Ukraine obtains 122 metric tonnes of ammunition from Slovakia, defying domestic political resistance.
12:28 Munition Delivery to Ukraine Funded by Slovak Charity Campaign
Over 122 metric tons of ammunition, financed by a Slovak charity drive, have reportedly been delivered to Ukraine, as stated by Slovak online newspaper "Noviny", attributing the source to campaign organizer Fedor Blascak. Six vehicles carrying the ammunition have reportedly entered Ukraine, with the Ukrainian military now in charge of distribution and utilization. The successful "Ammunition for Ukraine" fundraising drive garnered approximately 4.5 million euros in donations following the Slovak government's announcement, led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, declining to participate in the Czech artillery initiative. An estimated 70,000 Slovaks contributed to the charity drive.
11:58 Anticipated Biden Visit: Berlin Optimistic about Additional Military Aid to Ukraine
Germany anticipates an influential visit from US President Joe Biden during his state trip to Germany this Friday and Saturday, according to government sources. The scheduled Saturday meeting of the Ukraine support group at the US Ramstein Air Base in Rhineland-Palatinate is expected to deliver a "strong message" for further military assistance to Ukraine, the sources emphasized.
11:35 Suspected Embargo Violation: German Luxury Car Dealer Accused of Selling Vehicles to Russia
A German car dealer from Königswinter, near Bonn in North Rhine-Westphalia, is under suspicion of selling luxury cars to Russia, violating current sanctions. Authorities allege that the dealer sold over 4 million euros worth of vehicles to Russian buyers, according to the Prosecutor's Office in Bonn and Zollfahndungsamt Essen. The dealer purportedly disguised the sales as exports to third countries. Police seized two luxury cars and an account during a raid at the end of September. Investigations are ongoing.
10:56 Casualties in Russian Attack on Kharkiv
Twelve individuals were reportedly injured in a Russian attack on an industrial area in eastern Kharkiv, as confirmed by Governor Oleh Syniehubov via Telegram. Three victims are in critical condition, including a 16-year-old. Infrastructure was also affected, and a large fire broke out following the multiple strikes, reported Mayor Ihor Terekhov. Kharkiv, located along Russia's northern border, has been regularly shelled.
10:22 Continuing Fire at Crimea Oil Terminal, Reports of Additional Explosions
The oil terminal in Feodosia, Crimea, has been on fire for a second consecutive day, according to satellite data from NASA's Firms global fire monitoring system. The fire has grown to cover an area of 2,500 square meters, with Anton Geraschtschenko, former advisor to the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, confirming the developments on X. Reports suggest that further tank farms have exploded in the evening and nighttime hours. The Ukrainian army had announced yesterday that they had carried out a successful attack on the oil terminal near Feodosia overnight from Sunday to Monday. The terminal reportedly supplies energy products to both the Russian army and civilian markets in the region.
09:54 France to Deliver Mirage 2000 Fighter Jets to Ukraine in Early 2025
France will deliver its first batch of Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine in the first quarter of 2025, as announced by French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu on X. The jets will be outfitted with advanced air-to-ground combat capabilities and electronic warfare defense systems. French President Emmanuel Macron had previously vowed to provide Ukraine with an unspecified number of Mirage 2000-5 aircraft to boost its air defenses.
09:23 Russian Coal Industry Facing Severe Crisis
The Russian coal industry, a significant segment of the economy with tens of thousands of employees, is in crisis, according to the "Moscow Times". The loss of Western markets and a decrease in demand from friendly countries, coupled with substantial financial losses, have forced coal companies to reduce production. According to Rosstat, coal production in Russia decreased by 6.7% year-on-year in July 2022, reaching a low of 31.5 million tons since the pandemic. Western sanctions have been identified as a main contributor to the industry's problems, as reported by Janis Kluge of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.
08:51 Russia Accuses NATO of Planning for Military Confrontation
Moscow has once again accused NATO of planning an armed confrontation with Russia, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko to state-owned news agency RIA Novosti. NATO has supposedly stopped concealing its intentions to prepare for a potential military clash with Russia. NATO is reportedly developing regional defense plans, assigning specific tasks to all military commands, and constantly preparing for possible military actions against Russia. Military budgets are on the rise, and the economy is being militarized. In addition to aggressive rhetoric, NATO is continuously escalating tensions against Russia, Russia alleged, having invoked the possibility of NATO membership in Ukraine as a reason for its warfare in the region. In fact, NATO has expanded: Sweden and Finland have joined the alliance due to concerns over further Russian aggression.
North Korean soldiers are believed to be fighting alongside Russian troops in Ukraine, as per South Korean reports. According to South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, there's a high probability that the deaths of six North Korean military officers in eastern Ukraine are true, as reported by Ukrainian sources. Kim stated that agreements between Moscow and Pyongyang bear strong resemblances to a military alliance.
08:17 Special Celebration: Ukrainian Cyber Soldiers Allegedly Disrupt Russian Court SystemOn the birthday of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, cyber warriors from Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) are said to have collaborated with activists from the "VO Team" group to hack the Russian electronic court system, "Pravosudie." The "Kyiv Post" reports this, citing intelligence sources. Per their sources, the cyberattack disrupted the court operations, email systems, and official websites. As a result of the cyberattack, user data and internal documents were obtained from the system. Currently, Russians are reporting difficulties in filing complaints or checking court hearing dates, as the court websites are not functioning.
