THE RUSSO-UKRAINE WAR BRIEF
For: 2024-09-01
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 01 stated that day 921 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine was about to begin.
During the past 48 hours, 349 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 5 missile strikes, 116 air strikes, 808 drone strikes and more than 5,200 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 1, 2024, the enemy used an "Iskander-M" ballistic missile from the Kursk region and eleven "Shahed-131/136" type attack UAVs from Cape Chauda - Crimea.
This time, the occupiers attacked Ukrainian grain and the logistics of the agrarian sector, in particular in Mykolaiv Oblast and Sumy Oblast.
As a result of combat operations by units of the anti-aircraft missile forces, the means of radio-electronic warfare of the Air Force and the calculations of the mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, eight attack UAVs were shot down within the Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Kirovohrad and Dnipropetrovsk regions
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On the night of September 2, 2024, the Russian occupiers launched a missile attack on Kyiv region, Sumy region, and Kharkiv region, using ballistic, cruise and anti-aircraft guided missiles, and also attacked with "Shahed" type UAVs from the south.
Radio engineering troops of the Air Force detected and tracked 58 air targets - 35 missiles of various types and 23 attack UAVs:
- 16 "Iskander-M" /KN -23 ballistic missiles from the Bryansk, Voronezh and Kursk regions - Russian Federation;
- 14 Kh-101 cruise missiles from Tu-95MS aircraft from the airspace of the Volgograd region. - Russian Federation;
- 4 S-300/S-400 anti-aircraft guided missiles from the Belgoros region. - Russian Federation;
- 1 rocket of unknown type from Belgoros region. - Russian Federation;
- 23 attack UAVs "Shahed-131/136" from Primorsko-Akhtarsk - Russian Federation.
As a result of the combat work of units of anti-aircraft missile forces, means of radio-electronic warfare of the Air Force, as well as calculations of mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, the following was shot down:
- 9 "Iskander-M" /KN -23 ballistic missiles;
- 13 Kh-101 cruise missiles;
- 20 attack UAVs "Shahed-131/136".
The Russian Border Incursion
Ukraine continues to conduct assaults in Kursk Oblast.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US based think tank, in its Sep 01 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment assessed that Ukrainian forces continued to conduct assaults in Kursk Oblast on September 1, but there were no confirmed Ukrainian advances. Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces conducted assaults near Korenevo; east of Korenevo near Matveyevka; northeast of Korenevo near Aleksandrovka; northwest of Sudzha near Malaya Loknya and Pogrebki; north of Sudzha near Kamyshevka; and northeast of Sudzha near Nizhnyaya Parovaya, Bakhtinka, and Nechayev.
A Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces marginally advanced west of Pogrebki, and geolocated footage published on September 1 indicates that Ukrainian forces were recently operating within Pogrebki.
Another Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces failed to establish a foothold in Borki (southeast of Sudzha) and continue to attack Ukrainian positions within the settlement.
A Russian source claimed that Russian forces pushed Ukrainian forces back from Korenevo, cleared Komarovka (southwest of Korenevo), and counterattacked near Kauchuk (northeast of Korenevo). Elements of the Chechen Akhmat Spetsnaz's "Varvar" detachment are reportedly operating near Cherkasskoye Porechnoye (north of Sudzha).
Elements of the Russian 810th Naval Infantry Brigade (Black Sea Fleet, Southern Military District [SMD]), the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade (Pacific Fleet, Eastern Military District [EMD]), the 56th Airborne (VDV) Regiment (7th VDV Division), and the Chechen Akhmat Spetsnaz's "Aida" group are reportedly operating in Kursk Oblast.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kharkiv Sector: Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled several Russian attacks near Liptsiv and Vovchansk. 2 enemy attacks are still ongoing.
Kupyansk Sector: Russia Forces carried out 14 offensive actions against Ukrainian defensive positions near Sinkivka, and Hlushkivka. 2 engagements are ongoing.
Lyman Sector: Russian Forces carried out 17 offensive actions against Ukrainian defensive positions near Hrekivka, Makiivka, Nevske, Novosadovoye and Torske. 1 engagement is ongoing.
