We are wrapping up the blog for today – thanks for reading. Here is a quick recap of what happened today: 

• Ukraine’s air force said on Saturday that Russia had launched 67 long-range drones in a mass overnight attack, 58 of which it was able to shoot down.
• Ukrainian drones also targeted a Russian munitions depot overnight in the Voronezh region.
• The heads of MI6 and the CIA warned of Russia’s “reckless campaign of sabotage” across Europe in their first-ever joint remarks, writing in the Financial Times.
• Later, speaking at an event hosted by the newspaper, the two spy chiefs said Ukraine’s Kursk offensive had sowed doubts among Russia’s elite, calling the incursion a “significant tactical achievement”.
• Volodymyr Zelensky attended the Ambrosetti Forum in Italy where he discussed a peace plan to end the conflict with Russia and his country’s post-war reconstruction with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
• Ms Meloni told the business forum in northern Italy that “China and India have a role to play to resolve” the war in Ukraine.
• US warned of a “dramatic escalation” after reports suggested Iranian ballistic missiles had been delivered to Russia.
• Ukraine’s foreign ministry said it was “deeply concerned” by media reports about the transfer of ballistic missiles.

Iran allegedly supplying Russia with ballistic missiles is a “very worrying” development, according to military analyst and former RAF Air Vice-Marshal Sean Bell. 

While Moscow “tends to use older weapons”, Mr Bell explained, it “has the volume”. 

“Both sides are struggling for weapons and at the moment Russia has ramped up its domestic production but it desperately needs weapons from Iran and North Korea,” he told Sky News today.

The alleged delivery of short-range ballistic missiles will not only “give Russia more volume of missiles” but also allow Moscow to focus use of its own Iskander missiles on long-range targets, he noted.

“That’s very worrying,” Mr Bell said, adding: “We [also] understand that Russian soldiers have been in Iran doing training for the last few weeks.”

Donald Trump has responded to Vladimir Putin endorsing his Democratic opponent – which was widely seen as a disingenuous claim.

“I don’t know if I’m insulted or he did me a favor,” Trump said of Mr Putin’s comments earlier in the week.

The Russian president had said Moscow would “support” Kamala Harris in this year’s election, adding: “She laughs so expressively and infectiously that it means that everything is fine with her.”

Over the years, Mr Trump has repeatedly praised Mr Putin, calling him “genius” for invading Ukraine. In 2022, he said: “Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine – of Ukraine. Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that’s wonderful.”

His former national security adviser, Herbert McMaster, has said Mr Putin a “ruthless former KGB operator, played to Trump’s ego and insecurities with flattery”.

Mr Trump, who faced an investigation regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election, claimed earlier this week – without providing evidence – that the Biden administration is once more attempting to associate him with the Putin regime. 

In a Truth Social post, the former president said Ms Harris and the Justice Department that are “trying to interfere in and suppress the election in favor of the Democrats by resurrecting the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax.”

Volodymyr Zelensky’s plan to increase the number F-16 aircrafts is realistic, according to Dutch defence minister Ruben Brekelmans. 

Mr Brekelmans told Radio Liberty that he thinks the plan is realistic because “there are still a lot of F-16s” in other countries that could be handed over to Ukraine. “There are still opportunities,” he added.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv has repeatedly insisted its Western allies help it to acquire F-16 fighter jets. 

The Centre of Strategic and International Studies has previously said F-16s could prove critical in “enhancing” Ukraine’s border defence and establishing “air superiority”.

Last year, multiple nations, including the Netherlands, consented to supply a number of jets. The initial delivery of the pledged F-16s took place early last month and was showcased during the Air Force Day festivities on August 4. 

One F-16 fighter jet crashed last week with its Ukrainian pilot dying.

Additional insights from the directors of the CIA and MI6 during their remarks at the FT weekend festival earlier today included Bill Burns addressing the potential for nuclear conflict at the onset of the Ukraine-Russia crisis.

The CIA chief said: “There was a moment in the fall of 2022 when I think there was a genuine risk of a potential use of tactical nuclear weapons.

“The [US] president sent me to talk to our Russian counterpart, Sergei Naryshkin, at the end of 2022 to make very clear what the consequences of that kind of escalation would be,” he added.

“I don’t think we can afford to be intimidated by that sabre-rattling or bullying [but] we’ve got to be mindful of it.”

The Kremlin has signalled its “commitment to establish full control over the Russian information space”, according to US-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW). 

It said today that Vladimir Putin’s regime will try and “deanonymize Russian social media and Telegram channels”. 

ISW added: “Russian federal censor Roskomnadzor published and immediately deleted a draft procedure to implement a recently adopted law designed to deanonymize Russian Telegram channels, possibly after receiving backlash from the Russian ultranationalist Telegram community.

“The Kremlin continues to appoint Russian Presidential Administration Deputy Head Sergei Kiriyenko to positions overseeing Russia’s informational efforts as part of efforts aimed at shaping Russian identity and ideology.”

Russian forces are making “increased tactical gains” around the town of Vuhledar, about 19 miles from the city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said. 

