West ought not aim for battle with a nuclear nation until securing complete triumph. (Lavrov's words)
At the UN General Assembly in New York, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov speaks out against the West trying to "go to war against a nuclear power like Russia." He refers to it as a "suicidal endeavor." Russian President Putin had recently reiterated his threat to use nuclear weapons. According to him, any traditional attack on Russia, backed by a nuclear power, would be seen as a collective attack by those countries.
22:52 Explosion damages railway bridge in Russian region of SamaraA railway bridge in the Russian region of Samara has suffered damage from an explosion. The concrete structures supporting the tracks have been affected, as per the Russian Telegram news channel Baza. An "unknown explosive device" went off around 13:30 local time near the city of Kinel. As a result, train traffic over the bridge has been temporarily halted.
22:02 Putin advisor: West trying to isolate KaliningradRussian President Vladimir Putin's advisor, Nikolai Patrushev, accuses the West of attempting to isolate the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. At a meeting in the city, Patrushev claims that Western states are "imposing significant obstacles" to freight and passenger transportation to the region due to imposed sanctions. In response, Moscow is planning to shift most of the road and rail freight traffic between Kaliningrad and the Russian mainland to sea routes, Patrushev promises.
19:08 Lavrov: USA and UK aim to destroy RussiaRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expresses his strong opposition to a restart of international relations. "What kind of global cooperation can we truly discuss when the West has disregarded all these unshakable values of globalization that it has been advocating from this podium for so many years," Lavrov says before the United Nations General Assembly in New York. In relation to Russia's conflict with Ukraine, he suggests a British-American conspiracy to destroy Russia. According to him, plans to destroy the former Soviet Union have been in effect since 1945, but today's Anglo-Saxon strategists are not hiding their intentions. "They continue to hope to defeat Russia through the hands of the illegitimate Nazi regime in Kyiv, but they are already preparing Europe for a suicidal adventure," Russia's foreign minister asserts.
17:18 Russian drone kills Ukrainian Supreme Court judgeA judge of the Supreme Court of Ukraine has been killed in a Russian drone attack. The 61-year-old Leonid Lobojko died when a drone struck his private car in a suburb of the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, as reported by the regional military administrator Oleh Synyehubov on Telegram. Lobojko died instantly. Three women in the car sustained serious injuries. Lobojko was in the region to distribute humanitarian aid. The Supreme Court confirmed the death of one of its members on Facebook and extended its condolences to the family.
16:24 Ukraine: Russia Preparing Attacks in Zaporizhzhia Region
Russian troops are reportedly preparing for offensive operations in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia, according to Ukrainian reports. On national television, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Southern Command, Vladislav Voloshin, stated that Moscow is primarily gathering personnel near the occupied village of Pryjutne. Additionally, Voloshin mentioned that the Russian troops in the area have received 25 light buggies, which could be used by small infantry groups for attacks. "This indicates that we are preparing for offensive actions towards Zaporizhzhia in the near future," Voloshin said. However, more forces are required for a large-scale offensive, he added.
15:40 Kyiv Reports Death of Russian Drone Center Chief Near Moscow
The Ukrainian military intelligence service, HUR, reports the death of Russian Colonel Alexei Kolomeitsev in the city of Kolomna in the Moscow region. According to HUR, Kolomeitsev served as the head of the 924th State Center (Military Unit No. 20924) for unmanned aerial vehicles of the Russian Ministry of Defense. This unit is responsible for the training of specialists for combat operations of drones, including the Shahed drones. HUR stresses that the colonel was implicated in war crimes against Ukraine.
14:58 Baltic States and Poland Seek EU Aid for Border Security
The NATO member states of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland are planning to request financial assistance from the EU to construct bunkers, barriers, and military camps at their borders with Russia and Belarus. "The necessity of a (Baltic) defense line arises from the security situation," Estonia's defense minister, Hanno Pevkur, said. Additionally, this would support the new NATO defense concept. "It is extremely important to coordinate our activities with Poland," he noted. In January, the Baltic states of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia announced the project of a "Baltic Defense Line." In May, Poland announced a similar project called "Eastern Shield."
14:20 Russia Ready to Sue Over Nord Stream Sabotage
Russia is preparing to take legal action over the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines. A spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that they have filed "pre-trial claims" against Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Switzerland based on international agreements to combat terrorism. "If the matter is not resolved at this stage, Russia intends to bring the case to court and appeal to the International Court of Justice," the spokesperson said. The West will "not escape justice without consequence," they added.