Siversk Sector: Russian forces carried out 9 unsuccessful assaults in the vicinity of Verkhnokamianske and Rozdolivka. 3 engagements are ongoing.
Kramatorsk Sector: Russian forces carried out 5 unsuccessful offensive actions near Markove, Maiske, Klichchiivka and Andriivka. The situation is under the control of Defense Forces units.
Toretsk Sector : There have been 16 Russian attacks over that last day. All the efforts of the enemy were directed to the areas of Toretsk and Nelipivka. several assaults are ongoing.
The Tavria operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.)
Pokrovsk Sector: The greatest activity of the enemy continues to be in this sector. The enemy conducted 62 attacks against Ukrainian defences in this area over the last day concentrating in the vicinity of Kalynove, Zelene Pole, Vozdvizhenko,, Hrodivka, Novohrodivka, Marynivka, Mykhailivka and Karlivka. 4 battles continue.The epicentre today was in the area of Novohrodivka, where 27 combat clashes have taken place today. The situation is difficult.
Russian Forces continue slow advance in Pokrovsk direction
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US based think tank, in its Sep 01 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment assessed that Russian forces recently advanced in the Pokrovsk direction amid continued offensive operations in the area on September 1. Geolocated footage published on September 1 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced west of Mykhailivka and within central Dolynivka (both southeast of Pokrovsk), and ISW assesses that Russian forces likely seized the settlements.
ISW has not observed confirmation that Russian forces are operating within Selydove (southeast of Pokrovsk), despite multiple Russian claims over the past several days that Russian forces have advanced within the settlement.
The Russian MoD claimed that Russian forces seized Ptyche (southeast of Pokrovsk) as of September 1, although ISW assessed that Russian forces had seized the settlement as of August 22. Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces advanced south of Dolynivka and reached Zhelanne Pershe (southeast of Pokrovsk), although ISW has not observed visual confirmation of these claims.
Fighting continued west of Pokrovsk near Hrodivka, Vozdvyzhenka, Zelene Pole, and Kalynove and southeast of Pokrovsk near Novohrodivka, Marynivka, Mykhailivka, Krasnyi Yar, Selydove, and Karlivka.
Elements of the Russian 114th Motorized Rifle Brigade (1st DNR AC) are reportedly operating near Dolynivka; elements of the 120th Artillery Brigade (41st CAA, Central Military District [CMD]) are reportedly operating near Novoselivka Persha (southeast of Pokrovsk); assault elements of the "Mora" Detachment are reportedly operating near Memryk (southeast of Pokrovsk); and elements of the 74th Motorized Rifle Brigade (41st CAA, CMD) are reportedly operating in the Pokrovsk direction.
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov credited elements of the Russian 228th Motorized Rifle Regiment (90th Tank Division, 41st CAA, CMD) with seizing Novozhelanne (southeast of Pokrovsk).
Kurakhove Sector: There were 23 combat encounters in this sector today. Russian forces tried to advance in the areas of the settlements of Krasnogorivka, Heorhiivka and Kostyantynivka. 2 engagements remain in progress.
Vremivka Sector: Russian forces made 13 assaults against Ukrainian positions near Makarivka and Vuhledar. 3 engagements continue.
Orikhiv Sector: There have been no significant actions in this sector over the last 24 hours.
The Odesa operational-strategic group
(Responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea.)
Prydniprovsk Sector: In this sector, over the last day, the situation has not changed significantly. Russian forces made 2 unsuccessful attempts to force Ukrainian units from their positions on the left bank of the Dnipro.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
No significant news to report.
THE HOME FRONT
Ukraine war latest: Russia launches attack on Kharkiv, injuring at least 47 people
Russia launched a missile attack at the city of Kharkiv on Sep. 1, injuring at least 47 people, local authorities reported. The Kyiv Independent reported.
At around 1 p.m. local time, the first explosions were heard in Kharkiv. The Saltivskyi and Nemyshlianskyi districts of the city came under attack, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov. According to the preliminary data, the city was struck by Iskander-M ballistic missiles, the Prosecutor General's Office said.
As of 2 p.m. local time, there were reports that 22 people were injured in the Saltivskyi district and six in the Nemyshlianskyi district. Two people are in serious condition, Terekhov said.
