"The #Vatican sought to defend #PopeFrancis on Tuesday after the pontiff sparked fury in #Ukraine by praising #Russia's imperial rulers — a history President Vladimir #Putin has invoked to justify his ongoing war.

The #Kremlin delighted in the controversy, which stemmed from comments Francis made to a group of young Russians urging them to see themselves as the heirs of a 'great' empire."

Vatican defends pope's praise of 'great' Russian empire after fury in Ukraine
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/pope-francis-praise-russian-empire-ukraine-putin-rcna102283

Planes in Russian city of #Pskov hit by drones

A #DroneAttack on the city of Pskov in northwestern #Russia has damaged four heavy transport planes, state media reported early on Wednesday, amid reports of explosions in regions south of #Moscow. | #UkraineWar #Ukraine
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/aug/30/russia-ukraine-war-live-updates-drone-attacks-russian-planes-pskov-black-sea-boats?page=with:block-64ee8afd8f08b9a6738aa15d#block-64ee8afd8f08b9a6738aa15d

"A critical juncture has been reached in #Ukraine’s months-long counteroffensive. After weeks of difficult battles, Ukrainian forces have slowly edged south in the #Zaporizhia region, taking hamlet after hamlet as Russian forces try to keep them at bay." #UkraineWar #Russia

Ukraine’s months-long #counteroffensive at the crossroads
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/8/31/ukraines-months-long-counteroffensive-at-the-crossroads

#Ukraine’s foreign minister, #DmytroKuleba, has hit out at critics of #Kyiv’s tactics in its counteroffensive against #Russia’s invasion, saying they were spitting in the faces of Ukrainian soldiers and should “shut up”. #UkraineWar

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/aug/31/russia-ukraine-war-live-updates-zelenskiy-corruption-military-medical-exemptions-moscow-drone-down?page=with:block-64f072a88f083bb275c21bd5#block-64f072a88f083bb275c21bd5

#TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Multiple air defense missile systems deployed by #Russia on two disputed islands off northern #Japan in 2020 have been moved off the isles, an analysis of satellite images showed #Thursday, raising the possibility that Moscow is repurposing weapons from its Far East for use in the war against #Ukraine. #UkraineWar #NorthernTerritories #SouthernKurils

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230831/p2g/00m/0in/086000c

In 2021, when Muratov co-received the #NobelPeacePrize, he dedicated the award to #NovayaGazeta’s “fallen” journalists who “gave up their lives for their profession”.

Since 2000, Novaya Gazeta has seen six of its journalists and contributors killed, including investigative reporter #AnnaPolitkovskaya, who was shot dead in #Moscow on President Vladimir #Putin’s birthday. #Ukraine

#Russia adds #Nobel prize-winning journalist #DmitryMuratov to list of ‘foreign agents’
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/02/russia-adds-nobel-prize-winning-journalist-dmitry-muratov-to-list-of-foreign-agents

"A by-product of #uranium enrichment, depleted uranium is used for #ammunition because its extreme density gives rounds the ability to easily penetrate armor plating and self-ignite in a searing cloud of dust and metal.

While depleted uranium is #radioactive, it is considerably less so than naturally occurring uranium, although particles can linger for a considerable time." #UkraineWar

Exclusive-US to send controversial depleted-uranium munitions to #Ukraine -sources
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/exclusive-us-to-send-controversial-depleted-uranium-munitions-to-ukraine-sources/ar-AA1g7nbt

"#Armenia's security architecture was 99.999% linked to #Russia, including when it came to the procurement of arms and ammunition.

But today we see that Russia itself is in need of weapons, arms and ammunition (for the war in #Ukraine) and in this situation it's understandable that even if it wishes so, the Russian Federation cannot meet Armenia's security needs."

Armenian PM says depending solely on Russia for security was 'strategic mistake'
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/armenian-pm-says-depending-solely-russia-security-was-strategic-mistake-2023-09-03/

"But #Russia's slide and #Indonesia's ascent are both driven in large part by the same thing: people. Russia is suffering from acute brain drain while Indonesia's labor force is growing," the Council wrote.

