Thursday, September 14

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Refugees from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories and residents of Zaporizhzhia produce camouflage nets for Ukrainian soldiers on Sept. 13 in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. Approximately 100 volunteers are active members of the Mothers Of Soldiers, an organization created in 2014. (Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images)

Von der Leyen: Future of Ukraine is in EU. “We cannot afford to leave our fellow Europeans behind,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in her annual state of the union address to the European Parliament on Sept. 13.

Military intelligence: Strike on shipyard in Sevastopol damages 2 Russian vessels. An overnight strike on a shipyard in Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea damaged a Russian landing craft, a submarine, and port infrastructure, Ukraine’s military intelligence told RBC-Ukraine on Sept. 13.

Sky News: Ukraine used British Storm Shadow missiles to strike Sevastopol. Ukraine used long-range Storm Shadow missiles to strike a Russian naval shipyard in Sevastopol overnight, British Sky News reported on Sept. 13, citing unnamed Ukrainian and Western sources.

Kim Jong Un praises Russia’s war, toasts to future ‘victory.’ North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un told Russian officials during his visit that he is confident in Russia’s victory over Ukraine, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on Sept. 13.

Official: Russia starts reinforcing ‘third line’ of defenses in south. Russian forces have started to strengthen the “third line” of defense in Russian-occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ivan Fedorov, the exiled mayor of Melitopol, said on Telegram on Sept. 13.

Minister: Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian ports damage 105 port infrastructure facilities in 2 months. Since Russia pulled out of the grain deal with Ukraine, its attacks on Ukrainian ports have damaged or partially destroyed 105 port infrastructure facilities, Oleksandr Kubrakov, Ukraine’s infrastructure minister, said on his official Facebook page on Sept. 13.

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Musk says he didn’t turn on Starlink near Crimea due to US sanctions on Russia. U.S. sanctions on Russia meant that Starlink satellite connection near Crimea could not be turned on for a Ukrainian military operation without permission from the U.S. president, Elon Musk said at the All-In Summit in Los Angeles on Sept. 12.

US General: First Ukrainian pilots to likely complete F-16 training in 3 months. The first set of Ukrainian pilots could complete their initial training on F-16 fighter jets at the end of the year, although it will take longer before they are engaged in combat, the Associated Press reported on Sept. 12, citing General Michael Loh, the director of the U.S. Air National Guard.

Shmyhal: Energy infrastructure will be ready for winter within next month. Preparations for Ukraine’s energy facilities to meet the challenges of the upcoming winter are in the final stage, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said during a government meeting on Sept. 12.

Romania finds more suspected Russian drone fragments. The Romanian military uncovered suspected drone fragments near one of the Danube River branches within Romania’s territory, the country’s Defense Ministry reported on Sept. 13.

Moldova expels head of Sputnik’s Moldova branch. The Moldovan authorities expelled Vitaly Denisov, the head of the Russian-controlled propaganda site Sputnik Moldova, for a period of 10 years, the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported on Sept. 13, citing the country’s Migration and Asylum Office.

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Deliberate murders of Ukrainian children by Russian soldiers reveal culture of impunity

Over 500 Ukrainian children have been killed by the Russian army since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Most of the children have died in Russian missile or artillery attacks, but dozens have been gunned down with small arms at close range. 

Illustration: Yehor Kucheruk

Ukraine war latest: Strike on shipyard in occupied Sevastopol damages 2 Russian vessels

Ukraine’s military intelligence told RBC-Ukraine on Sept. 13 that an overnight strike on a shipyard in Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea damaged a Russian landing craft, a submarine, and port infrastructure.

Photo: Mikhail Razvozhayev/Telegram

Human cost of war

Russian attacks kill 3, injure 15 over past day. Russian forces have attacked nine oblasts over the past day, killing at least three people and injuring at least 15 others, local officials reported early on Sept. 13.

Russian attack in Kherson Oblast village injures man. A Russian attack on the village of Odradokamianka in Kherson Oblast injured a 41-year-old man, the Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported on Sept. 12.

Watch Kyiv Independent’s investigation into Russia’s systemic killings of Ukrainian children

International response

US sends monitors to Ukraine to track military aid. The U.S. is sending personnel to Kyiv to evaluate the use of American military aid, the U.S. Defense Department Inspector General’s Office said in a report released on Sept. 13.

Germany delivers 20 Marder armored vehicles, other aid to Ukraine. Germany provided Ukraine with 20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles (IFV), reconnaissance and surveillance equipment, munitions, and other aid in the latest military assistance delivery, the German government said on Sept. 13.

Baltic countries ban entry for Russian registered vehicles. Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have banned entry to their respective countries for vehicles registered in Russia after a recommendation by the European Commission.

Media: Bulgaria wants to end Ukrainian grain import ban. Bulgaria no longer supports prolonging the EU ban on Ukrainian grain imports as three major parties in the Parliament submitted a draft decision against the prolongation, Euroactiv reported on Sept. 12.

European Parliament recognizes Lukashenko as ‘accomplice’ to Putin’s crimes. The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Sept. 13 officially recognizing Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko as an accomplice to the crimes of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

Romania summons Russian ambassador following discovery of more drone debris. Romania has summoned the head of the Russian mission in the country and is “closely consulting with NATO allies” following the discovery of more drone debris on its territory, the Romanian Foreign Ministry said on Sept. 13.

In other news

4 Ukrainian women featured on Time magazine’s emerging leaders list. Four Ukrainian women were featured on the 2023 Time Magazine 100 Next list, which recognizes “the rising leaders in health, climate, business, sports, the arts, and more,” Time magazine announced on Sept. 13.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Teah Pelechaty, Martin Fornusek, Lili Bivings, Elsa Court, Olena Goncharova, and Abbey Fenbert.

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