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Putin Links Parliamentary Election to Support for Ukraine War

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged citizens to participate in the country’s upcoming parliamentary election, presenting voter participation as a measure of national support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. The three-day election begins on Friday and will determine the 450 seats in the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament.

The election is the first parliamentary vote since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It comes as polls indicate growing anxiety among some Russians over the impact of the war, while the economy faces pressure. Many anti-war candidates have also been excluded from the ballot, according to Reuters.

In a televised address, Putin said voting would demonstrate unity and support for Russian soldiers while presenting the election as a response to what he described as external efforts to weaken Russia. The ruling United Russia party, which is backed by Putin, is widely expected to maintain its dominance in the State Duma.

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Fire Erupts at Bulgarian Weapons Facility; Sabotage Probe Underway

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A fire has broken out at a weapons storage facility operated by Bulgarian defence company EMCO near the village of Tsareva Livada, prompting an investigation into its cause. Bulgaria’s Interior Minister said the blaze was brought under control and no injuries were reported, while authorities are examining whether the incident could be linked to a previous explosion at another EMCO facility in August.

Officials have not ruled out sabotage and said investigators would compare the latest incident with previous fires at EMCO and other defence facilities. EMCO, however, has stated that the fire was the result of sabotage, pointing to more than 10 similar incidents involving Bulgarian defence companies since 2011. The facility reportedly stored ammunition, including a small quantity of medium-calibre rounds.

The incident comes amid previous allegations surrounding attacks on EMCO facilities and its owner, arms trader Emilian Gebrev. Bulgarian prosecutors have previously accused Russian nationals of involvement in earlier weapons depot explosions, allegations rejected by Moscow. Authorities are also facing renewed questions over security measures and the storage and protection of explosives at defence facilities.

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Anthropic Disrupts AI Misuse Linked to Bioweapons and Cyberattacks

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Anthropic said it disrupted attempts to misuse its Claude AI models for potential biological weapons research, weapons development and cyber espionage. In a new threat intelligence report, the company documented five cases involving researchers using Claude in ways that could support biological weapons development, including efforts to plan experiments involving avian influenza.

The company also reported that a suspected Russia-linked hacking group used AI extensively in cyber operations targeting Ukrainian government, military and diplomatic officials. Anthropic said the group used AI to automate activities including phishing, malware development and evading security detection. It also identified other criminal groups using Claude for weapons-related software and intelligence activities.

Anthropic further said it disrupted attacks involving seven China-based AI labs, including Alibaba, Moonshot and DeepSeek, which it accused of attempting to extract Claude’s capabilities. The company alleged that some operators conducted large-scale “distillation” efforts using Claude outputs to improve other AI models, while Moonshot and DeepSeek allegedly routed customer conversations through Claude for training purposes.

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Russian Drone Incursion Delays Zelensky’s Flight From Moldova

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A Russian drone entering Moldovan airspace delayed a plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena as they prepared to leave Chisinau for Norway. Moldova temporarily closed its airspace after the unmanned aircraft crossed the border from the direction of Ukraine, leaving Zelensky’s aircraft on the runway for about an hour. Several other flights were also affected.

The flight was cleared to depart after authorities confirmed that the drone had come down and exploded about 160km from Chisinau International Airport. Zelensky and Olena later arrived safely in Oslo, where the Ukrainian president held talks with Norwegian officials on military support before attending the funeral of Norway’s King Harald V.

The incident comes as Russian drone attacks on Ukraine and surrounding areas intensify. Kyiv has experienced record levels of air-raid alerts, while a recent attack on a Moldovan border crossing killed two people. Ukraine has also carried out long-range drone strikes inside Russia, highlighting the escalating use of unmanned aircraft in the ongoing conflict.

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Germany Says New Debt Needed to Strengthen Defence

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Germany needs to take on new debt to strengthen its defence and infrastructure, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said while defending the government’s 2027 budget. He argued that increased borrowing is necessary to address growing security threats and years of underinvestment. Germany plans to borrow €838.2 billion between 2027 and 2030, while total investment is expected to rise to €117.5 billion in 2027 from €78.9 billion in 2025.

Defence spending is set to increase significantly, with core defence expenditure projected at €109 billion in 2027, up from €82.2 billion in 2026. Including support for Ukraine and other security measures, total defence and security spending will reach €130.1 billion. Klingbeil said the increased spending is intended to protect Germany from potential conflict, amid concerns over Russia and growing cyber and hybrid threats.

