13:00 Russia: Have attacked Ukrainian airfields
Russia, according to its own statements, has attacked Ukrainian airfields intended for the stationing of military aircraft from the West, the Russian Defense Ministry reports. Different weapons such as rockets and drones were used in the attacks. All targets, which were not named, were reportedly hit.
12:35 Russia: Drone attack on chemical factory in TverAccording to a media report, a chemical factory in the northwestern Russian region of Tver has been the target of a drone attack. The state news agency RIA Novosti reports this, citing local authorities (see entry 08:27). No information has been provided about any damages or other details. According to the factory's website, it is an installation where, among other things, chemicals are produced that are used in the aviation and space industry.
11:54 Russia sends around 10,000 naturalized men to the frontRussian authorities have reportedly sent around 10,000 naturalized men to the war in Ukraine. "We have already captured more than 30,000 (migrants) who have received citizenship and did not want to register for military service, and we have sent about 10,000 of them to the zone of military special operation," says Alexander Bastrykin, head of the Russian Investigative Committee, at an appearance at the St. Petersburg Lawyers' Forum. Bastrykin was a classmate of Vladimir Putin at the university and is a close associate of his. The naturalized men are primarily responsible for digging trenches and building fortifications. "You really need strong hands for that," Bastrykin says.
11:17 Ukraine documents ecocide in the Black SeaThe effects of the war on animals and nature in Ukraine are dramatic. Ivan Rusev, head of the scientific department of the Tuzly-Lagoon National Park in the Odessa region, speaks of this in an interview with ntv.de. It is the only protected area in Ukraine that has not been taken over by the Russians. "We are the only national park in Ukraine whose employees can still work," Rusev says. Other parks are either under Russian occupation or their colleagues have fled. Since the start of the war, his team has been monitoring the Black Sea coast. An example of ecocide in Ukraine is the dolphins in the Black Sea. "Thousands of dolphins have died since the start of the war," Rusev demands that Russia pay compensation.
Read the full interview later on ntv.de.
10:50 Kremlin avenges expulsion of journalists from AustriaAfter Austria expels two Russian journalists, two Austrian journalists must now leave Russia. "If EU countries expel Russian journalists, then the Russian Foreign Ministry will act similarly," warns ntv-correspondent Rainer Munz.
10:07 Russian Intelligence: Explosives storage discovered in Mariupol
The Russian intelligence service (FSB) is said to have discovered an explosives storage facility in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, occupied by Russia. This was reported by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti on behalf of the FSB. The so-called "Diversion Reconnaissance Groups" (DRG), Ukrainian sabotage groups, are believed to have hidden the explosives in 2022 to carry out terrorist attacks in the city in the future, according to the agency. Russian troops took control of the Hafenstadt am Asowschen Meer (Sea of Azov) in September 2022 after months of siege and near-total destruction. The hidden cache reportedly contained six artillery shells, eleven MON-50 mines, the same number of rocket-propelled grenade projectiles, and nine hand grenades.
09:30 Weichert: "How Zelenskyy gets to Brussels is adventurous"
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is expected to travel to Brussels for political talks. The background of the trip is a security agreement between the EU and Kiev. NTV reporter Jürgen Weichert provides insights into the background of the planned agreement and gives a glimpse into the EU's mood regarding the Ukraine situation.
09:15 EU imposes tariffs on Ukrainian sugar and egg imports
The EU is reportedly reinstating tariffs on sugar and egg imports from Ukraine as of Friday. The tariff will be 89 Euros per tonne, according to the "Financial Times," citing sources familiar with the matter. The EU had granted tariff reductions to support the war-ravaged Ukrainian agriculture. However, this led to protests from farmers in the EU. They complained about cheap imports, loss of market shares, lower revenues, and unfair competition. As a result, a "notch mechanism" was agreed upon for certain agricultural products, which will take effect when import quotas are exceeded. According to the "Financial Times," this mechanism was recently applied to Ukrainian wheat.
08:27 Russia: Ukraine attacks three Russian regions with drones
In the night, the Ukrainian Air Force attacked three regions in Russia with drones. This was reported by the Russian Defense Ministry on Telegram. According to the ministry, Russian air defense systems repelled four drone attacks over the Tver region, two drone attacks over the Moscow region, and one drone attack over the Belgorod region.
08:02 Report: IKEA returns to Ukraine
The Swedish furniture retailer IKEA is reportedly returning to Ukraine. This was reported by "Ekonomichna Pravda" based on information from two sources. "The technical preparations are underway. The start of the work is currently not known," one of the interlocutors told "Ekonomichna Pravda." IKEA has not yet decided when it will resume its furniture chain's operations in Ukraine. In October 2023, it was reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was working on bringing IKEA, H&M, Zara, and other brands back to Ukraine.
