In June 2025 NielsenIQ’s Russian subsidiary began treating occupied Ukrainian territories as “new Russian regions” in its market surveys, prompting condemnation from Ukraine and concerns about the company’s adherence to EU and US sanctions.

No democratic country recognizes these annexations. By referring to Ukraine’s occupied regions as “new territories of Russia,” Nielsen’s Russian branch effectively legitimizes Moscow’s illegal land grab and undermines international law. Such framing not only echoes Kremlin propaganda but also contradicts the global effort to hold Russia accountable for war crimes and aggression.

Nielsen Russia’s data shows how including these areas inflated market growth figures. The company claims these territories account for 2–3% of beer sales. Growth rates jumped from 6% to 10% when including the new regions. This framing legitimizes Russia’s attempted annexations. It creates an illusion that the occupation has become normalized.

Konstantin Loktiev, executive director of Nielsen Russia, made even more cynical statements. He called residents of occupied territories a “new consumer group.” He speculated about the “economic potential” of regions that Russia’s war has devastated. He added that companies entering the market first would gain loyalty from this “new audience.”

The Ukrainian coalition B4Ukraine unites more than 90 organizations. It sharply condemned Nielsen’s move:

“Recognizing illegally occupied Ukrainian territories as ‘new Russian regions’ makes an unacceptable concession to the aggressor. Such steps legitimize Russia’s attempted annexation and undermine international efforts to stop its war,” 

NielsenIQ’s Chicago headquarters has remained silent. The company ignores repeated media inquiries. This refusal to comment deepens suspicions that Nielsen deliberately disregards sanctions.

Nielsen claims it deconsolidated Russian operations. However, company documents confirm Nielsen still owns Russian subsidiaries, including Nielsen Data Factory LLC. Official figures show Russia accounted for about 0.6% of NIQ revenues in 2024. The company insists its Russian entities operate with local management and autonomy. But financial ties remain murky.

Nielsen has faced criticism before. In March 2022, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine Nielsen limited some operations but chose not to exit the Russian market entirely. Hundreds of other international brands made complete exits. More than two years later, questions about Nielsen’s compliance with sanctions and international norms have intensified.

B4Ukraine urges US and EU authorities to investigate Nielsen’s practices. The coalition wants officials to determine whether Nielsen breaches sanctions:

“Nielsen must face consequences for effectively siding with the Kremlin’s war criminals. This involves more than ethics it’s about international security,” 

Access to Starlink simultaneously disappeared along the entire frontline at 7:28 AM, according to Robert Brodsky, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces. The outage affected not only Ukrainian troops but also users worldwide, with global reports recording up to 45,000 incidents.

Starlink has become an essential part of Ukraine’s defense, ranging from drone operations to the coordination of combat actions. Any disruption to its functionality carries strategic consequences that extend far beyond Ukraine.

By 8:02 AM, the system began to recover gradually, though Ukrainian forces confirmed that the outage seriously complicated frontline operations. As of 10:00 AM, partial stability was restored, but SpaceX has not provided an official explanation.

Starlink is used on the frontline not only for communication but also for critical military operations. Ukrainian forces rely on it to operate drones, coordinate artillery strikes, and maintain situational awareness. Due to the stable satellite connection, units remain online even when mobile infrastructure is destroyed by Russian strikes. This makes Starlink a key factor in Ukraine’s ability to resist the Russian army.

This marks the second major Starlink outage in the past two months. On July 24, 2025, the system also went down worldwide; at the time, SpaceX confirmed technical issues and launched an internal investigation. The recurrence of such incidents raises concerns, as Starlink is not just an internet service but a critical tool for Ukraine’s defense.

MP Röwekamp emphasized that Ukraine should receive modern air defense systems and equipment to strike targets on Russian territory, and that coordination within NATO should allow responding to threats in the airspace of allied countries.

Amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, providing Ukraine with such capabilities becomes particularly relevant after the incident in which some Russian UAVs entered Polish airspace. To protect key logistical hubs, such as Rzeszów Airport, the Bundeswehr deployed Patriot air defense systems and 200 soldiers, while Dutch F-35s shot down at least three drones.

