Russians are pushing forward on the Eastern Front, according to British reports at 10:16.
Russian Forces Continue Gaining Ground in Eastern Ukraine: Progress Near Wuhledar and Pokrovsk, But No Major Advances on Pokrovsk City Itself as per the British Defense Department's Update. The troops have been making consistent progress around Wuhledar and Pokrovsk's southeastern region. However, over the past week, there have been no substantial advancements in Pokrovsk city itself.
Ukraine Reports Multiple Drone and Missile Attacks at 09:46: Ukraine's air force claims to have encountered 14 Russian drone attacks overnight. Ten of these drones were successfully intercepted by air defense, while one guided missile was also blocked. Unfortunately, no details were provided about the fate of the remaining Russian missiles or any potential casualties or damage caused by these attacks. Moreover, Russian artillery fired two ballistic missiles, but their whereabouts and consequences remain undisclosed. Authorities in Charkiv reported fires due to Russian shelling and damage to several structures within the city of Charkiv.
Expansion of Face Recognition Payment System in Russian Subways Causes Human Rights Concerns (09:10): With the steady growth of the "Face Pay" system in Russian subways, human rights activists have expressed concerns. For the past three years, this payment method has been operational in Moscow and is now being introduced in six additional cities, including Kazan. Passengers can pay using facial recognition at turnstiles. The plan is to widespread the system to all Russian subways by next year. This expansion raises eyebrows due to earlier reports of using surveillance cameras on Moscow streets for apprehending individuals involved in government-critical protests and reporting journalists. Andrei Fedorkov, a human rights lawyer working with the banned Russian human rights organization Memorial, believes this payment system could potentially serve as another tool for surveillance and control over citizens.
07:31 Stegner's Planned Participation in Anti-Arms Protest Defended by SPD Foreign Policy Expert Ralf Stegner, an SPD foreign policy specialist, has confirmed his intention to participate in a demonstration led by Sahra Wagenknecht, the co-founder of the Left Party, among others. Stegner emphasizes that his attendance should not be perceived as an endorsement of all speakers' views. He clarifies that he only supports diverse opinions as long as fascists, anti-Semites, and racists are excluded. The protest, dubbed "national peace demonstration" in Berlin on October 3, demands ceasefires in Ukraine and Gaza, along with halting weapons exports to Ukraine, Israel, and other nations. The SPD-led federal government has criticized the initiative for failing to condemn Russia and Hamas as aggressors.
07:03 Kharkiv Under Russian Fire Once Again Ukrainian authorities report Russian bombardment of Kharkiv overnight. A hospital facility building was harmed, and a fire broke out in a learning institution after it was hit by a rocket launcher. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Kharkiv often suffers Russian shelling and is only around 30 kilometers away from Russia.
06:29 Ukraine's Counteroffensive Ties Up More Russian Troops in Kursk According to the Institute for the Study of War, the Ukrainian counteroffensive has put pressure on Russian soldiers, causing some to be redeployed from Ukraine to Kursk, and new troops from Russia have been sent to support the forces in Kursk instead of the Ukraine front. There were around 11,000 Russian soldiers stationed in Kursk during the offensive commencement in early August. Now, Ukraine estimates that the number of soldiers in Kursk has increased to 30,000 to 45,000.
Ukraine Begins Mass Production of 155-mm Artillery Shells (05:11): A Ukrainian official told "The Kyiv Independent" that Ukraine has officially started manufacturing 155-mm artillery shells. Oleksandr Kamyshin, a former minister of strategic industries and current external adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, stated that defense production has increased significantly under his leadership and will triple by the year's end.
U.S. President's National Security Advisor Outlines Biden's Focus on Ukraine for Remaining Term (03:04) Jake Sullivan, the U.S. President Joe Biden's national security advisor, declared that Biden will dedicate the remaining years of his presidency to strengthening Ukraine's position in its ongoing conflict with Russia. He emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine and placing it in a favorable position to succeed in the next four months.
