At 13:58, President Zelenskyy affirms the reprisal of 103 additional captive combatants
Ukraine Verifies Prisoner Swap with Russia
Ukraine has verified a prisoner swap with Russia. An additional 103 individuals have returned to Ukraine from Russian custody, as reported by President Zelenskyy. Among these are soldiers, National Guard members, border guards, and police officers. They are defenders of the regions of Kyiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Mariupol, as well as the Azovstal steel plant.
13:38 USA Approves Sale of Top-tier Fighter Jets to Romania
The United States government has authorized the sale of 32 advanced F-35 fighter jets to Romania, a NATO ally and neighbor of Ukraine. In an explanation, US Ambassador to Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec, stated, "Romania is a crucial ally in the NATO alliance, steadfast in its commitment to security and stability in the Black Sea region and beyond." With the acquisition of these stealth, multi-role combat aircraft from manufacturer Lockheed Martin, Romania will gain "unmatched air defense capabilities," further emphasized Kavalec. The initial delivery is expected in 2031, with the overall deal estimated at up to $7.2 billion.
13:02 Reported Prisoner Swap of Over 200 Individuals between Russia and Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine are reported to have exchanged over 200 prisoners of war, according to Russian statements. Each side has released 103 people, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced through a Telegram message. The Russian soldiers are currently receiving psychological and medical assistance in Belarus, the ministry said. The Russian soldiers were reportedly captured in Kursk, where Ukrainian troops had advanced in August. The Ukrainian side has yet to respond to the Russian claims regarding the prisoner exchange.
12:50 Russia Claims Capture of a Village in Eastern Ukraine
Russian forces have allegedly captured another village in eastern Ukraine. "The village of Yelannoe Pervoe (Yelanne Perche in Ukrainian) has been liberated," the Moscow Defense Ministry announced. The small village is situated near the strategic city of Pokrovsk, which is under threat from the Russian advance. Russian forces have made significant progress in the Donetsk region in recent weeks. Russian President Putin recently stated that the main objective of the Russian army is to capture the industrially important Donbass region, which includes Donetsk.
12:21 Medvedev Threatens Kyiv's Total Destruction
Russian ex-President Dmitri Medvedev has threatened to completely destroy Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. Russia has a valid reason to use nuclear weapons due to Ukraine's advance into the Russian region of Kursk, although it has yet to do so. In response to Ukraine's use of Western long-range missiles, Kyiv could be transformed into "a massive molten spot" using new Russian non-nuclear weapon technology, Medvedev claimed. Medvedev is the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council and has frequently employed harsh language against the West and Ukraine.
11:50 Intense Fighting Occurring in Kurachove
The most intense fighting in eastern Ukraine is currently taking place around the city of Kurachove. The debate over the use of European long-range weapons is generating frustration among the population. ntv reporter Kavita Sharma reports from Dnipro.
11:12 Drone Attacks Cause Damage in Odessa's Black Sea Region
Details of the large-scale drone attack in Odessa's Black Sea region are still emerging. According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia launched a total of 76 combat drones. Of these, 72 drones were downed. The air force is not providing information on the aftermath of the attack. The governor of Odessa's Black Sea region reported substantial damage. He stated that several buildings in a suburb of Odessa's regional capital were damaged by drone debris. Warehouses in the Ismajil district, which serves as a transit point for Ukraine's grain exports, were struck. Debris also fell in Kyiv, damaging a municipal company, but no fire broke out.
10:31 Stoltenberg on Meeting Preceding the War: Russians Showed Inaccurate NATO Maps
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg gave an interview, discussing the last diplomatic efforts to deter Russia from invading Ukraine prior to the conflict starting in February 2022. The final NATO-Russia Council meeting, led by Stoltenberg, took place in January. The Russians demanded that all NATO troops be withdrawn from the eastern part of the alliance, he explained to the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung." "That was totally unacceptable, but I believe in dialogue. That's why we met again." At the meeting, the two Russian deputy foreign and defense ministers claimed that there were no war plans, arguing that Russia was threatened by Ukraine. They provided maps to support their claims, but these maps were inaccurate, such as omitting Denmark as NATO territory. This confusion is unclear if it was due to poor preparation or intent, retrospectively, Stoltenberg regrets that NATO and its allies did not do enough to strengthen Ukraine militarily earlier. "If Ukraine had been militarily stronger, the invasion threshold for Russia would have been higher. Whether it would have been high enough is difficult to say."
