6:17 p.m
Minsk: Polish helicopter violated border twice
A Polish helicopter violated Belarusian airspace. This was reported by the official Telegram channel of the Belarusian Defense Ministry, quoted by the Belta agency. According to the ministry, “at 3:02 p.m. today the approach of a Polish aircraft to the Belarusian border was registered.” Eighteen minutes later, a helicopter crossed the Belarusian border. It is stated that it flew up to 1.5 kilometers deep into the area. At 4:22 p.m. the neighboring country’s plane violated the border again at a depth of 300 meters.”
12:52 p.m
Kremlin: Increase in defense spending due to hybrid warfare
The increase in Russian military spending planned for 2024 is “absolutely necessary” due to the “hybrid war” unleashed against Moscow. This was said by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted by Tass. “We are continuing the special military operation (in Ukraine) and this is associated with high costs,” Peskov added.
12:51 p.m
Stoltenberg in Kiev to meet Zelensky
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is in Kiev, where he had a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This was announced by the NATO spokesman.
12:51 p.m
Kiev: “Russian bombs on power plant”
A thermal power plant in southern Ukraine was damaged by heavy Russian bombing last night, leaving more than 400 sites without power. The Ukrainian electricity company Ukrenergo reported this on Telegram: “404 settlements remain without electricity.” New damage to the Oblenergo networks in the Donetsk region, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odessa, Kharkiv, Kherson, Chernihiv. Two coal mining companies were taken offline in Donetsk. With the approval of the military, electricity supply will be gradually restored,” Ukrenergo noted.
12:03 p.m
Lavrov: “Ready to negotiate”
The Russians are “ready to negotiate” to find a solution to the crisis in Ukraine, but “taking into account the reality on the ground” and “Russian security interests.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said this in an interview with the Tass news agency. “Our position remains valid: we are ready to negotiate, but taking into account the realities that have developed as a result of the earthquake and taking into account our position, which is known to everyone,” that is, “our interests, the interests of ours.” Security, the interest in preventing the creation of a hostile force on the borders of Russia and the Nazi regime,” Lavrov said. Because this force, he argued, “openly declared the goal of exterminating everything Russian in these territories, both in Crimea and in Novorossia.”
10:32 a.m
Kiev: “Ukraine and Poland do not need a new grain war”
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba spoke today about the grain crisis with Poland and said that Ukraine does not need this “war”. “We don’t need this grain war or Poland. History, future and security leave us no choice but to overcome this crisis,” he said, quoted by RBC-Ukraine. We did not cause the crisis and are determined to put an end to it.” “Emotions are running high. The temperature could still rise until October 15th, the day of the Polish elections. But we are determined to be constructive,” said the minister.
09:20
Putin: “We are creating advanced nuclear weapons”
The Russian nuclear agency “Rosatom is committed to the development of advanced weapons capable of maintaining a strategic balance in the world.” This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, citing the Ria Novosti news agency. “It is important for Russian nuclear scientists to expand mutually beneficial contacts with conscientious and reliable partners abroad,” the Kremlin chief added.