In an intelligence update released today, the MoD added: “Vuhledar has been a long-term target for Russian forces, which has acted as a lynchpin against Russian advances in southern Donetsk Oblast. Russia has previously made repeated attempts to assault the town, which resulted in heavy losses, but with little territory gained.”

Its assessment adds to the growing sense Russia is making small, but steady gains in eastern Ukraine, despite Kyiv’s incursion into the Russian territory of Kursk – which was widely seen as a way to draw Moscow’s troops out of the Donetsk region.

Vladimir Putin said earlier in the week that Ukraine’s offensive into Kursk was forcing Kyiv to bring “quite well-prepared units” into the Russian region, allowing Moscow to advance quicker in the Donbas.

A Ukrainian security source has confirmed a Russian munitions depot was targeted by drones on Saturday night.

They revealed the details of the attack in the Voronezh region overnight on Saturday, adding that Kyiv believed the depot was being used to transfer munitions and equipment to Ukraine.

Alexander Gusev, the province’s Russian governor, had said in a statement on Telegram that “explosive objects” had detonated after a fire in the region’s Ostorogozhsky district.

He said there had been no casualties but ta state of emergency had been declared locally, with several hundred people evacuated and a major road closed.

The Ukrainian source told Reuters the attack had been carried out by the SBU, Ukraine’s internal security service.

They said: “At this moment, there are still four pockets of a powerful fire observed at the site, as well as the unceasing detonation of munitions.”

The depot is understood to be in the village of Soldatskoe, nearly 80 miles (130 km) from the nearest Ukraine-controlled territory.

Ukraine, which is restricted by some of its Western allies from using their missiles on Russian territory, has built up a stock of domestically produced long-range drones, some capable of hitting targets over 1,000 km (621 miles) away

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said at the annual Ambrosetti business forum in northern Italy that “China and India have a role to play to resolve” the war in Ukraine.

“The only thing that cannot happen is to think that the conflict can be solved by abandoning Ukraine,” Meloni said after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on the sidelines of the conference.

“The choice of supporting Ukraine has been first and foremost a choice of national interest, and it’s a choice that won’t change,” Meloni said.

CIA director Bill Burns said he didn’t see “any evidence today that [Vladimir] Putin’s grip on power is weakening”.

Despite his war in Ukraine not following the trajectory the President likely expected before his full-scale invasion, the spy chief suggested Mr Putin would remain in power for the foreseeable future. 

During a conference with the Financial Times, Mr Burns also discussed whether Russian intelligence was encouraging illegal migration across the Mexico border. “It’s something we are very sharply focused on,” he said. “Part of that is a function of so many Russian agents [being] kicked out of Europe. So they are looking for somewhere to go instead.”

On a potential ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, he said: “This goes to a question of whether or not leaders on both sides are prepared to recognise that enough is enough, and that the time has come for me to make some hard choices. 

“I cannot sit here today with all of you and say that its going to be a success, I also cannot tell you how close we are right now.” 

The Ukrainian Air Force said 67 drones were launched over the country overnight, with air defences active in 11 regions, including in the capital, Kyiv. Debris from one drone was photographed on the street outside Ukraine’s parliament.

The recent offensive in Kursk by Ukraine is undermining Russia’s narrative regarding the war and is raising concerns among the Russian elite, according to the heads of the CIA and MI6.

CIA Director Bill Burns, speaking alongside MI6 Chief Sir Richard Moore, characterised the Kursk operation as “a significant tactical achievement”. During a discussion with the Financial Times today, Mr Burns said Ukraine’s surprise offensive not only enhanced Ukrainian morale but also revealed vulnerabilities within the Russian military.

He noted that the development had “raised questions across the Russian elite”.

Sir Richard described the operation as “a typically audacious and bold move by the Ukrainians… to attempt to alter the dynamics of the conflict, and I believe they have successfully shifted the narrative, effectively bringing the war closer to Russia”.

However, the MI6 boss said it was too soon to say how Kyiv could hold the territory. 

This event marked the first occasion that the leaders of the two intelligence agencies have appeared together publicly in the 77-year history of their collaboration.

It also signified a strategic effort by British and American intelligence agencies to emerge from the shadows and provide a clearer outline of the escalating threats around the world.

Writing in the Financial Times earlier in the day, Mr Burns and Sir Richard warned that Russia was waging a “reckless campaign of sabotage across Europe”.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry said on Saturday it was “deeply concerned” by media reports about a possible impending transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia.

In a statement, the ministry said the deepening military co-operation between Tehran and Moscow was a threat to Ukraine, Europe and the Middle East, and called on the international community to increase pressure on Tehran and Moscow.

Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday he met Dutch politician Geert Wilders, the leader of the largest Dutch parliamentary party, at the Ambrosetti forum in Italy.

“Volodymyr [Zelensky] thanked the Netherlands and the entire Dutch people for their comprehensive support of Ukraine: defence, financial and humanitarian,” a statement on the Ukrainian President’s website said.

The statement added that the two men discussed Ukraine’s peace plan for ending the 30-month war with Russia.

