Monday, September 18

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Ukrainian soldiers hold national and unit flags in front of a church in the village of Klishchiivka, Donetsk Oblast, in a photo posted on Sept. 17, 2023, when the village was claimed to have been liberated by Ukrainian forces. (Andriy Yermak/Telegram)

Military: Liberation of Klishchiivka creates foundation for further offensives.

With the liberation of Klishchiivka in Donetsk Oblast, Ukrainian forces have created a bridgehead for further counteroffensive operations in the area, Ukrainian military spokesperson Illia Yevlash said on Sept. 17.

Ukrainians mark anniversary of journalist Georgiy Gongadze’s murder. On Sept. 16, Ukrainians marked the 23d anniversary of the murder of Georgiy Gongadze, prominent investigative journalist and co-founder of online news outlet Ukrainska Pravda.

Explosions reported in Sevastopol, Russian sources report drone attack. Explosions were reported in the port city of Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea on the evening of Sept. 17, local media and Telegram channels reported.

CNN: Zelensky to speak to senators during upcoming visit to US next week.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky plans to speak to the U.S. senators during his visit to Capitol Hill in Washington on Sept. 21, CNN reported on Sept. 17.

Russian shelling damages residential buildings in Kharkiv Oblast. Russian troops shelled the village of Podoly in the Kupiansk district of Kharkiv Oblast around 12:00 p.m. local time, hitting an apartment building, the Prosecutor General’s Office reported on Sept. 17. According to preliminary data, private homes and cars were also damaged.

National Resistance Center: Russia plans to bring North Korean workers to occupied Ukraine. The Kremlin intends to bring North Korean workers to occupied regions of eastern Ukraine, the National Resistance Center reported on Sept. 17.

Explosion reported in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast. A loud explosion has been heard in the occupied city of Tokmak in the southeastern oblast of Zaporizhzhia, exiled Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov reported on Sept. 17.

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UK Defense Ministry: Russia likely reinforcing defenses around Tokmak in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Russian forces have likely bolstered their defenses around the occupied town of Tokmak in the southeastern oblast of Zaporizhzhia, the U.K. Defense Ministry said on Sept. 17.

Eastern Grouping: Russia concentrates over 50,000 troops in Bakhmut area.

Russia has concentrated 52,000 troops in the area near Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Eastern Force Grouping press officer Illia Yevlash said on Ukrainian TV on Sept. 17.

Russian attack hits medical facility in Kherson Oblast. Russian troops shelled a village of Mykilske in Kherson Oblast overnight on Sept. 17, hitting a medical facility, local authorities reported.

Governor: Russian overnight missile attack hits civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv.

Four Russian S-300 missiles hit a civilian enterprise in the city of Kharkiv overnight on Sept. 17, Kharkiv Oblast governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

Air Force: Ukraine downs 12 out of 16 missiles, drones launched by Russia overnight. Ukrainian forces shot down 12 out of 16 missiles and drones that Russia launched primarily in the direction of southern Odesa Oblast overnight on Sept. 17, the Air Force reported.

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Ukraine announces liberation of Klishchiivka in Donetsk Oblast

Ukrainian forces have liberated the village of Klishchiivka in Donetsk Oblast from Russian control, military units and representatives reported on the evening of Sept. 17.

Photo: Andriy Yermak/Telegram

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine liberates Klishchiivka in Donetsk Oblast after months of heavy fighting

Ukraine’s military reported late on Sept. 17 that it had liberated the village of Klishchiivka in Donetsk Oblast, marking the latest success in a more than three-months-long counteroffensive on the Bakhmut axis.

Photo: Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

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

Human cost of war

General Staff: Russia has lost 272,320 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

This number includes 530 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

Governor: 1 killed, 1 injured by Russian mine in Kherson Oblast. The detonation of a Russian mine in a field in southern Kherson Oblast killed a 45-year-old man and injured a 26-year-old man, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on Sept. 17. The two men had reportedly been working in a field near Beryslav when their tractor drove over the mine, setting it off.

Local authorities: Russian shelling wounds policeman in Kherson Oblast. Russian shelling wounded a policeman in the village of Sadove in Kherson Oblast, Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported on Sept. 17. The policeman reportedly received an injury to his back, although his condition is stable.

Russian army shells Sumy Oblast, kills 1 civilian, injures 1. On Sept. 17, the Russian military shelled civilian infrastructure in Ukraine’s Velika Pysarivka community in Sumy Oblast with artillery, the region’s military administration reported on Facebook.

International response

Canada pledges nearly $25 million to bolster Ukraine’s air defense. Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair announced on Sept. 17 that Canada will provide $33 million CAD ($24.4 million) to a U.K.-led partnership delivering much-needed air defense equipment to Ukraine.

US senators: ‘Not sending ATACMS to Ukraine will only prolong war’. U.S. senators Tom Cotton, Roger Wicker, Susan Collins, and Lindsey Graham sent a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden urging him to send Ukraine MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS).

Stoltenberg: ‘We must prepare for a long war in Ukraine.’ NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg does not expect the Russian war in Ukraine to end quickly, he said in an interview with the German Funke media group, published on Sept. 17.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Francis Farrell, Natalia Datskevych, Asami Terajima, Teah Pelechaty, Daria Shulzhenko, Oleg Sukhov, Toma Istomina, and Rachel Amran.

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