"In particular, Indonesia's educated professional class is growing while Russia's is shrinking." #UkraineWar #Ukraine #TootSEA

Russia's massive #BrainDrain is ravaging the #economy - these stunning figures show why it will soon be smaller than Indonesia's
https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-economy-brain-drain-labor-shortage-workforce-exodus-capital-flight-2023-9

In his resignation letter, #Reznikov provided an overview of his 22 months in the post, praising #Ukraine’s fierce wartime resistance against Russian forces and his ministry’s lobbying efforts to secure vital military aid from the west, Reuters reported. #UkraineWar

Ukraine's defence minister submits resignation letter
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/sep/04/russia-ukraine-war-live-updates-izmail-port-attack-putin-erdogan-talks-wheat?page=with:block-64f5845d8f083bb275c243b9#block-64f5845d8f083bb275c243b9

Superficially, the roughly 24,000 active-duty personnel in the Swedish armed forces might not seem a major addition to a defensive alliance already estimated to draw on more than 3.5 million personnel. But that would overlook #Sweden’s decades of ‘armed neutrality,’ which has left the country far better equipped than most its size. #Ukraine #Russia

When Sweden Officially Joins #NATO, It Will Bring More Than Meatballs to the Table
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a44546660/what-sweden-joining-nato-means/

Ukrainian attacks are being carefully managed to minimize casualties, which is proving successful but also making it possible for the Russians to reset their defensive lines, said Matthew Ford, associate professor in war studies at the Swedish Defence University in Stockholm. #UkraineWar

A shake-up and a breakthrough? #Ukraine's #counteroffensive is at a key moment
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/ukraine-replaces-defense-minister-troops-breach-russian-defensive-line-rcna103228

The Gepard is a potent killer of helicopters, low flying SU-25 bombers and Iranian shahed drones. This is big news.

"The German Defence Ministry noted that the construction of a production line for the manufacture of ammunition was successfully completed in an ambitious time frame, which made it possible to carry out the first delivery of a five-figure number of shells to #Ukraine." #UkraineWar

#Germany Delivers First Batch of Newly Produced #Gepard Shells to Ukraine
https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/eng/news/2023/09/5/7168819/

"At the end of August, #Ukraine declared it had finally managed to pierce #Russia’s first line of defence after retaking the small village of #Robotyne in Ukraine’s south. This key advance coincided with a Russian mercenary group’s threat to stop fighting on Russia’s behalf and could be a sign of more anti-Kremlin sentiment brewing among those fighting for Moscow. #UkraineWar

Another Russian mercenary group shows discontent with the Kremlin: ‘A sign of more to come’
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20230904-another-russian-mercenary-group-shows-discontent-with-the-kremlin-a-sign-of-more-to-come

"Russia-based recruiters are targeting Cuban nationals online for the war in #Ukraine, promising them lucrative military contracts, help with relocating to #Russia and even citizenship for them and their families, according to an investigation by The Moscow Times’ Russian service." #UkraineWar

Russia-Based Recruiters Lure Cubans to Fight in Ukraine with Promises of Money, Citizenship
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/09/05/russian-recruiters-lure-cubans-to-fight-in-ukraine-with-promises-of-money-citizenship-a82360

“With the introduction of #LTAMDS, #Poland will become the first country after the #US to complement the combat-proven Patriot with LTAMDS which provides extended range and full, 360-degree coverage to detect and defend against complex, highly coordinated, multi-threat attack scenarios.” - Raytheon Land & Air Defense Systems President Tom Laliberty
#Russia #Ukraine #PatriotMissile #AirDefense

Poland Orders LTAMDS Radars, Patriot Launchers From US
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/09/06/poland-orders-ltamds-patriot-us/?expand_article=1

This is going to be interesting, he's a Crimean Tatar - a Turkic ethnic group and nation native to #Crimea.

#Russia

#RustemUmerov has made comments after #Ukraine’s parliament voted to approve him as defence minister on Wednesday
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/sep/06/russia-ukraine-war-live-updates-russian-strikes-izmail-port-moscow-downs-drone-attack-bryansk?page=with:block-64f86aff8f08229294ee390e#block-64f86aff8f08229294ee390e

As one #EU diplomat put it: “It is one of life’s ironies that the countries holding the cards in energy are sometimes ones who are at best unreliable partners and at worst future enemies.” #Russia #Ukraine

#Europe has dodged #Putin’s gas bullet. But it’s still thirsty for cheap energy https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/07/europe/european-energy-security-russia-ukraine-china-cmd-intl/index.html

But now, things are changing.

"#India and #Russia are Cold War-era partners. After mediating peace between India and #Pakistan to end their 1965 war, the #SovietUnion deployed cruisers and destroyers in New Delhi’s defence after the #UnitedStates sent a threatening warship into the #BayOfBengal during the 1971 war between the South Asian neighbours." #Ukraine

G20 Summit: Is India breaking up with Russia?
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/9/8/g20-summit-is-india-breaking-up-with-russia?traffic_source=rss&utm_source=press.coop

#Moscow aims to disrupt #Ukraine’s ability to export grain to world markets with a sustained campaign of attacks targeting Ukrainian #Danube ports, and has attacked the port of #Izmail four times this week, Ukrainian officials say. #UkraineWar

Proximity of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Danube ports stirs fear in #NATO member #Romania
https://apnews.com/article/romania-ukraine-russia-attacks-danube-ports-4b1b0e2b9aab3893063352e8f3a85bf8

Harsh language is all Russia has left. Everything else is tied up by the #UkraineWar.

