UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights
Another Russian pontoon crossing in the Kursk region was destroyed using GMLRS missiles and M30 DPICM cluster bombs. https://t.me/United24media/24919
The international world order is under threat like we haven’t seen since the Cold War, according to William Burns, head of the CIA, and Richard Moore, head of foreign intelligence in Great Britain, in an article for the Financial Times.
Cyber Attack on Russian Resources by Ukrainian Intelligence
On September 7, Ukrainian cyber specialists from the GUR targeted several Russian enterprises involved in supporting the war.
The attack hit companies producing radio-electronic components, spare parts for Russian weapons, and metal processing equipment. Among the affected were “SMKomplekt EK,” “KristElCom,” “KonturNIIRS,” “Chip-Prof,” and others, including the propagandist site “Simferopol Forum.”
GUR specialists gained access to 14 servers, erasing system files, databases, and backups. They also posted a message celebrating Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Day on the attacked websites.
Ukrainian “dragon drones” terrorize the occupiers, — CNN reports.
These drones target Russian positions with thermite, a powdered mixture of aluminum and iron oxide or nickel, which burns at temperatures of up to 2,200 degrees Celsius.
Thermite can quickly burn vegetation, “exposing” Russian positions, and also destroy the invaders themselves.
“It’s a very nasty substance. Using a drone to deliver it is quite innovative. However, if used in this way, the effect will be more psychological than physical. Given Ukraine’s access to thermite, these are likely isolated operations rather than a new primary weapon,” says Nicholas Drummond, a former British army officer and military analyst.
The expert notes that the psychological impact of using thermite is significant, as frightened Russian soldiers abandon their positions and flee.
Discovered by German chemist Hans Goldschmidt in 1895, thermite was originally used to weld railroad tracks.
According to the British anti-war human rights group Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), Ukraine has also used thermite to destroy Russian tanks.
“Thermite drops directly into the hatches, ignites quickly, and destroys everything inside. This accuracy, combined with the drone’s ability to bypass traditional defenses, makes thermite bombs a highly effective tool in modern warfare,” the AOAV report stated.
According to international law, thermite is not prohibited for use in military operations.
During the attack on Odesa, a Russian “Shahed” drone entered Romanian airspace, according to the country’s Ministry of Defense.
Former British Defense Minister Grant Shapps has called for lifting restrictions on Storm Shadow strikes against Russia.
Shapps also urged the British government to encourage France, the US, and “more restrained” Germany to remove restrictions on long-range weapons for Ukraine. He proposed delivering a clear ultimatum to Putin: “Stop your constant attacks on Ukraine, or we will support Ukraine’s response.”
Russia is increasingly using controversial Western bloggers to spread propaganda, a tactic that is proving more effective than bot farms, according to Finnish disinformation researcher Pekka Kallioniemi.
Kallioniemi, who recently published the book Vatnik Soup, examines the spread of Kremlin propaganda. In an interview with Politico, she described how Russia is advancing in spreading fake narratives in the West.
She explained that Russia has shifted from relying on bot farms, the Kremlin’s main tool since 2013, to leveraging social networks. Specifically, this involves enlisting both radical right- and left-wing bloggers with large audiences. The researcher notes that it’s not difficult to persuade these influencers to spread disinformation that benefits Moscow, citing two primary incentives: substantial financial rewards and shared ideological values.
“Their reach is enormous. They usually grow organically and gain popularity, unlike troll and bot accounts, which struggle to spread their narratives beyond their networks. With a central hub—a superspreader account with millions of followers—it’s far easier to distribute propaganda, as these accounts already have a massive audience. Sometimes, their content even makes its way into mainstream media.
These figures are idolized and have large fan bases, particularly on social media, where they are listened to and trusted. This makes them highly effective at spreading pro-Kremlin narratives,” Kallioniemi says.
She adds that, amid Russia’s attempts to interfere in elections in several Western countries, efforts to counter the Kremlin’s new tactics have ramped up. She adds that, amid Russia’s attempts to interfere in elections in several Western countries, efforts to counter the Kremlin’s new tactics have ramped up. However, this has proven challenging because it’s difficult to detect the involvement of real people collaborating with Moscow, and the penetration of Russian disinformation has become more subtle. The use of AI also plays a role, allowing propaganda to spread automatically.