THE RUSSO-UKRAINE WAR BRIEF
For: 2024-09-18
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 17 stated that day 938 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine was about to begin.
During the past day, 139 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 3 missile strikes, 59 air strikes, 494 drone strikes and more than 3,338 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 18, 2024, the Russian occupiers struck with three Kh-59/69 guided air missiles from the airspace of the occupied Kherson region and 52 strike UAVs from the regions: Kursk, Yeisk - Russian Federation.
Aviation, mobile fire groups and units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine were involved in repelling the enemy's air attack. As a result of anti-aircraft combat, 46 attack UAVs were shot down.
In addition, due to the active countermeasures of the EW means of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, five UAVs were lost in location, one more enemy attack drone flew to Russia. Also, as a result of countermeasures, the guided air missiles did not reach the targets desired by the enemy. There is damage to agricultural machinery, previously, there were no victims.
Anti-aircraft defense worked in the Mykolaiv, Kherson, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Sumy and Poltava regions.
The Russian Border Incursion
Ukrainian forces in Kursk seek technical encirclement of Russian forces
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US based think tank, in its Sep 17 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment reported that Ukrainian forces continued ground attacks in Glushkovsky Raion west of the current Kursk Oblast salient on Sep 17 but did not make any confirmed advances. The Russian MoD claimed that Russian forces repelled Ukrainian attacks near Veseloye (southwest of Glushkovo) and Medvezhye (southeast of Veseloye). Several Russian milbloggers claimed that Ukrainian troops are trying to encircle Veseloye by attacking along its western and eastern flanks.
Fighting also continued along the Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast on Sep 17, but neither Ukrainian nor Russian forces made confirmed advances. A prominent Kremlin-affiliated milblogger claimed that Russian forces are advancing in Korenevsky Raion (in the western part of the salient) but noted that there is not yet visual evidence to confirm the Russian MoD’s claim that Russian forces seized Uspenovka and Darino (both southeast of Koreveno). Footage published on Sep 16 notably shows Ukrainian forces repelling a company-sized Russian attack west of Lyubimovka (also southeast of Koreveno), where Russian sources claimed that fighting continued on Sep 16 and 17.
A Ukrainian source claimed that Ukrainian forces have encircled Russian forces in Kremyanoye (east of Korenevo), although ISW has not observed visual evidence of Ukrainian forces operating in the area north of Kremyanoye.
Russian sources credited elements of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade (Pacific Fleet, Eastern Military District [EMD]) and 51st Airborne (VDV) Regiment (106th VDV Division) with the recent seizure of Snagost and Obukhovka (south and southeast of Koreveno, respectively); and elements of the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade (Black Sea Fleet, [BSF] Southern Military District [SMD]), "Sarmat" detachment (Donetsk People's Republic [DNR] "Pyatnashka" international volunteer brigade), and "Dikaya Division of Donbass" (Russian Volunteer Corps) for the recent seizure of Borki (southeast of Sudzha).
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kharkiv Sector: Over the last day Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 1 Russian attack near Vovchansk.
Kupyansk Sector: Russian Forces carried out 13 unsuccessful offensive actions against Ukrainian defensive positions near Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Novoosynove, Kolisnykivka, Kruhlyakivka, Lozova and Anriivka.
Lyman Sector: Russian Forces carried out 12 offensive actions against Ukrainian defensive positions near Cherneshchyna, Druzhelyubivka, Makiivka, Nevske and Torske.
Siversk Sector: Russian forces carried out 2 unsuccessful assaults in the vicinity of Bilohorivka, Verkhnokamianske and Vyimka.
Kramatorsk Sector: Russian forces carried out 6 offensive actions near Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Klishchiivka and Bila Hora. 1 battle continues.
Toretsk Sector: Russian forces carried out 14 unsuccessful offensive actions with air support near Toretsk Shcherbynivka and Nelipivka. 1 battle continues.
The Tavria operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.)
Pokrovsk Sector : The enemy conducted 34 attacks against Ukrainian defences in this area over the last day in the vicinity of Oleksandropil, Vozdvyzhenko, Novotoretske, Hrodivka, Novohrodivka and Mykolaivka and Ukrainsk. 4 engagements are ongoing.
Kurakhove Sector: The situation in this area is quite serious. There were 43 combat clashes in the vicinity of Tsukuryne, Zhelanne Persha, Hirnyk, Heorhiivka, Konstantinivka and Katerynivka. 11 engagements are ongoing.
