Following the Russian assault, Kharkiv laments over 100 deceased individuals.
Following a Russian assault on Kharkiv, Ukraine, grief stricken residents and family members honor the deceased. As per Governor Oleg Synegubov of the Kharkiv region, seven individuals were fatally struck and 97 were wounded, including more than 20 minors, in the Friday evening hostility. The youngest casualty is rumored to be ten months old. In the assault, a recognized Ukrainian artist, Veronika Kozhushko, aged eighteen, was reportedly among the slain. Respected Ukrainian artist Serhiy Zhadan expressed his thoughts on her passing through Facebook: "The Russians continue to obliterate our future. There is no forgiveness," he expressed, accompanied by a drawing by Kozhushko.
13:28 Ukrainian Defense Minister labels Air Force chief's dismissal as "unfortunate" Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Ummerov informs CNN in an interview that the dismissal could be considered as a "rotation," though it's a pity. He emphasizes that the dismissal and the loss of the fighter jet are unrelated incidents and that the investigation regarding the cause is ongoing. "I choose not to speculate."
13:03 Danish Prime Minister maintains Ukraine's victory is essential in the conflict against Russia According to "European Truth", Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, in her discourse at the GLOBSEC conference in Prague, asserted that Ukraine must emerge victorious in its battle against Russia. "It's an indispensable development," she was cited as saying. "There is no substitute for Ukraine's triumph. Because if Russia triumphs, not only will Ukraine be vanquished, but so will we." Frederiksen reportedly stated that there is a strong consensus on this matter within the European Union. "Europe has never been as united as it is presently (...). Occasionally, we have inner debates. (...) But it's 26 against one," the "European Truth" quotes Frederiksen, referring to the entirety of Europe against Russia.
12:15 Russia claims control over Kirove in Donetsk region The Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow claims that Russian forces have assumed control over the village of Kirove in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region. Russian forces have been steadily pushing forward on the frontline in the east for some time. Donetsk, along with Luhansk, composes the industrially dominant Donbass. Both regions, as well as Zaporizhzhia and Kherson further south in Ukraine, were seized by Russia in September 2022, despite not being fully controlled by its troops. Ukraine aims to recapture all territories - including the already annexed Crimean Peninsula, which lies far south of Kherson.
11:45 Russia alleges Ukrainian attacks on Belgorod Ukrainian forces have reportedly bombarded the Russian region of Belgorod situated near the Ukrainian border, according to Russian reports. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov of Belgorod announces fatalities and injuries on his Telegram channel. During a nighttime air strike on the city of Belgorod, three people were killed and over 30 were injured, including three children, Gladkov reports. Over a dozen residential buildings and 47 vehicles are said to have been damaged.
11:10 Expert Triebel: Russia seeks to disrupt Moldovan elections Moldova is scheduled to hold presidential elections on October 20, with approximately 2.5 million residents also participating in a referendum on whether to incorporate EU membership into the constitution, preventing future governments from effortlessly abandoning EU membership. Brigitta Triebel, who heads the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung office in Chisinau, contends that Russia is attempting to manipulate the elections through disinformation and fake news. "The Moldovans are being told: If you don't want to be dragged into a conflict like in Ukraine, vote for pro-Russian parties," Triebel asserts. "People's concerns are being exploited."
Further discussion with Brigitta Triebel can be found on ntv.de.
10:49 Ukraine claims to have thwarted 24 of 52 Russian drones The Ukrainian air force asserts to have foiled 24 Russian drones. In total, Russian forces launched 52 drones at Ukrainian targets overnight Friday into Saturday, affecting eight regions of the country, the air force said on Telegram. 25 drones of the Iranian Shahed type crashed on their own, while three more flew towards Russia and Belarus. No reports of injuries or substantial damage have been reported. The target of the Russian attack included Kyiv, where it was the fourth drone attack this week. All drones intending to target Kyiv were thwarted.
10:16 Russian Military Blogging Sites: Ukrainian Forces Wreak Havoc on Convoy in Kursk Russian military bloggers disseminate a video on their Telegram channels claiming to show the aftermath of a Ukrainian assault on a convoy of Russian military equipment at the entrance to the village of Swannoje in the Kursk region. Radio Free Europe (RFE/RL) also shares the video on Telegram. The video allegedly shows damaged military vehicles and a collapsing suspension bridge over the Seym River in Kursk.
