At 12:08, Ukraine disputes reported readiness to halt hostilities.
Ukrainian Media Reports: Adviser to President Zelensky Discards Italian Media Report on Truce
As per Ukrainian news outlets, Adviser to President Zelensky, Dmytro Lytwyn, has refuted an Italian media assertion stating that Zelensesky is inclined to accept a truce along the frontline in exchange for Western security assurances. The Italian newspaper "Corriere della Sera" brought up this allegation, but failed to mention any sources.
11:49 Zelensky Conferences with Starmer and Rutte at London
Ukrainian President Zelensky has arrived at the British government's headquarters in London. He is scheduled to meet with UK government officials and NATO representatives to discuss his strategies for the ongoing conflict against Russia. The itinerary includes encounters with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, prior to Zelensky's talks in Berlin and Paris.
11:21 German Equipment Utilized in Russian Military Suppliers
Based on an investigation carried out by SWR, German machinery is being extensively employed by Russian military suppliers. The broadcast claims to have tracked more than 30 German manufacturers whose equipment were exported to Russia the previous year. The majority of these are situated in Baden-Württemberg. In total, more than 300 German-produced machines came to the hands of the aggressor. In approximately two-thirds of cases, the equipment was sent to Russia diplomatically, via Turkey. The German manufacturers reportedly stated they were unaware of this. They claimed to be in compliance with sanctions.
10:57 Casualties and 29 Damaged Buildings Result from Attacks on Saporischschja
According to Ukrainian authorities, Russian airstrikes this morning in the southern city of Saporischschja left four people injured and twenty-nine structures damaged. Russia is thought to have employed glide bombs, as reported by the Ukrainian police. While the city remains under Ukrainian control, Russian forces occupy the nearby nuclear power plant. Russia has declared the entire region part of their own territory and aim to conquer it with heavy attacks.
10:22 Military Airport in the Southern Russian Caucasus Region Bombarded
Ukrainian media hints at the bombardment of the military airport in the southern Russian Caucasus region of Adygea, Chanskaya. However, details on the destruction vary. This morning, local authorities announced the evacuation of the surrounding village of Rodnikovy.
09:37 Video Evidence of Massive Explosions at Russian Drone Hub
Video footage from the southern Russian region of Krasnodar shows flames, explosions, and sparks at the drone base that was attacked yesterday. The building supposedly housed approximately 400 Iranian Shahed drones.
08:53 Production of Russian Su-57 Stealth Fighter Jets Slows Down, Report Says
A report by the British "Telegraph" suggests that the manufacture of the Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter in Russia has largely stalled. The Ukrainian analysts at Frontline Insight are quoted as saying that this is due to a lack of components, particularly electronic components, due to Western sanctions.
08:29 Russia Declares to Have Shot Down 90 Ukrainian Drones
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Russia shot down 92 Ukrainian drones overnight, as per the Kyiv Independent. Of these, 47 were intercepted over the southwestern region of Krasnodar, where Ukraine asserted to have destroyed a drone base housing around 400 drones the previous day.
07:57 Top Economist: Avoid Increased Dependence on US Arms Industry
Kiel economist Moritz Schularick advocates for drastic changes in German military spending. "If we exclude defense spending from the debt restriction, we can truly establish capabilities in the long run," says the head of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. The federal special fund of more than 100 billion euros alone is not sufficient, he argues. "The problem with special funds is that they often only make up a small portion compared to the need, and they are not a long-term financing solution." Germany must not grow more dependent on the US arms industry, he cautions. "These are resources we want to have domestically for a valid reason."
Read more here.
07:41 Russia Encourages African Women for Drone Production
Approximately 200 women from Africa are constructing drones in Russia for use in the Ukrainian conflict. Affected women told AP that they were enticed with job ads on social media promising a free flight ticket, money, and an adventure abroad. They learned they had to complete a computer game and a Russian vocabulary test covering 100 words upon arrival. Instead of working in a student program in sectors like hospitality, some women discovered upon arrival they had to work in a weapons factory. There, they have to assemble drones developed in Iran, which are then utilized to strike Ukraine.
Read more here.
07:21 Ukraine Attacks Deep into Russian Territory Again
In the southern Russian Caucasus region of Adygea, a village has been evacuated due to a fire caused by a drone attack, according to local authorities. The village of Rodnikovy was affected, with no casualties reported. The strike hit the outskirts of the city of Maykop. In recent weeks, Ukraine has intensified attacks on targets within Russian territory to disrupt the logistics of the invading Russian forces. In June, Ukraine attacked a fuel depot in the Adygea region.
According to American estimates, Ukraine is capable of maintaining control over the territory it claims in the Russian region of Kursk for several months, potentially even longer. This information was shared by financial news agency Bloomberg, sourcing it from high-level American officials. The region has seen no major issues with supply delivery so far, the officials stated. Russian forces have only conducted limited counterattacks in the area and have focused their efforts on advancements in eastern Ukraine. Additionally, Ukrainian forces now have a more consistent supply of artillery ammunition, thanks in part to the assistance of their allies, following months of shortages, the officials added.
06:25 Pro-Russian Activists Banned from Entering Germany
Two pro-Russian activists have received a letter from the Cologne city administration stating that they are barred from entering Germany for 20 years. Elena Kolbasnikova reported this in a video posted on Telegram. The heads of local law enforcement declared that the couple, Kolbasnikova and Max Schlund, pose a threat to Germany's security. The couple have been organizing pro-Kremlin demonstrations in Germany since the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Last year, an investigation revealed that they had played a significant role in advocating for a pro-Moscow stance in Germany and had received financial backing from a Russian government agency. In June, they announced that they had relocated to Russia. Neither the Cologne public prosecutor's office nor the city administration wished to comment on the case initially.
