THE RUSSO-UKRAINE WAR BRIEF
For: 2024-09-11
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 10 stated that day 930 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine was about to begin.
During the past day, 112 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 49 air strikes, 526 drone strikes and more than 3,400 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.
Air Force Daily Report
On the night of September 11, 2024, radio engineering troops of the Air Force detected and escorted 34 enemy air attack vehicles. The enemy struck with one Iskander-M ballistic missile from the Krasnodar Territory - Russia, two S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles from the occupied Donetsk region, 6 Kh-31P anti-radar missiles from the airspace over the Black Sea in the direction of Zmiiny Island, 25- with shock UAVs of the "Shahed" type (launch areas: Kursk, Yeisk - Russia, Chauda - Crimea).
Air force, anti-aircraft missile troops, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine were involved in repelling the enemy's air attack. As a result of the anti-aircraft battle, 20 attack UAVs were shot down, 5 enemy drones were lost in location on the territory of Ukraine (information about casualties and destruction was not received).
Anti-aircraft defense worked in Kyiv, Kherson, Cherkasy, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava 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 10 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment assessed that Ukrainian forces recently advanced in Kursk Oblast amid continued Ukrainian offensive operations in the area on September 10.
Geolocated footage published on September 9 indicates that Ukrainian forces recently advanced in eastern Komarovka (southwest of Korenevo). Additional geolocated footage published on September 9 indicates that Ukrainian forces advanced southeast of Vetreno (east of Korenevo), likely along a narrow salient between Russian-held areas, although the exact path of the Ukrainian advance in this area remains unclear.
Geolocated footage published on September 9 showing Ukrainian forces operating in eastern Russkoye Porechnoye (northeast of Sudzha) confirms that Ukrainian forces continue to operate in the settlement.
The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) and other Russian sources claimed that fighting continued near Korenevo; southwest of Korenevo near Apanasovka and Snagost; west of Korenevo near Kremyanoye; northeast of Sudzha near Cherkasskoye Porechnoye and Russkoye Porechnoye; and southeast of Sudzha near Ulanok and Borki.
Elements of a Russian volunteer drone unit reportedly attached to the 61st Naval Infantry Brigade (Leningrad Military District [LMD], formerly Northern Fleet) are reportedly operating near Komarovka (southwest of Korenevo).
ISW reported that elements of the 61st Naval Infantry Brigade were operating in Kherson Oblast as of late August 2024, indicating that Russian forces may have recently redeployed limited elements from Kherson Oblast to Kursk Oblast.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kharkiv Sector: Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 1 Russian attack near Vovchansk.
Kupyansk Sector: Russian Forces carried out 13 offensive actions against Ukrainian defensive positions near Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Hlushkivka and Lozova. 3 engagements continue.
Lyman Sector: Russian Forces carried out 19 offensive actions against Ukrainian defensive positions near Tverdokhlibove, Druzhelyubivka, Makiivka, Nevske, Novosadove and Torske. 2 engagements are ongoing.
Siversk Sector: Russian forces carried out 9 unsuccessful assaults in the vicinity of Hyrhorivka, Verkhnokamianske and Spirne.
Kramatorsk Sector: Russian forces carried out 3 unsuccessful offensive actions near Kalinina and Ivanivske.
Toretsk Sector: Russian forces carried out 9 unsuccessful offensive actions with air support near Dachne, Toretsk and Nelipivka.
The Tavria operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.)
Pokrovsk Sector : The enemy conducted 27 attacks against Ukrainian defences in this area over the last day in the vicinity Novooleksandriivka, Vozdvyzhenko, Svyrydonivka, Hrodivka, Novohrodivka Marynivka and Mykhaillivka. 2 engagements are ongoing.
Kurakhove Sector: There have been 22 combat engagements of various intensities as Russian forces attempted to advance mainly in the areas of the settlements of Ukrainsk, Heorhiivka and Krasnogorivka. 4 engagements are ongoing.
Vremivka Sector: Russian forces made 1 assault against Ukrainian positions near Vuhledar.
Orikhiv Sector: The situation in this sector has not changed significantly. 1 enemy attack was repulsed over the last day in the vicinity of Mali Shcherbaky
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 9 unsuccessful attempts to force Ukrainian units from their positions on the left bank of the Dnipro.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing major to report.
THE HOME FRONT
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken and UK Foreign Minister Lammy arrive in Kyiv
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrived in Kyiv on Sept. 11 to discuss Ukrainian military needs, AP reported.
