Photo : Maxar Technologies/AP/The Washington Post
Photo : Maxar Technologies/AP/The Washington Post
By Neha Tresa George
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 18 September, The Guardian reported on the Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian ammunition depot in the Toropets town in the Tver region. It was detected by the earthquake monitoring systems and was considered to be one of the biggest strikes on Russia since the war in 2022. According to pro-Russian sources, the drone struck an arsenal that stored missiles, ammunition and explosives in the Toropets town. The attack was part of Ukraine’s larger plan of targeting oil refineries, power plants, airfields and military factories. The earthquake monitoring stations detected it as a minor earthquake in the area. According to Ukrainian sources, the attack was carried out by the Ukrainian security service in coordination with the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine and the Special Operations Force. Meanwhile, an anonymous official informed that the destroyed arsenal had long-range Russian missiles and guided bombs known as KABs (Корректируемая Авиационная Бомба) meaning “managed (corrected) aircraft bomb.”
On 18 September, Reuters reported on the Russian attacks targeting energy facilities in the city of Sumy in northeastern Ukraine. According to the regional authorities, the attack had led to the death of one person in the central city of Kropyvnytskyi. The Ukrainian air force informed that they had destroyed 46 out of the 52 drones launched by Russia. They added that Russia had launched another three guided air missiles which failed to reach the target. There were no reports of damage to any of the critical infrastructure in the region. Meanwhile, the Sumy regional authorities said that the air defence forces destroyed 16 drones. Oleksiy Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of reconstruction, regions and infrastructure also informed on the creation of a body to coordinate the defence of energy facilities in the Sumy region, which has been subject to frequent attacks..
On 18 September, TVP World reported on the increase in Ukraine’s defence spending in the 2024 budget. According to Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a lawmaker from the Holos party, the total budget spending for the year stands at EUR 80.8 billion. The defence spending is raised by an additional EUR 10.8 billion. On the same, Rustem Umerov, the defence minister of Ukraine said: “This will allow not only better support for our military but will also strengthen the country’s defence capabilities.” He added that EUR 5.9 billion was allocated to soldiers’ wages and additional payments to their families and EUR 1.65 billion to modernize the equipment in the army. With no sign of war ending, Ukraine had raised its pace of mobilization and required funds to pay the army personnel. Roksolana Pidlasa, the head of the parliament's budget committee revealed that the fighting cost Kyiv about EUR 126 million each day.
On 17 September, the Institute for the Study of War reported on the recent advance of Ukrainian forces in the east of the settlement of Krasnooktyabrskoye in Glushkovsky Raion districts in Kursk Oblast. According to the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, the Russian troops were repelling the Ukrainian forces in the regions of Veseloye, Medvezhye and Novy Put in the Glushkovy districts. The ministry also claimed that the Ukrainian forces attacked southeast of Korenevo near Obukhovka and Lyubimovka and northwest of Sudzha near Malaya Loknya despite the counteroffensive operations.
On 18 September, the Institute for the Study of War reported on the recapture of some territories in the Kursk Oblast by the Russian forces. According to geolocated footage, Russian troops were advancing eastward to the villages of Olgovka and Uspenovka which is east and southeast of Korenevo district. Russia’s Defence Ministry also claimed that its forces were carrying out counter offensives in Nikolayevo-Daryino, Daryino, Lyubimovka and Tolsty Lug in the southeast of Korenevo and southeast of Sudzha near Plekhovo. The Russian 11th Airborne Brigade and the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade were reportedly operating in the Kursk Oblast.
On 18 September, in the video address, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s President gave an overview on war. He informed on the two reports presented by General Oleksandr Syrski, the Commander in Chief of the army. The first dealt with Ukraine’s operations, particularly in the Kursk region. Zelenskyy informed that the situations in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions were also monitored. Apart from that, he spoke about his discussion with Serhiy Marchenko, the Minister of Finance and Oleksiy Danilov, the Secretary of National Security over the additional funds required for defence. Additionally, he talked about the ongoing discussions with the team of international experts to implement strategic and logistic needs that were promised at the Washington summit. Lastly, he revealed that the “Plan for Victory” was fully ready to be present before Joe Biden, the US President. The Victory Plan aims to bring a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict by not compromising any of its conditions. It also opens the door for another peace summit next year.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims from Russia
On 18 September, RT reported on the order of evacuation of a Toropets town. A destroyed Ukrainian drone had caused a fire outbreak in Toropets, which has a population of 11,000. According to Igor Rudenya, the Tver region governor: “A partial evacuation of residents from the territory is ordered where the air defences are active and responders are working to contain the fire.” However, there were no reports of the occurrence of casualties. According to the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, 54 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight in five Russian regions.
On 18 September, RT reported on the Ukrainian drone attack on a civilian bus in the Belgorod region. According to the statements of Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the region, four civilians suffered injury in the bus. The drone struck a service vehicle carrying employees in Shebekino town. The governor added that the injured civilians were getting necessary medical treatment.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 17 September, ARAB NEWS reported on Germany’s EUR 100 million winter aid to Ukraine. According to the German foreign ministry’s statements, “Russia is deliberately attacking Ukraine’s heat and energy supply. This is why Germany is providing a further 100 million euros in winter aid for the Ukrainian energy supply.” Germany condemned Russia particularly over its attack on Ukraine’s energy facilities. This decision came amidst plans to reconstruct Ukraine’s energy and power systems ahead of winter. Denys Shmygal, Ukraine’s Prime Minister said that all the hospitals and 80 per cent of schools in the country required 1,800 high-capacity generators. He also promised to reinforce the facilities against the increasing drone and missile attacks.
On 19 September, The Straits Times reported on the Bucharest Nine Summit of Defence Ministers held in Romania. The group which is the eastern flank of NATO comprises Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The ministers urged for a collective response to Russia’s increased violation of their airspace through drones targeting Ukraine. These member countries which share borders with Ukraine were repeatedly affected by Russian drones. They expressed their “profound concern over the repeated incursions” and requested the alliance to support in “boosting their capabilities in detecting, identifying and destroying these weapons.” Angel Tilvar, the Romanian Defence Minister said: “A robust and coordinated response on an allied level is needed, as well as the swift implementation of NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence rotational model.” In early September, both Latvia and Romania identified Russian drones in the airspace. However, NATO could not verify if the incidents were “intentional.”
References
“Blast from attack on Russian arms depot picked up on earthquake monitors,” The Guardian, 18 September 2024
“Russian attacks target energy facilities, kill one, authorities say,” Reuters¸ 18 September 2024
“Ukraine to put more money toward defense after 2024 budget amended,” TVP World, 18 September 2024
“Our Plan for Victory Is Already Fully Prepared; the Most Important Thing Now Is the Determination to Implement It – Address by the President,” President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 18 September 2024
“Ukrainian Operations in the Russian Federation,” Institute for the Study of War, 18 September 2024
“Ukrainian drone attack prompts partial evacuation in Russian town,” RT, 18 September 2024
“Civilians injured in Ukrainian drone raid on Belgorod Region – governor,” RT, 18 September 2024
“Germany pledges winter aid package for Ukraine,” Arab News¸ 18 September 2024