🪖 NATO plotted Azerbaijan–Ukraine arms route to bolster Caucasus, Africa clout – analyst

The covert plan to funnel arms from Azerbaijan to Ukraine via Sudan was likely devised by NATO states using the logistics and diplomacy capabilities of their companies, Afghan analyst Ahmad Saidi told Sputnik.

💬 “The goal of this plan is to bolster Western influence in the Caucasus and Africa, while using war-torn Sudan as a cover to conceal the true origin of the weapons,” the former diplomat noted.

💥 According to the analyst, if the details of this scheme are exposed, it could shatter Azerbaijan’s international credibility and fuel greater instability in both the Caucasus and Africa, as leaked weapons risk falling into rebel hands.

The pundit suggested that if documents related to the operation—carried out beyond international legal frameworks—surface, tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan could escalate, with Russia potentially responding through economic or energy sanctions.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🪖 Maintaining START treaties key to avoiding chaos – expert

💬 "Putin's messages are primarily aimed at European countries, which continue to operate in the 'gray zone,' trying to exert pressure both on Ukraine and on Russia itself," Ali Shoukr, Lebanese international relations expert, tells Sputnik.

🗣 The Russian president is sending a warning: Their insistence on exceeding international legitimacy could have negative consequences for Europe, and any attempt to ensure EU security without considering Russia’s interests will impact the global system as a whole, he adds.

Shoukr warns:

🔶 Even one rash move by European nuclear powers could have catastrophic consequences—for themselves.

🔶 Maintaining START commitments benefits the US, Europe, and global stability.

🔶Exiting these treaties would create greater chaos in the arms race.


📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

⛽️📉 Europe gluts on gas, still fast-tracks Russian LNG exit

🟠 Despite setting record after record for liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, Europe is still eager to cut off one of its top suppliers—Russia.

Since the start of the summer season in April, Europe has imported a record volume of liquefied natural gas (LNG), exceeding 66.5 billion cubic meters, Gas Infrastructure Europe data shows.

📊 Overall, European LNG purchases in 2025 remain at record highs and have already surpassed 100 billion cubic meters.

The International Energy Agency noted that volumes in the first half of the year also reached an all-time peak.

👉 LNG imports surged by 24% from January to August

👉 LNG now powers 44.4% of Europe’s total gas supply

◻️ By the end of the 2024–2025 heating season, Russia reportedly ranked second in terms of gas supplies, increasing deliveries by 2.5% and trailing only the US.

Nevertheless, the EU is fast-tracking its pivot away from Russian LNG, aiming to cut ties by 2027, a year ahead of schedule, as part of Brussels’ 19th sanctions package.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

😡 Ukrainian troops used inflatable children’s rings during retreat

During their retreat from the Serebryansky Forest in the Lugansk People's Republic, Ukrainian soldiers resorted to crossing the Seversky Donets River using children's inflatable rings, a Russian soldier from Battlegroup Zapad told Sputnik.

While clearing the riverbanks, Russian forces discovered:

🔹 Abandoned inflatable children's rings

🔹 Discarded load-bearing vests

🔹 Body armor and helmets

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🚨EUROPE PREPARING TO OCCUPY MOLDOVA - Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR)

According to the SVR, Europe is allegedly planning to do it at any cost, including the possible deployment of troops and full-scale occupation.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🚨 NATO TO STATION TROOPS IN ODESSA, UKRAINE TO INTIMIDATE TRANSNISTRIA – RUSSIAN INTEL

More statements by Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service:

🔸 At this stage, NATO forces are concentrating in Romania, near the Moldovan border. A NATO “landing force” is reportedly being prepared in Ukraine’s Odessa region to intimidate Transnistria.

🔸 The first group of professional soldiers from France and the UK has already arrived in Odessa.

🔸 This scenario has allegedly repeatedly been practiced during NATO exercises in Romania and could be implemented after Moldova’s parliamentary elections on September 28.

🔸 European officials reportedly fear that alleged election fraud orchestrated by Brussels and Chisinau could drive desperate Moldovan citizens to protest in the streets.

