Minutes

| Today | 17:20

Russian General Killed in Drone Attack, Kyiv Says

Ukrainian drone forces claim to have killed Russian Major General Anton Grunis on Saturday 12 September. Robert Brovdi, commander of the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces, said one of his units struck the general's position during a nighttime attack in the Russian-occupied part of the Donetsk region.

According to Brovdi, this was the seventh Russian military commander killed by his drone forces. Reuters was unable to independently verify the claim. However, Russian commander Apti Alaudinov confirmed Grunis's death without providing further details.

In late August, the general was awarded the Gold Star of the Hero of Russia for his military service. Putin had previously praised him after Grunis described his brigade's role in the alleged capture of Kostiantynivka.

Kyiv denied that the city had been captured. The US Institute for the Study of War said Russian troops had penetrated Kostiantynivka but had not fully captured it. It described Moscow's claim as part of a broader information campaign.

The Russian advance has slowed this year, but Moscow continues to press toward strategic cities and demands control of the entire Donbas region.

(Reuters, bak)

| Today | 16:48

EU Tightens Rules for Shipments from Third Countries

The European Parliament has approved a major reform of the EU Customs Code, which tightens rules on e-commerce and establishes a new customs authority.

A handling fee will be charged on every item ordered from an online store outside the EU and shipped directly to a consumer within the bloc. The European Commission will determine the fee amount. Member states will begin collecting the fee no later than 1 November 2026, and the cost is not to be passed on to consumers.

Sellers and platforms facilitating shipments from third countries will be classified as importers. They will be required to provide customs data, pay or guarantee the fees and ensure that goods comply with EU rules. Repeated violations may result in a fine of 1%–6% of the value of imports over the previous 12 months.

The reform will also establish an EU Data Hub to replace at least 111 existing customs systems. Its use will be voluntary starting in 2031 and mandatory starting in 2034. It will be managed by the new customs authority EUCA, based in Lille, France.

The reform will take effect the day after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU and will be fully implemented within 12 months.

(European Parliament, bak)

| Today | 16:14

Germany to Crack Down on Worker Exploitation

Germany is preparing measures to combat the exploitation of foreign workers, organized fraud and misuse of social benefits, while seeking to uphold the principle of free movement within the European Union, Labor Minister Bärbel Bas said on Wednesday.

She said the ability of EU citizens to work in other member states with minimal red tape is important for Germany, which needs skilled foreign workers to address its labor shortage. However, some people exploit these rules to take advantage of vulnerable workers and commit organized fraud.

The measures were developed following consultations with local governments, which had raised concerns about these problems. Authorities are to exchange data more effectively, close legal loopholes and strengthen coordination.

Municipalities will gain broader powers to act against substandard properties, often linked to overcrowded or unsanitary housing for migrant workers. The federal employment agency will be granted greater authority to hold employers accountable for exploiting undeclared labor. Payment of basic social benefits will be suspended for individuals against whom an enforceable arrest warrant has been issued.

(Reuters, bak)

| Today | 15:53

Ukraine Plans Record Defense Spending for 2027

Ukraine plans to allocate a record 4.89tn hryvnias ($110bn), to defense in 2027, 12% more than this year and equivalent to roughly two-thirds of the proposed 7.27tn hryvnias ($160bn) budget.

Roksolana Pidlasa, head of the parliamentary budget committee, said the daily cost of the war has risen from $116m in 2022 to $190m currently, while government revenues have not kept pace with rising expenditures.

Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko said Kyiv will need more than $52bn in foreign financial aid next year, though partners have so far pledged only about $20bn. He added that frozen Russian assets could be a key source for covering the budget shortfall.

Since the invasion began, Ukraine has received approximately $198bn in fiscal aid from foreign partners, with the EU providing the largest share. Lawmakers have until 1 October to submit comments on the budget proposal and must approve it by 1 December.

(Reuters, bak)

| Today | 15:12

EU Moves to Cut Carbon Costs for Heavy Industry

EU member states backed a proposal on Wednesday to give heavy industry more free carbon allowances in an effort to help European manufacturers remain competitive.

Under the proposal, industry would receive an additional 121m free emissions allowances between 2026 and 2030. The amount allocated to individual companies would depend partly on their heat production and fuel consumption.

According to Reuters calculations, the additional allowances could save companies around €8.25bn ($9.8bn) in emissions costs. Industry would receive more free allowances than originally proposed by the European Commission.

The measure would primarily benefit sectors including chemicals, metal processing, ceramics and glass manufacturing.

Under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), large industrial companies must surrender allowances for the carbon dioxide they emit. Some allowances are allocated free of charge to industries exposed to international competition, reducing the risk that production moves to countries with weaker climate rules.

The proposal would temporarily increase those free allocations even as the EU gradually reduces the overall supply of allowances in an effort to cut emissions.

Member states will now begin negotiations with the European Parliament on the final rules, with the aim of reaching an agreement before the end of the year. The EU is also negotiating a broader overhaul of its emissions trading system, with an agreement targeted for 2027.

(Reuters, bak)

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