At 16:32, the UK's intelligence agency reports the demolition of bridges in the Kursk region by Ukrainian forces.
16:05 Injuries Reported After Russian Region of Belgorod Targeted by Ukrainian Attacks
At least five individuals sustained injuries in Ukrainian attacks on the southern Russian region of Belgorod, according to officials. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported several explosions along a road between Belgorod and Shebekino, injuring four people and damaging several vehicles. A woman in the nearby village of Vosnesenskoye was also injured when a drone struck a private residence. As of now, these reports remain unverified. Frequent Russian attacks on neighboring Ukraine, particularly on Kharkiv, about 30 kilometers from the border, have become a common occurrence. Ukrainian artillery and military drones often target areas in the Belgorod region of Russia across the border.
15:44 Exclusive Insight: Repurposed Medical Vehicle Treats wounded Ukrainians
Many Ukrainian hospitals have been damaged, and medical personnel are working tirelessly around the clock. To facilitate rapid medical care for the injured, a specialized medical vehicle is being employed. A team from CNN was granted access to this vehicle.
15:26 Hollywood Celebrity Michael Douglas Visits Children in Kyiv
American actor Michael Douglas visited the "Iron Land" children's area at Kyiv Central Station on Friday. The Ukrainian state-owned railway company, Ukrzaliznytsia, announced this on their Facebook page. Reports suggest that during his visit, Douglas interacted with passengers at the station. Earlier, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena, as well as his son Dylan, in his capacity as a UN ambassador.
14:49 Kyiv Seeks Approval for Weapons: "Biden Appears Unlikely to Change Mind"
Retired Colonel Ralph Thiele anticipates that the possibility of Ukrainian long-range attacks on Russia is likely to rekindle discussions about Taurus deliveries. The military expert believes that the U.S. will maintain their stance.
13:58 Zelenskyy Confirms Release of Another 103 Captives
Ukraine has confirmed a prisoner exchange with Russia. Over 100 individuals, including soldiers, members of the National Guard, border guard, and police, have been released from Russian captivity and returned to Ukraine, according to President Zelenskyy. They hail from Kyiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, Saporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Mariupol, as well as the Azovstal plant.
13:38 UK Shares Images of Destroyed Bridges on Seim River in Kursk Region
The UK's defense ministry released images showing the destruction of bridges over the Seim River due to the Ukraine operation in the Kursk region. "Ukraine has consistently disrupted Russian logistics in the Kursk region through a series of attacks that have targeted and destroyed road and ponton bridges over the Seim River," the ministry stated on their social media platforms. The images were captured between mid and late August. Ukraine initiated operations in the Russian region of Kursk on August 6 and managed to make significant advances into Russian territory.
The U.S. government has authorized the sale of 32 advanced F-35 fighter jets worth several billion dollars to Romania, a NATO ally and neighbor of Ukraine. U.S. Ambassador to Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec, commented, "Romania is a key NATO partner dedicated to security and stability in the Black Sea region and beyond." The acquisition of these stealth, multi-purpose combat aircraft from Lockheed Martin will provide Romania with "unparalleled air defense capabilities," Kavalec explained further. The first delivery is expected in 2031, with the estimated total value of the deal reaching up to $7.2 billion.
13:02 Russia: Over 200 Prisoners of War Released to Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine have reportedly released over 200 prisoners of war, according to Russian statements. Each side has released 103 individuals, as announced by the Russian Defense Ministry via Telegram. The Russian soldiers, currently receiving psychological and medical aid in Belarus, were captured in Kursk, the ministry revealed. The Ukrainian side has yet to respond to the Russian announcements regarding the exchange. On Friday, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy reported the return of 49 prisoners of war from Russia. It's unclear if these individuals were part of the exchange now being reported by Russia.**
12:50 Russia Claims Capture of another Village in Eastern Ukraine
In eastern Ukraine, Russia claims to have captured another village. "The village of Yelannoe Pervoe (Yelanne Perche in Ukrainian) has been liberated," the Russian Defense Ministry reported. The small village is strategically located near the city of Pokrovsk, which is under threat from the Russian advance. The Russian military has made substantial progress in the Donetsk region in recent weeks. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently emphasized that the main goal of the Russian army is the capture of the industrially significant Donbass region, which encompasses Donetsk.
