China and Brazil voice their concerns over Russia's hint of utilizing nuclear weapons.
19:25 NATO sets up operational center near Russian border in Finland
Finland confirms the establishment of a NATO operational center in Mikkeli, located less than 200 kilometers from the Russian border. A year and a half after joining the alliance, Finland sends a message to Russia, stating, "We are a full member of NATO, and NATO is crucial for Finnish defense," asserts Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen. The new Northern Europe headquarters for the alliance's land forces will be erected in Mikkeli, with a significant number of staff from various nations to be stationed there. The Finnish Army Command is already situated in Mikkeli, Häkkänen adds.
19:25 NATO sets up command base near Russian border in Finland
Finland announces the establishment of a NATO command base in Mikkeli, located less than 200 kilometers from the Russian border. A year and a half after joining the alliance, Finland sends a message to Russia, stating, "We are a full member of NATO, and NATO is crucial for Finnish defense," asserts Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen. The new Northern Europe headquarters for the alliance's land forces will be erected in Mikkeli, with a significant number of staff from various nations to be stationed there. The Finnish Army Command is already situated in Mikkeli, Häkkänen adds.
20:06 Video from Pokrovsk: "This place has turned into a ghost town"
Pokrovsk in the Donetsk Oblast has suffered heavy Russian army attacks for several weeks. Most of the residents have already fled the area. Ukrainian forces remain, as crucial military railway lines run through the city.
20:32 German authorities shut down illegal Russian TV streaming service
In violation of an EU ban, a German-Ukrainian couple offered Russian TV channels via the internet, according to the customs office. The couple, consisting of a 37-year-old German and his 42-year-old Ukrainian wife, are accused of distributing several sanctioned Russian TV channels. The couple is said to have earned around 120,000 euros with the streaming service. Their assets will be confiscated. During a search on Thursday, technical equipment, written evidence, and 40,000 euros in cash were seized. The IP address of the TV service was also secured. The couple remains at large. If convicted, they face at least one year in prison.
18:51 Trump after meeting with Zelenskyj: "It's a challenging puzzle"
Following a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US presidential candidate Donald Trump in New York, the Republican expressed a cautiously optimistic outlook on ending the conflict. "It's a challenging puzzle," he said, "but we'll figure it out." Trump reiterated his well-known stance that he has a solution for the Ukraine conflict. The former president is a critic of US billion-dollar aid to Kyiv and could significantly alter US-Ukraine policy if reelected. Trump has repeatedly pressured the leadership in Kyiv to sign a deal with Russia and has harshly criticized Zelensky. Before the meeting, Trump stated about his relationship with Zelensky, "We have a strong relationship, and as you know, I also have a strong relationship with President Putin." Zelensky replied, seemingly caught off guard, "I hope that ours is the better one."
17:56 More Ukrainian refugees in Germany find employment
The job search for Ukrainian refugees in Germany is becoming increasingly successful. In September alone, 8,500 Ukrainian citizens found employment in the primary labor market, started an apprenticeship, or became self-employed, according to Federal Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil (SPD). This is more than double the number from September 2023: "These numbers show that the job boost is clearly effective," Heil says. The "job boost" allows refugees to be placed in jobs following the completion of an integration course and acquisition of basic German language skills. As of July 2024, around 266,000 of the approximately 700,000 Ukrainians who have come to Germany are employed; 213,000 of them are subject to social security contributions, and 53,000 are in mini-jobs. According to the Federal Employment Agency, there are still challenges in the recognition of foreign professional qualifications.
17:20 Russia claims capture of locations in Donbass
The Russian military is making progress on the eastern Ukraine front and has allegedly captured two more settlements in the Donbass industrial region. The villages of Maryniwka and the town of Ukrajinsk have been taken, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense in Moscow. There has been no confirmation from the Ukrainian military command. The Ukrainian General Staff report for Friday morning describes Maryniwka as contested. The situation is clearer with Ukrajinsk, which has been marked as Russian-controlled by Ukrainian military observers for days. Both locations are in the Donetsk region on the front section between the larger cities of Pokrovsk, Kuracheve, and Vuhledar. Russian troops have gained ground there recently. The defenders are low on soldiers and supplies.
16:18 Zelensky Sits Down with Trump in New York: "Shared Agenda"During his American trip, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for a discussion in New York. "We're on the same page that the conflict in Ukraine needs to end," Zelensky states before the meeting. Zelensky and the former president meet at the Trump Tower in Manhattan. Trump is a notable critic of the US's billion-dollar investment in Ukraine and encourages Kyiv's leaders to forge a pact with Russia. Critics argue that Trump effectively surrendered to Russia, with the ex-leader aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin's perspective. The previous meeting between the two occurred roughly five years prior. Prior to that, Zelensky had already engaged in dialogue with US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington on Thursday.
