08:43 The authorities report 42,000 missing Ukrainians
In Ukraine, approximately 42,000 people are currently missing, among them soldiers and civilians. The Interior Ministry has made this public statement. The number was previously reported to be around 51,000 missing, according to the ministry. However, later, about 4000 soldiers reportedly missing in action were found and identified. Approximately 3000 missing persons were found alive, many of them prisoners of war. Difficulties in identifying the dead arise because the Defense Ministry does not take DNA samples from soldiers it sends into the field.
08:15 Hungary lobbies for Russia's participation in the second Ukraine peace summit
Hungary is lobbying for Russia's participation in the planned second Ukraine peace conference. There are efforts to hold another peace summit this year, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said. This is welcome news. "I believe that if we want to hope for the success of a future peace conference, we must ensure that both sides are represented." Hungary currently holds the EU Council Presidency. The first peace summit took place in mid-June at the request of Ukraine, with representatives from over 90 countries attending in Switzerland. Russia declared its disinterest in the conference early on and was therefore not invited.
07:46 Russia and Ukraine plan to exchange prisoners today
Russia and Ukraine plan to exchange 90 prisoners today. This was reported by the news agency Bloomberg, citing a source. Ukrainian media reported last week that the parliament's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinez, had announced that the government was planning, with the help of the United Arab Emirates, a large prisoner exchange with Russia soon. The two warring parties have already exchanged prisoners several times.
06:55 Ukrainian startups develop robots for the front
Ukrainian startups are developing affordable robots for mine clearance, evacuation of battlefields, transportation of equipment, and combat support. The Ukrainian agency Ukrinform reports this. An "ecosystem of laboratories in hundreds of secret workshops" is using innovations to create a robot army. The Ukraine hopes that this robot army will be able to kill Russian troops and save its own wounded soldiers and civilians, according to Ukrinform.
06:20 Heads of state and government of 47 countries speak about Ukraine
At the invitation of the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the heads of state and government of 47 countries will meet tomorrow. The 27 EU member states plus 20 third countries will discuss, among other things, further aid for Ukraine in its defensive war against Russia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also registered. There will be several round tables on security policy and defense, but other topics will also be discussed. Ukraine is represented at the conference.
04:37 Japan grants Ukraine a loan from frozen Russian assets
Japan is reportedly providing Ukraine with a loan of 3.3 billion dollars from frozen Russian assets. The sum is part of the 50-billion-dollar package from the G7 countries, according to the Kyodo news agency, citing informed sources. The United States and the European Union are each supposed to contribute 20 billion dollars. Japan, Great Britain, and Canada together contribute 10 billion dollars. The package is expected to be approved at a G7 summit on the sidelines of the G20 finance summit at the end of the month in Brazil.
03:26 German government gives Kiev ten million Euros for reconstruction of children's clinic
According to reports in the "Rheinische Post" newspaper, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development has offered ten million Euros to the Ukrainian government for the reconstruction of a children's hospital in Kiev. The funds will be used in conjunction with contributions from other donors and sponsors to quickly make the hospital operational and winter-proof again. This will include repairs and maintenance on facades, treatment rooms, and electrical and heating systems.
02:10 Medvedev warns NATO of "point of no return"
Following the NATO summit's promise to consider Ukraine for membership, former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev renewed his threats against the alliance. In an article for the Russian news portal Argumenty I Fakty, he described a potential Ukrainian membership as a potential declaration of war against Russia. "This would essentially be a declaration of war - albeit with a delay. The actions taken by Russia's adversaries against us for years, by expanding the alliance, ... are bringing NATO to a point of no return." Russia does not threaten NATO, but will respond to attempts by the alliance to advance its interests. "The harder their attempts, the harsher our responses will be," Medvedev said. "Whether this tears the entire planet apart depends only on the wisdom of the (NATO) side."
01:00 Ukrainian soldiers use expired ammunition
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has returned a "significant amount" of outdated ammunition to the military, which should have been disposed of before the first Russian attack on Ukrainian territory in 2014. The ammunition is already being used on the battlefield. "We are looking for internal reserves to supply Ukrainian soldiers with ammunition. We know that every shot, every rocket, and every grenade on the battlefield is vital today," said Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Dyzhjar. Anything that can be repaired and reused is given a second life.