The top U.S. and British diplomats underscored their commitment to Ukraine in its war with Russia during a joint trip Wednesday to Kyiv as Ukrainian officials pressured the West to allow them to use long-range missiles against targets inside Russia.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted the visit came “in challenging times” as Russia’s bigger and better-equipped army bears down on towns and cities in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region and pounds the country with long-range missiles, glide bombs and drones that claim numerous civilian casualties.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the 2 1/2-year conflict is at a “critical” juncture following Ukraine’s daring incursion last month into Russia’s Kursk region, even as it tries to defend against its neighbor’s aerial attacks on cities across the country.
“We convey the deepest condolences for the shocking attacks that we have seen, over the loss of civilian life, particularly women and children — horrific, barbaric unbelievable,” Lammy said.
He noted that Britain is setting aside 3 billion pounds ($3.9 billion) a year to help Ukraine.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Russian oligarchs, financial company lose appeal against EU sanctions
Russian oligarchs Gennady Timchenko and Mikhail Fridman and Russia's National Settlement Depository on Sept. 11 lost their appeal against EU sanctions imposed against them. The Kyiv Independent reports.
The European bloc has imposed several rounds of sanctions against entities and individuals over their support for Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The EU's Luxembourg-case General Court upheld the sanctions against Timchenko, Fridman, and other Russian oligarchs such as Petr Aven, German Khan, or Timchenko's wife Elena.
The oligarchs filed a challenge against the EU's demand to declare their funds as part of sanctions imposed against Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
"The General Court dismisses the actions in their entirety," the court said in a statement.
Fridman is a Ukraine-born Russian-Israeli tycoon and co-owner of the financial giant Alpha Group. Ukraine accused the oligarch of directly supporting Russia's war of aggression via his companies.
Timchenko is the owner and founder of the investment Volga Group and a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The National Settlement Depository, a Moscow-based institution seen as the main custodian of Rusisan securities, also lost its bid to overturn sanctions against it.
The EU said that the company was helping the Kremlin mobilize its resources for the war against Ukraine. According to the court's ruling, the depository "failed to demonstrate" an error on Brussels' part.
Freight train derails in southwest Russia due to 'interference'
A freight train derailed in the Russian region of Belgorod, which borders Ukraine, due to outside interference with the operation of railway transport, but there were no casualties, a local branch of Russian Railways reported on Wednesday. Reuters reports.
"Last night, 23:17 (2017 GMT on Tuesday) ... due to interference with the operation of railway transport, a locomotive and wagons of a freight train derailed," the South-Eastern Railway said on the Telegram messaging app.
"According to preliminary information, there are no casualties." The Railway did not provide further details.
Drones Target Murmansk Region in Russia’s Arctic
Military drones targeted northwestern Russia’s Murmansk region for the second time in a month, Russian authorities said Wednesday. The Moscow Times reports.
“Our region is under attack from enemy drones,” Murmansk region Governor Andrei Chibis said in a video message posted on Telegram, seeming to refer to Ukraine.
Civil aviation authorities restricted air traffic at airports in the regional capital Murmansk, as well as in the town of Apatity. Both airports saw similar restrictions in mid-August during a drone attack at the time.
“All necessary measures to improve security are being undertaken, and air defense forces are working to destroy the enemy drones,” Chibis said. He did not specify whether there was any damage on the ground.
The Murmansk region’s emergency response center said it was “testing” its air raid alert system around the time of the reported drone attacks, as part of a “scheduled” maintenance.
“Please remain calm,” the response center wrote on its social media page.
NEWS WORLDWIDE
Washington ‘not ruling out’ allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russia
President Joe Biden is "not ruling out" allowing Ukraine to fire missiles deep into Russian territory, the US secretary of state said during an interview with Sky News.
Antony Blinken made the comment after he told a news conference in London that Iran had provided Moscow with short-range missiles and Vladimir Putin's forces would "likely use them within weeks in Ukraine".
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the US and other Western allies to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles to hit targets in Russia to intensify pressure on Moscow to end the war.
In a sit-down interview with Yalda Hakim for her Sky News show The World, Mr Blinken was asked whether the US president might consider allowing such a move as the conflict rages on.
Mr Blinken said the US had made sure Ukraine had "what it needed, when it needed it, to be effective in repelling the Russian aggression" since Moscow's launch of its February 2022 invasion.
But he added that Washington also had to consider other factors, such as whether Ukraine's forces can use the "sophisticated systems" Western allies are providing and whether they can maintain them.
He continued: "All of those things have to go into these decisions. But what I can tell you is, we've adapted and adjusted every step along the way, and we'll continue - so not ruling out at this stage.
