THE RUSSO-UKRAINE WAR BRIEF
For: 2024-09-06
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 05 stated that day 925 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine was about to begin.
During the past day, 151 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 58 air strikes, 572 drone strikes and more than 2,800 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 6, 2024, the enemy attacked with one Kh-59 guided air missile and one Kh-31P anti-radar missile from the airspace of the Luhansk and Bryansk regions, as well as 44 strike UAVs of the "Shahed" type (launching areas - Kursk, Primorsko- Akhtarsk - Russian Federation, Chauda, Crimea).
Aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units and mobile fire groups of the Air Force and the Defense Forces of Ukraine were involved in repelling the enemy's air attack.
As a result of the anti-aircraft battle, as of 8:00 a.m., 27 attack UAVs were shot down. 8 unmanned aerial vehicles – lost in location on the territory of Ukraine (probably fell under the influence of EW devices), one UAV returned in the direction of occupied Donetsk region. Several more aerial targets (probably strike drones) are observed in the airspace to the north. Combat work continues!
At that time, air defence operated in Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Poltava, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Sumy regions.
The Russian Border Incursion
Ukraine’s Kursk incursion has theatre-wide impacts
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US based think tank, in its Sep 05 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment assessed that The Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast has had theater-wide impacts and these impacts will likely continue to affect Russian offensive and defensive capabilities beyond the culmination of the Pokrovsk offensive. Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi stated during an interview with CNN published on September 5 that the Ukrainian incursion spoiled a planned Russian attack into Sumy Oblast and "reduced the threat" of Russian incursions into northern Ukraine.
Syrskyi stated that Ukraine's key objectives for the incursion were to stop Russian forces from using Kursk Oblast as a sanctuary to prepare offensive operations into Ukraine, divert Russian forces from other unspecified areas in Ukraine, create a "security zone," take Russian prisoners of war (POWs), and boost Ukrainian morale. Syrskyi stated that Russian forces have moved "tens of thousands" of troops previously intended to reinforce Russian offensive operations in Ukraine to Kursk Oblast, including small elements of several elite Russian Airborne (VDV) units. Russian forces have reportedly redeployed elements of the 56th Airborne (VDV) Regiment (7th VDV Division) and the 11th and 83rd VDV brigades to Kursk Oblast.
The Russian military command has largely relied on conscripts and regular and irregular forces redeployed from lower priority sectors of Ukraine, such as northern Kharkiv Oblast, to conduct defensive operations in Kursk Oblast.
These forces are extremely unlikely to be sufficient to expel Ukrainian forces from Kursk if the Ukrainians choose to defend. The Russian military command may have also redeployed at least a company of the 15th Motorized Rifle Brigade (2nd Combined Arms Army [CAA], Central Military District [CMD]) from the Pokrovsk direction in mid-August 2024. The redeployment of elements of the CMD — which is reportedly tasked with completing the seizure of Pokrovsk — suggests that the Russian military command has not been able to fully insulate its priority offensive operations from the impacts of the Ukrainian incursion, despite Putin's claims.
The Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast has also allowed Ukraine to challenge Russia's control of the theater-wide initiative in Ukraine. Russia has possessed the theater-wide initiative in Ukraine since at least November 2023, which has allowed the Russian military command to determine the location, time, scale, and requirements of fighting in Ukraine at will and has forced Ukraine to expend manpower and material in reactive defensive operations.
Syrskyi recently stated that Russia has redeployed roughly 30,000 troops from Ukraine to Kursk Oblast to respond to the Ukrainian incursion. A significant additional redeployment of Russian troops from the frontline in Ukraine would very likely be necessary to let Russia regain control of its territory in Kursk, as US intelligence officials have reportedly assessed, and would significantly impact Russia's offensive operations and Russia's ability to prepare for future operations.
Ukrainian forces continue to advance in Kursk
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US based think tank, in its Sep 05 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment assessed that Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the southeastern area of the Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast, and Russian forces recently regained limited positions in the northern part of the salient. Geolocated footage published on August 31 showing Ukrainian forces operating south of Spalnoye (southeast of Sudzha) indicates that Ukrainian forces advanced in the area, although likely not within the past several days.
