It appears that Russia is allegedly inflating the number of its naval warships.
According to an report by the independent Russian news source "Agentstvo," it's speculated that Russia may possess only half the amount of warships as stated officially. The report draws attention to inaccurate online data from sources such as Global Naval Powers Ranking 2024 and RussiaShips.info, which suggest a total of 264 and 299 warships respectively. Notably, around 50 ships and submarines from the Black Sea Fleet, which isn't participating in the exercise, are factored into these totals. Russia has a history of exaggerating the size of its military forces.
12:28 Amplified Russian Espionage vs. Bundeswehr and Ukraine Aid
German intelligence services have reported an increase in Russian spying on Bundeswehr operations and Ukraine aid. This shift in focus from strategic to tactical interests signifies that Russia is now closely monitoring details related to military aid to Ukraine, including weapon and munition transport routes, deployment procedures, and tactics of Western weapons systems in Ukraine. Additionally, the capabilities of the Bundeswehr itself for territorial and alliance defense are also under scrutiny by Russian intelligence services.
11:52 Munz: Increased "Atomic Weapons on Berlin" Threat – Not a Coincidence
Britain and the U.S. are considering permitting Ukraine to utilize weapons against Russian territory. So far, the Kremlin has managed to deter this decision by leveraging threats. Consequently, the proposal of an atomic weapons specialist to target Berlin does not come as a surprise, states ntv correspondent Rainer Munz.
11:15 Report: Delay in Decision on Long-Range Missiles in Ukraine
The possibility of the Ukrainian deployment of Western long-range missiles in Russian territory may be pushed back further than anticipated. A resolution before the UN General Assembly on September 24, where around 150 heads of state and government will convene, is unlikely, according to the U.S. medium Bloomberg. British Foreign Secretary Lammy mentioned that the UN meeting would serve as the next opportunity to discuss the use of long-range missiles. Ukrainian President Selenskyj plans to reiterate his demand for such missiles at the meeting. On Wednesday, Lammy and U.S. Secretary of State Blinken paid a visit to Kyiv to discuss Selenskyj's intentions for attacking Russian territory. Blinken intends to discuss this matter with U.S. President Biden on Friday. British Prime Minister Starmer will also meet with Biden on Friday.
10:31 Blinken Arrives in Poland on Return from Kyiv
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken is visiting Poland, a strong ally of Ukraine, after his trip to Kyiv. He plans to hold discussions with Prime Minister Tusk and President Duda during his visit. Blinken's aim is to discuss further cooperation with Poland, which serves as the primary logistics hub for Western military support to Ukraine. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Poland has significantly increased its military spending and has ordered 96 Apache combat helicopters from U.S. defense giant Boeing at a cost of $10 billion.
09:59 Ukrainian Forces Report 5 Missiles and 64 Drones from Russia Overnight
The Ukrainian airforce alleges that the Russian military attacked Ukraine overnight with 5 missiles and 64 Iranian-produced combat drones. Around 44 drones were shot down. Authenticity of the military reports cannot be fully verified. The air defense was also active in the vicinity of Kyiv to intercept incoming drones.
09:11 Russian Expert Suggests Stronger Nuclear Threat Posture
Russian foreign policy expert Sergei Karaganov suggests that Russia should assert its readiness to employ nuclear weapons. The primary purpose of Russia's nuclear policy should be to convey to all current and future adversaries that Russia is prepared to utilize nuclear weapons, he asserted to the Russian newspaper Kommersant. Karaganov posits that Russia could carry out a limited nuclear strike on a NATO nation without escalating into a full-scale nuclear war.
08:46 Ukraine Hopes for U.S. Approval for Use of Western Long-Range Missiles
Encouraging signs have emerged in Ukraine suggesting that it may soon be granted permission to launch attacks deeper into Russian territory utilizing Western weapons. During his visit to Kyiv, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized his commitment to providing Ukraine with the necessary means to defend itself. In the UK, indications of approval for this action seem to be emerging.
08:04 Ukrainian Intelligence Reports Downing of Russian Fighter Jet
Following rumors circulating yesterday concerning the disappearance of a Russian Su-30SM fighter jet from radar, Ukrainian military intelligence now claims that Ukrainian soldiers shot down such an aircraft during an operation in the Black Sea. The Kyiv Independent reports. The multimillion-dollar aircraft, believed to be stationed on the Crimean peninsula, was reportedly destroyed by a portable air defense system.
07:26 Ukrainians in Germany Preserve Protected Status During Home Visits
The German Bundestag is set to debate for the first time today the proposed security package of the federal government, which includes provisions for withdrawing refugee status for someone returning to their home country. However, certain conditions apply, such as exemptions for refugees from Ukraine.
