17:40 Ukraine: Russian projectile strikes grain vessel
17:12 Chinese Leader to Visit Russia Again
Chinese leader Xi Jinping is planning to visit Russia this October. Xi will attend a BRICS summit, as confirmed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Wang is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg today. The two leaders commended the relationship between China and Russia. Xi happily accepted Putin's invitation to attend the BRICS summit in Kazan, Wang stated. Putin mentioned that they would discuss aspects of their relationship that are "advancing quite well" during their bilateral meeting.
16:35 New Position for NATO Chief Stoltenberg
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will take over as the new chairman of the Munich Security Conference. Stoltenberg will assume this role following the security conference in February 2025. Christoph Heusgen, who currently holds the position and was previously a long-time foreign policy advisor to Chancellor Angela Merkel, will step down as chairman. Meanwhile, Wolfgang Ischinger, the conference's long-standing former chairman, will remain as the president of the foundation's board of trustees. Stoltenberg will be replacing his post as NATO Secretary General by October 1, handing it over to the former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
16:11 Death Toll Rises in Ukraine Attack
Three employees of the Red Cross in Ukraine have reportedly been killed in a Russian shelling incident, according to Ukrainian sources. The incident occurred in a village in the contested region of Donetsk, as reported by the Ukrainian prosecutor general's office on Telegram. Two other employees were injured, with one being in critical condition. "Another appalling act of war by the occupying forces in Ukraine," President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Twitter. Dmytro Lubinets, the human rights ombudsman, urged the ICRC to recognize Russia's violation of the Geneva Convention's norms.
15:45 Trial Proceedings Closed to Public
The presiding judge in the criminal trial against three lawyers of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in the Russian town of Petushki has temporarily closed the proceedings to the public. She cited security concerns due to alleged provocations by Navalny supporters as the reason. The three lawyers, Vadim Kobzev, Alexei Lipzer, and Igor Sergunin, are accused of belonging to an extremist organization.
15:18 Naval War on the Sea of Azov
Reports indicate a naval and aerial conflict between Ukraine and Russia in the Sea of Azov. The Ukrainian military intelligence claims that a Russian Su-30 fighter jet was shot down using a portable antiaircraft weapon during a special operation at sea (see entry at 08:04). However, the Russian Ministry of Defense has yet to confirm this loss. Meanwhile, they claim that Ukraine attempted to attack a Russian drilling platform using fast boats, resulting in eight sunken boats and the retreat of the remaining boats.
14:54 Demoralization Among Ukrainian Soldiers
Ukrainian soldiers are struggling to make the most out of their limited resources, according to reports by ntv journalist Kavita Sharma. This includes using old Soviet weapons with limited ammunition, as well as more advanced but scarce Western weapons.
14:23 Counteroffensive in Kursk, Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Russia has launched a counteroffensive in the Russian border region of Kursk. While no further details were provided, Russian sources have reported the "liberation" of ten settlements within two days in the Kursk region.
13:55 Criticism of Iran-Russia Relations
Conservative Iranian politician Ali Motahari expressed unfavorable remarks towards Iran's relationship with Russia on Twitter, contradicting his country's official stance. He cited recent sanctions and diplomatic tensions between Iran and Western powers, as well as accusations of Iran supplying ballistic missiles to Russia.
13:38 Water and Gas Disruptions in Ukrainian City
The city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine is experiencing water and gas supply disruptions after Russian attacks. The region's governor, Vadym Filashkin, reported that a water treatment plant was damaged during the fighting, forcing the city to rely on more than 300 emergency wells for its water supply. Additionally, a gas distribution center was destroyed, leaving over 18,000 residents in Pokrovsk without gas.
According to a report, Russia might have fewer warships than stated officially. The Russian news outlet "Agentstvo" claims that Russia's Ministry of Defense claims over 400 warships are participating in the large-scale military exercise "Ocean-2024." However, the portal cites online data from sources like "Global Naval Powers Ranking 2024" and "RussiaShips.info," which suggest only 264 and 299 warships respectively. Approximately 50 ships and submarines are also said to belong to the Black Sea Fleet, which isn't participating in the exercise. Russia has historically been accused of inflating its fleet size.