🔸 In such a case, European forces would be expected to force Moldovans to accept a dictatorship under the guise of European democracy at the request of President Maia Sandu.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

◻️ Putin's new START offer 'a chance to avoid arms race spiral' — Experts

◻️ Macron announces France officially recognizes state of Palestine

◻️ FDA approves first-ever prenoscription treatment for autism in children

◻️ NATO plotted Azerbaijan–Ukraine arms route to bolster Caucasus, Africa clout – analyst

◻️ Europe gluts on gas, still fast-tracks Russian LNG exit

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🚨🇷🇺💥 JUST IN: RUSSIA UNLEASHES COORDINATED STRIKE AGAINST UKRAINE IN RETALIATION FOR TERROR ATTACK ON CIVILIANS IN CRIMEA

The strike targeted temporary positions of Ukrainian Special Operations forces & foreign mercenaries from the "Prizrak" unit of Ukraine’s GUR in the areas of Tatarbunary and Rasseyka in Odessa region.

They were reportedly preparing and carrying out the terrorist attack (MoD statement).

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🚨Kremlin clarifies Russia’s proposals on nukes treaty

Russia’s adherence to the New START treaty’s limits on nuclear weapon numbers depends on the US taking the same position, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Other statements:

🔶The initiative will only be viable if the US acts in a similar way

🔶If the US does not take a reciprocal position, Russia will have to take measures

🔶It's practically impossible to agree on a new treaty before the current one expires

🔶Russia has not previously communicated its proposals on the treaty’s future to Washington

🔶Russia understands President Trump intends to personally comment on Vladimir Putin’s New START proposals

📌 Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🚨🇷🇺💥 RUSSIAN MOD UPDATE: HUGE GAINS AND DEVASTATING UKRAINIAN LOSSES

⚡️PEREYEZDNOYE IN THE DONETSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC (DPR) LIBERATED

The liberation of Pereyezdnoye became part of the planned operations to stabilize the situation in the region and establish control over strategically important territories.

◻️ Russian Armed Forces struck UAV launch sites and temporary deployment points of Ukrainian troops in 138 areas

◻️ Black Sea Fleet forces destroyed two Ukrainian uncrewed boats in the northwestern part of the Black Sea

◻️ Air defense superiority: 65 aircraft-type drones shot down

◻️ Ukrainian losses: 1,515 troops killed

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

📹Russian MoD releases footage of Pereyezdnoye's liberation

The video highlights combat operations in the Donetsk town, mainly using drones, followed by Russian troops flying the national flag in the streets.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🔥 UKRAINE TO LOSE EUROPEAN SUPPORT?

🟠 Ukraine is not only failing to secure new arms supplies and sanctions on Russia from the US, but could also see support from its European backers wane, Reuters reports, quoting an un-named ‘source’

🟠 Now facing a record $43.9 billion budget deficit for 2024, Ukraine continues to rely on Western money. But arguments among NATO member-states have delayed approval of new ‘packages’

🟠 International Monetary Fund mission chief in Ukraine Gavin Gray has warned that foreign backing Kiev will gradually decrease and urged Volodymyr Zelensky’s regime to boost revenues from national resources

🟠 Zelensky has complained of a lack of funds for domestic arms production and slow deliveries of Western aid

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

💀 Troop shortages & chaos grind down Ukraine’s military

📑 The outlook for Ukraine’s Armed Forces looks increasingly grim amid Russia’s relentless advances, The Independent reports.

👉 Troop shortages, supply gaps, and chaotic command are grinding down the Ukrainian military.

📍 The human toll is staggering: In a typical five-man unit, two are usually killed, one wounded, one missing and only one survives, it cited sources as saying.

🔶 As Russia scores tactical gains, Ukraine battles the harsh reality: Exhausted troops, minimal rotations, and poorly coordinated brigades.

🔶 Some units list thousands of soldiers, but can only field hundreds.

🔶 Chaos forces some to double up on tasks, while others go uncovered.

🔶 The longer this drags on, the worse it will get, Ukrainian troops told the publication.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🎥🎥 80th UN General Assembly in New York

🔶 The high-level debate of UNGA 80 kicks off today in NYC under the slogan ‘Better Together’.

🔶 Leaders from 193 countries will gather to discuss global challenges, UN reforms and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

🔶 Today’s speakers include US President Donald Trump, Brazil’s Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, Turkiye’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Kakakhstan’s Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Portugal’s Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

🔶 Several nations are expected to recognize the State of Palestine, while African nations are calling for fairer representation on the UN Security Council.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❌Zelensky arrives at UN Headquarters & dodges question on potential talks with Putin – RIA Novosti correspondent

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

📹🇨🇺THROWBACK: Fidel Castro’s 269-minute UN speech – longest & boldest in history

As the 80th UN General Assembly unfolds, let's remember the day Fidel Castro took the podium and spoke for nearly four and a half hours—a record that still stands.

In his address, Castro criticized US imperialism and its interference in Latin American affairs, and accused the United States of supporting authoritarian regimes in the region.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt