Ukraine war in the live ticker: +++ 04:27 Report: Training of Ukrainian soldiers at the expense of British troops +++

11.09.2024

Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 04:27 Report: Training of Ukrainian soldiers at the expense of British troops +++

The training of Ukrainian armed forces in Great Britain is being restricted by a report by the London Court of Auditors to train British soldiers. A quarter of the training capacity is being used for the program for Ukrainian recruits, known as Operation Interflex, according to the report by the National Audit Office (NAO). Great Britain has trained more than 42,000 Ukrainians since the start of the Russian war of aggression. According to Defense Minister John Healey, Operation Interflex is to continue throughout 2025. According to the report, 89 percent of American soldiers trained in Great Britain feel better prepared for combat operations. According to the NAO, however, there is criticism of the lack of training in the use and combat of drones. The reason for this is military and civilian flight restrictions in Great Britain.

+++ 02:32 Russia: Freight train derailed after external influence +++
According to the Russian railway, a freight train derailed due to external influences in the Russian border region of Belgorod. A locomotive and several wagons of the train came off the tracks due to an interference with rail traffic, the South-Eastern Railway announced via Telegram. According to initial information, there are no final details. The railway is not yet releasing any further details.

+++ 01:52 USA considers easing weapons restrictions for Ukraine +++
The US government is considering a possible lifting of the conditions for the use of long-range weapons by Ukraine in the war against Russia. “We are working on it,” says US President Joe Biden. According to insiders, the US is close to an agreement on the delivery of such weapons to Ukraine. However, the government in Kiev had to wait a few more months because the US had to clarify technical issues before a delivery could be made. The government in Washington has so far been hesitant to deliver long-range weapons or to authorize their use against targets deep inside Russia for fear of an escalation of the conflict.

+++ 00:53 Russians are said to have launched an active attack in Kursk +++
The Russian military is increasing pressure on Ukrainian troops in the Russian region of Kursk. The Russians have begun active attacks on the left wing of the occupied territory, reports the Telegram channel Deepstate, which is close to the Ukrainian military. Armored vehicles were transported across the Seim River and smaller rivers. In addition, a column of tanks is moving from the recently recaptured settlement of Korenevo towards Snagost.

+++ 23:22 US Republicans: Ukraine should be allowed to use long-range US weapons in Russia +++
Important Republicans in the US Parliament are calling on US President Biden to allow Ukraine to use long-range missile systems against additional targets in Russia. It is long overdue for the government to lift the restrictions on the use of weapons supplied by the US against legitimate military targets in Russia, according to a letter to Biden. The letter is signed by, among others, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the US House of Representatives, Michael McCaul. So far, the US has limited the use of its weapons against Russia to defending against the Russian offensive against the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

+++ 22:17 US Secretary of State and British colleague announce trip to Kyiv +++
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his British counterpart David Lammy will travel to Ukraine together this week. The two politicians said this at a press conference on the sidelines of Blinken's talks in London. “The joint trip comes at a critical time for Ukraine,” said Blinken. Russia is intensifying its aggression against civilians, important infrastructure and the Russian military. “We see it increasing its attacks on cities, people and in particular the energy infrastructure before the cold months,” said the US Secretary of State.

+++ 21:36 Selenskyj criticizes previous diplomacy +++
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is demanding that his diplomats defend the interests of the country under attack by Russia more vigorously. The new Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha is to restructure Ukrainian diplomacy so that “we and our partners can respond much more actively to challenges.” Zelensky said this in his evening video message. He had previously officially introduced Sybiha as the new minister at the Foreign Ministry. It must be ensured that Ukraine finds even more understanding in Europe, said Zelensky. At the same time, the country needs closer relations with Latin America, Africa and Asia. “We must exploit the full potential of our strategic relations with the United States,” said the President in Kyiv.

+++ 20:57 Landmines reduce Ukraine's GDP +++
Landmines are diminishing an estimate that suggests Ukraine's gross domestic product (GDP) is worth $11.2 billion annually. That's about 5.6 percent of Ukraine's national wealth measured by economic output in 2021, according to a report by the Ukrainian Economy Ministry and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. The study found that regional tax revenues were about $1.1 billion lower because of the mines and the value of Ukraine's exports fell by about $8.9 billion. Agriculture Ministry data shows that about 2.5 percent of arable land has become vermin-infested and unusable. The World Bank estimates that about $34.6 billion would be needed to safely demine Ukraine.

+++ 20:11 Kiev expects most difficult winter yet +++
In view of the destruction in the energy sector, the Ukrainian government is expecting the most difficult winter since the beginning of the war. It will be a challenge to ensure a stable energy supply in the coming heating season, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told journalists in Kiev. “We have successfully survived three heating seasons.” The coming winter will be “no less difficult, but perhaps even the most difficult.” Ukraine is receiving equipment for its energy sector from all over the world, said Shmyhal. Efforts are being made to get damaged power plants back into operation. To make the energy system less vulnerable, it will be organized in a more decentralized manner. “We are also increasing the autonomy of critical infrastructures,” said the head of government.

All previous developments canYou can read more here.