Poland has yet to contribute a single penny towards the Czech Republic's artillery project.
According to Polish news outlet Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland hasn't contributed a single penny towards the Czech artillery initiative, which relies on funding from multiple Western partners to provide ammunition for Ukraine globally. Germany is reportedly the leading and fastest financer in this matter. As per plans, Ukraine is expected to receive 100,000 rounds this month, with an aim of 500,000 by the end of 2024, and additional rounds in 2025. Russia's impact on the market is causing problems, as suggested by reports from Prague.
14:20 Pistorius supports Ukraine's use of long-range weaponsGerman Defense Minister Pistorius asserts that NATO partners permitting Ukraine to utilize long-range weapons against Russian targets is legally justified. He highlights that the USA and UK are entitled to make such decisions regarding the weapons they've supplied, and it's their prerogative. "International law permits this," he declares. In response to Russian President Putin's warnings about NATO being at war with Russia if Ukraine uses long-range rockets from the West, Pistorius states, "Putin's threats are merely that. There's nothing more to add. He threatens whenever he pleases, and lures whenever he deems appropriate."
13:57 Zelenskyy welcomes home 49 POWsUkrainian President Zelenskyy announces the return of 49 prisoners of war from Russia, including former combatants from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, which was besieged by Russian forces in the spring of 2022. "49 Ukrainians have returned home," the president proclaims, sharing photos of soldiers and servicewomen draped in Ukrainian national flags. According to Zelenskyy, they hail from the army, national guard, national police, border guard, and civilians. Ukrainian media reports indicate that 23 of the 49 returnees are women. The president does not immediately specify whether this release is a result of a prisoner exchange with Russia.
13:46 Tusk dismisses Putin's threatsPolish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is un fazed by Russian President Putin's recent threats about long-range weapons against Russian targets. Despite acknowledging the gravity of the situation in Ukraine and on the Ukrainian-Russian border, Tusk maintains, "I wouldn't attach too much importance to Putin's latest statements. They merely reflect the difficult position in which the Russian military finds itself on the front." Putin previously warned that the West would be at war with Russia if it allowed Ukraine to attack Russian territory with long-range rockets produced in the West.
13:21 Wei Fenghe advocates for negotiationsChinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe, speaking at a worldwide security forum in Beijing, advocates for "negotiations" as the sole solution to conflicts like the wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. To resolve "the crisis in Ukraine and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, promoting peace and negotiations is the only way out," he suggests.
12:58 Scholz seeks higher oil imports from KazakhstanThe German government is pursuing increased oil imports from Kazakhstan. "We welcome the prospective expansion of oil supplies from Kazakhstan," a government representative stated ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan starting this weekend. The aim is to provide multiple options for the supply of the PCK refinery in Schwedt, with more oil from Kazakhstan being one of the solutions. However, alternative options are also necessary, as Kazakh oil travels through Russian pipelines to Germany, providing Moscow with leverage. Following the Russian attack on Ukraine, Germany halted Russian oil imports. Scholz's trip will also focus on Central Asian gas supplies. Regarding tenders for new gas-fired power plants, it's evident: "We need to get gas from somewhere, and Central Asia is abundant in this regard," the representative said.
12:26 France summons Iranian diplomatFrance has summoned Iran's diplomatic representative to the Foreign Ministry in Paris. Reports indicate the reason is the delivery of ballistic rockets to Russia, according to diplomatic resources. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously mentioned that Russia had received rockets from Iran, which would be deployed in Ukraine within a few weeks. Iran, however, denies this accusation.
12:03 Pentagon considers Russian counteroffensive in Kursk 'marginal'The Pentagon is unimpressed by Russia's counteroffensive in Kursk. "We've observed Russian units attempting some sort of counteroffensive in the Kursk region," Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder stated Thursday. "At this moment, I would categorize it as marginal, but naturally, we're closely monitoring it," he adds. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its troops had recaptured ten settlements, a claim that has not been independently verified. The Ukrainian army initiated the offensive in the Russian border region of Kursk around five weeks ago and claims to have seized around 100 Russian villages and nearly 1,300 square kilometers.
