14:26 NATO Representative Depicts Kursk Operation as a Challenging Predicament for Putin
In Sumy, the number of fatalities from a pair of drone strikes by hostile forces has increased to nine as per Ukrainian sources. The current number of wounded is eleven. One hundred thirteen patients were evacuated from the hospital that was targeted. Earlier in the day, a Russian assault claimed one life and damaged the roof of several floors in a clinic, prompting the evacuation of patients and staff. Emergency services and law enforcement arrived at the scene to lend assistance. At the same time, Russia initiated another airstrike. Ukrainian President Zelensky commented on the situation when there were eight fatalities.
11:20 Washington: Blinken Reviews Zelensky's Triumph Strategy
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is reviewing the Ukrainian "triumph strategy" that Zelensky shared with Joe Biden during their meeting at the White House. Besides other matters, Zelensky reiterated his request to Biden for permission to utilize Western weapons for long-range attacks on Russian military objectives. Blinken, as per a Voice of America report, stated that the administration and Ukraine's allies are currently scrutinizing the specifics of this plan, and if necessary, they may consider "further measures" to aid the Ukrainians achieve victory. Blinken advocates for a tougher stance on the Ukraine conflict in the White House, but this is not yet being enacted by the President.
11:00 London: Over 2000 Attacks on Healthcare Facilities in Ukraine Since the War Commenced
The British Ministry of Defense has recorded 2013 attacks on Ukrainian healthcare facilities since Russia's invasion of its neighbor began in February 2022. Staff had been hit 235 times. Just last July, the Russian army shelled a children's hospital in Kyiv. Moscow's attacks on the healthcare system have resulted in 176 deaths, the ministry said.
10:28 Ukraine Reports Five Dead Following Assault on Police Station
After a Russian attack on the police station in the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, the death toll has risen to five. One police officer is still presumed to be buried beneath the debris, and the search for survivors is ongoing, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior. The rocket attack on Kryvyi Rih marks the second attack on Ukrainian police in two days.
10:10 Military Expert: Russian Counterattack in Kursk AdvancingAustralian military strategist Mick Ryan reports that the Russian counterattack in Kursk has made further progress. In August, Ukrainian troops crossed the Russian border into Kursk and took control of territory. Following an initial shock, the Russians are now offering resistance and have been reclaiming ground albeit at a slower pace, according to Ryan. A Ukrainian advancement west of the Russian counterattack may have compromised Russian flank security and trapped hundreds of Russian soldiers, Ryan claims, citing information from the U.S. Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
09:40 Ukrainian Air Force: 71 Drone Attacks RepelledThe Ukrainian Air Force reports that the Russian military deployed 75 combat drones and 4 missiles against Ukraine overnight. Ukraine managed to intercept 71 drones and 2 missiles. The death toll from a Russian drone strike on a hospital in the Sumy Oblast has increased to eight.
09:15 Zelenskyy Interrupts Trump's Criticism of US Aid to UkraineFollowing a five-year hiatus, discussions between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took place. Trump recently criticized US aid to Ukraine.
08:56 Experts at ISW: Few Long-Range Attacks Could Dramatically Alter War PathExperts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) note that even a few successful long-range attacks by Ukraine could dramatically alter the course of the war. "Russian authorities appear to be making considerable efforts to influence Western debate over whether Ukraine should be allowed to use Western weapons to launch long-range attacks on military facilities in Russia," the ISW asserts, expressing concern that such attacks could exert strong operational pressure on the Russian offensive. The US continues to refuse to allow Ukraine to launch high-reach attacks on Russian territory.
08:28 Ukrainian General Staff: Over 1400 Russian Losses Since YesterdayAccording to the Ukrainian General Staff, Russian forces have suffered another 1470 casualties, either killed or wounded, in the past 24 hours, raising the total to 650,640 since the beginning of the full-scale invasion two and a half years ago. In the past 24 hours, the Russians have also lost 42 armored combat vehicles, 14 tanks, 62 drones, and 55 artillery systems.
08:10 Russians Attack Clinic, Six DeadRussian forces attacked a hospital in Sumy, resulting in six deaths, according to the Ukrainian military administration in the Sumy Oblast. The assault was conducted using Shahed drones, followed by further drone attacks on a residential area and the hospital again while emergency teams evacuated patients and staff. The air force also reported that the Russians dropped guided bombs on the Sumy Oblast.
