At 15:26, renowned actor Michael Douglas pays a visit to kids in Kiev
Michael Douglas Explores "Iron Land" Children's Area at Kyiv's Central Station American actor Michael Douglas paid a visit to the children's area named "Iron Land" located at Kyiv's Central Station on Friday. This information was shared by the state-owned Ukrainian railway company, Ukrzaliznytsia, on their Facebook page. The post states that the Hollywood star casually strolled around the station, interacting with the passengers.
14:49 Ukraine Seeks Authorization for Weapons: "Biden Remains Unwavering" Retired Colonel Ralph Thiele anticipates a renewed debate on the delivery of Taurus weapons due to the possibility of Ukrainian long-range attacks against Russia. Thiele, a military expert, believes the USA will maintain its rejection of the request.
13:58 Zelensky Announces Release of 103 Prisoners of War Ukraine has confirmed an exchange of prisoners with Russia, which resulted in the return of 103 individuals to their homeland. President Zelensky made the announcement on his social media platform. Among the returned individuals are soldiers, National Guard members, border guards, and police officers who had defended various regions, including Kyiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, Saporischschja, Kharkiv, Mariupol, and the Azovstal plant.
13:38 America Approves Sale of Advanced Fighter Jets to Romania The US government has authorized the sale of 32 advanced F-35 fighter jets worth a billion dollars to Romania, a NATO ally neighboring Ukraine. US Ambassador to Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec, commented: "Romania plays a crucial role in NATO's security and stability in the Black Sea region and beyond." The acquisition of these stealth, multi-role combat aircraft from Lockheed Martin by Romania will significantly boost their air defense capabilities, according to Kavalec. The first delivery is scheduled for 2031, with an estimated total deal value of up to $7.2 billion.
13:02 Russia Releases Prisoners of War to Ukraine Russia and Ukraine have reportedly exchanged over 200 prisoners of war. Each side released 103 individuals, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. The released Russian soldiers are currently receiving psychological and medical assistance in Belarus, the ministry confirmed. The Ministry also mentioned that the Russian soldiers were captured in Kursk, where Ukrainian troops made significant advancements in August. Ukraine has yet to respond to Russia's announcement, while Ukrainian President Zelensky announced the return of 49 prisoners of war from Russia on Friday. It remains unclear if these returned individuals were part of the exchange announced by Russia.
12:50 Russia Captures Village in Eastern Ukraine The Russian army claims to have captured another village in eastern Ukraine. The Defense Ministry reports that the village of Yelannoe Pervoe has been liberated. The small village is located near the strategically important city of Pokrovsk, which is under threat by the Russian advance. The Russian army has made significant progress in the Donetsk region in recent weeks.
12:21 Medvedev Threatens Destruction of Kyiv Russian former president Dmitri Medvedev has threatened the complete destruction of Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Medvedev, who serves as the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, believes Russia has the right to use nuclear weapons due to Ukraine's advance on the Russian region of Kursk, despite the fact that Russia has so far held back from doing so. In response to Ukraine's use of long-range Western missiles, Russia could potentially transform Kyiv into a "gigantic molten spot" using newer Russian non-nuclear weaponry.
11:50 Severe Fighting in Kurakhove Intense fighting is currently taking place around the eastern Ukrainian city of Kurakhove. The decision to use European long-range weapons is causing discontent among the populace. ntv reporter Kavita Sharma reports from Dnipro.
11:12 Drone Attacks Damage Buildings in Odessa's Black Sea Region New details regarding the large-scale drone attack that occurred in the Black Sea region of Odessa last night have emerged. According to the Ukrainian air force, a total of 76 combat drones were launched by Russia, with 72 drones being shot down. The air force did not disclose the aftermath of the attack. The governor of Odessa’s Black Sea region reported significant damage to several buildings in the suburb of the regional capital Odessa and warehouse buildings in the Ismajil district. In Kyiv, debris from the attack damaged a municipal company, but no fire broke out.
