Saturday, September 21

Russia’s war against Ukraine

From L: Yurii, 31, reacts when his wife Alyona, 35, and stepdaughter Angelyna, 12, depart aboard an evacuation bus in the city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, on Sept. 20, 2024. Russian forces are now only 10 kilometers (six miles) away from the city of Pokrovsk, a now-deserted city, once home to 60,000. (Genya Savilov / AFP via Getty Images)

US to provide Ukraine with additional $375 million in military aid, Reuters reports. If confirmed, it would be the largest tranche of military aid the U.S. has sent Ukraine since May earlier this year, when a package worth $275 million was delivered.

Ukraine restricts Telegram use for government, military, critical infrastructure. “I have always advocated freedom of speech, but the issue of Telegram is not a matter of freedom of speech, it is a matter of national security,” Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, said.

Drone strike causes explosions at facility in Krasnodar Krai, Russian officials say. A drone strike in the Tikhoretsk district of Russia’s Krasnodar Krai caused detonations of “explosive objects” at an unspecified facility, regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev reported on Sept. 21.

First group of Ukrainian pilots complete French jet training. The first cohort of Ukrainian pilots have completed Alpha Jet training in France, the French Armed Forces announced on Sept. 20.

Ukraine slaps new sanctions against individuals, entities from Iran, China, Russia. Ukraine has imposed sanctions against six individuals and over 40 entities from Iran, China, and Russia.

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Ukraine’s strike on Russian arms depot destroyed up to 3 months’ worth of ammunition, Estonian military intelligence head says. The Ukrainian drone strike on the arms depot in Russia’s Tver Oblast destroyed two to three months’ worth of munitions, Estonian Colonel Ants Kiviselg, head of the Estonian Defense Forces Intelligence Center, said on Sept. 20.

Ghanaian men lured to fight for Russia appeal for help from inside occupied Ukraine. The surviving members of a group of 14 men from Ghana who were lured into the Russian military to fight against Ukraine have appealed for help from Russian-occupied Donetsk Oblast, Ghanaian news outlet TV3 reported on Sept. 19.

Russia struggles to rewire global trade amid sanctions, war, WSJ analysis says. As the full-scale invasion continues, Western countries are imposing increasingly severe sanctions on Russia, forcing it to seek new partnerships with Asian powerhouses China and India.

Ukraine approves new domestic-made all-terrain amphibious vehicle Takha. The vehicle developed by Ukrainian engineers is already being used at the front line for evacuation, as well as for transportation of ammunition and food, according to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry.

49% of Russians support withdrawal of troops from Ukraine, poll says. A majority of those surveyed (53%) also said it was more important for Russia to oust Ukrainian forces from Kursk Oblast than to occupy more territory in eastern Ukraine.

Read our exclusives

‘Russia must feel it’s going to lose’ – President Zelensky’s ‘victory plan,’ explained

A source close to Zelensky told the Kyiv Independent that the “victory plan” aims “to create such conditions and such an atmosphere that Russia will no longer be able to ignore the peace formula and the peace summit.”

Photo: Nikoletta Stoyanova/Getty Images

Meta’s ban on Russian propaganda doesn’t go far enough, say disinformation experts

Tech companies’ recent efforts to crack down on Russian propaganda on social media are unlikely to hamper Moscow’s campaign to undermine support for Ukraine, especially as major platforms, like X and Telegram, fail to take action.

Photo: Mladen Antonov / AFP via Getty Images

Human cost of war

Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih kills 3, including child. A 12-year-old boy was killed in the attack, regional Governor Serhii Lysak said. The strike also killed two women, aged 75 and 79.

Russia strikes Kharkiv with guided bombs, injuring at least 15. According to the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor’s Office, Russian Su-34 jets launched three guided bombs from across the border in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast.

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 5, injure 33. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 61 of the 70 Shahed-type drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Nine drones were “lost” in Ukraine as a result of “active measures” by Ukrainian forces.

American pro-Kremlin fighter tortured to death by Russian soldiers, Russian investigators say. Russell Bentley, a pro-Kremlin American man who fought against Ukraine in 2014 and was killed under previously unknown circumstances in April, was tortured to death by Russian soldiers, Russia’s Investigative Committee said on Sept. 20.

Russia missile strike on Odesa injures 4, damages Antiguan-flagged vessel. According to the preliminary data, Russia launched Iskander-M ballistic missiles, damaging port and civilian infrastructure, as well as a civilian ship under the Antiguan flag.

General Staff: Russia has lost 639,480 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. This number includes 1,340 casualties Russian forces suffered over the past day.

With Ukrainian troops fending off Russia’s offensive near Pokrovsk

International response

EU’s von der Leyen unveils up to 35 billion euro loan to Ukraine as part of G7 pledge. “Relentless Russian attacks means Ukraine needs continued EU support,” the chief of the EU’s executive arm said during her visit to Kyiv.

Norway allocates additional $5.7 billion to Ukraine until 2030. “This unwavering commitment will help Ukraine protect lives, defend freedom, and strengthen our resilience,” Zelensky said.

US Congress nears deal on extending $6 billion in Ukraine aid before expiration, Reuters reports. U.S. Congress and the Biden administration are close to an agreement on a one-year extension of $5.8 billion in military aid for Ukraine before it expires at the end of September, Reuters reported on Sept. 19, citing two undisclosed sources.

US may send Ukraine medium-range missiles for F-16s, Politico reports. A medium-range glide bomb known as the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) might be included in the new military aid package, U.S. officials told Politico. The missile can cover a distance of over 70 miles.

Raiffeisen Bank agrees to sell Belarusian subsidiary. Austria-headquartered Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) agreed to sell its stake in its Belarusian subsidiary Priorbank, marking the first step toward fully withdrawing from the Belarusian market, RBI announced on Sept. 20.

Europe too ‘reticent’ in energy support for Ukraine ahead of winter, IEA chief says. According to the IEA report, Ukraine’s electricity shortage could reach 6 GW this winter, which is about one-third of the expected peak demand.

Germany has overcome shortage of Russian gas and is ready for winter, minister says. Germany’s natural gas storage facilities are full, and all goals have been met, according to German Vice-Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck.

US Green Party candidate Stein calls Putin ‘war criminal,’ clarifying stance after controversial interview. Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein’s statement unequivocally called Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal but cited Russia’s “military intervention in Syria,” not the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as an “example of his disregard for human rights.”

In other news

Kyiv 2nd worst in world’s air quality amid fires in region. Kyiv authorities warned about sharp and “temporary deterioration” of air quality in the city.

Putin won’t visit ICC member Mexico for President-elect Sheinbaum’s inauguration. Mexico signed the Rome Statute in 2005 and is subject to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, which issued the arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Elsa Court, Liliane Bivings, Roman Olearchyk, Martin Fornusek, Kateryna Hodunova, Nate Ostiller, and Abbey Fenbert.

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