Wagenknecht and Wadephul commend Woidke, Voigt, and Kretschmer for their endeavor in Ukrainian matters.
15:30 Eastern Politicians' Ukraine Appeal Facing Backlash: "Values Swapped for Power Advancement"
The collective Ukraine stance advocated by Saxony and Brandenburg's leaders, Michael Kretschmer and Dietmar Woidke, along with Thuringian CDU chairman Mario Voigt, has garnered widespread criticism for their approach on Ukraine policy. However, positive feedback is received from BSW chairwoman Sahra Wagenknecht. She described their joint statement as "a thoughtful and subtle approach" in an interview with the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung". Furthermore, CDU foreign policy expert Johann Wadephul endorsed the proposition, affirming its adherence to fundamental norms: acknowledging Russia's violation of international law, their strong alliance with the EU and NATO, and a resolution only consistent with the UN Charter. Wadephul interpreted the guest article as an "ambitious attempt to establish a connection for potential coalition discussions while preserving individual beliefs". The alliance of CDU and SPD members engaging in this endeavor sends a "strong message."
15:30 Criticism Pours in Over Eastern Politicians' Ukraine Proposal: "Values Swapped for Power Advancement"
CDU leader Friedrich Merz criticized the urgent call for diplomatic endeavors to settle the conflict between Russia and Ukraine by prominent eastern politicians. "Ukraine is battling for its survival. Our continued support is essential for our own interests. Peace negotiations can only occur when both parties are willing", Merz explained to the "Süddeutsche Zeitung". Merz was joined in his criticism by the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag, Michael Roth. "I advise caution towards the letter from the three prospective ministers if it was intended as a prelude to coalition negotiations with the BSW", Roth warned, referring to Wagenknecht's alliance and recent election results. FDP MEP Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann told the "Rheinische Post": "It seems to me that our nation's liberal values are being exchanged for temporary power and political campaigning."
15:05 Postmortem of Suspicious Norway "Spy Whale": "Bacterial Infection Likely Cause of Death"
Contrary to rumors by animal rights advocates, the Norwegian "spy whale" was not intentionally harmed. Doctors conducting an autopsy concluded that "the likely cause of death was a bacterial infection". This might stem from an injury in the mouth that the police mentioned in their analysis of the autopsy report. Experts from the Norwegian Veterinary Institute and police forensics found no evidence of gunshot wounds or other foreign objects on the whale.
14:33 Renewed Drone Attacks: Kyiv Reports Damage
Ukraine's air force claims they came under attack by Russian drones during the night, targeting crucial infrastructure. The air force maintains that they shot down nine of 19 drones and disrupted seven more through electronic interference. Incidentally, the fate of the remaining three drones remains uncertain. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko declared that a residential building was damaged in the capital, causing a swift fire extinguishing. Moreover, in the southern area of Kherson, the regional governor reported recurring attacks on vital infrastructure, utility facilities, and 35 private homes on the previous day, resulting in one death and four injuries.
14:04 Kremlin: "Kyiv Persists in Playing with Fire"
"Kyiv persists in playing with fire, and we will certainly bring this matter to the attention of the IAEA representatives", Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said to Reuters, referring to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear oversight agency. Yesterday, Russian forces claimed to have intercepted a Ukrainian drone near the Kursk nuclear power plant, and certain newsgroups reported a fire several miles away. Previously, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhyi denied allegations that Ukraine had launched weapons near the power plant.
13:46 France Dispatches 12 Caesar Howitzers to Ukraine
The Franco-German defense consortium KNDS has secured a contract for the delivery of 12 Caesar howitzers, financed by Ukraine, as per the statement of French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu on social media platform X. Caesar represents "Artillery Equipment on a Truck". This autonomous artillery system is capable of striking targets up to 55 kilometers away. Lecornu added: "Boosting the production capacity of our defense industry is integral to supporting Ukraine." France has previously supplied Ukraine with Caesar howitzers on multiple occasions.