09:34 Russian Authorities Report Ukrainian Shelling in Shebekino Authorities in the city of Shebekino in the Russian region of Belgorod report Ukrainian shelling. One civilian was injured on Saturday. Shebekino is located near the Ukrainian border.
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09:00 Ukraine Shares Russian Casualty NumbersThe Ukrainian military hierarchy releases newly calculated causalities for Russian troops in Ukraine. Since February 24, 2022, an estimated 614,950 Russian soldiers have been reported dead in Ukraine, with 1,360 losses reported in the previous 24 hours. The Kyiv-issued report also confirms the annihilation of eight tanks, 42 artillery systems, and 18 drones during this period. Over the course of the major military activity, Russia has allegedly lost 8,582 tanks, 17,614 artillery systems, 368 aircraft, 328 helicopters, 14,471 drones, 28 ships, and a submarine, as per Ukrainian data. Western estimations, however, suggest more modest figures, but even these are considered minimal values.
08:35 Alleged Ukrainian Attack in Russia's BelgorodResidents in Belgorod, a city situated in southwestern Russia, report five fatalities and 46 injuries following a presumed Ukrainian attack late Friday night (see entry 23:19). Out of the 46 injured, 37 were admitted to hospitals, including seven minors, as per Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the Belgorod region. A viral video on social media apparently showing the assault, captured from a vehicle dashboard, depicts another vehicle's explosion while driving, followed by a blast on the other side of the street. Such footage and accounts regarding combat situations cannot be independently validated.
07:48 Media Outlet Reports at Least 66,000 Russian Causalities in UkraineIndependent Russian media source Mediazona announces at least 66,471 Russian troops have been killed in the Ukrainian conflict. In collaboration with BBC News Russian, Mediazona uncovered the names of Russian soldiers who perished in Ukraine by employing open-source research. The journalists emphasize that this tally only includes personnel whose names were discovered through open sources, with the actual casualty numbers very likely being much higher. The Ukrainian General Staff reports over 600,000 Russian soldier deaths. Western evaluations offer comparable death tolls.
07:15 Ukrainian City Kharkiv Reports 7 Deaths from Russian AssaultSeven deaths and 97, including more than twenty minors, were reported in Kharkiv, Ukrainian city, following a Russian attack. According to Oleg Synegubov, the regional governor of Kharkiv, six people were killed and 75 were injured in the attack. Russian forces bombarded a children's playground and a 12-story residential building in Kharkiv, resulting in a fire that was still being addressed as of Saturday morning.
06:27 Public Disapproval Towards Putin and Russian Government IncreasesRussians' discontent with their ruling government and President Vladimir Putin is on the rise as a result of the Ukrainian invasion in the Russian region of Kursk, according to a recent report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Quoting data from the Russian Public Opinion Foundation polls, 28% of the respondents expressed their discontent or dissatisfaction with the actions undertaken by the Russian authorities following the annexation. According to VCIOM polls, Putin's approval rating has dropped by 3.5% to 73.6% in the last week of August, the lowest score since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. ISW suggests that these surveys indicate a growing dissatisfaction among the Russian populace ever since the start of the Ukrainian incursion in the Kursk region.
05:40 Russia Arrests Two Colombian Nationals Suspected of Supporting UkraineThe Russian security service, FSB, claims to have detained two Colombian citizens who reportedly participated in support of Ukraine. These individuals, Alexander Ante and Jose Aron Medina, were apprehended while returning to Colombia following a stopover in Caracas and were handed over to Russia by Venezuela. Spanish media sources suggest that the two men enlisted in the International Legion during the summer of 2023. They were captured at Caracas airport in mid-July, and evidence of their involvement in the war, along with Ukrainian military attire, was discovered on them.
04:47 Czech President Denies Link between Russian and Ukrainian OperationsCzech President Petr Pavel refutes the idea of a direct link between the Russian forces' advance near Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, and the Ukrainian operation in the Russian Kursk region. He insisted in an interview with Radio Liberty that he does not perceive a direct connection between Russia's rapid advance on the Pokrovsk front and Ukraine's operation in the Kursk region. "The Russian leadership is persisting in its objective of capturing the territories they consider their own - Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Kherson - and they aim to accomplish this within their desired timeframe, as long as weather conditions remain favorable for military activities," Pavel stated, as reported by "Ukrainska Pravda".
