Increasingly, refugees hailing from Ukraine are securing employment opportunities in Germany
Ukrainian Refugee Job Hunt in Germany Basically Succeeding
The job hunt for Ukrainian refugees in Germany is more frequently ending in success. In September, around 8,500 Ukrainian citizens managed to secure employment in the primary labor market, commence an apprenticeship, or kick-start their own business, as per German Federal Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil (SPD). This number is over two times bigger than September 2024's figure, with Heil stating, "These figures show that the job boost is really making an impact." Post completion of an integration course and obtaining basic German language skills, refugees are now placed in jobs through the "job boost" program. As of July 2024, approximately 266,000 out of the nearly 700,000 Ukrainians in Germany are employed; 213,000 of them are subject to social security contributions, and 53,000 are engaged in mini-jobs. Recognition of foreign professional qualifications remains a challenge, according to the German Employment Agency.
17:20 Russia Takes Over Two Donbass Towns
Russian forces are marching forward on the eastern Ukraine frontline and have allegedly taken control of two more settlements in the Donbass industrial region. The villages of Maryniwka and the town of Ukrajinsk were seized during the week, as claimed by the Russian Ministry of Defense. However, the Ukrainian military command has not confirmed this. According to the Ukrainian General Staff report for Friday morning, Maryniwka is still in dispute, whereas Ukrajinsk has been marked as under Russian control by Ukrainian military observers for several days now. Both locations are situated in the Donetsk region, sharing a border with larger cities Pokrovsk, Kurachove, and Vuhledar. Russian troops have made significant progress in this area over the past few months. The defending troops are running low on manpower and resources.
16:43 Zelensky Meets Trump in NYC: "Shared Goal to Stop War"
During his visit to the US, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with former US President Donald Trump for a chat in New York. Prior to the meeting, Zelensky shared his view that "the war in Ukraine must end." Zelensky and Trump held talks at Trump Tower in Manhattan. Trump is a frequent critic of the US billion-dollar aid to Ukraine and encourages the Kyiv leadership to secure an agreement with Russia. Critics argue that Trump's stance is essentially capitulating to Russia and adopting Russian President Vladimir Putin's stance. The last time they met was around five years ago. Before heading to Washington, Zelensky had a meeting with US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
16:02 Kyiv Might Increase War Tax on CitizensUkrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko refers to the proposed tax hikes being considered in parliament as a "necessary step." Kyiv suggests increasing the war tax from 1.5 to 5 percent. This year, such a move is expected to generate around 1.2 billion euros, and next year, an additional 3 billion euros. "This decision will impact the economy, but all other alternatives are almost depleted," says Marchenko. Revenue from new domestic bonds would suffice only to service existing bond debts. Foreign financial assistance is becoming less secure. In the first quarter, Ukraine only received around 10 percent of the foreign aid required. A blockade by Republicans in the US Congress delayed the delivery. Kyiv still anticipates receiving over 37 billion euros this year and over 34.5 billion euros next year from abroad. "But that doesn't mean these payments will be stable," warns Marchenko.
15:24 Norway Halts Automatic Asylum for Ukrainian RefugeesNorway will no longer offer automatic asylum to refugees from Ukraine. The Norwegian government announced that each case will be evaluated individually for Ukrainians hailing from the western part of the country. The western part of Ukraine, which is generally considered safe by Norwegian authorities, is where the new new policy applies. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Norwegian authorities provided "collective protection" to Ukrainian refugees, granting them automatic asylum. Since then, Norway, with a population of 5.6 million people, has welcomed around 85,000 Ukrainians - more than any other Nordic country.
14:51 Russian Military Recruits New ConscriptsThe next Russian conscription date is set for October 1, according to British military intelligence. All combat-ready Russians aged between 18-30 years are required to serve a year in the military. So far, conscripts have not been involved in the fighting in Ukraine, but have been deployed to the Russian region of Kursk, from where Ukrainian units are set to be removed. Some Russian families have complained that their sons have been sent to conflict zones with little more than four months of training. According to Russian law, conscripts can only be deployed to a combat zone after four months of training and specialization.
