+++ News in the Ukraine War +++: Putin orders further expansion of the Russian army

Russia ‌will increase its military spending in 2027 to a new high since the start of the war in Ukraine. Spending of 17.1 trillion rubles (around 178 billion euros) is planned, according to government documents available to the Reuters news agency on Monday. This corresponds to an increase of around 27 percent compared to the originally estimated budget of 13.5 trillion rubles. Overall, defense spending is expected to amount to 50 trillion rubles in the next three years. 12.1 trillion rubles were originally earmarked for defense in 2026, but the actual amount is classified. In addition, parts of military spending can be recorded in other areas of the budget.

Rising military spending is putting a strain on the Russian budget. According to the documents, the government doubled its budget deficit forecast in 2026 to 3.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), from a previous forecast of 1.6 percent. Total spending is expected to rise by 13.2 percent to 48.6 trillion rubles in 2026, or 20.9 percent of GDP. In order to finance the deficit, the government is planning tax increases for 2027. Among other things, a new special tax for metals and mining companies is expected to bring in around 200 billion rubles annually. The draft budget is due to be presented to Parliament by October 1st. (rtr)

Pope Leo XIV continues to oppose a military solution to the Ukraine conflict. In a press conference on the flight from Metz to Rome on Monday evening, he said that the church must represent its teaching, which is against the promotion of violence, hatred and weapons. He complained that some political leaders are currently even talking about the possibility of using nuclear weapons, the use of which would destroy an enormous number of human lives. The willingness to build more and more weapons only increases tensions and could lead to further wars.

Like his predecessor Francis (2013-2025), Leo Everyone hoped for a voice that could show a different path. The Church must be this voice by standing up for human dignity and the right to life for all, said the Pope. She is the one who invites Russia and Ukraine and other countries to come together, start a dialogue and look for ways to solve the problems without wars. “This may seem ineffective at times, but we will continue to invite dialogue and proclaim the Gospel,” said Leo XIV (kna).

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, North Korea is preparing to send another 10,000 soldiers to Russia. More than 8,000 North Korean soldiers are already on Russian territory, Zelensky said on Monday, citing “new data.” The soldiers would be “selected for training and subsequent deployment in Russia.”

Zelensky's comments come at a time of diplomatic tensions with South Korea. Last week, the government in Seoul expressed anger over Zelensky's announcement that Ukraine had handed over two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. According to Seoul, confidentiality was agreed for the handover. In August, Zelensky said that up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers could be sent to fight in Russia. In this context, he called on South Korea to support Ukrainian air defense.

Ukraine and South Korea estimate that North Korea has sent between 14,000 and 15,000 troops to support Russia since 2024. Most of them are stationed in the Kursk region of Russia. In addition, according to Ukrainian and independent ‌estimates, Pyongyang has delivered millions of ‌artillery shells and rockets to Russia. (rtr)

The Russian military continues its heavy attacks on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. The Ukrainian Air Force warned overnight of a ballistic missile threat in the region. Explosions were reportedly heard in Kyiv. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported on Telegram about damage in several parts of the capital.

In the Solomyanka district, an administration building was hit and rocket debris fell into the courtyard of a residential building, Klitschko said. A building at an educational institution was also hit and there was a fire. A fire broke out in a three-story non-residential building in the central Pechersk district.

There had already been a series of Russian attacks on the Ukrainian capital over the course of the day. According to official information, a clinic was also hit. Previously, the building of the Academy of Sciences had been hit. According to information from the evening, there were two fatalities. Mayor Klitschko said 24 people were injured in Russian attacks in the capital during the day. (dpa)

Due to delays in receiving aid, Ukraine says it is postponing some expenditure, including reconstruction work. The government will ultimately implement these projects, “but for now all resources must flow into important areas,” said Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky on the Telegram online service on Monday. The priority is defense and social services.

Korezky described the public finance situation as difficult. “Part of the planned international financing has not yet been received, partly due to Ukraine's failure to fulfill certain commitments made to international partners on time,” he added. Expenses that were not a priority would be put on hold. This applies to new construction, reconstruction or major repairs that are not of critical importance, as well as to improvements in public spaces such as parks and public squares.

