UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights
Italy will deliver a second SAMP/T anti-aircraft battery to Ukraine to help protect its population, according to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Türkiye supports Ukraine and seeks a swift end to the war, one that respects the ‘legitimate interests of the Ukrainian people,’ said Basat Öztürk, Director General for International Security at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during a speech at the Atlantic Council forum in Washington, as quoted by Voice of America.
The prime ministers of Great Britain and Italy will discuss Ukraine's long-range strikes on Russian territory, according to Bloomberg.
Ukraine has resumed the production of cartridges after losing control of its only ammunition production facility, which is now under Russian occupation, Militarnyi reports, citing military personnel who tested the new cartridges at a training ground. The production includes 5.45×39 mm and 5.56×45 mm calibers.
The report suggests that this is likely a localized production, where Ukrainian-made casings are assembled with imported components.
‘It is unlikely that Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex is capable of producing complex items like gunpowder, primers, and intricately designed bullets,’ the article notes.
The Luhansk Ammunition Plant, which before Russian aggression was Ukraine’s sole producer of small arms ammunition, has been under Russian control since 2014.
The Czech Republic has earned more from Ukrainians than it spent on their support, according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic.
In the first half of 2024, the Czech Republic gained 4.4 billion kroner ($194.7 million) — the difference between the 7.3 billion kroner spent on refugee aid and the 11.7 billion kroner paid in taxes by working Ukrainians.
Additionally, around 118,000 Ukrainians are employed in the Czech Republic, helping to address the country's labor shortage. Research shows that 30% of Ukrainians hold more than one job.
Vladimir Putin reportedly traveled to Mongolia to consult with shamans, seeking their blessing for the use of nuclear weapons, according to Der Spiegel.
‘There are rumors in Moscow that Putin needed the approval of shamans before making such a serious decision, fearing to anger the spirits without their consent. Allegedly, he returned from Mongolia satisfied. However, this version seems fantastical, and none of my sources can confirm it. Nevertheless, it appears that a meeting with Mongolian shamans did take place,’ wrote journalist Mikhail Zygar.
Zygar noted that Mongolia and Tuva, where Putin recently visited, are home to some of the world’s most powerful shamans.
‘Putin has long been known for his fascination with mysticism, blending his interest in Orthodox beliefs with pagan traditions,’ the article states.
Zygar also claimed that before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Putin frequently consulted mystics, who reportedly assured him of military victory.