Prisoner swaps are on the rise following the Kursk offensive event.
Recent frequent exchanges of prisoners of war between Ukraine and Russia might be related to the Ukrainian offensive in Kursk, which commenced on August 6. Since then, there have been three incidents resulting in a total of 267 prisoners being swapped from both sides, as per an analysis conducted by the think tank Institute for the Study (ISW). In contrast, between January 1 and August 6, the exchange of prisoners transpired only thrice, with over 400 Ukrainians and Russians being exchanged in total. Ukrainian authorities assert that the incursion into Kursk has enhanced Ukraine's negotiating power in exchanging prisoners of war with Russia, following the Kremlin's consistent refusal to negotiate on a prisoner exchange prior to this.
10:16 British: Russians continue to fortify their positions on the Eastern FrontThe Russian troops are continuously making ground on the Eastern Front in Ukraine. They have made gradual progress near Wuhledar and south-east of the logistics center Pokrovsk, as per the British Ministry of Defense. However, the Russians have not made significant progress towards Pokrovsk itself within the past week.
09:46 Ukraine experienced drone and missile attacksUkraine's air force alleges that it was attacked by Russia with 14 drones overnight. Ten of them were shot down by air defense, and an additional guided missile was intercepted. Additionally, Russia reportedly fired two ballistic missiles. The air force failed to provide information regarding the fate of these missiles or any resulting casualties or damage. Authorities in the Kharkiv region reported fires and damages to several buildings in the city of Kharkiv as a result of Russian shelling.
09:10 Concerns regarding facial recognition pay systems in Russian metro stationsThe expansion of a facial recognition payment system in Russian metro stations has garnered concerns from human rights activists. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports that the payment method named "Face Pay," which has been available in Moscow for three years, is now being introduced as an option in six other cities, including Kazan, with passengers able to register for the system since last month. To pay, they must simply look into a camera at the turnstile, as reported by Russian media. It is also planned to offer the method for all metro stations in Russia next year. The report by the radio network notes that surveillance cameras installed on Moscow streets have been used to detain individuals suspected of participating in government-critical protests, as well as journalists who reported on them. Lawyer Andrei Fedorkov, who works with the banned Russian human rights organization Memorial to support political prisoners, is concerned about the "significant" risks associated with the payment system, believing it could become another tool for the surveillance and control of citizens.
08:02 Russian air defenses intercept drones over various regionsThe Russian air defense intercepted 29 drones launched from Ukraine overnight, according to the Ministry of Defense in Moscow. Most of the drones were intercepted over the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine.
07:31 Stegner Defends Participation in Anti-Arms ProtestSPD foreign policy expert Ralf Stegner defends his planned appearance at a demonstration, where figures like Sahra Wagenknecht, co-founder of the Left Party, will also speak. He emphasizes that he is not joining anyone on stage and will express his views as a Social Democrat. He acknowledges that there will be other speakers whose views he does not share, and various calls whose content he does not endorse. "As long as fascists, anti-Semites, and racists are excluded, I can tolerate diverse opinions." The "nationwide peace demonstration" on October 3 in Berlin was called by an initiative named "Never Again War - Lay Down Your Arms." The initiative demands negotiations for the immediate cessation of wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and no weapons deliveries to Ukraine, Israel, or anywhere else. It also criticizes the SPD-led federal government's military buildup. Criticism of the demo came from SPD foreign policy spokesman Michael Roth, who said, "The fact that Russia and Hamas are not condemned as warmongers in any way is a disgrace." FDP MEP Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann commented on Stegner's planned appearance, "This is really harming his party and government."
07:03 Kharkiv Undergoing Constant ShellingKharkiv was bombarded again by the Russian military overnight, according to Ukrainian authorities. The regional governor reports that a building on a hospital campus was damaged, and a fire broke out at an educational institution after being struck by a rocket launcher. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Kharkiv is frequently shelled and is located only about 30 kilometers from the Russian border.
