Ukraine Latest: Weekly Digest for September 2-8, 2024
VIDEO
September 2/ Interview. Commanders of our victory -- Saliy: Our armed forces have made a huge step away from Soviet-style army
September 3/ Seleznyov: How far exhausted are Ukrainian air defenses?
September 4/ Interview. Dzhelal: I will do everything I can to liberate Crimea from Russian occupation
September 5/ Interview. Dutchak: Russia seeks to annihilate all Azov soldiers
September 6/ Stupak: Not a single day without air raids. How long will missile terror against Ukraine be lasting for?
September 6/ Vyhyrynsky: Germans believe that aid to Ukraine should be provided incrementally
PHOTO
September 2/ Islamic Cultural Center and mosque damaged by barrage of Russian missiles
September 2/ Boiler house at Personnel Management Academy in Kyiv brought to ruin by a Russian missile
September 2/ Russian missile destroyed a building on Beresteysky Prospect avenue in Kyiv
September 2/ Aftermath of Russian missile attack on Kyiv’s Sviatoshyn District
September 2/ Bomb disposal expert Ruslan Panezyorov held a class on resilience at a Lviv school
September 2/ Aftermath of Russian air raid on Dnipro City
September 3/ Russian air strike killed two in Zaporizhzhia City
September 3/ Alley of fallen defenders, Dnipro
September 4/ Russian missile hit an apartment building in Lviv
September 4/ Kharkiv residents bid final farewell to 18-year-old artist Veronika Kozhushko, who was killed in Russian air raid
September 5/ Inauguration of the photo display entitled "Brave Faces" took place at Ukrinform’s office in Kyiv
September 5/ In Kharkiv Oblast, a couple launched soldiers’ treatment by horses therapy
September 6/ Introduction ceremony for “Outside of homeland borders” military project
September 6/ A volunteer waving a camouflage net for soldiers on battlefield, Kyiv
September 6/ In Lviv, mourners bid final farewell to Bazylevych family killed by Russian missile
September 6/ Inauguration of "The Survivor" art project, Kyiv
September 7/ The display of soldier portraits, entitled "Brave Faces", was inaugurated in the Crimean House
September 7/ An image from an awareness tour held as part of the "Kyiv region. Places of remembrance" social project.
FIGHTING
The General Staff has reported 1,272 force-to-force encounters for the week from September 2 through 8, 2024.
President Zelensky: Russia has pulled up around 60,000 troops to the Kursk Region, lost some 6,000 soldiers out there so far.
Armed Forces Chief Commander Syrsky: over the past six days (as of September 5 – ed), the adversary has failed to advance even one single meter toward Pokrovsk; scaled down the intensity of offensive operations on this stretch of the frontline.
Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin: Ukraine continues to seize the initiative on the battlefield.
Kursk Incursion
September 2
In the Kursk region, small Russian units that previously fought in the Donetsk region were spotted. While some Russian forces have been withdrawn from Pokrovks axis, this has not yet affected the tempo of the Russian offensive there.
The Kursk offensive is proceeding to plan, all objectives are being achieved: President Zelensky.
September 3
The Russians pounded the Kursk region with cannon artillery and MLRS rockets, dropped 24 glide bombs;
Zelensky: Ukraine will continue keeping part of the Kursk region under its military control, since it is part of its plan to end the war;
September 4
Zelensky: Ukraine's offensive into Kursk is the biggest supply source of prisoners of war for the exchange pool
September 5
In the Kursk region, several Special Operations units mount complex attacks targeting Russia’s logistics capabilities, having taken out seven pieces of equipment, including five pontoon laying trucks so far;
Stoltenberg: Ukraine has achieved a lot in the Kursk offensive, but what will happen next is hard to predict.
September 6
The Kursk invasion caused a positive effect of supercompensation among the Ukrainians: Pokalchuk, social and military psychologist.
September 7
Zelensky: Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region caused many leaders and analysts to understand true motives of Putin, who seeks to annihilate Ukraine.
The battlefield situation by the days of the week and sectors of the front line
September 2
Pokrovsk Sector: the adversary mounted 29 storming attacks targeting the surroundings of Vozdvyzhenka, Zelene Pole Myrolyubivka, Novohrodivka, Krutyy Yar, Hrodivka, and Mykhailivka villages, launched air strikes on Olexandropil community;
Kurakhove Sector: the invaders staged 16 attacks targeting the neighborhoods of Ukrainsk, Heorhiyivka, and Kostyantynivka.