13:11 Ukraine: Assault Wipes Out FSB Headquarters in NovosibirskAn assault on the headquarters of the Russian domestic security service FSB in Novosibirsk took place on October 3. A clip from the Ukrainian military intelligence agency supposedly shows a man initiating the blaze and succumbing to it himself. Russian news outlets confirm the fire.
12:34 Russia: Nuclear Plant Staffer Killed by Car Bomb ExplosionAn official in charge of a Russian-controlled Ukrainian nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhia, was killed in a car bomb explosion. The Ukrainian security agency shared a clip showing a car explosion and declared that the "nuclear power plant's security chief," Andriy Korotky, passed away. Korotky was accused of being a "war criminal" who "voluntarily collaborated with the Russian invaders" and denounced pro-Ukrainian nuclear plant workers, as explained by the Ukrainian security agency. The nuclear power plant administration in Russia-aligned hands confirmed Korotky's death and referred to it as a "terrorist attack ordered by Kyiv." The director of the nuclear power plant, Yuri Chernichuk, called the event a "reckless" act that "must be punished." The Russian Investigative Committee claimed an explosive device was placed beneath Korotky's car at his home and detonated as he drove away.
12:02 Munz: Putin Wants to Show "That the Conflict is Worthwhile"After the capture of the Vuhledar city in eastern Ukraine, the Russian military is expected to intensify operations in the region, says Rainer Munz. The Russia expert also explains the reasons behind Putin's increasing appointment of war veterans to official positions.
11:29 Ukraine: Over 177 Ukrainian Prisoners of War Die in Russian CaptivitySince the commencement of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, at least 177 Ukrainian captives have lost their lives in Russian captivity, according to Victoria Tsymbaliuk of the Ukrainian coordination center for prisoners of war at the "Kyiv Independent." Tsymbaliuk suggests that the actual number of deaths in Russian captivity could be substantially higher due to the absence of international monitoring. "Not all bodies are returned, and many are not even acknowledged as being prisoners of war by Russia," she explains. Reports of Ukrainian captives being tortured or executed in Russian captivity have appeared. In September, the Prosecutor General's Office reported that criminal proceedings were initiated against the execution of 84 Ukrainian captives.
11:00 Ukraine: Russians Attack Kirowohrad Region with DronesRussian forces targeted the Kirowohrad region in central Ukraine with drones, the head of the regional military administration, Andriy Raykovych, reported on his Telegram channel. According to him, a building of an enterprise in Holovanivsk was damaged in the drone attack, injuring one person.
10:27 Insurance Provider UNIQA Exits RussiaThe Austrian insurance provider UNIQA has concluded the sale of its Russian subsidiary to the Russian life insurer Renaissance Life. The price was not disclosed. UNIQA announced over a year ago that it intended to sell the joint insurance subsidiary with the Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) to the Russian life insurer Renaissance Life. "With the completion of the transaction, we are finally leaving the Russian market," says UNIQA board member Wolfgang Kindl.
09:55 Massive Fires Rage in Two Russian Fuel Depots
Fires have broken out in two Russian fuel depots overnight. In the Voronezh region (see entry 05:10), Governor Alexander Gusev attributes the fire to a Ukrainian drone strike. He wrote on Telegram that fragments of an intercepted combat drone fell into the depot and set an empty tank alight. Videos of the suspected drone strike were shared on social media, but the extent of the fire could not be determined. Meanwhile, a fuel tank is burning on an area of 10,000 square meters in a Russian village near Perm in the Ural region. The Russian Emergency Ministry reported this. Although they did not mention a drone strike, Ukrainian drones are now capable of such distances. The village is approximately 1,700 kilometers away from Ukraine.
09:30 Julia Navalnaya Regards Negotiations with Putin as Unproductive
Julia Navalnaya has dismissed the possibility of negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin as unproductive. "It's not worth discussing with him (...). We need to fight him so that one day justice will prevail," the ex-wife of Russian dissident Alexey Navalny told the French Constitutional Council in Paris. "The West doesn't understand that Putin doesn't wait for someone to come and talk to him. (...) He doesn't care," she added. She emphasized the importance of "not giving up and not being afraid of this regime." In July, she was placed on a list of "terrorists and extremists" in Russia. Shortly before, a Russian court had issued an arrest warrant against her for "participation in an extremist organization." She was also placed on a wanted list for evading preliminary investigations.
