UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights
Sweden and Denmark have announced a significant order for CV90 MKIIIC infantry fighting vehicles, with 40 units designated for Ukraine.
Find out more about these vehicles in our video:
Putin has agreed to deploy the Oreshnik systems in Belarus by 2025. These systems, touted by Moscow as a deterrent to the West after Ukraine's successful long-range strikes, will be stationed in Belarus following a formal request by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
Hungarian intelligence services reportedly spied on EU officials visiting the country, including searching their hotel rooms and wiretapping their conversations, according to Politico citing a joint investigation by Direkt36 and De Tijd.
The targets of the surveillance were investigators from the European Fraud and Abuse Prevention Office (OLAF), who had previously investigated a Hungarian company linked to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's son-in-law.
The investigation found that OLAF employees visiting Hungary in 2015 and 2017 were followed, had their phones wiretapped, and had their hotel rooms searched. The report also revealed that it is a standard practice for Hungarian intelligence to gather data from the laptops of EU delegations during visits.
Western Sanctions Gradually Erode Russia’s Military Power, Report Says
Western sanctions are increasingly undermining Russia’s ability to produce weapons, according to The Washington Post. Initially aimed at the economy, the restrictions are now targeting critical components like chips, sensors, and specialized electronics essential for military production.
Key takeaways from the report:
• Weapon Quality Decline: Sanctions have degraded the quality of Russian weapons and made supply chains more fragile, even when circumventing restrictions through third countries like China.
• Shortages of High-Tech Parts: Russia is experiencing shortages of essential components, including tank lubricants and advanced machinery for UAVs.
• Equipment Failures: Substituting components, such as replacing South Korean engines in Iranian drones with Chinese ones, has caused increased malfunctions.
• Depleting Reserves: While Russia offsets losses through mass production, experts predict a shortage of tanks by 2025 as reserves dwindle.
• Costly Smuggling Schemes: Russia employs spies and smugglers to obtain restricted goods, but these operations are slow and costly.
Experts believe these disruptions in Russia’s military industry could significantly influence the course of the war.
EU Urges US to Ease Sanctions on Gazprombank Over Energy Security Concerns
Sources told the publication that EU countries are exploring alternative payment options through Gazprombank's Luxembourg subsidiary and other channels to ensure stable energy supplies.
Syrian Rebels' Advance Threatens Putin’s Gains, Report Says
The rapid advance of Syrian rebels, including the successful capture of Aleppo and Hama, is challenging one of Russia’s key achievements: its 2015 military intervention that strengthened Bashar al-Assad’s regime, according to The Washington Post.
EU Continues to Fund Russia by Buying Russian Fuel from India, Report Says
The European Union has increased its purchases of Russian-produced fuel from India in 2024, despite efforts to curb Russia's oil revenue, according to Politico, citing a study by the Center for the Study of Democracy.
From January to August, the EU bought 20% more fuel from Indian refineries that process Russian oil compared to the same period last year.
Czech volunteers delivered 12,000 FPV drones to Ukraine in a year, and another 3,000 are awaiting delivery.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed accelerating the delivery of the tenth aid package to Ukraine with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Russian forces have hit Zaporizhzhia using FAB-250 bombs fitted with Unified Planning and Correction Modules (UMPK), according to Ukrainian police.
The FAB-250, a 250-kilogram general-purpose bomb with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead, has been adapted by Russia for greater range and accuracy. The UMPK modifications, which include an inertial navigation system, give these lighter and more aerodynamic bombs a planning range of up to 80 kilometers.
This adaptation allows Russian aircraft to drop the bombs from safer distances, such as the Tokmak and Molochansk regions, while still reaching targets as far as Zaporizhzhia.
Iran's Foreign Minister's Aide Calls on Ukraine to "Stop Supporting Syrian Rebels" as Step Violates Countries' Counter-Terrorism Commitments
Ukrainian St.Nicholas.