Vremivka Sector: Russian forces made 4 assaults against Ukrainian positions near Vuhledar. 1 attack is ongoing.
Orikhiv Sector: There has been no significant change in the combat environment in this sector. Russian forces made 5 assaults against Ukrainian positions near Shcherbaky and Novodanylivka. 1 battle is ongoing.
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 4 unsuccessful attempts to force Ukrainian units from their positions on the left bank of the Dnipro.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing to report
THE HOME FRONT
Parliament approves 2024 military budget increase
The Ukrainian Parliament approved draft law 11417, increasing the 2024 budget for military needs, according to MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak on Telegram on Sept. 18. New Voice reports.
The Ukrainian Parliament passed bill 11417, increasing this year's military budget by 500 billion UAH, bringing total expenditures to a record 3.73 trillion UAH.
Earlier in September, Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada approved a budget amendment increasing the general fund’s expenditures by 434.6 billion UAH, with a deficit of 1.85 trillion UAH and total external financing of $41.3 billion.
On Sept. 16, 2024, Ukraine's government approved the draft 2025 state budget, projecting 2.01 trillion UAH in revenues and 3.64 trillion UAH in expenditures, aiming to reduce the deficit to 19.4% of GDP.
The 2025 budget anticipates a rise in national debt from 7.68 trillion UAH to 8.21 trillion UAH, but as a percentage of GDP, it is expected to decrease from 100.5% to 97%.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Ukrainian drone attack triggers earthquake-sized blast at arsenal in Russia's Tver region
A large-scale Ukrainian drone attack on Russia triggered an earthquake-sized blast at a major arsenal in the Tver region on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of a nearby town, Reuters reports citing milbloggers and some media.
Unverified video and images on social media showed a huge ball of flame blasting high into the night sky and multiple detonations thundering across a lake about 380 km (240 miles) west of Moscow.
NASA satellites picked up intense heat sources emanating from an area of about 14 square kilometres (5 square miles) at the site in the early hours and earthquake monitoring stations picked up what sensors thought was a small earthquake.
"The enemy hit an ammunition depot in the area of Toropets," said Yuri Podolyaka, a Ukrainian-born, pro-Russian military blogger. "Everything that can burn is already burning there (and exploding)."
Russian state media have in the past reported that a major arsenal for conventional weapons was located at the site of the blasts. State media, which is now subject to military censorship laws, was muted in its reporting on Wednesday.
Igor Rudenya, the governor of the Tver region, said that Ukrainian drones had been shot down, that a fire had broken out and that some residents were being evacuated. He did not say what was burning.
One woman told Reuters that members of her family had been evacuated from Toropets.
"A fire started with explosions," said the woman, who identified herself only as Irina.
Rudenya later said the situation in Toropets was stable as of midday local time (0900 GMT) and that evacuated residents could return. The fire had been put out and there were no recorded fatalities, he said.
A source in Ukraine's SBU state security service told Reuters the drone attack had destroyed a warehouse storing missiles, guided bombs and artillery ammunition. There was no immediate comment from the Ukrainian government.
Ukraine attacks Engels airbase - home for many bombers
Up to six strategic bombers may have been stationed at Russia’s Engels Airbase, which likely came under a Ukrainian drone attack late at night on Sept. 16, Ukrainian outlet Defense Express reported on Sept. 17. New Voice reports.
Referring to satellite images of the airfield, the report suggests that four Tu-95 and two Tu-160 strategic bombers might have been parked there. The photos were taken on Sept. 15, published by OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) analyst MT_Anderson on Twitter.
The image also shows two decoy silhouettes of Tu-160 bombers and one transport aircraft, possibly an An-12, the report said.
Shootout outside Wildberries HQ in Moscow
At least two people were killed and several others injured in a shooting incident at the headquarters of Russian online retailer Wildberries in Moscow on Wednesday, with the company reporting that an armed group of men led by Vladislav Bakalchuk, the ex-husband of Wildberries founder Tatiana Bakalchuk, attempted to forcibly enter the building. The Moscow Times reports.
Law enforcement authorities said they were investigating the incident, which resulted in two police officers being injured and nearly 30 individuals being arrested, according to Interfax news agency. The state-run TASS news agency, citing an unnamed source at Wildberries, reported that two security guards were killed.
An altercation reportedly began when a group of men led by Vladislav Bakalchuk attempted to enter the building. A video published by the pro-Kremlin Telegram news channel Mash showed a scuffle outside the office, followed by gunshots and shouting.
Vladislav Bakalchuk later claimed he and his “team” were attacked when they arrived at the Wildberries headquarters “for negotiations to stop the construction of a warehouse.”
