U.S. Expresses Anxiety Over Potential Absence of American Personnel to Maintain Military Equipment in Ukraine.
The Biden Administration nixes plan to dispatch American civilians to Ukraine to maintain Western military equipment, including F-16 fighter jets, as reported by the "Washington Post". This debate about sending U.S. civilians to a war-torn country battling Russian forces has been simmering since the war's inception. With the belated arrival of F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine, the issue has gained traction. The first six of the promised 80 F-16s touched down in Ukraine at the end of July. "Behind the scenes, intelligence agencies are apprehensive about Russia potentially targeting American contractors in Ukraine," a U.S. official admitted.
16:14 Concerns for Maria Kolesnikova: Belarusian opposition labels prison treatment as "medieval brutality"The Belarusian opposition is expressing worry over the wellbeing of jailed opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova. "The information we've received from her fellow inmates about Maria Kolesnikova is agitating," stated Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the exiled opposition leader of Belarus, on X. Kolesnikova now tips the scales at only 45 kg, is emaciated, and endures inhumane conditions in perpetual isolation. Tikhanovskaya accuses the prison authorities of "medieval atrocities" and "slow, deliberate execution" of the well-known government critic.**
15:36 Weaponry production: Ukrainian officials meet with American, British, French, and German security advisorsA Ukrainian delegation, headed by Economy Minister Julia Svyrydenko and Andriy Yermak, the Presidential Office leader, is meeting with American, British, French, and German security advisors in Washington, according to "Kyiv Independent". Topics of discussion include joint weapon production, potential Western investments in the Ukrainian defense industry, and specifically the need to bolster Ukrainian air defense and secure the energy system further, the Presidential Office stated. "This is a critical juncture where we need to exert maximum effort to aid Ukraine in achieving victory. It's imperative to utilize this moment judiciously," Yermak asserted.**
14:56 Moscow masks conflict behind festivities and celebrationsThe war between Ukraine and Russia is persistently raging on the frontlines. But Moscow's populace remains oblivious to the drone strikes, burning oil depots, and civilian casualties. ntv correspondent Rainer Munz reveals how the city is attempting to conceal the conflict by every means.**
14:25 Ukraine: Multiple fatalities following Russian assault on Chasiv YarAt least five civilians lost their lives in a Russian barrage on the city of Chasiv Yar on the frontline in the Donetsk region, as confirmed by the Ukrainian governor of the region, Vadym Fillaschkin, on Telegram. The deceased were aged 24 to 38. The mayhem erupted in the early morning hours, with projectiles striking a private residence and a high-rise building.**
13:53 Post-Russian Attack, Kharkiv pays tribute to the deceasedFollowing a Russian bombardment on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, survivors and relatives are mourning the victims. As per the governor of the Kharkiv region, Oleg Synegubov, seven people perished and 97 individuals, including over 20 minors, were injured in the Friday evening raid. The youngest casualty was just ten months old.**
13:28 Ukrainian Defense Minister Regrets Air Force Chief's Dismissal"I'd probably say it's a rotation, but it's regrettable," said Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Ummerov in an interview with CNN, in response to inquiries regarding the dismissal's connection to the fighter jet's loss. He emphasized that the two issues are distinct and stressed that the investigation into the root cause is ongoing. "I don't want to speculate," he concluded.**
13:03 Danish Prime Minister: No Working Alternative to Ukraine's Triumph in Conflict Against RussiaAccording to "European Pravda," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated during the GLOBSEC conference in Prague that Ukraine should triumph in its conflict against Russia. "It's an inevitable outcome. There's no alternative to Ukraine emerging victorious. Because if Russia wins, not only will Ukraine suffer defeat, but so will we," she is quoted as saying. Frederiksen also underscored that there is almost unanimous agreement on this issue within the European Union. "Europe has never been as united as it is now (...). Sometimes we have internal disagreements (...) But it's 26 against one," the "European Pravda" quotes Frederiksen, referring to all of Europe versus Russia.**
12:15 Russia Declares Control Over Kirove in Donetsk RegionRussian forces have supposedly seized the village of Kirove in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, according to the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow. Russian forces have been making slow yet steady headway on the frontlines in the east. Donetsk, together with Luhansk, forms the industrially significant Donbass. The two regions, alongside Zaporizhzhia and Kherson farther south in Ukraine, were allegedly annexed by Russia in September 2022, despite Russian troops not having complete control of them. Ukraine intends to reclaim all territories – including the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed in 2014 and lies far south of Kherson.**
11:45 Russian Region of Belgorod Under Ukrainian Fire, Governor Reports CasualtiesUkrainian forces have targeted the Russian region of Belgorod close to the Ukrainian border, as per Russian reports. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported fatalities and injuries via his Telegram channel. A city strike in Belgorod around 11 PM led to three deaths and over 30 injuries, with three children included among the injured, according to Gladkov. Over a dozen buildings and 47 cars were reportedly damaged.
