Norway Imposes Restrictions on Asylum Applications from Ukraine
16:51 Russian Forces Prepare for New Draftees Arrival
The next draft for Russians aged under 30 is set for October 1st, as indicated by the British military intelligence service. These individuals are required to serve a year in the military.So far, these fresh recruits have not seen combat in Ukraine but have been stationed in the Russian region of Kursk, from where Ukrainian forces are expected to be expelled. Complaints have been surfacing from Russian families, claiming their sons were sent into battle with less than four months of training. As per Russian law, conscripts cannot be deployed to a conflict zone until they've completed four months of training and specialized training.
16:22 Germany to Host Allied Meeting with Biden Regarding Ukraine
During his visit to Germany, US President Joe Biden will hold a meeting with Ukraine supporters on October 12 at the US airbase in Ramstein, Rheinland-Palatinate, according to government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit. Together with Germany, the US plans to host a gathering of the so-called Contact Group for Ukraine Defense. Hebestreit explains, "In this format, more than 50 nations unite to collaborate in supporting Ukraine." It remains unclear if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the meeting in person.
15:56 Lithuania Wants to Purchase German Leopard 2 Tanks for New Division
Lithuania is negotiating to acquire Leopard 2 tanks for a newly formed division of their army. Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas anticipates signing the contract by November, following the final decision from the National Security Council. Kasciunas does not disclose the quantity or type of tanks, which are produced in Germany. Lithuania, a NATO and EU member, shares borders with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Russia's ally Belarus. The escalating conflict in Ukraine has been identified as a direct threat to Lithuanian security by their government, who are intensifying their military efforts by establishing a new division, which includes a tank battalion. In the future, a German Army armored brigade is also expected to be stationed in Lithuania permanently.
15:20 Discord at Risk of being Blocked Completely in Russia
Communication platform Discord may soon be barred entirely in Russia, according to Russian newspaper Kommersant. The Russian media watchdog is reportedly considering this move due to alleged breaches of Russian law, with no specific infractions specified in the report. Users in Russia began experiencing technical issues with Discord at the beginning of the month. Approximately 29-40 million individuals in Russia make use of Discord, with gamers, students, and cryptocurrency traders among its primary users.
13:04 Biden's Aid Package Fall Short of Zelensky's Request
US President Biden has pledged an additional multi-billion dollar aid package to Ukraine but has not adhered to Zelensky's wishes to eliminate restrictions on weapons supplied by the West to enable attacks deep into Russian territory. Political analyst Thomas Jäger offers an explanation for this decision.
12:36 US Citizen Accused of 'Mercenary Activities' in Russia
As reported by the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, a 72-year-old US citizen is currently facing charges of 'mercenary activities' in Russia since last Friday. The suspect, identified as Michael Stefan Hubbard from Michigan, is accused of participating in combat alongside Ukrainian forces in the ongoing conflict, according to the news agency. The report did not provide details about when or where the US citizen was apprehended.
12:01 Russian Attack on Police Station in Kryvyi Rih Kills Woman, Injures Others
Further reports of Russian attacks have surfaced from the southern and central regions of Ukraine. A police station in Kryvyi Rih was struck by a missile in the early morning hours, resulting in the death of a woman and injuring at least five more individuals. Rescue teams are still searching for survivors and have reported damage to residential buildings.
In Dnipro, an industrial facility was targeted by Russian air strikes, injuring at least eight individuals overnight. The Kherson region in Ukraine has reported casualties due to Russian air attacks over the past few days.
11:27 Potential NATO Airspace Breach by Russian Drone
Romanian defense ministry reports that a Russian drone may have momentarily entered Romanian airspace overnight. According to the ministry, the drone may have breached Romanian airspace for less than three minutes in the border area. The drone was believed to be involved in an attack on the Southern Ukrainian city of Izmail. Ukrainian authorities report three fatalities and over a dozen injuries due to a drone attack on Izmail overnight, in which they also claim to have shot down 24 of 32 Russian drones.
