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Stay on top of Russia-Ukraine war 09-26-2024 developments on the ground with KyivPost fact-based news, exclusive video footage, photos and updated war maps.
The Kremlin strictly follows Nazi Josef Goebbels’ edict that propaganda should appeal to emotions and instincts rather than intellect. Truth is unimportant and subordinate to tactics and psychology.
Under the heading “maskirovka,” propaganda, deception and psychological operations (aka, psyops) have been formally part of Russia’s war-making doctrine and arsenal for more than 100 years, since the Tsarist era. Over that time and huge investment, Russia has learned that, for communication messages and narratives to be successful, they are best built on a foundation of emotional manipulation – feelings of fear, anger, joy, hope, sadness, disgust, and their many derivatives.
After all, psychological experts believe that some 80 percent of decision-making is emotionally rather than rationally based. This is likely increasing in a world where we are constantly digitally deluged and hunted by increasingly precise algorithms, which is also a world where we default to our instinctive fight, flight or freeze responses to avoid them. In this world, emotions are both our escape and our trap, it seems.
The Republican presidential nominee spoke extensively about his take on Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine for the first time in months during a speech where he also attacked Biden and Zelensky.
Former President Donald Trump has attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and allies in the White House for failing to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and “wasting” billions of dollars. The stump speech shed light on how the Republican presidential candidate may approach support for Ukraine if he wins the White House in November – and the outlook is not good for Kyiv.
The Republican presidential nominee spoke extensively about his take on Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine for the first time in months during a campaign speech on Wednesday in Mint Hill, North Carolina, about 150 miles outside of Raleigh.
It’s a lot of money but don’t expect big changes in the air or land war and probably it’s best not to trust the hype overly. Some serious line items are missing in Uncle Sam’s latest arms to Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday confirmed a major US arms and assistance transfer to Ukraine, saying on his personal Telegram channel Kyiv would receive $7.9 billion in military support. He did not specify timelines.
“I am grateful to US President Joseph Biden, the US Congress and both parties, Republican and Democrat, and the entire American people for today’s announcement of significant defense aid to Ukraine totaling $7.9 billion and the imposition of sanctions against Russia, Zelensky said.
“Putin should be sleeping with one eye open,” says special correspondent Jason Smart, as the situation in the Kremlin is becoming far more complex than it may first appear.
Ukraine has said some 20,000 children were taken to Russia following Moscow’s February 2022 invasion.
Ukraine and Russia are to exchange 13 children, displaced by Moscow’s invasion, reuniting them with their families following mediation by Qatar, officials in the Gulf state said Thursday.
Russia has been accused of forcibly deporting thousands of Ukrainian children from schools, hospitals and orphanages in parts of the country controlled by its forces.
The war in Ukraine featured prominently in speeches by world leaders during the second day of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
On the second day of the 79th UN General Assembly in New York, world leaders spoke about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, along with other critical global challenges.
Here is a summary of some of the key points they made.
The announcement comes as Zelensky continues to meet with allied leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York and billions in American aid is set to expire at the end of the month.
US President Joe Biden has promised that America will continue supporting Ukraine, announcing a $7.9 billion aid package following Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky’s visit to the UN General Assembly this week.
“I am proud to welcome President Zelensky back to the White House today. For nearly three years, the United States has rallied the world to stand with the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom from Russian aggression, and it has been a top priority of my Administration to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to prevail,” the outgoing US president announced in a statement issued by the White House on Thursday.
The MoF borrowed UAH72.4bn, the largest monthly amount during the Great War
The MoF once again borrowed large funds for the state budget, including UAH14.bn and US$153m. Interest rates hardly changed.
Demand concentrated mainly on two and three-year bonds. The MoF sold the planned UAH6bn of two-year bills, rejected just 134% of demand, and decreased only the weighted average rate by 1bp to 15.59%. Demand for three-year notes was slightly below the cap, allowing the MoF to accept all bids without any changes in interest rates.
Hundreds of prominent political, military and cultural figures have endorsed an open letter to US President Joe Biden, calling for specific action to strengthen the West, faced with Russian threats.
Dear Mr. President
As Ukrainian cities continue to be targeted by Russian army missiles and drones, bringing death and devastation to the civilian population, and as many Ukrainian soldiers continue to be exposed to the terrible gliding bombs dropped from Russian territory, we take the liberty of appealing to you.
