PAKISTAN READER

By Advik S Mohan and Padmashree Anandhan

WAR ON THE GROUND
On 12 September, ABC News reported on Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine confirmation of the Russian Armed Forces launch of a counteroffensive in the Kursk Oblast. The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation informed ten settlements in Kursk had been recaptured, but did not describe it as part of a counteroffensive. On 06 August, the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched an incursion into Kursk Oblast to divert Russian troops to Kursk away from the Donetsk Oblast of Ukraine. The incursion showed Russia’s vulnerabilities and had hoped to establish a buffer zone to prevent Russian attacks. While Russia seemed to be taken aback by the attack, it has advanced further into eastern Ukraine in the past few weeks with fears over Moscow capturing the key logistics hub of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast.

On 12 September, swissinfo.ch reported on Russian Armed Forces attacks leading to a cut in electricity and water to Konotop and Pokrovsk. Local officials in the city of Konotop informed an overnight drone attack cut electricity and injured 14 residents. Artem Semenikhin, the Mayor of Konotop stated the power system was in a critical condition, and energy workers were attempting to provide electricity for the hospital and water supply system. Meanwhile, Vadym Filashkin, the Governor of Donetsk Oblast informed fighting had caused a filtering station to stop working. Filashkin informed the water supply to the Pokrovsk town was severed due to the attack and would be impossible to fix soon. The Governor also informed residents of Pokrovsk to evacuate. Pokrovsk lies in a strategic location in the Donetsk Oblast and is under threat of being taken over by Russian forces. According to local authorities in Pokrovsk, the town lacks electricity and gas supplies. Ukrainian intelligence reports indicated Russian forces launched a southward attack near Pokrovsk. 

On 12 September, Reuters reported on Zelenskyy’s criticism of a joint peace proposal by the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil. In an interview with Brazilian news site Metropoles, Zelenskyy stated the Chinese-Brazilian proposal was destructive and a political statement. According to Zelenskyy, China and Brazil consulted the Government of the Russian Federation while creating the peace plan, but not the Government of Ukraine. The Ukrainian President stated this conveyed a lack of respect for Ukraine. Zelenskyy also expressed his view that the Brazilian government was taking the side of Russia. 

THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims from Russia
On 12 September, RT reported on Russian troops claim on capturing back several settlements in Kursk and the pushback of Ukrainian forces. The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation issued a statement confirming gaining back 10 villages from Ukrainian forces. This includes “Apanasovka, Byakhovo, Vishnevka, Viktorovka, Vnezapnoe, Gordeevka, Krasnooktyabrskoye, Obukhovka, Snagost and Desyatoe Oktyabrya.” It also claimed gains in Sudzha town which is under Ukraine’s hold since the Kursk incursion. It also estimated the loss of 12,500 service members and armoured vehicles of Ukraine since the incursion.

On 12 September, the TASS reported on Russia gaining control over ten settlements in the Kursk Oblast. Russian troops also repelled four attempts by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to break through the border towards the settlements of Novy Put and Medvezhye. The Russian Armed Forces also countered Ukrainian counterattacks towards Fanaseyevka and Snagost and an attempted attack towards Olgovka settlements. It was also informed Ukraine lost over 300 servicemen and 24 armoured vehicles in the past one day. The Press Service of the Investigative Committee of Russia informed criminal cases were initiated against servicemen from the 22nd mechanised brigade, the 80th separate airborne assault brigade, and the 61st separate mechanised brigade. The servicemen are accused of shelling civilians in Kursk. 

On 12 September, the TASS reported on the Russian Armed Forces airstrikes on airfields and energy facilities which provide power supply for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed the strikes, informing missile forces, artillery, unmanned aerial vehicles, and tactical aviation were used by Russia to target facilities providing power supply.  Additionally, Russian air defence systems shot down 59 drones and two HIMARS projectiles in the past day.  The Defence Ministry also informed the Russian military’s Battlegroup North inflicted about 155 casualties on Ukrainian troops, near the settlements of Vysokaya Yaruga, Liptsy, and Volchansk in Kharkov Oblast. According to the Russian Armed Forces, Battlegroup North destroyed a field ammunition depot belonging to the Ukrainian army.  The Russian defence ministry updated on other battlegroups as well; informing Battlegroup West repelled three Ukrainian counterattacks and eliminated 445 Ukrainian servicemen while Battlegroup Dnepr eliminated up to 40 Ukrainian servicemen in the past day. The Russian military informed Battlegroup East succeeded in taking more advantageous positions in its zone.  The military also informed Battlegroup South had improved its position moving forward, and inflicted up to 745 casualties on Ukrainian troops.

On 12 September, the TASS reported on claims of Sergey Lavrov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation that the Russian Armed Forces were attacking only energy facilities linked to the war. According to Lavrov, Russian forces were targeting the infrastructure facilities on which the actions of Ukrainian troops depended, and which were being used to attack Russian territory. The Foreign Minister stated infrastructure facilities directly related to combat operations were a target. Earlier, Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation stated the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of Ukraine had not reached an agreement regarding strikes on energy facilities.

THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 12 September, PolskieRadiopl reported on Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State would undertake a visit to Poland. The IAR News Agency (A public broadcaster Polish Radio) stated Blinken’s meeting with Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister of Poland, and Andrzej  Duda, the President of Poland. Blinken will also meet Radoslaw Sikorski, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland. According to the US Department of State, greater defence and energy cooperation between the Government of Poland and the US Government alongside more aid for Ukraine will be on the agenda, during Blinken’s visit to Poland. The US Secretary’s visit to Poland comes immediately after a joint visit to Ukraine alongside David Lammy, the UK Foreign Secretary.

References
Illia Novikov, Tara Copp and Jamey Keaten, “Ukraine says Russia has started a counteroffensive in its Kursk border region,” ABC News, 12 September 2024
Elena Giordano, “Zelenskyy accuses Brazil of being pro-Russia, slams peace proposal,” Reuters, 12 September 2024
Anastasiia Malenko, Yuliia Dysa and Tom Balmforth, “Russia hammers Ukrainian rail and transport hubs near key fronts,” swissinfo.ch, 12 September 2024
“Russia driving back Ukrainian forces in Kursk Region – MOD,” RT, 12 September 2024
“Ten settlements liberated: developments in Kursk Region,” TASS, 12 September 2024
“Russian army hits airfields, Ukrainian military’s energy facitlities,” TASS, 12 September 2024
“Russia hits only military-linked energy facilities in Ukraine-Lavrov,” TASS, 12 September 2024
“US state secretary visits Warsaw for talks with Polish leaders,” PolskieRadiopl, 12 September 2024