THE RUSSO-UKRAINE WAR BRIEF
For: 2024-09-23
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 Sep 22 on stated that day 943 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine was about to begin.
During the past 48 hours, 246 combat engagements took place. Over the past 48 hours, the enemy carried out 3 missile strikes, 115 air strikes, 1275 drone strikes and more than 7,300 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 22, 2024, the enemy struck with two Kh-59/69 guided air missiles from the airspace of the TOT of the Luhansk region. and released 80 attack UAVs of the "Shahed" type from Yeisk and Kursk - Russia.
The air attack of the enemy was repulsed by aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces, mobile fire groups and units of the Reb of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
As a result of the anti-aircraft battle, 71 attack UAVs were shot down, and six more UAVs were lost in location as a result of anti-aircraft fire.
Anti-aircraft defense worked in Khmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Kyi
On the night of September 23, 2024, six means of air attack were detected in the airspace of Ukraine: two Kh-59/69 guided air missiles and four attack UAVs of the "Shahed" type.
As a result of combat work, air defense shot down three enemy UAVs in the Sumy region. The rest of the aerial targets – one Shahed and two guided air missiles – did not reach their targets due to active countermeasures by the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
The Russian Border Incursion
Ukraine continues its offensive in Kursk
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US based think tank, in its Sep 22 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment stated that Ukrainian forces reportedly continued attacking in Glushkovsky Raion west of Ukraine's salient in Kursk Oblast on Sep 22 but did not make any confirmed advances. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that Ukrainian forces attacked near Novy Put, Obukhovka, and Medvezhye (all south of Glushkovo).
Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations in the Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast on Sepr 22 but did not make any confirmed advances. Russian sources claimed on Sep 22 that Ukrainian forces attacked southeast of Korenevo near Obukhovka, east of Korenevo near Maryevka, north of Sudzha near Malaya Loknya, and southeast of Sudzha near Plekhovo.
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast on Sep 22 but did not make any confirmed advances. A Russian milblogger claimed on Sep 22 that elements of the Russian 83rd Airborne (VDV) Brigade conducted an assault against Ukrainian positions in the Kalinnik tract (northwest of Lyubimovka). Elements of the Russian Donetsk People's Republic's (DNR) "Pyatnashka" International Volunteer Brigade, 155th Naval Infantry Brigade (Pacific Fleet, Eastern Military District [EMD]), and 11th VDV Brigade are reportedly operating in Kursk Oblast.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kharkiv Sector: Over the last day Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3 Russian attacks near Vovchansk. 1 engagement is currently ongoing.
Kupyansk Sector: Russian Forces carried out 14 unsuccessful offensive actions against Ukrainian defensive positions near Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Hlushkivka , Kruhlyakivka, Lozova and Stelmahivka. 4 engagements are currently ongoing.
Lyman Sector: Russian Forces carried out 12 offensive actions against Ukrainian defensive positions near Cherneshchyna, Druzhelyubivka, Makiivka, Nevske, Novosadove, Dibrova and Bilohorivka.
Siversk Sector: There has been no significant change in the combat environment in this sector. Russian forces made 2 assault against Ukrainian positions near Vyimka. 1 engagement is currently ongoing.
Kramatorsk Sector: Russian forces carried out 7 offensive actions near Hryhorivka, Kalinina, Stupochky and Klishchiivka. 2 engagements are currently ongoing.
Toretsk Sector: Russian forces carried out 9 offensive actions with air support near Dachne, Toretsk, Shcherbynivka and Nelipivka. 1 engagement continues.
The Tavria operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.)
Pokrovsk Sector : There was a high intensity of combat in this sector over the last day. The enemy conducted 27 attacks against Ukrainian defences mainly in the vicinity of Novotoretske and Marynivka. 1 engagement continues near Myrolybuivka.
Kurakhove Sector: The enemy made 11 assaults on Ukrainian positions near Tsukuryne, Hirnyk, Zhelanne Druhe, Heorhiivka, Katerynivka and Konstantinivka.
Vremivka Sector: Russian forces made 3 assaults against Ukrainian positions near Vuhledar. 1 engagement is ongoing.
Orikhiv Sector: Russian forces made 2 assaults against Ukrainian positions near Robotyne.
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
Firefighters battle 18 large-scale fires in seven oblasts of Ukraine
Firefighters continue to tackle 18 fires in seven oblasts in Ukraine’s north and east – Poltava, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Rivne and Sumy. Ukrinform reported citing Oleksandr Khorunzhyi, spokesperson for Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SES), at a briefing on Sep 23.
"A total of 18 large-scale fires are currently being extinguished in Ukraine. In particular, these are fires in ecosystems, including open areas, dry grass, shrubs, dead wood, and peat fires, which are very difficult and time-consuming to extinguish, and forest fires, mostly forest litter. An area of over 1,300 hectares is ablaze. These large-scale fires have been recorded in seven of Ukraine’s oblasts."
He noted that more than 1,300 firefighters were concentrated in these areas to eliminate fires SES and employs more than 300 rescue units.
Asked about the factors that make the process of extinguishing these fires so challenging for firefighters, the SES representative explained that one factor is waterless areas.
"There has been no heavy rainfall for a very long time, and where the SES often works, it is often necessary to transport water over long distances or supply it through powerful fire pumping stations. The second factor is mines, especially in frontline areas or liberated territories. The third is attacks on our firefighters," the spokesman said.
More than 46,000 fires have been recorded in Ukraine's ecosystems since the beginning of 2024. Khorunzhyi said that 4,800 of the fires in ecosystems recorded this year were caused by the hostilities.
The spokesman urged people to follow fire safety rules and never to burn dry grass in such weather conditions.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Russia deploys sailors from its only aircraft carrier to war zone in Ukraine as infantry due to personnel shortages
Admiral Kuznetsov, the Russian navy’s only aircraft carrier, hasn’t deployed in eight years—and it’s increasingly unlikely it will ever deploy again. That helps explain why, in recent months, the Kremlin reportedly reassigned the aging ship’s sailors to the army—and sent them into battle in Ukraine. Forbes reports.
It’s a startling revelation that underscores the Russian army’s manpower crisis as Russia’s wider war on Ukraine grinds toward its 31st month—and also underlines the decrepit state of the Russian navy’s biggest warships, most of which are Cold War leftovers.
Open-source analyst Moklasen first reported the reassignment of some of the 58,000-ton Kuznetsov’s approximately 1,500-person crew. The sailors formed a so-called “frigate” mechanised battalion within the 1st Guards Tank Army, Moklasen concluded after scouring Russian social media for clues.
The frigate battalion fought around Kharkiv in northern Ukraine before shifting to the Pokrovsk axis in the east. Moklasen surmised that at least one former carrier crewman, Oleg Sosedov, went missing during a Russian attack in Kharkiv on July 23.
That the Russians are apparently pulling people from Kuznetsov isn’t surprising. The Kremlin is taking extreme measures to mobilise the 30,000 fresh troops it needs every month just to replace battlefield losses—killed, wounded and captured—in Ukraine.
Russia's chances against NATO are zero, military expert admits on national television
In a surprising admission on Russian television, a military expert acknowledged that Russia's chances of winning a real conflict with NATO are virtually zero. The discussion took place on the show hosted by Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov. New Voice reports.
Military expert Mikhail Khodaryonok expressed his opinion that NATO's military and economic capabilities far outstrip those of Russia, making any conventional war against the alliance futile without the use of nuclear weapons, according to an extract from the program shared on X on Sept. 22.
"From our side, any course of military action would be extremely disadvantageous given NATO's superiority in all areas by several times," said Khodaryonok.
"Therefore, it seems to me that any confrontation with the NATO bloc is only possible with the use of nuclear weapons. There is simply no other option. There is a concept known as the 'fundamental law of war.' This law states that the course and outcome of armed conflict are determined by the sum of the military-economic potentials of the sides. But if NATO's military organisation surpasses ours by an order of magnitude, or even two or three times, then entering into such an armed conflict with only conventional weapons is absolutely hopeless for us."
This admission comes amid Russia's ongoing “special military operation” in Ukraine, where the Kremlin has repeatedly claimed to be fighting against NATO influence.
NEWS WORLDWIDE
Zelenskyy heads to US with 'victory plan' at perilous moment
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy travels to the United States to set out a "victory plan" to his closest ally this week, in an urgent attempt to influence White House policy on Ukraine's war with Russia no matter who wins the U.S. elections in November. Reuters reports.
