Munz at 10:17 remarks on NATO's potential threat: "Breakfast TV doesn't feature Putin's assertion"
Imprisoned Belarusian opposition leader Maria Kalesnikova is reportedly in a critical health state, as per her sister Tatjana Chomitsch. Kalesnikova, who's been held for four years under inhumane conditions, now weighs 45 kg and stands at 1.75 meters tall. Chomitsch, citing information from former prisoners, believes this is a critical juncture as no one can endure such harsh conditions for long. She accuses the authorities of mentally and physically torturing her sister. The Belarusian Ministry of Interior has yet to respond to an inquiry regarding Kalesnikava's detention conditions. The 42-year-old, a prominent symbol of resistance since the 2020 protests against President Alexander Lukashenko, is serving an 11-year sentence for alleged attempts to seize power.
Lithuania and Germany have put pen to paper on an agreement pertaining to stationing a battle-ready brigade in Lithuania, as a part of NATO. Defense Ministers Boris Pistorius and Laurynas Kasciunas signed this document in Berlin. The agreement serves to augment the NATO Status of Forces Agreement, providing clarity on the legal status of German soldiers and civilians residing in Lithuania. This aims to offer legal certainty, establishing regulations for residency, taxes, schools, public health, traffic, and public safety. The legal backbone for setting up German educational institutions in Lithuania is also set in stone by this contract. The brigade is expected to kickstart operations by 2027.
Russia has expelled six British diplomats on suspicion of espionage, as declared by the FSB. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, depicted by the TASS news agency, the British embassy is intentionally causing suffering to the Russian populace. The expulsion may be related to talks regarding whether the United Kingdom and the U.S. should authorize Ukraine to use long-range weapons against Russia. British Prime Minister Starmer is scheduled to meet with President Biden at the White House later today.
Ukrainian President Selenskyj has long advocated for the approval of long-range missiles to strike Russian military installations. The U.S. and Britain are now contemplating this alignment, in sync with each other. Russian President Putin responds swiftly, warning the West.
Russia is eager to share its insights about Western weaponry with its partners, according to Russian Vice Defense Minister Alexander Fomin. Addressing a security conference in China, Fomin explains that the conflicts have resulted in extensive knowledge regarding neutralizing Western weapons. Russia is willing to share this intelligence with its partners, as modern warfare has evolved around these conflicts. Russian weaponry has demonstrated the capacity to counter Western weaponry.
Five men were apprehended for executing arson attacks in Kyiv, acting on behalf of a Russian intelligence agency, according to the Ukrainian domestic intelligence agency. The men were charged with torching five military vehicles and distributing leaflets meant to discredit the military, as reported by the agency. The men, hailing from diverse Ukrainian regions, moved to Kyiv in search of work. They were contacted by Russian agents via Telegram, being enticed by the promise of quick money. However, they never received any compensation.
The chief rabbi of Ukraine, Moshe Asman, mourns the loss of his adoptive son, Anton Samborskij, who was killed during the Russian invasion. A memorial service was held in Kyiv on Thursday, attended by soldiers, veterans, and others. Samborskij, 32, was declared missing at the end of July, and his demise was confirmed after weeks of uncertainty. Samborskij became a father to a daughter in May, Rabbi Asman shared on social media. He adopted Samborskij as a ten-year-old orphan. He last communicated with his son on July 17.
Japan took emergency measures after two Russian aircraft orbited its territory. The Russian jets did not encroach upon Japanese airspace, according to the Defense Ministry. The Tu-142 aircraft flew towards Okinawa from early morning until late afternoon. Japan's Air Self-Defense Force reacted, scrambling fighter jets on a crisis footing. The Russian jets continued towards the Kuriles, a contentious region between Japan and Russia. Earlier this week, Russian and Chinese warships began joint exercises in the Sea of Japan. The exercises are a part of an expansive maritime operation. Russian military aircraft last circled Japan in 2019. Read more here.
The Ukrainian Navy has divulged fresh details about a suspected Russian aerial assault on a civilian freighter in the Black Sea. According to their account, a Tu-22 bomber presumably discharged a Ch-22 anti-ship missile at the vessel. The freighter, bearing the flag of the Caribbean nation St. Kitts and Nevis, was situated outside Ukrainian territorial waters at the time. It was en route from Ukraine's Chornomorsk port to Egypt, carrying a shipment of wheat. According to a BBC report, the freighter was situated in Romania's exclusive economic zone at that time. The report also proposes that a Ch-31 missile, utilized for radar suppression and carrying significantly less explosive power than the Ch-22, was employed instead.
03:19 Incident at Boundary Line: Moldovan Soldier's Demise
A Moldovan soldier met an untimely death under ambiguous circumstances while performing his duties at the boundary line with the separatist region of Transnistria. The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova reports that the soldier was fatally wounded by a bullet from his own firearm while performing his duties at his post. Law enforcement officers and forensic experts are now investigating the incident. Soldiers from Moldova and the separatist Transnistria, along with Russian troops, have been stationed at the boundary line separating the two sides since a conflict in 1992 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Moldova has pledged to reintegrate Transnistria into its territory. Incidents at the boundary line are rare and infrequent.
