At 18:36, Russia is restructuring military formations along the Ukrainian border.
The Russian military has established three new units, tasked with safeguarding the border with Ukraine. Defense Minister Andrej Belusow made this announcement. The units are named after the regions of Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk. Approximately two weeks ago, a vast number of Ukrainian soldiers moved into the Russian region of Kursk and now hold the territories they've seized.
18:10 Massive fire at a Russian oil facility escalates out of controlFollowing a Ukrainian drone strike, a major blaze erupted at an oil facility in the Russian city of Proletarsk. Despite efforts, the fire remains uncontrolled two days later, as satellite images demonstrate the destructive scope.**
17:36 Speculations about Russia constructing a second bridge adjacent to the Crimean BridgeSatellite photography suggests that Russia may be constructing a second bridge alongside the 19-kilometer long Kerch Bridge, linking the Russian mainland to Crimea. Online publication "Ukrajinska Prawda" reports on "parallel construction," likely implying a new bridge. ntv.de confirmed this by examining satellite images from June, July, and August, revealing that construction is underway. According to "Ukrajinska Prawda," Russia is taking measures to defend both the new construction and the repeatedly attacked Kerch Bridge from possible attacks.**
16:58 Zelensky acknowledges challenging conditions in the eastern frontAccording to the British newspaper "The Guardian," President Volodymyr Zelensky has characterized the situation on Ukraine's eastern front line as tough, particularly near the strategic logistics center of Pokrovsk and also near Toretsk. The Ukrainian General Staff reported on Facebook that 14 engagements occurred in the vicinity of Toretsk and 34 in the Pokrovsk sector since the day's commencement.**
16:36 Moscow urges citizens in Kursk: Deactivate dating apps and surveillance camerasThe Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has advised residents in three border regions to disable dating apps and online surveillance cameras. The ministry claimed that "enemies" have detected numerous IP addresses on Russian territory and remotely accessed unsecured cameras, monitoring everything from private homes to strategically essential roads and highways. The ministry also cautioned against utilizing online dating services, as they may serve as sources of information collection.**
16:20 Russia reports 17 civilian deaths - within a weekThe Russian news agency TASS reported, citing rescue services, that the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk had claimed the lives of 17 civilians in the past week alone. Additionally, 235 civilians were injured.**
15:54 Journalist describes Russian troops' rapid advance in Pokrovsk"Yesterday alone, Russian forces initiated 63 assaults on the Pokrovsk front," reported ntv journalist Nadja Kriewald from eastern Ukraine. Speaking with rescue personnel who were attempting to evacuate a Ukrainian village, the mission was allegedly aborted due to the Russian military having already seized control.**
15:33 Russia voices irritation over American journalists in KurskRussia has summoned a high-ranking US diplomat. The Russian news agency TASS reports this action as a response to the "provocative behavior" of American journalists in the Russian region of Kursk. The Russian Foreign Ministry informed US Deputy Secretary of State Stephanie Holmes of the journalists illegally entering the region where Ukrainian forces launched an offensive two weeks ago. Russia intends to prosecute them, the ministry added.**
15:10 Eastern Germany's Federal Commissioner for Eastern Germany surprised by perspectives on UkraineThe Federal Commissioner for Eastern Germany, Carsten Schneider of the SPD, has shared surprise at some Germans' viewpoints regarding Ukraine. "The way Ukraine and Ukrainians are sometimes discussed, both in the east and the west, is alarming to me," Schneider told newspapers of the New Berlin Editorial Society. He noted that Russian propaganda frequently seeps through, particularly in Eastern Germany. In defense of Ukraine, Schneider said, it's about the very survival of the country, an aspect that even some AfD and BSW politicians overlook.**
14:48 Ammunition Shortage Blamed for Russian AdvanceAccording to a Ukrainian commander, the Russian advance in eastern Ukraine is partially attributable to Kiev redirecting resources. His troops must once again ration shells for their guns - for the first time since the US Congress halted Ukraine aid. The ammunition was directed towards the troops invading the Russian region of Kursk.**
14:26 Kremlin Expert: Russian Advance in Kursk Exposes Power Shifts in MoscowRussian political analyst, Rainer Munz, believes that the Ukrainian advance into Kursk could showcase or even hasten the generational power shift within the Moscow power structure. Nevertheless, Munz views the Russian president's power as unaffected.**
13:39 Moscow: Russian Forces Overtake Town of New York in Donetsk RegionThe Russian military has seized control of the town of New York within the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, as per the Russian Defense Ministry's statements. The troops have assumed authority over "one of the major settlements in the Torez area, a strategically significant logistics hub of Nowgorodskoje," the ministry revealed, utilizing the Soviet-era name. Originally named after German settlers, the town was renamed to Nowgorodskoje in 1951 but was reverted to New York in 2021 following activist efforts in Ukraine. Situated around six kilometers south of Torez, this town has faced Russian aggression for weeks.