Former British Politicians Urge Labour Leader to Authorize Ukraine to Deploy Long-Range Missiles on Russian Territory (01:43) Five former British defense ministers, including previous Prime Minister Boris Johnson, are reportedly pushing Labour leader Keir Starmer to allow Ukraine to deploy long-range missiles on Russian territory without backing from the United States. They warned of the potential consequences if this initiative was delayed further, stating that it would only embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Intelligence Chief Warns North Korea is Ukraine's Greatest Threat from Russia's Allies (00:52) The unnamed intelligence chief underlined that North Korea poses Ukraine's most significant danger among Russia's allies. The comment came during a discussion about potential collaborations between Russia and its allies during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Ukraine's intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov has stated that North Korea poses the most significant threat among Russia's allies. Budanov mentioned during the Yalta European Strategy (YES) conference in Kyiv, "Out of all Russia's allies, North Korea is our major issue." Budanov further explained that North Korea's military aid to Russia, including large quantities of ammunition, is intensifying the fighting. The Ukrainian government is tracking Pyongyang's weapons shipments to Moscow and feeling their impact on the battlefield. Budanov added, "There's a direct connection. They're delivering enormous amounts of artillery, which is a concern."
23:21 Ukraine: Russia May Face Recruitment Challenges by Mid-2025
Budanov has also stated that Russia could face recruitment problems by mid-2025. He mentioned during a conference in Kyiv, "By summer 2025, the Moscow government will be faced with a choice: either to declare mobilization or to somehow reduce the intensity of the hostilities." This could be decisive for Russia. Moscow has not yet commented on this.
22:20 Scholz: Russian Attack on Ukraine is 'Utterly Foolish'
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of risking Russia's future by attacking Ukraine. During a citizens' dialogue as an SPD member of the German Bundestag in Prenzlau, Brandenburg, Scholz stated, "The war is utterly foolish from Russia's perspective." For his imperialistic dreams, Putin is sending hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers to heavy injuries and death, and destroying Russia's economic relations with many countries around the world. "And Ukraine will have a stronger army than it did before," Scholz added. Germany will continue to support Ukraine militarily to prevent the invaded country from collapsing and to ensure that a blatant breach of the rules in Europe does not succeed. "Putin is ruining his country's future." A peaceful solution can only be achieved if Russia acknowledges that Ukraine is not a vassal state.
22:01 Shifting Successes Reported in Battles for Kursk
Ukrainian forces are having both gains and losses in their advance into the western Russian region of Kursk. According to the pro-government Ukrainian military channel Deep State, Ukrainian units have captured three more settlements. However, Russian counterattacks are pushing Ukrainian troops back around the village of Snagost. A map published by Deep State shows a breach in Ukrainian defensive lines. These reports are yet to be independently verified. In early August, Ukrainian troops entered the Russian border region of Kursk, claiming control of around 1,300 square kilometers and about 100 settlements, including the town of Sudcha. Observers suggest smaller territorial gains. This week, the Russian military made its first serious attempt to expel Ukrainian troops.
21:41 USA: Delays in Ukraine Aid Due to "Logistical" Challenges
US officials have mentioned that the delays in US military aid to Ukraine are due to complex logistics. During a video appearance at the Yalta European Strategy (YES) conference in Kyiv, Jake Sullivan, the national security advisor to the White House, stated, "This is not a question of political will. This is a question of tough and intricate logistics to deliver this material to the front." Despite the challenges, Sullivan acknowledged that the US must "do more and better" for Ukraine. US President Joe Biden is determined to use his remaining time in office to "put Ukraine in the best possible position to win." Sullivan announced that Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet at the UN General Assembly in New York later this month.
