Friday, September 13

Russia’s war against Ukraine

The aftermath of a Russian attack on the village of Viroliubivka in Donetsk Oblast on Sept. 12, 2024. (Volodymyr Zelensky/Telegram)

Russian attacks cut off gas, water in Pokrovsk, governor says. Russian attacks have cut off gas and water supplies to the town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, Governor Vadym Filashkin said on Sept. 12.

Ukraine sabotaged Belgorod Oblast railroad, derailing freight train, media reports. Ukrainian reconnaissance and special forces blew up a railroad in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, derailing a freight train, Babel media outlet reported on Sept. 12, citing a military intelligence source.

Zelensky gave detailed pitch to Blinken, Lammy on need for long-range strikes, source says. It remains unclear whether the decision on the long-range strikes will be taken during the meeting between U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Joe Biden this Friday or later in September during a U.N. assembly in New York, the source said.

Further Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure could lead to dangerous nuclear risks, Bloomberg reports. Further Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power grid could lead to a dangerous situation at one of Ukraine’s three remaining operational nuclear power plants, Bloomberg reports.

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Russia claims to have recaptured 10 settlements in Kursk Oblast amid ongoing counterattack. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Sept. 12 that Russia had launched a counterattack in Kursk Oblast, saying that “everything is going according to our plan.”

Over 150 miners trapped underground at Donetsk Oblast mine due to Russian attacks. Russian strikes have cut off power to Dobropillia and nearby settlements, including coal mines.

Ukraine downs Russian Su-30 aircraft above Black Sea, military intelligence claims. Ukrainian soldiers shot down a Russian Su-30SM aircraft during an operation in the Black Sea, Ukraine’s military intelligence said.

‘You either support war or you don’t’ — Zelensky blasts China-Brazil ‘destructive’ peace initiative. President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized a peace initiative put forward by Brazil and China as “destructive” in an interview with Brazilian outlet Metropoles published on Sept. 12.

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The long-range missiles Ukraine could soon be firing deep into Russia

The U.S. and U.K. may be on the verge of what could be a hugely significant move regarding the war in Ukraine, with reports suggesting both countries might soon allow Kyiv to use their long-range weapons to strike targets deep in Russian territory.

Photo: South Korean Defense Ministry via Getty Images

Russian cities left defenseless as Ukraine ramps up drone attacks

While waiting for a green light from Western countries to use their long-range weapons to strike targets deep inside Russia, Ukraine is relying on domestically produced drones, which are considerably cheaper than missiles and no less effective.

Photo: Tatyana Makeyeva / AFP via Getty Images

Kursk counteroffensive: Will Russia push Ukraine out of its turf?

Over a month after Ukraine launched an unprecedented incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast, Russian forces have begun counterattacking, aiming to eventually drive Ukrainian troops out of the partially occupied border region.

Photo: Ed Ram/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Human cost of war

3 Red Cross employees killed, 2 injured in Russian attack on Donetsk Oblast. Russian forces attacked the Kostiantynivka community in Donetsk Oblast and the village of Borova in Kharkiv Oblast on Sept. 12, killing five people and injuring at least nine, local authorities reported.

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 6, injure 44 over past day. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 44 of the 64 Shahed-type drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force said. Three drones reportedly flew back to Russia, while four others were “lost” on Ukrainian territory.

General Staff: Russia has lost 630,200 troops since Feb. 24, 2022. This number includes 1,270 casualties Russian forces suffered over the past day.

International response

Pentagon allocates $1.2 billion for production of AMRAAM missiles, including for Ukraine. The U.S. Defense Department awarded a contract worth around $1.2 billion to the Raytheon defense contractor for the production of air-to-air AMRAAM missiles, the department said on Sept. 11.

Canada to host conference on release of captured, deported Ukrainians in October. “We must find a solution for all groups held by Russia: civilians, prisoners of war and children,” said Andrii Yermak, who held an online meeting with Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly.

Estonian president arrives in Kyiv. “Arrived in the great city of Kyiv. Looking forward to all the meetings & discussions,” Estonian President Alar Karis said on X.

Spain blocks Hungary’s attempt to buy train company over ‘Ukraine concerns,’ FT reports. Spain prevented Hungary from buying Talgo, a Madrid-based train manufacturer, due to its potential usefulness for Ukraine’s reconstruction, the Financial Times reported on Sept. 12, citing undisclosed officials.

Trump’s ‘peace plan’ could include creation of demilitarized zone between Russia and Ukraine, Vance says. Donald Trump could bring Russians, Ukrainians, and Europeans to the negotiating table to “figure out what a peaceful settlement looks like,” according to J.D. Vance.

Foreign Ministry raises diplomatic concerns with Mongolia, citing inaction in arresting Putin. On Sept. 12, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry issued a formal diplomatic note, also known as a demarche, to Mongolia during a meeting with a high-ranking Mongolian diplomat in Kyiv.

In other news

US foreign agent rules can’t keep pace with Russian propaganda. U.S. government legal actions targeting a network of Russian influence last week have exposed shortcomings in the country’s laws designed to tackle the malign influence of foreign agents, experts told the Kyiv Independent.

Canadian film festival halts screenings of ‘Russians at War,’ citing security concerns. In a statement to CBC News, the Toronto Police Service said that the decision to halt the screening was made independently by event organizers and was not under any recommendation by the police force.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Nate Ostiller, Kateryna Denisova, Sonya Bandouil, Kateryna Hodunova, and Martin Fornusek.

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