Zelenskyy labels the China-Brazil peace initiative as "detrimental" or "harmful."
17:40 Ukraine: Russian Projectile Hits Cargo Vessel
Ukraine declares that a Russian projectile wrecked a cargo ship transporting grain from the nation. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the ship had already departed Ukrainian waters in the Black Sea at the time of the assault. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba labels it a "audacious attack on maritime freedom and worldwide food security." Zelenskyy claims the ship was heading to Egypt and no casualties were reported. A Ukrainian Navy spokesperson asserted that the cargo ship wasn't within the Ukrainian grain corridor during the attack, but was in Romania's economic maritime zone. A representative from the Romanian Navy confirmed that the ship was not within Romanian territorial waters.
17:12 Chinese President to Revisit Russia
Chinese President Xi Jinping intends to return to Russia in October. Xi will attend the BRICS group's summit, verifies Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Wang is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg today. Both lauded the relations between China and Russia. Xi has "great pleasure" in accepting Putin's invitation to join the BRICS summit in Kazan, Wang says. Putin reports that he and Xi will also hold a bilateral meeting to discuss their respective relationships, which are "progressing quite favorably."
16:35 New Position for NATO Chief Stoltenberg
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will become the new leader of the Munich Security Conference. The Norwegian will take up the role in February 2025, superseding the incumbent Christoph Heusgen. Heusgen, who assumed the post in 2022 and was Chancellor Angela Merkel's long-time foreign policy advisor, will relinquish his post as chairman. The longtime former chairman Wolfgang Ischinger is expected to remain president of the foundation's board. Stoltenberg will pass the baton as NATO Secretary General in October to former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
16:11 Three Red Cross Workers Killed in Ukraine
Ukraine reports that three employees of the Red Cross from Ukraine perished in a Russian shelling. The incident took place in a village in the disputed Donetsk region, as reported by the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office on Telegram. Two others were hospitalized, one in critical condition. "Another Russian war crime. Today, the occupier attacked vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross' humanitarian mission in the region of Donetsk," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X. Dmytro Lubinets, the country's human rights ombudsman, urged the platform: "The @ICRC must officially acknowledge Russia's breach of the Geneva Conventions' norms!"
15:45 Public barred from Navalny's Lawyers' Trial
The presiding judge at the criminal trial concerning three attorneys of the late Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny in the Russian town of Petushki swiftly shut down the trial to the public for Vadim Kobsev, Alexei Lipzer, and Igor Sergunin. She cited a police warning regarding possible provocation by Navalny supporters as the reason. The three attorneys are accused of belonging to an extremist group - the Anti-Corruption Foundation setup by Navalny.
15:18 Sea conflict in the Black SeaUkraine and Russia are said to be engaged in a sea and air battle in the Black Sea. Ukraine's military intelligence reports that a Russian Su-30 fighter jet was downed using a portable air defense weapon during a special operation at sea (see entry at 08:04). No further details about the operation on Tuesday night were divulged from Kyiv. However, Russia's Defense Ministry reports that a failed Ukrainian attempt to attack a Russian drilling platform in the Black Sea using high-speed motorboats was thwarted. Eight of the 14 boats were destroyed and sunk, while the others retreated. No mention was made of the loss of an aircraft in Moscow. Nevertheless, the military blog "Rybar" reports that a Su-30 was downed while repelling the Ukrainian attack.
14:54 Ukrainian Soldiers: "We've had enough of the war"Ukrainian soldiers must use the limited available weapons strategically and judiciously. ntv reporter Kavita Sharma encounters both at the front: outdated Soviet weapons with meager ammunition and the few, yet superior, modern Western weapons.
14:23 Zelensky: Russia initiates counteroffensive in KurskRussia is believed to have launched a counteroffensive in the Russian border region of Kursk, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This response from the Russian army "correlates with the Ukrainian strategy," Zelensky says at a press conference in Kyiv, without providing additional details. Russia's Defense Ministry confirms that Russian units have liberated ten settlements in the Kursk region within two days.
13:38 Partially Disrupted Water and Gas Supply in Ukrainian City PokrovskFollowing Russian attacks, the city of Pokrovsk in the Ukrainian region of Donetsk is experiencing irregular water supply and many residents are lacking gas for cooking and heating, as per the city's governor. A recent attack has caused damage to a water treatment plant, and the city is now relying on over 300 emergency drilled wells for drinking water, according to Governor Vadym Filaschkin. Furthermore, a Russian-inflicted destruction of a gas distribution center the previous day left 18,000 residents of Pokrovsk without gas.
13:07 Russia's Decreased Warship Count claimIt is speculated that Russia has only half as many warships as they claim, according to an independent Russian news portal, "Agentstvo." The portal refers to data from the projects "Global Naval Powers Ranking 2024" and "RussiaShips.info" that estimate 264 and 299 warships respectively, significantly lower than the Russian Ministry of Defense's announcement of over 400 participating in the military exercise "Ocean-2024." Around 50 ships and submarines from the Black Sea Fleet, which is not participating in the exercise, are also included in these estimates. This is not the first instance where Russia has been accused of exaggerating the size of its military forces.
12:28 Intensified Russian Espionage against German Military AidRussian intelligence services have reportedly increased their espionage activities against German military aid to Ukraine and the German military, according to the Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD). The report indicates that Russia's interest in military policy and strategy has shifted from a strategic level to a more tactical level. Russia is now focused on obtaining information about the military aid Germany provides to Ukraine, including transportation routes, deployment procedures, and tactics of Western weapons in Ukraine, as well as the capabilities of the German military for territorial and alliance defense.
11:52 Munz's Analysis on British-US Permission for Ukrainian Weapon Use against Russian TerritoryBritain and the US could permit Ukraine to utilize weapons against Russian territory, as per ntv correspondent Rainer Munz. The Kremlin has thus far managed to prevent this decision with threats. In light of this, it is unsurprising that an atomic weapons expert is now advocating attacks on Berlin.
11:15 Delay in Decision on Ukrainian Long-Range Missile UseA decision concerning Ukrainian usage of Western long-range missiles in Russia may take some time, according to the US medium Bloomberg. A decision before the UN General Assembly on September 24, where around 150 heads of state and government will gather, appears unlikely. British Foreign Secretary Lammy stated that the UN meeting would serve as the next opportunity to discuss the utilization of long-range missiles. Ukrainian President Selenskyj is expected to reiterate this demand at the meeting. On Wednesday, Lammy and US Secretary of State Blinken visited Kyiv to discuss Selenskyj's plans for attacks on Russian territory. Blinken plans to discuss this with US President Biden on Friday. British Prime Minister Starmer will also meet with Biden on Friday to discuss this matter.
10:31 Ukrainian Air Defense Repels Russian StrikeThe Ukrainian air force reports that Russia attacked Ukraine overnight with 5 missiles and 64 Iranian-made combat drones. 44 drones were intercepted. Air defense was also active around Kyiv, terminating incoming drone threats.
09:11 Advocacy for Enhanced Russian Nuclear DeterrentRussian foreign policy expert Sergei Karaganov believes Russia should more clearly communicate its readiness to use nuclear weapons. The main goal of Russia's nuclear doctrine should be "to convince all current and future enemies that Russia is prepared to use nuclear weapons," Karaganov declared to the Russian newspaper Kommersant. Moscow could carry out a limited nuclear strike on a NATO country sans initiating a full-scale nuclear war, he suggested. The US would be dishonest if it claimed to promise nuclear protection for its allies. Karaganov has previously advocated for Russia to consider a nuclear preemptive strike as a means to intimidate its adversaries. Some Western experts argue that Karaganov serves a useful function for the Kremlin by voicing opinions that trouble the West and make Putin seem more restrained in comparison.
08:46 Ukrainian Long-Range Missile Usage HopesEmerging optimism in Ukraine suggests that it may soon be granted permission to launch attacks deep into Russian territory using Western weapons. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized during his visit to Kyiv the importance of ensuring "that Ukraine has everything it needs." In Britain, it appears as if the green light is tilting towards this prospect:
08:04 Ukrainian Military Intelligence Reports Downing of Russian Fighter JetFollowing reports of a Russian Su-30SM fighter jet disappearing from radar, the Ukrainian military intelligence service now claims that Ukrainian soldiers have downed such an aircraft during a Black Sea operation. Kyiv Independent reports that the fighter jet, valued at $50 million and stationed in Crimea, was taken out by a portable air defense system.
07:26 Ukraine reports over a dozen wounded in significant drone strike on KonotopThe number of casualties following the significant Russian drone attack targeting Konotop's energy infrastructure throughout the night has currently increased to 14, as reported by Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform based on the regional military administration's information. Among the impacts, a residential building in the city center was reportedly hit.