The government’s spending plans face political challenges after the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won a state election in Saxony-Anhalt, exposing divisions within the ruling coalition. Klingbeil also defended the investment programme as a way to revive Germany’s weak economy. The economy grew 0.3% in the second quarter, while several economic institutes have raised their growth forecasts for 2026 and 2027, citing stronger government spending.

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Germany Probes Suspected Arson at Defence Firm

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German authorities are investigating a suspected arson attack at a construction site outside the Munich headquarters of defence technology company Rohde & Schwarz. Police arrested a 28-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man, both Bulgarian, who are suspected of throwing incendiary devices. The fire caused no significant damage and no injuries were reported.

The incident comes amid growing concerns across Europe over possible sabotage targeting critical infrastructure. Germany has faced two suspected attempts to disrupt its electricity grid in recent days, while authorities are also investigating a drone incident at Leipzig/Halle airport that Germany and its allies have linked to Russia. Moscow has denied involvement.

Security concerns are spreading beyond Germany, with Denmark’s intelligence service saying Russia has attempted to recruit Danish citizens online to gather information on defence companies and infrastructure. German investigators are also examining possible international links to the Leipzig drone incident as European governments increase vigilance over potential foreign-backed sabotage.

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Norway Seizes Russian Ship Over $4.2 Billion Naftogaz Claim

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Norway has seized the Russian vessel Professor Molchanov in the Arctic to enforce a $4.22 billion compensation claim awarded to Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz over assets Russia seized following its 2014 annexation of Crimea. The ship was detained off Svalbard and will remain in the Norwegian Arctic archipelago.

The Svalbard governor’s office confirmed that the vessel would be held in Svalbard and said arrangements would be made for its crew and passengers. Russia has demanded the ship’s immediate release and said it would pursue the matter through legal channels. The vessel had arrived in the Russian-operated settlement of Barentsburg carrying Russian scientists.

Naftogaz has been pursuing Russian assets in several countries to enforce a 2023 Hague tribunal ruling that awarded it $4.22 billion plus interest and legal costs. The Ukrainian company said it would continue seeking Russian assets worldwide until the compensation is paid, while Russia continues to challenge the enforcement efforts.

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EU’s Kallas Calls Leipzig Attack State-Sponsored Terrorism

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European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has described the attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany as bearing the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism. Speaking ahead of an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland, Kallas said Europe must coordinate its response as Russia’s attacks and alleged hybrid activities continue to escalate.

Germany has said Russia was responsible for the attempted drone attack last month. EU foreign ministers arriving for the talks called for stronger pressure on Moscow, with discussions focusing on additional sanctions targeting Russia’s military industry and individuals. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the EU would work on imposing further sanctions in the coming weeks.

The meeting also highlighted concerns over Ukraine’s air defence needs. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged European countries to provide additional interceptors to help protect Ukrainian airspace. Meanwhile, several EU nations renewed calls to reconsider the use of frozen Russian assets, with around €210 billion immobilised across the bloc following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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Germany May Blame Russia for Airport Drone Attack

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Germany is expected to blame Russia for an attempted drone attack targeting a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig/Halle Airport in August, according to two sources. The government may also consider imposing new sanctions against Moscow in coordination with its allies.

Airport workers reportedly discovered a drone carrying explosives and a detonator at the airport, which serves as an important civilian freight and NATO logistics hub. Germany had previously described the incident as part of a wider hybrid war against Europe without directly accusing Russia.

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul indicated that Germany was considering further measures against Russia, saying the country would respond when attacked. Russia has previously rejected accusations of involvement, calling them a fabricated provocation.

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Germany Finalising Response to Suspected Leipzig Drone Attack

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday that Germany is finalising its response to the suspected drone attack near Leipzig/Halle airport earlier this month. He said the government was coordinating its actions with European Union and NATO partners, with an announcement expected in the coming days.

The incident took place on August 4, when a drone carrying explosives was discovered near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft used to transport military supplies. Germany has not officially identified those responsible, although Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the incident as a potential “hybrid attack scenario” and raised the possibility of foreign involvement.

German media have reported that Berlin could publicly blame Russia and introduce sanctions in coordination with EU partners. Merz did not comment on the suspected perpetrator but said Germany’s response had been agreed in principle and that its European and NATO allies would be involved in the final decision.

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