DrAccording to American military experts, the Ukrainian army is making further progress in its offensive in the south of the country. On part of the front near Roputyn in the Zaporizhzhya region, Ukrainian armored vehicles were spotted for the first time outside the last Russian line of defence, the Institute for the Study of War ISW wrote in its report. But it is still too early to say with certainty that this Russian line of defense has been broken.
In its situation report on Friday morning, the General Staff in Kiev reported Ukrainian advances near Bakhmut in the east and on the front in the south. At the same time, two robots were said to have managed to repel Russian counterattacks. It was not initially possible to verify this independently.
The current situation in Ukraine
Source: Infographic Welt
In the town of Robotyn, the Ukrainian army has pushed its best through overlapping Russian defense lines in its counterattack since July. There, Russian forces were holed up in large trenches. Tanks are repelled by mines, trenches and triangular concrete barriers called dragon’s teeth.
All developments in the live stream:
10:22 AM – Three more cargo ships are heading to Ukraine’s Black Sea ports
Three other cargo ships are heading to Ukraine’s Black Sea ports to export agricultural products, among other things. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrako said on the SMS service The three ships will carry a total of 127,000 tons of agricultural products and iron ore to China, Egypt and Spain.
They headed to the ports of Chornomorsk and Pevdenezh. The first two cargo ships to arrive at Ukrainian Black Sea ports since Russia suspended the grain agreement in July have departed, carrying the grain.
9:33 AM – London: Explosions at a military airport are likely to worry the Kremlin.
Explosions at Russia’s Chkalovsky military air base near Moscow this week may have alarmed the Kremlin, according to British military experts. The British Ministry of Defense’s daily intelligence report on the war in Ukraine said: „This is a sensitive location because it houses specialized military aircraft and VIP transport for the Russian command circle.” According to the British, reports of damage to a reconnaissance aircraft are of particular interest.
According to the Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR, saboteurs destroyed two planes and a helicopter at a heavily guarded airport near Moscow. Therefore, explosives were attached to machines.
7:41 AM – One person was killed and injured in Russian attacks
Ukraine announces the victims of Russian attacks in the east and south of the country. In the town of Koracho near Donetsk, 13 people were injured, chief administrative officer Roman Badon told Sospilny Radio. A fire broke out as a result of the attack. Various pictures of burning buildings are spreading on social media.
In the Kherson region, a dead woman was recovered from under the rubble of her home, according to what the state governor, Oleksandr Prokudin, announced via the Telegram application. The Russian attack targeted the city of Zelenivka. The Ukrainian Southern Military Command also reported a missile attack on entertainment facilities southwest of the Black Sea port of Odessa. There were no reports of casualties here.
06:12 AM – Abrams tanks from the USA are scheduled to arrive in Ukraine next week
According to US President Joe Biden, the first Abrams tanks from the United States will arrive in Ukraine next week. “Next week, the first American Abrams tanks will be delivered to Ukraine,” Biden told reporters during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to the White House on Thursday. The United States pledged to deliver the Abrams missiles in January.
Biden also announced that he had approved a new arms package for Ukraine, worth, according to the Pentagon, about $325 million (about 304 million euros). The package includes, among other things, anti-aircraft missiles, ammunition for HIMARS missile launchers and artillery shells.
5:00 AM – Gabriel warns against Trump-Putin deal
Former Federal Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel warned of negative consequences for Ukraine and Germany if Donald Trump is re-elected as President of the United States. For Trump, alliances like NATO are worth nothing in themselves, the Social Democratic Party politician told the specialized media “Table.Media.” “Therefore, it is feared that he will withdraw his support for Ukraine and depend on reaching a quick agreement with Putin.” This would certainly harm Ukraine and Germany. Gabriel said that Germany and Europe must prepare today for the possibility of Trump’s re-election in November 2024.
4:30 AM – EU Commission: The majority of foreign companies still operate in Russia
According to the European Commission, the majority of foreign investors are still doing business in Russia despite Russia’s aggressive war on Ukraine. Only 40% of global companies have decided to leave the country or have already done so, according to the European Commission’s response to a question from MEP Moritz Körner.
The Brussels authority relies on data from the Yale School of Management and the Ukrainian Stock Exchange Institute. According to this information, the pharmaceutical company Stada and the healthcare group Fresenius are still active in Russia. In the past, companies justified this with medical care for local residents.
04:13 AM – Zelensky travels from the United States to Canada
After his visit to the United States, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues his trip abroad with a stop in neighboring Canada. The Canadian government suddenly announced that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would receive him in the capital, Ottawa. Zelenkij is also scheduled to address Parliament during his scheduled stay in the NATO member country until Friday. The Ukrainian president is next scheduled to travel to Toronto, where he will meet with Canadian business leaders.
According to information received from Ottawa, as in his trip to the United States, his wife will also accompany him in Canada. Trudeau’s office said the reception of the guest from Kiev was aimed at reaffirming Ukraine’s continued support in the defensive war against neighboring Russia.