14:26 NATO Leader: Kursk Invasion Tests Putin's Tactics
The head of NATO's Military Committee, Admiral Robert Bauer, hints that the Ukrainian advance in Russia's Kursk region creates a strategic challenge for Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. As Bauer expressed in an Interfax Ukraine interview, "For the first time since '41, a hostile force stands on Russian soil." He further added, this situation presents Russia with both strategic and operational difficulties, since supply lines run through Kursk. On a broader scale, Ukraine is placing Putin in a "strategic quandary." "If Putin maintains the notion of safeguarding the homeland, he fails as Ukraine now resides on Russian land," Bauer said.
13:44 Ukraine: Death Toll Rises to 9 in Sumy Following Russian Drone AssaultThe casualties from a pair of Russian drone strikes in Sumy have increased to nine, according to Ukrainian intelligence. Additionally, eleven individuals are injured, with 113 victims being evacuated from the struck hospital. Earlier today, a drone assault from Russia killed one person and caused significant damage to the roof of multiple hospital floors. Evacuation of both patients and staff subsequently began. Rescue services and police arrived at the scene to assist. Concurrently, Russia executed another aerial assault.
12:56 Blinken: US Considers Zelensky's Strategic Victory PlanUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken is considering the Ukrainian "victory strategy" proffered by President Volodymyr Zelensky to President Joe Biden during their White House meeting. Zelensky once again requested Biden's approval to utilize Western weaponry for long-range strikes on Russian military targets. Blinken mentioned, per a Voice of America report, that the US administration and allies are currently studying the specifics of this plan and may take additional steps if required to help Ukraine secure victory. Blinken supports a harsher stance towards the Ukraine conflict within the White House, which Blinken believes is not being implemented by the President.
12:25 United Kingdom: Over 2000 Assaults on Healthcare Facilities in Ukraine Since Conflict StartedThe UK's Ministry of Defense reports 2013 attacks on Ukrainian healthcare facilities since Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022. Staff were targeted 235 times. In July, the Russian military bombarded a children's hospital in Kyiv. Russia's attacks on the healthcare infrastructure have resulted in 176 fatalities, the Ministry claims.
11:48 Ukraine: Search and Rescue Continues After Police Station Attack in Kryvyi RihThe death count from a Russian attack on the police station in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, has risen to four. One police officer is still believed to be trapped under debris, as rescue attempts continue, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The rocket attack on Kryvyi Rih marks the second Russian assault on Ukrainian police in two days.
10:58 Military Analyst: Russian Counterattack Gains Traction in KurskAustralian military analyst Mick Ryan suggests that the Russian counterattack in Kursk has seen progress. In August, Ukrainian forces crossed the border into Russia's Kursk region and occupied territory. After initial shock, the Russians are now mounting resistance, reclaiming ground but at a slow pace, Ryan states. A Ukrainian incursion to the west of the Russian counterattack may have jeopardized Russian flank security and isolated hundreds of Russian troops, according to Ryan, who cites data from the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
10:30 Ukrainian Air Force: 67 Drone Assaults and 2 Missile Strikes RepelledThe Ukrainian Air Force reports that the Russian army utilized 73 drones and 4 missiles against Ukraine overnight on Saturday. Ukraine managed to down 67 drones and 2 missiles. Casualties from a Russian drone attack on a hospital in Sumy Oblast have risen to eight.
09:52 Recap of Trump-Zelenskyy MeetingPost a five-year hiatus, discussions between former US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commenced. Trump recently lashed out at US aid to Ukraine.
09:39 ISW: Limited Long-Range Attacks by Ukraine Could Influence War CourseExperts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) emphasize that even a few successful long-range attacks by Ukraine could profoundly impact the conflict's trajectory. "Russian officials seem to be exerting considerable effort to sway Western opinions on whether Ukraine should be authorized to launch long-range strikes on Russian military installations using Western weaponry," the ISW posits, expressing concern that such strikes could place substantial operational pressure on the Russian offensive. The United States remains opposed to authorizing Ukraine to conduct long-range attacks on Russian territory.
09:18 Kyiv's General Staff: Over 1400 Russian Losses in the Last 24 HoursAccording to Ukraine's General Staff, Russian forces have suffered another 1470 casualties, including fatalities and injuries, within the past 24 hours. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion over two and a half years ago, the army has incurred over 650,640 losses. Within the last 24 hours, the Russians also lost 42 armored combat vehicles, 14 tanks, 62 drones, and 55 artillery systems.