Kharkiv's Palace of Sports was destroyed in the attack on the Nemyshlyansky district. Rescuers are continuing to dismantle the rubble of the sports facility, as there may be people under it, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.
As of 6:44 p.m. local time, the number of casualties has risen to 47 people, including seven children, the State Emergency Service reported.
Energy infrastructure in Kharkiv also came under attack, the Energy Ministry reported. The ministry did not specify which facility was attacked or the extent of its damage. "Russia is terrorising Kharkiv again," President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on his Telegram.
Russia's attack on Sumy injures 18, including 6 children
Russia launched a missile attack on a center for social and psychological rehabilitation of children and an orphanage in Ukraine's northeastern city of Sumy on Sep. 1. Sumy, home to over 250,000 people, is located some 350 kilometers) east of Kyiv.
Ukraine's Interior Ministry estimated the number of casualties to be 18 wounded, including six children.
Residents in Sumy Oblast are subjected to daily attacks on the region. The security situation in Sumy Oblast became more tense with the start of Ukraine's cross-border incursion into neighboring Kursk Oblast in Russia, which began on Aug. 6.
On Aug. 27, at least 16 people were injured in attacks on 12 communities in the region. On Aug. 20, amid ongoing attacks on the region, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko told reporters that authorities are planning to evacuate a total of 45,000 residents from Sumy Oblast. Approximately 21,000 residents have been evacuated from Sumy Oblast thus far, including 5,000 children, Klymenko added.
Russia launches missile strike on Kyiv
Several waves of explosions were heard in Kyiv shortly after the air alert sounded at around 5:30 a.m. local time, Kyiv Independent journalists reported on Sept. 2.
Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said that Russia had used cruise and ballistic missiles in the attack. Air defense was active in the capital and Kyiv Oblast.
Ukraine's Air Force said that it had detected 35 missiles of various types and 23 attack drones across the country. Nine Iskander ballistic missiles, 13 Kh-101 cruise missiles, and 20 drones were downed, the Air Force said.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that emergency services were called to the city's Sviatoshynskyi, Holosiivskyi, and Shevchenkivskyi districts.
As a result of the missile strike, Popko said that debris fell in at least four districts of the city, causing damage to cars and non-residential buildings. The extent of the damage is still being investigated, he said.
Klitschko said that at least two people were injured in the city, including one man who was hospitalized.
A mosque and other religious buildings in Kyiv's Nyvky neighborhood were damaged in the attack, said Refat Chubarov, the chairman of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Ukraine carries out one of its biggest-ever drone attacks on Russia
Ukraine launched one of its biggest-ever drone attacks on Russia over the weekend, hitting a refinery and power station deep inside the country, CNN reported citing videos posted on social media and geolocated by CNN.
The Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged the size of the Ukrainian attack, but downplayed its effectiveness, saying Sunday that 158 Ukrainian UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) “were destroyed and intercepted by on-duty air defense” overnight in 15 regions, including over the capital.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said two drones were shot down in the area of the Moscow Oil Refinery. No casualties were reported, but the second downed drone damaged a technical building at the refinery and caused a fire, which the mayor said had been localised and did not affect the plant’s operation.
The Tver region’s governor, Igor Rudenya, said on social media that a fire caused by the drone attack on the Konakovo district has been extinguished and that gas and electricity services to the area were operating normally.
The Ukrainian drone strikes follow others in the past week, including one last Thursday that set fire to oil reservoirs at a refinery in the Rostov region of Russia, according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.
Social media video geolocated by CNN showed a large cloud of black smoke billowing from the Atlas oil depot in Rostov following the strike.
The recent wave of Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory began last month, when Kyiv’s troops launched a cross-border incursion into the Kursk region on August 6.
Just on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that “people are going through tough ordeals, especially in the Kursk region,” as Ukrainian forces attempt to “destabilise the situation along the border.”
NEWS WORLDWIDE
Poland has ‘duty’ to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine, Polish FM says
Poland and neighbouring countries to Ukraine are "responsible for protecting their own airspace," despite NATO's opposition, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said in an interview with the Financial Times published on Sep. 02.