10:20 Update: US Intel Agencies Anticipate Severe Response if Ukraine Utilizes Long-Range Missiles against RussiaAccording to unnamed sources, US intelligence outfits anticipate serious ramifications should Ukraine deploy Western long-range missiles to strike inside Russian territory. This action could potentially incur a harsh retaliation, based on a secret intelligence analysis mentioned by the "New York Times". The agencies consider various Russian counteractions - ranging from destructive arson and sabotage operations in Europe to potentially lethal attacks on US and European military support facilities. While overt Russian attacks are unlikely, covert intelligence activities are more probable. The "New York Times" also suggests that Ukraine may not possess sufficient long-range missiles to significantly alter the war's trajectory. The risk outweighs the potential gain due to an uncertain success at a high cost. This might help explain the dilemma faced by US President Biden.
09:57 Analyst Munz Reviews New Putin Threat: Raw Material Export Restriction "Won't Affect West Severely"Russia has warned the West of consequences in the event of authorization for long-range weapon usage against Russian targets. President Putin has hinted at certain export restrictions on strategic raw materials, such as uranium, as reprisals against the West. ntv journalist Munz discusses the background and consequences.
08:40 Ukrainian Navy Baffled by Russian Construction Near Crimean BridgeAn enigmatic Russian construction near the Crimean Bridge is perplexing the Ukrainian Navy, according to navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk, as reported by "The Kyiv Independent" on Ukrainian TV. The purpose of the construction remains unclear. "It may be a defensive installation, it may be another crossing, but it's still too early to draw conclusions," Pletenchuk admitted. The navy spokesman does not anticipate the Russians completing the project due to the deteriorating weather conditions. "They continue to place something new in the Kerch Strait to construct various hydrotechnical structures or barriers, but following each storm, they wind up stranded along the coast." The bridge connects Russia to the Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized.
08:08 Ukrainian City on Romanian Border Suffers Attack, Several KilledThe city of Ismajil in southern Ukraine was hit. Three people were killed in a Russian drone attack this morning, announced the governor of the Odessa Oblast, Oleh Kiper. All the deceased were elderly, including a woman in her 90s. Eleven others, including a child, were injured. Kiper also reported damaged buildings and cars, as well as several fires. The city of Ismajil lies on the Romanian border, with the northern mouth of the Danube River serving as the border. Read more here.
07:40 To Advance Negotiations: SPD Foreign Policy Expert Roth Advocates for "Substantially More" Military AidSPD foreign policy expert Michael Roth supports Europe providing additional military aid to Ukraine. "Particularly the larger European nations must contribute militarily significantly more to ensure Ukraine remains a free and democratic country," Roth commented to the "Tagesspiegel". "Now is the time to mobilize all resources to put Ukraine in the best position possible for potential negotiations." The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag emphasizes: "Those desiring to end the conflict as swiftly as possible must equip Ukraine suitably." Military strength and diplomacy are two interconnected facets. "Russia will only be amenable to negotiations if Putin is convinced that a victory over Ukraine is impossible."
07:09 Baerbock: Absence of Our Support Would Leave Ukrainian Hospitals and Children DefencelessGerman Foreign Minister Baerbock backs the West's armament deliveries to Ukraine and cautions against weakening support for Kyiv. "The notion that there wouldn't be fighting or deaths in Ukraine in the absence of defensive weapons is as easy to comprehend as it is flawed," Baerbock stated on Thursday at the UN General Debate in New York. "If Russia stops its assault, the war ends. If Ukraine ceases defending itself, it's over for Ukraine." Russian President Putin has responded to a peace conference invitation in June with bombings of a children's hospital. As long as Putin refuses to engage in negotiations, canceling our support would leave the Ukrainian hospitals and children vulnerable. Baerbock stresses that Russia has "always played with the inviolability of the borders of the Baltic states and Poland."
06:45 Slovenia: Should Not Disregard Long-Range Missile Use in Russian TerritoryThe Slovenian government cautions against premature judgments regarding the deployment of long-range Western weapons on Russian territory due to German reservations. "It's generally not advisable to declare certain topics off-limits in advance," Prime Minister Robert Golob said on the sidelines of the UN General Debate in New York. "It's a complicated matter, but I think at this juncture, all possibilities should be considered, and then the one best adapted to the current situation should be selected," Golob replied when asked about the use of long-range cruise missiles. So far, particularly Germany and the USA have been hesitant in this regard. Chancellor Olaf Scholz had recently dismissed the idea of delivering long-range precision weapons to Ukraine in the future.
