Sunday, September 17

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Soldiers of the 47th Brigade, tank department, of the Ukrainian army are seen with the Leopard 2 at the Tokmak front in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on Sept. 16, 2023. (Photo by Vincenzo Circosta/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Blinken says it’s up to Ukraine how to use US-provided weapons. While Washington “does not encourage nor enable” Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied weapon systems outside of the country, it is “fundamentally” Kyiv’s decision how to use those weapons, U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken said at a press conference.

Minister: First ships agree to enter Ukrainian ports after grain deal disruption. Two bulk carrier civilian ships have agreed to enter the port of Chornomorsk on the Black Sea and load up nearly 20,000 tons of grain for African and Asian countries, Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov reported on his Facebook page on Sept. 16.

Navy speaker: Russia moved three amphibious boats out of Black Sea after shipyard attack. Russian navy moved three amphibious landing boats out of the Black Sea and into the Azov Sea, Ukrainian Navy Speaker Dmytro Pletenchuk mentioned during a question and answer session.

Minister: Ukraine’s drone production to rise 120-140 times in 2023. Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov told Reuters on Sept. 16 that Ukraine’s aerial drone production is expected to increase 120-140 times in 2023, compared with 2022.

Zelensky: Leading international defense contractors to attend fall industry summit in Ukraine. Ukraine is continuing to prepare a forum that will bring together defense industry representatives from around the world, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement. According to him, 86 defense contractors from 21 countries have confirmed that they would be participating in the event, which will take place this fall.

Forbes Ukraine: Russia spent $167 billion on full-scale war. Russia spent $167 billion on the full-scale invasion, with Ukraine destroying around $34 billion worth of Russian equipment as of Aug. 24, Forbes reported, based on data published by the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

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UK Defense Ministry: Russia likely amassing ‘significant stockpile’ of missiles for winter strikes against Ukraine. Russia is likely able to create “a significant stockpile” of air-launched cruise missiles to use against Ukraine’s critical infrastructure this winter, the U.K. Defense Ministry reported on Sept. 16.

Governor: Drone damages oil depot in southwestern Russia. A drone damaged an oil depot in southwestern Russia early on Sept. 17, sparking a fire at a fuel tank that was later extinguished, the regional governor Andrei Klychkov said via his official Telegram channel.

Russia claims 4 drones shot down over Crimea, 1 over Moscow region. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that four drones were intercepted over the Crimean peninsula overnight on Sept. 17. The ministry said via its official Telegram channel that on-duty air defense units shot down the drones over northwestern and eastern parts of Crimea.

ISW: Ukrainian advances in Zaporizhzhia Oblast prompt Russian defensive focus. Russian volunteer battalions “Storm Ossetia” and “Alania” which are operating in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast, shared a photo on Sept. 16, allegedly depicting a small unit from the Russian 83rd Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade stationed in Nesteryanka, some 57 kilometers southeast from Zaporizhzhia and near the current Ukrainian breach.

The Insider: Deported Sputnik Moldova head worked for Russian Intelligence. Russian investigative news outlet The Insider reported that Vitaliy Denisov, the head of Sputnik Moldova, who was recently deported back to Russia, is a Russian intelligence officer specializing in disinformation.

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Who is Penny Pritzker, new US special representative for Ukraine’s economic recovery?

U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Sept. 14 the creation of a new role – U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery. The person to lead the new office is Penny Pritzker.

Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Ukrainian innovators want to bring life-saving robots to the battlefield

Unlike drones, now ubiquitous and indispensable tools of war on both sides, unmanned ground vehicles have yet to become integral parts of combat operations in the war in Ukraine.

Photo: Courtesy

This Week in Ukraine Ep. 25 — Ukraine puts first oligarch behind bars

Human cost of war

Russian forces attack Beryslav in Kherson Oblast, injuring 1. Russian forces carried out an air strike on the city of Beryslav in Kherson Oblast on Sept. 16, injuring a 63-year-old woman, the Prosecutor General’s Office reported.

Russian attacks on Kharkiv Oblast kill 2, injure 7. The Interior Ministry reported that Russian attacks on the city of Kharkiv and the greater region on Sept. 16 have killed at least two people and injured seven others.

International response

US provides Ukraine with 3D printers for battlefield spare parts. U.S. Under Defense Secretary William LaPlante said on Sept. 15. that the U.S. has provided the Ukrainian military with industrial-size 3D printers to print spare parts for battlefield equipment.

Romanian farmer association asks country to ban Ukrainian grain imports after EU restrictions lifted. Romanian farmers asked the government to unilaterally ban Ukrainian grain imports after EU restrictions on overland export were lifted.

Poland bans entry for Russian-registered cars. Poland’s Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski announced on Sept. 16 that Russian registered passenger cars will be banned from entering the country, the Polish Press Agency reported.

Mayor: German firm to supply 100 drones to Ukraine. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram on Sept. 16 that the German company Quantum Systems would provide Kyiv with 100 next-generation tactical drones which will be passed along to the front line.

In other news

Ministry: Over 35,000 pilgrims travel to Uman for Jewish New Year. The Interior Ministry reported on Sept. 16 that over 35,000 Orthodox Jewish pilgrims have traveled to the city of Uman for Rosh Hashanah despite the danger posed by Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.

Court increases bail for oligarch Kolomoisky to $105 million following fresh charges. Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi district court has increased bail for oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky from Hr 509 million ($14 million) to Hr 3.8 billion ($105 million) after he was handed new charges in the PrivatBank case, Suspilne reported on Sept. 15.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Lili Bivings, Dinara Khalilova, Oleg Sukhov, Kate Tsurkan, Oleksiy Sorokin, Igor Kossov, Brad LaFoy, and Olena Goncharova.

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