The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Russian milbloggers claimed on September 5 that Ukrainian forces continued attacking near Korenevo; east of Korenevo near Olgovka; north of Sudzha near Malaya Loknya, Kamyshevka, Maryevka, and Cherkasskoye Porechnoye; and southeast of Sudzha near Borki.
Russia loses 6,000 soldiers in Kursk; No threat of offensive on Sumy, Zelenskyy says
Russia has lost 6,000 soldiers killed or wounded in the Kursk Oblast over the past month due to Ukrainian military operations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany on Sept. 6. New Voice reports.
He also noted that Russia has lost tens of thousands more soldiers in other combat zones.
According to Zelenskyy, these losses have eliminated any threat of a Russian offensive on Sumy, unlike in May when Russia attacked the Kharkiv region.
Zelenskyy claimed that the Russians were preparing for a new offensive on Sumy, but “we turned the situation around and are pushing the war into Russia through our counteroffensive.”
The president emphasised that he sees changes in the overall military situation. “Primarily due to our actions, Putin has revealed his true intentions, which should be obvious even to those who still might believe that Putin is waging war to protect part of his people or certain security interests,” he added.
Ukrainian forces advance in Kursk Oblast, the Russian army continues its offensive in Ukraine, Zelenskyy reminded. “The most combat-capable units of the Russian army are participating in expanding the occupation zone in our territory in Donetsk Oblast. This is a clear choice by Moscow. Putin wants more occupation of Ukraine rather than security for Russia,” Zelenskyy said.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kharkiv Sector: Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 7 Russian attacks near Starytsya and Vovchansk. 2 enemy attacks are still ongoing.
Kupyansk Sector: Russia Forces carried out 13 offensive actions against Ukrainian defensive positions near Synkivka, Hlushkivka, Lozova and Andriivka . 1 engagement continues.
Lyman Sector: Russian Forces carried out 17 offensive actions against Ukrainian defensive positions near Cherneshchyna, Druzhelyubivka, Makiivka, Nevske and Novosadovoye. 3 engagements are still ongoing.
Siversk Sector: Russian forces carried out 4 unsuccessful assaults in the vicinity of Verkhnokamianske and Spirne.
Kramatorsk Sector: Russian forces carried out 13 unsuccessful offensive actions near Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Predtechyne and Bila Hora. 1 engagement is ongoing.
Toretsk Sector: Russian forces carried out 15 unsuccessful offensive actions near Toretsk and Nelipivka. 1 engagement is ongoing.
The Tavria operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.)
Pokrovsk Sector : The enemy conducted 42 attacks against Ukrainian defences in this area over the last day concentrating in the vicinity of Suha Balka, Panteleimonivka, Zelene Pole, Vozdvizhenka, Novotroitske, Myrolyubivka, Hrodivka, Mykolailivka and Novohrodivka. 5 engagements are still ongoing.
Kurakhove Sector: This sector was also active today with 28 combat encounters. Russian forces tried to advance mainly in the areas of the settlements of Lysivka, Ukrainsk, Halytsynivka, Krasnogorivka, Heorhiivka and Kostyantynivka. 4 engagements remain in progress.
Vremivka Sector: Russian forces made 6 assaults against Ukrainian positions near Vuhledar and Voidane. 2 engagements remains in progress.
Orikhiv Sector: The situation in this sector has not changed significantly. 1 enemy attacks were repulsed over the last day in the vicinity of Robotyne.
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 3 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
Two groups of arsonists detained who were “hunting” for Ukrainian Armed Forces
Law enforcement officers detained four people who set fire to vehicles of the Ukrainian Defense Forces on the orders of Russian special services. The criminals acted in Kyiv and Khmelnytskyi and face 8 to 10 years in prison. UNN reports with reference to the SBU.
Police have detained two more groups of arsonists who were operating in Kyiv and Khmelnytsky on the orders of Russian special services. On the instructions of the occupiers, their accomplices set fire to the vehicles of the Defense Forces.