06:04 Russian Court Convicts Ex-US Soldier for 'Mercenary Activities'
Ex-US soldier Trevor Reed has been found guilty in absentia by a Russian court for his involvement in Ukraine's military, according to Russian authorities. Reed is alleged to have served as a volunteer mercenary for the Ukrainian army in 2023, as claimed by the Russian Investigative Committee. He was sentenced to 14.5 years in prison for 'mercenary activities'. The Investigative Committee reported that Reed was serving in the Donetsk region for the Ukrainian army. The US Department of State announced in July last year that Reed, who was released in 2022, had been injured in fighting in Ukraine. Reed was released in a prisoner exchange in April 2022 and returned to the US.
05:30 Ukrainian News Portal Complains of Pressure from Presidential Office
The Ukrainian news portal "Ukrajinska Prawda" (Ukrainian Truth) in the Russia-attacked Ukraine is alleging pressure from the presidential office in Kyiv. Attempts to influence editorial policy include a ban on interviews with journalists from the portal and exclusion from events. The portal has also claimed that companies are being discouraged from placing ads on their site. The editorial team has vowed to disclose any future attempts by presidential office employees to exert influence. In the past, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has had disagreements with individual journalists and shut down TV stations and news sites.
03:50 Klitschko Warns of Difficult Winter
The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, appealed for peace for Ukraine during events marking the 35th anniversary of the peaceful revolution in Leipzig. He expressed concern over the challenging winter that his country is facing. Many cities and towns in Ukraine have been destroyed. During a prayer, Klitschko expressed hope for peace. Leipzig is a partner city of Kyiv.
02:05 Zelensky travels through Europe's capitalsUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting Germany, France, the UK, and Italy this week for discussions about the Russian invasion of his country. On Thursday, he will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron at 3 PM for private talks, as announced by Paris. Zelensky informed the press of his plans to meet with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the coming days during a press conference with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. Meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Pope Francis are also scheduled. On Friday morning, Zelensky is scheduled to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican.
00:01 Six killed in rocket attack on OdessaAt least six people were killed and eleven others were injured, seven severely, in a Russian rocket attack on the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa, as reported by official sources. "The enemy's aim was once again the port infrastructure," the regional military governor, Oleh Kiper, reported on Telegram. According to his reports, a civilian container ship flying the Panamanian flag was hit in the attack. The fatalities are Ukrainian citizens. Kiper noted that this is the third attack on a civilian ship in the past four days, with Russia supposedly attempting to obstruct the grain corridor established by Ukraine.
22:58 Russian court sentences activist to lengthy prison termA Russian court handed down a 12-year prison sentence to activist Eugene Mishchenko on Wednesday for supporting a pro-Ukrainian group. Mishchenko was accused of passing information to the Russian Freedom Legion, a group founded in Ukraine by primarily Putin opponents, according to the state news agency RIA Novosti. Mishchenko is a member of a group dedicated to commemorating Boris Nemtsov, the critic of the Kremlin who was assassinated on a bridge in Moscow in 2015, as reported by the independent Russian news outlet Mediazona. The group, named "Nemtsov Bridge," typically places flowers and candles at the site where Nemtsov was slain. The police commonly remove the makeshift memorial. Mishchenko's sentence coincides with Nemtsov's 65th birthday.
21:59 "Entire Europe Unification": Zelensky's Plea to EUUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the European Union (EU) to bring together the entire continent, incorporating "all democratic nations of Europe." He emphasized the importance of maintaining Europe's unity, stating, "Despite various tensions, we must ensure that our European unity remains as strong as possible." Zelensky made these remarks during a summit in Croatia with leaders from Balkan countries. In addition, he signed an agreement with Croatia, covering areas such as defense and mine clearance. Zelensky underscored, "If Europe isn't united today, it won't be peaceful, so the ongoing accession processes should lead to a concrete result." Beyond advocating for Ukraine's EU accession, which commenced in June, he also backed EU membership for several Balkan nations that have been waiting for years.
21:25 Krasnodar Drone Depot: Ukrainian Strike ReportedThe Ukrainian military allegedly struck and annihilated a drone depot in the Russian region of Krasnodar's south. Following a direct hit, an additional explosion was detected, as reported by Kyiv's General Staff. Approximately 400 Iranian type Shahed drones were said to be housed in the targeted building. The General Staff announced, "The obliteration of the Shahed drone depot will substantially lessen the Russian invaders' ability to terrify the innocent residents of Ukrainian cities and villages." Russian authorities have admitted to a fire in a warehouse near Oktyabrsky village. The site has been cordoned off, with approximately 800 square meters of area in flames, the Krasnodar Territory's operational headquarters detailed. The coordinates from the drone strike reported by Kyiv aligned with those from the operational headquarters but the headquarters failed to clarify the cause of the fire and the items stored there.
20:51 Dubrovnik Summit: Twelve Countries Seek Russian ExitTwelve South-East European countries, along with Turkey, agreed that Russia's withdrawal from all occupied territories in Ukraine is essential for peace. They affirmed support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's peace plan and Ukraine's NATO accession. This was expressed in the final declaration of their Dubrovnik summit, signed by Zelenskyy. Notably, Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic, known for his diplomatic dance between the West and Russia, also endorsed the declaration. Vucic managed to exclude a previously planned demand for sanctions against Russia from the summit's final declaration as reported by Croatian media.
You can catch up on previous developments here.)
The European Union could potentially provide Ukraine with additional military assistance to aid in its ongoing conflict against Russia.
In response to the Italian media report, the European Union might consider strengthening its diplomatic support for Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of territorial integrity and sovereignty.
