At 13:11, Ukraine announces the demolition of a storage facility following an assault on a Russian military airstrip.
12:35 Ukraine Increases War Funding Significantly via Tax Hike
The Ukrainian parliament has boosted taxes to support the ongoing conflict. Notably, the 2014-introduced war levy on income-dependent workers will increase from 1.5% to 5%. However, this enhancement does not apply to soldiers.
12:08 Ukraine Denies Preparedness for Ceasefire Claims
An advisor to President Zelenskyj, Dmytro Lytwyn, has dismissed an Italian media allegation suggesting Zelenskyj is willing to agree to a ceasefire along the front line in exchange for Western security assurances. The Italian newspaper "Corriere della Sera" brought up these claims without citing sources.
11:49 Zelenskyj Meets with Starmer and Rutte in London
Ukrainian President Zelenskyj has arrived at the British government's London headquarters, where he will discuss the future war strategy against Russia through meetings with British government representatives and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. This includes consultations with Prime Minister Keir Starmer before traveling to Berlin and Paris for discussions.
11:21 Russian Military Suppliers Highly Utilize German Machinery
Investigations by SWR have exposed that German machinery is extensively employed by Russian military suppliers. Over 30 German manufacturers' machines were imported to Russia last year. Many of these manufacturers are located in Baden-Württemberg. Overall, more than 300 German-made machines have been shipped to Russia, with around two-thirds of them delivered via Turkey. The German manufacturers reportedly claim they were unaware of this and maintain compliance with sanctions.
10:57 Injuries and 29 Damaged Buildings After Saporischschja Attacks
Ukrainian authorities report that four people were injured and 29 buildings were damaged in Russian airstrikes on the southern Ukrainian city of Saporischschja this morning. Ukraine claims Russia utilized guided bombs, according to Ukrainian police. While the city is under Ukrainian control, Russian forces occupy the nearby nuclear power plant. Russia has declared the region its territory and is making strenuous efforts to capture it.
10:22 Military Airport Reportedly Attacked in Caucasus Region
Ukrainian media suggest a military airport has been hit in the southern Russian Caucasus region of Adygea. The extent of the damage varies in different reports. This morning, local authorities reported the evacuation of the nearby village of Rodnikovy.
09:37 Explosions at Russian Drone Warehouse Captured on Video
Footage from the southern Russian region of Krasnodar shows flames, explosions, and showering sparks at a drone warehouse attack the previous day. The building reportedly housed around 400 Iranian Shahed-type drones.
08:53 Production of Su-57 Russian Stealth Fighter Jets Slows, Report Says
According to the British "Telegraph", the production of Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter jets in Russia has nearly come to a halt. The cause is said to be a lack of components, particularly for electronics, due to Western sanctions, explaining the Ukrainian analysts from Frontelligence Insight.
08:29 Russia Claims to Have Downed Over 90 Ukrainian Drones
The Russian Ministry of Defense reportedly claims that Russia shot down 92 Ukrainian drones overnight, as reported by the Kyiv Independent. Among those, 47 were detected over the southwestern Krasnodar region, where Ukraine allegedly destroyed a warehouse containing around 400 drones the previous day.
07:57 Economist Calls for Redirection of Military Spending
Kiel economist Moritz Schularick calls for a reevaluation of German military expenditure. "If we exempt defense spending from the debt brake, we can develop capabilities in the long term", says Schularick, the president of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. The federal special fund exceeding 100 billion euros is not sufficient, he believes. "The issue with special funds is that they are often just a drop in the bucket compared to the need, and they are not a permanent source of funding.", says Schularick, emphasizing the need for reducing dependence on the US arms industry.
Read more about this here.
07:41 Russia Attracts African Women to Manufacture Drones for Ukraine War
Approximately 200 women from Africa are assembling drones in Russia for use in the Ukraine conflict. These women claimed they were enticed by social media job promotions promising a free flight ticket, money, and an overseas adventure. After successfully passing a computer game and a 100-word Russian vocabulary test, they discovered their actual job was manufacturing drones developed in Iran for use against Ukraine.
Read more about this here.
07:21 Ukraine Continues Strikes Deep into Russian Territory
Authorities in the southern Russian Caucasus region of Adygea report that a village was evacuated due to a drone attack-related fire. The village of Rodnikovy was affected, with no reported casualties, according to regional authorities on Telegram. The attack targeted the outskirts of the city of Maykop, and a nearby military airport was reportedly affected. In recent weeks, Ukraine has made efforts to weaken Russian invasion troop logistics by striking deeper into Russia, such as the attack on a fuel depot in the Adygea region in June.
As per American estimations, Ukraine potentially retains control over the territory it claims in the Russian region of Kursk for several months, possibly even longer. This information comes from Bloomberg, who sources it from top-tier American officials. The officials insisted on anonymity, but they mentioned that Ukraine has faced minimal issues in supplying the region. Russian forces have only carried out limited counterattacks, focusing mainly on advancements in eastern Ukraine instead. Moreover, Kyiv's forces now have a more stable supply of artillery ammunition, attributed partially to their allies' assistance, after dealing with shortages for months.
06:25 Pro-Russian protesters barred from entering Germany
Two pro-Russian activists claim they were banned from entering Germany for the next twenty years. Elena Kolbasnikova uploaded a video on Telegram portraying a letter sent by the Cologne city authorities, pronouncing them a threat to Germany's security. The duo has been organizing pro-Kremlin rallies in Germany since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. An investigation published last year identified them as driving forces for pro-Moscow sentiments in Germany and disclosed that they received financial support from a Russian government agency. In June, they disclosed through their lawyer that they had relocated to Russia. The Cologne prosecutor's office and city administration initially declined to comment on the matter.
