Photo : AFP
Photo : AFP
War in Ukraine: Day 574
By Rishika Yadav
War on Ground
On 20 September, Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, passed a law, reinstating public access to top officials’ asset declarations. The move is seen as crucial for EU integration. Earlier, the law was suspended due to difficulties arising from Russia’s invasion. Civil society and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s President, pushed for transparency, resulting in the legislation.
On 20 September, a cargo ship’s crew evacuated after Black Sea explosion. The ship experienced an explosion in the Black Sea near the Ukraine’s border. ARSVOM, Romania’s maritime search and rescue organization, conducted the evacuation. All 12 crew members were rescued and are receiving medical attention. The cause of the explosion, suspected to be a mine, is under investigation by the Tulcea Port Authority.
On 20 September, according to Ukrainska Pravda, Olena Zelenska, Ukraine’s First Lady, appealed to the UN for help. She urged Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, and the UN to assist in the return of children abducted from Ukraine’s occupied territories by Russia. Zelenska stated that over 19,500 Ukraine’s children have been forcibly taken by Russia. She also highlighted the cases of sexual violence by Russia’s military. She called for international efforts to stop child assimilation and obtain data on abducted children, emphasizing the need to rescue Ukraine’s children and bring war criminals to justice.
The Moscow View
Claims by Russia
On 20 September, a fire broke out at a fuel depot in Sochi, in southern Russia. It is located near the city’s international airport. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, while some reports suggest it could be a drone strike. No casualties have been reported, and the blaze has been extinguished.
On 20 September, Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed to down four of Ukraine’s drones. The Ministry stated it had successfully thwarted and destroyed four of Ukraine’s drones in two western regions, Oryol and Belgorod. The Ministry did not provide details on potential damage or casualties.
The West View
Responses from the US and Europe
On 20 September, Mateusz Morawiecki, Poland’s Prime Minister, announced that the country has stopped supplying weapons to Ukraine. He cited the need for self-defence but assured that this move would not compromise Ukraine’s security. This development occurs amid a dispute over Ukraine’s grain exports to the EU. It led to tensions between Kyiv and the EU, particularly Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia. The three countries imposed unilateral bans on Ukraine’s grain imports. It came in response to the European Commission’s decision to permit such sales across the EU. Ukraine countered with WTO lawsuits against them.
On 20 September, the UK’s Ministry of Defence announced its commitment to deliver tens of thousands more artillery shells to Ukraine. It will add to the over 300,000 already provided. This support was emphasized during the 15th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, where the UK’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s defence was reiterated. Grant Shapps, the UK Defence Secretary, also outlined priority areas for military support, including air defence and long-range strike capabilities.
The Global Fallouts
On 19 September, China and Russia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic ties despite Western criticism. Wang Wento, China’s Minister of Commerce, and Yevgeny Yelin, Russia’s Minister of Economic Development, held discussions on deepening economic cooperation in Beijing. It coincided with the visit of Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Minister, to Moscow. The two countries aim to increase cross-border connectivity, trade, and investment. China’s imports of Russia’s goods rose by three per cent to USD 11.5 billion in August. Both countries are also enhancing their grain trade and building a grain corridor for food security.
References
Jeremy Dirac, “In Win for Ukrainian Civil Society, Parliament Approves Open Assets Declarations,” The Kyiv Independent, 20 September 2023
Elsa Court, “Romanian authorities rescue crew after explosion on cargo ship in Black Sea,” The Kyiv Independent, 20 September 2023
“Olena Zelenska appeals to UN Secretary-General with plea to save abducted Ukrainian children,” Ukrainska Pravda, 20 September 2023
“Fuel Depot Caught Fire In Russian City Of Sochi,” Barron’s, 20 September 2023
“Russia Says 4 Ukrainian Drones Destroyed,” The Moscow Times, 20 September 2023
Zoya Sheftalovich, “Poland stops sending weapons to Ukraine amid grain fight, Warsaw says,” Politico, 20 September 2023
“Defence Secretary pledges tens of thousands of more artillery shells for Ukraine,” Gov.uk, 20 September 2023
“China urges deeper trade ties with Russia despite Western rebuke,” Reuters, 20 September 2023