03:47 Stoltenberg Justifies Kursk Advance as LegitimateNATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg has deemed the Ukrainian forces' push into the Russian region of Kursk as valid. The Ukrainians have the right to safeguard themselves, Stoltenberg stated to Welt am Sonntag newspaper, suggesting that this right isn't confined to Ukrainian soil according to international law. In response to Russian government claims that the West was privy to an impending attack on Russian territory, Stoltenberg clarified: "Ukraine never coordinated its Kursk strategy with NATO, and NATO had no hand in this endeavor." This was Stoltenberg's initial reaction to Ukrainian troops encroaching upon the Russian border.
02:48 Ukraine Accuses Russia of Intensive Chemical Weapon EmploymentWith the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, over 4000 instances of chemical warfare agents' usage have been documented on the front lines. Since December 2023, over 3100 cases have been reported, marking a dramatic escalation in chemical weapon use, Ukrainian authorities claim, as per "Kyiv Independent". The numbers show a drastic rise in the use of prohibited chemical warfare agents compared to the approximately 600 cases recorded in January, as per the Ukrainian military. By May 2024, reports of chemical weapon use peaked at a record 715 cases, but thereafter declined during the summer months until current data for August remains unavailable.
01:49 ICC Insists on Putin's Arrest during Mongolia VisitA representative for the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fadi el-Abdallah, told BBC that as a member state, Mongolia is required to execute the arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin during his planned visit. Putin's forthcoming trip to Mongolia on September 3 would witness his first visit to an ICC member state that has ratified the Rome Statute, obligating signatories to apprehend him upon arrival. The ICC issued an arrest warrant against Putin in March 2023 for his participation in the forcible expulsion of children from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.
00:33 Biden Call: von der Leyen Commemorates Russian InvasionEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen underscored the importance of robust transatlantic relations irrespective of the U.S. November presidential election results. She received the Czech and Slovak Transatlantic Award (CSTA) at the Globsec security conference in Prague. In her acceptance speech, she reminisced about a video call with U.S. President Joe Biden on the commencement of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. "Immediately, we agreed on our response strategy towards Putin’s aggression," she said. Once more, Europe and America stood together, "side by side in the rightful pages of history."
23:19 Belgorod Tragedy: Five Fatalities in AttackAccording to Russian reports, at least five people lost their lives in Ukrainian attacks on the border region of Belgorod. A woman and four men were killed instantly due to their injuries, based on Telegram updates from regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. In total, 37 people were injured. Ukrainian forces launched cluster munitions on Belgorod and the surrounding areas using multiple rocket launchers, according to Gladkov's announcements.
22:01 Ukraine's Drone Technology Evolution and Future AI StrategiesUkraine envisions the involvement of weapons manufacturers in AI for drone swarms and "affordable missiles" production to counter Russian kamikaze drones, said Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov at the Globsec Forum in Prague. Ever since the advent of Russia's invasion, both nations have massively invested in drone technology, enhancing modern warfare. As per Fedorov, Ukrainian soldiers now face a myriad of challenges, such as Russian forces and infantry, ammunition shortages, kamikaze drones, and surveillance drones. To tackle these challenges, Ukrainian military employs inexpensive first-person-view (FPV) drones, reconnaissance drones, compact air defense systems, and domestically produced long-range drones to strike Russian targets, Fedorov said. "What are the forthcoming problems we seek your help with? How do we fabricate an efficient laser guidance system, explore AI for drone swarms, manufacture Ukrainian HIMARS, and develop inexpensive Ukrainian missiles to obliterate Shaheds?" asks Fedorov.
21:32 Urgent Artillery Shell Deliveries to UkraineUkraine is set to receive the initial installment of howitzer ammunition from the U.S.-European alliance. This was revealed by the Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky during his address in Brussels. The Ukrainian forces are urgently in need of 155-mm artillery shells to secure their front lines. "The Czech ammunition initiative is keeping its promise, and by the end of the year, we will deliver half a million large-caliber projectiles. Approximately 100,000 pieces were delivered each in July and August," says Lipavsky.
The President of the Council of the European Union, following the Russian assault on Kharkiv, Ukraine, expressed solidarity with the nation and emphasized the importance of Ukraine's victory in the conflict.
In response to the Russian claim of control over Kirove in Donetsk region, The President of the Council of Europe called for international solidarity and condemned any attempt to annex Ukraine's territories.
