12:36: Individuals with American nationality accused of acting as "paid fighters" in Russia
In Russia, a U.S. resident is currently on trial beginning Friday, as stated in a report by the state news agency RIA Novosti. The individual is accused of engaging in mercenary activities. The accused is 72-year-old U.S. citizen Stefan Hubbard hailing from Michigan, who has resided in Ukraine since 2014. The report did not provide information on when or where the U.S. citizen was apprehended. Per RIA Novosti, the individual was escorted to the trial in a Moscow court by military police.
12:01 Kryvy Rih: Russian missile strikes police stationReports of additional Russian assaults emerge from southern and central Ukraine. This morning, a missile struck a police station in Kryvy Rih, as per the city administration. A lady's body was discovered under the debris, while at least five others sustained injuries. Rescue workers are still searching for survivors. Residential structures also suffered damage. The Dnipropetrovsk Regional Prosecutor's Office has shared images of the missile strikes in Kryvy Rih.
As reported by Ukrainian sources, another missile attack targeted the city of Dnipro last night, striking an industrial facility. At least eight individuals were harmed in Russian air strikes in the Kherson region, as per the administration.
11:27 Russian drone potentially breaches NATO airspaceA Russian drone may have temporarily penetrated NATO member Romania's airspace last night, according to the Romanian defense ministry. The drone is believed to have transversed the Romanian airspace in a border area, possibly remaining there for less than three minutes. The drone reportedly participated in an assault on the southern Ukrainian city of Izmail. Per Ukrainian authorities, Izmail was the intended target of an early Friday morning drone attack, which resulted in the deaths of three people and injuries to about a dozen more.
10:57 Fritz: USA supplies Ukraine with guided missiles for the first timeUkrainian President Zelensky travels to the USA to present his "victory plan" and seek additional military aid. Biden finalizes a weapons package worth nearly $8 billion for Ukraine. Comparatively, "that's a substantial proportion," says ntv reporter Gordian Fritz.
10:20 Report: US Intelligence Agencies Foresee Severe Retaliation if Ukraine Utilizes Long-Range MissilesU.S. intelligence agencies anticipate severe repercussions if Ukraine employs Western long-range missiles to strike deep within Russian territory. Such support could provoke severe retaliation, according to an unpublished intelligence assessment cited by the "New York Times." The agencies reportedly consider various Russian reactions, ranging from arson and sabotage against facilities in Europe to potentially fatal attacks on US and European military support points. They do not expect Russia to engage in such attacks openly, but rather through covert intelligence operations. The "New York Times" also reports that US intelligence agencies believe Ukraine does not possess enough long-range missiles to significantly alter the war's course. According to this assessment, the risks outweigh the potential benefits of an uncertain victory at a high cost. The newspaper suggests that this predicament might partially explain why the decision is so challenging for US President Biden.
09:57 Munz on New Putin Threat: Raw Material Export Ban "Won't Harm the West Much"Russia threatens the US with retaliation if it authorizes the use of long-range weapons against Russian targets. President Putin is considering imposing export restrictions on strategic raw materials, including uranium, as retribution against the West. ntv reporter Munz offers insight into the context and consequences.
08:40 Ukrainian Navy Ponders Russian Construction Near Crimea BridgeAn unidentified Russian construction near the Crimea Bridge has left the Ukrainian navy perplexed. According to navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk, as reported by "The Kyiv Independent" on Ukrainian television, construction is underway, but its purpose remains unclear. "It could be a defensive installation, it could be an additional crossing, but it's still premature to draw conclusions," Pletenchuk said. He does not believe the Russians will complete it under the prevailing weather conditions. "They continuously attempt to place something new in the Kerch Strait to construct various hydrotechnical structures or barriers, but afterward, each storm results in debris on the shore." The bridge connects Russia to the Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed.
08:08 Ukrainian City on the Border with Romania Suffers Attack, Several DeadThe city of Ismajil in southern Ukraine was attacked. Three individuals perished due to a Russian drone strike this morning, according to the governor of the Odessa Oblast, Oleh Kiper. All the fatalities were elderly, including a woman above 90. Eleven others, including a child, sustained injuries. Kiper also reported damaged buildings and vehicles, as well as several fires. Ismajil is a city situated on the border with Romania, with the Danube River's northern mouth forming the boundary. Read more here.
07:09 Baerbock: Without Our Aid, Hospitals and Kids Would Be VulnerableGermany's Foreign Minister Baerbock defends giving weapons to Ukraine and criticizes decreasing support for Kyiv. "The idea that there'd be no fighting or deaths in Ukraine if they had no defensive weapons is as straightforward as it is incorrect," Baerbock remarked at the UN General Debate in New York on Thursday. "If Russia stops attacking, the war ends. If Ukraine stops defending itself, it's game over for Ukraine." Russian President Putin responded to a peace conference invite with bombing a children's hospital in Slovenia. As long as Putin isn't ready to negotiate, ceasing our aid means "Ukraine's hospitals and kids would be exposed. It'd mean more war crimes, possibly even in other countries." Baerbock emphasizes that Russia has "constantly played with the inviolability of the Baltic states and Poland's borders."
