At 08:55, a hardline Russian nationalist anticipates a "military setback" in their aggression campaign.
Imprisoned in Russia, ultranationalist Dmitri Kozlov views no victories for his nation in the conflict. As per the Institute for the Analysis of War, the previous offensive campaign this summer and fall has failed to meet its objectives, and it is improbable to achieve them before the so-called mud season. Kozlov even mentions a "strategic military defeat." According to Kozlov, who is internationally sought-after for his involvement in downing Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, the Russian offensive in Kharkiv has come to a standstill, and offensives in the Donetsk region have merely pushed back Ukrainian positions without breaking the front line. The Russian forces would need their reserves to defend against the Ukrainian advance into the Kursk region. The Ukrainian defense has demonstrated success, having effectively repelled Russian offensives with minimal territorial losses, launched powerful counterattacks, preserved unused reserves, and maintained morale within the military and society.
08:23 Swarms of Russian Drones on Ukraine's TerritoryRussia is once again bombarding Ukraine using numerous drone attacks. Air defenses downed 22 of 56 Russian drones during the nighttime assault, as reported by the Ukrainian military. An additional 27 drones were likely neutralized by electronic countermeasures and crashed, with two drones veering towards Belarus. However, five drones struck infrastructure in regions near the front, according to the military. Attacks on energy infrastructure are reported in the southern Ukrainian region of Mykolaiv. No casualties were reported, but power outages occurred in certain areas.**
07:55 Ukrenergo Security Chief Arrested by SBUThe Ukrainian security service (SBU) claims to have apprehended one of the security chiefs of the national energy company Ukrenergo. He is accused of endorsing the Russian invasion, doubting the existence of an independent Ukrainian state, approving the killing of civilians, and disseminating information about the effects of attacks on critical infrastructure. Ukrenergo confirmed the suspension of one of its employees in association with the case through a Telegram announcement: "Any statements justifying Russian aggression are unacceptable to the Ukrenergo team," it declared. Ukrenergo added that nine of its employees have perished during their duties due to Russian attacks, with another 11 currently engaged at the front. Conviction could result in up to eight years in prison and the confiscation of his assets.**
07:23 NATO Invitation for Ukraine Hailed Unlikely by US Ambassador to NATONATO has no plans to introduce Ukraine as a member in the near future, according to the US ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith, as reported by "Voice of America": "NATO's stance on this issue is quite clear. We stated at the 75th anniversary summit this summer that Ukraine is on an unalterable path to membership, and that Ukraine will eventually become a member of the alliance. However, the alliance is not yet discussing a short-term invitation," Smith stated before the NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels. Yesterday, President Volodymyr Zelensky presented his "victory plan" in Kyiv, with Ukraine's inclusion in NATO being a central aspect.**
06:56 Ramstein Meeting Rescheduled for November by White HouseThe US government has rescheduled a gathering of the Contact Group on Defense Issues in Ukraine for November, with the event set to take place online. This announcement follows a phone conversation between Biden and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which new financial aid for Ukraine was also agreed upon. Previously, Biden had planned to convene a meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group on October 12 in Germany, but this was postponed due to Hurricane "Milton". The Ukraine Defense Contact Group is a US-led coalition of over 50 countries, including all 32 NATO members, which meets at the US Air Base Ramstein in Germany.**
06:30 Discovery of "Advanced" Russian Weapons by Israeli Forces in Hezbollah StrongholdsAccording to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli troops have uncovered "advanced" Russian weapons in Hezbollah militia hideouts in southern Lebanon. Netanyahu mentioned to the French daily "Le Figaro" that, in accordance with a 2006 UN resolution, only the Lebanese army is authorized to possess weapons south of the Litani River. "However, Hezbollah has built hundreds of tunnels and secure locations in this area, where we recently discovered a range of cutting-edge Russian weapons," the newspaper quoted him as stating.**
06:02 Ukraine Sets Grim RecordA conference on mine clearance in Ukraine is being held today in Lausanne. The United Nations considers Ukraine the most heavily mined country globally. Potentially, an area equivalent to twice the size of Bavaria is a threat zone, with mined maritime areas also included. Since the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, over 1,000 casualties have resulted from mines and unexploded ammunition in Ukraine, comprising more than 300 fatalities, with 30 deaths this year alone. Over 2,100 mine clearance experts are at work. According to the Civil Protection, they have examined over 1,500 square kilometers – an area equivalent to Berlin and Hamburg combined – and rendered safe more than 530,000 explosive devices. The government estimates the cost of clearing the entire country at around 30 billion euros.**
05:05 Ukraine under Russian Drone Attack, Alerts in EffectVarious regions of Ukraine are under attack by Russian combat drones during the night hours. Alert notifications are active in most areas, but no harm has been reported yet. According to the governor of Bryansk, Alexander Bogomaz, Russian air defense forces allegedly shot down three Ukrainian drones in their region's border area, with no reports of damage or injuries resulting.
