At 12:50, Russia declares victory over another eastern Ukrainian hamlet.
In eastern Ukraine, Russian forces declare conquering another village. The Russian military claims to have seized control over Yelannoe Pervoye (Yelanne Perche in Ukrainian), as reported by the Moscow Defense Ministry. The tiny settlement is situated near the strategically significant city of Pokrovsk, which is under threat due to the Russian advance. The Russian army has been making swift progress in the Donetsk region over the past few weeks. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently reiterated that the main objective of the Russian military is the takeover of the industrially critical Donbass region, which includes Donetsk.
12:21 Medvedev warns of Kyiv's destruction. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev hints at the complete destruction of Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Russia inherently has justification to utilize nuclear weapons due to Ukraine's encroachment on the Russian region of Kursk, though it has thus far stayed away from this action. In retaliation to Ukrainian deployment of long-range Western missiles, one could also transform Kyiv into a "giant molten spot" using advanced Russian non-nuclear weaponry, according to Medvedev, who serves as the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council and frequently deploys harsh language against the West and Ukraine.
11:50 Intense clashes at Kurachove. The most intense fighting in eastern Ukraine is currently taking place in and around the city of Kurachove. The use of European long-range weapons has resulted in widespread dissatisfaction among the locals. ntv correspondent Kavita Sharma shares updates from Dnipro.
11:12 Drone attacks inflict damage in Odessa's Black Sea region. Details of last night's large-scale drone assault on Odessa's Black Sea region are emerging: According to the Ukrainian air force, a total of 76 combat drones were launched by Russia, out of which 72 were shot down. The aftermath of the air strike remains unclear, as the Ukrainian air force does not provide information on damages. The governor of Odessa's Black Sea region reports widespread destruction, including damage to several buildings in a suburb of the regional capital and to warehouse buildings in Ukraine's grain-shipping district, Ismail. In Kyiv, debris from the attack reportedly struck several buildings, but no fires were reported.
10:31 Fake Maps at Pre-War Meeting: Stoltenberg's Account. Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg discusses the diplomatic efforts prior to the February 2022 war in an interview. During the NATO-Russia Council meeting (which Stoltenberg chaired in January), the Russians demanded the withdrawal of all NATO troops from their eastern regions, a proposal Stoltenberg found unacceptable but still considered dialogue-worthy. At the meeting, Russian deputy foreign and defense ministers presented falsified maps of NATO territory, claiming that Ukraine posed a threat to Russia. According to Stoltenberg, the maps contained errors, such as incorrectly representing Denmark as a NATO territory. Looking back, Stoltenberg laments that NATO and its allies did not bolster Ukraine militarily earlier. He believes that if Ukraine had been better armed, the Russian invasion would have been deterred, albeit it’s impossible to determine whether it would have been effective enough.
10:03 Strong Support from Germany: Wiegold on Stationing Agreement. Germany and Lithuania sign a government agreement, ensuring that a German combat-ready brigade will be deployed in Lithuania. Military expert Thomas Wiegold discusses the reasons and implications of the agreement in an interview with ntv.
09:28 Strengthening Cooperation with Moscow: Kim's Pledge. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly agrees to deepen cooperation with Russia. After conversations between Kim and Russian Security Council chief Sergei Shoigu in North Korea, North Korean state media report an extensive exchange on strengthening cooperation to safeguard their respective security interests and maintaining regional and international stability. Both Ukraine, the US, and South Korea accuse North Korea of providing Russia with weapons and missiles for the Ukrainian conflict. Pyongyang rejects these allegations as false.
08:59 Potential Advance of Powerful Weapons for Russia: Starmer and Biden to Talk Again at UN Assembly. There will soon be further discussions on whether Ukraine is permitted to utilize highly-advanced Western weapons against targets in Russia. British Prime Minister Starmer has announced this after discussions with US President Biden, in which a decision on the matter was postponed. Biden and Starmer will revisit the topic at the UN General Assembly in New York next week with a larger group of participants. British media suggest that Biden is willing to support Ukraine's use of British and French rockets with US technology, but not US-manufactured rockets.
08:23 Zelensky on Trump's alleged plan: "Election talk is election talk"American Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has frequently declared he could end the Ukraine conflict swiftly, yet he's never proposed a strategy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was interviewed by CNN regarding Trump's remark. "I don't comprehend it now because I'm not privy to the specifics of his plan," Zelensky said during the interview broadcasted on Sunday. He explained that there's an election phase in the United States. "And campaign promises are campaign promises," he continued. "Sometimes, they're not wholly realistic." He also mentioned having spoken to Trump two months prior. During their conversation, Trump assured him of his commitment to Ukraine, according to Zelensky.
07:27 ISW: Russia Needs More Soldiers in Kursk to Force Out UkrainiansRussia persists with counterattacks in the Kursk region, but unfortunately, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) does not foresee a large-scale operation to entirely drive Ukrainians out of Kursk. As per the ISW situated in Washington, so far, Russian authorities have predominantly relied on inadequately trained and outfitted conscripts, alongside small segments of the regular Russian military and other security forces in the border region. In their evaluation, the think tank suggests: "A Russian offensive to reclaim the land seized by Ukrainian troops in the Kursk Oblast is likely to necessitate more manpower and resources than Russia has thus far amassed – especially if the majority of the deployed units lack combat experience."
06:49 Ukraine Under Drone AttacksUkraine asserts that Russia targeted Ukraine with Shahed drones throughout the night. According to the Ukrainian army, Russian forces launched multiple groups of attack drones. An air alert was issued in virtually every region of the nation, such as the Odessa region. The navy claims it downed nine drones in the Odessa region. In Odesa, explosions were reportedly heard according to the mayor. However, there have been no reported casualties yet.
