Photo : Institute for the Study of War
Photo : Institute for the Study of War
By Advik S Mohan and Neha Tresa George
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 06 September, Kyiv Post reported on the Russian attack in the city of Pavlograd in the central Dnipropetrovsk Oblast located 100 kilometres from the Donetsk Oblast. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs: “A five-story residential building was damaged. Firefighters extinguished the fire and rescued five people.” The attack led to the death of one person and injured 55 others. Ukraine’s air force reported on involvement of five Iskander ballistic missiles in the attack. Serhiy Lysak, Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration Head also informed about the numerous fires in the city post the attack.
On 07 September, The Kyiv Independent informed that drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) had struck an ammunition and military equipment warehouse in the Voronezh Oblast of Russia. On the same day, local authorities in Voronezh reported a drone and fire attack. This was confirmed by a SBU source. Reports also indicated that the drone strike caused chain explosions of the stored ammunition, and at least four powerful fires. The SBU source stated that SBU drones had targeted the warehouse since it was actively used by the Government of the Russian Federation to supply material for forces in Ukraine. An official in the Ukraine Government informed that the attack had destroyed missiles supplied by the Government of North Korea to Russia. Alexander Gusev, the Governor of Voronezh Oblast stated that the residents of several settlements in the Ostrogozhsky district were being temporarily evacuated. Gusev also stated that residents must not approach the fire site or share images of its location.
On 07 September, ABC News reported on Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine vow to ramp up domestic military production through the creation of underground weapons factories. Zelenskyy informed that the Government was setting up underground weapons production facilities for Ukrainian soldiers to self-defend. The President also stated that Ukraine was developing drones and missiles to attack Russia. Zelenskyy also made a renewed appeal for removing restrictions on the usage of Western-supplied weapons on Russian territory. In the past few weeks, attacks by Russia on energy infrastructure and residential areas in Ukraine have increased substantially. The attacks have shown Russia’s long-range capabilities and affected about 70 per cent of power generation capacity in Ukraine.
On 07 September, RadioFreeEuropeRadioLiberty informed that at least five civilians had been killed in Russian shelling in the Donetsk Oblast of Ukraine. Vadym Filashkin, Governor of Donetsk Oblast informed that three men between the ages of 24 and 69 were killed in the town of Kostyantynivka. Filashkin also informed that four residents were injured by the shelling. According to reports, two men in their 50s were killed in shelling near the town of Toretsk. Anastasia Medvedeva, a spokesperson for the Office of the Prosecutor General in Donetsk stated that a fourth person was injured in the attack on Kostyantynivka.
On 08 September, Kyiv Post reported on the Russian strike in the Sumy region, across the border from the Kursk region. According to the Sumy Region Prosecutor’s Office, the attack led to the death of two people and injured four others. The report claimed that Russian troops had used weapons that were prohibited under international law. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia had launched four Kh-59 missiles from the Belgorod region and 23 Shahed drones from Kursk and Cape Chaud. The defence mechanisms intercepted one missile and 25 drones. The report argued that Russia had violated the air space of Romania with their Shahed drones. The head of Romania confirmed this and informed that the authorities were searching for possible crash sites in Romania.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims from Russia
On 07 September, the TASS informed that three residents were wounded by Ukrainian shelling in Belgorod Oblast. Vyacheslav Gladkov, Governor of Belgorod Oblast informed that shelling by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Shebekino town in Belgorod Oblast had caused injuries to three residents. Gladkov stated that a woman had suffered shrapnel wounds to the back and thigh and a man had suffered a shrapnel wound to the chest. Gladkov also informed that two houses and four outbuildings in Shebekino had caught fire, as a result of shelling.