12:21 "Melted giant spot" - Medvedev warns annihilation of KyivFormer Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has issued a warning of complete annihilation towards the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Russia currently has justification to utilize nuclear weapons due to Ukraine's encroachment into the Russian region of Kursk, although they have opted not to use them yet. In retaliation to Ukraine utilizing Western long-range missiles, Russia could transform Kyiv into a "melted giant spot" using newer, non-nuclear Russian weaponry, as suggested by Medvedev. He serves as the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council and has a history of harsh criticism towards the West and Ukraine.
11:50 Sharma: "Heavy fighting persists at Kurakhove"Currently, intense fighting has centered around the eastern Ukrainian city of Kurakhove, according to reports. The decision to use foreign long-range weapons has led to frustration among the population. NTV reporter Kavita Sharma provides updates from Dnipro.
11:12 Aerial Strikes Result in Damage in Odessa Region of the Black SeaDetails are emerging regarding the extensive drone attack that transpired the previous night: Russia launched a total of 76 combat drones, as reported by the Ukrainian Air Force. Of these, 72 drones were shot down. The Air Force has not disclosed information on the consequences of the raid. However, the governor of the Odessa region in the Black Sea has reported significant damage. The governor claims that numerous structures in a suburb of the regional capital Odessa were damaged due to drone debris. In Ismajil, an area through which Ukraine ships a portion of its grain, warehouse buildings were hit. In Kiew, several pieces of debris were reported, as per official reports. A municipal company was affected, yet no fire was sparked.
10:31 Stoltenberg on Meeting Before War: Russians Exhibited Falsified NATO MapsOutgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, in an interview with the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung," discusses the final diplomatic attempts before the beginning of the war in February 2022, aiming to deter Russia from invading Ukraine. In January, the last NATO-Russia Council meeting, which Stoltenberg led, took place. The Russians demanded the withdrawal of all NATO troops from the eastern sector of the alliance, he mentions. "This was entirely unacceptable, but I believe in dialogue," Stoltenberg explains. During the meeting, the Russian deputies of both foreign and defense ministries asserted that there were no war plans on their part, while claiming that their country was threatened by Ukraine. "They presented maps, presumably to illustrate how Russia is encircled by NATO," Stoltenberg continues. "However, even these maps were faulty. For instance, Denmark was inaccurately depicted as NATO territory. That was astonishing!" He is unsure whether this was due to poor preparation or intent. In hindsight, Stoltenberg regrets that NATO and its allies did not provide stronger military support to Ukraine earlier. "If Ukraine had been militarily stronger, the threshold for Russia's attack would have been higher. Whether it would have been high enough remains uncertain."
10:03 Lithuania Sees German Combat Brigade as Support - WiegoldGermany and Lithuania have finalized an agreement: It assures the Baltic NATO state that a combat-ready German brigade will be stationed in the country. The background and significance of the agreement are explained by military expert Thomas Wiegold in an interview with ntv.
09:28 Strengthening Ties with Moscow - KimNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un is reported to have agreed to strengthen cooperation with Russia, as stated by state media. Following talks between Kim and Russian Security Council chief Sergei Shoigu in North Korea, North Korean state media reported on a comprehensive exchange on "deepening the strategic dialogue between the two countries and strengthening cooperation to protect their respective security interests" as well as regional and international situations. Ukraine, the US, and South Korea accuse North Korea of providing Russia with weapons and missiles for the Ukraine war. Pyongyang dismisses these allegations as "ridiculous."
