Afghan man who last year drove into the a trade union march in Munich killing two and injuring over 40 people has been sentenced to life imprisonment.
A Munich court ruled that the crime carried “particular gravity”, a designation that will make it much harder for the 25-year-old man, named only as Farhad N., to ever win release from prison, AFP noted.
Lithuanian minister warns against Russia's 'false flag' strike on the Baltics
Lithuania’s defence minister Robertas Kaunas warned that Russia could be considering possible “false flag” provocations against Nato countries in the Baltic region.
A “false flag” is a term for an event or attack which would later be blamed on someone other than the actual perpetrator.
Kaunas said there was no specific date for any potential Russian actions, but authorities were closely monitoring Russia’s plans and exchanging information with Poland and other Nato allies.
“We are assessing and monitoring the threat level,” he said, quoted by LRT.
BNS news agency reported that one scenario believed to be considered by Moscow included a “false flag” strike using intercepted Ukrainian-made drones on the region’s critical infrastructure. Such possibility was also reported by Lithuanian media outlet 15min.
The minister suggested that a potential Russian attack – which could be carried using an intercepted or a reconstructed drone that would look like it is of Ukrainian-origin – would be used to test Nato’s resolve to support Ukraine.
He stressed that the risk of a conventional attack on Lithuania remained low, LRT said.
Kaunas’s latest comments come after months of warnings from senior regional leaders from Poland, Latvia and Lithuania about the risk of escalation by Russia.
Lithuania repeatedly experienced air drone alerts in the last few months.
Updated
Ukraine looking at cut-price Patriot missiles as it looks for missile defence options
Ukraine could benefit from a Lockheed Martin project to build a new, lower-cost Patriot interceptor, the PAC-3 Adapted Capability Effector (ACE) missile, Reuters has reported.
The news agency, citing defence and US government sources, said that despite Donald Trump casting doubt on a deal for Ukraine to build desperately needed Patriots, “no order was given to halt the discussions”, and talks continued with US arms makers, military officials and others.
Ukraine has proven adept at producing large volumes of dramatically cheaper yet equally or more effective missiles and drones compared with those made by western allies.
UK expands designations under Russia sanctions regime
The UK has added 13 new designations and six new specifications to its Russia sanctions regime.
The new entries include asset freezes, director disqualifications and transport sanctions, and shipping and trade sanctions, among others.
The new listings include banks, companies involved in natural resources exploration, tankers and companies responsible for selling them into Russian ownership, and engineering companies working on maintenance of airplanes, the government’s website showed.
Head of drone manufacturer critically injured in car bomb in Russia
The head of a leading Russian drone manufacturer has been critically injured in a car bomb near Ekaterinburg, in what appears to be the latest in a series of assassination attempts targeting figures linked to the country’s war in Ukraine.
Vladimir Tkachuk, the founder of the private drone manufacturer Uraldronzavod, was rushed to intensive care on Wednesday after a bomb planted beneath his Mercedes exploded, according to Russian state media, citing emergency services. His bodyguard was killed in the explosion.
The Russian news agency Tass reported that Tkachuk was in a critical condition and doctors were “fighting [to save] his life”.
Images circulating on social media showed the charred wreckage of a Mercedes, with blood stains visible on the pavement nearby.
Uraldronzavod is one of several private drone manufacturers that sprang up in Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The company is best known for producing the Upyr (Ghoul), a low-cost first-person-view (FPV) kamikaze drone manufactured using 3D-printing technology at its facility in Ekaterinburg and widely used by Russian forces in Ukraine.
In 2024, Vladimir Putin visited the factory, where he was given a tour by Tkachuk.
Uraldronzavod and Tkachuk have been hit with sanctions by western governments for their role in supporting Russia’s war.
Tkachuk is also the founder of the popular pro-war Telegram channel Obsessed with War, which has more than 500,000 followers and has been used to raise funds and procure military equipment for Russian soldiers fighting on the frontline.
Russia is likely to blame Ukraine for the bombing, which comes just days after an explosion outside an upmarket restaurant in central Moscow that killed five people.
Morning opening: Ukraine hits Russia's oil refineries as Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities continue
At least six people were killed and 36 injured in another round of Russian overnight attacks on Ukraine, targeting the eastern city of Balakliia and the northern region of Sumy.
But the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, noted that Ukraine’s military managed to hit two Russian refineries in targeted attacks, hitting “Russia’s oil revenues, which it uses to finance the war and the killing of Ukrainians.”
“Ukraine’s Defence Forces struck the aggressor’s facilities more than 1,300 kilometres from the frontline. The Bashneft-Novoil refinery was hit in Bashkortostan. In the Yaroslavl region, nearly 700 kilometres from our border, the Slavneft-YANOS refinery was hit,” he said.
“Russia must choose peace,” he added.
The attacks come at a particularly sensitive moment as Ukraine is growing concerned about the lack of air defence missiles to protect its skies. Nato secretary general Mark Rutte pledged to “urgently” look into this after speaking to Zelenskyy last night.
Later this month, US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to make their first visit to Kyiv for direct talks with Zelenskyy, with the issue of US licensing the manufacturing of Patriot missiles to Ukraine is likely to be discussed.
Elsewhere, I will be keeping an eye on the latest from Leipzig after last night’s press conference by Germany’s interior minister Alexander Dobrindt, hinting at the possible involvement of “foreign powers” remaining in “competition” with Europe on hybrid threats.
Who could he possibly be thinking about?
I will also follow the latest from central and south eastern Europe as several countries remain on red alert due to extreme temperatures. Austria and Slovakia broke their all-time high temperature records on Wednesday, with more extreme heat expected today, including also in Italy.
It’s Thursday, 6 August 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