Vremivske Sector: the Russians mounted 15 attacks on Ukrainian defending positions near Vodyanye, Vuhledar and Prechistivka, dropped glide bombs on Kostyantynivka and Novodarivka;
Lyman Sector: the invadering forces mounted nine assaults targeting the localities of Hrekivka, Druzhelyubivka, Makiivka, and Nevske neighborhoods.
September 3
Kurakhove Sector: the adversary attacked Ukrainian defending positions 37 times;
Pokrovsk Sector: the Russian invaders staged 31 assaults targeting Ukrainian positions defending the approaches to Vozdvyzhenka, Kalynove, Novohrodivka, Hrodivka, Myrolyubivka, Mykhailivka, and Zelene Pole, focused its efforts on taking control over Novohrodivka and Mykhailivka;
Lyman Sector: the adversary continued with its assaults towards Tverdokhlibove, Druzhelyubivka, Novosadove, Hrekivka, Nevske, Torske, and Terny;
Vremivske Sector: the invaders attacked eight times, targeting Ukrainian entrenchments defending the approaches to Vuhledar, Vodyane, and Kostyantynivka.
September 4
Kharkiv/Vovchansk Sector: the invaders continued with their assaults on neighborhoods of high-rise apartment buildings, were conducting aerial reconnaissance. There have been reports of soldiers from Russia’s 7th separate motorized rifle regiment, the 11th army corps, refusing to perform tasks ordered by their leaders;
Pokrovsk Sector: the situation remains challenging. Fierce fighting was going on in the surroundings of Vozdvyzheneka, Zelene Pole, Novohrodivka, Hrodivka, Selydove, Mykolaivka, and Myrolyubivka neighborhoods, with 31 attacks on Ukrainian defending positions reported for that day;
Kurakhove Sector: Ukrainian forces endured 32 assaults on their entrenchments located near Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, and Kostyantynivka settlements;
Kupyansk Sector: the Russians staged 14 attacks targeting Ukrainian defenses in the localities of Synkivka, Hlushkivka, Lozova, Berestove, and Myasozharivka neighborhoods.
September 5
Pokrovsk Sector: the invading forces mounted 27 attacks targeting the approaches to Vozdvyzhenka, Zelene Pole, Myrolyubivka, Novohrodivka, Novotroitske, Hrodivka, and Mykhailivka villages. Ukrainian soldiers were able to keep their defenses and repel the attackers;
Kurakhove Sector: the enemy attacked 23 times targeting Lysivka, Ukrainsk, Halytsynivka, Krasnohorivka, Kostyantynivka, and Heorgiivka neighborhoods;
Lyman Sector saw 13 force-to-force engagements over that day, with fierce fighting taking place in the surroundings of Druzhelyubivka, Cherneshchyna, Nevske, Makiivka, and Novosadove settlements. The Russians twice pounded Shyikivka village with glide bombs;
Kupiansk Sector saw ten combat engagements over the day, with the invaders attacking towards Synkivka, Tabaivka, Hlushkivka, Lozova, and Andriivka communities;
September 6
Kurakhove Sector: the situation remains dire, with Russian forces having staged 32 attacks targeting the approaches to Krasnohorivka, Kostyantynivka, and Heorhiivka neighborhoods;
Pokrovsk Sector: the adversary was pressing on towards Novohrodivka, mounted 27 storming attacks targeting the settlements of Sukha Balka, Oleksandropil, Zelene Pole, Vozdvyzhenka, Novotroitske, Hrodivka, Novohrodivka, and Mykhailivka;
Kupyansk Sector: the Russian invading forces staged 12 attacks aimed to advance towards Synkivka, Hlushkivka, Andriivka, Berestove, and Stelmakhivka villages;
Lyman Sector: the enemy staged nine assaults targeting Ukrainian defense lines near the villages of Novoyehorivka, Druzhelyubivka, Cherneshchyna, Terny, Torske, and Dibrova;
At the southern front, the invading forces intensified their assaults and shelling attacks, having increased the daily amount of ammunition fired on Ukrainian defending positions up to 1,500 rounds.
September 7
Pokrovsk Sector: the enemy staged 28 attacks targeting the surroundings of Vozdvyzhenka, Hrodivka, Zelene Pole, Lysivka, Myrolyubivka, Selydove, Mykhailivka, and Novohrodivka neighborhoods.;
Kurakhove Sector: the invaders mounted 27 assaults on Ukrainian positions defending the approaches to Kostyantynivka, Krasnohorivka, and Heorhiivka villages.
Kharkiv Sector: the adversary forces were storming Ukrainian defending positions in the locality of Vovchansk town.