06:04 Former US soldier found guilty in absentia by Russian court
An American soldier named Trevor Reed was convicted in absentia by a Russian court for his military service in Ukraine in 2023. According to the Russian Investigative Committee, Reed voluntarily joined the Ukrainian army as a mercenary and was sentenced to fourteen and a half years in prison for mercenary activities. He reportedly served in the Donetsk region. The US State Department announced in July 2022 that Reed, who was released in a prisoner swap in April 2022, had suffered injuries while fighting in Ukraine.
05:30 Ukrainian media outlet alleges pressure from presidential office
The Ukrainian news portal "Ukrajinska Prawda" (Ukrainian Truth) reported that it has been experiencing pressure from the presidential office in Kyiv. In a statement, the portal mentioned attempts to influence its editorial policies, including a ban on speaking with its journalists and exclusion from events. There has also been pressure placed on companies to cease advertising on the platform. The portal did not offer specific details. The editorial staff pledged to expose any future attempts at influence from the presidential office. Prior to the Russian invasion in February 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had already clashed with some journalists and shut down television channels and news websites.
03:50 Klitschko predicts difficult winterThe mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, echoed a call for peace during celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of the peaceful revolution in Leipzig. He expressed concerns about a challenging winter for Ukraine, with many cities and communities destroyed. In a prayer, Klitschko expressed hope for peace. Leipzig is a partner city to Kyiv.
02:05 Zelensky tours European capitalsUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be visiting Germany, France, Britain, and Italy this week for discussions about the Russian conflict in his country. Today, Zelensky will be greeted by French President Emmanuel Macron at 3 pm for a private meeting, according to Paris. Zelensky announced at a press conference with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic that he would also meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the coming days. A meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is also scheduled. On Friday morning, Zelensky is scheduled to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican.
00:01 Six fatalities in rocket attack on OdessaAt least six individuals were killed in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa in a Russian rocket attack, as per official reports. Eleven other people were injured, seven of whom were severely wounded. "The enemy's objective was once again the port infrastructure," mentioned military governor of the region Oleh Kiper on Telegram. According to Kiper's statements, a civilian container ship under the Panamanian flag was struck. The casualties were all Ukrainian citizens. According to Kiper, this is the third attack on a civilian vessel in the last four days, an attempt to obstruct the grain passageway established by Ukraine.
22:58 Russian court sends activists to long prison termsA Russian court sentenced an activist to twelve years in prison on Wednesday for alleged support of a pro-Ukrainian organization. Eugene Mishchenko is accused of providing information to the outlawed Russian Freedom Legion, a group stationed in Ukraine primarily consisting of anti-Putin Russian opponents, according to the state news agency RIA Novosti. Mishchenko is part of a group that commemorates the 2015 murder of Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov on a bridge in Moscow, according to the independent Russian news portal Mediazona. The group, known as "Nemtsov Bridge," frequently lays flowers and lights candles at the site where Nemtsov was assassinated. The police typically remove the makeshift memorial. Mishchenko's verdict was handed down on his birthday, which would have been his 65th.
21:59 "Entire Europe Union": Zelensky Proposes Massive EU ExpansionUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is encouraging the European Union (EU) to bring together the entire European continent by admitting "all democratic nations of Europe." He emphasized the need to maintain Europe's stability, stating, "Regardless of the numerous disagreements, our unity within Europe should remain as robust as possible," during a summit in Croatia with leaders from Balkan countries. Zelensky also sealed an agreement with Croatia, covering areas like defense and mine clearance. He further remarked, "If Europe fails to unite today, it will not be tranquil. As such, the ongoing EU membership processes must bear fruit." Zelensky isn't just pushing for Ukraine's EU membership, which commenced in June, but also for several Balkan nations that have been anticipating EU membership for years.
21:25 Russian Drone Stadium: Ukrainian Forces Strike Krasnodar DepotThe Ukrainian military asserts to have successfully attacked and demolished a drone depot in the southern Russian region of Krasnodar. After a precision hit, a subsequent explosion was documented, according to the General Staff in Kyiv. Approximately 400 drones of the Iranian type Shahed were housed in the targeted building. "The demolition of the Shahed drone depot will significantly hamper the Russian occupiers' capacity to terrorize the innocent civilians in Ukrainian cities and villages," the General Staff in Kyiv reported. Russian authorities have admitted a fire in a warehouse near the Oktyabrsky village. The area has been quarantined, with about 800 square meters of the site in flames, as reported by the regional operational headquarters in the Krasnodar region. The coordinates correspond to those reported by Kyiv, although the operational headquarters made no comments regarding the fire's origin or the items stored within.
20:51 Southeast Europe Summit: Twelve Nations Demand Russia's WithdrawalTwelve Southeast European nations, including Turkey, have consented that Russia's withdrawal from all occupied territories in Ukraine is a prerequisite for peace. They upheld the peace plan of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine's entry into NATO in the final declaration of their summit held in Dubrovnik, Croatia, which they co-signed with Zelensky. Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic, famed for his delicate dance between the West and Russia, was also among the signatories. Vucic was instrumental in eliminating a proposed sanction against Russia from the summit's closing statement, as reported by Croatian media.
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11:21The President of the Council in the Ukrainian parliament has approved the tax hike for war funding.
10:57There have been calls from economic experts for The President of the Council to reevaluate the nation's military spending.**