08:58 Ukraine Publishes Figures on Russian Losses
The Ukrainian General Staff has released new figures for Russian troop losses in Ukraine. According to them, Russia has lost around 657,940 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, including 1,230 in the past 24 hours. The report from Kyiv also states that 15 tanks, 59 artillery systems, and 101 drones were destroyed. Overall, Russia has lost 8,908 tanks, 18,965 artillery systems, 368 aircraft, 328 helicopters, 16,494 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine, according to Ukraine. Estimates from the West suggest lower losses, but these are also likely to be underestimates.
Russian attacks on Sumy region in eastern Ukraine have occurred 82 times within the last 24 hours, as reported by the regional military administration via Telegram. Consequences from these assaults include injuries to eight individuals. The assailants are said to have utilized mortars, artillery, rocket launchers, guided bombs, and drones to carry out these attacks. Over ten communities in Sumy have been impacts, including Mykolajiw, Chotyn, Junakiwka, Myropillja, Bilopillja, Richkyivka, Krasnopillja, Velika Pysarivka, Nova Sloboda, Hluchiw, Shalyhyne, Esman, and Seredyna-Buda. The Sumy region shares borders with Russia's regions of Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod.
07:33 Ukraine Establishes Initial Military Recruitment Center in PolandThe Ukrainian military has established the first recruitment center overseas, situated in the Polish city of Lublin. The Ukrainian Legion recruiting office is under the charge of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, meeting the plan to establish a Ukrainian Legion in Poland, as agreed upon in July by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Since the Russian invasion, Poland has accepted nearly one million individuals from Ukraine. Estimates by the Ukrainian government suggest that around 300,000 individuals of combat age from Ukraine live in Poland. Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz clarifies that Poland is not accountable for the recruitment of Ukrainian volunteers, with their military training being the sole responsibility of Poland. Kosiniak-Kamysz has mentioned that the number of Ukrainian volunteers to sign up is currently inadequate.
06:52 ISW: Russian Forces Tap Out of Resources for Offensive in Eastern UkraineThe Russian military has reportedly exceeded its personnel and material resources for the indefinite sustainment of the intensified offensive operations in Eastern Ukraine, as reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The Russian summer offensive was prepared by the military command since months in advance. However, the reserves and resources accumulated for this purpose have likely been significantly depleted by the recent battles, according to ISW. As earlier assessed by Ukrainian officials and ISW, the current offensive in Eastern Ukraine is expected to peak in the upcoming months, possibly weeks.
06:12 Zelensky Insists on Reinforcing Front Line and Requesting Authorization to Target Russian TerritoriesUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praises the visit of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to Kyiv, only two days after his inauguration, and expresses enthusiasm towards fulfilling the initiatives initiated by the Ukrainian-partner interactions. He emphasizes the need for supporting Ukraine's defense and executing all defense-support promises made by partners, referring to broken or half-executed pledges. "The front line must be reinforced," the President states, in conjunction with his demand of authorization to utilize long-range weapons against Russian military targets. He also mentions the need for air defense capabilities.
05:35 Ukraine Seeks Foreign Investment for Defense IndustryThe Ukrainian Ministry of Defense encourages foreign investment for its defense industry, arranging an arms exhibition for potential international investors, as reported by Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform. Deputy Minister Dmytro Klimenkov showcases a variety of Ukrainian weapons, such as an anti-tank missile system, self-propelled artillery, unmanned drones, and mine-clearing vehicles. "We have distinctive innovations that have already been tested in combat and refined by inventors to a certain standard," he stated. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has previously invested over four billion dollars (three billion euros) in its defense industry and hopes to garner additional investment from foreign partners.
05:10 Voronezh Region Suffers Fire after Downed Ukrainian DroneIn the Russian region of Voronezh close to the border, air defense officials confirmed shooting down several Ukrainian drones throughout the night. One drone landed on the grounds of an oil depot, resulting in the ignition of an empty tank. Initial reports suggest no casualties. However, these claims have yet to be independently verified. Voronezh is among the Russian regions that have been the target of recent Ukrainian drone attacks.