“I’m fine, and we’re sorting it out. Stay tuned for details,” he wrote on Telegram.
NEWS WORLDWIDE
Russian Man Arrested In U.S. On Charge Of Exporting Microelectronics To Russia
Investigators in the United States have arrested a 44-year-old Russian national in Sarasota, Florida, on an indictment charging him with conspiring to violate the Export Control Reform Act, to commit smuggling, to commit money laundering, and to defraud the United States, the Justice Department said on September 16. Radio Free Europe reports.
Denis Postovoi is suspected of illegally exporting from the United States to Russia microelectronic components with military applications via other countries starting in February 2022, right after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The United States and other Western nations imposed sanctions on Russia over the invasion of its neighbor.
According to investigators, Postovoy managed a network of companies in Russia, Hong Kong and other countries. It is alleged that he indicated false information in export documents and sent microelectronics to Russia through other countries, including through Hong Kong and Switzerland.
IMF indefinitely postpones controversial visit to Russia
The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) planned visit to Russia has been "postponed indefinitely," The Kyiv Independent reported citing Russian state-controlled news agency TASS.
News emerged earlier in September that the IMF was preparing to send its first mission to Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The IMF last visited Russia in November 2019, before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The mission was supposed to be headed by Argentine economist Jacques Miniane, with the first part taking place in an online format starting on Sept. 16, followed by a visit to Moscow.
Several European countries, including Sweden, Finland, Poland, and the Baltic states, criticized the IMF's decision to travel to Moscow.
Citing two sources, Politico reported that the IMF originally suggested holding the meeting in a third country, but "eventually accepted the Kremlin's condition to travel to Russia."
The IMF's Russian executive director, Alexei Mozhin, told TASS on Sept. 17 that the visit had been postponed due to "technical unpreparedness" on the visiting side, but Russia is still ready to accept the visit.
Mozhin will be stepping down from his position in November. He confirmed to AFP on Sept. 3 that he will be replaced by Ksenia Yudaeva, former first deputy governor at Russia's Central Bank and a current adviser to its current governor, Elvira Nabiullina.
Yudaeva was sanctioned by the U.S. in April 2022 for her links to the Central Bank and the Otkritie commercial bank, which was sanctioned by the U.S. on the day the full-scale invasion began. On paper, sanctioned individuals are banned from entering the U.S., where the IMF's headquarters are located.
MILITARY & TECH
Quantum Systems, Airbus and Spleenlab Advance Drone Swarm Technology
AI-driven mission control enables seamless operations under radio interference, showcasing next-gen autonomous UAV capabilities. Defense Express reports.
Quantum Systems, in partnership with Airbus and Spleenlab software developer, has made significant advancements in autonomous drone swarm technologies. In early August, at Airbus’ Airbus Drone Center in Germany, the companies showcased the latest phase of the KITU2 research project, which focuses on autonomous swarm control using AI systems.
“For the first time, a specially developed mission-AI controls and coordinates the UAS systems to ensure reliable mission execution even in scenarios with radio interference or a complete failure of individual drones,” reads the report.
The tests involved two of Quantum Systems’ drones, the Vector and Scorpion, along with two unnamed UAVs from Airbus. These drones were deployed in a swarm, with data from all units transmitted in real time to Airbus’ Fortion Joint C2 battle management system. This integration allows a single operator to monitor the swarm more effectively and make informed decisions based on a broader data set.
Quantum Systems also highlighted that during the testing, the Vector drones showcased their ability to carry out reconnaissance and target acquisition missions without GPS, underlining the critical role of AI in autonomous operations in highly challenging environments.
This advancement is particularly relevant for Ukraine, where the Armed Forces of Ukraine operate hundreds of drones from Quantum Systems. By August, 288 drones had been delivered to Ukraine as part of Germany’s defense aid, with another 187 units scheduled for delivery. According to a press release, Quantum Systems has made a significant breakthrough in swarm technology, part of a research initiative commissioned by the German military in July 2023 to fully exploit AI’s potential in drone operations.
One of the most important developments is that Quantum Systems has already started drone production in Ukraine. In April, the company opened a manufacturing facility in Ukraine, initially assembling drones from kits, with plans to gradually localize certain components. By the end of the year, the facility is expected to employ around 100 workers, with projected investments of up to six million euros over the next two years. This plant is expected to boost Quantum Systems’ overall UAV production capacity to 1,000 units per year, although the exact production numbers for Ukraine have not yet been disclosed.
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