According to the SBU, the detainees were from different regions of Ukraine. The suspects were lured with promises of "easy money" on Telegram channels.
Following instructions from Russia, the perpetrators first tracked the locations of potential targets and "coordinated" them with their Russian handlers. Then the defendants would arrive at the parking lots of official vehicles and set them on fire using gasoline and flammable mixtures.
The perpetrators recorded the fire on their phones and then sent the videos to the occupiers. According to reports, the Russian curators never paid the arsonists for the crime.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Video footage appears to show Russians executing surrendering Ukrainian soldiers
The troops emerge and stagger into the middle of the dusty track, then onto their knees, their hands placed on their heads. Seconds later, the Ukrainian drone footage shows, they lie face down, motionless, dust trailing nearby. CNN reports.
Video obtained exclusively by CNN, filmed during fighting late August near the embattled city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, shows an apparent execution by Russian troops of three surrendering Ukrainians, after their trench was overrun.
The incident, described by a Ukrainian official who asked for some details to be withheld to protect the identity of the unit, is part of a pattern of apparent executions, seemingly increasing in pace this year.
Ukrainian defence intelligence sources have given CNN a list of 15 cases since November, most supported by drone video or audio intercepts, in which they say surrendering Ukrainian troops were killed by the Russians on the front lines, rather than being taken prisoner.
Ukraine’s prosecutor general told CNN his office was investigating 28 such incidents since the start of the war, in which a total of 62 Ukrainian servicemembers had died.
The footage from Pokrovsk region appears to reflect the relentlessly brutal tactics of the Russian military as they continue to advance in Ukraine’s east.
Ukrainian prosecutors told CNN they believe the alleged killings are war crimes and part of an orchestrated policy by the Kremlin. “If prisoners of war surrender, if they show that they surrender, if they are without weapons in their hands, then summary execution is a war crime,” Andriy Kostin, the prosecutor general of Ukraine, told CNN.
Kostin argued that such crimes had been committed in different areas of Ukraine, by a variety of units, giving Kyiv “an opportunity to claim that such policy could be (elevated) to crimes against humanity. This policy is orchestrated by Kremlin. It’s an order of specific commanders.”
NEWS WORLDWIDE
US needs to reconsider weapons restrictions, Senator Mark Kelly says
The White House's restrictions on Kyiv's ability to strike inside Russia with American weapons are increasingly being called on to be eased and lifted. The Kyiv Independent reports.
U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona and former finalist to be Kamala Harris's running mate, spoke with the Kyiv Independent and is the latest to say the limitations need to be reconsidered.
"Based on the conditions near the front and the territory (Ukraine is) currently slowly losing, I think it's appropriate to reevaluate this and consider allowing (Ukraine) to use our weapons deeper into Russia," Senator Kelly told the Kyiv Independent.
"To go after military targets, whether it's supply lines, supply depots, military bases, it's something we need to reconsider. We should always be reevaluating and reconsidering what our role is."
Senator Kelly, a former Navy pilot who serves on the Committee on Armed Services, expects a potential Harris administration to mostly continue President Joe Biden's Ukraine policies.
"I know the vice president very well, and you know what her position is on this in supporting Ukraine," Senator Kelly told the Kyiv Independent. "I think you'll see a very similar approach, probably not identical."
If Democratic nominee Harris is elected, Ukraine's battlefield will continue to be evaluated for opportunities to make necessary changes, Senator Kelly said.
"On one hand, we've got to be careful about escalation, and we do not want U.S. troops to be engaged with the Russians," Senator Kelly said, adding that "it's not a good outcome, we need to try to avoid that. At the same time, Ukraine needs to be able to win."
Senator Kelly, who is on the Select Committee on Intelligence, does not know if Ukraine has seen the full extent of Russia's response to the Aug. 6 incursion into Kursk Oblast. Russian President Vladimir Putin is not easily predictable, Senator Kelly said.
