Photo : Andre M. Chang/Zuma Press
Photo : Andre M. Chang/Zuma Press
By Neha Tresa George and Advik S Mohan
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 17 September, an article in RFE informed that Sumy Oblast in Ukraine was suffering from power cuts after an overnight attack by Russian drones. The Sumy Regional Military Administration informed households in Sumy, Konotop, Ohktyr and other communities were cut off from the electrical grid. Artem Kobzar, the acting Mayor stated there were no casualties from the attack but there were issues in electricity and water supplies. The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine stated the Russian attacks caused a fire at a power substation and cut power to about 281,000 consumers. Vadym Mysnyk, a spokesperson for a northern Ukrainian military unit stated the attack was in retaliation to Ukraine's incursion into the Kursk Oblast in Russia.
On 17 September, The Washington Post reported that the medical aid group Doctors Without Borders(MSF) had ceased its operations in Russia after 32 years. MSF said that it had received a letter from the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation informing it had been removed from a register of foreign non-governmental organisations. MSF also informed that it would retain its branch office in Moscow, but operations run by its Dutch affiliate had stopped. MSF is amongst several international organisations, groups and movements to be banned by the Government of the Russian Federation on grounds that they threaten the state. Earlier, the Russian government banned environmental groups like Greenpeace and the newspaper The Moscow Times. Norman Sitali, the Operations Manager for MSF programs in Russia stated the organisation was sad to end the aid programs, since citizens in Russia would be left without medical and humanitarian assistance MSF could have provided. Since 1992, MSF has been involved in a wide range of humanitarian activities in Russia, such as aid for homeless individuals and migrants and assistance for over 52,000 individuals displaced by the Ukraine war. The aid group was also planning to provide aid for individuals internally displaced by the Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk Oblast in Russia.
On 16 September, Al Jazeera reported on the 'Bucha witches' being trained by the Government of Ukraine. 'Bucha witches' refers to the unofficial moniker of nearly 100 women aged 19 to 64. These women are being trained by the Ukrainian government in the usage of assault rifles and machine guns to shoot down Russian drones. They also learn how to load arms and coordinate in groups of two and three. The women serve as part-time military volunteers in air defence units in the suburban community of Bucha to the northwest of Kyiv. The women are motivated by the widespread atrocities committed by Russia in 2022 when it briefly occupied Bucha. Dozens of women volunteered for the Bucha military volunteers, motivated by the trauma of the atrocities and the desire for revenge. Valentyna, a mother of three sons who volunteered for the unit stated the women wanted to speed up the victory of the Ukrainian forces, and contribute towards it. Andriy Verlaty, a Colonel in the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated individuals who put on the uniform were defenders and their gender did not matter.
On 17 September, The Kyiv Independent reported on the missile strike carried out by the Ukrainian navy on the ammunition depot in the Russia-controlled Ukrainian city of Mariupol. According to the statements of the navy, the attack led to the demolition of both the storage infrastructure and the stockpiled ammunition. Petro Andriushchenko, an adviser to the exiled mayor of Mariupol also showed images of Russia’s destroyed warehouses in the villages of Hlyboke and Donetsk Oblast. However, these could not be confirmed by the media.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims from Russia
On 17 September, RT reported on Russia’s reason to expand the number of military personnel in the armed forces. Peskov said that the decision was taken as a precaution against the “current hostile environment.” He added: “The military was increased to almost 2.4 million with 1.5 million servicemen. Previously, Russia had increased its army in December 2023 to over 2.2 million, including 1.3 million troops. Russia’s latest expansion came amidst increasing scepticism over the NATO allies in Europe. It has always expressed discontent with the US-led bloc as a threat to its national security.