11:38 Despite numerous shootdowns, drone attacks cause damageThe Ukrainian air force asserts it shot down 24 out of 26 drones overnight. In the Odessa region, one person was injured and 20 houses were damaged, while in the Mykolajiw region, drone debris caused a fire at a food processing plant, regional authorities report. According to the Ministry of Energy, energy infrastructure in the Iwano-Frankiwsk region was damaged.
Russian Security Council Chief Nagovitsyn meets with North Korean Leader Kim in Pyongyang. The encounters took place "in a special environment of belief and camaraderie," as stated by the Russian Security Council. The dialogues are expected to "provide significant value" to the execution of the defense agreement signed by Kim and Putin in June. According to Putin, the agreement provides for "mutual aid in the event of assault on one of the contracting parties." The West accuses Russia of utilizing North Korean rockets and artillery shells in Ukraine. To sustain its military operations in Ukraine, Russia is approaching countries like China, Iran, and North Korea for more ammunition.
10:46 Russian Parliament Leader: NATO is Waging War Against Our CountryThe Leader of the Russian Parliament, Petrov, accuses NATO of being involved in the conflict in Ukraine. "They are waging war against our country," Petrov posts on Telegram. He suggests that NATO is aiding Ukraine in selecting Russian cities for attacks, coordinating military deployments with the Ukrainian army, and generally giving orders to the government in Kyiv.
10:17 Munz on Putin's War Threat to NATO: "Putin's Statement Doesn't Even Make the Morning News"In the West, there are fears that allowing Ukraine to launch long-range attacks on Russian territory would lead to escalation. Indeed, Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again made such a threat. However, ntv correspondent Rainer Munz sees several reasons why there may be little substance behind Putin's saber-rattling.
09:42 Family: Imprisoned Belarus Opposition Leader in Critical ConditionImprisoned Belarusian opposition leader Maria Kalesnikava is in a critical health condition, according to her sister. For four years, she has been held under inhumane conditions and now weighs only 45 kg at a height of 1.75 meters, says Tatjana Chomitsch, citing information from former prisoners. "I believe this is a critical moment, as no one can survive such conditions for long," she says, accusing authorities of psychologically and physically torturing her sister. The Belarusian Interior Ministry does not respond to a request about Kalesnikava's detention conditions. The 42-year-old, who has been a symbol of resistance since the 2020 protests against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, is serving an 11-year prison sentence for alleged conspiracy to seize power.
09:20 Agreement Signed for Stationing of Lithuanian BrigadeGermany and Lithuania have signed a government agreement to manage details of the stationing of a combat-ready brigade in the Baltic NATO country. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and his Lithuanian counterpart Laurynas Kasciunas signed the agreement in Berlin. The agreement supplements the NATO Status of Forces Agreement, clarifying the legal status of German soldiers and civilian employees in Lithuania. It provides legal certainty by regulating residence rights, tax law, the school system, public health supervision, road traffic, and public safety. For example, it creates the legal basis for establishing German schools and kindergartens in Lithuania. The brigade is expected to be operational by 2027.
08:56 Russia Expels British DiplomatsRussia has expelled six British diplomats on espionage charges. The FSB intelligence service claims to have documents showing that the British Foreign Office is coordinating political and military escalation. The ministry's goal is to ensure Russia's strategic defeat in the war against Ukraine, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, cited by the TASS news agency. The British Foreign Office rejects the accusations as "completely baseless." The Russian move is a response to British measures that followed alleged Russian "activities in Europe and the United Kingdom," according to a BBC statement.
08:31 NATO's Involvement in War Would Be 'Red Line' for Putin, Kremlin WarnsUkrainian President Zelensky has been pushing for the deployment of long-range missiles against Russian military targets for some time now. The US and UK are set to discuss this possibility. Russia's response is swift. Kremlin chief Putin issues a warning to the West.
08:03 Russia Offers to Share Intelligence on Western WeaponsRussia is offering to share its experiences in combating various Western weapons with its partners. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said at a security conference in China that Russia has unique insights into modern warfare, according to Russian news agency RIA. He said Russia is ready to share this knowledge with its partners.
07:34 Ukraine's SBU Announces Arrests: Men Set Fires in Kyiv on Russia's OrdersFive men have been arrested for setting fires in Kyiv on behalf of a Russian intelligence agency, Ukraine's SBU security service said. The men are accused of setting fire to five military vehicles and leaving leaflets aimed at discrediting the military. The SBU said the men came to Kyiv from different regions of Ukraine in search of work and were recruited by Russian agents via Telegram. They also recorded their actions on their phones to receive the promised money, but never did.