01:45 Ukraine-Lithuania Partnership to Build Munitions FactoryThe Lithuanian Ministry of Economy and Ukraine have agreed to construct an ammunition manufacturing facility together. The plant will specialize in producing diverse RDX explosives, with construction scheduled to begin in Lithuania during the upcoming year.
00:04 DHL Warehouse Incident in Birmingham, UK: Investigation into Russian LinksFollowing an explosion in a DHL warehouse in Birmingham, UK, anti-terror authorities are currently investigating the possibility of it being a Russian-orchestrated act of sabotage, as reported by The Guardian. On July 22nd, an explosion occurred at the warehouse, which is said to have been caused by an explosive device hidden within a package that was previously transported by a plane. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. Simultaneously, a comparable incident occurred at a DHL cargo facility in Leipzig, Germany, prompting the Federal Prosecutor's Office to take over the probe. The incident is believed to have been orchestrated by Russia, according to security sources.
23:01 Zelensky to Attend NATO Defense Ministers' MeetingPresident Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has been invited to join the NATO defense ministers' meeting, according to the revised schedule. During the conference, Zelensky presented his strategy for victory, which includes an official invitation for NATO membership.
22:05 NATO Unaware of North Koreans at Ukrainian FrontlinesNATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has been unable to confirm rumors claiming that North Koreans are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. Stoltenberg voices concern over these unverified reports. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Pyongyang of sending their personnel to work in Russian factories and join the military, which Moscow denies.
21:23 Biden Commits to Additional $425 Million Aid Package for KyivThe United States has promised a new $425 million aid package for Ukraine. The assistance includes military-related supplies, such as ammunition and armored vehicles, according to a White House statement. President Joe Biden also spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, regarding this new commitment.
20:56 Zelensky Aims for Peace in Ukraine by 2023Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky intends to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine on favorable terms by 2023. He presented his "plan for victory" to the Ukrainian parliament, but the Kremlin remains unimpressed.
20:28 Ukrainian Prosecutors Allegedly Pay for Disability Status to Dodge Military ServiceThe Ukrainian General Prosecutor's Office is reportedly investigating around 50 prosecutors in the Chmelnytskyi region for allegedly purchasing disability status to evade military service. This information was released by General Prosecutor Andriy Kostin, who ordered internal investigations via the Telegram messaging application. The investigations also uncovered accusations of the involved prosecutors receiving disability pensions. In several instances, these individuals received this status prior to the conflict's onset, as it enhanced their job retention and promotion prospects.
19:58 Kremlin Expresses Concern over Popular Youth Trend: QuadrobingRussian authorities and religious leaders have shown concern over a popular youth trend in Russia called Quadrobing, in which children and teenagers dress up as animals and mimic their behaviors. The Kremlin and the church view this trend as an indication of corrupting Western influence and the promotion of the LGBTQ+ community, leading them to call for harsh punishments.
Include previous developments here.
The discussion about the Russian offensive in Ukraine continues, with Dmitri Kozlov acknowledging a "strategic military defeat" in the conflict. This follows the previous night's incident where swarms of Russian drones bombed Ukraine's territory, resulting in power outages in certain areas. Despite the Russian offensives, the Ukrainian defense has demonstrated significant success, effectively repelling attacks with minimal territorial losses and maintaining morale, as per Kozlov's statement.