10:31 Stoltenberg recounts Russian deception before war: Falsified NATO map presentationNATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, in an interview with the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung", discusses the final diplomatic attempts to deter Russia from invading Ukraine prior to the conflict in February 2022. The last meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, chaired by Stoltenberg in January, took place. The Russians demanded the withdrawal of all NATO troops from the alliance's eastern sector, Stoltenberg shares. He acknowledges it as unacceptable but believes in diplomacy, thus deciding to meet with them again. At this meeting, Russia's deputy foreign and defense ministers claimed there were no war plans on their part and stated that their country was rather under threat from Ukraine. They allegedly displayed maps to illustrate how Russia is encircled by NATO. However, Stoltenberg points out that even these maps were inaccurate. Denmark, supposedly a NATO territory, was overlooked in the maps. The reason behind the mistake remains uncertain, whether it was due to poor preparation or a deliberate act. In retrospect, Stoltenberg expresses regret that NATO and its allies failed to bolster Ukraine's military strength earlier. He believes that a stronger Ukraine would have raised the threshold for Russia's invasion, although the effectiveness is uncertain.
10:03 Wiegold on Germany-Lithuania Agreement: Lithuania perceives German combat brigade as reinforcementGermany and Lithuania sign a government agreement that guarantees a combat-ready German brigade will be deployed in the Baltic NATO member state. Military analyst Thomas Wiegold sheds light on the background and significance of this agreement in an interview with ntv.
09:28 Kim's intentions with Moscow: Expanding cooperation and strengthening security interestsNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un is reported to have expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Russia, as per state media. Following talks between Kim and Russian Security Council Chairman Sergei Shoigu in North Korea, the state media reports that both sides exchanged views on deepening the strategic dialogue between the two nations and strengthening cooperation to safeguard their security interests as well as the regional and international situation. Ukraine, the US, and South Korea accuse North Korea of supplying weapons and missiles to Russia for the Ukraine conflict. However, North Korea denies these allegations as "absurd".
08:59 Starmer and Biden to discuss potential use of advanced weaponry against Russian targetsPrime Minister Starmer of the UK announces that another discussion is imminent on whether Ukraine can utilize advanced Western weaponry against Russian targets. After a meeting with US President Biden, they postponed a decision on this matter. Biden and Starmer will revisit it at the UN General Assembly in New York next week, in the presence of a larger group, according to Starmer. British media reports suggest that Biden is willing to authorize the use of British and French rockets with US technology – but not US-made rockets.
08:23 Zelensky's perspective on Trump's alleged peace plan: Campaign promises may not be realisticUS Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed he could resolve the Ukraine conflict in a single day without providing substantial evidence. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shares his thoughts on Trump's statement in a CNN interview, scheduled to be aired on Sunday. Zelensky says he cannot interpret Trump's statements now since the details are unclear. He adds that elections are taking place in the US, and campaign messages may not always reflect reality. Zelensky also mentions speaking with Trump twice previously. During their conversations, Trump reassured Zelensky of his support for Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian President. The conversation was positive, according to Zelensky.
07:27 Insufficient Russian forces for a large-scale operation in Kursk, according to ISW assessmentRussia continues its counterattacks in the Kursk region, but the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) doubts a large-scale operation to drive out Ukrainian forces completely. According to the ISW, Russian authorities have primarily relied on poorly trained and equipped conscripts, along with small sections of the regular Russian armed forces and other security forces in the border region for the operation. In an assessment, the think tank states that a Russian counteroffensive to reclaim territory from Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast will likely require more personnel and resources than Russia has already deployed in the region – especially if most of the units lack combat experience.
06:49 Ukraine targets hit by repeated drone attacks throughout the nightAccording to the Ukrainian military, Russia has been bombarding Ukraine with Shahed drones continually throughout the night. The Russian army launched several clusters of attack drones, and the Ukrainian air force reported. Air raid warnings were heard across almost all regions of the country, including the Odessa region, where the navy claimed to have shot down nine drones. Explosions were heard in the city of Odessa, but no casualties have been reported thus far.
SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich proposes establishing an international contact group to initiate peace negotiations in the Ukraine conflict. He believes it's time for Western allies to take action, and the German chancellor and Ukrainian president agree that now is a suitable moment to strengthen efforts for peace talks. Mützenich suggests countries like China, India, Turkey, and Brazil as potential members of the contact group, as their conviction grows that the Russian invasion is becoming a burden.