02:18 UK Prime Minister: "Not instigating conflict with Russia"
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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has dismissed Russian President Putin's assertion that Western nations providing long-range weapons for attacks deep into Russian territory is equivalent to NATO's involvement in the conflict. "Ukraine has the right to self-defense," Starmer asserted. The UK is fully supportive of this right and offers training opportunities accordingly. "But we are not seeking conflict with Russia - that is not our intention whatsoever," the UK Prime Minister reiterated. Read more here.
01:09 Former US Ambassador to Kyiv: Harris would likely "be more assertive" in supporting Ukraine
Former US Ambassador to Ukraine, William B. Taylor, speculates that if elected, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris would be "more assertive" in supporting Ukraine than the current incumbent, Biden. She has demonstrated this stance in certain areas, Taylor confirmed at an event at the American University in Kyiv. Biden has been deliberative in some decisions, such as those concerning HIMARS, Abrams tanks, and F-16 fighter jets. He is also currently cautious about allowing Ukraine to launch attacks deep into Russia. Taylor anticipates a "more assertive" approach from Harris, partly due to her likelihood of assembling a new foreign policy team at 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. The Baltic EU and NATO member has committed to allocating 0.25% of its annual GDP to Ukraine's defense needs. Discussions also centered around reconstruction and the country's EU aspirations. Additionally, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa pledged further support during their meeting with Zelensky.
23:19 German Intelligence Service not obligated to disclose Ukraine's military scenario evaluation to journalistThe Federal Intelligence Service (BND) is not obligated to share with a journalist whether it characterized a military victory for Ukraine as challenging or impossible in background discussions. The BND is also not required to disclose which media outlets participated in these discussions, as decided by the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig. The journalist's application for an interim order is largely rejected. However, the BND must provide information on the number of confidential individual background discussions on Ukraine's military situation this year. The journalist submitted an urgent application to the newspaper. The court explained that the reason for this was a newspaper article from May, which reported that a CDU politician had stated that the BND intentionally spread a negative assessment of Ukraine's military situation to shape public opinion.
22:06 Coalition Politicians Support Employment of Long-Range Weapons Against RussiaPoliticians from the Traffic Light Coalition support permitting Kyiv to utilize long-range weapons against targets within Russia. It is appropriate and in accordance with international law to finally attack military targets within Russia with long-range Western missiles, asserts SPD foreign policy expert Michael Roth to T-Online. Roth mentions military airfields, command centers, or launch bases as potential targets for long-range weapons within Russia. These bases are allegedly employed for launching "cruel attacks on civilian Ukrainian targets," and they can be effectively stopped by attacking them. The chairman of the Defense Committee, Marcus Faber of the FDP, asserts that the approval to "hit Russian military airports with long-range weapons such as ATACMS and Storm Shadow is long overdue." Green politician Anton Hofreiter emphasizes that "Russia terrorizes the Ukrainian civilian population daily with rocket attacks on hospitals, residential buildings, and the energy supply." To effectively defend the Ukrainian civilian population, the army must be allowed to target military bases on Russian territory with long-range weapons.
21:35 Vance discusses Trump's thoughts on Ukraine's conflictAs mentioned by Republican vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance, potential President Donald Trump might propose a special demilitarized zone between Ukraine and Russia to bring an end to the ongoing conflict. Vance shared this perspective during a chat with TV producer Shawn Ryan, hinting at a possible gathering of Russians, Ukrainians, and Europeans to explore potential peaceful resolutions. Vance expressed optimism, believing Trump could swiftly seal the deal. Trump is renowned for his close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his frequent criticisms of US aid to Ukraine. He's known for asserting he could put an end to the war within 24 hours if elected, although he has not divulged specifics of his plan.
21:03 "We are Russians, God is with us" - Fascist rally in St. PetersburgMultiple Russian nationalists and fascists in St. Petersburg echo the mantra: "We are Russians. God is with us." They repeat this chant repeatedly along with "Onward, Russians!" Their demonstration is to commemorate the anniversary of the relic transfer of Alexander Nevsky, a national hero and Orthodox Church saint.
20:28 Solovyov, the Kremlin's propagandist, suggests further expansionPopular Russian TV host Vladimir Solovyov expresses his view that Russia should not limit itself to subjugating Ukraine. Solovyov suggests the ultimate barrier would be the Atlantic Ocean. He suggests potential deployment sites for Russian troops in Berlin, Lisbon, Madrid, and even Paris. When reminded of the limited Russian population, Solovyov replies, alluding to Belarus, "The Belarusian brothers are with us." Alternatively, China could be considered.
20:01 British volunteers prep for winterIn several Ukrainian homes that have withstood bombardment, missing windows pose a dire predicament as winter approaches. The British NGO "Insulate Ukraine" rushes to install temporary windows in these battle zones.
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The attack on Ukraine continues to dominate international headlines, with Russia accused of providing support to arsonists in Kyiv and expelling British diplomats on suspicion of espionage. In response, the UK is considering arming Ukraine with long-range missiles to strike Russian military installations, a move that has prompted a strong warning from Russian President Putin. Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Selenskyj mourns the loss of his adoptive son, who was killed during the Russian invasion. In other news, Lithuania and Germany have agreed to station a battle-ready brigade in Lithuania as part of NATO, aiming to provide legal certainty for German soldiers and civilians residing in the country.