"In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry listed these as Yerevan's decisions to sign up to the #InternationalCriminalCourt and to host a military exercise with the #UnitedStates, as well as a visit to #Ukraine by the Armenian prime minister's wife to deliver humanitarian aid."

#Russia issues 'harsh' protest to Armenia over range of 'unfriendly' action
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-issues-harsh-protest-armenia-over-range-unfriendly-actions-2023-09-08/

"The softening of the language is a further signal that as #JoeBiden faces an election year, #Ukraine is perceptibly slipping down his list of foreign policy priorities as the need grows to nurture alliances to contain #China in the #IndoPacific." #UnitedStates

Watered-down #G20 statement on Ukraine is sign of #India’s growing influence
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/10/watered-down-g20-statement-on-ukraine-is-sign-of-indias-growing-influence?utm_source=press.coop

"#SEOUL, Sept. 11 (Yonhap) -- A special train believed to be carrying North Korean leader #KimJongUn appears to have departed for #Russia, South Korean government officials said Monday, amid concerns that #Pyongyang and #Moscow could advance arms negotiations." #NorthKorea #Ukraine #UkraineWar

N. Korean leader's special train appears to have departed for Russia: officials
https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230910002652325

#VonDerLeyen said that the #EU must prepare to grow to more than 30 members, the Associated Press reports. #Ukraine, #Moldova and countries in the western #Balkans are among those in line.

#EU chief announces major review saying the bloc should grow to over 30 members
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/sep/13/russia-ukraine-war-live-updates-sevastopol-shipyard-fire-crimea-missile-attack-injuries?page=with:block-650189cd8f08cf50e1613c5f#block-650189cd8f08cf50e1613c5f

The blogger, Rybar, said that the missiles were launched from #Su24M aircraft over the #BlackSea. Rybar said air defenses, including a #PantsirS1, had brought down seven missiles, but added that “unfortunately, three #StormShadow missiles reached their target: the landing ship Minsk and the submarine Rostov-on-Don, which were in dry dock, received varying degrees of damage. #Ukraine #Russia

10 #CruiseMissiles launched at Russian shipyard, #Moscow military blogger says
https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-09-13-23/h_a5cebafcb7e16cd703aed524b6d66eee

Since #Russia invaded #Ukraine and exposed the continent’s overreliance on imports of Russian gas, European politicians and businesses have raced to source key minerals from a wider range of suppliers.

#EU moves to cut dependency on #China for #battery and #SolarPanel materials
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/14/eu-diversify-materials-car-battery-solar-panels-vote-parliament

"The issue of #GrainImports has triggered a diplomatic spat between #Poland and #Ukraine, with #Kyiv threatening possible legal action.

Poland is a major supplier of military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and hosts some one million Ukrainian refugees." #UkraineWar

Poland, #Hungary, #Slovakia defy end of #EU Ukraine grain import ban
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230915-poland-hungary-slovakia-defy-end-of-eu-ukraine-grain-import-ban

Israeli and Ukrainian officials pleaded for worshippers to stay away this year. #Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin #Netanyahu, and the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr #Zelenskiy, who is also Jewish, spoke last week in a conversation in which the Ukrainian leader made it clear that there were “not enough (bomb) shelters in #Uman for local residents, let alone foreign tourists”.

The show must go on’: 35,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews travel to #Ukraine for #RoshHashanah
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/15/ultra-orthodox-jews-celebrate-rosh-hashanah-uman-ukraine-pilgrimage

#THEHAGUE (Reuters) - #Russia and #Ukraine will square off before the International Court of Justice (#ICC) on Monday in a case that centres around claims by #Moscow that its invasion of Ukraine was done to prevent #genocide.

Kyiv argues Russia is abusing international law by saying the invasion was justified to prevent an alleged genocide in eastern Ukraine.

World Court to hear Russian objections to Ukraine genocide case
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/world-court-to-hear-russian-objections-to-ukraine-genocide-case/ar-AA1gQmyO

“If #Ukraine falls, what will happen in 10 years? Just think about it,” #Zelenskyy told CBS’s Scott Pelley, according to a translation provided by the network. “If [the Russians] reach #Poland, what’s next? A third world war?”