Lyman Sector saw 18 force-to-force encounters over the day, with the enemy attacking towards Cherneshchyna, Lozova, Nevske, Torske, Makiivka, and Dibrova settlements.
September 8
Pokrovsk Sector: fierce fighting was fought in the surroundings of Zelene Pole, Vozdvyzhenka, Novotroitske, Hrodivka, Novohrodivka, Selydove, and Mykhailivka neighborhoods, with 23 assaults on Ukrainian defending positions reported for that day;
Kurakhove Sector: the enemy mounted 13 offensive attacks attempting to advance towards Krasnohorivka, Dolynivka, Ukrainsk, Heorhiivka, and Kostyantynivka communities;
Toretsk Sector: Russian forces, using air fire support, staged 12 offensive attacks against Ukrainian defending positions.
Kupyansk Sector: the adversary staged 11 offensives against Ukrainian defense lines located near the settlements of Synkivka, Stepova Novosilka, Hlushkivka, Lozova and Stelmakhivka, but never succeeded.
WAR: LOSSES AND AFTERMATH
ENEMY LOSSES
Over the week from September 2 through 8, 2024, Russia’s war toll in personnel and equipment had totaled:
8,960 troops
44 tanks
137 armored combat vehicles
168 artillery guns
5 MLRS launcher vehicles
357 tactical-operational UAVs
29 cruise missiles
337 motor vehicles and fuel tanks
56 pieces of specialist equipment.
The September 1 drone attack on Moscow’s Kapotnya oil refinery brought to a halt the operation of the Euro+ combined processing unit, which accounts for some 50 percent of the refinery’s primary oil processing capacity.
A hacker team affiliated with Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), on September 4, launched a wave of attacks targeting Lukoil, the Traffic Police, and Bank of Russia, along with state and government agencies in Russia. The attack fatally damaged 18 servers by erasing system files, databases and backup copies. The attack also damaged the infrastructure of Antenna LLC, which renders services to a significant number of government agencies and commercial enterprises that provide support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Overnight on September 7, Ukrainian drones targeted and hit an ammunition storage site in the Voronezh region of Russia.
The attack, staged by the SBU, caused a significant explosion and resulting fire at the site, which is located in the village of Soldatskoye, roughly 130 kilometers from the border with Ukraine. While no casualties were reported, a local emergency was declared, forcing authorities to evacuate several hundred residents to safety and to shut traffic on a major road.
Among the destroyed munitions were missiles supplied to Russia by North Korea, as well as Iranian supplied ballistic missiles. North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles, which Russia has been using to strike the Kharkiv, Sumy, and Kyiv regions of Ukraine, were likely stored at the site.
GRAPHICS. Weapons of victory: multipurpose armored personnel carrier BTR-60M, aka Khorunzhiy
UKRAINE: WAR LOSSES AND AFTERMATH
President Zelensky: Russia attacked Ukraine with over 800 glide bombs, nearly 300 Shakhed drones and more than 60 missiles over the week under review.
Russian air strikes damaged 3,798 educational institutions in Ukraine, 365 of them were ruined beyond repairs.
A fire destroyed 1,500 hectares of forest in the Sviaty Hory ("Holy Mountains") national park in the Donetsk region, causing a damage estimated at UAH 16 billion. The fire spread to reach village houses nearby.
More than 38,000 fires in ecosystems and open terrain have been recorded in Ukraine this year so far, up nearly two times year-on-year.
Russian drone, missile, and shelling attacks on the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhya, Kyiv, Lviv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Chernihiv, killed 35 people, among them one minor, and injured 221 others, among them 10 minors.
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Air attacks on Ukraine
September 2
Overnight on September 2, the Air Force shot down nine ballistic missiles, 13 cruise missiles and 20 attack UAVs launched by Russia against Ukraine.
Fragments of downed drones and missiles were spotted in all districts of Kyiv; a boiler house at the Personnel Management Academy was destroyed, and an apartment block and a subway station sustained damage.
The attack inflicted serious damage on premises of the Islamic Cultural Center at a mosque and the office of the humanitarian organizations DanChurchAid and Norwegian Church Aid in Kyiv.
Debris of downed drones and missiles were also discovered on the territory of two children’s day care centers in Kyiv’s Desnyansky and Dniprovsky Districts;
In Kyiv’s Sviatoshyn District, the attack left four vehicles ablaze, a two-level non-residential building in fire, and windows in two schools shattered.
Falling debris damaged a non-residential building in the Shevchenkivsky District, leaving three people injured.