Putin announced an updated nuclear doctrine that would allow the use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states when they are supported by nuclear powers -- a reference to Ukraine and its backers.
The European Union on Thursday rejected as "reckless and irresponsible" a plan by President Vladimir Putin to authorise a nuclear response to a massive air attack on Russia.
Putin on Wednesday announced an updated nuclear doctrine that would allow the use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states when they are supported by nuclear powers -- a clear reference to Ukraine and its Western backers.
Ukrainian officials dismissed Putin's nuclear threats as ineffective, stating that nuclear blackmail is Russia's sole tactic following announcement of changes to its nuclear doctrine.
Nuclear blackmail is the only tool Russia has to intimidate the world, but it won't work, the head of the President's Office, Andrii Yermak, said after Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced changes to his country’s nuclear doctrine.
“Besides nuclear blackmail, Russia has nothing else, no other tools for intimidating the world. These tools will not work,” Yermak said, on Sept. 25.
Biden also announced Washington would provide Ukraine with the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) long-range munition, "to enhance Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities."
US President Joe Biden announced on Thursday a "surge" in assistance to Ukraine including nearly $8 billion in military aid and new long-range munitions ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky was due to present his "victory plan" in meetings with Biden and US Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday in Washington, where the US president was expected to announce a boost in aid to Ukraine to support its fight against Russia.
Ukrainian officials believe the Kremlin will target infrastructure linking stations with the power grid in upcoming strikes, rather than the actual reactors. But the missiles might miss.
President Volodymyr Zelensky in a Wednesday United Nations speech warned that Russia is planning to attack Ukraine’s atomic energy stations in upcoming weeks and months, potentially threatening the European continent with radioactive fallout worse than Chornobyl.
Russian strikes for more than two years have mostly ruined Ukraine’s conventional power production sites, and the Kremlin is now planning to strike the country’s nuclear power plants, in an attempt to browbeat the Ukrainian civilian population into submission, Zelensky said.
Sources indicate that if the proposal were to be approved in the future, the ammunition could be sent to Ukraine without the need for public disclosure.
The Pentagon has recommended that the US administration supply Ukraine with white phosphorus ammunition, according to NBC News, citing three government officials.
It is said the White House has rejected the proposal multiple times over concerns of the controversial nature of the misuse white phosphorus and the potential to cause civilian casualties.
Putin came up with warnings that he might change Russia’s nuclear doctrine, literally admitting that he cannot win a conventional war against Ukraine, the author writes.
First, front page of the FT, that Saudi is abandoning its $100 oil price target as it is confident that: a) it can win the oil production war with competitors; and b) it has alternative funding sources, particularly debt and capital markets. The latter is true, but surely by announcing a willingness to let oil prices go lower and to issue more debt that will just increase its overall borrowing costs.
Some have doubted the veracity of the FT story - was the Saudi $100 oil price target realities anyway, has it long been targeting something lower? But assuming it is true it raises lots of questions as to why now, why is Saudi doing this - someone is putting those stories out there. So therein some thoughts;
Companies still working in Russia not only contribute taxes to Moscow’s war chest, but they are obliged to facilitate conscription of those who commit war crimes in Ukraine.
Mondelez International, the parent company of popular brands such as Milka, Oreo, Ritz Crackers and Philadelphia cream cheese, is facing growing criticism for its decision to continue business operations in Russia, despite Moscow’s war on Ukraine. A survey conducted by PissedConsumer reveals that nearly 90% of respondents were unaware that Mondelez pays taxes in Russia, effectively contributing to the country’s wartime economy.
Most importantly, the findings reveal that over 77% of consumers would stop buying Mondelez products upon learning of the company’s ongoing business in Russia. With global condemnation and an increasingly stringent sanctions regime, 71% of respondents believe Mondelez should fully exit the Russian market as long as its invasion and occupation of Ukraine persist.
The Biden administration is concerned that Zelensky’s victory plan boils down to a request for weapons and does not offer a clear path.
The administration of US President Joe Biden is concerned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s victory plan lacks a comprehensive strategy and essentially amounts to a repeated request for additional weapons and the lifting of restrictions on the use of long-range missiles, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials ahead of the plan’s presentation.
