Ukraine Daily
Monday, September 19
Russia’s war against Ukraine
A damaged building seen after Russian Forces withdrawal from the Izium city, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine on September 16, 2022. (Photo by Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
UK intelligence: Russia increases strikes on civilian infrastructure as it ‘faces setbacks on the front lines.’ The U.K. Defense Ministry said in its intelligence update on Sept. 18 that Russia has increased its targeting of civilian infrastructure in the last seven days, “even where it probably perceives no immediate military effect.” As it faces setbacks on the front lines, Russia has “likely extended the locations it is prepared to strike in an attempt to directly undermine the morale of the Ukrainian people and the government,” the ministry said.
Southern Command: Russian forces stage shooting in Kherson to accuse Ukraine of urban warfare. Ukraine’s military Southern Operational Command said that the video published online in which Russian troops are shooting on the streets of Russian-occupied Kherson is part of a false flag plot to frame Ukrainian troops and allege that Kyiv is endangering civilians. Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in Kherson Oblast on Aug. 29.
Mayor: Exhumation in liberated Izium to continue for 2 more weeks. Izium Mayor Valerii Marchenko said on Sept. 18 that the exhumation works will continue for nearly two more weeks “because there are many burials” in the recently liberated city in Kharkiv Oblast. Ukraine earlier discovered a burial site with about 450 graves in Izium following the withdrawal of Russian troops from the city.
UK defense chief: Putin fails on all strategic military objectives. “(Russian President Vladimir) Putin is failing on all of his military strategic objectives. He wanted to subjugate Ukraine. That’s not going to happen,” Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, chief of the Defence Staff, told BBC. However, he added that Russia’s war is likely to “grind on for a long time,” despite recent Ukrainian success.
Zelensky’s Chief of Staff says no point in talking to Russia. President’s Office Head Andriy Yermak said the war could only be resolved with sanctions and Ukrainian military advantage. “Evil can only be cured by destruction. We are able to destroy evil.” Yermak said.
Podolyak: ‘There’s no point in Zelensky’s meeting with Putin.’ Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the President’s Office, told Ukrainska Pravda news outlet that Ukraine doesn’t see a point in negotiations between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin because the Kremlin can’t be trusted and will use peace talks to regroup and relaunch an offensive soon after.
Forbes: New Russian 3rd Army Corps lasts only few days in Ukraine. On paper, Russia’s newly-created military unit is a powerful force, with 10,000 troops and hundreds of T-80 and T-90 tanks and other vehicles. Forbes writes that after the 3rd Army Corps rushed to Kharkiv Oblast last week, “the corps just melted away” due to the Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Governor: Ukrainian forces cross Oskil River. According to Luhansk Oblast Governor Serhiy Haidai, the Ukrainian forces have crossed the river. Prior, unconfirmed reports circulated of Ukrainian troops taking the eastern part of Kupiansk.
Governor: Explosion in occupied Svatove kills about 200 Russian troops. Luhansk Oblast Governor Serhiy Haidai reported on Sept. 18 that approximately 200 Russian occupiers were killed as a result of the earlier explosion in Russian-occupied Svatove.
ISW: Russia relies on irregular volunteer forces instead of regular military units. The Institute for the Study of War reports that Ukrainian forces continue consolidating their positions across the Oskil River in Kharkiv Oblast. The ISW also says that Russian forces are likely retreating to more defensible positions in Kherson Oblast to avoid the collapse seen in Kharkiv.
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Survivors of Russian occupation: ‘You say something wrong – you get a sack on your head.’ In the early morning on Sept. 6, Alla Nikulina, an exiled school principal from the village of Verbivka, got a sudden and emotional phone call. “It’s happening,” Nikulina’s colleague was saying with her voice trembling. “Our boys are coming.”
Ukraine war latest: Identification procedures begin at mass burial site in liberated Izium as Russia’s attacks intensify across Ukraine. Some of the bodies exhumed from the mass burial site discovered in liberated Izium have already been identified, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on Sept. 18.
The human cost of Russia’s war
Russia’s attacks kill 5 civilians in Donetsk Oblast on Sept. 17. Two people were killed in Bakhmut, two more in Vuhledar, and one person was killed in Heorhiivka, said Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. According to the official, 18 people were injured in Donetsk Oblast on Sept. 17.
