Ukraine: realities | «The Weekly Five»: 25.09 – 01.10

Zelenskyy and Stoltenberg discuss strengthening air defense before winter in Kyiv

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg the strengthening of Ukraine's air defense before winter.

According to Zelenskyy, he discussed key defense issues, the situation on the battlefield, and the needs of Ukrainian soldiers.

«It is necessary to strengthen the air shield of Ukraine. We discussed the situation in connection with the expected attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure», the president said, adding that he had asked for an increase in the supply of air defense systems by partner countries.

According to him, the NATO Secretary General promised to make efforts to increase such supplies.

 

US Ambassador: NATO to produce more weapons for Ukraine

NATO intends to increase the production of ammunition for Ukraine and NATO member states that have transferred a significant portion of their weapons to Kyiv, US Ambassador to NATO Julian Smith said.

She said that due to the fighting, some weapons and ammunition are in short supply, as NATO allies have been providing Ukraine with everything they can.

«So NATO has started working on what we call a defense production action plan, focusing on the shortage of ammunition for both Ukrainians and some NATO members who have been assisting Ukraine, which has led to their own shortages».

The US ambassador emphasized that the Alliance is working to strengthen ties with the private sector to try to speed up defense production lines.

 

British Intelligence: Russia is preparing to increase funding for war

Russia appears to be planning to significantly increase its war spending in 2024 and is preparing for a prolonged war with Ukraine.

According to documents that appear to be leaked from the Russian Ministry of Finance, Russia's spending on «defense» could rise to about 30% of all government spending in 2024.

The Russian Defense Ministry is asking to allocate 10.8 trillion rubles, which is about 6% of Russia's GDP and a 68% increase compared to the figure in the 2023 budget.

 

Biden: We cannot allow support for Ukraine to be interrupted

Late on Saturday evening, September 30, local time, US President Joe Biden released a statement reacting to the passage of a budget to fund government agencies for 45 days without aid to Ukraine: «Under no circumstances can we allow American support for Ukraine to be interrupted».

«While the Speaker and the overwhelming majority of Congress have been steadfast in their support for Ukraine, this deal does not include new funding to continue that support. Under no circumstances can we allow American support for Ukraine to be interrupted. I fully expect that the Speaker will stand by his commitment to the people of Ukraine and provide the support needed to help Ukraine at this critical time».

 

NYT: China has created obstacles to drone exports to Ukraine

On September 1, new rules came into effect in China to restrict the export of drone components and suppliers reduced sales of drones to Ukraine, giving China a covert influence on the war.

The publication notes that the fighting in Ukraine is a drone war. Therefore, there is a growing dependence on aircraft suppliers, in particular China, as the cheap drones that have become ubiquitous on the front lines mainly come from China, the world's largest producer of these devices.

This has given China a covert influence in a war that is being fought in part by consumer electronics.

According to The New York Times, Chinese companies have reduced sales of drones and drone parts to Ukrainians.

These obstacles in the «drone war» give Russia an advantage.

 

The project «Ukraine: realities» is implemented by the News agency «Konkurent» together with the Civic Movement «SVIDOMI» and the charity organization Global Empowerment Mission in English for readers from other countries to tell the stories of people who survived the horrors of the Russian occupation.

Проєкт «Ukraine: realities» реалізовується Інформаційним агентством «Конкурент» спільно з Громадянським Рухом «СВІДОМІ» та благодійною організацією Global Empowerment Mission на англійській мові для читачів з інших країн аби розповісти історії людей, які пережили жахи російської окупації.