07:05 Ukraine's Chief Rabbi Mourns Adopted Son Killed in WarUkraine's Chief Rabbi, Schwartz, is mourning the loss of his adopted son, Anton Samborsky, who was killed in the Russian invasion. A memorial service was held in Kyiv on Thursday, attended by soldiers, veterans, and others. Samborsky, 32, was reported missing in late July and his death was confirmed weeks later. He became a father to a daughter in May and was drafted soon after. Rabbi Schwartz last spoke to his son on July 17.
06:29 Japan Deals with Close Encounter with Russian Military AircraftJapan dispatched fighter jets on Thursday after two Russian aircraft looped around the country. The Russian planes did not invade Japanese airspace, as per the Defense Ministry's statement. The Tu-142 planes flew from the ocean towards Okinawa's southern region from early morning till afternoon. Japan's Air Self-Defense Force responded by deploying its own jets. Subsequently, the Russian planes redeemed their exit towards the north and also transversed the Kuril Islands, a disputed territory shared between Japan and Russia. Just a few days prior, Russian and Chinese warships began joint exercises in the Sea of Japan as part of a large-scale naval workout. This is yet another addition to the series of similar occurrences, with Russian military aircraft last crossing Japanese airspace in 2019.
06:07 Moscow Claims U.S. Driving Containment Policy Against Russia and ChinaRussian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin asserted during a security conference in China that the United States is implementing a containment policy against Russia and China. The information was disseminated by the Russian news agency TASS. According to the agency, Fomin stated that Russia and China are advocating for a fair, multipolar world with equality and mutual respect, while the Western world is readying for conflicts in Asia by forming fresh security blocks in the region.
05:27 Ukraine Reports Attack on Cargo Ship by Russian AircraftThe Ukrainian Navy provided updated details about a supposed Russian air attack on a civil cargo ship in the Black Sea. According to them, a Tu-22 bomber presumably launched a Ch-22 anti-ship missile at the ship. The cargo ship, under the flag of the Caribbean country of St. Kitts and Nevis, was beyond Ukrainian territorial waters at the time. The cargo ship was sailing from the southern Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk to Egypt carrying wheat. As per a BBC report, the cargo ship was in Romania's exclusive economic zone at the time. It is also mentioned that a Ch-31 missile, used for radar suppression, was employed instead of a Ch-22 missile, which has significantly less destructive power than the Ch-22 cruise missiles intended for aircraft carriers.
03:19 Tragedy at Border: Moldovan Soldier Dies in Unclear CircumstancesA Moldovan soldier lost his life under unclarified circumstances while performing his duties at the border with the separatist region of Transnistria. The Defense Ministry of the Republic of Moldova reported that the soldier was fatally hit by a bullet from his own weapon while carrying out his duties at his post. The incident is now under investigation by the police and forensic experts. Soldiers from Moldova and Transnistria are stationed at the border separating the two sides, with Russian troops present since the conflict in 1992 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Moldova has sworn to reintegrate Transnistria into its territory. Incidents at the border are exceptionally rare.
02:18 UK Prime Minister: "No Intent To Engage in Conflict with Russia"UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer refuted Russian President Putin's assertion that Western supply of long-range weapons signifies NATO's direct involvement in the conflict. "Ukraine has the right to self-defense," Starmer said. The UK is fully in favor of this right and provides training opportunities in this context. "But we are not intent on entering into conflict with Russia - that is not our objective in any manner," the UK Prime Minister emphasized. Learn more here.
01:09 Former U.S. Ambassador in Kyiv: Harris may Support Ukraine "More Emphatically" Than BidenThe former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, William B. Taylor, believes that Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris would back Ukraine "more emphatically" than current incumbent Biden if she victories the election. She has displayed a firm stance on several issues, Taylor mentioned at an event at the American University in Kyiv. Biden has been more cautious in certain decisions, such as those regarding HIMARS, Abrams, and F-16 fighter jets. Currently, he is also approaching the issue of allowing Ukraine to conduct deep-rooted attacks into Russia with caution. Taylor foresees a "more emphatic" approach from Harris - also because she is likely to bring in a new foreign policy team to the White House.