23:37 Ukrainian troops give up positions in the southeast
According to unofficial reports, Ukrainian troops have had to give up positions in the southeastern part of the country in Krynky in the Cherson region and Uroschajne in the Donezk region under Russian pressure. "In both settlements, it no longer made sense to hold the positions," Ukrainian media quote sources in the General Staff. The fighting for the settlement of Krynky on the southern bank of the Dnipro River in the Cherson region was criticized from the outset due to its futility. It is unclear whether Ukrainian soldiers are still holding positions in the underbank area of the Dnipro River. Read more here.
22:07 New Aid for Ukraine
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi announced a new aid package of $100 million (around 93 million Euro) during a visit to Ukraine. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) will support the preparation for winter and continue to assist the Ukrainian government in Kiev, helping displaced or otherwise affected Ukrainians, Grandi said during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kiev. The Agency will also mobilize future resources to support the attacked country. Zelenskyy thanked for the help, which is urgently needed due to the destruction of the energy infrastructure by Russian attacks, according to a statement from the Presidential Office. At the same time, Zelenskyy emphasized that the country still needs more help to rebuild destroyed houses and install bomb shelters in schools and hospitals. This will provide security for the displaced Ukrainians to return home.
21:27 Ukraine reports destruction of Russian S-300 missile defense system
Ukraine claims to have destroyed a Russian S-300 missile defense system in the occupied Donetsk oblast, according to its own reports. This was announced by Ukrainian General Staff Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi on Twitter. A video distributed by the Ukrainian military shows several hits of alleged ATACMS rockets with cluster munitions. According to Syrskyi, several launch pads and a radar station of the system were destroyed.
20:49 Report: Ukrainian government may be on the verge of resignation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is reportedly on the verge of reshuffling his cabinet and demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal. This was reported by the "Kyiv Post" citing an unnamed source in the Ukrainian parliament. The Ukrainian parliament was reportedly instructed to prepare for a discussion and vote on a new cabinet on Tuesday in the coming week. Zelenskyy himself also addressed the rumors of a possible cabinet reshuffle on Monday. "Could there be changes in the government? Yes, probably," so the Ukrainian president. "We are in a process."
20:02 Baltic States to disconnect from Russian power grid
The Baltic States have reportedly informed Russia and its ally Belarus of their intention to disconnect from the power grid of the former Soviet Union. "We will cut the last energy connections with Russia," explains the head of the state-owned Lithuanian power grid operator Litgrid, Rokas Masiulis. The step is supposed to take place in February 2025. Shortly thereafter, the three countries will connect to the European power grid. "In six months, we will not only disconnect from the Russian and Belarusian power grid, but also dismantle the last power lines," explains Masiulis.
19:20 Lindner criticizes Orbán's "Alone Actions" towards Orbán
Following the scandal over Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Moscow trip, Germany and other EU partners are increasing pressure on Budapest. During a Finance Ministers meeting in Brussels, most member states called on Hungary to keep Ukraine aid as a priority. German Finance Minister Christian Lindner accused Orbán of "Alone Actions." "Hungary should know that the peace and freedom order of Europe as a whole is being defended in Ukraine," Lindner stated during the public debate. This must remain a "Top-Priority" during Hungary's EU Presidency until the end of the year. Hungary's Finance Minister Mihaly Varga had previously presented seven priorities, ranging from the fight against illegal migration to competitiveness, but Ukraine was not mentioned.
You can read about all previous developments here.**
- Amidst the ongoing Ukraine-Conflict, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, expressed gratitude for a new aid package of $100 million announced by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
- In the midst of the Attack on Ukraine by Russia, cyberwar campaigns have reportedly targeted Ukraine's political and military infrastructure.
- Soviet-era nuclear facilities in Ukraine have become a concern in the context of the conflict, with calls for increased military deployments and international cooperation to ensure their security.
- The NATO summit acknowledged the significance of the Ukraine-Conflict and reaffirmed its support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, while also considering Ukraine's potential membership in NATO.
- In response to the Attack on Ukraine and the UN's growing involvement, Russia has threatened consequences, warning of a potential "point of no return" if Ukraine joins NATO.