Volodymyr Zelenskyy Warns Of #WorldWarIII If Ukraine Is Defeated
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/volodymyr-zelenskyy-warns-of-world-war-iii-if-ukraine-is-defeated_uk_65085db1e4b0fa756c767d55?utm_source=press.coop

#Ukraine president visits wounded soldiers in #NewYork and questions #Russia’s right to a security council seat ahead of key speech at #UN general assembly. #UkraineWar

#Zelenskiy vows to be heard as he prepares for first in-person UN address since Russia’s invasion
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/19/volodymyr-zelenskiy-un-address-speech-tuesday

The #K600—in contrast to the #Leopard2R—can do a lot more than just clear #mines. Unlike the Leopard 2R, the K600 has an excavator arm for digging trenches and reducing berms. And by swapping dozer blades, a K600 crew can pivot between #MineClearing and #Construction roles. #SouthKorea

South Korean Breaching Vehicles Will Help #Ukraine Replace Its Counteroffensive Losses
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/south-korean-breaching-vehicles-will-help-ukraine-replace-its-counteroffensive-losses/ar-AA1gUeWi?ocid=emmx-mmx-feeds&PC=EMMX01

The #Ukraine money is now stuck in limbo as part of a complicated fight over spending that is pitting #Republicans against one another and the #House against the #Senate. #Congress has less than two weeks to avoid a shutdown at the end of the month, and #McConnell wants to pass Ukraine aid on the same timeline, but there is little urgency among Republicans.

#Zelenskyy is set to visit the #US as #GOP opposition to Ukraine aid grows
https://www.npr.org/2023/09/19/1199503861/zelenskyy-ukraine-aid-republican-congress-shutdown-spending

"The #grain disagreement has grown in intensity and significance after #Warsaw extended a ban on crops from its eastern neighbor in a push to placate its #farmers, whose support will be crucial in parliamentary #elections next month.

In response to such moves, #Ukraine filed a World Trade Organization (#WTO) complaint against #Poland, #Slovakia and #Hungary." #AndrzejDuda #GrainExports

Poland’s Duda Makes Dig at #Zelenskiy as Their Once-Strong Bond Frays
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/polish-president-vows-protect-grain-212417618.html

"Russian attacks on export routes through both the #BlackSea and #DanubeRiver remain a constant threat for shipping out crops that help feed the world. That’s making it harder and more expensive to squeeze cargoes out through #Europe, causing supplies to pile up in #Ukraine.

On top of that, many farmers are having to export crops themselves after major trading companies pulled back from the country. "

Ukraine Reaps a Big Harvest, But War Risks Trapping It at Home
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-reaps-big-harvest-war-071939106.html

Earlier, #Poland’s prime minister said his country would no longer send arms to #Ukraine in order to focus on its own defence, a few hours after #Warsaw summoned #Kyiv’s ambassador amid a row over #GrainExports. #UkraineWar

Kyiv-Warsaw talks 'set for coming days' after Poland says it will stop sending weapons
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/sep/21/russia-ukraine-war-live-updates-zelenskiy-biden-kyiv-kharkiv-cherkasy-death-toll-strikes?page=with:block-650c164b8f0816c868d40bab#block-650c164b8f0816c868d40bab

“I … want to tell President Zelenskyy never to insult Poles again, as he did recently during his speech at the UN,” Prime Minister #MateuszMorawiecki told an election rally on Friday, according to the State-run news agency PAP. #GrainImports #UkraineWar

#Poland’s PM tells #Ukraine’s #Zelenskyy to ‘never insult’ Polish people again
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/23/polands-pm-tells-ukraines-zelenskyy-to-never-insult-polish-people-again

Footage authenticated by BBC Verify shows the moment a Ukrainian missile strike hit the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea fleet in #Crimea. A Ukrainian military source told the BBC that Friday's attack was carried out using #StormShadow missiles, which are supplied by #Britain and #France. #Ukraine

#UkraineWar: Moment missile hits #Russia's #BlackSea fleet HQ
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-66898073

On Thursday, #Russia suspended nearly all #diesel and #petrol exports in order to stabilise its internal markets. #Ukraine

The move was the result of internal shortages probably caused by short-term increases in demand from the agricultural sector, the annual summer maintenance of refineries and attractive prices for exports.

#Moscow's halt of #FuelExports set to hit countries reliant on Russian supplies, says UK MoD
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/sep/24/russia-ukraine-war-live-zelenskiy-meets-no-officials-during-poland-visit-amid-strained-ties?page=with:block-650fd6508f087beab56e0015#block-650fd6508f087beab56e0015

Volodymyr #Zelenskiy awarded two Polish volunteers state awards during the Ukrainian president’s stopover on Saturday, but did not meet any officials as relations between the two countries are strained over #GrainImports. #Poland #Ukraine

Zelenskiy meets no officials during Polish visit
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/sep/24/russia-ukraine-war-live-zelenskiy-meets-no-officials-during-poland-visit-amid-strained-ties?page=with:block-650fbb078f08219d457b34a9#block-650fbb078f08219d457b34a9