Mr Wilders posted on X/Twitter, saying the two spoke of the war with Russia and also about “corruption in Ukraine, the chance of peace and the conditions for it, the Nord Stream issue and the Ukrainian men who stay in the Netherlands instead of helping in Ukraine”.

Russians began voting yesterday for governors and legislators in 83 regions and cities, including Moscow and St Petersburg. 

Opposition activists have branded the three-day local elections a sham, after hundreds of anti-war candidates were barred from running. 

Ballots were held in almost every part of the country at various levels, from local councils to regional governors.

Four regions, including municipalities in illegally annexed Crimea in Ukraine, will elect regional parliaments. 

Golos, a voters’ rights group, said the vote was an “imitation” of elections, claiming it lacked genuine competition. 

According to Golos, 35 per cent of nominees, including all three candidates from the liberal opposition party, Yabloko, were denied registration.

“Right now, the authorities want deputies at all levels to be as loyal as possible,” Maria Chuprina, a barred candidate, told Sky News.

“Such is the current federal agenda, there shouldn’t be anything that reminds us that Russia is in conflict.”

The US indictment of two Russians working for RT (formerly known as Russian Today) accused of channelling $10m (£7.6m) to an American media company that paid right-wing influencers for videos pushing pro-Kremlin propaganda, is evidence of a worrying change in tactics by a hostile state. And it is one America may not be equipped to deal with.

The US Justice Department accuses the Russian pair, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, both based in Moscow, of conspiracy to launder money and conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act. In other words, to engage in illegal lobbying.

Detailed accusations by US authorities of Russian interference in US elections are nothing new.

In July 2018, a US federal grand jury indicted 12 Russian military intelligence officers for their alleged roles in interfering with the 2016 election, in which Donald Trump was elected.

But the covert RT contact with a US media group marks a new and brazenly direct attempt at interference.

US prosecutors say RT oversaw a series of “covert projects” that included funneling $10m through a number of shell companies to the Tennessee-based media outlet, Tenet, launched in 2023, that publishes videos on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and X, and which is fronted by right-wing influencers including Lauren Southern, Dave Rubin, Benny Johnson and Tim Pool, whose shows are viewed by millions.

These influencers have been dubbed Vladimir Putin’s “useful idiots”.

Read the full story here.

The transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia would mark a sharp escalation in the Ukraine war, Washington said overnight.

“We have been warning of the deepening security partnership between Russia and Iran since the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and are alarmed by these reports,” White House national security council spokesman Sean Savett said.

“Any transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia would represent a dramatic escalation in Iran’s support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.”

He did not confirm reports in The Times and Wall Street Journal, alleging Russia had received a shipment of more than 200 ballistic missiles from Iran. 

Iran’s UN delegation denied the claims, saying: “Iran considers the provision of military assistance to the parties engaged in the conflict – which leads to increased human casualties, destruction of infrastructure, and a distancing from ceasefire negotiations – to be inhumane.”

“Thus, not only does Iran abstain from engaging in such actions itself, but it also calls upon other countries to cease the supply of weapons to the sides involved in the conflict.”

However, reports have circulated since August suggesting Russia was expecting the imminent delivery of hundreds of Fath-360 close-range ballistic missiles from Tehran

Russian military personnel will reportedly be trained inside Iran on how to use the missiles. 

Funeral services were held today for victims of one of the deadliest Russian airstrikes since the war in Ukraine began.

The funerals took place in the eastern Ukrainian city of Poltava for the victims of a Russian missile attack on a military training facility earlier this week that left over 50 dead and more than 300 injured.

Hundreds of mourners, including grieving families, local residents, and officials, gathered at the Cathedral of the Assumption in the city, some 350 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of Kyiv. Relatives, many holding red carnations, stood over caskets draped in yellow-and-blue Ukrainian flags that were placed outside the church. An air raid siren sounded during the service.

Local residents knelt in silent tribute as hearses carrying the victims passed by on their way to a military cemetery outside the city for burial.

Russia has intensified missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks, targeting energy infrastructure across the country and inflicting deadly strikes in residential areas.

Volodymyr Zelensky discussed a peace plan to end the conflict with Russia and his country’s post-war reconstruction with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, the president highlighted talks on the reconstruction of Ukraine’s energy system as the two leaders met on the sidelines of the Ambrosetti Forum in Italy.

“We also spoke about the implementation of the Peace Formula, where Italy plays an active role in each of its points. I thank Giorgia and the Italian people for their support and joint efforts in restoring a just peace,” Mr Zelensky said.

Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed Russia lost 6,000 troops during Kyiv’s cross-border incursion into Kursk last month.

The Ukrainian president made the comments at the Ramstein Airbase in Germany, where he urged Western leaders to provide his country with more long-range weaponry. 

Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, said earlier in the week that Ukraine’s offensive into Kursk was forcing Kyiv to bring “quite well-prepared units” into the Russian region, allowing Moscow to advance quicker in the Donbas.

Mr Putin said his main aim after 30 months of war was to capture the eastern Donbas area.

“The enemy weakened itself in key areas, our army has accelerated its offensive operations,” the Russian President said at an economic forum in Vladivostok.