Biden Says U.S. Is Working To End Ban On Ukraine's Use Of Long-Range Weapons
U.S. President Joe Biden said on September 10 that his administration is "working out" a way to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of long range weapons in its war against Russia. Biden responded that his administration is "working that out now" when asked if the United States would make the change. Radio Free Europe reports
The United States has been reluctant to allow the use of weapons that it has supplied to strike targets deep inside Russia over concern that it would escalate the conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week urged Western nations to lift the restrictions, telling military and defense leaders gathered in Germany they should not restrain his country’s ability to battle the Kremlin’s forces. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said lifting the restriction would not be a game-changer in the war.
Erdoğan reiterates the return of Crimea to Ukraine is a requirement of international law.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated Wednesday Türkiye’s steadfast support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while emphasizing ongoing support for Crimean Tatar rights. Anadolu reports.
"Our support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence is unwavering. The return of Crimea to Ukraine is a requirement of international law," Erdogan declared in a video message to the Fourth Crimea Platform Leaders Summit.
He highlighted Türkiye’s stance on Crimea, stressing that its return to Ukraine aligns with international legal standards, pointing out the enduring pain experienced by Crimean Tatar Turks, whose suffering has persisted for eight decades.
Erdogan also expressed confidence in further actions to support the Crimean Tatar Turks, saying: "I believe that additional steps will continue to be taken to strengthen the rights of the Crimean Tatar Turks in the upcoming period."
The Turkish president thanked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and leader of the Crimean Tatars Mustafa Abdulcemil Kirimoglu for their roles in organizing the summit, which marks the 80th anniversary of the Crimean Tatar expulsion.
He also stressed that Türkiye has never recognized the annexation of Crimea, which has exacerbated the suffering of the region’s people.
Erdogan underscored the rights of Crimean Tatar Turks to live "freely, securely, and peacefully in their own homeland.
Concluding his address, Erdogan conveyed Ankara's broader aspirations for the resolution of the conflict, noting: "Our sincere wish is for the war to end with a fair and lasting peace based on Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence."
Harris, Trump Clash Over Ukraine, Gaza In Presidential Debate
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump exchanged barbs over the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza in their first and likely only debate ahead of the November 5 election. Radio Free Europe reports
The debate got under way with a surprise handshake between the two opponents, who had never met before. Harris approached Trump at his lectern, introducing herself by name, in what was the first handshake at a presidential debate since 2016.
But then a fiery debate ensued. Harris accused Trump of being willing to abandon U.S. support for Ukraine to curry favor with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling Trump a "disgrace," while Trump claimed Harris "hates" Israel -- an assertion she rejected.
Neither offered specifics on how they would seek to end each conflict, but Trump insisted that he would end the Ukraine war even before taking office if elected.
However, such a move conflicts with the doctrine historically in place that lays out that there is only one president at a time and that foreign policy decisions are reserved for the sitting president and not the president-elect. Any moves to negotiate an agreement between Putin and Zelenskiy is also a likely violation of the Logan Act, a 19th-century law that bars private citizens from conducting foreign policy.
“I want to get the war [in Ukraine] settled. I will get it settled even before I become president,” Trump said. “I want the war to stop. I want to save lives."
But Harris charged that the reason Trump would be able to end the conflict quickly “is because he would just give it up.”
The Democratic vice president said Washington’s European and NATO allies were “thankful” that Trump was not in office and talked up the “importance of the greatest military the world has known, which is NATO.”
Trump twice refused to say he believed it was in the United State’s interest for Ukraine, which bipartisan majorities in Congress have backed, to win the war.
MILITARY & TECH
The Pentagon explains which missiles Iran supplied to Russia.
The United States has confirmed that Iran has given a number of close-range ballistic missiles to Russia. But a U.S. official said from the beginning of the Russian invasion, support to Ukraine has focused on air defense, and that this will continue — including with a focus on the threat posed by the new missiles. The US DOD reported.
"The United States has confirmed reports that Iran has transferred shipments of Fath 360 close-range ballistic missiles to Russia, which we assess could employ them within weeks against Ukraine, leading to the deaths of even more Ukrainian civilians," said Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder during a briefing today. He added that right now, the department can't say how many missiles are involved.
The Fath 360 missiles, Ryder said, are believed to have a range of about 75 miles and would allow Russians to reserve more advanced missiles with longer ranges for other uses.
"It is a short-range or close-range ballistic missile system," he said. "What this does is it would enable Russia to employ this capability while preserving its longer-range capabilities for use throughout the battlefield, thus deepening Russia's arsenal and also, again, giving it the ability to strike the kinds of targets that we've seen them striking, to include civilian targets."
In the same way the U.S. and partner nations have been training Ukrainian service members on the use of equipment such as howitzers and the F-16 Falcon aircraft, the Iranians have trained Russians on the use of the Fath 360. Ryder said the department believes "dozens" of Russian military personnel were trained in Iran to use the missile system.
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