14:22 Ramstein to Host Ukraine Meeting with BidenThe meeting involving Ukraine supporter nations during US President Joe Biden's visit to Germany will take place on October 12 at the US airbase in Ramstein, Rhineland-Palatinate, as per German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit. Germany and the US plan to co-host the meeting of the so-called Contact Group for the Defense of Ukraine. "In this format, over 50 nations convene to coordinate support for Ukraine," says Hebestreit. It is unclear if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyyy will attend the meeting in person.
13:56 Lithuania to Acquire German Leopard 2 Tanks for New Military Division Lithuania is intending to procure Leopard 2 main battle tanks for a newly forming unit within its military. A potential deal could materialize in November, following approval from the National Security Council, as indicated by Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas. He did not disclose the number of tanks or the specific tank model, both of which trace their origins back to Germany. The neighboring nation of Lithuania shares borders with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Russia's ally, Belarus. Lithuania perceives the conflict in Ukraine as a direct threat to its national security, consequently prompting the country's government in Vilnius to significantly upgrade its military, including the formation of a new division featuring a tank battalion. Eventually, a German armored brigade is set to be consistently positioned in Lithuania.
13:20 Discord May Face Comprehensive Ban in Russia Russian media outlet "Kommersant" claims that communications platform Discord might be completely banned within Russia in the near future. The allegation stems from a source within the gaming industry who reportedly informed the media outlet about potential actions taken by the Russian media regulator. The Russian media regulator is investigating alleged violations of domestic law, but no specific charges have been disclosed as of yet. Frustrations among Russian users regarding Discord outages began at the start of the month, and the platform is estimated to have more than 29-40 million active users in Russia, with gamers, students, and cryptocurrency traders among its primary user base.
13:04 No Approval for Long-Range Weapons Use Beyond Borders: "Biden Warned by Intelligence Services Before Decision" US President Biden has pledged a further billion-dollar aid package to Ukraine. Nevertheless, the USA will not lift restrictions on weapons supplied by the West to enable strikes beyond Russian borders, as previously requested by Selenskyj. Political scientist Thomas Jäger explains the reasoning behind this decision.
12:36 US Citizen Arrested in Russia for Alleged "Mercenary Activities" According to RIA Novosti, a US citizen has been charged with "mercenary activities" in Russia since last Friday. The 72-year-old US citizen, Stefan Hubbard from Michigan, is accused of serving as a mercenary for Ukraine in the ongoing conflict, according to the report. It remains unclear where and when the US citizen was apprehended.
12:01 Kryvy Rih: Russian Missile Strikes Police Station Reports of further attacks by Russia are coming in from various regions of Ukraine. A missile hit a police station in Kryvy Rih earlier today, as reported by the local administration. The body of a woman was discovered under the debris, with at least five additional individuals sustaining injuries. Rescue teams are still searching for survivors beneath the rubble. Residential buildings have also been affected. The Dnipropetrovsk Regional Prosecutor's Office has shared images of the missile attacks in Kryvy Rih, and reports of a missile strike on the city of Dnipro surface, involving an industrial facility, which resulted in at least eight injuries. Russian air raids in the Kherson region have left at least eight individuals injured, as reported by the administration.
11:27 NATO Airspace May Have Been Briefly Violated by Russian Drone The Romanian Defense Ministry claims that a Russian drone might have briefly penetrated NATO member Romania's airspace overnight. The drone allegedly crossed into Romanian territory for less than three minutes in the border region, having been involved in an attack on the Ukrainian city of Izmail earlier that morning. The city is situated on the Danube, with Romania situated on the opposite side. According to Ukrainian officials, Izmail was the target of a drone attack at the beginning of Friday, resulting in three fatalities and approximately a dozen injured persons. The Ukrainian air force reports having destroyed 24 of 32 Russian attack drones throughout the night.
10:57 Fritz: USA Provides Ukraine with First Glide Bombs Ukrainian President Zelensky will introduce his "victory plan" and request additional military aid during a visit to the USA. Biden certifies a weapons package worth nearly $8 billion for Ukraine, surpassing previous deliveries. As ntv reporter Gordian Fritz notes, this is a substantial increase.