08:57 Ukraine: Medical Facility Attacked, Six KilledRussian forces allegedly attacked a hospital in Sumy, as per Ukrainian sources. Six people were reported dead, with the military administration of Sumy Oblast verifying the incident. The attack was allegedly executed with Shahed drones, followed by additional drone attacks on residential areas and a second strike on the hospital. Rescue workers, at the time, were assisting in patient and staff evacuations. Additionally, air force reports documented Russian aerial bombardments of the Sumy Oblast.
08:21 Goldschmidt Warns About Perils to Baltic Sea from Russian Petroleum
Following accusations from Greenpeace about Russian petroleum exports via the Baltic Sea, Schleswig-Holstein's Environment Minister Tobias Goldschmidt cautions about potential hazards posed by tankers to the Baltic coast. Goldschmidt asserts, "The current administration in Moscow is blatantly disregarding the petroleum embargo enacted after their invasion of Ukraine." This ongoing conflict endangers already ailing seas, according to Goldschmidt. Several Western nations accuse Russia of utilizing questionably seaworthy vessels to bypass EU sanctions due to the conflict. "The probability of an oil spill is escalating," Goldschmidt alerts. "And most of this oil would end up on our shores, extending from Fehmarn to Eckernförde."
07:52 Ukrainians Maintain Resistance Against Intense Assaults in Pokrovsk
Ukrainian and Russian troops remain engaged in fierce combat in eastern Ukraine. The area around Pokrovsk, being relentlessly attacked by Russia for months, was a focal point the previous day. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that eighteen Russian advances on Ukrainian defense lines were thwarted throughout the day. "The Ukrainian defenders are holding their ground steadfastly," the statement conveyed. Russian forces are making attempts to approach the city from multiple directions and fortify their advance against Ukrainian counterattacks. Intense fighting erupted in the zone surrounding Kurakhove as well, with approximately seventeen Russian advances being repelled. Verification of combat reports remains impossible.
07:41 Zelensky Looked Upon His US Visit as Constructive
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky failed to secure approval for widespread utilization of Western weapons during his US visit, but he regards the trip as successful. "Each conversation transpired as it should have," he expressed in a video message on the X platform. Zelensky's Ukrainian peace plan was presented in the United States. "Now, our teams must work on implementing each step and decision," He articulated. In Washington, Zelensky met with US President Joe Biden and his Vice President Kamala Harris, among others, voicing support for Ukraine's defense against Russia. He also met with the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, in New York, who yet again asserted that, if he won the election, the war would conclude swiftly.
06:56 Qatar Persists in Negotiations for Liberated Children
Nine children who were among the thousands abducted by Russia during the war have been reunited with their families, according to Ukrainian reports (see entry from 02:18). Many of them lost one or both parents during the conflict and were entrusted to their grandparents. Authorities in Qatar continue discussions for the return of more children. A list of 751 children whose paperwork is already complete has been presented, according to Dmytro Lubinets, the Commissioner for Human Rights. Since the onset of the war, Ukrainian authorities estimate that approximately 20,000 children have been unlawfully transported to Russia, with only a few hundred returning home thus far.
06:27 Blinken Accuses China of Aiding Russian Arms Industry
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced concerns to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi concerning China's support for Russia's arms industry. "Should Beijing claim they wish for peace and an end to the conflict, but simultaneously allow their businesses to aid in Putin's continuation of his aggression, these two facts do not proportionately align," Blinken said at a press conference. Wang claimed that China's stance on the conflict in Ukraine has always emphasized the necessity of peace through dialogue, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
05:31 Ukrainian Forces Apparently Eliminate Russian Soldiers on Jet Ski with DroneUkrainian forces appear to have killed two Russian soldiers on a jet ski using a drone, according to pro-Ukrainian portal Defense Express. The Russians were navigating the Dnipro River when the drone, armed with an explosive payload, hit their jet ski. Activist Serhiy Sternenko shared a video depicting the impact.
04:10 Mediazona Discloses Over 71,000 Russian Soldiers Killed in UkraineIndependent Russian news portal Mediazona reported that over 71,000 Russian soldiers have perished in Ukraine. Since mid-September, around 2,000 more soldiers have fallen in the conflict. Mediazona noted that the actual figure is likely much higher, as their verified information stemmed from publicly accessible sources such as obituaries, online posts by relatives, regional media reports, and announcements from local authorities.