10:03 Lithuania Sees German Combat Brigade as a Backup
According to Wiegold, Lithuania regards the German combat brigade as a backup.
North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, has pledged to enhance cooperation with Russia, as reported by state media. Following a meeting with Russian Security Council chief Sergei Shoigu in North Korea, it was revealed that there was an in-depth discussion on strengthening strategic dialogue between the two nations and safeguarding their mutual security interests, as well as addressing regional and international situations. However, Pyongyang has dismissed accusations from Ukraine, the US, and South Korea that it is supplying Russia with weapons and missiles for the Ukraine conflict as "unfounded."
09:07 Strengthening Ties with MoscowKim Jong Un has vowed to strengthen ties with Russia, according to North Korean media. After a conversation with Russian Security Council chief Sergei Shoigu in North Korea, it was divulged that they engaged in an extensive dialogue on deepening strategic partnership between the two countries and bolstering cooperation to protect their mutual security interests, in addition to discussing the regional and international situation. Nevertheless, Pyongyang has refuted allegations from Ukraine, the US, and South Korea that it is supplying Russia with weapons and missiles for the Ukraine conflict as "baseless."
08:48 Discussing Far-Reaching Weapons for RussiaDiscussions are set to take place soon on whether Ukraine should be permitted to utilize sophisticated Western weapons against targets within Russia. British Prime Minister Starmer announced this following a meeting with US President Biden, during which they decided to postpone a decision on the matter. Biden and Starmer will discuss the issue at the UN General Assembly in New York next week "with a larger group of individuals," Starmer said. British media report that Biden, who fears a nuclear conflict, is open to allowing Ukraine to utilize British and French rockets with US technology - but not US-made rockets.
08:15 Zelensky on Trump's Alleged Plan: "Election Messages are Election Messages"Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed he could end the war in Ukraine in a day, but has never presented a plan. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was asked in a CNN interview how he interpreted Trump's statement. "I cannot understand it today because I don't know the specifics of what he means and what it means," Zelensky replied in the interview, which aired on Sunday. His stance is that there is an election campaign in the US. "And election messages are election messages," he continued. "Sometimes they are not very realistic." However, Zelensky also stated that he had spoken to Trump two months ago. During that conversation, Trump had assured him of support for Ukraine, Zelensky said. It had been a positive conversation.
07:01 ISW: Russia Needs More Soldiers in Kursk to Push Out UkrainiansRussia continues its counterattacks in the Kursk region, but the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has not yet observed a large-scale operation to completely drive out the Ukrainians. The ISW, based in Washington, writes that Russian authorities have so far relied mainly on inexperienced and poorly equipped conscripts, as well as small parts of the regular Russian armed forces and other security forces in the border region. In an assessment, the think tank says: "A Russian counteroffensive to retake the territory captured by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk Oblast will likely require more personnel and material than Russia has already concentrated in the area - especially if most of the units already deployed lack combat experience."
06:17 Ukraine Under Attack by Drones Overnight
According to the Ukrainian military, Russia has attacked Ukraine with Shahed drones throughout the night. The Russian army launched several groups of attack drones, the Ukrainian air force reported. Air alerts were sounded in almost all regions of the country. For example, in the Odessa region. The navy says it shot down nine drones there. In the city of Odessa, explosions were heard, according to the mayor. No casualties have been reported so far.
06:01 Mützenich Proposes International Contact GroupSPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich is advocating for an international contact group to initiate a peace initiative in the Ukraine war. "In my opinion, it is now time for the Western allies to initiate a contact group to start a process," he told the "Rheinische Post". "The Federal Chancellor and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agree that now is a good time to intensify efforts for peace talks, and that Russia should also be involved in the next peace summit." Asked about possible members of such a contact group, Mützenich said he sees countries like China, India, Turkey, and Brazil as responsible. "The conviction is growing in these countries that the Russian war of aggression can become a burden." Therefore, the work of a contact group "could indeed be promising," and it could play an important mediating role.
05:00 EU Ponders New Approach to Extending SanctionsEU diplomats say the EU Commission is considering three options for how sanctions against Russia could be extended in the future. Corresponding scenarios were presented to European diplomats on Friday, several insiders said. The background is the frozen assets of the Russian central bank, which play an important role in granting a mega-credit of 50 billion dollars from the G7 states to Ukraine.