20:57 Scholz: Wants to Prosecute Nord Stream Pipeline Saboteurs in Germany
Scholz has described the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline's pipes in the Baltic Sea as a "terrorist act." During a citizens' dialogue as an SPD MP in Brandenburg's Prenzlau, Scholz stated, "We want to bring those responsible to trial in Germany." Scholz instructed all security agencies and the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office to investigate without any bias. He further added, "We want to bring those we can apprehend to a German court." Scholz dismissed the claim that the German government had stopped using Russian natural gas as a "big, fat lie." It was Russia that had turned off the gas tap through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, leading to a price explosion, state-capped prices, and a search for alternative gas supplies, costing Germany "over 100 billion euros." The pipeline explosions occurred after Russia had already stopped supplying Western Europe through the Baltic Sea. In August, the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office issued the first arrest warrant against a Ukrainian citizen for the sabotage act.
20:24 G7 Slams Iran for Supplying Rockets to Russia's ConflictReports pointing towards Iran supplying Russia with rockets have led to strong condemnation from the G7, a group of major democratic nations. Despite numerous international pleas to cease such deliveries, Iran persists in arming Russia, intensifying Iran's military backing for Russia's war against Ukraine. This is according to a joint statement from the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US, and the EU's foreign policy chief. Russia allegedly uses these Iranian weapons to kill Ukrainian civilians and attack vital infrastructure. Lately, the UK and US have claimed that Russia acquired ballistic missiles from Iran, a claim which Tehran denies. The statement issued under Italy's G7 presidency reads, "Iran must promptly halt all backing for Russia's unlawful and unjustified war against Ukraine and cease the provision of ballistic missiles, drones, and related technology. These pose an immediate threat to the Ukrainian people and European and global security." They remain steadfast in their aim to hold Iran accountable for its unacceptable support for Russia's illegal war in Ukraine, which undermines global security. Germany, France, and the UK have already imposed new sanctions on Iran, and the EU is considering harsher measures. Check out more here.
19:41 Kremlin Chief Putin Puts Emphasis on Freedom of SpeechDespite the irony of it for his imprisoned critics, Russian President Vladimir Putin highlights the significance of freedom of speech and information. "Given the ongoing progress of multipolarity, it's crucial to safeguard the principles of information credibility," Putin says in a video message to the Brics countries' media summit in Moscow, on the occasion of TASS's 120th anniversary. "Authentic freedom of speech encouraging various viewpoints fosters the search for compromises and shared solutions to global issues," he adds. Media plays a significant role in establishing a just world order, offering people an unbiased and accurate portrayal of the world. However, freedom of speech and media have been absent in authoritarian Russia for years. Independent media outlets have been prohibited and closed down, and government opponents have faced judicial persecution. Established in 1904, initially under different names, TASS is now Russia's largest news agency and serves as the government's public voice.
19:20 Scholz Reiterates No to Taurus Cruise Missile DeliveryGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz has maintained his stance against delivering long-range precision weapons to Ukraine, both at present and in the future, regardless of the decisions made by coalition partners. During a citizen dialogue in Prenzlau, Brandenburg, he reiterated his opposition to providing Taurus cruise missiles, which have a range reaching from Ukraine to Moscow (approximately 500 kilometers), stating that this would escalate the risk significantly. Scholz said, "I expressed my disapproval. And that, of course, applies to other weapons capable of hitting targets at such distances if we had provided them." He added, "This remains the case. Even if other nations take different actions." The farthest Ukrainian target Germany has supplied is the Mars II rocket launcher, which can strike targets up to 84 kilometers away.
You can review all previous developments [here].
The British Defense Department has reported continued advancements by Russian Forces in eastern Ukraine, specifically around Wuhledar and Pokrovsk's southeastern region, although there have been no substantial gains in Pokrovsk city itself. However, this situation could potentially change if the military continues its operations.
Given the ongoing conflict and Russian advances, the Ukrainian government is looking to enhance its capabilities, including the mass production of 155-mm artillery shells to strengthen its defense against Russian forces. This development could impact the balance of power in the region.