07:35 Goldschmidt Warns of Threat to Baltic Sea from Russian OilFollowing Greenpeace accusations of Russian oil exports via the Baltic Sea, Schleswig-Holstein's Environment Minister Tobias Goldschmidt warns of dangers posed by tankers to the Baltic coastline. "The regime in Moscow is openly defying the oil embargo imposed following Russia's assault on Ukraine," said the Green politician. This war is threatening already ailing seas. Multiple Western nations accuse Russia of using barely seaworthy ships to dodge EU sanctions due to the conflict. "The risk of an oil spill is growing," warns Goldschmidt. "And this oil would primarily end up on our shores, from Fehmarn to Eckernförde."
07:52 Ukrainians withstand relentless assaults in Pokrovsk Ukrainian and Russian troops are locked in intense clashes in eastern Ukraine. The zone around Pokrovsk, where Russian forces have been assailing for numerous months, was also the scene of yesterday's hostilities. As reported in the evening bulletin from Kyiv's General Staff, 19 Russian assaults against Ukrainian fortifications were repelled throughout the day. "Ukrainian defenders are holding their ground," it stated. Russian troops are attempting to approach the city from various directions and safeguard their advance against Ukrainian counter-attacks. Intense fighting also occurred in the area surrounding Kurachowe. According to Ukrainian sources, 17 Russian offensive actions were repulsed during the day. The documents on military operations cannot be corroborated independently.
07:41 Zelensky views US trip favorably Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not secure the use of extensive Western weaponry during his visit to the US. Despite this, he considers his visit a success. "Every discussion proceeded as it ought to have," he stated in a video address on the X platform. Zelensky presented Ukraine's peace plan in America. "Now our teams must work on implementing each step and every decision," he added. In Washington, he met with US President Joe Biden and his Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, to advocate for continued support for his country's defense against Russia. He also met with the Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, in New York. Trump repeated that if he won the election, the conflict would end rapidly.
06:56 Qatar continues negotiations for the return of kidnapped children Among the several thousand Ukrainian children reportedly abducted, nine children recently rescued from Russian warfare are included. (See entry at 02:18) Many of these children have lost one or both parents because of the war, and they have been turned over to their grandparents, according to Dmytro Lubinez, Ukraine's Human Rights Ombudsman. Authorities in Qatar are negotiating the return of more children. They have a list of 751 children whose documentation is already complete, Lubinez explained. According to Ukrainian authorities, around 20,000 children have been unlawfully taken to Russia since the start of the war, of whom only a few hundred have been returned home.
06:27 Blinken accuses China of supporting Russian weaponry US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi the US concern over China's backing for Russia's arms industry. "If Beijing professes to desire peace and an end to the conflict while allowing its companies to engage in actions that aid Putin's continuation of aggression, it does not make sense," Blinken stated at a press conference. Wang asserted that China's stance on the conflict in Ukraine has consistently emphasized the need for peace through dialogue, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry's statement.
05:31 Ukrainian forces reportedly eliminate two Russian soldiers on a jet ski using a drone Ukrainian forces reportedly killed two Russian soldiers on a jet ski utilizing a drone, as per pro-Ukrainian portal Defense Express. The Russians were traveling on the Dnipro River. A video shared by activist Serhiy Sternenko shows the drone, equipped with an explosive, targeting the jet ski.
04:10 Mediazona: Over 71,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine Russian independent news portal Mediazona reports that over 71,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine. Since mid-September, nearly 2,000 more soldiers have perished in the conflict. Mediazona notes that the actual numbers are likely much higher, as their verified information comes from public sources such as obituaries, online posts from family members, regional media reports, and notifications from local authorities.
02:18 Nine children deported to Russia return to Ukraine Nine children who were deported to Russia since the start of the conflict returned to their homeland on Friday with the assistance of Qatar, which served as a mediator. The children, ranging in age from 13 to 17, and a 20-year-old man, were reunited with their families as part of an action plan facilitated by Qatar. The details were not initially verifiable. The children had been taken away from their parents or guardians by the occupying forces and hailed from places like Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, or Luhansk, according to Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmitro Lubinez.