03:00 Klitschko: Drone Fragments Hit Kyiv City BuildingsKyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported via the Telegram messaging app that drone fragments hit a city building in the Ukrainian capital. The fragments fell on a municipal building in the Kiewer district of Obolon north of the city center early in the morning. Klitschko wrote further that emergency services were on their way to the scene. Previously, the mayor had explained that air defense units were in operation in the capital.
00:35 Kim Jong Un Vows More Cooperation with Russia
Kim Jong Un, North Korea's leader, has pledged to strengthen cooperation with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu. As reported by the state news agency KCNA, the two men had a detailed discussion during Shoigu's visit to Pyongyang. They reached a mutually satisfying agreement on various matters, including enhanced cooperation to protect mutual security interests. Shoigu, who served as Russian defense minister until May, had initiated closer relations between North Korea and Russia with a trip to Pyongyang last July.
23:36 Zelensky Sets Meeting with Biden to Discuss "Victory Plan"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced a meeting with US President Joe Biden in September. "I will present the plan for victory," Zelensky said during an appearance in Kyiv. This strategy involves a comprehensive decision-making system to equip Ukraine with sufficient forces to steer the conflict towards peace. "Conquering wars can end in a just manner through either the expulsion of the occupying army or diplomatic means," Zelensky explained. This will result in true independence for the country. However, Kyiv relies on US support for a strong position.
22:59 Ukrainian Military Reports Heavy Fighting in Eastern SectorHeavy fighting continues in eastern Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian military. There were 115 skirmishes, the General Staff in Kyiv reported in its evening update. "The most intense fighting occurred in the direction of Kurakhove, in addition to which the enemy was also active in the direction of Lyman and Pokrovsk," it said. Kurakhove is a small town south of Pokrovsk. Pokrovsk had been the main attack direction of Russian troops. However, recently, the Russians have made little progress in that area. Instead, they have expanded their attack axis southwards to capture the mining town of Hirnyk near Kurakhove.
22:18 Zelensky: Advance in Kursk Brings Desired ReliefUkraine's advance into the Russian region of Kursk is providing the desired results, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. In the Charkiv region, the enemy has been halted, and in Donetsk, Russian advance has slowed down, he says. Russia has not yet achieved any significant successes in its counterattack in Kursk. Experts had previously doubted the redeployment of larger Russian troop formations from Donetsk and other regions to Kursk. Russia claims to have retaken 10 out of 100 occupied villages.
21:46 Zelensky Accuses West of "Fear" in Discussing Ukrainian Missile DefenseUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accuses the West of having "fear" in discussing assistance for Ukraine in shooting down Russian missiles. "If the allies can jointly shoot down missiles and drones in the Middle East, why is there still no similar decision to shoot down Russian missiles and (Iranian) Shaheds in the skies of Ukraine?" Zelensky said at a conference in Kyiv. "They are afraid to even say: 'We are working on it.' And this happens even when missiles and drones are literally heading towards the territory of our neighbors," the Ukrainian leader said. This is "shameful for the democratic world."
21:30 Russia Allegedly Deploys Over 8000 Iranian Drones Against UkraineRussia has allegedly deployed 8060 Iranian Shahed drones against Ukraine since the start of the war, according to the Kyiv government. Statements from Iran or Russia are not yet available. Ukraine first accused the Iranian government of supplying the kamikaze drones to Russia in the fall of 2022.
20:43 US Unwilling to Discuss Approval of Long-Range Weapons for UkraineIn Washington, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden are expected to meet for talks. There's much anticipation over whether there will be announcements regarding the approval of the use of long-range weapons for Ukraine. Sources from the British "Guardian" suggest that the UK has allowed Kyiv to carry out attacks using Storm-Shadow missiles. However, it's reported that neither side will make any announcements on this topic during today's meeting. "I wouldn't expect an announcement today about the use of long-range weapons within Russia - certainly not from the US," says the Communications Director of the National Security Council, John Kirby. He only shares that they are continuing to discuss with the UK, France, and other allies "the type of capabilities that will be provided to Ukraine." He also avoids giving a clear answer when asked if the US government would announce any changes. "I'm not going to engage in a hypothetical discussion about what we might or might not say at a certain point."
You can read about all previous developments [here].
The European Union could potentially play a role in negotiating a ceasefire or peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, given its influence in the international community.
Following the sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Romania, there could be increased tension between the European Union and Russia, as Romania is a NATO ally and neighbor to Ukraine. The European Union might consider this as a threat to its eastern borders if Russia perceives this as provocation.