02:51 Ukrainian Armed Forces Reinforce Defense in Eastern Donetsk RegionThe commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, orders the fortification of defensive installations in the eastern region of Donetsk. Russian forces have made strides in various sectors within Eastern Ukraine. Syrskyi announced on social media that he is collaborating with the 25th Sicheslav Airborne Brigade at "one of the most crucial front lines."
22:22 Tourism Sector in Latvia Suffers Due to Conflict TensionsThe tourism industry in Latvia is also impacted by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Latvian newspaper "Diena" reports that not only hospitality entrepreneurs and the Central Statistical Bureau are concerned about reviving post-COVID-19 tourism, but also that potential guests from various countries perceive the Baltics as an unstable region due to military tensions.
21:40 Switzerland Commits 1.5 Billion Swiss Francs for Ukraine's RebuildingSwitzerland has declared its intention to invest 1.5 billion Swiss francs (approximately 1.54 billion euros) in Ukraine's rebuilding efforts over the next four years. As reported by Swiss Ambassador Felix Baumann, the majority of these funds, amounting to one billion Swiss francs, will be allocated towards Ukraine's self-governance sectors, mine clearance, and humanitarian aid. The remaining funds will be utilized for reconstruction initiatives in collaboration with the Swiss private sector, the Ukrainian Ministry of Communities and Territories Development, and Infrastructure. According to Baumann, "Our commitment to this undertaking is demonstrated by the fact that a representative of ours will oversee its implementation here." During a meeting with Minister Oleksiy Kuleba, Kuleba mentioned the construction of apartments for the over 4.5 million internally displaced people in Ukraine as a top priority for cooperation with Switzerland.
20:39 Ukraine Receives Patriot Air Defense System from RomaniaOfficial confirmation of Ukraine's acquisition of a Patriot air defense system was provided by Constantin Spinu, spokesperson for the Romanian Ministry of Defense, to Radio Free Europe. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for this support during his evening address on Wednesday, stating, "I express my gratitude to every nation that aids us with air defense, and I am particularly appreciative of Romania for their Patriot systems. Together, we can amplify our effectiveness, ultimately terminating Russian aggression by obliterating Shahed drones and missiles." Initial reluctance on the part of the Romanian government dissipated in June, as they ultimately agreed to donate one of their Patriots. The delivery order for the system was officially issued last month.
19:57 Forbes: Gazprom Suffers as Russia's Most Unprofitable CompanyAccording to Forbes' business magazine, Russia's state-controlled corporation, Public Joint Stock Company Gazprom, registered an unprecedented net loss of 5.5 billion euros in 2023, marking the first such occurrence in 25 years. The Amur Gas and Chemical Complex, a joint venture between Russian Sibur Holding and Chinese Sinopec, occupied the second position in the Russian Forbes rankings of the most unprofitable companies. The top five list of Russia's most unprofitable businesses also included Ozon (net loss of 408 million euros), United Aircraft Corporation subsidiary of Rostec (net loss of 326 million euros), and social network VK (326 million euros net loss).
You can find all previous developments*.
15:30 Eastern Politicians' Ukraine Proposal Under Scrutiny: "Power at the Expense of Values"
Leading figures from Germany's CDU and SPD parties are facing criticism for their diplomatic overtures towards Russia regarding Ukraine. German Foreign Policy spokesman Michael Roth suggests caution, raising concerns that the politics could serve as a prelude to coalition negotiations with the Left party (BSW). He emphasizes that "exchanging our nation's liberal values for temporary power and political campaigning" is troubling.
15:05 Critics Slam "Suspicious" Norway "Spy Whale" Autopsy Results
Animal rights organizations have condemned the results of the Norwegian autopsy on the "spy whale", declaring that the animal was not harmed intentionally by humans. However, experts refute the organizations' claims, stressing that the likely cause of death was a bacterial infection possibly stemming from an injury in the mouth.