12:28 Russia Has Stepped Up Spying on German Military
Russian spies have increased their spying activities against German military aid to Ukraine and the Bundeswehr, as stated in the Military Shield Service (MAD) annual report. Russia now takes a keen interest in information about the military aid provided to Ukraine, such as weapon and ammunition transportation routes, deployment procedures, and Western weapons system tactics in Ukraine. Russian intelligence services have also renewed their focus on the Bundeswehr's capabilities for territorial and alliance defense.
11:52 Munz: "Nuclear Weapons on Berlin" Threat Not Random
Britain and the US could give Ukraine permission to attack Russian territory with nuclear weapons. So far, Russia has prevented this decision through threats, explains Rainer Munz, an ntv correspondent. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that an atomic weapons expert is now proposing attacks on Berlin.
11:15 Report: Decision on Long-Range Missiles Postponed by Two More Weeks
A decision related to the use of Ukrainian long-range missiles in Russia will take longer, according to Bloomberg. A decision before the UN General Assembly on September 24, where around 150 leaders will meet, is unlikely, the report says. According to the authors, British Foreign Secretary Lammy stated the UN meeting would be the next opportunity to discuss the use of long-range missiles. Ukrainian President Selenskyj plans to reiterate his demand at the meeting. On Wednesday, Lammy and US Secretary of State Blinken visited Kyiv to discuss Selenskyj's plans for attacking Russian territory. Blinken plans to talk about this with US President Biden on Friday. British Prime Minister Starmer will also meet with Biden on Friday to discuss the issue.
10:31 Blinken Arrives in Poland After Leaving Kyiv
US Secretary of State Blinken stops in Poland, a strong supporter of Ukraine, on his way back from Kyiv. Meetings with Prime Minister Tusk and President Duda are planned. Blinken is expected to discuss further cooperation with Poland, which serves as the main logistics gateway for Western military support to Ukraine. Poland has also increased its military spending significantly since Russia invaded Ukraine and has ordered 96 Apache combat helicopters from US defense giant Boeing, valued at $10 billion.
09:59 Ukraine States It Downed 5 Russian Missiles and 64 DronesThe Ukrainian air force reports that the Russian army attacked Ukraine overnight with 5 missiles and 64 drones of Iranian origin. 44 drones were intercepted. The military reports are not fully verified. Air defense systems in Kyiv were also active to shoot down approaching drones.
09:11 Russian Expert Calls for Stronger Nuclear ArsenalRussian foreign policy expert Sergei Karaganov advocates for Russia to clearly communicate its readiness to use nuclear weapons. The primary goal of Russia's nuclear doctrine should be to persuade "all current and future enemies that Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons," Karaganov told Kommersant. Moscow could carry out a limited nuclear strike on a NATO country without triggering a full-scale nuclear war, he said. Karaganov has previously suggested Russia consider a nuclear preemptive strike to intimidate its enemies. Some Western experts believe Karaganov serves a beneficial role for the Kremlin by expressing views that alarm the West, making Putin appear more moderate by comparison.
08:46 Ukraine Hoping for US Approval to Use Western Long-Range MissilesOptimism is growing in Ukraine that it may soon be allowed to launch attacks deep into Russian territory using Western weapons. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted during his visit to Kyiv that he wants to ensure "Ukraine has everything it needs." In the UK, signs suggest approval may already be on the way:
08:04 Ukrainian Intelligence Reports Shooting Down Russian Fighter JetFollowing reports of a missing Russian Su-30SM fighter jet from radar yesterday, the Ukrainian military intelligence service now reports that Ukrainian soldiers shot down such a jet during a Black Sea operation. Kyiv Independent reports that the $50 million fighter jet, based in Crimea, was destroyed by a portable air defense system.
07:26 Ukraine Reports Several Injured in Massive Drone Attack on KonotopThe number of injured in the massive drone attack overnight on Konotop's energy infrastructure in the Sumy region has risen to 14, according to the Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform, citing the regional military administration. Among the targets was a residential building in the city center.
06:04 Russian Media Accuses Trump of Being Handicapped in TV DebateVarious commentators on Russian state television have suggested that Trump was sabotaged during his debate against Kamala Harris, as per Kyiv Independent. They claimed that Trump was at a disadvantage. The fact-checking of Trump's statements was criticized. Many viewers believed that Trump had lost the debate. If Trump wins the election, he has announced that he will immediately end the conflict in Ukraine.