15:58 Kyiv Enforced to Tack on higher War Fees for its CitizensUkrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko describes the tax hikes being debated in parliament as an "unavoidable move." Kyiv proposes jacking up a war levy from 1.5 to 5 percent. This fiscal year, this is expected to net around 1.2 billion euros, and the following year around 3 billion euros. "This decision will impact the economy, but all other options are practically tapped out," the minister shares. Revenue from new domestic bonds would solely be sufficient to settle existing bond debts. Foreign financial aid is becoming less reliable. In the first quarter, Ukraine received only about 10 percent of the required foreign aid. Delays in provision due to Republican obstruction in the US Congress contributed to this. Regardless, Kyiv anticipates over 34.5 billion euros in foreign aid next year. "Yet, that doesn't imply these payments will be steady," warns Marchenko.
14:29 Norway Cuts Back on Asylum for Ukrainian RefugeesNorway will no longer provide automatic asylum to Ukrainian refugees. The Oslo government explains that it will now evaluate each individual case for Ukrainians hailing from the western part of the country. The western region, deemed secure by Norwegian authorities, is located far from the frontlines. After the Russian invasion in February 2022, Norwegian authorities offered Ukrainians "collective protection" and immediate asylum. As a result, the 5.6 million-strong nation has welcomed around 85,000 Ukrainians, making it the Nordic country that has taken in the most refugees.
14:00 Russian Army Gears Up for New RecruitmentThe next Russian conscription date is set for October 1, confirms the British military intelligence service. All combat-ready Russians beneath the age of 30 are required to serve for a year in the military. So far, conscripts have not engaged in fighting in Ukraine, but they have been deployed in the Russian region of Kursk, with the intention of expelling Ukrainian units from the area. Some Russian families have lodged complaints, alleging that their sons have been sent into conflict zones with less than four months of training. According to Russian law, conscripts may only be deployed to a warzone after four months of training and specialization.
13:34 Ramstein to Play Host to Ukraine Meeting with BidenThe gathering of Ukraine supporters during US President Joe Biden's visit to Germany is set to occur on October 12 at the US Air Force base in Ramstein, Rhineland-Palatinate. This was confirmed by government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit. According to his statement, Germany plans to conduct the assembly for the "Contact Group for the Defense of Ukraine" alongside the USA. "In this context, over 50 countries gather to coordinate support for Ukraine," shares Hebestreit. It remains unclear if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be physically present at the meeting.
13:01 Lithuania Plans to Acquire German Leopard 2 Tanks for New DivisionLithuania is keen on purchasing Leopard 2 battle tanks for a new division of their military. The contract may be finalized in November, following the approval of the National Security Council, reveals Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas. He fails to specify the exact number of units and the particular variant of the tank, produced in Germany. The territorially-bound NATO and EU country, Lithuania, shares borders with Russian enclave, Kaliningrad and Russian ally, Belarus. The Ukrainian conflict is perceived as a direct threat to national security, leading to the extensive arming of the Lithuanian military. A new military division is being established, which includes an armored battalion. In the future, a permanent German armored brigade will be stationed in Lithuania.
12:28 Discord May Face Total Blockage in RussiaThe communication platform Discord could temporarily cease functionality in Russia. This information is reported by the Russian newspaper "Kommersant" and sources from the gaming industry. The Russian media monitoring agency is giving serious consideration to this proposal due to alleged violations of Russian law, it claims. No specific allegations are mentioned in the newspaper report. Some Russian users had reported issues with Discord at the start of the month. According to the "Moscow Times," between 29 and 40 million people in Russia use Discord. The platform is popular among gamers, students, and cryptocurrency traders.
12:02 No Approval for Long-Range Weapons: "Biden Heeded by Intelligence Services Prior to Decision"US President Biden has promised further billion-dollar support to Ukraine. However, the US is not prepared to lift restrictions on weapons delivered from the West to attack targets beyond Russia's borders. This is the explanation provided by political scientist Thomas Jäger.
12:36 US Person Charged with "Mercenary Activities" in RussiaBased on a report by RIA Novosti, a US individual has been charged with "mercenary activities" in Russia since last Friday. This individual, who is 72 years old, is alleged to have fought as a mercenary supporting Ukraine in the ongoing conflict, as mentioned by the agency. The accused individual is identified as US citizen Stefan Hubbard, hailing from Michigan. He has been residing in Ukraine since 2014. There are no clear details regarding the time and location of the US citizen's arrest from the report. According to RIA Novosti, the military police transferred him to a Moscow court.
