Photo : Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/AP
Photo : Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/AP
By Neha Tresa George and Advik S Mohan
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 17 September, CNN published the video interview conducted with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine. Zelenskyy stated he did not understand what Donald Trump, the presidential candidate from the Republican Party meant when he stated he could end the Ukraine war soon. However, the Ukrainian president also informed Trump was supportive of Ukraine in a phone call. According to Zelenskyy, Trump stated he understood the difficulties of surviving during a war and said he would do everything to strengthen Ukraine. Zelenskyy also stated he did not know what the true intentions of Trump were.
On 16 September, The Straits Times reported that Russian drone strikes injured one resident in the Kyiv Oblast in Ukraine. Ruslan Kravchenko, Governor of Kyiv Oblast informed of the attack, stating one resident was injured and five homes damaged by the drone attacks. Kravchenko also stated no critical infrastructure was damaged by the attack. Serhiy Popko, Head of the Kyiv City Military Administration informed Russian drones attacked Kyiv from different directions, but there were no casualties or damage. The Armed Forces of Ukraine stated air defence units destroyed nearly 20 drones which were aimed at Kyiv.
On 16 September, Ukrinform reported on the Russian shelling of Bohodukhiv and Podoly in the Kharkiv region. According to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, the attack had led to the injury of two people. According to the initial data collected, Russians had used three KAB-250s guided aerial bombs to carry out the strike. At least 25 residential buildings and an agricultural enterprise were destroyed in the attack.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims from Russia
On 16 September, Anadolu Ajansi reported that Russian forces took back control of two settlements in western Kursk Oblast. The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation stated that the Russian Armed Forces retook the villages of Uspenovka and Borki. The defence ministry also informed Russian forces repelled five Ukrainian counterattacks near the settlements of Byakhovo, Bolshaya Obukhovka, Vitrovka, Lyubimovka, and Malaya Loknya. The Government of Ukraine did not respond to Russian claims.
On 16 September, RT reported on the destruction of a Ukrainian military tank by the Russian military. According to the video footage released by the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, the tank surrounded with anti-drone netting was struck by a guided aerial munition. The ministry hasn’t revealed the type of weapon used to launch the strike. However, the footage suggested that it had used an Orion medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone, which must have deployed a Kh-BPLA laser-guided missile.
On 16 September, RT reported on the Ukrainian shelling of the city of Belgorod in Russia, 42 kilometres from the border with Ukraine. According to Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the region, the attack had led to the injury of eight civilians out of which one was in critical condition. He informed that about 15 cars and a private house had caught fire. Apart from that, 21 apartment buildings and four private homes were affected by the fire. Belgorod has a population of about 330,000 people.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 16 September, Ukrinform reported on the preparation of Italy to deliver the SAMP/T battery to Ukraine. It is a Franco-Italian and the only European-made system, able to track down and intercept ballistic missiles. According to Antonio Tajani, Italy’s Foreign Minister, the defence system aimed to help Ukraine protect its population. He said that it was necessary to stop Russia’s attacks. He also looked forward to a “serious peace conference” to end the war by 2024.
References
“Zelenskyy reveals details of phone call with Trump from two months ago,” CNN, 17 September 2024
“Ukraine says Russian drone barrage injures one in Kyiv region,” The Straits Times, 16 September 2024
Burc Eruygur, “Russia claims it retook control of 2 settlements in Kursk region,” Anadolu Ajansi, 16 September 2024
“Eight wounded in Ukrainian shelling of Belgorod – governor,” RT, 16 September 2024
“Italy set to deliver second SAMP/T battery to ] strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses – Tajani,” Ukrinform, 16 September 2024
“Militants shell Bohodukhiv and Podoly in Kharkiv region, two wounded,” Ukrinform, 16 September 2024
“Russian military takes out Ukrainian tank in Kursk Region – MOD,” RT, 16 September 2024