04:50 Russian Attack in Konotop Causes Heavy Harm to InfrastructureA Russian attack on the city of Konotop in the Sumy region has left several civilians injured. According to Mayor Artem Semenikhin, the city's water supply was interrupted for a while. There is also significant damage to the energy infrastructure, and it is unknown when private households will have power again. After the attack in the city center, several fires broke out, and school and residential buildings were damaged. Two people were taken to the hospital, one of whom is in critical condition.
03:29 Latvia Sends More Military Aid to UkraineLatvia's Prime Minister, Evika Silina, has announced a package of military aid for Ukraine during her visit to Kyiv. It will include armored personnel carriers, according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who made this announcement following a meeting with Silina. Shmyhal also mentioned that both countries are discussing the expansion of cooperation in the defense industry.
01:32 UK Confronts Iranian Businessman over Alleged Missile Shipments to RussiaIn response to alleged Iranian missile shipments to Russia, the UK has summoned an Iranian businessman, as stated by the Foreign Office in London. "The transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia would be seen as a dangerous escalation and would provoke a firm response from the UK," said the statement. On Tuesday, Germany, France, and the UK announced additional sanctions against Tehran due to the alleged missile shipments, including the suspension of bilateral air transport agreements. The European Union had previously revealed "credible information" about the delivery of Iranian missiles to Russia.
00:14 Ukraine: Russia Deploys Inexperienced Soldiers at VovchanskThe Ukrainian military reports that Russia is sending soldiers without combat experience to the front at Vovchansk. Vitalii Sarantsev, spokesperson for the operational tactical group of the armed forces in Kharkiv, confirmed that the units involved in the attack on Vovchansk are poorly trained. It is believed that the newly arrived reinforcements are a mobilization reserve raised by Russia. It remains unclear whether they are former prisoners or soldiers recruited from other countries, such as Central Asia, Africa, or the Middle East.
22:39 Mayor in Western Ukraine Enlists Russian-Speaking InspectorsThe mayor of the western Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk has announced the deployment of Russian-speaking inspectors due to the increasing use of the Russian language in public spaces. "This is a grassroots initiative, and anyone can become a language inspector," said Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv in an interview with NTA. Many displaced persons from eastern Ukraine, who have Russian as their native language, have settled in the city. Martsinkiv expects at least 100 such inspectors, with around 50 volunteers already registered. He also provided a phone number for citizens to report Russian speakers in public spaces. Millions of people, mainly from the Russian-speaking regions in the east and south, have fled to the relatively safe Ukrainian-speaking west of Ukraine due to the conflict.
21:42 Erdogan Demands Return of Crimea from MoscowTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has demanded that the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia, be returned to Ukraine. "Our stance in favor of Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence remains unwavering. The return of Crimea to Ukraine is a requirement of international law," said Erdogan in a video message on the occasion of the summit of the Crimea Platform. The Crimea Platform, established in 2021, aims to raise awareness of the situation surrounding the annexed peninsula.
21:05 Report: Kyiv to Present Military Strategy to USUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that the support of the US is crucial to repelling the Russian invasion. "The plan for victory (...) depends largely on the support of the United States. And other partners," said Zelenskyy at a press conference in Kyiv. The plan, which is set to be presented ahead of the second Ukraine Peace Conference, aims to "substantially strengthen Ukraine" and "force Russia to end the war." According to Bloomberg, the US is demanding a clear strategy from Zelenskyy for strikes against Russia before easing restrictions on the use of Western weapons. US Secretary of State Blinken and British Foreign Secretary Lammy were reportedly in Kyiv to discuss a long-term strategy for the coming year to better understand Ukraine's goals.
20:37 Blinken Announces Biden's Position on Using Weapons against RussiaUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the US is doing everything possible to fulfill Ukraine's military needs, including the use of long-range weapons supplied by the West for attacks on targets in Russia. US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will discuss this issue on Friday, Blinken said at a joint press conference with his British counterpart David Lammy and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiga in Kyiv. "We're working urgently to ensure that Ukraine has all the means it needs to defend itself effectively," Blinken said, adding, "We want Ukraine to win."
- There have been concerns that the escalating cyberwar between Russia and other nations could lead to a potential military conflict.
- As tensions between Russia and the West rise due to the cyberwar and other geopolitical issues, there is a growing fear of a potential cyberwar turning into a full-fledged cyber-Cyberwar, or even a physical conflict.