12:01 Kryvyj Rih: Russian Missile Strikes Police StationReports from the south and central regions of Ukraine indicate ongoing Russian attacks. A missile hit a police station in Kryvyj Rih this morning, as per local authorities. A woman's body was discovered beneath the debris, and at least five others sustained injuries. Rescue teams continue their search for survivors. Not only residential buildings, but also others were damaged. The Dnipropetrovsk Regional Prosecutor's Office has published photos of the missile hits in Kryvyj Rih.
According to Ukrainian reports, another missile attack occurred on the city of Dnipro throughout the night, leading to damage at an industrial facility. At least eight people were injured in Russian airstrikes in the Kherson region, according to local authorities.
11:27 Suspected Russian Drone Enters Romanian AirspaceThe Romanian Defense Ministry reported that a Russian drone may have briefly breached Romanian airspace overnight. It is said to have crossed into Romanian airspace for a very short period of less than three minutes, in the border area. The drone was believed to be involved in an earlier attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Izmail, where three people were killed and over a dozen were injured in a drone strike, according to Ukrainian authorities. Ukrainian air forces claim to have shot down 24 of 32 Russian attack drones overnight.
10:57 Fritz: US Delivers First Guided Bombs to UkraineUkrainian President Zelenskyj is set to present his "victory plan" and seek additional military aid in the US. Biden ensures a weapons package worth approximately $8 billion for Ukraine, stating that it's a substantial sum compared to previous deliveries, according to ntv reporter Gordian Fritz.
10:20 Report: US Intelligence Agencies Expect Severe Retaliation if Ukraine Utilizes Long-Range MissilesUS intelligence agencies foresee potential severe repercussions if Ukraine employs Western long-range missiles to target deep into Russian territory, according to a "New York Times" report based on an unpublished intelligence assessment. Allowing this from the West could stimulate severe retaliation, including deadly attacks on US and European military support points, the agencies warn. Moreover, covert operations by Russian intelligence services are a concern. The "New York Times" reports that US intelligence agencies believe Ukraine lacks the necessary long-range missiles to significantly alter the war's trajectory. US President Biden faces a challenging decision given the uncertainty and high risk involved.
09:57 Munz on New Putin Threat: Resource Export Stop "Won't Hurt the West Much"Russia threatens the US with consequences if they grant permission for long-range weapons to be used against Russian targets. President Putin is considering certain export restrictions on strategic resources, including uranium, as retaliation against the West, according to ntv reporter Munz.
08:40 Ukrainian Navy Scrutinizing Unidentified Russian Structure near Crimea BridgeUnidentified Russian construction near the Crimea Bridge has piqued the interest of the Ukrainian Navy. Spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk reports that the structure is under construction, as reported by the "Kyiv Independent" on Ukrainian television. Its purpose remains unclear. "It could be a defensive installation, it could be another crossing, but it's still too early to make a definitive conclusion," Pletenchuk said. He is doubtful that the Russians will complete it due to the worsening weather conditions. "They keep trying to establish something new in the Kerch Strait to build various hydrotechnical structures or barriers, but each storm leaves them stranded on the shore."
08:08 Ukrainian City Near Romanian Border Attacked, Several KilledThe city of Ismajil in southern Ukraine underwent attack. Three individuals, including an elderly woman in her 90s, were killed in a Russian drone strike this morning, according to Oleh Kiper, the governor of the Odessa Oblast. Eleven others, including a child, were injured. Damaged buildings and vehicles, along with several fires, were reported by Kiper. The city of Ismajil is located near Romania, with the northern mouth of the Danube River forming the border. [Read more here.]
07:40 Roth Calls for "Considerably More" European Arms Aid for UkraineSPD foreign policy expert Michael Roth is advocating for more European arms assistance for Ukraine. "Especially the major European countries must do significantly more militarily to ensure that Ukraine remains a free and democratic nation," Roth told the "Tagesspiegel". He believes it is now crucial to mobilize all available forces to put Ukraine in the best possible position for any potential negotiations. The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag asserts that: "Anybody desiring to end the war as soon as possible must provide Ukraine with the necessary resources." Military strength and diplomacy are two facets of the same coin. "Russia will only be inclined for negotiations if Putin is convinced that a victory over Ukraine is impossible."
07:09 Baerbock: Without our assistance, hospitals and children would be vulnerableGerman Foreign Minister Baerbock defends the supply of weapons to Ukraine and criticizes a decrease in support for Kyiv. She states that the idea that there would be no fighting or deaths in Ukraine if there were no defensive weapons is incorrect. "If Russia ceases its attack, the war ends. However, if Ukraine stops defending itself, that's the end of Ukraine," she remarks at the UN General Debate in New York on Thursday. President Putin retaliated to an invitation to a peace conference in June by bombing a children's hospital. As long as Putin is unwilling to come to the negotiating table, ending our support would leave Ukrainian hospitals and children vulnerable, potentially leading to more war crimes, possibly in other countries. Baerbock emphasizes that Russia has consistently challenged the inviolability of the Baltic states' and Poland's borders.