The Russians attacked Ruska Lozova neighborhood, the Kharkiv region, with a glide bomb, and dropped FAB-500 glide bombs armed with an UMPK warhead on the Kyivsky District in Kharkiv City. Garages, vehicles, administrative buildings, a sports complex, a university building, and business premises were damaged in the aftermath of the attacks, with 13 injured casualties reported.
In the Poltava region, failing fragments from a downed Russian drone damaged administrative and manufacturing premises.
A Russian missile shot down over Cherkasy city set fire to dry grass on open terrain.
Poland raised its F-16 fighters into the air in response to Russian air strike on Ukraine.
September 3
Overnight on 3 September, air defense forces downed 27 drones, another six drones launched were defeated with EW countermeasures and lost (presumably crashed) on the territory of Ukraine, one flew across the border into the Belgorod region of Russia, and one more flew into currently Russian-held area in the Donetsk region.
Fires caused by falling debris from downed Russian drones broke out in two Kyiv Oblast districts.
The Russians struck the city of Chernihiv and the nearby town of Semeniv with Shakhed drones, setting ablaze 38 households and outbuildings and leaving two persons injured.
Russia attacked railway infrastructure and rolling stock in the Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions with Shakhed drones; three injured casualties have been reported.
September 4
The air defense force shot down four Kh-101 cruise missiles, three Iskander-K cruise missiles and 22 Shahed-131/136 attack drones out of 42 threats launched; six of the 22 drones launched crashed in Ukraine (presumably defeated with ECM), and another one flew across the border into Belarus.
Russian military launched a missile attack targeting a civilian infrastructure site located in downtown Kryvyi Rih. Over a dozen high-rise buildings sustained blast wave damage, six people were injured, among them a 10-year-old girl.
An overnight missile attack on Lviv City damaged 45 apartment buildings, killed seven people, among them three minors, and injured 66 others, among then ten minors; 25 people have been recovered alive from under the rubble.
Poland raised its F-16 fighters into the air in response to Russian air strike on Ukraine.
September 5
Overnight on September 5, the Russians attacked Ukraine with an Iskander-M ballistic missile and 78 Shakhed UAVs, of which 60 were shot down, two were diverted back to Russia, and another one to Belarus, while 15 others crashed in Ukraine (presumably defeated with ECM);
In Kyiv, during an air raid alert that lasted for longer than 9 hours in a row, all the drones launched were shot down or otherwise neutralized, with no casualties or damage reported.
In the Kyiv region, six private properties, an outbuilding and a vehicle were damaged by falling debris of a downed drone, and a grass floor was set ablaze; no casualties were reported.
The enemy attacked the Nikopol District in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with Shakhed drones, inflicting damage on a poultry farm and an administrative building. A firefighter sustained injuries.
The Belarusian air force raised fighter jets into the air over the Gomel region to shoot down several Russian launched drones that flew across the border into Belarus from the Chernihiv region.
September 6
In an overnight attack, Russia launched 44 Shakhed drones against Ukraine; 27 of the drones launched were shot down, eight crashed on Ukrainian territory (presumably defeated with ECM), and another one was diverted towards an area in the Donetsk region currently under Russian military control;
In Lviv Oblast, falling fragments of a down drone set ablaze four trucks.
September 7
Air defense forces shot down 58 Shakhed drones. Six of the drones launched were re-directed towards Russia, Belarus and the currently Russian-controlled part of the Luhansk region, while three others were defeated with ECM and fell on the territory of Ukraine.
Air defense units shot down all the drones launched by Russia at Kyiv overnight on September 7.
In Kyiv, debris of a downed drone were found outside Parliament building.
In the Kyiv region, seven buildings and a vehicle were damaged in the aftermath of a Russian drone attack in night hours of September 7, with no critical hits or casualties reported.
At least eight drones flew across the border into Belarus during the attack on Ukraine.
September 8
Air defenses shot down 15 suicide drones and one Kh-59 cruise missile launched at Ukraine in an overnight attack.
Civil infrastructure assets and a hotel-restaurant complex in the town of Vylkove, Odesa Oblast were damaged in the aftermath of a Shakhed drone attack. No casualties were reported.
A group of drones launched by the Russian military at targets in the Odesa region violated Romanian airspace.
A Russian launched drone that flew from Belarus crashed in eastern Latvia.
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On September 3, the Russian army struck Poltava with two ballistic missiles, in what was the deadliest single attack on a Ukrainian city or town so far this year. The attack left 57 people dead and 328 others injured when a military communications institute and a nearby hospital were struck.
The buildings hit included 23 private households and 24 apartment buildings.
On September 6, the Russians launched five Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles targeting civilian infrastructure sites in the city of Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, killing one person and injuring 82 others, among them seven minors.
