Nato forces chased away Russian ships near the Arctic’s Svalbard archipelago after officials said the vessels were training to attack undersea cables using a secret sabotage weapon deployed by submersible craft.
Reuters, citing western officials, reported that the technology was not disclosed. British and Norwegian officials later took their findings to Moscow, while Norway’s defence minister, Tore Sandvik, said the joint operation was intended to show Russia that it could not operate covertly in the High North.
British man accused in alleged drone-factory plot
Joshua Cammidge, 31, appeared at Westminster magistrates court on Thursday charged with engaging in conduct to materially assist a foreign intelligence service in activities violating the National Security Act. He did not enter a plea and was returned to custody until his next court hearing on 25 September.
Prosecutors said Cammidge had been in contact with a suspected representative of the GRU Volunteer Corps, which they described as controlled by Russia’s military intelligence agency. They alleged that he provided information on four drone manufacturing sites in his home town of Swindon.
Attacks and threats reported across Ukraine and Russia
Kyiv city authorities said Russian airstrikes injured eight people and caused a fire in a nine-storey apartment building on Friday morning. Authorities in Pavlohrad said a Russian strike on a shopping centre killed at least five people and injured 76 others, including children.
Ukrainian officials also reported deaths in a strike on the Bunge sunflower-oil factory in Dnipro and said a jet-powered drone hit a shopping centre in Sumy. In the Odesa region, Kyiv’s infrastructure ministry said a Russian attack on civilian shipping killed two Azerbaijani tugboat crew members and injured two others.
Russian officials said Ukrainian drone attacks killed two people and injured seven in the Belgorod border region. A Ukrainian missile strike damaged facilities in Volgograd, while a drone attack caused a fire at an Ozon warehouse in Saratov, according to officials and the company. Related coverage: Macron pledges faster French missile deliveries as Ukraine faces intensified Russian attacks.
Poland warns border crossings may face further threats
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland and Ukraine had averted a direct threat to one of their border crossings through cooperation between their services. He said the countries expected similar actions against crossings in other states supporting Ukraine.
Poland temporarily suspended flights at Lublin and Rzeszów airports while its air force carried out preventive operations linked to Russian missile attacks on Ukraine. Tusk said he had received a report from the CIA about possible events in the coming months, but Russia did not immediately comment. Read the context: Ukraine seeks Patriot missiles as Russian attacks intensify.
Canada pledges additional support for Ukraine
Canada offered C$350 million (US$253 million) through the Jumpstart programme, operated with the United States, to support Ukraine’s air defences and replenish its drone stocks. Prime Minister Mark Carney also said Ottawa would provide C$450 million in loan guarantees to strengthen Ukraine’s energy supply.
Canada said it was increasing its drone production, with 30% of Canadian output going to Ukraine. Amnesty International separately said Russia was recruiting foreigners through deceptive job advertisements and coercion to fight in Ukraine, citing interviews with prisoners of war from Brazil, Colombia, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
What happens next
Cammidge is due back in court on 25 September. Officials have not publicly detailed the suspected cable-sabotage technology, and the United States has not explained Ratcliffe’s Moscow visit.
No comments yet. Start the discussion.