Photo : Saul Loeb, AFP
Photo : Saul Loeb, AFP
By Advik S Mohan and Padmashree Anandhan
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 27 September, The Kyiv Independent reported that a district police department in the city of Kryvyi Riih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast was targeted by a Russian missile. Serhii Lysak, the Governor of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast informed about the missile strike and stated the bodies of a man and woman were pulled out from the department rubble. Oleksandr Vilkul, Head of the Ukrainian Military Administration of Kryvyi Riih informed one woman was killed and at least six men injured from the strike. According to Vilkul, three more individuals were trapped inside the rubble. Search and rescue operations at the destroyed department site are ongoing.
On 27 September, The Kyiv Independent reported that the Russian attacks on Ukraine killed eight individuals and injured 49 others over the past one day. Oleh Kiper, the Governor of Odesa Oblast informed Russian drone strikes on the town of Izmail killed three citizens and injured 11 others, including a child. Kiper also informed houses, apartment buildings, and cars were damaged by the strikes. Vadym Filashkin, the Governor of Donetsk Oblast informed two residents were killed by strikes in the town of Toretsk, and two other residents were killed in the settlements of Chasiv Yar and Siversk. Filashkin also informed 11 individuals in the region suffered injuries in the past day. Oleh Syniehubov, the Governor of Kharkiv Oblast stated five individuals were injured by an attack on the city of Kharkiv, and three others were injured after attacks in the settlements of Kupiansk, Vuzlovyi, Vovchansk, and Ivashky. Oleksandr Prokudin, the Governor of Kherson Oblast stated one individual was killed and 19 injured through Russian attacks on 24 settlements, including the regional centre of Kherson. Additionally, the Ukrainian Air Force informed it shot down 24 out of 32 Russian drones.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims from Russia
On 27 September, RT reported on an opinion by a professor at the Higher School of Economics., Dmitry Trenin on Vladimir Putin, Russian President decision on nuclear doctrine. In the opinion, he stated that Putin had planned to alter the doctrine seven months before and on the decision the Strategic Deterrence Commission would twice every year to modify the contents constantly. The decision was based on the US’s goal to defeat Russia in war and subsequent escalation game. This led Russians in “high places” to think that Russia was “afraid to respond” and in counter to that Putin planned to make corrections to the doctrine to suit the war scenarios. It was also aimed to signal a warning to the West. According to him, Russia’s next move will depend on Ukraine and the West reaction and there is a possibility to shift from verbal warnings to “practical demonstrations.”
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 26 September, France 24 reported that Joe Biden, the President of the United States had announced an additional USD eight billion in military aid for Ukraine. Biden announced after a meeting at The White House with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine. The military aid also included USD 5.5 billion to be authorized before expiry at the end of the US fiscal year on 30 September. Biden expressed confidence Ukraine would prevail in the war, and stated the surge in security assistance was intended to help Ukraine win the war. The President also informed the provision of Joint Standoff Weapon(JSOW) long-range munitions for Ukraine from the US Government. Biden also informed of a forthcoming summit to be held in Germany between allies of Ukraine. However, the US Government informed immediate decisions on allowing the Government of Ukraine permission to fire long-range Western-made missiles into Russia were unlikely. The announcements of additional aid by Biden came amidst a dispute between Zelenskyy and Donald Trump, the presidential candidate from the Republican Party over military aid for Ukraine.
On 27 September, Defence of Romania stated four warplanes were sent to monitor the situation on the Ukraine border. A report by the Ministry informed two F-16 aircraft of the Romanian Air Force and two F-18 aircraft of the Spanish Air Force from the Extended Air Police took off overnight to monitor the Ukraine situation. The warplanes were sent after the Romanian radar surveillance system indicated kamikaze Unmanned Aerial Vehicles(UAVs) used by Russia on Ukrainian port infrastructure crossed into Romanian airspace briefly. The incursion caused no impact on Romanian soil, with the search for possible debris continuing. The Romanian defence ministry condemned the Russian attacks and stated it was a serious breach of international law.
On 27 September, the BBC reported that Donald Trump, the presidential candidate for the Republican Party had agreed to a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine. Trump informed Zelenskyy would visit him at Trump Tower, and repeated his claim he could ensure a deal between Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia. This was just days after Trump had criticized the Ukrainian president for refusing to make a deal with the Government of the Russian Federation. Since the beginning of the Ukraine war, Trump had stated differing opinions on Ukraine. Trump faced accusations of repeating Russian propaganda and refused to admit whether Ukraine needed to cede territory to Russia as a way of ending the war. Trump had also criticized increased US funding for Ukraine, and referred to Zelenskyy as the “greatest salesman in the world.” Zelenskyy also stated Trump did not know how to stop the war. However, on 26 September, Trump posted a screenshot of a text message from Zelenskyy, wherein he requested a meeting with Trump.
On 27 September, Arab News reported that the Federal Government of Germany had confirmed Joe Biden, the President of the United States would visit the country. The visit of Biden is scheduled from 10 to 12 October. Steffen Hebestreit, a spokesperson for the Federal Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz informed Biden would host a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contract Group to discuss military support for Ukraine. According to Hebestreit, Biden is expected to hold meetings with Scholz and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the President of Germany. The meeting is expected to be held on 12 October at the Ramstein Air Base of the US Air Force, with over 50 Ukrainian allies expected to attend. Hebestreit stated the visit was like a goodbye for Biden before the US presidential election. The meeting comes ahead of the US election, where Donald Trump, the presidential candidate from the Republican Party has criticized funding by the US Government towards Ukraine.
References
Kateryna Denisova, “Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 8, injure 49 over past day,” The Kyiv Independent, 27 September 2024
Kateryna Denisova and Kateryna Hodunova, “Russian missile hits police department in Kryvyi Riih, killing 3, injuring 6 ,” The Kyiv Independent, 27 September 2024
“Dmitry Trenin: Putin’s nuclear doctrine updates are a final warning to the West,” RT, 27 September 2024
“‘Ukraine will prevail,’ Biden tells Zelensky after pledging $8 billion in military aid to Kyiv,” France 24, 26 September 2024
“Romanian fighter jets scramble amid Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s port,” Ukrinform, 27 September 2024
George Wright, “Trump says he will meet Zelensky despite campaign criticism,” BBC News, 27 September 2024
“Germany confirms Biden visit and Ukraine allies meeting,” Arab News, 27 September 2024