Critical health situation reported for detained opposition figure within Belarusian family
09:20 Finalizing Lithuanian Brigade Deployment Agreement with Germany
Germany and Lithuania have sealed a deal to finalize the deployment details of a battle-ready unit in Lithuania, a NATO country in the Baltic region. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and his Lithuanian colleague Laurynas Kasciunas signed this agreement in Berlin. The Defense Ministry explained that this agreement complements NATO's status of forces, clarifying the legal status of German soldiers and civilians in Lithuania, thus providing legal clarity. The deal covers residence rights, tax laws, educational systems, health supervision, road traffic, and public safety. For instance, it establishes the legal groundwork for creating German schools and kindergartens in Lithuania. The brigade is anticipated to be functional by 2027.
08:56 British Diplomats Expelled by Russia on Spying Allegations
Russia has expelled six British diplomats on charges of covert operations. The FSB intelligence service alleges that London's Foreign Office orchestrates political and military escalation. The ministry's goal, as the FSB claims, is to ensure Russia's strategic defeat in the conflict with Ukraine. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, accused the British embassy of intentionally harming the Russian people, according to the TASS news agency. This expulsion could potentially be related to discussions on granting Ukraine permission to use long-range weapons against Russia. The British Prime Minister Starmer is scheduled to meet with President Biden at the White House later today.
08:31 Ukrainian President Pushes for Release of Long-Range Missiles to Target Russian Positions
Ukrainian President Selenskyj has repeatedly requested the release of long-range missiles to attack Russian military installations. The US and UK are now preparing to review this together. Russian leader Putin swifty reacts with hostile words towards the West.
08:03 Russia Proposes Sharing Knowledge on Western Weapons with Partners
Russia is proposing to share its expertise on Western weapons with its partners. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin shared this during a security conference in China, according to the Russian news agency RIA. Russia is willing to share this knowledge with its partners. The conflicts have brought about modern warfare. Russian weapons can incapacitate Western weapons.
07:34 Ukrainian Intelligence Agency Announces Arrests: Men Accused of Arson Attacks in Kyiv
Five men are suspected of setting fire to military vehicles in Kyiv on behalf of a Russian intelligence agency, as claimed by Ukraine's domestic intelligence service. These men are accused of burning five military vehicles and distributing leaflets aiming to discredit the military. The arrested men traveled to the capital from various regions in Ukraine in search of work and were contacted by Russian agents via Telegram, offering quick money. They also recorded their actions to get paid, but the promised money never materialized.
07:05 Chief Rabbi Mourns Adoptive Son Killed in War
Ukraine's Chief Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman is grieving the loss of his adoptive son, Anton Samborsky, in the Russian invasion. Soldiers, veterans, and others attended a funeral service in Kyiv to pay their respects. Samborsky, 32, went missing at the end of July, and his death was confirmed after weeks of uncertainty. Samborsky became a father to a daughter in May, and enlisted in the military soon afterwards. Rabbi Azman, who adopted Samborsky as a 10-year-old orphan, last spoke to him on July 17.
06:29 Japanese Air Force Scrambles Jets after Russian Fighter Jets Invade Nearby Area
Japan's military deployed fighter jets on Thursday after two Russian aircraft approached the Japanese island nation. The Russian jets reportedly did not enter Japanese airspace, but circled the area surrounding Okinawa from morning to afternoon. As a result, "We promptly mobilized fighter jets from Japan's Air Self-Defense Force," the ministry stated. The Russian jets eventually left the area and passed through the Kuriles, a location disputed between Japan and Russia. Earlier this week, Russian and Chinese warships initiated joint exercises in the Sea of Japan, part of a large-scale naval drill. Russian military aircraft have previously circled Japan in 2019.
06:07 Russia Accuses US of Implementing Containment Policy Against Russia and China
Russia's Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin stated at a security conference in China that the US is pursuing a policy of containment against Russia and China, as reported by Russia's TASS news agency. According to Fomin, Moscow and Beijing support the establishment of a fair, multipolar world order based on equality and mutual respect, while the West is preparing for conflicts in Asia by building new security blocs in the region.
05:27 Ukrainian Ship Hit by Anti-Ship Missile
Ukraine's Navy has provided new details on a suspected Russian airstrike on a civilian cargo ship in the Black Sea. A Tu-22 bomber likely launched a Ch-22 anti-ship missile at the ship, which was outside Ukrainian territorial waters at the time. The cargo ship, carrying the flag of St. Kitts and Nevis, was en route from the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk to Egypt with a shipment of wheat. According to a BBC report, the ship was actually in Romania's exclusive economic zone at the time. It also suggests that a Ch-31 radar-jamming missile, which has less explosive power than the Ch-22, was potentially used instead.
A soldier from Moldova lost life under questionable circumstances during duty at the boundary with the secessionist region of Transnistria. According to the Moldovan Defense Ministry, the soldier met his end due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound while working at his post. Law enforcement and forensic analysts are currently investigating the incident. Since 1992, following the breakup of the Soviet Union, troops from Moldova, Transnistria, and Russia have been stationed at the border between the two sides. Moldova has pledged to reintegrate Transnistria into its terrain. Incidents at this boundary are very rare.
02:18 UK Prime Minister: "No desire for conflict with Russia"
The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, denies Russian President Putin's allegations that the West's provision of long-range weapons for attacks inside Russian territory signals NATO's participation in the war. "Ukraine has the right to self-defense," declares Starmer. The UK fully supports this right and offers relevant training opportunities. "However, we do not yearn for a conflict with Russia-this is not our intention at all," affirmed the British Prime Minister. Read more here.