05:41 EU Contemplates New Methods for Extending Russia Sanctions
EU diplomats report that the EU Commission is mulling over three strategies for the future expansion of sanctions against Russia. These strategies were presented to EU diplomats on Friday, several sources disclosed. The rationale behind this is the frozen assets of the Russian central bank, a crucial element in facilitating a $50 billion mega-loan from G7 nations to Ukraine. These assets have been frozen since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
03:40 Drone Debris Hits Kyiv Building
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced via Telegram that drone debris struck a city building in the Ukrainian capital. The debris landed on a municipal building in the northern Obolon district early in the morning. Emergency services were en route to the scene, and earlier, the mayor had reported that air defense units were active in the capital.
01:35 Kim Jong Un Promises Closer Cooperation with Russia
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged closer cooperation with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu. The two men engaged in a comprehensive discussion during Shoigu's visit to Pyongyang, reaching a consensus on issues related to improved "cooperation to safeguard mutual security interests." Shoigu, previously Russian defense minister until May, fostered closer ties between North Korea and Russia with a visit to Pyongyang in July of the previous year.
23:36 Zelensky to Unveil "Victory Plan" to Biden in September
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has scheduled a September meeting with US President Joe Biden. "I will present the plan for victory," said the president during an appearance in Kyiv. The plan constitutes a series of interrelated decisions that would ensure Ukraine has sufficient forces to steer the war towards a peace settlement. "Conquest wars can be conclusively ended in either of two ways: either the occupying army is forced to retreat, or peace negotiations lead to a resolution," Zelensky explained. This will guarantee the true independence of the country, but Ukraine relies on US support for a strong strategic position.
22:59 Russia Changes Tactics, Shifts Attack to South
Heavy fighting continues in eastern Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian military. They reported 115 engagements, the General Staff in Kyiv revealed in its evening situation report. The most intense activity was in the direction of Kurachove, while the enemy was also active in Lyman and Pokrovsk. Kurachove is a small town south of Pokrovsk. Pokrovsk had been the primary target of Russian troops, but they've achieved limited territorial gains in that area lately. Instead, they expanded their attack axis southwards to capture the mining town of Hirnyk near Kurachove.
22:18 Successful Advance into Kursk Brings Relief to Zelensky
The Ukrainian advance into the Russian oblast of Kursk is yielding positive outcomes, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. He stated that the enemy has been halted in the Charkiv region, and Russian advancement has slowed down in Donetsk. Russia has yet to notch any significant successes in its counterattack in Kursk. It's been questioned whether larger Russian troop formations were withdrawn from Donetsk and other regions to Kursk. Russia claims to have recaptured ten of the 100 occupied villages.
21:46 "West is Intimidated" - Zelensky's Harsh Words about Allies
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticizes the West for showing fear in discussing assistance for Ukraine in countering Russian missiles. "If the allies collaborate to shoot down missiles and drones in the Middle East territories, why isn't there a similar decision to intercept Russian missiles and Shaheds in Ukraine's sky?" Zelensky said at a conference in Kyiv. "They're paralyzed even to utter: 'We're working on it.' This happens even when missiles and drones threaten the territory of our neighboring countries," the Ukrainian head of state remarked. This is shameful for the democratic world.
21:30 Russia Deploys Over 8000 Iranian Drones since War's Beginning
Since the onset of the war, Russia has dispatched 8060 Iranian Shahed drones, developed in Iran, against Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian government. No statements from Iran or Russia are currently available. Ukraine initially accused the Iranian government of providing the kamikaze drones to Russia during the autumn of 2022.
20:43 Potential Approval of Long-Range Weapons for Ukraine? USA Remains MumIn Washington, Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the UK and President Joe Biden of the USA are scheduled for a talk. There's a buzz surrounding whether there'll be any updates regarding the authorization of long-range weapons usage for Ukraine. According to the "Guardian", the UK has granted Ukraine the liberty to strike with Storm-Shadow missiles. Nevertheless, neither side is expected to bring up this matter during today's conference. "I wouldn't be surprised if we don't hear anything today about long-range weapon deployment within Russian territory - certainly not from the US side," shares the Communications Director of the National Security Council, John Kirby. He merely confirms they're still discussing weapon types to be supplied to Ukraine with the UK, France, and other allies. He remain evasive when asked about potential policy shifts, stating, "I'm not going to speculate on what we might or might not say at a later time."
Remember to check out the previous developments [here].
The President of the Council of Europe condemned Russia's actions in Ukraine, calling for immediate de-escalation and respect for territorial integrity.
In response to the escalating situation in Ukraine, the President of the United Nations Security Council called for an emergency meeting to discuss potential intervention and prevent further escalation.
