18:45 Air Force Chief's Termination Not Linked to F-16 Mishap According to Umerow
The Ouster of Air Force Chief Mykola Oleschtschuk is Unconnected to the Recent F-16 Crash, Says Defense Minister Rustem Umerow in CNN Interview According to Defense Minister Rustem Umerow, the termination of Air Force Chief Mykola Oleschtschuk is not connected to the crash of an F-16 fighter jet earlier this week. This announcement was made in an interview with CNN. The removal of Oleschtschuk occurred just one day after the Ukrainian military confirmed that a new F-16 combat aircraft had crashed during its defensive operations against a large Russian drone and missile attack on August 26. "I would likely say it's a rotation," Umerow stated, adding that he does not see a connection between the two incidents at this point.
18:06 Eastern Frontlines: Over 100 Skirmishes Target Pokrovsk Along the eastern frontlines of Ukraine, Ukrainian defenders and Russian attackers clashed in numerous skirmishes throughout the day. The General Staff in Kyiv reported a total of 109 armed engagements by early evening. Pokrovsk, located on the edge of the Donbass, saw the heaviest fighting with Russian units launching 23 attacks, all of which were repelled with artillery support. Russian attacks were also reported near the nearby town of Kuracheve.
17:28 Residential Building Hit in Charkiv, Two Civilian Casualties In the Charkiv region, two civilians lost their lives and eight were injured due to a Russian air strike, as per Ukrainian reports. Guided bombs struck a residential building in the village of Tscherkaska Losowa, as confirmed by Ukrainian Governor Oleh Synehubov. Rescue services were called to the scene. The same area was affected by a bomb attack last Friday, which struck a residential building and a playground, resulting in seven fatalities and numerous injuries.
16:50 Biden Administration Rejects Sending Americans for Military Equipment Maintenance in Ukraine Despite proposing to send Americans to Ukraine for the maintenance of western military equipment, including F-16 fighter jets, the Biden administration has turned down the proposal. American contractors have been a topic of debate since the early stages of the war, but the ongoing conflict's escalation with the arrival of F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine intensified the discussion. Intelligence agencies have expressed concerns about the possibility of Russian targets on American contractors in Ukraine.
16:14 Belarusian Opposition Concerned about Maria Kolesnikova's Health The Belarusian opposition has expressed concerns about the wellbeing of imprisoned opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova. Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tichanovskaya shared that alarming information comes from Kolesnikova's cellmates. They claim that she now weighs only 45 kg, is suffering from hunger, and is kept in terrible conditions with constant isolation. The prison administration is accused of committing "medieval cruelty" and "slow murder" against the high-profile government critic.
15:36 Joint Weapon Production, Defense Investments Discussed in Washington A Ukrainian delegation led by Julia Svyrydenko, Minister of Economy, and Andrij Jermak, Head of the Presidential Office, is meeting with security advisors from the USA, UK, France, and Germany in Washington. The meeting's main topics include collaborative weapon production, future western investments in the Ukrainian defense industry, and the urgent need to improve Ukrainian air defense and energy system protection. Jermak emphasized the importance of seizing this crucial moment to maximize efforts and assist Ukraine in achieving victory.
14:56 Moscow and Hidden War The war between Russia and Ukraine continues unabated on the frontlines. Yet, residents of Moscow are relatively oblivious to the drone attacks, oil depot fires, and civilian casualties. The city is making every effort to conceal the conflict. Correspondent Rainer Munz for ntv illustrates how Moscow is attempting to hide the war.
14:25 Chasiv Yar: At Least Five Civilians Killed in Russian Attack At least five civilians lost their lives in the Chasiv Yar city in the Donetsk region during a Russian attack, as reported by the Ukrainian governor of the Donetsk region, Vadym Filaschkin. The deceased are all males aged between 24 and 38. The attack took place in the early morning hours, and the victims were left amidst the ruins of a private house and an apartment building.
13:53 Kharkiv Mourns Victims of Russian Attack The residents and family members of those affected are mourning the victims of the Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. According to the governor of the Kharkiv region, Oleg Synegubov, seven people were killed, and 97 were injured, including over 20 minors, in the attack on Friday evening. The youngest casualty was a ten-month-old infant. One of the deceased was identified as the 18-year-old Ukrainian artist Veronika Kozhushko. Famous Ukrainian artist Serhiy Zhadan paid tribute to Kozhushko's death on Facebook, lamenting that the Russians continue to destroy their future, with no forgiveness for such actions.
13:03 Danish Leader: Ukraine's Victory in War against Russia is Inevitable and NecessaryAccording to "European Truth", the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, spoke about the conflict between Ukraine and Russia during the GLOBSEC conference in Prague. In her opinion, Ukraine must win this war. This, she stated, is an "inevitable development". "There is no alternative to Ukraine winning this war. If Russia wins, not only will Ukraine be defeated, but we all will", she is reported to have said. Frederiksen emphasized that there is almost unanimous agreement on this within the European Union. "Europe has never been so united as it is now (...). We may have internal discussions. (...) But it's 26 against one", she quoted. She is referring to all of Europe standing against Russia.
