Krieg in der Ukraine

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Russia Eyes Balloon Communications System To Fill Massive Gap Left After Losing Starlink

Ukraine's defence intelligence says Russian forces used Rassvet satellites for “several hours”

Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU, also known as HUR) has told Janes it recorded Russian forces using the first group of Rassvet satellites for satellite communication (satcom) over Ukraine for “several hours” by the end of July 2026.

“These capabilities could be potentially used for real-time data transmissions and for operating reconnaissance and strike UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles],” a senior official from DIU told Janes on 4 September. The deployment of Russia's Rassvet satellite constellation will result in a “significant enhancement of Russia's space-based capabilities”, the official added.

Russia launched a total of 32 satellites for its Rassvet-3 constellation into low Earth orbit (LEO) as of August 2026, according to the official. At least six experimental Rassvet-1 and Rassvet-2 satellites were launched, bringing the total number to 38. “By the end of 2026, Russia plans to further expand the constellation with seven launches,” the official added.

The first 16 satellites of Rassvet, produced by Russian company Bureau 1440, were launched on 23 March 2026, according to a 24 March press release from Bureau 1440. The DIU official confirmed this, adding that Moscow might not be able to “access components, technologies, and equipment to further deployments” of the Rassvet constellation.

https://www.janes.com/defence-intellige ... eral-hours

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Joint Declaration on the Establishment of the Integrated Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition.

https://www.elysee.fr/en/emmanuel-macro ... -coalition

Wer's glaubt ...

Deutschland finanziert Ukraine-Unterstützungspaket über neuen NATO-Mechanismus

Commission approves €6.1 billion for Ukraine's defence

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/pressco ... ip_26_1750

In Ukraine, Fraud and Waste Are Rewarded With More Weapons Contracts

Ukraine asks EU to fund first Patriot missiles buy

Ukraine Says It Needs $27 Billion More. Europe Wants to Know Why.

By Jeanna Smialek and Siobhán O’Grady

Reporting from Brussels and Kyiv.
Sept. 9, 2026, 5:05 a.m. ET

When a group of European officials arrived in Kyiv to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day last month, they got some worrying news.

The European Union, a key backer, had earlier this year finalized a loan of more than $100 billion for the country. But Ukraine now faced an unexpectedly large defense budget shortfall, President Volodymyr Zelensky told allies. To get through the year, he would need $27 billion more.

Ukraine’s request surprised and unsettled many officials around Europe at a moment when Kyiv, short on air defenses to protect itself from nonstop Russian drone and missile attacks, faces one of its most dangerous moments since 2022.

Europeans understand Ukraine is in a fight for its existence but did not expect such a large budget shortfall, according to four European diplomats who, like others quoted in this piece, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. In private, some have questioned whether money is being spent efficiently, two European officials said, or whether needs are being overstated.

Now, European officials are scrambling to understand where the shortfall came from, exactly how large it is and whether, or how, to send more money this year. Kyiv is also asking Britain, Canada and Japan to help cover the gap.

The surprise request threatens to complicate Ukraine’s relationship with allies at a moment it needs their support. The United States has stepped back from backing Kyiv financially, making European money more essential. But national leaders must balance their support for Ukraine with domestic spending priorities, or risk angering voters.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/09/worl ... -cost.html





https://ec.europa.eu/commission/pressco ... nt_26_1818




https://www.linkedin.com/posts/natoinuk ... 33824-y8ys


36th Ramstein-format meeting: Ukraine calls on partners to increase funding for drones and air defense
8 September, 2026, 9:14 PM EEST

Evgeniy Khmara also noted that Ukraine is signing contracts for the supply of around 1,000 missiles for Patriot systems, with support from partners and funding from an EU loan.

However, these future deliveries will take time, so Ukraine needs missiles from partners’ stockpiles now — before the start of winter.

Funding for drones

The Minister of Defence stressed that funding decisions are needed now.

In Ankara, partners pledged €70 billion in security assistance to Ukraine this year. At present, Ukraine sees €62 billion in support, including bilateral assistance and an EU loan. An additional €8 billion is needed to meet the commitments set out in the declaration.

He added that the overall defense funding gap stands at €23 billion, or $27 billion. These funds are needed to finance drones and ensure sustained supplies this year and early next year.

Strengthening air defense before winter

Another priority is decisions on air defense. Ukraine is asking partners to transfer missiles from their stockpiles now — in exchange for improved missiles to be delivered in the future under Ukrainian contracts.

Ukraine also stresses the importance of providing air-to-air missiles and man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) to counter cruise missiles and, as an interim measure, jet-powered Shahed drones.

Support for Ukraine is an investment in our shared security

Evgeniy Khmara stressed that support for Ukraine is not a subsidy, but an investment.

Ukraine offers its partners a win-win model that strengthens Ukraine and its partners alike. This includes joint defense projects, technologies, combat experience, and new capabilities that contribute to the security of the free world.

https://mod.gov.ua/en/news/36th-ramstei ... ir-defense

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Explosion hits another EMCO weapons site in Bulgaria; probe underway

SOFIA, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Bulgaria is investigating the cause of a fire at a weapons storage facility ‌operated by EMCO, including the possibility of sabotage and a link to a previous blaze at another of the company's facilities in August, the interior minister said.

No injuries were reported in the fire, which broke out near the village of Tsareva Livada and lit up the night sky, ​according to videos broadcast locally. The incident came weeks after an explosion and fire at another EMCO weapons depot ​in western Bulgaria.

Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev told journalists on Saturday that the fire was under control ⁠and that an investigation was underway.

"We will review previous cases in which similar fires occurred in the warehouses of this ​company, as well as at other companies, in order to look for a possible connection or a similar pattern," he said.

"We are ​not ruling out outside interference."

EMCO later said in a statement that the fire was the result of sabotage, citing more than 10 similar incidents at Bulgarian defence firms since 2011, although it did not identify any suspects.

"There is no reason to assume that this case is any different," ​the company said.

EMCO is run by Bulgarian arms trader Emilian Gebrev, who Bulgarian prosecutors have previously alleged was the target ​of attacks on his facilities by Russian operatives.

Slavcho Dimiev, manager of EMCO's production facilities, confirmed Saturday's fire at the storage ​site, which he said mainly ​holds ammunition, including a small ⁠quantity of medium-calibre rounds.

The company also accused authorities of failing to adequately protect defence facilities.

"Not a single investigation into the more than ten such incidents at the industry's leading enterprises has ​been concluded," the company said, adding that its warehouse has been inspected seven times since ​the beginning of ⁠the year, with the last one 20 days prior.
Demerdzhiev expressed concerns about the security and the conditions under which explosives are stored and the way these facilities are guarded.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1H1Pd2uAsW/

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Ukraine Says It Needs $27 Billion More. Europe Wants to Know Why.

Ukraine proposes record defence spending next year as war costs soar

KYIV, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Ukraine is proposing ​record defence spending for 2027 as the cost of the war with Russia, now in its fifth year, ‌rises and the country needs more financial support from its partners, officials said on Wednesday.

Defence spending is expected to hit 4.89 trillion hryvnias ($110 billion) in 2027, 12% higher than this year. It accounted for about two-thirds of the total spending in a draft 2027 budget of 7.27 trillion hryvnias presented to ​parliament on Wednesday.

Budget revenues are forecast at 5.6 trillion hryvnias.
"This is the sixth budget of the full-scale war, and it's ​again bigger than the previous one. During these years, the war has become more expensive," said Roksolana ⁠Pidlasa, head of the parliamentary budget committee told lawmakers.

"At the same time, state revenues ... are not growing at the same pace as ​spending is increasing."

The daily cost of the war has risen to $190 million this year compared with $116 million in 2022 at the start ​of Russia's invasion, Pidlasa said.

Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko said told parliament that Ukraine would require more than $52 billion in international financial aid next year.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's government has secured commitments from partners to cover around $20 billion and was in talks on how to cover the remaining amount, he said.

Marchenko said that ​Russian assets frozen by Ukraine's European allies could become a key source to cover the budget gap in 2027.

Since the start of the invasion, Ukraine has ​received about $198 billion in fiscal aid from its foreign partners with the EU providing the bulk.

But ​to ensure smooth ⁠financing from partners, Kyiv needs to push through tax and governance reforms, and meet a number of financial and budget requirements despite wartime challenges.

On Wednesday, parliament passed a bill to impose taxes on foreign parcels in the first reading, moving closer to satisfying one of the key ⁠conditions to ​unlock funds from the International Monetary Fund and the European Union.