07:30 Ukraine: Luftwaffe shoots down 28 out of 29 Russian missiles
The Ukrainian air defense has repelled 23 Russian Shahed-drones and five out of six other Russian missile attacks in the night, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. This was reported by the Ukrainian Air Force. The report states that Russia launched the missiles from various locations, including the Russian regions of Tambov and Kursk, the Black Sea, and the occupied Crimea. According to the Air Force, Russia also attacked with a ballistic missile of the Kh-47 Kinzhal type, four cruise missiles, and a guided missile of the Kh-59 type.
07:05 Russian missile attacks on Kiev and Chmelnytskyi
There have been explosions in Kiev and the Chmelnytskyi region following Russian missile attacks, according to the Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne on Telegram. The Russian military is reportedly using Kalibr cruise missiles and Dagger missiles, as well as continuing the attack from "Shaheed" combat drones. There are reports of hits and explosions. No information is available on casualties.
06:45 After EM exit: Zelensky thanks the national team
Following Ukraine's elimination from the European Football Championship, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the team for their performance. "Despite the disappointing result, you fought for our country," he wrote on social media and appealed for unity among the Ukrainians. "A strong nation is one that supports each other, not only in defeats but also in victories." The greatest victories still lie ahead of the country, he wrote. "And until then, we will take the blows, get back up, and keep going, to become stronger in the future," so Zelensky.
06:00 TASS: Russian missile cruiser conducts drone defense exercises in the Mediterranean
The Russian state news agency TASS reports, citing the Russian Navy, that the Russian missile cruiser "Varyag" is conducting drill maneuvers in the Mediterranean. The drills focused on defending against a massive drone attack, according to the Navy Command, and included simulated combat engagements with an enemy ship and a submarine.
05:05 Russia: USA must pay closer attention to discussions on nuclear doctrine
Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the newspaper Izvestia in an interview that Moscow does not rule out worsening diplomatic relations with certain Western countries if they do not change their "anti-Russian" stance. Ryabkov called on the USA to pay closer attention to ongoing discussions about a possible change in the Moscow Nuclear Doctrine. He confirmed the statement by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin that the Russian Nuclear Doctrine is currently being reassessed. The Doctrine states that Russia will use nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack or in the event of a conventional attack that poses an existential threat to Russia.
04:24 European Union Heads of State and Government meet Zelenskyy at Brussels Summit
The Heads of State and Government of the 27 EU countries will not only decide on the nomination of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for a second term at their summit in Brussels from Thursday. They will also meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the beginning of the summit. Security guarantees for Kiev are expected to be signed. Although Zelenskyy was not officially invited, it was assumed in diplomatic circles that he would attend.
01:34 Poland and Baltic States call for EU defense line at border with Russia
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are calling on the European Union to establish a defense line along the border with Russia and Belarus. "The construction of a defense infrastructure system along the EU external border with Russia and Belarus will respond to the pressing need to protect the EU from military and hybrid threats," the letter from the four heads of state and government reads, according to Reuters. Hybrid threats refer to a combination of military and non-military, as well as covert and overt means, including disinformation, cyberattacks, economic pressure, and the pushing of migrants across borders. In a letter to the EU president, which will be discussed at the summit beginning on Thursday in Brussels, the heads of state and government of the four countries declare that the project will also require financial support from all members.
22:19 Many more Ukrainians want to join the Ukrainian Security Service intelligence
The number of people who want to join the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has increased since the recruitment campaign began in Ukraine. Andriy Yusov, an SBU representative, said in the Ukrainian 24/7 news channel that interested parties can apply on the official website of the Ukrainian Security Service or on other online resources of the Ukrainian intelligence agency.
20:26 Ukrainian official embezzled funds for bulletproof vests for western regions
The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) have exposed the head of a department at the national energy company Ukrenergo, who embezzled funds for the purchase of bulletproof vests for the employees of the energy company. He faces six years in prison. "He is the head of one of the departments of the state enterprise, who arranged the purchase of bulletproof vests for the employees of the energy company at an artificially high price in the spring of 2022," the statement reads. To carry out the deal, the official reportedly involved a connected trading company that did not even have permits and licenses for the production of military ammunition. In addition, the "contractors" had never been involved in the production of bulletproof vests before. The investigations suggest that a civil servant from Ukrenergo purchased a charge of the relevant equipment from this company at a price that was twice as high as the actual price.
- Russia, in response to the reported expulsion of Russian journalists from Austria, has announced the expulsion of Austrian journalists from Russia, according to NTV correspondent Rainer Munz.
- The Ukrainian Air Force, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, launched drone attacks on three Russian regions in the night, including the Tver, Moscow, and Belgorod regions.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, is expected to travel to Brussels for political talks, with security agreements between the EU and Kiev potentially being a focus of the discussions.
- The Russian Intelligence Service (FSB) is reported to have discovered an explosives storage facility in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, believed to have been hidden by Ukrainian sabotage groups for future terrorist attacks.
- Ukraine and NATO have been dealing with the escalating Ukraine conflict, with Russia reportedly launching attacks on Ukrainian airfields intended for the stationing of military aircraft from the West, and military operations continuing in various regions of Ukraine. The political situation between Russia and the West, particularly in relation to the Ukraine conflict, remains tense.