12:15 Russia Takes Control of Kirove in Donetsk RegionThe Russian military has reportedly seized the village of Kirove in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, as stated by the Defense Ministry in Moscow. The Russian forces have been making gradual progress in the east for some time now. The regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, along with Saporischschja and Cherson further south in Ukraine, were already annexed by Russia in September 2022, although Russian troops do not fully control these areas. Ukraine aims to reclaim all territories, including the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed in 2014 and is located far to the south of Cherson.
11:45 Russia Accuses Ukrainian Forces of Shelling Belgorod RegionThe Russian region of Belgorod on the border with Ukraine has reportedly been subjected to Ukrainian shelling, as per Russian reports. The Governor of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, reported on his Telegram channel that three people were killed and more than 30 people, including three children, were injured in an evening air strike on the city of Belgorod. More than a dozen residential buildings and 47 cars were damaged, Gladkov stated.
11:10 Expert: Russia Interferes in Moldovan Elections with DisinformationMoldova will hold presidential elections on October 20, and there will also be a referendum to enshrine EU membership in the constitution, preventing future governments from opting out of the process. According to Brigitta Triebel, who heads the Konrad Adenauer Foundation office in Chisinau, Russia is attempting to influence the elections by spreading disinformation and fake news. "The Moldovans are being told: If you don't want to be drawn into a war like in Ukraine, vote for the pro-Russian parties", Triebel said.
10:49 Ukrainian Forces Report Interception of 24 Russian DronesThe Ukrainian air force claims to have intercepted 24 Russian drones. Out of the 52 drones launched by Russian forces during their overnight attack on Saturday, 24 were reportedly intercepted, affecting eight regions in Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian air force, 25 drones crashed on their own, and three more flew towards Russia and Belarus. No reports of injuries or major damage have been made. The Russian attack targeted Kyiv, where it was the fourth attack this week, and all drones aimed at Kyiv were intercepted.
10:16 Video Allegedly Shows Ukrainian Attack on Russian Military Convoy in KurskRussian military bloggers have published a video on their Telegram channels, claiming it shows the aftermath of a Ukrainian attack on a Russian military convoy in the Kursk region. Radio Free Europe (RFE/RL) also shared the video on Telegram. The video reportedly shows damaged military vehicles and a collapsed pontoon bridge over the Seym River in Kursk.
09:34 Russian Authorities Report Ukrainian Shelling of ShebekinoAuthorities in the city of Shebekino in the Russian region of Belgorod have reported Ukrainian shelling. A woman was injured on Saturday, according to authorities. Shebekino is located near the Ukraine border.
09:00 Ukraine Claims High Casualty Figures for Russian Troops in UkraineThe Ukrainian General Staff has reported that Russia has lost around 614,950 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, including 1,360 in the past 24 hours. Eight tanks, 42 artillery systems, and 18 drones were also reportedly destroyed in this period. In total, Ukraine claims that Russia has lost 8,582 tanks, 17,614 artillery systems, 368 aircraft, 328 helicopters, 14,471 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine since the start of the large-scale invasion. However, Western estimates put the losses lower.
07:48 Media Report: Around 66,000 Russian Soldiers Reportedly Killed in UkraineApproximately 66,471 Russian soldiers have reportedly been killed in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as per a report by Russian independent media outlet Mediazona. In collaboration with BBC News Russian, Mediazona has identified and documented these names through open-source research. It's important to note that this figure only represents those whose identities have been confirmed through open sources, and the actual casualties could be significantly higher. The Ukrainian General Staff estimates over 600,000 Russian soldiers killed, while Western estimates suggest a similar figure.
07:15 Ukraine: Death Toll Hits 7 after Russian Attack on KharkivSeven individuals, including more than 20 minors, have lost their lives, and 97 others have been injured in a Russian assault on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, as per the region's governor, Oleg Synegubow, via Telegram. The attack reportedly targeted a children's playground and a 12-story residential building, which were struck by a Russian UMPB D-30 SM-Lenkluftbombe during the Friday assault. A fire broke out subsequently. As of Saturday morning, firefighting efforts are still ongoing, according to Synegubow.
06:27 ISW: Putin's Approval Rating Hits Record Low Among RussiansFollowing Ukraine's incursion into the Russian region of Kursk, the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin's popularity are on a downward spiral, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). A poll by the Russian Public Opinion Foundation reveals that 28% of respondents are dissatisfied or discontent with the measures taken by Russian authorities following the region's incursion. According to another poll by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM), Putin's approval rating has dropped by 3.5 percentage points to 73.6% in the penultimate week of August, marking the largest decline since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. ISW suggests that the Kremlin must acknowledge the rise in public dissatisfaction since the start of the Ukrainian incursion in the Kursk region.
