THE RUSSO-UKRAINE WAR BRIEF
For: 2024-09-09
Slava Ukraini! In early 2022 I began a Telegram channel aggregating news from a number of sources daily on the war in Ukraine. In June 2023 I began providing a daily draft for the Ukraine War Brief Podcast collecting news from over 70 sources daily, much of which formed the basis of the script. While the Podcast no longer exists I have continued to make this Brief available both on my own Substack and The People’s Media for those who wish to keep up with events on a daily basis.
All the latest news on the Russo-Ukraine War 6 days per week
ALONG THE CONTACT LINE
GSAFU Morning Report
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its Operational Information update at 22:00 on Sep 08 stated that day 928 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine was about to begin.
During the past 48 hrs, there were 316 combat engagements. The enemy carried out 1 missile strike, 130 air strikes, 1,054 drone strikes and more than 5,868 artillery strikes across the positions of Ukrainian forces.
At the same time, Ukrainian soldiers continue to inflict losses in manpower and equipment on the occupying troops, exhausting the enemy along the entire front line and continue to disrupt the plans of Russian occupiers to advance deep into the territory of Ukraine.
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Air Force Daily Report
On the night of September 8, 2024, the occupiers struck with four Kh-59 guided air missiles from the Belgorod region. - Russian Federation and 23 strike UAVs of the "Shahed" type (launch areas: Kursk - Russian Federation, Chauda - Crimea).
The enemy's air attack was repelled by anti-aircraft missile forces, mobile fire groups and units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
As a result of the anti-aircraft battle, one Kh-59 guided air missile and 15 attack UAVs of the "Shahed" type were shot down.
In addition, two enemy drones were lost in location (probably fell under the influence of electronic warfare devices). Also, three Kh-59 missiles did not reach the desired targets due to the active countermeasures of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
Anti-aircraft defense worked in Odesa, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
On the night of September 9, 2024, the enemy attacked with three Kh-59/69 guided air missiles from the airspace of the Kursk region. - Russian Federation and occupied Donetsk region and 8 strike UAVs of the "Shahed" type (launch area: Kursk - Russian Federation).
As a result of the anti-aircraft battle, two Kh-59/69 guided air missiles and 6 "Shahed" type attack UAVs were shot down.
Two enemy drones were lost in location on the territory of Ukraine (probably fell under the influence of EW devices). Also, as a result of active countermeasures, one of the Kh-59/69 missiles did not reach its target.
Anti-aircraft defence worked in Kyiv, Cherkasy, Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
The Russian Border Incursion
Ukrainian forces continue offensive in Kursk
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US based think tank, in its Sep 08 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment assessed that Russian forces conducted counterattacks in Kursk Oblast amid continued Ukrainian offensive operations in the area on September 8. Ukrainian forces reportedly continued to attack southwest of Korenevo near Snagost and Vishnevka; northwest of Sudzha near Malaya Loknya; north of Sudzha near Maryevka; northeast of Sudzha near Martynovka; and southeast of Sudzha near Cherkasskaya Konopelka on September 7 and 8. Russian forces reportedly conducted counterattacks in Korenevo; east of Korenevo near Olgovka; and southeast of Sudzha near Cherkasskaya Konopelka.
Russian sources claimed that Russian forces regained lost positions south and east of Korenevo, within Shtepukhovka (northeast of Korenevo), and near Malaya Loknya. A Russian milblogger claimed that Pogrebki (northwest of Sudzha) is a contested "gray zone." Elements of the Russian 810th Naval Infantry Brigade (Black Sea Fleet, Southern Military District [SMD]) are reportedly operating in Kursk Oblast, and elements of the Russian 155th Naval Infantry Brigade (Pacific Fleet, Eastern Military District [EMD]), are reportedly operating near Krasnooktyabrskoye (southwest of Korenevo).
Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets stated on September 8 that the Russian military command is redeploying one airborne (VDV) regiment and reconnaissance battalion of the 106th VDV Division from the Siversk and Kramatorsk directions and at least one self-propelled artillery battalion from the 20th Motorized Rifle Division (8th Combined Arms Army [CAA], Southern Military District [SMD]) from the Kurakhove direction to Kursk Oblast.k
Ukrainian State Border Service Spokesperson Andriy Demchenko stated on September 8 that the Ukrainian operation in Kursk Oblast is allowing Ukrainian forces to construct fortifications directly on the Ukrainian-Russian border in Sumy Oblast, as opposed to further from the border, as Ukrainian forces must do in other border areas due to Russian shelling.
Ukrainian forces continue to target Russian ground lines of communications (GLOCs) in near rear areas in Kursk Oblast. A Ukrainian source posted footage on September 8 of Ukrainian forces destroying a bridge across the Seim River north of Karyzh, Glushkovsky Raion.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kharkiv Sector: Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3 Russian attacks near Vovchansk. 1 engagement continues.
Kupyansk Sector: Russia Forces carried out 13 offensive actions against Ukrainian defensive positions near Synkivka, Stepova Novosilka, Hlushkivka, Lozova Stelmahivka and Myasozharivka. 2 engagements continue.
Lyman Sector: Russian Forces carried out 12 offensive actions against Ukrainian defensive positions near Cherneshchyna, Nevske, Novosadove and Torske. 2 engagements are ongoing.
Siversk Sector: Russian forces carried out 5 unsuccessful assaults in the vicinity of Hyrhorivka, Verkhnokamianske and Spirne. 3 engagements are ongoing.
Kramatorsk Sector: Russian forces carried out 7 unsuccessful offensive actions near Chasiv Yar, Klishchiivka, Predtechyne, Andriivka and Bila Hora. 1 engagement is ongoing.
Toretsk Sector: Russian forces carried out 17 offensive actions near Druzhba, Pivnichne, Toretsk, Zaline, Nelipivka and Nui York. 4 engagements are ongoing.
The Tavria operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.)
Pokrovsk Sector : The enemy conducted 29 attacks against Ukrainian defences in this area over the last day in the vicinity o Zelene Pole, Vozdvyzhenko, Novotoretske, Hrodivka, Novohrodivka, Marynivka, Selydove and Mykhaillivka. 9 engagements are ongoing.
Kurakhove Sector: There have been 25 combat engagements as Russian forces attempted to advance mainly in the areas of the settlements of Ukrainsk, Halytsynivka, Krasnogorivka, Heorhiivka and Kostyantynivka. 5 engagements remain in progress.
Vremivka Sector: Russian forces made 2 assaults against Ukrainian positions near Voidane.
Orikhiv Sector: The situation in this sector has not changed significantly. 2 enemy attacks were repulsed over the last day in the vicinity of Robotyne and Mala Tokmachka.
The Odesa operational-strategic group
(Responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea.)
Prydniprovsk Sector: There has been no significant change in the combat environment in the last 24 hours.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing major to report.
THE HOME FRONT
August saw second-highest number of civilian casualties in Ukraine this year
At least 184 civilians were killed and 856 injured in Ukraine in August, the U.N.'s human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine said in a report released on Sept. 6. The Kyiv Independent reported.
This August is the month with the second-highest number of civilian casualties in 2024. July was "the deadliest month for civilians" since October 2022, according to a previous report.
The vast majority of civilian casualties (91%) and damage to educational and health facilities (95%) continued to occur in the Ukraine-controlled territory in August, the report said.
A Russian missile strike hit a supermarket in the town of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast on Aug. 9, killing 14 people and injuring 44 others, local authorities said.
On Aug. 26, Russia launched the largest attack on Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, striking 15 oblasts across the country. At least 25 energy facilities were damaged, including part of the Kyiv Hydroelectric Power Plant, according to the report.
Eight civilians were killed, and at least 23 suffered injuries as a result of the attack.
Russian forces also struck Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-biggest city, with guided aerial bombs on Aug. 30, killing seven people and injuring over 90, according to authorities.
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the U.N. estimates that at least 11,743 civilians have been killed and at least 24,614 injured. The actual figure of civilian casualties is likely much higher.
Ukraine's cabinet reshuffle sees many younger ministers
Reuters compiled a list of some of the new ministers announced in Zelenskyy’s cabinet shuffle
FOREIGN MINISTER: ANDRII SYBIHA, 49 - Sybiha, a career diplomat without a prominent public profile, was named first deputy foreign minister in April 2024. Before that, he was one of several deputy heads of Zelenskiy's presidential office where he oversaw foreign policy and strategic partnerships.
DEPUTY PM FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND REGIONS: OLEKSIY KULEBA, 41 - Kuleba served as a deputy head of Zelenskiy's office overseeing regional policies from January 2023. That job involved coordinating ties between regional authorities and the military to build fortifications and support the development of mobile anti-drone groups across Ukraine. In the first year after Russia's invasion, Kuleba served as the regional governor of the Kyiv region that surrounds the capital.
DEPUTY PM FOR EU INTEGRATION AND JUSTICE MINISTER: OLHA STEFANYSHYNA, 38 - Stefanyshyna, a lawyer by education, served as the deputy prime minister in charge of Kyiv's accession to the European Union and NATO military alliance from June 2020. She retains that portfolio and gains the functions of the old justice ministry as head of a bigger ministry combining the two.
AGRICULTURE MINISTER: VITALIY KOVAL, 43 - Koval headed the State Property Fund, Ukraine's main privatisation agency from November 2023. Prior to that he was the governor of the Rivne region in western Ukraine. He also worked in the private sector, serving in various senior positions in banking, transport and agriculture.
MINISTER FOR STRATEGIC INDUSTRIES: HERMAN SMETANIN, 32 - Smetanin is the youngest minister in the cabinet and his appointment is more evidence of a rapid rise through the ranks. An engineer by education, he was named head of Ukraine's largest state-owned defence consortium UkrOboronProm in June 2023. During that period, weapons and ammunition production increased. He also spearheaded a corporate governance reform to increase transparency at the state giant.
MINISTER FOR VETERANS: NATALIIA KALMYKOVA, 37 - Kalmykova, a doctor by education, was a deputy defence minister from September 2023. Prior to that, she headed Ukraine's Veterans Fund and worked in Come Back Alive, one of the largest Ukrainian charity organisations.
ENVIRONMENT MINISTER: SVITLANA HRYNCHUK, 38 - Hrynchuk was a deputy energy minister from September 2023. She was also a deputy environment minister for several months in 2022. Prior to that, she was an adviser to the finance minister and headed a working group in the ministry of energy on environmental protection and climate change.
MINISTER FOR CULTURE AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS: MYKOLA TOCHYTSKYI, 56 - Tochytskyi, a career diplomat, was a deputy head of Zelenskiy's office overseeing foreign policy from April 2024. He earlier served as Ukraine's ambassador in Belgium and Luxembourg and was also Ukraine's representative in the Council of Europe.
Russia once again targets fire and rescue unit in Donetsk region
On the morning of 9 September, Russian invaders targeted a fire and rescue unit in Kurakhove, Pokrovsk district, Donetsk region. State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported.
"The building and equipment were damaged as a result of the enemy strike. Fortunately, the rescuers were not injured," the statement said.
RUSSIAN WORLD
August strike on Russia’s Volgograd Oblast airbase destroyed key infrastructure
The UK Ministry of Defence in their Sep 09 Intelligence Update on Ukraine assessed that Ukraine’s August 22 strike on the Marinovka Air Base in Russia’s Volgograd Oblast caused widespread damage to key infrastructure and equipment, including destroyed aircraft shelters and support buildings.
The update detailed the impact of a Ukrainian strike on Marinovka Air Base in Russia’s Volgograd Oblast, which took place on 22 August. Satellite imagery shows the attack caused significant destruction to key infrastructure and military equipment at the facility, including damage to hangars and storage facilities.
The British Defense Ministry reported that the Ukrainian attack resulted in the destruction of four aircraft shelters, the damaging of three more, and the destruction of a radome, support buildings, and open storage facilities.