06:29 Evaluations of the Impact of the Ukrainian Counteroffensive in KurskThe Ukrainian counteroffensive appears to have tied down an increasing number of Russian personnel, according to the Institute for the Study of War. The offensive has forced the Russian military leadership to redeploy units from Ukraine to the Kursk region and deploy newly formed troops from Russia to Kursk instead of the front in Ukraine. At the beginning of the offensive in early August, there were 11,000 Russian soldiers stationed in the Kursk region, but the Ukrainians now estimate that there are between 30,000 and 45,000 soldiers present.
Ukraine is currently manufacturing 155-mm artillery shells, as confirmed by a Ukrainian official to the "Kyiv Independent". Oleksandr Kamyshin, a former Minister of Strategic Industries and now an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky, stated that production under his leadership has doubled and is set to triple by year's end.
03:04 Biden Aide: President to Continue Focus on Ukraine
US President Joe Biden intends to utilize the remaining duration of his presidency to bolster Ukraine's position in its conflict against Russia, according to Biden's national security advisor, Jake Sullivan. Addressing the Yalta European Strategy (YES) conference in Kyiv, Sullivan expressed Biden's ambition to provide Ukraine with the best possible circumstances for success in the subsequent four months.
01:43 Report: British Politicians Advocate for Ukraine to Deploy Long-Range Missiles in Russia
Five former British defense ministers and ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson are reportedly advocating for Labour leader Keir Starmer to approve Ukraine's usage of long-range missiles on Russian soil, without US support, according to the Sunday Times. They forewarned the current prime minister that any further delay would only embolden President Putin, as per the report.
00:52 Intelligence Chief: North Korea Poses Greatest Threat to Ukraine from Russia's Allies
Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov declared that North Korea presents the most significant threat to Ukraine among Russia's allies. Speaking at the Yalta European Strategy (YES) conference in Kyiv, Budanov remarked that "Of all these allies of Russia, North Korea is our biggest issue." North Korea's military support for Russia, including substantial ammunition supplies, significantly affects the intensity of the battles, Budanov acknowledged in response to a question about the support of Russia's allies like Iran and China. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had announced intentions to strengthen ties with Russia during his talks with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu on Friday. Kyiv is monitoring North Korea's weapon shipments to Moscow and is witnessing their impact on the battlefield. "There is a direct link. They're delivering enormous quantities of artillery, which is concerning," Budanov added. Read more here.
23:21 Ukraine: Russia to Face Recruitment Challenges by Mid-2025
Russia may confront recruitment difficulties by mid-2025, according to Ukraine. By summer 2025, the Moscow government will likely encounter a predicament, suggests Ukrainian spy chief Kyrylo Budanov in Kyiv - "either to declare mobilization or to somehow reduce the hostilities' intensity." This situation could potentially be crucial for Russia. The Moscow government has yet to issue a statement on this matter.
22:20 Scholz: Russian Attack on Ukraine 'Reckless'
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin for risking Russia's future by attacking Ukraine. "The war is reckless, even from Russia's perspective," he stated at a citizens' dialogue as an SPD member of the German Bundestag in Brandenburg's Prenzlau. For his imperialistic ambitions, Putin is dispatching masses of Russian soldiers to face severe injuries and death, and damaging Russia's economic relationships with numerous countries worldwide. "And Ukraine will have a stronger army than it had before," Scholz concluded. Germany will continue to support Ukraine militarily to prevent the invaded country from collapsing and to thwart a blatant breach of rules in Europe from succeeding. "Putin is jeopardizing Russia's future." A peaceful resolution can only be attained if Russia recognizes that Ukraine is not a vassal state.
22:01 Mixed Results in Battles for Kursk
Ukrainian forces are experiencing territorial gains while simultaneously losing ground to Russian counterattacks in their attempt to advance into the western Russian region of Kursk. According to the pro-government Ukrainian military channel Deep State, Ukrainian units have seized three additional settlements. However, Russian counterattacks have pushed Ukrainian troops back around the village of Snagost. A notable breach in Ukrainian defense lines appears on a map published by Deep State. These claims remain to be corroborated independently. In early August, Ukrainian forces entered the Russian border region of Kursk, claiming control over about 1,300 square kilometers and around 100 settlements, including the town of Sudcha. Observers suggest smaller territorial gains. This week, the Russian military attempted to expel Ukrainian troops for the first time seriously.