On 08 September, RT reported on the upcoming visit of Ajit Doval, India’s National Security Advisor to Russia. According to the report, Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President, was set to “discuss New Delhi’s efforts to settle the conflict with Ukraine.” Doval had scheduled his meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday according to the media. Doval is expected to attend a meeting with the BRICS Security Officials and hold separate discussions with Russian and Chinese officials.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 06 September, France’s Defence Ministry announced to use of a share of EUR 1.4 billion in revenues from the frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine. According to its official statement: “Alongside other (EU) member states, the ministry... will take part in implementing the new support measure for Ukraine from the European Peace Facility.” The Ministry further informed the European Commission’s confirmation for "swift procurement of priority material from French industry" such as ammunition, artillery and air defence. In May 2024, the EU member states agreed to use the Russian-frozen assets to finance Ukraine’s military equipment. Russia responded by denouncing the decision as “illegal.”
On 07 September, on a visit to London, Bill Burns, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) stated that Russian threats of nuclear escalation must not be taken seriously. Burns made the remarks during a public appearance in London alongside Sir Richard Moore, Chief of the Intelligence Service of the United Kingdom (MI6). He also informed that in 2022, Joe Biden, President of the United States had given a direct warning through Burns to Sergey Naryshkin, Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Russia. According to Burns, Biden had made clear on the consequences of a nuclear escalation and the US's continued stance.
On 08 September, POLITICO reported on a Russian unmanned drone that flew through Belarus and fell in the Rēzekne region in the east of Latvia. According to Andris Sprūds, the Defence Minister of Latvia: “This situation is a confirmation that we need to continue the work we have started to strengthen Latvia's eastern border, including the development of air defence capabilities and electronic warfare capabilities to limit the activities of UAVs of different applications.” Latvia’s armed forces also informed the NATO chain of command and investigations are ongoing. This came amidst Russia’s violation of Romanian airspace with Shahed drones.
On 09 September, the Financial Times reported on the delivery of Iran bases ballistic missiles to Russia. This has invoked a series of tensions and alarm in Ukraine as they fear of “serious escalation” of Iran’s support to Russia in the war. According to Ukrainian officials: “More than 200” Fath-360 short-range ballistic missiles arrived in a Russian Caspian Sea port this week.” They believe that this delivery would allow Russia to deploy its long-range hypersonic Kinzhal missiles and strike further deep inside Ukraine’s territory. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry condemned the act and called for the international community to increase its pressure on Iran. Meanwhile, Nasser Kanaani, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson refuted the allegations as “completely baseless.” He added that Iran had never been involved in the war and resorted to a political resolution to end it. However, Russian officials and Ukraine’s Western partners have not responded to the claims.
References
Yehor Konovalov and Kate Marie Davies, “Ukraine mourns dead from major Russian strike, vows response with underground weapons production,” ABC News, 07 September 2024
“Ukraine Says 5 Killed In Russian Shelling Of Donetsk Region,” RadioFreeEuropeRadioLiberty, 07 September 2024
“Three civilians wounded in Ukrainian shelling attack on borderline Belgorod Region,” TASS, 07 September 2024
Dam Sabbagh, “CIA boss says West should not be intimidated by Russia’s nuclear threats,” The Guardian, 07 September 2024
“One Dead, over 50 Injured in Russian Strikes on Ukraine’s Pavlograd,” Kyiv Post, 06 September 2024
“Russian Airstrike on Sumy Kills Two, Injures Four, Including Children,” Kyiv Post, 08 September 2024
“Hundreds mourn mother and daughters killed in Russian strike on Lviv,” Reuters, 06 September 2024
“Video footage appears to show Russians killing surrendering Ukrainian soldiers,” CNN, 06 September 2024
“Putin to discuss Ukraine peace with PM Modi’s national security adviser – media,” RT, 08 September 2024
“Ukraine deploys ‘dragon drones’ against Russia – CNN,” RT, 08 September 2024
“Latvia says Russian drone that violated airspace came through Belarus,” Politico, 08 September 2024
“France to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine military aid,” France24, 06 September 2024
“Iran ships ‘hundreds’ of ballistic missiles to Russia,” Financial Times, 06 September 2024