06:45 Slovenia: Precision weapons for Kyiv should not be discounted prematurelyThe Slovenian government warns against hasty decisions concerning using long-range Western weapons on Russian territory, given the German opposition. Prime Minister Golob believes it's not wise to declare certain topics off-limits prematurely. "It's a challenging situation, but I believe that, at this stage, all options should be considered, and then the most suitable one for the present situation should be selected," Golob responds to a question about utilizing long-range cruise missiles. Germany and the US have so far been hesitant about this issue. Chancellor Scholz recently disapproved of delivering long-range precision weapons to Ukraine in the future.
06:11 Baerbock urges Iran to stop backing Russia's war against UkraineGerman Foreign Minister Baerbock implores Iran to halt any support for Russia's conflict in Ukraine and cease supplying ballistic rockets and drones. Her statement was made on the platform X, following discussions with her Iranian counterpart Abbas Araktschi at the UN General Assembly in New York.
06:01 Trump arranges meeting with ZelenskyyFormer US President Trump plans to meet with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in New York on Friday. The meeting will be held in Trump Tower in Manhattan, as Trump announced. Zelenskyy, who held talks with President Biden on Thursday, has extended his trip in the US to meet Trump. Prior to his journey, Zelenskyy expressed his intention to meet Trump, Democratic President Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris to share his "victory plan" to end the conflict in Ukraine. Read more about this here.
04:25 Harris Assures Support for Selenskyj and Issues a Caution, Subtly Referencing Trump
Democratic presidential candidate Harris promises her support to Ukrainian President Selenskyj and issues a warning, though she fails to mention Trump specifically. "My dedication to the people of Ukraine remains unwavering. I will continue to stand with Ukraine, working to ensure its victory in this war and its safety and prosperity," she says during a meeting with Selenskyj in Washington. She asserts that an end to the war cannot be reached without Ukraine's involvement. However, she notes that there exist certain individuals who are eager to bring the conflict to an end by compelling Ukraine to yield significant portions of its territory, accept neutrality, and renounce security assurances from other countries. These proposals are identical to those proposed by Kremlin leader Putin, she contends, amounting to proposals for surrender.
02:08 Ukraine Reports Shelling West of Kherson
Russian forces launched repeated attacks on the settlement of Tomyna Balka, located west of the Ukrainian-controlled city of Kherson, according to the region's governor, Prokrudin. A woman was killed and an additional person was injured during the attack, as reported by Telegram.
00:55 Britain to Deliver More Self-Propelled Artillery Systems to Ukraine
The UK will supply more AS90 self-propelled artillery systems to Ukraine's defense forces, the British Ministry of Defense announced. Ten of these systems have already been sent, with six more expected to follow in the upcoming weeks.
23:33 UN Struggles to Fund Support for Ukrainians during Winter
The United Nations reveals it lacks sufficient funds to assist people in Ukraine during the winter. "Our budget for organizations like ours is severely lacking this time of year," says UNHCR's Ukraine representative, Karolina Lindholm Billing. The UNHCR currently possesses only 47% of the required funds to support the millions of Ukrainians impacted or displaced by the conflict, compared to 70% during the same period last year.
22:13 Biden: US to Bolster Aid to Ukraine
President Biden announces the US will increase its support to Ukraine. This strengthens Kyiv's negotiating position, according to Biden, before meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington. Biden's tenure ends in January, and he could be succeeded by either Vice President Harris or Republican Donald Trump, known for his plans to reduce US engagement with Ukraine.
21:34 Ukraine: Russia Prepares to Intensify Attacks in Saporizhzhia Region
Russian forces are predicted to intensify their operations in the Saporizhzhia region, according to Ukrainian intelligence. A representative of the troops stationed in southern Ukraine discusses this on national television, stating, "We're seeing a pattern of escalation in the conflict zone sector in Saporizhzhia. In the past 24 hours, there have been five Russian attacks, and it's possible that this number will rise, as our intel suggests the enemy is amassing attack squads near Pryiutne." The spokesperson further mentions the receipt of light armored vehicles by the Russians, implying they're preparing for offensive actions.
21:00 Biden and Zelensky United: Russia Won't Triumph
At the outset of their meeting in Washington, US President Joe Biden affirmed his dedication to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's cause. "Ukraine will prevail, Russia will not," Biden declared as he greeted his Ukrainian counterpart in the Oval Office: "And we'll be right there beside you throughout."
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The President of the Council approves the establishment of the NATO command base in Mikkeli, highlighting the importance of NATO for Finnish defense.
Under the leadership of the President of the Council, Finland strengthens its cooperation with NATO by welcoming the new Northern Europe headquarters for the alliance's land forces in Mikkeli.
