Sunday, September 24

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A girl with a prosthetic leg talks with a man in wheelchair at the Superhumans Center on September 23, 2023 in Lviv, Ukraine. Superhumans Center is a Ukrainian center for prosthetics, reconstructive surgery, rehabilitation and psychological support for people who have suffered as a result of the war. (Photo by Andrii Nesterenko/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Military: Ukraine has achieved a breakthrough in Verbove. Ukraine’s forces on the southern Zaporizhzhia front have breached Russian lines in Verbove, General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, the commander of Ukraine’s military fighting in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, said in an interview with CNN on Sept. 23.

Zelensky discusses Russia-backed groups with Sudan’s leader during unplanned meeting. President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had an “unplanned meeting” with Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, an army general and de-facto ruler of the African country, on Sept. 23.

Budanov responds to CNN reports about Ukrainian drone strikes in Sudan. In a Sept. 23 conversation with Voice of America, Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov addressed CNN’s report that Ukraine likely participated in drone strikes against a Wagner-backed Sudanese militia.

Shmyhal, Pritzker hold first meeting. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and the first U.S. Special Representative for Economic Recovery in Ukraine Penny Pritzker had their first online meeting on Sept. 23 to discuss energy, demining, housing restoration, critical infrastructure, and the economy.

Lavrov claims Moscow open to negotiations, not ceasefire. Speaking at the U.N. on Sept. 23, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed that Moscow was open to negotiations with Ukraine but not a ceasefire.

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FT: US decided to provide Ukraine with ATACMS ahead of Zelensky’s visit. U.S. President Joe Biden had decided to provide Ukraine with long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) before President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent visit to the U.S., the Financial Times reported on Sept. 23, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Zelensky presents state awards to Polish volunteers. President Volodymyr Zelensky presented state awards to two Polish volunteers during a stop in Lublin, Poland, on Sept. 23 for their efforts in supporting Ukraine’s war effort.

Ex-Wagner group commander arrested in Norway for attempting to illegally cross back into Russia. Andrey Medvedev, the former Wagner Group commander who made headlines in January 2023 for escaping to Norway in a bid to seek asylum, was arrested by Norwegian authorities near Kirkenes after trying to cross back into Russia.

Reintegration Minister urges Ukrainians to leave Crimea until liberation. Reintegration Minister Iryna Vereshchuk urged Ukrainians to leave Russian-occupied Crimea until it is liberated from Russian occupation.

IAEA: Previously reported mines remain at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. The monitoring mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has observed previously reported anti-personnel mines at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Rafael Grossi, the agency’s director general, said in a statement on Sept. 23.

This week in Ukraine Ep. 26 — Is the counteroffensive almost over?

Human cost of war

Russian shelling in Donetsk Oblast kills 1, injures 1. Russian forces shelled Donetsk Oblast on Sept. 23, killing an elderly woman and injuring one man, the Donetsk regional prosecutor’s office reported to Suspilne news.

Russian forces shell Sumy Oblast, killing 1. The Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported on Sept. 23 that Russian forces shelled populated areas along the border of Sumy Oblast 21 times throughout the day, killing one person.

1 killed, 32 injured in Russian Sept. 22 strike on Kremenchuk. The number of injured in the Russian Sept. 22 attack on Kremenchuk has grown to 32, Oleh Liednik, the head of the Kremenchuk District Military Administration, told Suspline media outlet on Sept. 23.

General Staff: Russia has lost 275,460 troops in Ukraine. According to the report, Russia has also lost 4,655 tanks, 8,912 armored fighting vehicles, 8,716 vehicles and fuel tanks, 6,210 artillery systems, 789 multiple launch rocket systems, 530 air defense systems, 315 airplanes, 316 helicopters, 4,867 drones, and 20 warships or boats.

International response

Media: UK has back channel for talks with Russia over global security. U.K. officials have been holding diplomatic talks with key Russian representatives concerning global security during Russia’s war against Ukraine, a British newspaper iNews reported on Sept. 23, citing its diplomatic sources.

Duda: Grain dispute will not disrupt good relations between Poland, Ukraine. The disagreement over grain exports should not upend Polish-Ukrainian relations, Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Sept. 22.

Hungarian official: New sanctions against Russia ‘cause more harm to Europe.’ Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijarto told the Russian state news agency TASS on Sept. 22 that new sanctions against Russia “are not necessary.”

Pope tells countries not to ‘play games’ with Ukraine on military aid. The pope spoke to reporters about his “frustrations” with the war and the arms industry aboard the papal plane while returning to the Vatican from a visit to France.

In other news

Dozens arrested as protests in Yerevan continue. In the aftermath of the capitulation of ethnic Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, a number of protesters were detained in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, on Sept. 22, RF/ERL’s Armenian service reported.

Azerbaijani minister accuses Armenia of provocations in UN speech. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov accused Armenia of revanchism and military provocations in an address to the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 23.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Nate Ostiller, Oleksiy Sorokin, Alexander Khrebet, Toma Istomina, Oleg Sukhov, Teah Pelechaty, Kate Tsurkan, and Abbey Fenbert.

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