07:48 Russia: Thirteen Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) brought down in Russia
Russia asserts shooting down 13 Ukrainian drones across three border zones overnight. The air defense system allegedly struck down 6 drones over Russian territories such as Belgorod and Kursk, along with 1 drone over Bryansk, as per the Defense Ministry's statement on Telegram from the Kremlin.
07:16 DeepState signals Ukrainian victory in DonetskDeepState, a collective of military analysts, claimed Ukrainian forces victoriously regained their positions in Donetsk Oblast, near Novohrodivka. Simultaneously, DeepState reported Russian advances in Donetsk, close to the settlement of Veseloye.
06:30 Lithuania's election: Major parties unanimously support UkraineToday, Lithuania conducts elections for a new parliament. Polls forecast a potential government shift, with the Social Democrats anticipated to take the lead from the Homeland Union, the current dominant political force. Additionally, the upcoming "Aušra of Nemunas" could become the first populist party to join parliament. Regardless of the political alliance, all prominent Lithuanian parties emphasize their commitment to continuing Ukraine's reinforcement and bolstering defenses against Russia.
04:39 Russia's military age increases due to mobilization and volunteer enlistmentAs per statistics published by the Russian opposition media project Mediazona and BBC Russia, the military personnel being deployed in Ukraine gradually get older. Journalists working with data sourced from over 72,500 soldiers both from social media and local sources found that during the first six months of the war, most deaths were among those aged 21-23. Conversely, the mobilization, use of prisoners, and voluntary enlistment steadily shifted the demographic of recruits, with the majority of volunteers showing an average age of 48-50, as per Mediazona.
01:05 Zelensky advocates for expanded Ukrainian weapon production with Western investmentsUkrainian President Zelensky advocates for significant expansion of armament production with Western financial aid. He believes that Ukraine's industrial capacity permits production of an excess of drones, shells, and military equipment compared to its financial resources, implying the necessity of increased external funding. The West could potentially provide the monetary backing, considering their current incapability to effectively contribute to Ukraine due to their own weapon shortages. During his Paris visit, negotiations attended by Zelensky touched upon the development of a Ukrainian-French model.
23:31 Zelensky affirms Ukrainian positions in KurskAs stated by President Zelensky, Ukrainian forces maintain their positions in the Kursk border region of Russia. Although the Russian Ministry of Defense announced their reclaimed of two Kursk villages, Zelensky asserted that Ukraine continues holding its designated lines. The Russian forces reportedly encountered one of the largest attacks on their territory since February 2022, with around one thousand Ukrainian soldiers infiltrating Kursk in August, entering with tanks and combat vehicles.
22:21 Drone strikes serve as precedent for potential powerful weapon strikes in RussiaUkraine's recent usage of drones to strike Russian ammo and fuel depots, causing destruction and hindering supply lines, has set a potential precedent for their ability to employ long-range weapons against military targets inside Russian territory. Oleksandr Syrskiy, Ukraine's Chief of Armed Forces, is content with these operations and considers this approach as a potential future weapon strategy. According to reports, his plan is one of the central aspects that President Zelensky has discussed with various international leaders in recent days.
21:58 Freedom House indicts Belarus for crimes against Ukrainian childrenFreedom House, a US-based NGO, accuses the Belarusian regime of undertaking serious acts of violence against Ukrainian children. These infractions include relocating children from occupied Ukrainian territories, allegedly in violation of global law, and indoctrinating and militarizing them. These practices are part of Russia's malicious policy designed to eradicate Ukrainian culture and identity. The organization reported over 2,000 children, transferred from occupied regions in Ukraine, undergoing indoctrination in alleged re-education camps in Belarus.
21:39 Serbia inks deal for more Russian gas suppliesSerbia secured further gas provisions from the Russian state company Gazprom, as per an agreement signed at the international gas forum in St. Petersburg. The heads of Gazprom and the Serbian state-owned company Srbijagas, respectively, Alexei Miller and Srbijagas' CEO, formally signed the deal. Serbia has a 76-80% dependency on Russian gas supplies, and the three-year supply contract, first signed at the start of Russian invasion in May 2022, is scheduled for renewal at the beginning of 2023.
20:50 Zelensky: Ukraine has potential for significant drone boostUsing international cooperation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky aims to boost domestic production of military items like ammunition, but especially drones. This expansion is being funded by investment projects fueled by his recent travels abroad. According to Zelensky, Ukraine's industrial capabilities exceed what the country is currently able to utilize due to budget constraints. Foreign partners who can't provide their own military aid or can't assist Ukraine for various reasons are willing to finance this production in Ukraine and invest in its defense sector.
20:11 Iran dishes out two homegrown satellites to RussiaAs per media reports, Iran has handed over two locally-made satellites to Russia, which will be launched into orbit by a Russian spacecraft. This marks the latest space collaboration between the two countries, despite US sanctions, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. The Kowsar satellite, capable of high-resolution imaging, and the Hodhod, a small communications satellite, are reportedly the first significant achievements of Iran's private space sector. Russia has previously launched Iranian satellites into space in February and this year. US officials expressed concern at the time over Russian-Iranian space cooperation, fearing the satellite would aid Russia in Ukraine and help Iran monitor potential military targets in Israel and the Middle East.
19:48 Russian forces beef up attacks in KurskAs reported by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian forces have stepped up their assaults on Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region of Russia. The Russians managed to gain more ground in the Kursk Oblast, effectively forcing Ukrainian forces back in the Glushkovsky district. The Russian military appears to be aiming to repel the Ukrainian offensive in Kursk before the weather conditions worsen towards the end of autumn/beginning of winter, according to the ISW.
You can check out all previous updates here.)
Despite Russia's claim of shutting down 13 Ukrainian drones, the situation in Ukraine remains volatile. The attack on Ukraine continues to be a significant concern, with Ukrainian forces and their allies fiercely defending against Russian aggression. Regardless of the drone incidents, Russia's advances in certain areas, like Donetsk, pose a threat to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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