Zelensky announces that the "Victory Strategy" has been thoroughly formulated
Ukraine's "Winning Strategy" Against Russia is Finalized by President Zelensky, He's Set to Discuss It with Biden Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly completed the blueprint for Ukraine's strategic moves against Russia, which he plans to discuss with U.S. President Joe Biden during their meeting later this month. Despite keeping specifics under wraps, Zelensky confirmed that the strategy comprises four primary points with a fifth section focusing on post-conflict circumstances. Moreover, the strategic advance into the Russian territory of Kursk is included in the overall strategy, as per Zelensky's statement.
UK Summons Russian Ambassador Over Spying Allegations Against British Diplomats The British administration has called for a meeting with the Russian ambassador in London after Russia withdrew the credentials of six British diplomatic personnel last week. The Russian ambassador, Andrei Kelin, was notified by the Foreign Office that Russia's actions, including the "baseless and malicious" espionage accusations against the six British diplomats, violate the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The British government condemned Russia's "unprovoked and unfounded public hostile campaign" against the United Kingdom, according to the ministry's press release.
Finnish President Wants Russia to be Expelled from UN Security Council Finnish President Alexander Stubb advocates for the enhancement of the UN Security Council, the abolition of member nations' veto rights, and Russia's exclusion from the council. As reported by Reuters, Stubb plans to share these viewpoints during the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York. He argues that any Security Council member involved in an unlawful conflict, such as Russia's current military engagement in Ukraine, should be suspended. Russia is one of the five permanent council members, in addition to the United States, Britain, France, and China. The remaining ten members are elected on a rotating basis. Stubb also proposed expanding the number of permanent members from five to ten, with additional representatives from Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Mexico's Next President Declines Zelensky's Invitation to Visit Ukraine Mexico's incoming president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has declined the invitation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to visit Ukraine, as stated by Spanish online media "FuserNews." Sheinbaum explained that she will uphold her country's policy of keeping out of foreign affairs entanglements and adhere to her predecessor's agenda. Sheinbaum's inauguration is scheduled for October 1st.
Wagenknecht Criticizes Merz's Stance on Providing Weapons to Ukraine German politician Sahra Wagenknecht has voiced her concerns about CDU leader Merz's stance on supplying missiles to Ukraine, describing it as "a very significant issue that Merz is placing Germany in considerable danger with his foreign policy decisions." Wagenknecht labeled Merz's proposal to supply Taurus missiles to Ukraine as highly risky. She expressed hope that there would be internal debates within the CDU before a final decision on the matter, as Merz could potentially become the next chancellor.
Ukrainian National Guard Limits Daily Drone Deployments The Ukrainian National Guard has imposed a restriction on deploying ten reconnaissance drones per day, according to Brigade General Vadym Hladkov in an interview with news website "Ukrinform." The available quantity of first-person-view drones is significantly higher, particularly in response to continuous Russian assaults on the front lines, at which point they are deployed in larger numbers. The drone limit remains in effect, due to the prohibitively high cost of each drone, as they can potentially be shot down by Russian troops if they fly too low.
Ukraine Requests Romania to Shoot Down Russian Drones in Airspace Ukraine has requested NATO ally Romania to shoot down Russian drones entering Romanian airspace after Russian drone debris has fallen in Romania near the Ukrainian border multiple times, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiga after meetings with his Romanian counterpart Luminita Odobescu in Bucharest, as reported by Romanian news agency Mediafax. The instance of a Russian drone being detected 45 kilometers from the Ukrainian border over the Romanian Danube Delta raised concern, prompting Romanian F-16 fighter jets to escort the drone until it entered Ukrainian airspace. The prospect of amending domestic legislation to enable shooting down enemy drones in Romanian airspace has been under debate among Romanian officials.
Germany Intends to Counter Russia in the Arctic with New Strategy The German government has announced its intention to enhance its Arctic involvement, which includes a security-related focus. The increased Russian aggressiveness in the Arctic, as a consequence of its attack on Ukraine, has "irreversibly transformed the political landscape in the High North," said German Foreign Minister Baerbock. Russia is expanding its strategic presence in the Arctic, posing an escalating threat to NATO border countries in the region, she added. The Arctic region holds "central importance" for Europe's overall security, according to the minister, motivating the German government to adjust its Arctic policy to address the heightened security challenges and safeguard the global rule-based order in the Arctic.
16:43 "Is This a Dream?": Witnesses Prisoner Swap between Russia and UkraineThe "Kyiv Post" was present during the prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine on September 14 and recorded the initial interactions between recently freed Ukrainian soldiers and their families. This exchange resulted in the return of 103 soldiers to their home countries. The Russian soldiers were taken captive during the Ukrainian counteroffensive in Kursk.