10:20 Report: US Intelligence Agencies Anticipate Severe Retaliation if Long-Range Missile Approval is Granted US intelligence agencies believe that providing approval for Ukraine to deploy long-range missiles against targets within Russian territory would incur significant retaliation, leading to substantial risks. Potential Russian responses to such decision include arson, sabotage, and covert attacks on European military support points, according to an unpublished intelligence assessment obtained by the New York Times. It is also reported that Russian retaliation might take place in a covert manner, avoiding overt attacks. The Times also notes that Ukraine does not possess an adequate amount of long-range missiles to significantly impact the overall course of the conflict. The paper suggests that these concerns might be contributing to the uncertainty persuading US President Biden in making a final decision.
09:57 Munz on New Putin Threat: Commodity Export Ban "Won't Hurt the West Much" Russia has threatened the USA with consequences if it approves the use of long-range weapons against targets inside Russian territory. In response, President Putin is reportedly considering imposing export restrictions on strategic commodities, including uranium, against the West. ntv reporter Munz provides insight into the situation and potential impact.
08:40 Mysterious Russian Structure Near Crimea Bridge Baffles Ukrainian Navy An uncertain Russian structure near the Crimea Bridge is keeping the Ukrainian Navy on its toes. As reported by "The Kyiv Independent", Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk mentioned on Ukrainian TV that the construction is underway. Its purpose remains unclear. "It might be a defensive installation, it could be another crossing, but it's still premature to draw conclusions," Pletenchuk said. The Navy spokesperson is doubtful that the Russians will complete it given the poor weather conditions. "They're consistently attempting to place something new in the Kerch Strait to construct various hydrotechnical structures or barriers, but after each storm, they end up on the shore."
08:08 Southern Ukrainian City Attacked, Multiple Casualties The city of Ismajil in southern Ukraine has been attacked. Three individuals met their end in a Russian drone strike this morning, according to the governor of the Odessa Oblast, Oleh Kiper. All the victims were of advanced age, including a woman in her 90s. Additionally, eleven others, including a child, were wounded. Kiper also reported property damage, car collapses, and several fires. Ismajil lies near the border with Romania, with the northern mouth of the Danube River forming the border.
07:40 Roth Advocates for Increased Military Aid for Ukraine to Reach Negotiations SPD foreign policy expert Michael Roth is advocating for more European military aid to Ukraine. "Primarily, the large European nations must do militarily significantly more to ensure that Ukraine remains a free and democratic country," Roth informed the "Tagesspiegel". "Now it's high time to mobilize all resources to place Ukraine in the strongest possible position for potential negotiations." The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag argues: "Anyone who wishes to end the war as quickly as possible must provide Ukraine with what it requires." Military power and diplomacy are two sides of the same coin, he explains. "Russia will only be ready for negotiations if Putin is convinced that a victory over Ukraine is impossible."
07:09 Baerbock Warns Against Waning Support for Kyiv, Defends Arms Deliveries Federal Foreign Minister Baerbock is defending Western arms deliveries to Ukraine and cautions against waning support for Kyiv. "The idea that there would be no fighting and no casualties in Ukraine if there were no defensive weapons is as simplistic as it is false," Baerbock stated on Thursday during the UN General Debate in New York. "If Russia halts its attack, the war is over. If Ukraine stops defending itself, it's over with Ukraine." Russian President Putin reacted to an invitation to a peace conference in June by bombing a children's hospital. As long as Putin is not prepared to engage in negotiations, discontinuing assistance would mean "that the hospitals of Ukraine and their children would be defenseless. It would mean more war crimes, possibly also in other countries," Baerbock said. Baerbock emphasized that Russia has "always threatened the inviolability of the borders of the Baltic states and Poland."
06:45 Slovenian Government Cautions Against Hasty Decisions on Technology Supplies to Ukraine
Slovenia's government warns against hasty decisions on the deployment of advanced Western weapons on Russian soil, given German skepticism. "It's rarely wise to rule out something beforehand," says Prime Minister Robert Golob on the sidelines of the UN General Debate in New York. "It's a contentious issue, but I think at this stage all possibilities should be explored, and the one that's most suitable for the current situation should be selected," Golob stated in response to a question about the deployment of long-range cruise missiles. To date, Germany and the US have primarily resisted this issue. Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently ruled out the delivery of long-range precision weapons to Ukraine even in the future.