13:01 Intelligence Report: Defected Russian Soldier Spied for Ukraine
A Russian soldier, codenamed "Silver," who defected to Ukraine, has been revealed by Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) to have committed espionage and wounded his commander. The "Kyiv Independent" newspaper reported that this situation occurred during a joint operation between the "Freedom for Russia" Legion and the "I Want to Live" project of the Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR). In Ocheretyne, Donetsk Oblast, the soldier is said to have injured his commander using a grenade prior to his defection. The soldier approached the Legion in early 2024, sharing information about his unit's suspicious activities and commanders' misconduct, as per the military intelligence. In turn, "Silver" secretly provided the Legion with data on the positions of Russian troops and operation plans.
12:23 Ukrainian Legislature Appeals to Ban Russia-Affiliated Church
The Ukrainian government is taking steps to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church that is aligned with Russia. Lawmakers have approved a corresponding bill, initially banning the Russian Orthodox Church from operating in Ukrainian territory. Increased restrictions on religious organizations linked to the Russian Orthodox Church are also being pursued, although their implementation will require judicial confirmation. Kiev criticizes the Ukrainian minority church as a puppet for Russian influence within the country and as a supporter of its invasion of Ukraine.
11:51 Firefighters Battle Blaze at Russian Oil Depot in Rostov
Since its inception on the third day, firefighters have been battling a massive fire at an oil depot in Rostov, Southern Russia, following a Ukrainian drone strike. "The fire covers an area of 10,000 square meters; several diesel tanks are presently burning," stated Valery Gornitsky, head of Proletarsk, according to TASS news agency reports. "There is no risk of explosion or any danger to individuals, and no evacuations are necessary," Gornitsky added. Four air-based firefighting units and more than 520 firefighters are actively involved in extinguishing the fire. Their presence is essential due to the intense heat, preventing vehicle access to the area. Following three days of engagement, at least 41 firefighters have sustained injuries, with 18 requiring hospitalization.
11:08 Ukrainian Industrial Plant Under Siege in Ternopil
A plant in the Ternopil region of Ukraine was targeted in Russian bombings, resulting in a fuel tank explosion during the assault on the country's energy infrastructure. Ukranian television broadcasted enormous smoke plumes rising over Ternopil, while the local authorities encouraged residents to remain indoors. Over 90 firefighters are combating the blaze, and the situation is under control, according to Ternopil regional administration statements.
10:41 Russian Ex-Diplomat Slams Putin as "Cowardly Impostor"
Boris Bondarev, a former Russian diplomat, penned an opinion piece for ntv.de, stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin is functioning like a "cowardly impostor." Putin's image of overcoming adversaries has been marred by the onset of the attack on Ukraine. A swift takeover within a few days failed to materialize. Moreover, recent Russian aggression in Kursk caught Moscow completely off guard and seemingly incapable of mounting a significant response. "Putin simply collapses when faced with a serious threat and doesn't know what to do. He doesn't even act like a cornered rat prepared to fight with every ounce of strength, but like a cowardly impostor," Bondarev argued. The former diplomat, who broke ties with the Putin regime in protest against the war, also harshly criticized Western politicians for refusing to permit the use of delivered weapons against Russian territory by Ukraine. "One must confront Putin with the language of war," Bondarev concluded, dismissing Western concerns about escalation as misguided.
10:13 Ukraine: Five Civilians Killed, 20 Wounded in Russian Assaults
In the previous 24 hours, five civilians were killed, and at least 22 were wounded, including a child, according to regional authorities in Ukraine, following Russian attacks.
