Ukrainian drones strike Russian ammunition depot in the Tver region. According to sources from the Security Service of Ukraine cited by the Ukrainian media outlets Suspilne and Ukrayinska Pravda, Ukrainian forces carried out a successful drone strike on a Russian Ministry of Defence ammunition depot in Toropets, Tver region, during the early hours of September 18. The operation, coordinated by the SBU in conjunction with other defence units, targeted a significant cache of missiles intended for Iskander and Tochka-U missile systems, alongside KAB bombs and artillery ammunition. The resulting explosion was immense, creating a fire that spread across an area of six kilometres and necessitating the evacuation of local residents. The magnitude of the detonation was so considerable that some locals on social media speculated about the possibility of a nuclear device being involved. This attack forms part of Ukraine’s ongoing wider strategy to diminish Russia’s missile stockpiles, a strategy confirmed by the SBU.
Armenian Security Agency says it uncovered a Russian-backed coup attempt. According to Armenian media outlet News.am, Armenia’s National Security Service has uncovered an attempted coup involving participants who reportedly received military training in Russia. The investigation, which included nearly three dozen searches and interrogations, revealed that Armenian citizens and former residents of Nagorno-Karabakh had been preparing to seize power. The recruits, who were allegedly paid around 200,000 Russian rubles monthly, were recruited throughout 2024 by a group intending to overthrow the Armenian government. Under the pretext of participating in “three-month training camps” in Russia to familiarise themselves with heavy weaponry, the individuals were then brought to the “Arbat” military base, where they received close-quarters combat training. They were informed that their ultimate objective was to return to Armenia and remove the current government. However, some recruits reportedly objected and returned home. The security service has initiated criminal proceedings against seven individuals, three of whom have been detained, with four others now wanted.
Estonian Chief of Staff about potential war with Russia: “We may consider a pre-emptive strike.” In an interview with the ERR News, Major General Vahur Karus, Chief of the General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces, stated that Estonia, in cooperation with NATO, is preparing for a possible war with Russia and may strike Russian territory if Moscow prepares to attack the Alliance. “We can no longer wait until we’re hit over the head with a sledgehammer; we must be the ones who can take certain actions first,” Karus emphasised, reflecting the shift in Estonia’s defence strategy. Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Estonia expected its military could hold out for ten days in the event of an attack, pending NATO support. However, the country has now made “fundamental changes” to its military doctrine. When asked whether Estonia, under its new defence plan, must be capable of “destroying Russians in case of an invasion on their territory where troops are stationed,” Karus affirmed this was true. He also highlighted Estonia’s reliance on NATO support in the event of an invasion, noting that all foreign units are integrated into Estonia’s military plans, just as Estonia’s combat power is part of NATO’s broader strategy. Each ally, he added, has designated weapons and combat missions assigned in the event of an attack. “Over the past 30 years, we’ve built our national defence through trial and error. A notable parallel drawn during the head of the defence forces’ recent study trip is that our current military mindset and state approach to war mirror those of the first republic in 1938,” he added.
ISW: Kremlin’s extensive disinformation campaign exposed in leaked documents. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), leaked documents have revealed the Kremlin’s extensive information operations against Ukraine and the West, underscoring its strategic use of global media and social platforms to advance Moscow’s interests. On September 17, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, banned the Russian state media outlet RT and related entities for “foreign interference activities.” This move followed the US State Department’s September 13 sanctions targeting individuals and entities linked to RT, accused of covert influence operations and military procurement efforts aimed at destabilising countries across Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The Schemes investigative project run by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has analysed numerous leaked documents, previously obtained by German and Estonian media, detailing the Russian “Social Design Agency” (SDA) activities. Recently identified by the US Department of Justice as part of the Kremlin’s “Doppelganger” influence network, the SDA has fabricated documents and news stories, including forged orders from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence and General Oleksandr Syrskyi, to discredit Ukraine’s military leadership. The SDA’s efforts also include spreading anti-Ukrainian memes on social media.