07:42 Russian News Portal: War Affects Putin Personally - No More Vacation in Sotchi ResidenceThe war against Ukraine is reportedly impacting Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin personally. The independent Russian media company Proekt reports that Putin has stopped visiting his Sotchi residence due to concerns about potential drone attacks. Despite spending at least 30 days a year in the Bocharow-Ruchey residence since its renovation for the 2014 Olympics in Sotchi, Putin has not been there since March. Proekt's investigation suggests that the Russian leader "feels a threat to his physical security" after several drone attacks on Sotchi last fall. A source close to Putin confirms this theory, according to Proekt. This concern also led Putin to forgo his tradition of celebrating the birthday of Alina Kabaeva, his long-time partner, and alleged mother of his two sons, in the Black Sea residence.
07:07 Governor Offers Record Reward to Russians to Join the ArmyThe governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, is offering a record-breaking bonus of 3 million rubles (about $31,200 USD) to anyone who enlists in the military from any Russian region. The "Moscow Times" reports this. The generic term "anyone" implies that the payments will be made to individuals from any Russian region who enlist in the Belgorod region, irrespective of their birthplace. "The total payment will amount to 3 million rubles from all sources: federal, regional, and municipal budgets, and extra-budgetary funds," Gladkov said. Russian authorities are currently making considerable efforts to encourage more Russians to join the military to replace high losses.
06:36 Governor: Russian Missile Strikes Civilian Ship in Odessa HarborLocal authorities report that a civilian ship with the Palau flag has been struck by a Russian missile in Odessa's port. A 60-year-old Ukrainian has died, and five foreign nationals have been injured, according to Telegram messages from regional governor Oleh Kiper. This is the second attack on a civilian ship in the ports of the Odessa region in recent days, Kiper added. Odessa's port is a significant hub, particularly for Ukrainian grain, and has been targeted by the Russian army on several occasions.
06:05 Harris: No Peace Talks with Putin Without Ukraine's InvolvementDemocratic US Vice President Kamala Harris has made it clear that she would not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss potential peace negotiations without Ukraine's involvement if she becomes president. "Ukraine must have a say in the future of Ukraine," Harris said in the CBS show "60 Minutes." The Biden administration has rejected any talks with Putin. Harris also criticized the Ukraine policy of her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, calling it a "surrender" to the Russian attack on Ukraine that began in February 2022. "Trump would be sitting in Kyiv if he were president," Harris said, referencing Trump's claim that he could end the war on his first day in the White House.
05:36 Russian Troops Advance on Eastern Ukrainian City of TorezThe Ukrainian military claims that Russian forces are advancing on the eastern Ukrainian city of Torez. "The situation is unstable, and fighting is occurring at every entrance to the city," Anastasia Bobownikova, spokesperson for the Operational Tactical Group "Luhansk," told Ukrainian state television. This advance follows less than a week after the fall of the nearby city of Vuhledar. Russia currently controls about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory and has been pushing towards Torez since August. The capture of the city would bring Russian President Vladimir Putin closer to his goal of capturing the Donbass. Ukrainian military analysts warn that the fall of Torez could endanger crucial supply routes for Ukrainian forces.
01:30 Russia Pursues Extradition of Two Italian Journalists A Russian judicial body has mandated the detention of two Italian journalists for reporting from the Ukrainian-governed sector of the Russian region of Kursk. A court in Kursk has issued a request for the extradition of Simone Traini and Stefania Battistini, who currently reside outside of Russia. These reporters from the state-owned Italian broadcaster RAI are alleged to have illegally penetrated the border from Ukraine to film a report in Kursk. Upon entering Russia, Traini and Battistini ventured towards the town of Sudzha in a vehicle belonging to the Ukrainian military, as per the court's statement via Telegram. If approved for extradition, the two journalists would be remanded to pre-trial detention, the court declared further. The duo faces a potential sentence of up to five years under the criminal code.
23:44 Zelensky Urges Allies to outline End-War Strategy Prior to the high-level Ukraine Contact Group gathering in Ramstein, President Volodymyr Zelensky implores allies to intensify weapons deliveries significantly. He maintains that the frontline necessitates sufficient supplies, brigade equipment, and long-range weaponry for the forthcoming autumn season to counter Russia and steer it towards peace. In Ramstein, he aims to persuade partners of the "imperative necessity for a substantial enhancement of our capabilities and positions," he underlines. "We invite our partners to define their vision for the culmination of this conflict, Ukraine's role in the global security architecture, and the collaborative actions that could end this conflict."
21:20 American Incarcerated in Russia Again for Alleged Officer Assault In the western Russian city of Voronezh, an American citizen who had previously served a prison term is sentenced to an additional seven years in a labor camp. Robert Gilman was incarcerated for multiple years in 2022 due to allegations of assaulting a police officer under the influence of alcohol. Inside prison, he is reported to have assaulted prison guards and an investigator, authorities claim. Russia has been detaining American citizens quite frequently in recent years.
20:50 Ukraine Records Bombing Incident in Kherson - Children Wounded As per local authorities, a Russian air strike on Kherson resulted in at least 20 injuries. The Russian military launched attacks on the city with KAB bombs, lodging strikes both near the coast and in the northern part of Kherson. Among the affected are two children, aged three and five, as per reports. At least six high-rise buildings reportedly sustained harm due to the blast waves, according to the regional prosecutor's office.
You can review all previous developments here.
After the successful delivery of ammunition to Ukraine, there are expectations for further military aid from Germany, with President Joe Biden's anticipated visit and the Ukraine support group meeting at the Ramstein Air Base.
The Ukrainian military, now in charge of distribution, is utilizing the ammunition delivered, while the German government is optimistic about additional military aid following Biden's visit.