The Russian war of aggression, which has been ongoing for more than four years, has hit the Ukrainian economy hard, causing billions of dollars in damage and a huge financial hole in Kyiv. The Ukrainian government has announced that it will seek an additional $53 billion (46.6 billion euros) in foreign aid next year from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, among others, to close the financial gap. Next year, the Ukrainian government plans to spend two thirds of its budget on defense spending. (afp)

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday that will increase the number of soldiers in the army by an additional 15,500 soldiers. “The permissible personnel strength of the Russian Armed Forces is set at 2,441,630 people, including 1,550,500 military personnel,” the decree said. Putin did not give a reason. He had already announced an increase in the size of the army in March, June and July.

In the war with Ukraine, Russia is only making a few gains in territory. Kyiv has repeatedly accused Moscow of preparing a wave of conscription. Putin called this “disinformation”. He last ordered a mobilization of reservists in 2022. At that time, the Russian army had suffered setbacks at the front. (afp)

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia has already begun additional mobilization. “They (the Russians) are also planning to increasingly involve foreigners,” Zelensky said in his evening video address, citing findings from Ukrainian secret services. For months there has been speculation about a new mobilization in Russia to compensate for the recent heavy losses on the front lines in Ukraine. Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has so far categorically rejected such fears.

There is also new information about the presence of North Korean soldiers in Russia. “There are currently more than 8,000 North Korean soldiers on Russian territory,” Zelensky said. “In addition, the deployment of a contingent of another 10,000 soldiers is being prepared - these will be selected to undergo training and then be deployed to Russia.”

Russia is paying for this, among other things, with technologies, and in return for this help, the production of “Shahed” attack drones has begun on North Korean territory with Russian technical support. “This is how evil spreads, and this is how a threat to life in one part of the world spreads to other parts of the world.” (dpa)

According to the government in Warsaw, there was another drone attack not far from a border crossing in the Ukrainian border region with Poland. "Another attack by Russia on western Ukraine. A jet-powered drone hit the Ukrainian side about two kilometers from the border crossing with Poland in Dorohusk," wrote Poland's Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz on Platform X. The airspace over Poland was therefore not violated.

As the High Command of the Polish Armed Forces announced, an air alert was raised in the region around Lublin in southeastern Poland during Russian air strikes against western Ukraine. This was lifted again after a quarter of an hour. According to Ukrainian information, the drone damaged the border control post building with the blast wave from the explosion. “There are no reports of injuries or deaths,” Roman Romanyuk, head of the Volyn oblast administration, wrote on Telegram. He asked residents of the region to stay in shelters. (dpa)

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul believes that further meetings with Russia only make sense under certain conditions after the conversation with his Russian colleague Sergei Lavrov. “Follow-up meetings only make sense if Russia is seriously prepared to negotiate,” said the CDU politician at a meeting with his Dutch colleague Tom Berendsen in The Hague when asked whether there should be further talks, for example between Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“The reaction that I have now heard publicly from Mr Lavrov shows no serious willingness to talk at this point in time,” said Wadephul. All those who had repeatedly called for direct talks to finally be held with Russia now see that “direct talks are of no use if the interlocutor insists on a fundamental position for further warfare.” He added: "As long as that is the case, I don't think we need to continue the conversation." (dpa)

The Ukrainian military says it has gained ground on the front in eastern Ukraine. A military unit said on Monday that it had recaptured another 51 square kilometers from the Russians. This means that a total of 176 square kilometers have been regained since the “Operation Vivaldi” offensive began several months ago. The offensive affects part of the 1,250 kilometer long front. The military unit said that to break through Russian defenses in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, it converted Soviet-era armored personnel carriers into kamikaze vehicles that blew up Russian fortresses.

The Russian side initially did not comment on the Ukrainian information. The numerically superior Russian military has long been trying to bring the Donetsk region completely under its control. The Russian Defense Ministry said Russian soldiers captured the village of Novovoyane in Donetsk and the village of Ulanove in the northern Ukrainian region of Sumy. The statements from Ukraine and Russia could not be independently verified. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has been going on since February 2022. (ap)