The Ministry of Energy reported a stable situation in the energy system. Due to shelling and hostilities, there were power outages in Dnipropetrovs'k, Donetsk, Sumy, Kharkiv and Kherson regions.
Ursula von der Leyen announces a €35 billion loan to Ukraine secured by frozen Russian assets. The EU decided to move forward with a smaller loan without US participation due to disagreements over the revision of sanctions.
According to ABC News, Israel was involved in the pager bombings in Lebanon, preparing the operation for at least 15 years. Front companies and explosives in the devices were used, resulting in hundreds of injured Hezbollah members.
Today, there are no plans to apply blackout schedules in Ukraine. Due to hostilities and technical disruptions, 496 settlements remain partially or completely without electricity.
The Danube has overflowed its banks in Budapest, threatening to flood tourist spots. Flooding is expected to peak on Saturday, with authorities erecting protective structures and closing some subway stations.
At the Ukrainian-Hungarian border at the Chop-Záhony checkpoint, traffic leaving Ukraine will be partially restricted due to repairs. The work will last for two weeks as part of an infrastructure modernization project supported by USAID.
On September 19, there are no plans to apply blackout schedules in Ukraine. Over the past 24 hours, seven regions, including Dnipropetrovs'k and Donetsk, suffered power cuts due to enemy shelling.
August saw a decrease in attempts to illegally cross the border compared to July. Border guards uncovered at least 600 criminal groups trying to smuggle people across the border.
The defense ministers of Romania, Poland, and Latvia have signed a joint letter to Allies on strengthening NATO's air defense. They call for the immediate introduction of an air defense rotation model and increased deterrence activities on the eastern flank of the Alliance.
Penalty imposed for longstanding restrictions on the right to asylum, which Hungary refuses to lift.
On September 18, Ukraine does not plan to apply blackout schedules. Electricity imports from Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, and Moldova are expected to reach a maximum capacity of 1,510 MW at certain times.
Most of the preparations for the heating season in Mykolaiv region have been completed. The region is installing solar panels to ensure the energy independence of critical infrastructure, spending about EUR 4 million.
Due to the heat wave, electricity consumption in Ukraine will increase, causing a shortage. Scheduled blackouts will take place from 17:00 to 21:00. Electricity is expected to be imported from 5 countries, 498 settlements are without power.
The Hungarian Foreign Minister said that the inclusion of Russians and Belarusians in the “national card” program does not pose a risk to the Schengen area. The EU is demanding explanations for this decision from Hungary.
Chornotysiv Terminal, a new multimodal logistics hub, has opened in Berehove district of Zakarpattia. The company transships various cargoes for further transportation to recipients around the world.
The European Commission is developing options for further disposal of the frozen assets of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation worth more than $280 billion. They are considering indefinite freezing and extending it for longer periods to support Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials have asked the United States to authorize the use of ATACMS missiles to strike Russian airfields. According to a Zelenskyy adviser, this would give Kyiv leverage in negotiations with Russia.
A former NATO official said that neighboring countries might want to return some of the Ukrainian territories that used to be part of those states. The Center for Strategic Communications called this a fake, pointing to official denials from the governments of these countries.
The expert explained that Poroshenko wants to see his sons in London and allow MPs and officials to travel. The bill will allow them to travel freely abroad during the war.
70 MEPs sign a letter calling for the suspension of Hungary's participation in the Schengen area due to the easing of visa rules for Russians and Belarusians. They demand an investigation and possible expulsion of Hungary from the Schengen zone.
In Hungary, a police boat crashed into a cable on the Tisza River crossing at speed and overturned. The only police officer on board survived by swimming to shore on his own.
Slovakia and Hungary rejected the EU's proposal to replace Russian oil with supplies through Croatia. Budapest called Croatia unreliable for transit, which caused outrage in Zagreb.
A scandal has erupted over the participation of women with Y chromosomes in boxing at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Algeria's Iman Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-Ting were allowed to compete despite failing gender tests.
The Moldovan prime minister has said that the country will comply with international legislation on human rights. This is a response to Ukraine's request for extradition of men who left the country due to mobilization.
Slovenia has become the sixth European country to import gas from Azerbaijan. On August 1, Azerbaijani gas from the Shah Deniz field began to flow to Slovenia under a memorandum between SOCAR and Geoplin.
In July 2024, Ukraine imported 837. 8 thousand MWh of electricity, which is 2% less than in June. The largest share of imports came from Hungary (45%), followed by Poland (19%) and Romania (18%).
Hungary's Foreign Minister reacted sharply to the European Commission's response to oil transit. Szijjarto called it a scandal and criticized the proposal to use an alternative route through Croatia.
The EU demands that Hungary explain its decision to ease visa rules for citizens of Russia and Belarus. EU Commissioner Ylva Johansson expressed concern about potential espionage and security risks for the bloc.
Hungary has informed the EU of the end of its 'peace mission' in Ukraine after criticism from the Union. However, European capitals doubt the sincerity of this statement and do not rule out a possible resumption of the 'mission' by Orban.
The EU ignored Hungary and Slovakia's concerns about Ukraine's sanctions against Lukoil. The European Commission stated that the sanctions do not affect oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline.