The Ukrainian leader has said he wants to present the plan to President Joe Biden and his two potential successors, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, during the trip, which will see Zelenskyy addressing the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday.
Zelenskyy has said that if the plan is backed by the West, it will have a broad impact on Moscow, including a psychological one that could help compel Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war diplomatically.
"The Victory Plan envisages quick and concrete steps by our strategic partners - from now until the end of December," Zelenskyy told reporters on Friday.
He added that the plan would act as a "bridge" to a second Ukraine-led summit on peace that Kyiv wants to hold and invite Russia to later this year.
There is no alternative to peace, Zelenskyy has said, "no freezing of the war or any other manipulations that would simply postpone Russian aggression to another stage". Yet the two sides remain far apart.
Zelenskyy wants Ukraine inside NATO and the European Union and Russia driven from all Ukrainian territory, though he says the latter aim can be achieved diplomatically. Putin says peace talks can only begin if Kyiv abandons swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine to Russia and drops its NATO membership plan.
U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has said Biden is eager to discuss Zelenskyy's "comprehensive strategy for success in this war" against Russia.
Zelenskyy said his plan consists of a small number of points and that "all these points depend on Biden's decision, not Putin's".
Lithuanian President - UN Security Council in need of reform due to its ability to maintain peace
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, in a statement from Nausėda at the UN Summit of the Future in New York said he believes the UN Security Council is in need of reform amid Russia's war against Ukraine.
Nausėda believes that the lack of a multilateral response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine "has put forward serious doubts about the UN's ability to maintain global peace and security".
"Significant reforms of the Security Council are clearly needed. The UN must be empowered to stop and contain the aggressors," he said.
Nausėda stressed that countries should make efforts to restore ad rules-based international order, "which means supporting Ukraine in its fight for freedom and democracy".
The Lithuanian president also urged the international community to do more to curb Russia's ability to pursue its "colonial war".
Macron - Relations with Russia should be reconsidered after war in Ukraine.
Relations with Russia should be reconsidered after Moscow’s full-scale war against Ukraine is over, French President Emmanuel Macron said during a speech on Sept. 22.
Speaking at an event in Paris, the French president urged people to imagine "tomorrow's peace" in Europe in a new form, and in a new reality.
"We will have to think about a new form of organisation of Europe and rethink our relations with Russia after the war in Ukraine," Macron said.
In the early months of Russia's full-scale invasion, Macron was criticised over his calls to avoid "the humiliation" of Russia, but later he hardened his stance.
Paris has since delivered to Ukraine a number of long-range SCALP missiles, and Macron announced in February a coalition to supply Kyiv with "medium- and long-range missiles and bombs."
Another of Macron's initiatives, sending military instructors to Ukraine, has reportedly been supported by some countries but so far seen no development.
The French president said that building a new international order is "the biggest challenge" and that today it is "incomplete and unfair."
"We need an order where some countries cannot block others, and where countries are represented with dignity, and therefore this should be done in much fairer bodies, such as the U.N., the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund," Macron added.
As Russia has become more isolated since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, and has increasingly depleted its preexisting supplies of military equipment, it has deepened its ties with China, Iran and North Korea.
Yet, some Western countries, such as Hungary and Slovakia, suggested that they should be prepared for normalisation of relations with Moscow.
MILITARY & TECH
Invisible Drones Reportedly Destroyed russian S-300 Systems in Crimea
On September 22, at approximately 3:20 pm, an air raid alert was issued in temporarily occupied Crimea, signalling a potential ballistic threat. Following the alert, Russian authorities promptly closed the Crimean Bridge and suspended traffic across it. Reports from local sources later confirmed a series of powerful explosions in the area. Crimean Wind reported.
The explosions likely occurred near Dzhankoy, with eyewitnesses from the district describing smoke rising from the direction of the village of Azovske. Residents from the nearby village of Peremozhne also reported similar sightings. This area, situated between Dzhankoy and Peremozhne, is a military airfield hosting helicopters, aircraft and the S-300/S-400 air defence systems.
A source from the Ministry of Defense of Russia indicated that the explosions were caused by “strange drones, almost invisible”, which successfully avoided russian air defences. As a result of the strike, two S-300 systems were reportedly destroyed, and three servicemen lost their lives.
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