On 17 September, RT reported on Russia’s response to the US company Meta’s decision to ban Russian media. Meta, the California-based organisation said in a statement that it was de-platforming media platforms like Rossiya Segodnya (RT) and other related entities of Russia from its apps, citing “foreign interference activity.” The move is set to be implemented globally in the coming days. As a response, Dmitry Peskov, the Press Secretary of the Russian President said that Meta discredited itself with such actions. He added: “Such selective actions against Russian media are unacceptable. We have an extremely negative attitude towards this.” In early September, the US State Department imposed sanctions on Russian-funded media outlets, condemning them as “functioning as a de facto arm of Russian intelligence.” Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson called it a “declaration of war on free speech.”
On 17 September, Reuters reported on the deepening relationship between Iran and Moscow, outlined during the visit of Sergei Shoigu, Russian Security Council’s Secretary to Iran. He visited Iran after he met with Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader in Pyongyang. Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president, promised to increase measures to enhance the level of cooperation among the countries. He said: “Relations between Tehran and Moscow will develop in a permanent, continuous and lasting way. Deepening and strengthening relations and cooperation between Iran and Russia will reduce the impact of sanctions." The Nour news, an Iranian media agency, reported that Shoigu had also met Ali Akbar Ahmadian, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 17 September, the Federal Foreign Office of Germany published a speech given by Annalena Baerbock, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany. Baerbock made the speech at the Moldova Partnership Platform. In her speech, Baerbock warned that the Government of the Russian Federation was engaging in hybrid warfare against Moldova. She outlined three prospective steps which could be taken to counter the threat. First, the Moldova Partnership Platform needed to become a lasting forum with a focus on areas like energy security and reducing corruption where the biggest efforts could be made. The other steps mentioned by Baerbock were supporting reforms in Moldova as part of its eventual accession to the EU such as in the IT and agriculture sectors, and continuing to stand firm against Russian aggression. Baerbock concluded by stating that the EU would stand with Moldova, so they could choose their own path towards a European future of prosperity and democracy. Baerbock also noted how Moldova housed over 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees, and allowed them to remain with Ukrainians still making up five per cent of the Moldovan population. Baerbock also stated the Russian invasion of Ukraine had targeted Moldova as well, since it received 100 per cent of its gas imports from Russia. Baerbock stated that the leadership of Maia Sandu, the President of Moldova had ensured the country did not break, and remained together. Baerbock informed the Moldovan spirit was driven by one principle, to act and not complain. The foreign minister also stated that the EU had provided Moldova with strong diplomatic support, and the Moldova Partnership Platform was a platform to ensure continued strategic partnership with Moldova. Baerbock informed negotiations were on for providing EU membership to Moldova.
On 17 September, Reuters reported that the Federal Government of Germany had stated it would provide Ukraine with an additional aid of EUR 100 million for this winter. Annalena Baerbock, the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Germany made the announcement and stated that Russia was planning a winter war to make the lives of Ukrainians miserable. The Government of Ukraine had informed earlier that more air defences were required to allow repairs to infrastructure damaged by Russian attacks. This is in order to secure energy demands for the winter, when power demand is at the highest due to low temperatures.
References
Mansur Mirovalev, “Ukraine’s ‘Bucha witches’ volunteer to shoot down Russian drones,” Al Jazeera, 16 September 2024
“Russian Strikes Cut Power In Ukraine’s Sumy Region,” Radio Free Europe, 17 September 2024
Jamey Keaten, “Doctors Without Borders closes operations in Russia,” The Washington Post, 17 September 2024
“Germany pledges additional 100 million euros in winter aid for Ukraine,” Reuters, 17 September 2024
“Speech by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the Moldova Partnership Platform,” Federal Foreign Office of Germany, 17 September 2024
“Kremlin responds to Meta’s Russian media ban,” RT, 17 September 2024
“Kremlin explains new Russian army expansion,” RT, 17 September 2024
“Russian nuclear test site ‘ready’ – commander,” RT, 17 September 2024
“Ukraine destroys Russian ammunition depots near occupied Mariupol, Navy says,” The Kyiv Independent, 18 September 2024
“Iranian president pledges deeper ties with Moscow, state media says,” Reuters¸18 September 2024