14:26 Analytic from Kremlin: Kursk offensive indicative of shifts in Moscow's leadership dynamic
14:01 After Russian Assault on Ternopil: Authorities Alert of Elevated Chlorine Levels in the AirAfter a Russian assault on an industrial site in Ternopil, western Ukraine, local authorities are issuing warnings of high chlorine levels in the air. As reported by the Ukrainian newspaper "Kyiv Independent", Oksana Chaichuk, head of the regional health department, is urging residents to restrict outdoor activities and keep windows shut. The chlorine concentration in the atmosphere is reportedly between four and ten times higher than usual, as stated by Chaichuk during a press conference, according to the outlet. The nighttime attack is reported to have targeted a fuel and lubricant depot, resulting in a blaze at an unnamed facility. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries have been reported due to the attack.
13:39 Moscow: Russian Forces Capture Town of New York in DonetskBased on information from the Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian forces have seized control of the town of New York in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. The troops have taken over "one of the largest settlements in the vicinity of Torez, the strategic logistics hub of Nowgorodskoje," as per the ministry. The town's name was changed from New York to Nowgorodskoje in 1951, but it was reinstated in 2021 following advocacy by Ukrainian activists. Located approximately 6 kilometers south of Torez, which has been under sustained Russian attacks, the town has been the subject of Russian operations.
13:01 Military Intelligence: Defected Russian Soldier It was a Russian Soldier who Defected to Ukraine and Harmed his Commander, Claims Ukraine's Military Intelligence (HUR)According to Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR), a Russian soldier who defected to Ukraine has been exposed as having caused harm to his commander and spying for the country. The Ukraine-based "Kyiv Independent" newspaper reports that a soldier codenamed "Silver" defected as part of a joint operation by the "Freedom of Russia" legion and the "I Want to Live" project of Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR). Prior to his defection, "Silver" is alleged to have injured his commander using a grenade in Ocheretyne, Donetsk Oblast. The soldier contacted the legion in early 2024, following purported knowledge of corrupt activities within his unit and its commanders, according to the military intelligence. Subsequently, the defector is said to have covertly provided the legion with information about the positions of Russian troops and plans for military operations.
12:23 Ukrainian Parliament Looks to Ban Church Tied to RussiaThe Ukrainian Parliament is pushing to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with ties to Russia. According to legislators, a related bill was passed in Kyiv, initiating a prohibition for the Russian Orthodox Church within Ukrainian territory. The government aims to ban religious organizations linked to the Russian Orthodox Church, but confirmation from the courts is still required. The government condemns the Ukrainian minority church as a vehicle for Russian influence in the nation and a supporter of the invasion of Ukraine.
11:51 Over 500 Firefighters Attempt to Extinguish Oil Depot Blaze in Russian RostovApproximately 500 firefighters are battling a large blaze at an oil depot in the Russian region of Rostov, now on its third day, triggered by a Ukrainian drone strike. "The fire covers an area of 10,000 square meters, with several diesel tanks ablaze," said Proletarsk's head, Valery Gornitsky, as reported by TASS news agency. "There's no risk of explosion, no threat to people, no evacuations necessary," he added. Four aerial firefighting vehicles and over 520 firefighters are on the scene. Gornitsky stated that vehicles cannot approach the fire due to the intense heat. So far, at least 41 firefighters have been injured, with 18 hospitalized.
11:08 Industrial Plant Hit in Ukrainian Ternopil during BombingsIn the most recent Russian bombardment of Ukraine's energy infrastructure, an industrial plant was targeted, and a fuel tank was struck in Ternopil, according to authorities. Ukrainian television broadcasted massive plumes of black smoke billowing over Ternopil, with local authorities urging citizens to remain indoors. Over 90 firefighters are participating in suppressing the blaze, with the situation now under control, according to the Ternopil regional administration.
10:41 Russian Ex-Diplomat Bondarev: Putin Acting "Like a Cowardly Impersonator"Russian President Vladimir Putin appears "like a cowardly impersonator," claims Boris Bondarev, a former Russian diplomat, in a guest commentary for ntv.de. Putin's image of allegedly being capable of defeating any opponent has been tarnished since the start of the conflict in Ukraine. The quick takeover that never occurred still hasn't materialized. Recently, Moscow appeared to be caught off guard and ill-prepared in the face of the Ukrainian assault on the Russian oblast of Kursk. "Putin falters when confronted with a genuine threat and doesn't know how to respond. He's not even acting like a cornered rat ready to fight to the end, but like a cowardly impersonator," writes Bondarev. The dissident diplomat, who broke with the Putin regime in protest of the war, also critiques Western politicians for their stance on forbidding the use of supplied weapons on Russian territory. "One must engage with Putin using forceful language." He dismisses the West's fear of "escalation" as unfounded. "The 'escalation' is already underway - Putin's adversary has entered Russian territory! But he's not reacting at all," notes Bondarev.