11:10 Moldovan Elections Facing Russian Disinformation, Says ExpertMoldova will hold presidential elections on October 20 and a referendum on EU membership constitutionalization, with 2.5 million residents participating. Brigitta Triebel, head of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung office in Chisinau, claims Russia is trying to manipulate the elections through disinformation and false news. "Russians propagate, 'If you prefer to avoid a conflict like Ukraine, vote for pro-Russian parties,'" Triebel says, exploiting citizens' anxieties.
10:49 Ukraine Intercepts 24 Russian Drones in 24 Hours, Air Force ReportsThe Ukrainian air force claims it intercepted 24 Russian drones, as Russian forces launched 52 drones at Ukrainian targets overnight Friday into Saturday. Eight regions of Ukraine were affected by this attack, with 25 drones crashing on their own and three intruding into Russia and Belarus. No casualties or major damages have been reported. Kyiv saw four drone attacks this week, and all drones targeting the city were intercepted.
10:16 Alleged Ukrainian Attack on Russian Military Convoy in Kursk Obtained by Russian BloggersRussian military bloggers shared a video on Telegram, supposedly demonstrating an attack on a Russian military convoy at the entrance of the Swannoje village in the Kursk region. The video shows destroyed vehicles and a collapsed bridge over the Seym River in Kursk.
09:34 Ukrainian Shelling Reported in Russian Shebekino CityAuthorities in Shebekino, a city in Belgorod, report Ukrainian shelling injuries to a woman on Saturday. Shebekino lies near the border with Ukraine.
09:00 Ukraine Publishes Losses of Russian Troops in UkraineAccording to the Ukrainian General Staff, Russia has lost around 614,950 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, and 1,360 in the past 24 hours. Apart from the troops, eight tanks, 42 artillery systems, and 18 drones were reportedly destroyed during this period. Since starting the large-scale invasion, Russia has lost 8,582 tanks, 17,614 artillery systems, 368 aircraft, 328 helicopters, 14,471 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine, as per Ukraine. Western estimates put the losses lower.
08:35 Alleged Ukrainian Attack on Belgorod Kills Five in RussiaAccording to local authorities in Belgorod, five people were killed, and 46 were injured in a Ukrainian attack around 11 PM. 37 people were hospitalized, including seven children, led by the Belgorod region governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov. A video, apparently from a dashboard camera and circulating on social media, reveals an explosion after another car is blown up. However, independent verification of such claims and footage cannot be guaranteed.
07:48 Independent Russian Media Report at Least 66,471 Russian Soldiers Killed in UkraineAccording to Russian independent media outlet Mediazona, at least 66,471 Russian soldiers have perished in Ukraine. The report covers soldiers' names found through open-source research by Mediazona and BBC News Russian. The actual number of losses could be higher, as only the identified cases are included in this report. Ukraine claims over 600,000 Russian soldier fatalities, with similar figures from Western estimates, though these are likely minimum figures.
07:15 Death Toll Rises to 7 After Russian Attack on Kharkiv, UkraineSeven individuals have died, and 97 were injured, including over 20 minors, in Kharkiv following a Russian attack on the city, according to Oleg Synegubov, the governor of the Kharkiv region, via Telegram. A D-30 SM-Lenkluftbombe attack targeted a children's playground and a 12-story residential building in Kharkiv, causing a fire that continued into Saturday morning.
06:27 ISW: Russian Public's Discontent with Putin Hits Record LowAs per data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia's population is growing discontented with their government and President Vladimir Putin following the Ukrainian incursion into the Russian region of Kursk. A survey by the state-run Public Opinion Foundation reveals that 28% of respondents are unhappy with the Russian authorities' actions post-incursion. Citing statistics from the state-run Center for Public Opinion Research (VCIOM), Putin's approval rating has dipped by 3.5 percentage points to 73.6% during the last week of August, marking an all-time low since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. ISW points out that these polls show a rise in societal dissatisfaction since the Kursk region's incursion by Ukraine.
05:40 Colombia's Citizens in Russian Custody for Aiding UkraineRussia's security service FSB has reportedly detained two Colombian citizens who allegedly fought for Ukraine. Alexander Ante and Jose Aron Medina were handed over by Venezuela following their capture by local authorities during a layover in Caracas before returning to Colombia. Spanish media speculates that the two men joined the International Legion during the summer of 2023. They were apprehended at Caracas airport in mid-July. FSB-obtained evidence shows their involvement in the conflict and Ukrainian military attire.