16:03 Ukraine: Russia's Advance in Kursk StalledThe Russian advance in the Russian region of Kursk has been halted, according to Ukrainian reports. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian regional command informed AFP news agency, "The Russians attempted to attack from the sides but were repelled." The situation has stabilized and is now "under control," spokesperson Oleksiji Dmitratschkiwsky stated. Russia has reportedly achieved some minor successes, but their success has now turned into a near-encirclement of them, the military spokesperson added. According to his statements, several thousand Russian civilians remain in the Russian territories controlled by the Ukrainian military in the region of Kursk.
15:42 Germany Provides Additional Medical Aid to UkraineThe German government is providing an extra €50 million for the care and treatment of injured Ukrainian soldiers. "We remain steadfast in our support of Ukraine," says Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner. "With this solution, we ensure the necessary medical care in Germany." According to Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, Germany has so far evacuated and treated 1,173 severely wounded and injured Ukrainian soldiers and civilians in German hospitals. "This aid is a humanitarian effort - and we will continue this aid with all our might," she says. The costs associated with the care of wounded soldiers will be settled in the future by the Federal Administration Office.
15:07 Attempted Raid on Russian Online Retailer HeadquartersThree individuals were injured in an attempted raid on the Moscow headquarters of Russian online retailer Wildberries, the company reported. Russian media also reported one fatality. Founder Tatjana Bakaltschuk explained on the Telegram messaging service that her ex-husband Vladislav Bakaltschuk and two former company managers had attempted to "seize the offices of Wildberries in Moscow." Three individuals were injured in the course of the attempted raid. Vladislav Bakaltschuk claimed that he had visited the head office for negotiations. He and his companions were unarmed, but shots were fired "from the building." Wildberries is Russia's largest online retailer, processing over ten million orders daily, as per the company's own statements.
14:43 India May Continue Buying Russian Oil - Unless Sanctions ApplyThe Indian government has confirmed that it will continue purchasing Russian oil without reservation as long as India is not subject to sanctions. The online media outlet "Ukrajinska Prawda" reported this, citing the news agency Reuters. "If companies are not affected by sanctions, I will certainly buy from the cheapest supplier," said Indian Oil and Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. He added that India is not alone in this, as European countries and Japanese companies are also purchasing Russian oil. India is reportedly 88% dependent on oil imports and is the world's third-largest oil consumer and importer. Russia's trade with India has doubled since 2022, according to the report.
14:05 Munz: Kremlin Untroubled by Western Fighter Jets in UkraineThe first Western F-16 fighter jets have already been operating in Ukraine. However, due to the lack of permission to launch missiles deep into Russia, the Kremlin is hardly concerned about this, according to ntv correspondent Rainer Munz from Moscow.
13:45 Kremlin Denounces Stoltenberg's Remarks on Long-Range Weapons as DangerousRussia has criticized remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as "dangerous." In an interview with the newspaper "The Times," he suggested that it would not be a red line for Russia if Ukraine were permitted to attack targets deep into Russia using Western weapons with extended range. "This flagrant disregard for the statements of the Russian President is a short-sighted and unprofessional step," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov. Russian President Putin had warned that if countries allowed the use of extended-range missiles by Ukraine, they would be directly drawn into the conflict.
13:17 IAEA: Armed Forces and Military Equipment Present at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear PlantArmed Russian troops and military equipment have been stationed at the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. Additionally, anti-personnel mines have been planted between the inner and outer fences. This was reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). According to the report, IAEA experts were prevented from accessing some parts of the turbine halls during the entire reporting period. The nuclear power plant was occupied by Russian soldiers early in the war, and international experts have been monitoring the security situation with concern since then. Just four weeks ago, a cooling tower caught fire.
12:41 Kremlin Warns of Escalating Tensions in Middle East Following Pager ExplosionsAfter the mass explosion of hundreds of pagers in Lebanon, the Kremlin in Moscow has issued a warning about an "escalation of tensions" in a "volatile" region. "Whatever may have happened, it will certainly lead to an escalation of tensions," Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said on Wednesday. The region itself is in a "volatile situation," and "every such incident has the potential to be a trigger." The Russian Foreign Ministry considers the incident to be another "act of hybrid warfare against Lebanon."
22:24 Ukraine Increases Budget by Over 10 Billion Euros, Primarily for MilitaryUkraine has passed an additional spending budget worth over ten billion euros, mainly allocated for its military. This increases the overall budget to over 81 billion euros, becoming Ukraine's highest expenditure record. The budget adjustments were crucial to pay soldiers their September frontline incentives along with other necessities.