08:59 Allowing Extended Western Weapons for Ukraine? Starmer and Biden to Discuss Again at UN General AssemblyAnother round of discussions regarding whether Ukraine should be authorized to utilize extended Western weapons against targets in Russia is scheduled to take place soon. British Prime Minister Starmer announced this after discussing the matter with US President Biden, who had previously postponed a decision on the subject. Starmer stated that Biden and he would discuss the matter at the UN General Assembly in New York next week with a larger group of people. British media suggests that Biden is open to allowing Ukraine to use British and French rockets with US technology, but not US-made rockets themselves.
08:23 Zelensky on Trump's Alleged Plan: "Campaign Messages are Campaign Messages"US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has frequently claimed that he could end the war in Ukraine in a day, yet has never presented a concrete plan. In a CNN interview to air on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is asked about his interpretation of Trump's statement. "I cannot comprehend it at the moment due to a lack of specifics regarding what he means," Zelensky responds. His viewpoint is that there's an election campaign in the US. "And campaign messages are campaign messages," he continues. "Sometimes they are not grounded in reality." However, Zelensky also mentions that he conversed with Trump two months ago, during which Trump confirmed his support for Ukraine. Zelensky describes the conversation as positive.
07:27 ER: Russia Needs More Forces in Kursk to Expel Ukrainians Russia is continuously engaging in counteroffsensives in Kursk, but the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) does not perceive a major operation to fully expel Ukrainians from Kursk. Based in Washington, the ISW indicates that Russian authorities have largely relied on poorly trained and equipped conscripts, together with small segments of the regular Russian military and other border force units. In an evaluation, the think tank comments: "A Russian counteroffensive to recapture the land seized by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk Oblast will likely necessitate even more personnel and resources than Russia has currently amassed in this area - particularly if the majority of the deployed units lack combat experience."
06:49 Ukraine Undergoes Drone Assaults According to the Ukrainian military, Russia assaulted Ukraine with Shahed drones throughout the night. Several sets of attack drones were launched by the Russian army, as reported by the Ukrainian air force. Alerts were issued in nearly all regions of the nation, including the Odessa region. The navy reported downing nine drones in the region. Explosions were heard in Odessa, but there have been no casualties reported thus far.
06:13 Mützenich Proposes International Mediation Group SPD faction leader Rolf Mützenich suggests the establishment of an international mediating group to start a peace initiative in the Ukraine conflict. "In my opinion, it's now time for the Western allies to launch a mediating group to initiate a process," he tells the "Rheinische Post." "The Federal Chancellor and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agree that now is a favorable time to intensify efforts for peace talks, and that Russia should also be involved in the following peace summit." Asked about potential members of such a mediating group, Mützenich indicates countries like China, India, Turkey, and Brazil as potential candidates. "In these countries, the belief is growing that the Russian attack could become a burden." Therefore, the work of a mediating group "could indeed be promising," and it could play an essential role in mediation.
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05:41 EU Ponders New Strategy for Sanctions Extension The EU Commission is rumored to be considering three alternatives for how sanctions against Russia could be extended in the future, according to diplomats. Corresponding scenarios were presented to European diplomats on Friday, several insiders claim. The background is the frozen assets of the Russian central bank, which are crucial to granting a mega-credit of G7 states to Ukraine in the amount of 50 billion dollars. These assets have been frozen since the Russian attack on Ukraine.
03:40 Klitschko: Drone Debris Strikes Kyiv City Structures Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reports via the Telegram messaging app that drone debris has hit a city building in the Ukrainian capital. The debris fell on a municipal building in the Obolon district north of the city center early in the morning. Klitschko further wrote that emergency services were en route to the scene. Earlier, the mayor had stated that air defense units were active in the capital.
01:35 Kim Jong Un Promises Further Collaboration with Shoigu North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promises Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu closer cooperation. As reported by the state news agency KCNA, the two men had an extensive exchange of views during Shoigu's visit to Pyongyang and reached a satisfactory consensus on issues such as closer "cooperation to defend mutual security interests." Shoigu, who was still Russian defense minister until May, had initiated closer relations between North Korea and Russia with a visit to Pyongyang in July the previous year.