05:40 Two Colombian Nationals Allegedly Fought for Ukraine, Detained by RussiaAccording to the Russian security service FSB, two Colombian citizens who reportedly fought for Ukraine have been detained. The men, Alexander Ante and Jose Aron Medina, were handed over to Russia by Venezuela after they were apprehended by Venezuelan authorities during a stopover in Caracas while en route back to Colombia. Spanish media reported that the two men joined the International Legion during the summer of 2023. They were arrested at Caracas Airport in mid-July. According to FSB, the men had documents and Ukrainian military attire suggesting their involvement in the conflict.
04:47 Czech President Skeptical about Link between Ukrainian Operation in Kursk and Russian AdvanceCzech President Petr Pavel is skeptical about a direct connection between the rapid advance of Russian forces near Pokrovsk in the Donetsk Oblast and Ukraine's operation in the Russian Oblast of Kursk. "I don't believe there's a direct link between the rapid Russian advance on the Pokrovsk front and the Ukrainian operation in the Oblast of Kursk," Pavel stated to Radio Liberty. "The Russian leadership continues to pursue a goal to capture territories in the four Oblasts - Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Kherson - which they consider their own," the Czech president explained to "Ukrainska Pravda". "And they aim to achieve this in a suitable timeframe, while the weather remains favorable for military operations," he added.
03:47 Stoltenberg Considers Ukrainian Advance into Kursk "Legitimate"
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has labeled Ukraine's advance into the Russian region of Kursk as legitimate. Stoltenberg affirmed that Ukraine has the right to defend itself, as per international law, and this right does not cease at the border. Regarding accusations that the West had prior knowledge of the Russian territory attack, Stoltenberg emphasized that Ukraine did not coordinate its operations in Kursk with NATO, and NATO did not play a role in this. This is Stoltenberg's initial response to Ukraine's incursion into the Russian border region.
02:48 Ukraine Accuses Russia of Massive Chemical Weapons UseSince the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities have reported over 4,000 cases of chemical weapon use, with over 3,100 cases reported since December 2023. This marked an alarming increase in the use of illegal chemical weapons, according to Ukrainian authorities, as reported by the "Kyiv Independent". The data indicates a substantial increase in the use of such weapons compared to the approximately 600 cases reported in January, according to Ukrainian military sources. The highest number of reported cases was 715 in May 2024, but the figures slowly decreased in the summer months before August data became available.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) representative, Fadi el-Abdallah, informed the BBC that Mongolia, as an ICC member state, is required to apprehend Russian President Vladimir Putin during his forthcoming visit. Putin's visit to Mongolia on September 3 would be his first to an ICC member nation that has ratified the Rome Statute. The Statute mandates the arrest of individuals like Putin if they enter the country's territory. The ICC issued an arrest warrant against Putin in March 2023 for orchestrating the forced expulsion of children from Russian-controlled territories in Ukraine.
00:33 Video Conference with Biden: von der Leyen Remembers Russian Invasion Day
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen advocates for robust transatlantic relationships, regardless of the U.S. presidential election results in November. At the Globsec security conference in Prague, she received the Czech and Slovak Transatlantic Award (CSTA). In her acceptance speech, she recalled a video call with U.S. President Joe Biden on the day Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. "We instantly agreed on our response to Putin's war," von der Leyen said. Once again, Europe and America stood together on the right side of history.
23:19 Russia: Five Killed After Attack on Belgorod
At least five individuals have been killed in Ukrainian attacks on Russia's Belgorod border region, according to Russian reports. A woman and four men died at the scene from their injuries, explained regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov via the Telegram messaging service. Additionally, 37 others were injured. Ukraine bombarded Belgorod and the region using multiple rocket launchers, Gladkov added.
22:01 Ukraine - Developing AI for Swarm Drones and Affordable Missiles
Ukraine aims to involve weapons manufacturers in the advancement of AI for swarm drones and "affordable missiles" to counter Russian kamikaze drones, said Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, at the Globsec Forum in Prague. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, both Ukraine and Russia have significantly invested in drone technology, revolutionizing modern warfare. According to Fedorov, Ukrainian soldiers face numerous challenges, including Russian equipment, infantry, ammunition shortages, kamikaze drones, and reconnaissance drones. In response, Ukrainian forces utilize low-cost first-person-view drones (FPV), reconnaissance drones, small air defense systems, and domestically produced long-range drones to target Russian objectives, says Fedorov. "What are the next challenges where we need your help? How do we create an effective laser guidance system, how do we develop AI for drone swarms, how do we manufacture Ukrainian HIMARS, how do we produce affordable Ukrainian missiles to shoot down Shaheds?" says Fedorov.
21:32 Ukraine Receives Critically Needed Artillery Shells
Ukraine receives the first shipment of heavy artillery ammunition from the U.S.-European coalition, announced Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky in Brussels. 155-mm artillery shells are urgently needed on the front lines. "The Czech munitions initiative is meeting its promise, and by the end of the year, we will deliver half a million large-caliber projectiles. Around 100,000 pieces were delivered each in the summer months of July and August," says Lipavsky.
Review previous updates here.
The European Union may express concern over the wellbeing of imprisoned opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova in Belarus, given their shared values of human rights.
In light of the recent escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the European Union might consider strengthening its defense cooperation with Ukraine to support its air defense and energy system protection.