00:27 Zelensky Thanks Estonia for Military AidUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomes Estonian President Alar Karis in Kyiv, expressing gratitude for Estonia's military aid. The Baltic EU and NATO member has committed to allocating 0.25% of its annual GDP to Ukraine for its defense needs. The talks also touched upon the nation's reconstruction and its EU aspirations. Simultaneously, the Latvian Prime Minister Eva Siliņa pledged further assistance during a meeting with Zelensky.
23:19 BND Not Required to Disclose Military Analysis to JournalistThe Federal Intelligence Service (BND) is not obliged to inform a journalist whether it judged a military victory for Ukraine as challenging or impracticable during background discussions, the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig ruled. The BND also does not have to disclose which media outlets were involved in these background discussions. However, the BND must provide information on the number of such confidential individual background discussions on the military situation in Ukraine this year. The journalist's request for a temporary injunction was mostly denied. The journalist, based on a daily newspaper, had submitted the emergency application. The court stated that the primary reason for this was a newspaper article from May, in which a CDU politician was quoted as alleging that the BND was deliberately disseminating a pessimistic evaluation of the military situation in Ukraine to influence public opinion.
22:06 Coalition Politicians Endorse Use of Long-Range Weapons Against Russia
Politicians from the traffic light coalition endorse the notion of Kyiv utilizing long-range weapons to strike military targets within Russia. SPD foreign policy expert Michael Roth, speaking to T-Online, advocates for attacking military sites in Russia with long-range Western missiles, asserting that targets such as airfields, command centers, and launch bases play a significant role in launching assaults on Ukrainian civilians. According to Roth, these bases are the most effective locations to curtail these attacks. The FDP's defense committee chairman, Marcus Faber, also supports the idea of utilizing long-range weapons like ATACMS and Storm Shadow to strike Russian military airports, which he considers essential for protecting the Ukrainian population. Green politician Anton Hofreiter underscores Russia's daily terrorization of the Ukrainian civilian population through rocket attacks on hospitals, residential buildings, and the energy supply, arguing that allowing the army to target military bases on Russian territory with long-range weapons is necessary to shield the population.
21:35 Vance Comments on Trump's Ukraine Ideas
As per Republican vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance, Donald Trump might propose creating a demilitarized zone between Ukraine and Russia to bring an end to the conflict between the two nations. During an interview with TV producer Shawn Ryan, Vance suggests that Trump could facilitate talks between Russians, Ukrainians, and Europeans to discover a viable peace settlement. Vance is optimistic about Trump's ability to reach a deal quickly, should he be elected. Trump is renowned for his friendly disposition towards Russian President Vladimir Putin and his criticisms of US support for Ukraine. However, he does not disclose any specifics regarding his peace plan.
21:03 "We are Russians. God is with us" - Fascist March in St. Petersburg
A multitude of Russian nationalists and extremists parade through St. Petersburg, proclaiming "We are Russians. God is with us." The chants continue, with "Forward, Russians!" being repeated countless times. The march is a tribute to the anniversary of the expedition of Alexander Nevsky's relics, viewed as a national hero and Orthodox Church saint.
20:28 Kremlin Propagandist: "The Ideal Barrier is the Atlantic"
Popular Russian TV host Vladimir Solovyov holds the belief that Russia should not stop at the annexation of Ukraine. Solovyov, a Kremlin propagandist, expresses his opinion that the Atlantic Ocean serves as the ideal boundary for Russia, with desirable locations for Russian troops being Berlin, Lisbon, Madrid, and even Paris. When reminded about the limited Russian population, he counters by mentioning the support of Belarusian brethren or potentially turning to China.
20:01 British Volunteers Prepare for Winter
In several Ukrainian homes still standing despite shelling, windows have been destroyed, leaving a disheartening scenario as winter approaches. The British NGO "Insulate Ukraine" has taken it upon itself to alleviate this situation by traveling to war zones and installing temporary windows.
You can find all previous developments [here].
The German Defense Minister Pistorius supports the use of long-range weapons by NATO partners against Russian targets, stating that international law permits this. Despite Putin's threats, Pistorius maintains that they are empty blusters.
The Czech artillery initiative, seeking funding from multiple Western partners, relies heavily on ammunition to support Ukraine globally. Russia's impact on the market is causing problems, as suggested by reports from Prague.