NEWS WORLDWIDE
German counterintelligence reports activation of Russian GRU cyber group
On Monday, 9 September, the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Bundesverfassungsschutz), together with the FBI, the US Cyber Security Agency CISA, the NSA, and other international partners, issued a warning to the group known as UNC2589 Censor.net reports
The group's malicious cyber activity is aimed at critical infrastructure around the world. It is associated with the Russian military unit 29155 of the Main Intelligence Directorate. [GRU]
The GRU unit to which the group belongs is suspected of involvement in the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the UK in 2018.
The group attacked networks in NATO member states in Europe and North America, as well as in Latin America and Central Asia. The targets of the cyberattacks were critical infrastructure, government agencies, and companies in the financial, transport, energy, and healthcare sectors.
According to the German agency, since the beginning of 2022, the main goal of the cyber group has apparently been to spy on and impede the flow of aid to Ukraine. More than 14,000 cases of domain scanning have already been registered in 28 NATO and EU countries, including Germany.
Ukrainian officials call for documentary on Russian soldiers to be removed from TIFF
Ukrainian officials are urging the Toronto International Film Festival to cancel screenings of a documentary that follows Russian soldiers fighting against Ukraine, saying the film is propaganda that whitewashes their war crimes. The Globe and Mail reports.
The film, Russians at War, by Russian-Canadian documentary filmmaker Anastasia Trofimova, screened at the Venice Film Festival, and is set to be shown for the first time in North America at TIFF next week.
Ms. Trofimova told reporters that she saw no signs of war crimes. “I think in Western media, that’s what Russian soldiers are associated with at this point, because there were no other stories. This is another story.”
Grumpy here - Trofimova is a Russian/Canadian citizen whose previous credits are almost exclusively for Russian propaganda outlet RT
It was produced in association with two Canadian public broadcasters, Ontario’s TVO and British Columbia’s Knowledge Network, and partly funded through the Canada Media Fund (CMF), a not-for-profit organisation that receives its funding from the federal government and telecommunications companies.
In a Sept. 5 letter obtained by The Globe and Mail, Ukraine’s consul-general in Toronto, Oleh Nikolenko, urged TIFF chief executive Cameron Bailey to remove the film from the festival’s schedule.
Mr. Nikolenko wrote that the Consulate General of Ukraine in Toronto, the Ukrainian embassy in Ottawa, and the non-profit Ukrainian Canadian Congress had been in “intensive communication” with senior management of the festival about the film for weeks.
He also took issue that blaming the media for the behaviour of the Russians who invaded Ukraine “infantilizes the criminals and removes moral and legal responsibility from them for their actions.”
“It is irresponsible to allow the Toronto International Film Festival, one of the most reputable world film stages, to be used to whitewash the responsibility of Russian soldiers committing war crimes in Ukraine during the ongoing Russian invasion,” Mr. Nikolenko wrote.
TIFF did not respond to a request from The Globe for comment.
MILITARY & TECH
Ukraine reduces ammo gap with Russia, says top military commander
Ukraine's military has significantly narrowed the gap in ammunition usage between its forces and Russian invaders, according to Ukraine’s top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, in an interview with CNN.
During the interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, she highlighted the disparity on the battlefield between Ukrainian and Russian forces. Amanpour noted that Russia has superior capabilities in drones, missiles, and artillery.
Syrskyi acknowledged Russia's advantage in aviation, missiles, artillery, manpower, tanks, and infantry fighting vehicles, as well as in the amount of ammunition they use.
"But this also motivates us," Syrskyi responded. "We can’t fight the way they do, so we have to use the most effective approach, applying our forces and resources with maximum use of terrain, engineering structures, and taking advantage of our technical superiority."
He explained that Ukraine compensates for its resource gap by using drone systems, constantly working to improve their efficiency, effectiveness, and command structure, as well as refining methods and tactics of their use.
“We’ve created the world’s first branch of the military solely dedicated to drone systems. We’ve established command, units, regiments, and battalions, which are now proving their effectiveness on various frontlines. Our best drone units are concentrated in the Pokrovske area," Syrskyi said.
Additionally, Ukrainian forces have managed to close the gap in ammunition usage. “The ratio is now roughly one to two, or one to two and a half. A year ago, it was one to ten, one to six,” Syrskyi noted.
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