06:01 Trump Arranges Gathering with ZelenskyFormer U.S. president Donald Trump plans to interact with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this coming Friday in New York. The event is scheduled to take place at Trump Tower in Manhattan, as Trump announced. Zelensky, who had a meeting with President Joe Biden on Thursday, is said to have extended his stay in the U.S. to meet with Trump. Before his trip to the U.S., Zelensky expressed his desire to meet with Trump, Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris to present his "victory strategy" to put an end to the conflict in Ukraine. Check out more details here.
04:25 Harris Vouches for Zelensky's Support and Warns Against Trump's VictoryDemocratic presidential candidate Harris confirms her unwavering support for Ukrainian President Zelensky and cautions against a Trump win, without explicitly mentioning his name. "My allegiance towards the people of Ukraine remains steadfast. (...) I will remain committed to Ukraine and work tirelessly to ensure that Ukraine emerges victorious and lives in peace and prosperity," Harris says during Zelensky's visit to Washington. She issues a warning that the war cannot be resolved without Ukraine's involvement. However, there are some in the U.S. who aim to end the conflict by forcing Ukraine to surrender large territories, accept neutrality, and forgo assistance from other nations. Harris compares these proposals to those of Kremlin leader Putin, which she views as surrender.
02:08 Ukraine Reports Bombardments Near KhersonRussian forces repeatedly bombarded the settlement of Tomyna Balka west of the Ukrainian-held city of Kherson on Thursday, reports Prokrudin, the region's governor. One woman was killed, and another was injured, he noted in a Telegram post.
00:55 UK Intends to Deliver More Artillery Systems to UkraineThe UK plans to distribute another set of self-propelled artillery systems, AS90s, to the Ukrainian military. Ten of these systems have already been delivered, with six more to follow in the coming weeks, the UK's Ministry of Defense announced.
23:33 UN Struggles to Fund Aid for Ukrainians This WinterThe UN admits that it doesn't have enough funds to aid Ukrainians during the winter season. "Our funding level at the moment is significantly less than what is required for this period of time," says Karolina Lindholm Billing, the UN Refugee Agency's representative in Ukraine. Currently, the UNHCR has only 47% of the funds it needs to support those displaced or impacted by the conflict in Ukraine. By this time last year, the UNHCR had reached 70% of its funding goal.
22:13 Biden Pledges to Increase Aid to UkrainePresident Joe Biden states that the U.S. will intensify its aid to Ukraine during the remaining time of his tenure. This, he says, will enhance the Ukrainian government's negotiating position in Kyiv. Biden's term ends in January, and he could be succeeded by either Vice President Kamala Harris or Republican Trump, who is expected to decrease the U.S.'s engagement with Ukraine.
21:34 Ukraine Warns of Intensified Attacks in Zaporizhzhia RegionUkrainian intelligence reports suggest that Russian forces are preparing to escalate their offensive actions in the Zaporizhzhia region soon. "There seems to be an increasing aggression in the combat zone sector in the Zaporizhzhia region," a spokesperson for troops in southern Ukraine said on national television. "We had five [Russian] attacks in the last 24 hours, and the number could increase, as our intel indicates that the enemy is gathering attack forces near [the settlement of] Pryiutne." The spokesperson also mentioned the arrival of light armored vehicles by the Russian side, implying they are preparing for offensive operations.
21:00 Biden Welcomes Zelensky: Ukraine Will Not LoseUpon Zelensky's arrival in Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden assured him of continued American support. "Russia will not prevail, Ukraine will," Biden said as he welcomed Zelensky to the Oval Office at the White House: "And we will stand by you every step of the way." Read more here.
Read all previous developments here.
Despite the ongoing tensions in Ukraine, it's important to note that cyberwarfare can also pose a significant threat in modern conflicts. In fact, some analysts have suggested that Russia could potentially use cyberwarfare tactics against NATO allies, including Germany, as retaliation for their support of Ukraine.
Given this perspective, the escalating cyberwarfare landscape could potentially affect the strategies of nations like Russia in its cyber operations against NATO allies, adding a new layer of complexity to the current conflict in Ukraine.