04:47 Pavel: Russian Push towards Pokrovsk Unrelated to Ukrainian Kursk OperationsCzech President Petr Pavel believes that Russia's advance near Pokrovsk in the Donetsk Oblast doesn't link to Ukrainian operations in the Russian Kursk Oblast. Pavel believes there's no direct relationship between the rapid progress of Russian forces on the Pokrovsk front and Ukraine's actions in Kursk, as he shared with Radio Liberty. "The Russian administration is determined to annex the territories of all four oblasts – Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Kherson – that they consider their own during a favorable weather period for military engagements," Pavel explained, according to "Ukrainska Pravda".
03:47 Stoltenberg: Ukrainian Kursk Advance is JustifiedNATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has deemed the Ukrainian incursion into the Russian border region of Kursk as legitimate. Ukraine has a right to defend itself, Stoltenberg emphasized to Welt am Sonntag newspaper. He further clarified that international law does not limit this right beyond the border. Regarding allegations of prior warning from the West regarding Russian territory attacks, Stoltenberg stated that Ukraine did not consult NATO regarding the Kursk advance, and NATO had no role in the matter.
02:48 Ukraine Accuses Russia of Broad Deployment of Chemical WeaponsSince the commencement of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, over 4,000 chemical weapons usage incidents have been reported on the frontlines, as per Ukrainian authorities, according to the "Kyiv Independent". Over 3,100 of these instances were documented from December 2023, indicating a substantial increase in chemical weapon deployment compared to the approximately 600 instances in January. A Ukrainian-compiled record shows a peak in reported cases in May 2024, with a record high of 715 incidents, after which the number declined gradually during the summer months. No data is available for August.
01:49 ICC Demands Putin's Arrest during Mongolia TripAn International Criminal Court (ICC) representative, Fadi el-Abdallah, has informed the BBC that, as a member state, Mongolia is obligated to enforce the arrest warrant issued against Russian President Vladimir Putin during his September 3 visit to the country. As an ICC member that has ratified the Rome Statute, Mongolia is required to detain Putin upon his arrival in their territory. The ICC issued the arrest warrant against Putin in March 2023 for alleged forced deportation of children from Russian-occupied Ukrainian regions.
00:33 Biden-von der Leyen Video Call Commemorating Russian Invasion AnniversaryEU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasizes the importance of strong transatlantic ties, regardless of the November US presidential election outcome, at the Czech and Slovak Transatlantic Prize (CSTA) ceremony. During her acceptance speech at the Globsec security conference in Prague, von der Leyen recalls a video call with US President Joe Biden on the first day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine (February 2022). "We agreed on our response to Putin's war," says von der Leyen. Europe and America reaffirmed their commitment to "standing together on the right side of history."
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23:19 Russian Death Toll After Ukrainian Attack on BelgorodAt least five people have lost their lives in recent Ukrainian attacks on the Russian border region of Belgorod, as reported by Russian sources. A woman and four men were killed instantly, according to regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, disseminating information via the Telegram messaging service. Thirty-seven others sustained injuries. Ukraine reportedly used cluster munitions and launched multiple rocket attacks on Belgorod and the surrounding region.
22:01 Ukraine Seeks AI for Drone Swarms and Economical Rocket TechUkraine aims to collaborate with weapon manufacturers in designing AI for drone swarms and affordable rockets to counteract Russian suicide drones, stated Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov at the Globsec Forum in Prague. Throughout the entire Russian incursion, both Ukraine and Russia have significantly invested in drone technology, transforming contemporary warfare. As per Fedorov, Ukrainian soldiers now encounter various obstacles such as Russian hardware, infantry, ammunition depletion, suicide drones, and reconnaissance drones. To tackle these issues, Ukrainian military employs cost-effective first-person-view drones (FPV), reconnaissance drones, small air defense systems, and locally produced long-range drones for attacking Russian objectives, according to Fedorov. "What are the forthcoming challenges requiring your assistance? How can you establish an efficient laser guidance system, how can you develop AI for drone swarms, how can you produce Ukrainian HIMARS, how can you manufacture economical Ukrainian rockets to down Shaheds?" asks Fedorov.
21:32 Ukraine Acquires Crucial Artillery ShellsThe Ukraine is obtaining its initial allocation of howitzer ammunition from the US-European coalition. This was revealed by the Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky in Brussels. 155-mm artillery shells are critically needed on the battlefield. "The Czech ammunition initiative is keeping its promise and by year-end we will deliver half a million high-caliber projectiles. Around 100,000 pieces were delivered each in the summer months of July and August," says Lipavsky.
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The Biden Administration has decided against sending American civilians to maintain Western military equipment in Ukraine due to concerns about potential Russian targeting of American contractors.
With the arrival of F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine, there have been growing concerns among intelligence agencies about Russia potentially targeting American contractors in the country.