Senator Kelly, who has long supported Ukraine and is increasingly in the public eye after being a finalist for Kamala Harris's running mate, hasn't always held this view. Just last month at the Democratic National Convention, Kelly was one of few speakers to raise the topic of Ukraine at the podium, but he didn't call for the lifting of restrictions when pushed by CBS News on the convention's sidelines.
Zelenskyy makes his case at Ramstein
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on international partners to be “more active” in providing air defence systems and emphasised the need for a much stronger fleet of F-16s. New Voice reports.
In his statement on Sept. 6, during the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at NATO’s Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Zelenskyy noted that many air defence systems agreed upon had not yet been delivered.
According to the Ukrainian leader, this shortfall reflects agreements that were made but “not fully implemented.”
Zelenskyy stressed that there are enough air defence systems in the world to prevent Russian terror from succeeding, urging partners to “be more active in working with us on air defence.”
The president also revealed that Ukraine is already operating F-16s.
“They are shooting down missiles and drones; they are very effective, but there are too few of them. You know this. We need a much stronger fleet of F-16s, and I have proposals to make when the press leaves,” Zelenskyy said.
Experts from the Defense Express portal observed that the Ukrainian F-16s first showcased on Aug. 4 were equipped with two types of air-to-air missiles: AIM-9, infrared-guided, designed for close-range targets and AIM-120, radar-guided, for medium and long-range engagements.
Forbes journalists also reported that the F-16s used by Ukraine were fitted with specific pylons on the midsection of the wings, which included integrated electronic warfare systems like PIDS and ECIPS for self-defence.
Experts from the Mil.in.ua portal explained that these are Terma PIDS+ pylons, equipped with missile approach warning systems.
According to The Economist, Ukraine has received 10 of the 79 promised jets, and by the end of 2024, Ukrainian forces are expected to have access to 20 F-16 fighters.
Serbian President Turns Down Putin’s BRICS Summit Invite
Serbian leader Aleksandar Vucic said he would not be able to accept Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to attend the BRICS summit in Russia next month, media reported Thursday. The Moscow Times reports.
“We have important guests [coming] from abroad at that time,” Vucic was quoted as saying by the Balkan service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
The Tatarstan capital of Kazan will host a high-level BRICS meeting on Oct. 22-24. BRICS, originally formed in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, aims to bring together the world’s most important emerging economies, as well as act as a political and economic counterbalance to wealthier nations in the West. The group of countries expanded earlier this year to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.
Putin said Wednesday that he was hoping Vucic would accept his invitation, which Vucic confirmed receiving “10-12 days ago.” The Serbian leader had said he would consider the possibility of attending the BRICS summit.
Earlier Thursday, the European Union warned Serbia that keeping strong ties with Russia was “incompatible” with its aspiration to join the EU after Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin described Belgrade as an “ally of Russia” when he met with Putin at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.
Serbia has historically close ties with Moscow and depends heavily on Russian gas. While it condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations, Belgrade has refused to impose sanctions on the Kremlin.
MILITARY & TECH
Canada announces new military aid for Ukraine at Ramstein
Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair announced a new military aid package for Ukraine, which will include aircraft missiles, small arms and equipment on Sep 6 at the 24th meeting of the Contact Group on Defence of Ukraine, Reuters reported.
The new package will include 80,840 additional engines for CRV-7 aircraft missiles and 1,300 warheads in addition to the 2,160 engines already delivered. They will arrive "in the coming months".
Canada will also provide 960 C6 machine guns and
10,500 9mm pistols from its arsenal.
At Ukraine's specific request, Canada is also providing Ukraine with decommissioned chassis from 29 M113 tracked armoured personnel carriers and 64 Coyote light armoured personnel carriers used by the Canadian army. This equipment has already been withdrawn from use by the Canadian military, so it is being given away for spare parts.
In addition, Bill Blair announced the delivery of 10 ambulances in September and clarified that the armoured support vehicles assembled at Canadian companies for Ukraine are already being used to train Ukrainian troops in Europe.
That’s it for today’s Draft folks if you would like to keep up with events in Ukraine daily please consider subscribing, its free!
Feel free to share this update with your friends. Heroyam Slava!