Zelensky plans to brief Biden on the details of the plan on Thursday, marking the first time the White House will hear the full structure.
A recent Guardian report claimed two fake British news sites were spreading Russian disinformation, though closer examination of the story raises more questions than answers.
Two, apparently British, news outlets were reportedly spreading Russian disinformation in Ukraine. The legitimacy of the sites is suspect while the story itself appears mostly authentic upon closer examination – the combination highlights the difficulties in identifying and deciphering Russian disinformation.
The Guardian said that one particular article from the two outlets – londoninsider.co.uk and talk-finance.co.uk – had been picked up and disseminated in Ukraine “where the UK’s media has a reputation for reliability and trustworthiness.”
With their Pact for the Future, political leaders and experts sought ways to reform the international organisation and make it fit to tackle current and future challenges.
The UN Summit of the Future has taken place in New York, moderated by Germany and Namibia. With their Pact for the Future, political leaders and experts sought ways to reform the international organisation and make it fit to tackle current and future challenges. Commentators see this as an opportunity to rethink the role of the United Nations.
Not much in the way of major changes
The visit is set to feature the announcement of a surge in US support, although it is unclear whether he will get the green light he wants for Ukraine to fire US-made long-range missiles into Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will present his "victory plan" to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris Thursday, but a blazing row with Donald Trump underscored how the US election could soon upend support for Kyiv.
Zelensky's trip to the White House is set to feature the announcement of a surge in US support, although it is unclear whether he will get the green light he wants for Ukraine to fire US-made long-range missiles into Russia.
In Kyiv, one of the strikes caused a fire on the first floor of a 5-story building in the Pechersk district, damaging at least 4 apartments and 20 cars.
Russian forces launched a massive attack on Ukraine early morning on Thursday, Sept. 26, firing 78 "Shahed" kamikaze drones and 6 missiles. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that air defense systems successfully intercepted 66 drones and 4 missiles.
However, as of 9: 40 a.m. Kyiv time, eight drones evaded interception, and one remains in Ukrainian airspace.
The package includes munitions for HIMARS, artillery munitions, artillery armoured vehicles, small arms and “anti-armor” weapons such as Javelin and TOW missiles as well as AT-4 anti-tank rockets.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $375 million in military aid for Ukraine on Wednesday, in a package that includes HIMARS precision rocket launchers, cluster munitions and light tactical vehicles.
"The United States is committed to Ukraine's defense against Russia's brutal aggression," Blinken said in a statement, adding Washington would "deploy this new assistance as quickly as possible."
Russian UAV operators hope rear-view cameras will help detect threats from Ukrainian FPV drones designed to take down reconnaissance aircraft.
Russian reconnaissance drone operators have reportedly begun installing rear-view cameras on their UAVs to counter Ukrainian anti-aircraft FPV drones, as reported by Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov, a Ukrainian military consultant specializing in electronic warfare.
The modification was discovered when Ukrainian Defense Forces shot down a Russian reconnaissance drone, likely a ZALA 42 model, equipped with a miniature rear-view camera attached to a custom device from a Russian manufacturer.
Under the proposed rules, Russia would also consider any attack by a non-nuclear country supported by a nuclear power as a joint attack by both.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday announced plans to broaden Russia's rules on the use of its nuclear weaponry, allowing it to unleash a nuclear response in the event of a "massive" air attack.
Under the proposed rules, Russia would also consider any attack by a non-nuclear country supported by a nuclear power as a joint attack by both.
Zelensky addressed the annual gathering of world leaders to rally support before a high-profile visit Thursday to the White House, where President Joe Biden's administration promised new military aid.
Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.
Key Takeaways from the ISW:
Trump says Ukraine “refuses to make a deal”; Zelensky tells UN that Kremlin is plotting attacks on nuclear plants before winter; Japan will join G7 in offering Russian-asset-backed loans to Kyiv.
At a rally in the swing state of North Carolina on Wednesday, US Republican candidate Donald Trump said that President Volodymyr Zelensky “refuses to make a deal” with Moscow to end the 32-month-long invasion of his country, saying that there is nothing left of Ukraine anyway after more than two years of war.
“We continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal, Zelensky,” said Trump, who continually boasts that he could negotiate an end to the war “in 24 hours” by gaining concessions from both Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