06:13 Mützenich Proposes International Contact GroupSPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich suggested establishing an international contact group to champion a peace initiative in the Ukraine conflict. "I believe it's high time for Western allies to initiate a contact group to set the stage for a discussion," he told the "Rheinische Post." Both German Chancellor and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agree that this is the opportune time to intensify efforts for peace negotiations, and Russia should also be included in the following peace summit." Asked about potential members of such a contact group, Mützenich cited countries like China, India, Turkey, and Brazil as suitable candidates. "These nations are starting to view the Russian invasion as a burden," he claimed, and the work of a contact group "could indeed be promising," potentially serving an important mediating role.
05:41 EU Considering New Sanctions Extension ApproachEU diplomats are reportedly evaluating three alternative methods for possible future extensions of sanctions against Russia. These scenarios were presented to European diplomats last Friday, according to multiple insiders. This steps were taken in light of frozen Russian central bank assets, which plays a critical role in guaranteeing a $50 billion G7 loan to Ukraine. These assets have been frozen since Russia initiated its invasion of Ukraine.
03:40 Klitschko: Drone Debris Hits Kyiv City BuildingsKyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported via Telegram that drone debris struck a city building in the Obolon district north of the city center early Saturday morning. Emergency services are on their way to the scene, he wrote. Earlier, the mayor revealed that air defense units were active in the capital.
01:35 Kim Jong Un Pledges Increased Cooperation with ShoiguNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed greater collaboration with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu. According to the state news agency KCNA, during Shoigu's trip to Pyongyang, the two leaders had extensive discussions and reached an understanding on bolstering "cooperation to protect shared security interests." Shoigu, who retired as Russian defense minister in May, spearheaded closer relations between North Korea and Russia with a visit to Pyongyang in July 2021.
23:36 Zelenskyy to Present "Victory Plan" to Biden in SeptemberUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed a September meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden. "I'll present the path to victory," the president stated during an appearance in Kyiv. The plan consists of interconnected choices to equip Ukraine with sufficient forces to steer the conflict towards peace. "Such wars of conquest can be ended in a just manner in several ways: either by forcing the enemy army out or by diplomacy," Zelenskyy clarified. This strategy will warrant Ukraine's genuine independence. However, Kyiv's position is contingent on U.S. support.
22:59 Russia Alters Assault Strategy Towards SouthIntense clashes persist in the eastern part of the nation, as per Ukrainian military reports. There were 115 skirmishes, as mentioned by the General Staff in Kyiv in their evening briefing. "The most intense activity today was observed in the direction of Kurachove, apart from this, the adversary was also active in the directions of Lyman and Pokrovsk," it stated. Kurachove is a small town situated south of Pokrovsk. For quite some time, Pokrovsk was acknowledged as the key target for Russian troops' offensive. However, Russian forces have merely managed to secure modest territorial gains in this region lately. Conversely, they have expanded their line of attack towards the south, aiming to seize the mining town of Hirnyk, located near Kurachove.
22:18 Zelensky: Advance into Kursk Succeeds in Desired ResponseUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asserts that Ukraine's progress into the Russian region of Kursk has led to the desired result. He contends that the adversary has been halted in the Kharkiv region, and the Russian advance in Donetsk has slowed down. He also underlines that Russia has failed to accomplish any substantial success in its counterattack in Kursk. Experts had earlier questioned the redeployment of larger Russian troop formations from Donetsk and other regions to Kursk. Russia claims to have regained control over 10 out of 100 occupied villages.
21:46 "West is Feeling Anxious" - Zelensky's Straightforward Remarks on AlliesUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accuses the West of experiencing "anxiety" when it comes to providing aid to Ukraine in countering Russian missiles. "If the allies can collaborate to down missiles and drones in the Middle East, why hasn't there been a similar decision to shoot down Russian missiles and (Iranian) Shaheds in the Ukrainian sky?" Zelensky said during a conference in Kyiv. "They are hesitant even to express, 'We are working on it.' And this hasn't happened, not even when missiles and drones are directly heading towards our neighbors' territory," claimed the Ukrainian leader. This behavior is "disgraceful for the democratic world."
21:30 Russia Employs Over 8000 Iranian DronesIn accordance with the Ukrainian government, Russia has introduced 8060 Iranian Shahed drones into Ukraine since the onset of the war. No official statements from Iran or Russia have been released yet. Ukraine initially implicated the government in Tehran of supplying the kamikaze drones to Russia during the autumn of 2022.
20:43 Approval for Long-Range Weapons for Ukraine? US Evades AnswersDiscussions are underway in Washington between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden. There is widespread interest to ascertain if there will be any announcements related to the authorization of long-range weapons for Ukraine. Sources from the British "Guardian" suggest that Britain has granted Ukraine the permission to launch assaults with Storm-Shadow missiles. However, it has been reported that no declarations will be made on this topic during the meeting between the two partners today. "I wouldn't expect an announcement today regarding the use of long-range weapons inside Russia – definitely not from the US," stated John Kirby, the communications director of the National Security Council. He merely mentions that they are continuing to engage with Britain, France, and other allies regarding "the sort of capabilities that will be made available to Ukraine." He does not provide a clear response when asked about any potential changes in the US government's stance. "I'm not going to engage in a hypothetical discussion about what we might or might not say at a particular point."
The Commission, as part of the NATO-Russia Council, discusses diplomatic efforts prior to the February 2022 war, with former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg chaired the meeting and Russian deputy foreign and defense ministers presenting falsified maps of NATO territory.
The Commission is yet to comment on the potential advance of powerful weapons for Russia, as British Prime Minister Starmer and US President Biden are set to discuss the matter at the UN General Assembly in New York next week.