06:04 Russian Commentators Allege Sabotage Against Trump in TV DebateVarious commentators on Russian state TV have claimed that Trump was sabotaged during his debate with Kamala Harris, as stated by Kyiv Independent. They believe that he was at a disadvantage. The commentators harshly criticized the fact-checking of Trump's statements. Numerous people viewed him as the loser of the debate. If Trump wins the election, he has declared that he will immediately put an end to the Ukraine conflict.
04:50 Heavy Attack on Konotop: Severe Damage to InfrastructureAn attack by Russia on the city of Konotop in the Sumy region has left several civilians wounded. According to Mayor Artem Semenikhin, the city's water supply was briefly disrupted. There are significant damages to the energy infrastructure, and it is uncertain when private households will regain power. Following the attack in the city center, there were multiple fires, and schools and residential buildings were damaged. Two individuals were hospitalized, with one in a critical condition.
03:29 More Military Aid from Latvia to UkraineLatvian Prime Minister Evika Silina has announced a military aid package for Ukraine during her visit to Kyiv. This includes armored personnel carriers, as announced by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal following the meeting with Silina. Both countries are discussing the expansion of collaboration in the defense industry, according to Shmyhal.
01:32 UK Issues Warning to Iranian Businessman over Suspected Rocket Shipments to RussiaIn response to suspected Iranian rocket shipments to Russia, the UK has summoned an Iranian businessman, as stated by the Foreign Office in London. The UK government has made it clear that any transfer of ballistic rockets to Russia would be deemed a dangerous escalation and would prompt a firm response. On Tuesday, Germany, France, and the UK announced additional sanctions against Tehran due to the suspected rocket shipments, particularly the suspension of bilateral air transport agreements. The European Union cited "credible evidence" on Monday of the delivery of Iranian rockets to Russia.
00:14 Reports of Inexperienced Soldiers Deployed by Russia at the Kharkiv FrontRussian troops without combat experience are being deployed at the Kharkiv front, according to reports from the Ukrainian military. Vitalii Sarantsev, spokesperson for the operational tactical group of the armed forces in Kharkiv, mentioned that the units involved in the attacks in Vovchansk are poorly trained. It is believed that the recently arrived reinforcements are a mobilization reserve assembled by Russia. The exact origins of these troops are still unclear, whether they are former prisoners or soldiers from other countries, such as Central Asia, Africa, or the Middle East.
22:39 Deployment of Russian-Speaking Patrols by Mayor in Western UkraineThe mayor of the western Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk has announced the deployment of patrols to monitor the increased use of Russian. "This is a civil initiative, and anyone can become a language inspector," stated Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv to the NTA television channel. Many internal refugees from eastern Ukraine, whose native language is Russian, have settled in the area. Martsinkiv expects at least 100 such language controllers, with around 50 volunteers already registered. He also provided a phone number for citizens to report instances of Russian being used in public spaces. Due to the conflict, millions of people, particularly those from Russian-speaking regions in the east and south, have fled to the relatively safe Ukrainian-speaking west of Ukraine.
21:42 Erdogan Calls for the Return of Crimea from RussiaTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan calls for the return of the Crimea peninsula, which was annexed by Russia, to Ukraine. "Our support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence remains unwavering. The return of Crimea to Ukraine is a demand of international law," states the Turkish leader in a video message on the occasion of the Crimea Platform summit. The Crimea Platform, founded in 2021, aims to raise global awareness of the situation surrounding the annexed peninsula.
21:05 Kyiv to Present Military Strategy to USUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy considers US support as crucial in repelling the Russian invasion. "The plan for victory... primarily depends on US support. And on the support of other partners," says Zelenskyy at a press conference in Kyiv. The plan, which will be presented before the planned second Ukraine Peace Conference, aims to "significantly strengthen Ukraine" and "force Russia to end the war." According to Bloomberg, the US is demanding a clear strategy from Zelenskyy for strikes against Russia before lifting restrictions on the use of Western weapons. US Secretary of State Blinken and British Foreign Secretary Lammy were reportedly in Kyiv to discuss a long-term plan for next year to better understand Ukraine's goals.
20:37 Blinken Confirms Biden's Intentions Regarding Weapon Use in RussiaUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken states that the US is actively working to meet Ukraine's military needs, including the use of long-range Western-supplied weapons for attacks on targets in Russia. US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will discuss these demands on Friday, according to Blinken, at a joint press conference with his British counterpart David Lammy and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv. "We are working urgently to ensure that Ukraine has the capability to defend itself effectively," Blinken said, concluding, "We want Ukraine to win."
The President of the Council may need to address the concerns raised by German intelligence services about Russia's increased espionage activities on Bundeswehr operations and Ukraine aid. The report suggests that Russia is closely monitoring details related to military aid to Ukraine, which could pose a threat to Western interests.
In light of speculations about Russia's potential underreporting of its warship fleet, the President of the Council might also be interested in the independent Russian news source "Agentstvo'"s report, as it sheds light on inaccurate data from popular sources like Global Naval Powers Ranking 2024 and RussiaShips.info.