"Parliament advanced two essential ​tax and customs reforms that bring Ukraine's e-commerce framework closer to EU standards, strengthen fiscal resilience and support fairer competition for Ukrainian businesses," Marchenko said.

"This progress also ​paves the way for around 4 billion euros in EU macro-financial support."

https://www.reuters.com/business/financ ... 026-09-16/

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Die Ukraine hat von der EU weitere 3,3 Mrd. € für Rüstungsgüter erhalten. Das Geld soll für Raketen und Drohnen ausgegeben werden:

https://t.me/Koretskyi_official/553

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Deutschland finanziert Ukraine-Unterstützungspaket über neuen NATO-Mechanismus

Commission approves €6.1 billion for Ukraine's defence

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/pressco ... ip_26_1750

Ukraine asks EU to fund first Patriot missiles buy

Ukraine – Air Defense Development Upgrade

If the proposed purchase is concluded, Ukraine would finance it using a combination of European contributions and U.S. Foreign Military Financing appropriated during the prior Administration. The FMF will be counted as a U.S. capital contribution to the Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund via a 1:1 reimbursement.

The Government of Ukraine has requested to buy the following non-major defense equipment items: S-300 Clone missiles; GAM-67 missiles; Range-Extended Air Defense Laser Guided Rocket missile systems; Improvised Transporter Erector Launcher 1.5; mobile launching system modification kits; RPS 202 counter-Unmanned Aircraft System radars; erectable mast trailers, major modifications, and maintenance support; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; software; publications; transportation support; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.

The principal contractor(s) will be selected through competitive procurements conducted by the U.S. Government in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

https://www.state.gov/releases/bureau-o ... t-upgrade/


https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tim-de-z ... 01632-rAPq

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EU-Länder einigen sich bei Waffenfondsmitteln

Die Mitgliedsstaaten der EU haben sich nach Angaben der EU-Außenbeauftragten Kaja Kallas über die Verwendung von 6,6 Milliarden Euro aus dem Ukraine-Waffenfonds Europäische Friedensfazilität (EFF) verständigt.

Eine Milliarde Euro soll in die gemeinsame Beschaffung weiterer Ausrüstung für die Ukraine fließen, erklärte Kallas gestern in Onlinediensten. 900 Millionen Euro seien für die EU-Ausbildungsmission (EUMAM) ukrainischer Soldaten bestimmt.

Die übrigen 4,7 Milliarden Euro gehen an die Mitgliedsstaaten zurück.

https://orf.at/stories/3443264/

Diese Formulierung "Ukraine-Waffenfonds Europäische Friedensfazilität" ist eine Halbwahrheit.

• Beschluss (GASP) 2021/509 des Rates vom 22. März 2021 zur Einrichtung einer Europäischen Friedensfazilität und zur Aufhebung des Beschlusses (GASP) 2015/528
  
  http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2021/509/oj
  • Beschluss (GASP) 2024/890 des Rates vom 18. März 2024 zur Änderung des Beschlusses (GASP) 2021/509 zur Einrichtung einer Europäischen Friedensfazilität
    

    (5) Die finanzielle Obergrenze der Fazilität sollte daher um einen Betrag von 5 000 Mio. EUR (zu laufenden Preisen) angehoben werden, der dem Zweck dient, den Bedarf der ukrainischen Streitkräfte durch Unterstützung der Bereitstellung von letaler und nichtletaler militärischer Unterstützung und Ausbildung weiterhin zu decken (im Folgenden „zweckgebundener Betrag“).

    http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/890/oj

• Verordnung (EU) 2024/792 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 29. Februar 2024 zur Einrichtung der Fazilität für die Ukraine
  
  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/792/oj

• Konsolidierter Text: Verordnung (EU) 2024/792 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 29. Februar 2024 zur Einrichtung der Fazilität für die Ukraine
  
  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/792/2026-02-27

• Europe's new €5 billion fund for Ukraine was lauded as a big win for Kyiv, but the program is more of an accounting procedure than an actual pile of cash.
  
  EU countries agreed Wednesday to create the Ukraine Assistance Fund, which ostensibly boosts the bloc's off-budget European Peace Facility (EPF) with an extra €5 billion. The EPF is used to partially reimburse member countries for the weapons they provide to Ukraine.
  
  But despite its name, the "fund" won't actually see a €5 billion infusion — as bilateral weapons shipments can count as “in-kind contributions.”