09:37 Satellite Image Reveals Scale of Blaze at Russian Fuel Depot in Proletarsk
Ukraine launched a drone attack against a massive fuel depot in Proletarsk, Southern Russia, on Sunday morning. The fire has yet to be extinguished after two days, with over 40 firefighters tending to the damage. The satellite images demonstrate the fire's scale:
Ukraine has sought to disrupt Russian refineries and oil facilities by launching drone attacks in recent months, aiming to complicate enemy troop fuel supply and reduce oil industry revenues.
09:16 Kyiv: Over 1300 Russian Soldiers "Neutralized" in a Day
As per data released by Kyiv, Russian casualties remain significant: around 1330 Russian soldiers have reportedly perished or are incapable of carrying on combat operations within a single day. Since the onset of the war in February 2022, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense claims that a total of 601,800 Russian soldiers have been "neutralized." In accordance with daily updates on Russian losses released by the Ministry of Defense, the adversary has also allegedly lost an additional 5 tanks (8518). The Ukrainian military has accounted for more than 16,500 armored vehicles and more than 13,800 drones lost or destroyed by the Russian forces or taken out of their possession since the beginning of the Russian invasion. However, these figures have not been validated independently. Moscow has been hesitant to disclose its own casualties in Ukraine.
08:47 Biden defends Ukraine's resistance: No president should "kowtow" to dictatorsU.S. President Joe Biden remarked, "No president should 'kowtow' to dictators." He made this statement during the initial night of the Democratic Party convention, as reported by "Kyiv Independent." Biden went on to say, "Putin thought he'd seize Kyiv in three days," the American president commented. "Three years later, Ukraine remains free." Biden contrasted his record as a proponent of a powerful NATO and a free Ukraine with that of former President Donald Trump, who had expressed favorable sentiments towards Russian President Vladimir Putin. Biden further argued, "No commander-in-chief should ever submit to dictators."
08:31 Russia bombs Ukraine overnight with air strikesThe Ukrainian military confirms that Russia has launched overnight air strikes against Ukraine again. Nine territories in the country's central, northern, and southern regions were attacked, with three missiles and 25 drones being shot down. This marked the fifth missile strike on Kyiv this month, according to the military. Last month, there were 41 air raid warnings issued in Kyiv alone. The military reported successfully repelling a drone attack on Kyiv the day prior.
07:52 Military administration: Russian rocket attack on Kyiv repelled - no damage so farRussian troops targeted Kyiv from the north once more this morning, as reported by the city's military administration on Telegram. "Preliminary data suggests that the enemy attacked the capital of Ukraine from the north, possibly utilizing ballistic missiles such as the Iskander. This was the fifth rocket attack on Kyiv this month!" the message stated. The rockets were destroyed by air defense forces on the outskirts of the city. At this point, there have been no reported damages or casualties in Kyiv.
07:38 Belarus: Lukashenko sends additional troops and aircraft to border with UkraineBelarus has dispatched additional air defense forces and aircraft to its border with Ukraine, according to General Major Andrei Lukyanovich, the commander of Belarusian air defense forces, as reported by "Kyiv Independent." This announcement comes shortly after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that he had deployed one-third of the country's military to the border this summer. Lukashenko attributed the troop buildup on the border to a misunderstanding between Belarus and Ukraine. Lukyanovich indicated that Belarusian military had stationed aircraft, anti-aircraft missiles, and radio-technical units along the border. Kyiv has yet to confirm Lukyanovich's assertions regarding additional Belarusian troops and weapons at the border. The Ukrainian state border guard service had reported no notable troop buildup along the border with Belarus a week prior despite Lukashenko's declaration.
06:54 Zelensky: Second Peace Summit in Ukraine Must Happen Before End of YearUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has tasked his diplomats with ensuring that the second Peace Summit in Ukraine occurs by year's end. Addressing a gathering of heads of foreign diplomatic missions in Ukraine on the topic of "War Diplomacy: Resilience, Weapons, Victory," Zelensky stated, "The premier summit, in my opinion, was an extraordinary achievement for Ukraine. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who contributed to making that summit possible. We are now planning for the second Peace Summit and must ensure it takes place this year. Every effort must be made to ensure this takes place."
06:22 Ukraine: Russia Launches Another Air Strike on KyivRussia continues its nocturnal attacks on Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, as per Ukrainian reports. Air defense units were deployed in the early morning hours to counter another Russian air strike on Kyiv, according to the Ukrainian capital's military administration. Witnesses reported hearing explosions that resembled air defense deployments.