23:36 Zelensky to Share "Victory Plan" with Biden in September Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced a September meeting with US President Joe Biden. "I will present the plan for victory," the head of state said during an appearance in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. It involves a network of interdependent decisions to provide Ukraine with sufficient forces to drive the war towards peace. "Such conquest wars can be justly ended in several ways: either the occupying army is dislodged by force or by diplomacy," Zelensky explained. This will ensure the real independence of the country. However, Kyiv relies on US support for a strong position.
22:59 Russia Alters Assault Direction towards South Heavier fighting continues in the east of the country, according to the Ukrainian military. There were 115 engagements, the General Staff in Kyiv reported in its evening update. "The situation was most intense today in the direction of Kurachove, besides the enemy was also active in the direction of Lyman and Pokrovsk," it said. Kurachove is a small town south of Pokrovsk. Pokrovsk had long been the primary attack target of Russian troops. Recently, the Russians have only managed to achieve limited territorial advances in that area. Instead, they expanded their attack axis southwards to seize the mining town of Hirnyk near Kurachove.
22:18 Zelensky: Progress in Kursk Brings Desired Relief Ukraine's advance into the Russian region of Kursk is yielding the desired results, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. In the Charkiv region, the enemy has been contained, and in Donetsk, the Russian advance has slowed down, he says. Russia has not yet achieved any significant successes in its counteroffensive in Kursk. Experts had previously expressed doubt about the redeployment of larger Russian troop formations from Donetsk and other regions to Kursk. Russia claims to have recaptured 10 of the 100 occupied villages.
21:46 "West is Scared Stiff" - Zelensky's Blunt Remarks on Support for UkraineUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calls out the West for displaying "fear" in their discussions about aiding Ukraine in countering Russian missiles. "If the allies collectively take down missiles and drones in Middle Eastern skies, why hasn't there been a similar decision to shoot down Russian missiles and (Iranian) Shaheds in Ukraine's skies?" Zelensky pointed out during a Kyiv conference. He added, "They're even too terrified to admit: 'We're working on it.' And this fear persists, even when missiles and drones are threatening the territory of our neighbors," the Ukrainian president stated. This is, as he called it, "embarrassing for the democratic world."
21:30 Over 8000 Iranian Drones Used by Russia Against UkraineAccording to Kyiv's government, Russia has deployed 8060 Iranian Shahed drones against Ukraine since the war's commencement. No statements from Iran or Russia have been released yet. Ukraine first accused Iran of supplying the kamikaze drones to Russia in the autumn of 2022.
20:43 Long-Range Weapon Permit for Ukraine? US Ducks Questions
In Washington, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden are scheduled to meet for talks. There's excitement about potential announcements concerning the authorization of long-range weapons for Ukraine. As reported by the British "Guardian," Britain has allowed Ukraine to carry out attacks with Storm-Shadow missiles. However, neither side is expected to make any declarations on this topic during today's meeting. "I wouldn't anticipate an announcement today about the use of long-range weapons inside Russia - definitely not from the US," says the National Security Council's Communications Director, John Kirby. He only mentions that they continue to discuss with Britain, France, and other allies "the type of capabilities that will be supplied to Ukraine." He also remained evasive when asked directly if the US government would make any changes. "I won't engage in a hypothetical discussion about what we might or might not declare at a later time."
You can catch up on all previous developments here.
The Ukrainian conflict continues to escalate with regular attacks on Russian territories. Recently, Ukrainian artillery and military drones targeted the Belgorod region of Russia, causing injuries and damage. Governors and officials have reported explosions and drone strikes in several areas, making this a dangerous and unstable situation.
The Ukrainian conflict has led to a increased reliance on advanced weapons, such as the F-35 fighter jets that have been authorized for sale to Romania. These stealth and multi-purpose combat aircraft will provide Romania with unparalleled air defense capabilities, which is crucial in the current geopolitical climate.