00:31 Lukashenko: "An attack on Belarus is the beginning of World War III" Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko accuses NATO of plotting to attack his country and threatens to utilize nuclear weapons. "An attack on Belarus is the beginning of World War III," the Belarusian leader stated to Belarusian state news agency Belta during a speech to students in Minsk. Both Belarus and its ally Russia would deploy nuclear weapons in such a case. Lukashenko also thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for the recent update to Russia's nuclear doctrine. Lukashenko claimed in his speech that NATO has a concrete plan to attack Belarus. "The Americans and Poles are already lining up along the border, particularly on the Polish side. We know that the Polish leadership is already itching," he said. Belarus is not a nuclear power itself but has tactical nuclear weapons deployed on its territory since late 2023.
23:00 Ex-US Commanders Urge Tough Stance from Biden against Russia and ChinaA number of retired military personnel and specialists have released an open letter to United States President Joe Biden, persuading him to take robust actions to conclude the conflict in favor of Ukraine and tackle potential threats from China. Included in this group are former US Army Europe commander, Ben Hodges, and previous NATO deputy commander, German Army Lieutenant General Gert-Johannes Hagemann. They propose actions versus Russia and also considering China. They advocate for removing limitations on employing Western weapons against Russia to hit "military and logistical targets" on Russian territory. Moreover, they advocate for delivering 300 Abrams tanks and 1000 Stryker armored vehicles to Ukraine and imposing a comprehensive weapons and technology blockade against Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Belarus, and Azerbaijan. Furthermore, they suggest expanding NATO beyond its transatlantic limits to incorporate Japan, Australia, South Korea, the Philippines, and "any other democratic nation eager to join," such as Argentina.
22:05 Russian Intelligence Probes International Journalists over KurskThe Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) is investigating three further foreign journalists over their stories from locations captured by the Ukrainian army in the Russian district of Kursk at the border. The affected journalists are Kathryn Diss and Fletcher Yeung from the Australian media house ABC News, and Romanian journalist Mircea Barbu, who are reportedly charged with illegally crossing the Russian border, as per Russian news agency RIA Novosti. If found guilty, they could be imprisoned for up to five years. However, it seems that none of the three are currently in Russia. Numerous international media outlets, such as the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, the US news channel CNN, and the Italian broadcaster Rai, have reported from the Ukrainian-occupied areas in Kursk.
21:30 White House Contests US Republicans' 'Political Trick' against ZelenskyyThe White House has retaliated against allegations in Congress by the US Republicans that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy illegally interfered in the US election campaign by visiting a weapons factory. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed the allegation as a "political stunt" and advised Republicans to "drop it." She affirmed that the Ukrainian delegation had requested the visit, which was facilitated by the Department of Defense. "That's regular," Jean-Pierre said. Zelenskyy visited the production facility in the US state of Pennsylvania during his multi-day trip to the US. The plant produces 155mm artillery shells urgently required in Ukraine. Numerous Democrats, including Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, were present. Following the visit, Republican lawmakers initiated an investigation and the Speaker of the House demanded that Zelenskyy "dismiss" the Ukrainian ambassador to the US in a letter.
21:05 China, Brazil, and Others Caution against Nuclear Threat against UkraineChina, Brazil, and several other nations have voiced their concerns against the usage or threat of nuclear weapons against Ukraine. "We advocate for abandoning the application or threat of use of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons," a joint statement reads. Twelve countries express their "deep concern" over the risk of "escalation" in Ukraine: "Civilian infrastructure, including peaceful nuclear facilities and other energy installations, should not be a target for military operations." The appeal arises after threats from Russian President Vladimir Putin this week. He mentioned that Russia could resort to nuclear weapons in case of severe air strikes on its territory and that any attack backed by a nuclear power would be considered a "joint" aggression. Zelensky had also alleged that Russia was planning to assault Ukrainian nuclear reactors.
You can review all previous events here.
The European Union has expressed concern over the attacks on Ukrainian healthcare facilities, with 2013 attacks recorded since the beginning of the conflict.
In response to Ukraine's 'triumph strategy' shared by President Zelensky, the European Union is considering providing further aid to Ukraine, if necessary.