06:45 Slovenia: Might Consider Long-Range Weapons for Kyiv's DefenseSlovenia's government cautions against immediate decisions on using long-range Western weapons in Russia, despite German doubts. "It's not typically wise to say in advance that specific topics are off the table," Prime Minister Golob said during the UN General Debate in New York. "It's a tough call. But I believe all options should be considered at this stage, and then the most appropriate one for the situation can be picked," Golob responded when asked about long-range cruise missiles. So far, especially Germany and the US have expressed concerns. Chancellor Scholz recently stated no long-range precision weapons would be delivered to Ukraine, even in the future.
06:11 Baerbock Tells Iran to Stop Backing Russia's War in UkraineGermany's Foreign Minister Baerbock has urged Iran to halt all aid to Russia's war against Ukraine and to cease supplying missiles and drones. This was stated by the Foreign Ministry on the platform X. Baerbock spoke with her Iranian counterpart Abbas Araktschi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
06:01 Trump Plans Meeting with Zelensky in New YorkFormer US President Trump plans to meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky this Friday in New York. The meeting is scheduled to take place at the Trump Tower in Manhattan, Trump announced. Zelensky, who met with President Biden on Thursday, has extended his stay in the US to meet with Trump. Before his trip to the US, Zelensky expressed interest in meeting with Trump, Biden, and Vice President Harris to present his "victory plan" to end the war in Ukraine. Learn more here.
04:25 Harris Vows Support for Zelensky and Warns Against TrumpDemocratic US Presidential candidate Harris vows support for Ukrainian President Zelensky and cautions against Trump's victory without mentioning his name. "My commitment to the people of Ukraine remains unwavering. (...) I will stand by Ukraine and work towards ensuring they emerge victorious and live in peace and prosperity," the Democrat stated during Zelensky's visit to Washington. She warned that the war couldn't be ended without Ukraine. However, there are "certain individuals" in the US who plan to end the war by forcing Ukraine to give up large parts of its territory, accept neutrality, and forego protection from foreign nations. These proposals mirror Putin's and are in essence, a call for surrender.
02:08 Ukraine Reports Attacks West of KhersonRussian forces bombarded the Tomyna Balka settlement west of the Ukrainian-controlled city of Kherson on Thursday, according to governor Prokrudin. A woman was killed and another was injured, Telegram reported.
00:55 UK to Send More Artillery Systems to UkraineThe UK plans to deliver another batch of AS90 self-propelled artillery systems to Ukraine. A total of 10 systems have already been sent, with 6 more to follow within a few weeks, according to the British Ministry of Defense.
23:33 UN Struggles to Fund Winter Aid for UkrainiansThe UN admits it lacks sufficient funds to assist Ukrainians this winter. "Our funding levels are critically low for this time of year," says K. Lindholm Billing, UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) representative for Ukraine. The UNHCR currently has only 47% of the funds required to aid the millions affected by Ukraine's war. Last year at this time, the UNHCR was 70% funded.
22:13 Biden Vows to Boost Aid for UkraineUS President Biden pledges to strengthen Ukraine assistance during his remaining term. He emphasized that this would enhance Kyiv's bargaining power, Biden said prior to meeting with Zelensky in Washington. Biden's tenure ends in January. He could be succeeded by either Harris or Trump, who intends to minimize US engagement with Ukraine.
21:34 Ukraine Time: Russia Planning to Amplify Assaults in Zaporizhzhia RegionAs per intel reports from Ukraine, Russian forces are planning to intensify their offensive actions in the Zaporizhzhia region. A spokesperson for the troops stationed in southern Ukraine discussed this on national television, stating, "There's a shift towards intensification in the combat zone sector in the Zaporizhzhia region." Over the past 24 hours, there have been five Russian attacks, and the spokesperson suggested that this number might rise, given that intelligence suggests the adversary is gathering attack forces near [the settlement of] Pryiutne." Furthermore, the spokesperson revealed that Russia has received light armored vehicles, indicating their readiness for offensive operations.
21:00 ET: Biden Welcomes Zelenskyj: Russia Will Not TriumphIn the beginning of their meeting in Washington, US President Joe Biden reassured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of unwavering US support. "Russia will not emerge victorious, Ukraine will," Biden declared as he welcomed his Ukrainian counterpart to the Oval Office at the White House: "And we will be by your side throughout this journey." Learn more here.
You can access all previous developments here.
The European Union has expressed its strong condemnation of Russia's missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, including Kryvy Rih and Dnipro, threatening the safety of civilians and infrastructure. The President of Ukraine, Zelensky, has taken his "victory plan" to the United States to seek further military aid, including guided missiles, from the U.S. to bolster Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression. The European Union, as a key international player, could play a significant role in providing additional support and diplomatic pressure to help bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine.