Russian forces shell Nikopol, injuring 3 people. Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Valentyn Reznichenko reported on Sept. 18 that Russian forces attacked Nikopol twice, launching almost 30 shells and injuring three people. As a result of the attacks, dozens of high-rise buildings and private houses, cars, and infrastructure were damaged.
General Staff: Russian units lost half of their troops when retreating from Kharkiv Oblast. According to Ukraine’s General Staff, some units of the Russian lost “more than 50% of their personnel and more than 200 pieces of equipment” when retreating from Kharkiv Oblast. Russia’s 64th separate motorized rifle brigade had 90% of its troops either dead or wounded, or they refused to participate in hostilities, the General Staff said.
Governor: Russian shelling of Kharkiv Oblast kills 4 medics. Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov said that the doctors were trying to evacuate patients from a psychiatric hospital in Strilecha village when Russian forces began “a massive shelling” of the area. Two patients were injured, Syniehubov said. According to the governor, only 30 out of the hospital’s 600 patients were evacuated.
Governor: 2 killed, 3 injured in Russian attack on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. According to Governor Valentyn Reznichenko, Russian forces shelled three municipalities four times. Pokrovsk, Nikopol, and Chervonohryhorivka municipalities were shelled with Grad multiple rocket launchers, causing damage in residential areas.
Prosecutor General’s Office: Russia’s war has killed at least 390 children, injured 757 since Feb. 24. The largest number of casualties was reported in Donetsk Oblast, where 395 children have been killed or injured. Prosecutor General’s Office reported on Sept. 18 that the numbers are expected to be higher since they do not include casualties in the Russian-occupied territories and areas where hostilities are ongoing.
International response
Georgian president condemns Russia’s war crimes in Izium, calls for justice. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Sept. 18 condemned “in the strongest terms the atrocities committed by Russia in Izium.” She reacted to the mass burial site reportedly containing around 440 graves in the liberated town in Kharkiv Oblast. According to Ukraine’s officials, almost all the exhumed bodies showed signs of violent death. “These war crimes must be answered by justice,” said Zourabichvili.
Poland, Baltic states reportedly close borders for Russian tourists on Sept. 19. Kristi Raik, director of the Estonian Foreign Policy Institute, tweeted that Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania would temporarily restrict Russian citizens holding EU visas from entry due to security threats amid Russia’s war against Ukraine. According to Raik, only some categories – family members and holders of EU residence permits – will be able to enter the countries.
Lithuanian FM: Condemnation won’t stop genocide. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis called for tanks to be sent to Ukraine following the discovery of mass graves in Izium, Kharkiv Oblast.
In other news
Infrastructure Ministry: 8 more cargo ships leave ports of Odesa Oblast. Two more vessels are currently waiting to depart, Ukraine’s Infrastructure Ministry said on Sept. 18. A total of 10 ships loaded with over 169,000 tones of agricultural products are expected to leave the ports of Odesa Oblast on Sept. 18, heading to some African, Asian, and European countries, the ministry said.
Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority: Ukraine has exported 3.7 million metric tons of grain under UN-backed deal. A total of 165 vessels carrying Ukrainian grain have left for Asia, Europe, and Africa since Ukraine and Russia signed the UN-backed grain deal on July 22. On Sept. 18, 10 vessels carrying 169,3 metric tons of grain are scheduled to leave Ukrainian ports.
ZN: Detectives search oligarch Kolomoisky’s house. ZN news outlet reported that the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) searched Ihor Kolomoisky’s apartment and confiscated documents and an electronic device. ZN added that the search was part of the Ukranafta case, in which Kolomisky is alleged of seizing the state-owned company’s property and funds worth almost 13 billion UAH. Kolomoisky said he had never heard about the searches. He also denies wrongdoing.
Ukraine’s First Lady visits Westminster Hall, where Queen lying in state. Prior to Elizabeth II’s funeral on Sept. 19, First Lady Olena Zelenska – along with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Ambassador to the U.K. Vadym Prystaiko – paid her respects to the Queen and met with Princess of Wales Kate Middleton in Buckingham Palace. Zelenska will attend the Queen’s funeral, representing Ukraine. Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, died on Sept. 8. She reigned for 70 years.
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