Russian drones and missiles have previously entered Poland's airspace during attacks on Ukraine. However, Polish allies advised the government to exercise restraint when dealing with unidentified airspace violations, according to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
"Membership in NATO does not trump each country's responsibility for the protection of its own airspace – it's our own constitutional duty," Sikorski told the Financial Times.
"I'm personally of the view that, when hostile missiles are on a course of entering our airspace, it would be legitimate self-defence (to strike them) because once they do cross into our airspace, the risk of debris injuring someone is significant."
In early July, Ukraine and Poland signed a bilateral security agreement, which included a commitment by both sides to examine "the feasibility of possible intercepting in Ukraine's airspace missiles and UAVs fired in the direction of the territory of Poland, following necessary procedures agreed by the states and organisations involved."
However, Jens Stoltenberg, the outgoing Nato secretary-general, rejected the proposal, saying it risked the alliance “becoming part of the conflict”.
Sikorski insisted on his country’s right to intercept after a suspected Russian drone crossed into Poland on August 26. Polish authorities have since been searching for the UAV, which may have landed back on Ukrainian territory after probably straying off course during a Russian mass missile attack on Ukraine.
Romanian government approves draft law on transfer of Patriot air defence system to Ukraine
At a meeting on 2 September, the Romanian government approved a bill on the free transfer of a Patriot anti-aircraft missile system to Ukraine. The executive body's legislative proposal will be sent to parliament for urgent adoption. Ukrainska Pravda reports.
"The executive branch has approved and will send to parliament, as an urgent matter, a draft law supplementing Law 222/2017 on the ground-based air defence. In particular, the draft law stipulates that the Patriot air defence missile system is subject to acts of donation to third parties,” government spokesman Mihai Constantin stated.
After the law is passed by the parliament, the government will be able to make a decision that makes the Gift Act operational. The entire executive branch is authorised to restore the country's air defence capabilities at the expense of the budget allocated to the Ministry of National Defence."
The Ministry of National Defence has indicated that it will deliver one of the seven Patriot systems purchased from the US. Four of them have already arrived in Romania (two are now operational). The remaining three will arrive in Romania in the near future.
The transfer will be carried out by amending Law 222 of 2017, under which Romania purchased seven Patriot systems from the United States for almost US$4 billion.
MILITARY & TECH
Ukrainian drone missile hit first Russian target in August
The Ukrainian armed forces used Palianytsia drone missile for the first time in August to hit a Russian military target in the temporarily occupied Crimea, NV's sister publication Ukrainska Pravda wrote on Sept. 2, citing sources. New Voice reports.
“We can say that the drone was used during one of the attacks on the Crimean peninsula in August this year. Unfortunately, we can't say exactly by which object this drone was used, but we know that it was a comprehensive operation and, as it were, successfully the target was "Burner" affected.”
The specific target of the Ukrainian-made missile strike was not disclosed.
The operation was described as complex and reportedly resulted in a successful hit on an enemy target.
Germany sends new military aid package to Ukraine, including IRIS-T, aerial and surface drones
Germany announced a new military aid package to Ukraine, providing essential equipment and weapons amidst the ongoing war with Russia, including an IRIS-T air defense system, a recovery vehicle, and unmanned surface vessels.
1 IRIS-T SLS air defense system: This system adds to the previously delivered two units, bringing the total to three.
26 “Vector” reconnaissance drones: With this delivery, the total number of “Vector” drones supplied by Germany reaches 288.
1 Bergepanzer 2 armored recovery vehicle: Essential for recovering damaged vehicles and equipment, this addition brings the total number of Bergepanzer 2 units provided to 22.
6 High Mobility Engineer Excavators.
14,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition.
10 unmanned surface vessels.
55,000 first aid kits.
700 additional assault rifles MK 556.
10 additional precision rifles HLR 338.
50 additional rifles CR 308.
This list provides an overview of military assistance provided by the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine. This military assistance is delivered in two different ways: on the one hand there are the Federal Government funds for security capacity building, which are used to finance deliveries of military equipment and other material from industry. On the other hand, there are deliveries from Federal Armed Forces stocks. In total, the Federal Republic of Germany has so far provided or committed for future years military assistance with a value of approximately 28 billion euro.
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