12:12 p.m
Zelensky: “If Trump wins the election, he will not support Putin”
If the former president Donald Trump If he wins the new elections in the USA, he will not support them Wladimir Putin: The Russian leader isn’t “educated” about Trump’s support because “that’s not what strong Americans do,” the Ukrainian president said Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with The Economist magazine. And he added that he expected current White House chief Joe Biden to continue supporting Kyiv if he becomes US president for a second time. The Ukrainian leader then said he did not want to think about a long war, let alone talk about that possibility with Ukrainians, many of whom still dream of a quick victory.
But that’s exactly what he’s preparing for: “I have to be ready, my team has to be ready for the long war, and emotionally I am too.” According to Zelensky’s predictions, the Russian president is not aware that he will lose in a war of attrition “Because it doesn’t matter whether 60% or 70% of Russians support him.” No, his economy will lose,” he emphasized, adding: “If you are not on the side of Ukraine, you are on the side Side of Russia, and if you are not on the side of Russia, you are on the side of Ukraine.” And if the partners do not help us, it means that they will help Russia to win. That’s it,” explained the head of state. According to Zelenskyy, the cut in aid could anger not only Ukrainians but also Western voters. You will wonder what all these efforts were for: “People will not forgive their leaders and they will lose Ukraine,” he concluded.
12:06
Kyiv: Oil platforms off Crimea recaptured
Ukrainian forces have regained control of the Boyko oil platforms off the coast of annexed Crimea that were occupied by Russia in 2015, Kiev military intelligence announced.
“A unique operation to restore control over the “Boyko Towers” was carried out by the Gur units of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine – the message says –. In particular, the drilling platforms “Petro Godovalets” and “Ukraine” as well as the “Tavrida” and the “Sivash” were brought back under (our) control.”
During the operation, the special forces managed to seize helicopter ammunition and the Neva radar, which made it possible to track the movements of ships in the Black Sea. According to media reports, since the beginning of the invasion, Russia has also used these platforms for gas and oil drilling for military purposes: as landing pads for helicopters and for the use of radar devices.
During one phase of the operation, a firefight occurred between Ukrainian special forces aboard boats and a Russian Su-30 fighter: the special forces were forced to abandon a boat, while the Russian fighter was hit and forced to retreat.
10:59
Kim-Putin, likely date of meeting September 13th
The meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could take place on September 13th. This is what Russian Interfax writes, pointing out that South Korean television reports that “Kim Jong-un has probably already left for Russia by train” and that “the meeting could take place on September 13.”
10:58
Kim is expected in Russia soon
Sources quoted by the Russian agency Interfax confirmed that the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is expected to visit the Russian Far East these days. “We have been preparing for this visit for a long time,” said the representative of the local government of one of the regions in this part of Russia. No further details were disclosed.
Kim Jong-un’s previous visit to Russia in 2019 began with his armored train entering Khasan train station on Russian territory on the border with North Korea. He then went to Vladivostok. Visits by the current leader’s father and grandfather, Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung, had also begun from Khasan.
10:05 a.m
Moscow is building new military bases on the border with Finland
Satellite images published by Yle media show that Russia has quickly set up new military bases near the Finnish border: “In the middle of the Arctic desert, three large buildings were built in the blink of an eye, just 50 kilometers from the Scandinavian country.” The bases are operated by the Arctic Brigade of the Federation Army.”
Satellite images obtained by Yle show that Moscow has built large warehouses at the Alakurt garrison and the Petrosko equipment depot dedicated to the maintenance and storage of military equipment. This is Russia’s largest troop concentration near the Finnish border. The brigade is trained to operate in the dark and cold of the Arctic region. There are armored vehicles, but no tanks. Yle examined several satellite images of the base this summer: They show that the buildings were constructed one at a time within a single day. The first building on July 9th, the second on July 28th, the third on August 11th.
09:41
Kim Jong Un travels to Russia
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un He would take the train to Russia for a summit with President Vladimir Putin. This was reported by the South Korean broadcaster YTN, the Guardian reported.
Kim Jong-un is reportedly slowly moving inside North Korea toward the northeastern border on a private train. According to Ytn, a meeting with Putin would be possible the day after tomorrow.
09:39
GB: Conscription deprives Russian industry of 42% of its workforce
Forced conscription in Russia continues to have a negative impact on the workforce in the country’s industrial sector: writes the British Ministry of Defense in its daily intelligence update. The Russian army plans to recruit 420,000 contract personnel by the end of 2023, recalls the report published in X.
On September 3, Dmitry Medvedev, vice president of the Russian Security Council, said that 280,000 personnel had been recruited so far. For its part, the Yegor Gaidar Institute of Economic Policy noted that labor shortages in Russian industry reached a new high of 42% in July, an increase of 7% compared to April. In contrast to recruitment efforts elsewhere, Russia has taken measures in the information technology (IT) sector to retain the workforce. According to London experts, this likely underlines the particularly acute shortage in the sector after about 100,000 IT workers left Russia in 2022. This represents 10% of the workforce in this sector.
“On September 4, 2023, President Putin signed a decree raising the exemption age from military recruitment for IT specialists from 27 to 30 years old,” the report concludes. This shows that mobilization and conscription in Russia have exacerbated non-defense labor shortages. With Russian presidential elections scheduled for March 2024, Russian authorities will likely try to avoid further unpopular mobilizations.”
09:38
Kyiv: 2 square kilometers liberated in the direction of Bakhmut
The armed forces achieved success in the Klishchiivka and Andriivka areas in the direction of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, where last week they managed to liberate two square kilometers of territory: this was stated by the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Anna Malyar, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda.
“In the Bakhmut direction, Ukrainian forces had achieved some successes in the Klishchiivka and Andriivka areas… Last week, the liberated area (in this direction) amounted to about 2 square kilometers.” The Ukrainian defense forces in the Klishchiivka and Andriivka areas are forcing the Russians to take their positions to give up, Malyar added, emphasizing that 49 square kilometers of territory near Bakhmut had already been liberated.
09:15
GB: Mobilization has an impact on the workforce
“Mobilization and conscription in Russia have exacerbated non-defense labor shortages. Russian authorities are expected to try to avoid further unpopular demonstrations ahead of the Russian presidential election scheduled for March 2024. British intelligence writes it on X and specifies that “the Russian army intends to recruit 420,000 people on a contract basis by the end of 2023. Forced recruitment in Russia continues to have a negative impact on the workforce.”
The Yegor Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy noted that the labor shortage in Russian industry reached a new high of 42% in July 2023, 7% more than in April 2023. “On September 3, 2023 – said the Ministry of Defense in London – Vice President of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev explained that 280,000 people have been hired so far. These figures cannot be independently verified. In contrast to recruitment efforts elsewhere, Russia has taken steps to maintain its workforce in the IT sector. This likely underscores the particularly acute shortage in the industry after an estimated 100,000 IT workers left Russia in 2022.
09:14
Kiev: Moscow seeks forced mobilization of 700,000 people
Moscow wants to mobilize up 700,000 people In Russia and in the occupied Ukrainian territories to compensate for the heavy losses suffered so far: this was stated by the General Staff of the Kiev Army, as Rbc-Ukraine reported. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, due to the large losses since the beginning of the invasion, Moscow will begin a massive forced mobilization of the population in the near future – both in Russia and in the occupied territories of Ukraine – which is estimated to involve between 400,000 and 700,000 people could be involved.