20:36 Sharma: F-16 Fighters Will Not Solve All ConflictsUkrainian President Zelenskyj is urging for the supply of 128 F-16 fighter jets to attain air superiority. However, only approximately 60 fighter jets have been promised by Western countries, far from the 128 demanded. Despite this, television correspondent Kavita Sharma views this development as a positive step, as the delivery and pilot training have commenced. Nevertheless, some early issues associated with the weapon system have surfaced.
20:16 Ukrainian Intelligence: We Led Attack on Munitions DepotSources from the Ukrainian SBU intelligence agency confirm to Kyiv Independent the assault on the significant munitions storage facility in Russian Toropez the previous night. The warehouse contained ballistic missiles, such as Iskander, anti-aircraft missiles, artillery ammunition, and glide bombs. The attack resulted in the near-total destruction of the depot, as stated by an intelligence agency source. Following the deployment of Ukrainian drones, a powerful explosion occurred. "The SBU is collaborating with its military counterparts to strategically decimate the enemy's rocket potency, which is causing damage to Ukrainian cities," the source declared. There are intentions to conduct similar assaults on other Russian military facilities.
18:49 Ukrainian Drone Manufacturers Now Qualified for Ramstein ContractsFor the first time, Ukrainian drone manufacturers can put forward bids for the tenders organized by the Drone Coalition within the Ramstein platform. Representatives of Western Ukraine supporters meet at Ramstein on a regular basis. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry saw this invitation to bid as a significant boost to Ukrainian production. The tender series consists of two sections: one for the creation of First-Person-View (FPV) drones and the other for interception drones. Winners will receive further testing orders, and if successful, the Ramstein states plan to commission drone production.
18:27 Video Evidence of Russian Munitions Depot AttackWhile the Kremlin has not formally acknowledged the incident, the governor of the Tver region had previously posted on Telegram about a Ukrainian drone attack, resulting in a fire. It is believed to be a substantive munitions and weapons depot. The unnerved residents were evacuated, and footage of the fire has spread online.
16:39 Casualties Reported in Kharkiv, ZaporizhzhiaKharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, was subjected to another Russian aerial bombardment the previous day. The number of wounded now stands at nine, amidst a series of recent civilian attacks. On Sunday, a precision bomb killed a woman and injured 43 civilians, including four children, in the Zaporizhzhia region. Russia targeted settlements in the Zaporizhzhia area, resulting in the deaths of two more citizens.
15:46 Energy Infrastructure in Sumy Attacked AgainAs per local authorities, energy facilities in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy were once again struck by Russian drones. At the moment, there have been no reported casualties; however, repeated assaults on the energy system have placed a significant strain on the infrastructure. On Tuesday, Russia bombarded the city and region of Sumy's energy infrastructure using rockets and drones, causing a power outage for over 280,000 homes, as reported by the energy ministry.
14:55 Ukraine: F-16 Deployment Plans FinalizedThe Ukrainian Air Force has completed its preparations for the integration of Western F-16 combat aircraft. In his evening video address, President Zelenskyy outlined the tasks for the armed forces and the Ministry of Defense. Additionally, discussions took place with the Air Force leadership involving potential expansion of the aircraft fleet and further pilot training. Due to frequent losses, many voices in Kyiv advocate for more extensive basic pilot training, which currently stands at 40 days. Ukraine is slated to receive around 60 F-16 fighter jets, but only a handful has been supplied so far.
14:19 Russia: Repelling Ukrainian Drone Attacks in Several RegionsRussia reports neutralizing Ukrainian drone attacks on several regions. Overnight, the air defense system destroyed 54 Ukrainian drones across five Russian regions, as stated by the state-run news agency TASS, citing the Defense Ministry. Approximately half of the drones were shot down over the border region of Kursk, with the remainder falling in the border regions of Bryansk and Belgorod, and the western regions of Smolensk and Oryol. The agency failed to mention the Tver region, where local authorities and military bloggers reported a drone attack on a Russian munitions warehouse in Toropets, causing a fire that necessitated the evacuation of residents.
06:20 Green Party's Deputy Leader: AfD and BSW Promote Russian PropagandaThe Green party's parliamentary group deputy leader, Konstantin von Notz, suggests a parliamentary debate in the Bundestag on Russian influence operations in Germany. Based on internal paper analyses from the Russian propaganda factory SDA, Russian entities employ devious tactics to manipulate our democracy, public discourses, and elections, von Notz claims. With parties like the AfD, BSW, and their allies spreading Russian narratives, damaging alliances are formed to undermine German interests. Individuals backing Ukraine are monitored, spied upon, and attempts are made to discredit them publicly.