20:57 Scholz: Intends to Prosecute Nord Stream Pipeline Saboteurs in GermanyGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz considers the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines as a "terrorist act." He desires those responsible to be prosecuted in German courts. "I've made up my mind," Scholz mentioned during a citizens' dialogue as an SPD MP in Prenzlau, Brandenburg. "This decision is to instruct all security authorities and the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office to investigate relentlessly. Nothing will be hidden," he underlined. "We aim to bring those responsible, if we can catch them, to trial in a German court." Scholz also dismissed as "a huge, bogus claim" the assertion that the German government had abandoned Russian natural gas. It was Russia that had turned off the gas valve through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, he stated. The subsequent price surge, price caps, and search for alternative gas sources have cost Germany "over 100 billion euros." The pipeline explosions only occurred after Russia had already ceased supplying Western Europe through the Baltic Sea. In August, the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office issued the first arrest warrant against a Ukrainian citizen in relation to the sabotage incident.
20:24 G7 Criticizes Iranian Rocket Supplies to RussiaReports of Iran providing Russia with rockets have led the G7's economic heavyweights to strongly condemn the arms provision. Despite numerous international appeals to halt such deliveries, Tehran persists in arming Moscow, escalating Iran's military assistance for Russia's war against Ukraine, as stated by a joint statement by the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US, and the EU's High Representative. Russia is deploying Iranian weapons to kill Ukrainian civilians and attack crucial infrastructure. Recently, the UK and US alleged that Russia had received ballistic missiles from Iran. Tehran has denied these allegations. The statement, released under Italy's G7 presidency, reads: "Iran must immediately halt all support for Russia's unjust and illegal war against Ukraine and cease the provision of ballistic missiles, drones, and related technology, which pose a direct threat to the Ukrainian people and international security." The statement concludes, "We remain resolute in holding Iran accountable for its unacceptable support for Russia's unlawful war in Ukraine, which imperils global security." Germany, France, and the UK have already imposed new sanctions on Iran, and the EU is contemplating more severe penalties. Learn more here.
19:41 Kremlin Chief Putin Promotes Freedom of Speech ConceptPutin's jailed critics might find this amusing: Russian President Vladimir Putin stresses the significance of freedom of speech and information. "In a time when the complex process of multipolarity is emerging, it is particularly important to protect the principles of information reliability," he says in a video message to participants of the media summit of the Brics countries in Moscow, honoring the 120th anniversary of the state agency Tass. "True freedom of speech, allowing for different viewpoints, enables the search for compromises and common solutions to the world's problems," Putin continues. Media plays a pivotal role in constructing a fair world order, supplying individuals "with an impartial and unbiased view of the world." However, freedom of speech and media does not exist in Russia's authoritarian regime. Independent media have been outlawed and shut down, and government critics are persecuted by the justice system. Tass, Russia's largest news agency and a government-controlled organ, has existed since 1904, initially under different names and titles.
19:20 Scholz Opposes Delivery of Taurus Cruise MissilesChancellor Olaf Scholz has barred the delivery of long-range precision weapons to Ukraine in the future, regardless of decisions made by alliance partners. During a citizen dialogue in the Brandenburg town of Prenzlau, he reiterated his opposition to the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles, which have a range from Ukraine to Moscow (around 500 kilometers), highlighting that it "constitutes a massive escalation risk." "I said no to that. And that naturally applies to other weapons with similar ranges," says Scholz. "That remains the case. (.) Even if other countries make different decisions" (see also entry from 17:24). The farthest-reaching weapon Germany has supplied to Ukraine is the Mars II rocket launcher, which can hit targets 84 kilometers away.
You can review all previous developments [here].
- The Ukrainian conflict, specifically the frequent prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia, might be influenced by the ongoing Ukrainian offensive in Kursk.
- The Russian military's refusal to negotiate on a prisoner exchange prior to the Ukrainian offensive in Kursk had been a consistent issue, but since then, Ukraine's incursion into Kursk seems to have enhanced Ukraine's negotiating power in exchanging prisoners with Russia.