02:18 Nine Children Kidnapped to Russia Return to UkraineNine children who were taken to Russia during the war have returned to their homeland. They returned on a Friday with Qatari assistance, according to Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmitro Lubinez. The children, aged between 13 and 17, and a 20-year-old man, were reunited with their families as part of a Qatari-facilitated action plan. The details could not be independently verified initially. The children originated from regions such as Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, or Luhansk, Lubinez wrote.
00:31 Lukashenko: "An Attack on Belarus equals World War III Initiation"Belarusian authority figure Alexander Lukashenko implicates NATO of planning an attack on his nation and warns of the deployment of nuclear weapons. "An invasion of Belarus signifies the beginning of World War III," Lukashenko stated during a speech to students in Minsk, delivered through state news agency Belta. In such a situation, both Belarus and its ally Russia would employ nuclear weapons. Lukashenko also acknowledged the recent alteration in Russia's nuclear strategy, praising President Vladimir Putin. Lukashenko maintains that NATO has definitive intentions to attack Belarus. "American and Polish troops are congregating near the border, particularly on the Polish side. The Polish leadership is visibly thrilled," he said. Belarus lacks nuclear capabilities, but Russia has stationed tactical nuclear weapons within its territory since late 2023.
23:10 Ex-US Chief Hodges and Others Admonish Biden for Strong Actions against RussiaA cohort of ex-military personnel and experts have penned an open letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, advocating forceful actions to end the conflict in favor of Ukraine and counter potential threats from China. Advocates include former U.S. commander of European forces, Ben Hodges, and former NATO deputy commander, German Army Major General Gert-Johannes Hagemann. They call for robust actions against Russia and a consideration of China. They advocate for the waiving of constraints on the usage of Western weapons against Russia to target "military and logistical targets" on Russian soil. They also advocate for the delivery of 300 Abrams tanks and 1000 Stryker armored vehicles to Ukraine, and a full embargo on arms and technology against Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Belarus, and Azerbaijan. Moreover, they propose expanding NATO beyond its transatlantic borders to incorporate Japan, Australia, South Korea, Philippines, and any other democratic nation expressing interest in joining, such as Argentina.
22:15 FSB Examines International Journalists over Kursk CoverageRussian domestic intelligence agency FSB is investigating three more foreign journalists for covering the Ukrainian-controlled territories in the Russian border region of Kursk. Australian ABC News journalists Kathryn Diss and Fletcher Yeung, and Romanian journalist Mircea Barbu, have been accused of illegally entering Russia by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti. They risk five years in prison; however, all three are currently absent from Russia. Various international media outlets, including German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, US news network CNN, and Italian broadcaster Rai, have also reported from Ukrainian-controlled territories in Kursk.
21:35 White House Rejects GOP's Allegations of Zelensky's Election InterferenceThe White House has rebuked accusations from Republican lawmakers that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meddled in U.S. elections through his visit to a munitions factory. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre considered this a "political stunt" and urged Republicans to relinquish it. The Ukrainian delegation requested the visit, facilitated by the Department of Defense. Zelensky's visit to the production facility in Pennsylvania, where urgently required 155mm artillery shells for Ukraine are manufactured, was also attended by several Democrats, including Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. Following the visit, Republican lawmakers initiated an investigation, and the Speaker of the House demanded that Zelensky terminate the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S in a letter.
21:09 China, Brazil, and Other Nations Warn against Nuclear Threats in Ukraine
China, Brazil, and other nations controvert the use or threat of nuclear weapons in Ukraine. "We endorse the abolition of the use or threat of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons," an official statement reads. Twelve nations convey their "deep concern" over the possibility of "escalation" in Ukraine: "Civilian infrastructure, including peaceful nuclear facilities and other energy installations, should not be the target of military operations." The appeal arises following threats from Russian President Vladimir Putin this week. He announced that Russia could employ nuclear weapons if confronted with severe air attacks on its territory, potentially considering any supported attack by a nuclear power as a "joint" aggression. Zelensky also accused Russia of plotting to target Ukrainian nuclear reactors.
You can review all previous developments here.
The European Union could potentially be called upon to impose additional sanctions against Russia, given its continued aggression towards Ukraine.
In light of the European Union's position on human rights and international law, any support or cooperation with Russia in bypassing sanctions or facilitating petroleum exports could face significant criticism and consequences.
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