05:42 Russian Trolls Spread Fake Videos about Vice President HarrisResearch by Microsoft reveals that Russian actors are intensifying their disinformation campaigns against US presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Storm-1516, a group tied to the Kremlin, has released two deceptive videos since August to undermine Harris' and her running mate Tim Walz's campaigns. One video depicts supporters of Harris assaulting a supposed Trump rally attendee, while another fabricates claims about Harris injuring a girl in a 2011 accident, leaving her disabled, and fleeing the scene. Both videos have amassed millions of views.
05:19 Russian Tver Experiences Explosions and FireA Ukrainian drone strike, as reported by Russia, has sparked a fire in the Russian region of Tver. Debris from a destroyed Ukrainian drone apparently ignited a fire in the city of Toropez, resulting in partial evacuations of residents. Governor Igor Rudenya announced this news on the Telegram messaging platform. Firefighters are working to control the blaze, and the fire's origin remains unclear. Russian air defense is still defending against a "massive drone attack" on the city. With a population over 11,000, the town reportedly houses a Russian arsenal of rockets, ammunition, and explosives as noted in a 2018 RIA report.
03:57 Russian Governors Warn of Drone AttacksAccording to regional governors, Ukraine is launching drone attacks on several Russian regions surrounding Belarus. Seven Ukrainian drones were shot down in the Smolensk region by Russian air defense, Governor Vasily Anochin announced. A drone was also targeted in the Orjol region, with Governor Andrei Klichkov confirming the news on Telegram. At least 14 drones were intercepted over the Bryansk region, bordering Ukraine, Governor Alexander Bogomaz reported. Kyiv claims the attacks target vital military, energy, and transportation infrastructure essential to Moscow's war efforts.
02:56 Potential Uranium Trade Circumvention ScandalThe US government is examining allegations of a Russian uranium import ban circumvention by China. There are suspicions that China is obtaining enriched uranium from Russia while exporting its own supply to the US, Reuters sources suggest. Jon Indall, from the US Uranium Producers Association, expressed concerns about the ban's bypassing. "We don't want to cut off the Russian flow and suddenly all the material comes from China," he said. The US Commerce Department did not comment on the matter initially.
01:54 U.S. Insider: Oil Reserves to be RestockedAn unnamed source suggests that the US government intends to replenish its strategic oil reserves in response to low prices. The US aims to buy up to six million barrels of oil, the source claims. If the acquisition goes through, it will be the largest purchase since a historical release in 2022. In light of high gasoline prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the US government sold vast amounts of oil from its reserve last year, marking the largest oil reserve release in history.
00:45 Saporishia Attack Leaves Two Dead, Five WoundedGovernor Ivan Fedorov reported that Russia attacked the Saporishia region overnight, resulting in the deaths of at least two civilians and injuring five more. Komyshuvakha, a community in the region, was "massively attacked," Fedorov said. Several houses and an infrastructure facility were damaged. Emergency services are still on the scene, and the full extent of the destruction is being evaluated. News from "Kyiv Independent" reported on the incident.
23:38 US Ambassador at the UN: We've Seen Zelensky's Peace PlanUS UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield shared that the US has reviewed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's "peace plan." In a press conference at UN headquarters, she stated that America supports the strategy, which could potentially bring about progress in the peace process. However, she did not provide further details about how the US might contribute to the plan. Thomas-Greenfield likely references Zelensky's strategy, often known as the "victory plan," which the president announced last month.
22:29 False Airspace Intrusion in Latvia: Mysterious Object was a Feathered Swarm A potential breach of Latvia's airspace by an enigmatic flying object was nothing more than a benign incident. The unidentified object, originating from neighboring Belarus and crossing the border in the eastern sector of Kraslava, was merely a group of birds. This information was released by the Latvian news agency Leta, citing the country's air force. Initially, the Defense Ministry in Riga had reported the detection of an unidentified flying object, prompting NATO interceptors stationed at the Lielvarde air base to assess the situation. Regrettably, they failed to identify any questionable objects in the airspace.
21:59 Moldova and Germany Secure Cybersecurity Pact In a bid to fortify their defenses against "Putin's hybrid warfare," Moldova and Germany have signed an agreement focusing on cybersecurity. As per German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, speaking in Chisinau, Russian President Vladimir Putin persistently aims to employ his hybrid warfare tactics, specifically targeting Moldova, as a means to destabilize Europe. To counteract this, the two nations aim to enhance their IT infrastructure, share intel, and conduct cybersecurity training. Their objective is to safeguard Moldova from cyberattacks and expose disinformation.
You can review all previous occurrences [here].
The strategy finalized by President Zelensky of Ukraine includes plans for a strategic advance into the Russian territory of Kursk.
Despite the Russian ambassador's summoning by the British administration over spying allegations, Russia has continued its unprovoked and unfounded public hostile campaign against the United Kingdom.