The head of the Bundestag Defense Committee, Thomas Röwekamp, told the German magazine Spiegel that NATO needs to act more decisively against Russian drones. He stressed the need to shoot down drones over Ukraine and to strike production sites and launch platforms in Russia.

According to him, mass UAV attacks create very serious challenges for air defense, and military capabilities in this area should be expanded. Germany should increase its contribution and help Ukraine acquire modern air defense systems and other tools to counter drones.

Röwekamp highlighted the importance of NATO coordination to determine when and over whose territory threats can be countered:

“There must be a possibility, with the consent of the affected country, to neutralize drones that threaten NATO territory, even in their airspace.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly called for a coordinated approach to protect Ukrainian airspace, proposing to work with partners to find solutions that minimize escalation. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has refrained from commenting on the possibility of shooting down drones over Ukraine, emphasizing the need for caution and coordination with allies.

Meanwhile, Germany and other partners are actively supplying Ukraine with modern air defense systems and assisting in the development of long-range UAVs. This allows not only repelling attacks but also planning actions against the sources of threats on Russian territory.

On 10 September, special forces of Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) attacked a Russian Black Sea Fleet ship near Novorossiysk. As a result, the MPSV07-class vessel reportedly sustained serious damage, lost its electronic reconnaissance equipment, and now requires costly repairs.

According to HUR, the strike targeted a multifunctional MPSV07-class ship commissioned in 2015. Each ship of this type is valued at around $60 million, and the Russian Navy possesses only four of them. The vessel is equipped with diving systems, remotely operated vehicles, side-scan sonars, and electronic reconnaissance systems. With a power capacity of about 4 MW, the ship plays a crucial role in underwater and reconnaissance operations.

HUR confirmed that the Ukrainian drone struck the ship’s command bridge, containing navigation and communication systems. According to the report, the attack destroyed the vessel’s electronic reconnaissance equipment, disabling the ship, which would requiring long and costly repairs.

This attack fits into the broader context of Ukraine’s operations against Russia’s naval forces. Just weeks earlier, on 22 August 2025, DIU reported another successful operation in Novorossiysk, during which five elite Russian divers were eliminated.

On 9 September 2025, London hosted the 30th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, also known as the Ramstein format after its first session at the US airbase in Germany. Over more than three years, the group has pledged over $145 billion in military aid, providing Ukraine with vital assets such as modern air defense systems, F-16 aircraft, tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery shells.

At the latest meeting in the Ramstein format, Germany announced a new ambitious initiative — support for the production of Ukrainian long-range drones. Berlin will invest €300 million in contracts with domestic companies, effectively betting on Ukrainian defense engineering as one of the key forces in the war against Russia.

The decision demonstrates a fundamental shift in Berlin’s approach. While earlier it was mostly about supplying ready-made weapons from Bundeswehr stockpiles, now the German government is betting on the development of Ukraine’s defense industry. This means not only supporting the front now but also creating the foundation for Ukraine’s defense independence.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the new program is called “deep strike.” It envisions the purchase of thousands of drones of various types, from reconnaissance to strike UAVs. Their ranges will allow them to hit targets far behind the frontlines. 

Pistorius stressed that cooperation with Ukrainian manufacturers will be long-term and scalable. 

“This is not only support for today but also an investment in the future of Ukraine and European security,” he said. 

For Ukraine, this news carries another dimension – recognition of its technological capability. Germany is effectively acknowledging that Ukrainian engineers are able to create world-class weaponry. This could open the door not only to military but also to civilian high-tech cooperation in the future.

The deep strike initiative comes amid the growing use of drones in the war. Ukrainian UAVs have already proven their effectiveness, striking oil depots, military warehouses, and ships of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. Due to German investment, the scale of such operations could increase many times over.

At the same time, Berlin announced continued support with air defense systems, including Patriots, reinforcing the comprehensive nature of its assistance: on the one hand, protection of Ukrainian skies, and on the other, the ability to deliver pinpoint strikes on the enemy hundreds of kilometers away.

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