05:11 Kyiv Reports Several Drone Strikes Away from the FrontlineOvernight, various drone strikes were reported in numerous Ukrainian regions distant from the front. According to air defense, the regions of Sumy, Poltava, Kherson, and Mykolaiv were targeted. Air defenses were also mobilized in the vicinity of Kyiv. The regional administration urged residents to find shelter. No damages have been reported as of yet.
02:23 USA Stands Firm with Kyiv amid Kursk Offensive Despite Ukraine launching a counterattack in the Russian region of Kursk, the United States persists in backing Kyiv. U.S. President Joe Biden has indicated that America will keep assisting and standing by Ukraine for as long as required, as a representative from the U.S. Department of Defense stated. The U.S. Department of Defense will continue to prioritize military aid for Kyiv. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin assured his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov, of continued U.S. support during a phone call, according to the same source. During the conversation, Austin gained a better understanding of Ukraine's goals for the counterattack.
01:07 Germany Sends More Defense Equipment to Ukraine Germany has dispatched another shipment of weapons to Ukraine. According to the Ministry of Defense's overview page, the most recent shipments include a third Iris-T SLS air defense system, thousands of artillery rounds, drones, an armored recovery vehicle, and hundreds of rifles along with the corresponding ammunition.
00:20 Zelensky Celebrates Capturing Russian Soldiers in Kursk The Ukrainian offensive against Russian troops in the Kursk region has become their most successful capture of Russian soldiers since the start of the conflict, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. Speaking to Ukrainian diplomats, Zelensky mentioned that these Russian troops would later be exchanged for Ukrainian captives. Estimates suggest that Russia has captured more Ukrainians than the opposite.
22:21 Chechen Commander Urges Russian Soldiers to Fight Committing himself to the Achmat Regiment, which fights for Russia, the commander Apti Alaudinow encouraged Russian conscripts to join the battle, as reported by the "Kyiv Independent" newspaper. He claimed that those who perished in the Kursk region war would ascend to heaven.
21:58 Zelensky Comments on Russia's Red Lines Concept Zelensky, President of Ukraine, pointed out that Russia's red lines' concept was eliminated due to the Ukrainian incursion that was initially seen as implausible, according to the "Pravda" newspaper. The newspaper further reported that many nations had warned of the incursion crossing Russia's essential red line a few months back, but the concept of Russia's red lines got obliterated around Bucha.
21:38 Lithuania Starts Construction of German Military Base Lithuania has initiated the construction of a military base for German troops in preparation for their arrival by the end of 2027. Upon completion, the base will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 German soldiers. Lithuanian Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis estimated that the construction costs would exceed €1 billion.
21:15 Czech President Opens the Door to NATO Membership for Partially Occupied Ukraine The Czech President Petr Pavel suggested that Ukraine could potentially join NATO, even while under partial occupation, during an interview with "Novinky." Pavel thought that Ukraine could negotiate a peace deal with Russia within the following years, which could allow Russia to retain a portion of Ukrainian territory temporarily without requiring acceptance from "democratic states." Such temporary boundaries could make it feasible to incorporate Ukraine into NATO when it regains control over the territory. Germany also adopted NATO membership despite being under partial occupation by the Soviet Union at the time.
20:57 Ukrainian Forces Approach Russian Supply Bridge Ukrainian forces have seized control of the town of Wyschnewka in the Russian region of Kursk, according to military observers on X. This leaves them about 12 kilometers away from the floating bridge over the Seym River, which currently appears to be the primary option for Russia to manage supplies or retreat.
20:36 Pokrovsk Heroically Resists Russian Attack The military administration of the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk is facing an uncertain future as Russian troops advance: "They are advancing closer to Pokrovsk's outskirts. The situation remains unclear," said the city's information department head to the "Washington Post." She expressed hope that the attacking troops would halt near Pokrovsk, and Ukraine would push them back. The fall of Pokrovsk would mark the largest population center captured by the Russians since Bachmut in May 2023.
To read prior developments, click here.
1. The European Union could potentially impose sanctions on Russia in response to its actions in Kursk, as they have done in the past with other conduct deemed unacceptable.
2. Discussions regarding the European Union's stance on the situation in Kursk may arise during international forums, as the EU often emphasizes its commitment to upholding peace and territorial integrity.
