Photo : National Police of Ukraine/Telegram
Photo : National Police of Ukraine/Telegram
By Advik S Mohan and Neha Tresa George
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 29 September, Firstpost reported on an attack using guided bombs by Russian forces on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia. Ivan Fedorov, the Governor of Zaporizhzhia informed three city districts were attacked with 13 guided bombs in the early morning. Fedorov informed 16 individuals, including two children aged 8 and 17 years old, were injured by the bombs. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine informed that the bombs damaged city infrastructure, residential buildings, and railways in Zaporizhzhia. The guided bomb strikes came amidst warnings by the Armed Forces of Ukraine that Russian forces were likely about to launch offensive operations in the wider Zaporizhzhia region. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force informed 15 of the 22 Russian drones launched overnight were shot down, and five others were destroyed through electronic defences. The fate of the other two drones remained unknown.
On 28 September, South China Morning Post reported that the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil had pushed ahead with their prospective peace plan for Ukraine at the UN General Assembly. Wang Yi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China informed the international community needed to work towards convening a peace conference with a fair discussion of all proposals. Wang also informed the peace plan that proponents wanted to be partners with both Russia and Ukraine. Celso Amorim, the Chief Advisor on Foreign Policy to the President of Brazil stated the meeting at the UN was the first step towards a broad discussion. Amorim also stated the meeting showed how Global South countries could play a constructive role in advocating for peace and expressing wider global support for a political solution to end the conflict. The Brazilian Advisor also informed this was the first meeting of the newly formed “Friends for Peace” group. Algeria, Bolivia, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, and Zambia joined discussions over the peace plan. France, Hungary, and Switzerland sent observers for the meeting. Anthony Blinken, the US Secretary of State informed any peace plan needed to balance the interests of both sides and not just cater to the needs of Russia, China's close ally. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine criticised the peace plan and stated Russia could only be forced into peace. However, Wang attempted to reassure doubts over the plan and informed China had no vested interests in the Ukraine war.
On 28 September, ABC News reported on the two consecutive Russian strikes on a medical centre in the Ukrainian city of Sumy, 20 kilometres from Russia’s Kursk region. The attack had led to the death of nine people and injured 21 others. According to Ihor Klymenko, Ukraine’s Interior Minister, the second attack happened while patients and staff in the hospital were evacuating after the first one. Local officials in the city claim the usage of Shahed drones in the attack.
On 30 September, Ukrinform reported on the drone attack over Kyiv. According to the Kyiv City Military Administration, there were explosions in Kyiv as air defence systems were activated to target Shahed drones. Serhii Popko, Chief of the city said: “Air raid alert continues! Air defense is operating in the capital. Stay in shelters until the air raid alert is lifted!” According to earlier reports, Russian troops had launched the drones from the south and north of the country.
On 29 September, Ukrinform reported on the overnight attack of Ukrainian forces near the village of Kotluban in Russia’s Volgograd region. The attack destroyed a missile and artillery ammunition arsenal. According to some sources, a train delivering Iranian missiles had arrived at the arsenal during the evening of the attack. Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces carried out the operation in cooperation with units of the Special Operations Forces, the Defence Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate, and the Security Service of Ukraine. The military facility was protected by electronic warfare and air defence systems. However, the Ukrainian troops claims to be successful in completing the mission.