06:11 Baerbock Urges Iran to Halt Aid to Russia's War Against Ukraine Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock calls on Iran to halt any assistance to Russia's conflict against Ukraine and halt thetransfer of ballistic missiles and drones. The Foreign Office shares this on the X platform. Baerbock spoke with her Iranian counterpart Abbas Araktschi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
06:01 Trump Plans Meeting with Zelenskyy in New York Former U.S. President Donald Trump plans to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York on Friday. The meeting is to take place at the Trump Tower in Manhattan, Trump says. Zelenskyy, who met with President Joe Biden on Thursday, has reportedly extended his stay in the U.S. to meet with Trump. Before his U.S. trip, Zelenskyy stated that he wanted to meet with Trump, Democratic President Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris to present his "victory plan" to end the war in Ukraine. [Read more here.]
04:25 Harris Promises Support to Zelenskyy, Warns Against Trump
Presidential hopeful Harris guarantees assistance to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and cautions against a Trump triumph without explicitly mentioning him. "My commitment to the Ukrainian people is unwavering. (...) I'll persist in backing Ukraine and strive to ensure it emerges victorious in this conflict and lives in peace and prosperity," the Democrat expresses during her visit to Zelenskyy in Washington. She alerts of those within the U.S. who desire an end to the conflict, their intention being to compel Ukraine to surrender substantial territories, adopt neutrality, and forgo security assurances from foreign countries. These proposals, she asserts, mirror those of Kremlin leader Putin and constitute proposals for surrender.
02:08 Ukrainian Reports of West Kherson Attacks
Russian troops bombarded the settlement of Tomyna Balka west of the Ukrainian-held city of Kherson on Thursday, according to the region's governor, Prokrudin. A female fatality and an injury were reported by him on Telegram.
00:55 UK to Provide More Artillery Systems to Ukraine
The UK will offer additional self-propelled AS90 artillery systems to the Ukrainian military. A total of 10 such systems have already been delivered to Ukraine, with 6 more scheduled for delivery in the coming weeks, as announced by the UK Ministry of Defense.
23:33 UNO Insufficient Funds to Aid Ukrainians this Winter
The United Nations has acknowledged a significant funding shortage for assisting Ukrainians this winter. "Our funding levels are far too low for this season," states Karolina Lindholm Billing, the Ukraine representative for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The UNHCR currently possesses only 47 percent of the funds needed to aid the millions of displaced or war-affected Ukrainians. Last year at this time, the UNHCR was 70 percent funded.
22:13 Biden: USA to Boost Aid to Ukraine
President Biden has pledged to boost U.S. aid to Ukraine for the remainder of his term. This will enhance the negotiating power of the Kyiv government, Biden claimed prior to a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in Washington. Biden's term ends in January. He may be succeeded by either his Vice President Harris or Republican nominee Trump, who is expected to significantly decrease U.S.-Ukraine engagement.
21:34 Ukraine: Russia Preparing to Escalate Attacks in Zaporizhzhia Region
Ukrainian intelligence sources report an expected escalation of attack activities in the Zaporizhzhia region by Russian forces. "There's a tendency towards intensification of the combat situation in the Zaporizhzhia region," said a spokesperson for forces stationed in southern Ukraine on national television. "In the last 24 hours, there were 5 [Russian] attacks, and we anticipate this number to rise, as our information suggests that the enemy is amassing attack groups near the [settlement] Pryiutne." Additionally, light armored vehicles have been received on the Russian side, the spokesperson revealed. "This implies they're planning offensive operations."
21:00 Biden to Zelenskyy: Russia will not Triumph
Upon commencing their meeting in Washington, US President Joe Biden reassured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of continued U.S. support. "Russia will not triumph, Ukraine will," Biden declared as he welcomed his Ukrainian counterpart to the Oval Office in the White House: "And we will stand beside you every step of the way." Read more about this here.
You can review all previous developmentshere**.
Sentence 1: Despite the success of Ukrainian refugees in finding employment in Germany, the Russian military continues its operations in Ukraine, taking control of two more settlements in the Donbass region.
Sentence 2: If the Ukrainian government increases the war tax on citizens to fund military expenses, it could impact the economy and further strain the resources of the defending troops, particularly if foreign financial assistance becomes less secure.