10:13 Ukraine: Five Innocents Fall in Russian Assaults, Over 20 Sustain Injuries Within the last 24 hours, five individuals, including a minor, have perished, and around 22 others have been hurt in Russian attacks across Ukraine, as per regional authorities as shared by "Kyiv Independent".
09:37 Russian Oil Depot Burning: Satellite Imagery Shows Intensity of Flames Ukraine targeted a sizable fuel storage facility in Proletarsk, southern Russia, in the early hours of Sunday with drones. Despite efforts, the fire was not brought under control even by the following day, leading to the injury of over 40 firefighters, as per regional authorities. Satellite images depict the magnitude of the inferno:
Ukraine has been persistently attacking Russian oil refineries and facilities with drones for several months, attempting to hinder the provision of fuel to enemy forces and diminish Russia's oil sector earnings.
09:16 Kyiv: Over 1300 Russian Soldiers 'Put to Rest' in a Day According to official Ukrainian data, heavy losses were experienced by the Russian side: 1,330 Russian soldiers reportedly died or were incapacitated within a single day. Since the commencement of the conflict in February 2022, a total of 601,800 Russian soldiers have allegedly been 'eliminated', as per the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. The ministry also reports that 5 more tanks (8,518 in total) were destroyed, and the Russian invasion has resulted in the loss of 5 more tanks (8,518 in total), since its initiation. Ukraine claims to have accounted for over 16,500 armored vehicles and over 13,800 drones that are no longer in use by the Russian military or have been destroyed. However, Moscow is yet to disclose its actual losses in Ukraine.
08:47 Biden Defends Ukraine's Courage: No Leader Should Kneel Before Monarchs In his debut speech at the Democratic Party convention night, Joe Biden stated, as reported by "Kyiv Independent", "No leader should kneel down before monarchs." Putin envisioned seizing Kyiv in just three days; it's now been three years, and Ukraine remains free. Biden contrasted his stance as a strong supporter of NATO and an advocate for an independent Ukraine with former President Donald Trump, who had praised Russian President Vladimir Putin. "No leader should kneel in front of monarchs," Biden emphasized.
08:31 Russia Launches Nighttime Aerial Bombardments on Ukraine Russia launched renewed nocturnal air assaults on Ukraine, concentrating on nine different regions across the country's center, north, and south, as per the Ukrainian air force's statement on Telegram. Three missiles and 25 drones were shot down during this attack. This was the fifth missile attack on Kyiv in August, with 41 air alerts sounding in the capital mobilized throughout August, as per military reports. The military reported successfully deflecting an aerial assault on Kyiv the day prior.
07:52 Military Command: Russian Rockets Assault on Kyiv Repelled - No Reported Damages yet
In the early morning, Russian forces reportedly attacked Kyiv from the north with missiles. The Military Command of City of Kyiv confirmed this on Telegram. "Preliminary reports suggest that the enemy attacked Ukraine's capital from the north, using ballistic missiles like the Iskander. This is the fifth missile attack on Kyiv this month!", the message read. The missiles were reportedly destroyed just outside the city, with no reported injuries or damages reported in Kyiv so far.
07:38 Belarus: Lukashenko Deploys More Troops to Border with Ukraine
Belarus has mobilized additional air defense troops and aircraft to its border with Ukraine, announced Major General Andrei Lukyanovich, the commander of the Belarusian air defense forces, as reported by the Ukrainian newspaper "Kyiv Independent". This announcement came shortly after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced that he had sent a third of his country's army to the border this summer. Lukashenko claimed the troop buildup on the border was a misunderstanding between Belarus and Ukraine. Lukyanovich reported on national television that air defense, anti-aircraft missiles, and radio engineering units had been deployed to the border. The Ukrainian border guard service reported over a week ago that there were no signs of troop buildup along the border with Belarus despite Lukashenko's orders.
07:24 ISW: Russia Deploys 5,000 Troops to Kursk Oblast
Ukrainian troops targeting the Kursk region have prompted Russia to transfer troops from other frontline sections to the region, as suggested by the report by the U.S. Institute for the Study of War (ISW). "Russian forces have relocated additional troops to the Kursk Oblast since the first week of the Ukrainian offensive, totaling more than 5,000 soldiers to the region," analysts claim.
06:54 Zelenskyy: Second Peace Talk in Ukraine Before Year-End
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has encouraged Ukrainian diplomats to ensure the second peace summit in Ukraine is held before the end of the year. The leader made these remarks during a meeting with the heads of foreign diplomatic missions in Ukraine on the topic of "War Diplomacy: Resilience, Weapons, Victory," as reported by the state news agency Ukrinform, citing the Presidential Administration. "The debut summit, in my opinion, was a tremendous achievement for Ukraine. I am thankful to everyone who contributed to making the summit a reality. Now we are preparing for our second peace summit, and it's crucial for us to make it happen this year," said Zelenskyy. "We need to bring forth efforts to achieve this goal. We must broaden the circle of support for the communique of the initial summit."