01:09 Former US Ambassador to Kyiv: Harris may display more eagerness in aiding Ukraine
Former US Ambassador to Ukraine, William B. Taylor, considers Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris would, should she become President, be "more passionate" in aiding Ukraine than the incumbent, Biden. Harris has displayed such inclination in specific areas, according to Taylor, during an event at the American University in Kyiv. Biden has been hesitant in certain decisions, such as those concerning HIMARS, Abrams, and F-16 fighter jets. He also remains cautious about enabling Ukraine to launch attacks deep inside Russia. Taylor predicts a "more passionate" stance from Harris, mostly due to her likelihood of bringing a new foreign policy team to the White House.
00:27 Zelensky thanks Estonia for military aidUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky receives Estonian President Alar Karis in Kyiv, expressing gratitude for military assistance. Estonia, a Baltic EU and NATO member, has agreed to contribute 0.25% of its annual GDP to Ukraine's defense requirements. Talks encompassed reconstruction and Ukraine's EU aspirations. Furthermore, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa pledged more aid during a meeting with Zelensky.
23:19 BND not responsible for revealing Ukraine assessment to journalistThe Federal Intelligence Service (BND) is not obligated to inform a journalist whether it deemed a military achievement for Ukraine as difficult or impossible in backroom discussions. Additionally, the court determined that the BND is not required to reveal which media outlets participated in these discussions. However, the BND must provide information on the quantity of confidential individual background discussions concerning the Ukrainian military situation this year. The journalist filed an urgent application, which was primarily rejected. The application stemmed from a May newspaper article that reported a CDU politician claimed that the BND intentionally distributed a pessimistic evaluation of the military situation in Ukraine to impact public opinion.
22:06 Coalition politicians advocate for using long-range weapons against RussiaPoliticians from the traffic light coalition support allowing Kyiv to employ long-range weapons against targets in Russia. SPD foreign policy expert Michael Roth asserts that it is both correct and in accordance with international law to "finally assault Russian military targets with long-range Western missiles." Roth suggests military airfields, command centers, or launch bases as potential targets, as these form the origin of "barbaric assaults on civilian Ukrainian targets." FDP defense committee chairman Marcus Faber agrees, stating that it is "long overdue" to authorize "Russian military airports to be attacked with long-range weapons like ATACMS and Storm Shadow." Green politician Anton Hofreiter highlights that "Russia terrorizes the Ukrainian civilian population daily with rocket attacks on hospitals, residential buildings, and energy infrastructure." To effectively safeguard the Ukrainian civilian population, he stresses, the military should be sanctioned to strike military bases on Russian territory with long-range weapons.
21:35 Vance Opinions on Trump's Ukraine PlansRepublican vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance considers that Donald Trump's strategy to end the Russian conflict in Ukraine may involve the creation of a demilitarized zone between Ukraine and Russia. Vance explained this in an interview with TV producer Shawn Ryan, stating that Trump could bring together Russians, Ukrainians, and Europeans for negotiations to explore possibilities for a peaceful solution. "I believe he could reach a deal very swiftly," Vance declared. Trump has a well-known affinity for Russian President Vladimir Putin and has repeatedly criticized US aid to Ukraine. The former president also claims he could terminate the war within 24 hours if re-elected. However, he has not disclosed the specifics of his plan.
21:03 "We are Russians. God is with us" - Fascist Procession in St. PetersburgThey cannot contradict a higher authority, and no one can challenge them: "We are Russians. God is with us," shout numerous Russian nationalists and fascists as they march through St. Petersburg. And repeatedly, they declare: "Forward, Russians!" Their march commemorates the anniversary of the transfer of relics of Alexander Nevsky, celebrated as a national hero and saint in the Orthodox Church.
20:28 Russian Propagandist's Ideal: "The Atlantic Limits Our Expansion"Renowned Russian TV personality Vladimir Solovyov proposes that Russia's ambitions should not end at annexing Ukraine. "I believe the optimal boundary is the Atlantic. A natural barrier," he stated. Solovyov suggests that our troops would thrive in locations such as Berlin, Lisbon, Madrid. "And they looked stunning in Paris," he reminisces. In response to the argument about insufficient Russian population, he replies, "The Belarusian comrades stand with us." Alternatively, one could consider China.
20:01 British Volunteers Anticipate WinterIn numerous Ukrainian homes that have survived the bombardment, windows have been destroyed - a dire situation as winter approaches. The British charity organization "Insulate Ukraine" is tackling this predicament by venturing into war zones to install temporary windows.
You can find all prior events here.
Despite the current focus on strengthening military alliances and supporting Ukraine, the threat of cyberwarfare looms large. If a cyberattack were to target critical infrastructure in Germany, as a result of its increased deployment in Lithuania, the consequences could be catastrophic. Therefore, Germany and its allies must prioritize cybersecurity measures to safeguard their digital assets, ensuring that the Cyberwar does not become a reality.
Furthermore, as diplomatic tensions increase between major powers, the risk of cyberwarfare escalating into a kinetic conflict becomes even more pronounced. Nations must incorporate this potential threat into their strategic planning, enhancing cooperation and information-sharing to defend against such digital attacks. By doing so, we can collectively mitigate the harmful consequences of Cyberwar.
