Russia-Ukraine conflict situation in Donetsk, Kursk

Russia-Ukraine conflict situation in Donetsk, Kursk

The Russian Defense Ministry said on August 31 that its forces had gained control of the settlement of Kirove, known in Ukraine as Verezamske, in the Donetsk region (Donbass).

Moscow's military has been making steady advances in the region as Ukrainian forces seek to advance into Russia's Kursk region following a surprise cross-border offensive that began on August 6.

In a separate report on developments in the Kursk region, the Russian Defense Ministry said its troops had repelled Ukrainian attacks there, including in the settlements of Korenevo and Malaya Loknya.

The ministry also counted daily enemy losses in the Kursk direction at 400 troops, 18 armored vehicles, including 1 tank, 3 armored personnel carriers and 14 armored fighting vehicles, as well as 3 artillery pieces, 3 mortars, an electronic warfare station and 7 other military vehicles.

The commander of a Ukrainian drone unit (right) in a Ukrainian-controlled area of ​​Russia's Kursk region, August 2024. Photo: Washington Post

Russian officials say Kiev's offensive in the Kursk region will not divert Russian forces from the eastern Ukrainian front, where they are still advancing.

Officials also said a Ukrainian offensive into Russian territory would trap thousands of its troops on a new front of little strategic or tactical importance.

Russian Foreign Minister to visit New York, USA

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved the composition of the Russian delegation to the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to be held in September, state news agency TASS reported on August 31.

According to the decree published on the official website of legal information, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was appointed head of the delegation.

The Russian delegation also included Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin, Chairman of the Federation Council (Upper House) International Affairs Committee Grigory Karasin, Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations Vasily Nebezya, and Chairman of the State Duma (Lower House) International Affairs Committee Leonid Slutsky.

In addition, Mr. Putin instructed the Russian Foreign Ministry to approve the composition of advisers, experts and technical staff who will accompany Mr. Lavrov's delegation to the event, which will take place at the General Assembly Building at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, USA.

Serbia's EU accession is still far away

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on August 31 that his country was unlikely to join the EU by 2028 – a timeline that several other Western Balkan countries hoping to join the bloc are targeting.

"I don't believe that we will be part of the EU in 2028," Vucic said, speaking at the Globsec Global Security Forum in Prague, Czech Republic. "That will not happen (joining the EU), I am not lying to my people."

The Serbian leader also said that if that happened, it would not happen before 2030. "But that's just my assessment. Nobody knows what could happen in the meantime," Vucic said.

Vucic's comments came two days after Serbia reached a landmark arms deal with France's Dasault Aviation, under which the Balkan country will buy 12 new Rafale fighter jets.

The move is seen as a major shift by Belgrade away from defence cooperation with its traditional ally Moscow. But Serbia needs to do more to join the EU.

The US will produce 4,000 more Javelin missiles per year.

The U.S. Army has awarded a $1.3 billion follow-on production contract to the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV) between Lockheed Martin and Raytheon for the production of missiles for the FGM-148 Javelin Medium Advanced Anti-Tank Weapon System (AAWS-M) and related equipment and services.

The contract includes about 4,000 missiles for Ukraine to supplement the previously supplied stockpile.

The one-year deal is part of a larger contract awarded last year to JJV to deliver an “unspecified number” of Javelin missiles between 2023 and 2026, with a total value that could reach more than $7 billion.

The Maryland-based defense contractor has ramped up production of its shoulder-fired anti-tank missile system, dubbed the "Javelin," and said it plans to expand production capacity to about 4,000 missiles a year.

Javelin anti-tank missile system made in the US. Photo: Popular Mechanics

Global demand for the Javelin has increased due to its proven anti-tank effectiveness in combat in Ukraine. The weapon is classified as a "fire and forget" missile with a maximum effective range of about 4.75 km, using a tandem-detonation warhead that attacks from above, where tank armor is typically thinner. On impact, the warhead can penetrate up to 800 mm (31.5 in) of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA).

Since Russia began its military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022, the US has transferred more than 10,000 Javelin missiles and hundreds of launchers to Kiev.

Armenia completely freezes membership in CSTO

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a press conference on August 31 that his country has frozen its participation in all CSTO bodies at this stage.

“We have frozen our activities in all CSTO bodies and consider this sufficient at this stage. At the moment, we do not see the need to make any other decisions, but this does not mean that we will not make any other decisions in the future,” Pashinyan said.

Earlier in the day, Mr Pashinyan told the Armenian parliament that “two CSTO member states are preparing for war against Armenia”. When asked by a journalist if he was ready to name these countries, the Armenian prime minister said he considered it inappropriate.

CSTO stands for Collective Security Treaty Organization, a security bloc led by Russia. Other former Soviet members of the CSTO include Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Minh Duc

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/tin-tuc-the-gioi-24-gio-ngoai-truong-nga-sap-toi-my-204240831221434552.htm