Russia persists in launching nightly assaults on Kyiv, as reported by Ukrainian sources. Air defense units actively engaged during the wee hours to thwart another Russian aerial assault on the capital, as announced by Kyiv's military administration via Telegram. Witnesses reported hearing explosions resembling air defense system use.
05:11 Kyiv Reports Several Drone Assaults Away from the FrontlinesCertain areas far from the Ukrainian frontlines were hit by multiple drone attacks overnight. According to air defense reports, Sumy, Poltava, Kherson, and Mykolaiv were targeted. Air defense was also active near Kyiv. The local administration advised residents to seek shelter, with no damages reported as yet.
02:23 USA Reaffirms Support for Kyiv - Discussion on Kursk OffensiveDespite Ukraine's counteroffensive in the Russian region of Kursk, the USA remains steadfast in its support for Kyiv. A representative from the US Department of Defense confirmed that President Biden will continue to back Ukraine and stand by its side as long as necessary. The US prioritizes providing military aid to Kyiv. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reassured his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov, of continued US support, sharing information about Ukraine's counteroffensive aims.
01:07 Germany Provides More Iris-T SystemsGermany has assembled another arms package for Ukraine. The latest delivery includes a third Iris-T SLS air defense system, along with thousands of artillery rounds, drones, a Bergepanzer 2, and hundreds of rifles with accompanying ammunition.
00:20 Zelenskyy Celebrates Largest Capture of Russian Soldiers since the War's BeginningUkraine's offensive in the Russian region of Kursk marks the largest capture of Russian soldiers since the war's inception, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Speaking to Ukrainian diplomats, he stated that these captured soldiers would be exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners later. Although observers estimate that Russia has captured more Ukrainians, this is the first significant landmark in capturing Russian soldiers.
22:21 Chechen Commander Encourages Russian Conscripts to Join the Fight in KurskThe commander of the Achmat regiment, Apti Alaudinow, is reportedly urging Russian conscripts to fight in the Kursk region, assuring them that those who fall will "go to heaven."
21:58 Zelenskyy Declares Russia's "Red Lines" ObsoleteUkraine's incursion into Russia has rendered Russia's "red lines" obsolete, claimed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He shared this assertion with newspaper "Pravda," stating that many states had warned that such an incursion would cross Russia's most essential red lines just a few months ago. Now, Zelenskyy said, "the concept of Russia's red lines has crumbled somewhere near Sushcha."
21:38 Lithuania Begins Constructing German Army BaseLithuania started building a military base for German troops. Upon completion by the end of 2027, this site will accommodate up to 4,000 German troops. This will be the first permanent overseas deployment of the German army since World War II. Lithuania committed to hosting German troops along its NATO and EU border with Russia last year. Lithuanian Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis estimated the construction cost to surpass one billion euros.
21:15 Czech President Supports NATO Membership for Partially Occupied UkraineCzech President Petr Pavel supports the idea of Ukraine joining NATO, even with partially occupied territories. He believes that Ukraine could negotiate peace with Russia in coming years, allowing Russia to temporarily hold on to parts of Ukraine's territory without affecting "democratic states' recognition of the border change." This temporary border could then enable Ukraine to join NATO in controlled territories, stated Pavel. Germany also joined NATO as a partially occupied nation in 1955.
20:57 Ukrainian Forces Approach Russian Pontoon BridgeUkrainian forces reportedly captured the town of Wyschnewka in the Russian region of Kursk, placing them around 12 kilometers from the Russian army's only supply bridge across the Seym River.
20:36 Pokrovsk's Uncertain FutureThe military administration of eastern Ukrainian city Pokrovsk faces an uncertain fate as advancing Russian troops approach: "They are approaching Pokrovsk’s outskirts. The situation is unstable – it's no secret," said the head of the information department to the Washington Post. She expressed hope that Russian troops would halt near Pokrovsk and Ukrainian troops would repel them. If Pokrovsk falls, it would represent the largest population center captured by the Russians since Bachmut in May 2023.
You can review prior developments [here].
The European Union has expressed its solidarity with Ukraine in the face of the ongoing conflict, providing strategic support and aid. (following from 11:08 Industrial Plant Hit in Ukrainian Ternopil during Bombings)
Despite Russia's military actions in Ukraine, the European Union continues to advocate for peace and democracy in the region, with several EU members actively supporting Ukraine's war efforts. (following from 09:16 Kyiv: Over 1300 Russian Soldiers 'Put to Rest' in a Day)