On 29 September, in his official video address to the Ukrainians, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine condemned Russia’s attack in various parts of Ukraine. He said that the attack in Zaporizhzhia injured 14 people. He also informed on the attacks in the cities of Kharkiv, Donetsk and Sumy. He said: “Russia uses about a hundred guided aerial bombs against Ukraine.” He noted this to be a constant reminder for western countries to permit the usage of long-range weapons inside Russian territory. He assured the citizens that the requests made in the US were being considered by the partner countries. He also informed on the preparations for the “Ramstein” meeting, to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war and Ukraine’s defence capabilities.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims from Russia
On 28 September, RT reported on the impact of the changing nuclear doctrine of the Government of the Russian Federation. The op-ed informed how Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia had planned the changes in the Russian nuclear doctrine for months in advance. According to the op-ed, Ukraine expanding its weapons usage and military operations against Russia were the reason for the changes in the Russian nuclear doctrine, with Russia being more assertive now. The op-ed also informed that the changes in Russian nuclear policy would not lead to significant negative consequences. The op-ed informed how the West had a defined model of responding to Russian nuclear threats; by making an official declaration it would not be affected while taking actions to the contrary. According to the op-ed, the Russian government could reduce restrictions on the storage of tactical nuclear weapons, and their concentration in central storage bases. The op-ed also informed that greater escalation by the US Government would render self-restraints by Russia on the nuclear issue irrelevant. The op-ed stated the dual US policy of planning a strategic defeat for Russia while wanting to discuss arms control would not work anymore since the Russian government had made it clear dialogue was not possible without a change in the nature of US-Russia relations. According to the op-ed, the US policy of restricting Russian nuclear weapons was now outdated.
On 29 September, RT reported on the statements made by Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary of the Russian President on the upgraded Russian nuclear doctrine. According to him, the doctrine was finalized and required changes were made to make it into law. He said: “The changes are ready. Now they are being formalized.” He stressed that updated doctrine aimed to counter the increasing Western involvement in the war with Ukraine. He urged Russia to make decisions and implement them to counter the Western involvement. However, the question of direct application of the doctrine was left with the Russian military.
On 29 September, RT reported on the liberation of the Makeevka settlement in Donbass of the Donetsk People’s Republic. The Ukrainian army continuously shelled the city of Makeevka. According to the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, the settlement was taken by the “West tactical group.” According to the ministry’s report, the Ukrainian military has lost up to 450 troops over a day. The Russian forces have also destroyed several pieces of military hardware including a Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery gun, a US-made M198 howitzer, and a British-made FH-70 howitzer. Further, the ministry claimed that the Russian Air Force, drones, missiles and artillery targeted two oil infrastructure facilities, a radio-technical intelligence centre, among other targets.
On 28 September, TASS reported that the Ukrainian army had lost over 370 troops in the Kursk region. The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation said: “Over the past day, the Ukrainian armed forces lost over 370 troops, eight armoured vehicles, including a tank, two US-made M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and five armoured combat vehicles, as well as two artillery systems and eight motor vehicles.” The Ministry also claimed that the Russian forces were intercepting Ukrainian counterattacks and attempts to break into the Kursk region.
THE GLOBAL FALLOUTS
On 28 September, the Associated Press reported that Wang Yi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China had warned about an expansion of the battlefield in Ukraine. Wang informed the Government that the People's Republic of China was committed to ensuring peace. He also warned about other countries “exploiting the situation for selfish gains.” The remarks came amidst a joint peace plan proposed by the Chinese government and the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil. Several countries supported the plan and agreed to form a “Friends for Peace” group. However, the Government of Ukraine criticised the peace plan.
References
Russia strikes on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia with guided bombs, injures 16,” Firstpost, 29 September 2024
Vasily Kashin, “Here’s what Putin meant by updating Russia’s nuclear doctrine,” RT, 28 September 2024
Ted Anthony, “China, at UN, warns against ‘expansion of the battlefield’ in the Ukraine war,” AP News, 28 September 2024
Mark Magnier and Igor Patrick, “China, Brazil hold Ukraine peace plan meeting at UN, aim to be ‘partners’ to Moscow, Kyiv,” South China Morning Post, 28 September 2024
“Ukraine loses over 370 troops, eight armored vehicles in Kursk area in past day,” TASS, 28 September 2024
“Russian strikes on a medical center kill 9 people in the Ukrainian city of Sumy,” ABC News, 28 September 2024
“Kyiv under massive drone attack, air defenses activated,” Ukrinform 30 September 2024
“Ukraine's General Staff confirms strike on arms depot in Russia's Kotluban,” Ukrinform 29 September 2024
“UN chief urges increased funding for humanitarian aid in Ukraine as winter approaches,” Anadolu Agency, 29 September 2024
“Every Day, Russia Uses About a Hundred Guided Aerial Bombs Against Ukraine – Address by the President,” President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 29 September 2024