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06:42 Ukrainian residents in Germany maintain their protected status upon trips homeThe German legislature starts deliberating on the government's proposed security program for the first time today, which, among other aspects, enacts knife restrictions and withdrawal of asylum status for those that travel back home. However, certain exemptions are applicable, such as to Ukrainian refugees.
06:04 Russian TV alleges Trump received unfavorable treatment in TV debateNumerous commentators on state Russian television have accused sabotage against Trump during his TV debate against Kamala Harris, according to Kyiv Independent. They argued that Trump was put at a disadvantage. Russian broadcasters criticized the fact-checking of Trump's statements. Many analysts believe that Trump lost the debate. Trump declared that if he wins the election, he will immediately cease the Ukraine conflict.
04:50 Russian Assault on Konotop: Significant Damage to Energy InfrastructureA Russian assault on Konotop in the Sumy region has left numerous residents injured. According to Mayor Artem Semenikhin, the city's water supply momentarily disrupted. Tremendous damage to the energy infrastructure was incurred, and it remains uncertain when private homes will regain power. Following the attack in the city center, multiple fires occurred, and school and residential buildings sustained damage. Two individuals were hospitalized, with one in critical condition.
03:29 Latvia Provides Additional Military Aid to UkraineLatvian Prime Minister, Evika Silina, announced a package of military assistance for Ukraine during her visit to Kyiv. The support will encompass armored personnel carriers, as per Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. He made this announcement after meeting with Silina. Additionally, the two countries are discussing an amplification of cooperation in the defense industry.
01:32 UK Requests Iranian Businessman Over Suspected Missile Shipments to RussiaThe UK has requested a meeting with an Iranian businessman due to suspicions of Iranian missile deliveries to Russia, as mentioned in a statement from the London Foreign Office. "The UK government has made it clear that any transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia would signify a serious escalation and warrant a substantial response," the statement stated. On Tuesday, Germany, France, and the UK introduced further sanctions against Tehran in response to the suspected missile shipments, which include the suspension of bilateral air transport agreements. The European Union had previously informed of "credible information" about the transportation of Iranian missiles to Russia.
00:14 Ukraine: Russia Deploys Untrained Soldiers at VovchanskAs stated by Ukrainian military reports, Russia is deploying soldiers without combat experience at the Kharkiv front. Vitalii Sarantsev, spokesperson for the operational tactical group of the Armed Forces in Kharkiv, claimed that the units responsible for the attack on Vovchansk are poorly trained. It is speculated that the new reinforcements are a mobilization reserve assembled by Russia. It remains unclear whether they are former prisoners or recruits from countries like Central Asia, Africa, or the Middle East.
22:39 Mayor in Western Ukraine Assigns Russian-Speaking PatrolsThe mayor of the western Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk declared that Russian-speaking patrols will be established to address the increasing use of the Russian language. "This is a citizens' initiative; anyone can become a language inspector" said Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv in an interview with NTA. Many displaced individuals from the eastern Ukraine who speak Russian natively reside in the city. Martsinkiv anticipates at least 100 such language controllers, with approximately 50 volunteers already signed up. He also provided a phone number for citizens to report Russian speakers in public spaces. As a consequence of the conflict, millions of people, particularly from Russian-speaking regions in the east and south, have fled to the relatively safe Ukrainian-speaking west of Ukraine.
21:42 Erdogan Demands Restitution of Crimea from MoscowTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is advocating for the return of the Crimea peninsula, which Russia annexed, to Ukraine. "Our unwavering support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence continues. The restoration of Crimea to Ukraine is a demand of international law," the Turkish leader asserted in a video message on the occasion of the Crimea Platform launch. Established in 2021, the Crimea Platform aims to promote international recognition of the Crimea situation.
20:37 Blinken Outlines Biden's Position on Employing Weapons against Russia in UkraineSecretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the United States is actively pursuing Ukraine's military requests, including the utilization of long-range weapons provided by the West, for strikes against Russian targets. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain are set to talk about these demands on Friday, Blinken revealed during a joint press conference with his British counterpart, David Lammy, and Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiga in Kyiv. "We're making every effort to ensure Ukraine is adequately equipped to defend itself effectively," Blinken emphasized, continuing, "Our goal is for Ukraine to emerge victorious."
You can catch up on all previous events here.)
The European Union might express concern over the Russian attack on the Ukrainian cargo ship, given its commitment to ensuring maritime safety and freedom.
President Xi Jinping's planned visit to Russia in October could lead to discussions between the European Union and China regarding their respective stances on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