Bohdan Zatula, a correspondent with the news and policy portal Novosti.LIVE, died in the fighting for Ukraine.
WAR: POLITICAL DECISIONS, TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGHS, ARMAMENTS, ALLIED AID
Ukrainian home front
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky:
September 2: slapped sanctions on another 175 Russian individuals and Ukrainian collaborators, as well as companies involved in the maintenance of military airfields in Russia;
Endorsed a legislation to simplify compliance for businesses while conducting economic activities and starting new operations amid martial law;
signed into law a bill amending the Tax Code of Ukraine insofar as it pertains to implementation of the EU law on excise taxes;
September 3:
in a telephone talk with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, urged him to lobby allies to grant Ukraine authority to strike military targets deep inside Russia. Trudeau's office said Russia's attacks "further strengthen global unity and resolve in support of Ukraine at upcoming international engagements." Zelenskiy said that he and Trudeau also discussed a conference on war prisoners that Canada is due to host. Trudeau's office said Canada would host the meeting at the level of foreign ministers;
Chaired a meeting at the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Headquarters to discuss bolstering Ukraine’s air defense capability by adding a Patriot battery to be supplied by Romania. The meeting also highlighted decisions on long-range strike capabilities, domestic production of UAVs, the Kursk offensive, and the situation at the Pokrovsk front;
Met and talked with the IAEA Director General, Raphael Grossi to discuss nuclear security challenges, ensuring continuous situation monitoring not just at NPPs, but also at substations that are critical for their operation.
Dismissed Rostyslav Shurma as deputy head of the Presidential Office.
September 5:
dismissed Valery Shibyk as the head of the military administration for Lysychansk city, the Severodonetsk District, Luhansk Oblast;
issued executive orders to dismiss Mykola Tochytsky and Oleksiy Kuleba as deputies head of the Presidential Office;
granted state awards to 210 defenders of Ukraine, 190 of them posthumously.
September 6:
Had a talk with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss a new package of military aid from France;
awarded medals for bravery and courage to two border guard units from the State Border Service of Ukraine.
September 7:
appointed Viktor Mykyta as deputy head of the Office of the President;
appointed Iryna Vereshchuk as deputy head of the Office of the President;
appointed Oleksandr Kamyshin as a freelance adviser on strategic affairs;
appointed Dmytro Lytvyn as presidential aide on communications.
In an interview with NBC News, President Zelensky highlighted the following:
Ukraine has not yet received the military aid committed by the United States Congress;
“As for the long-range capability. It was this lack of range that made us think. Think every second: what alternative do we have? And this led to an operation in Kursk region. And, by the way, a successful operation”, Zelensky said;
Since the start of the Kursk offensive, Ukrainian army have captured over 600 Russian soldiers;
Putin doesn’t care about Kursk or Donbas, but just wants this war to last as long as possible;
Said he cannot reveal the details of the F-16 fighter crash pending investigation completion;
Said he would share Ukraine’s “Victory Plan” with US President Biden and presidential candidates Harris and Trump by late September. The plan, dependent on US support, will guide Ukraine’s strategy during and after the war.
During his visit to Germany on September 6, President Zelensky:
Attended a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at the U.S. Ramstein Air Base;
met and talked with the Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and thanked him for his leading role in bolstering Ukraine’s air defenses;
discussed with the Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin the content of the new US $250mn security aid package among other defense needs of Ukraine.
thanked the President of the United States of America Joseph Biden, the Congress and the American people for the recently announced new military aid package for Ukraine.
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During his official visit to Italy on September 6-7, President Zelensky:
spoke at 50th Ambrosetti International Forum in Cernobbio;
on the sidelines of the Forum, met with representatives of Italian business – more than 30 leading companies from various branches of the economy. Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Italian entrepreneurs for developing their projects in Ukraine amid war. He also commended the companies that provide Ukrainian partners with energy equipment, including in the form of humanitarian aid;
met with a bipartisan and bicameral delegation of the U.S. Congress. The Head of State briefed them in detail about the situation on the frontline, the progression of the Kursk offensive, as well as the aftermath of Russia’s missile terror against Ukrainians and critical infrastructure. The meeting discussed the urgent needs of Ukraine's defenders on the battlefield. The key priorities include obtaining additional air defense systems and missiles for them, as well as expanding training missions for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy once again emphasized that Ukraine needs permission to use long-range weapons provided by partners against military targets deep inside Russia;
Met with the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to discuss the transfer of SAMP/T air defense batteries to Ukraine, the restoration of the energy system in Ukraine as well as the implementation of the Peace Formula.
met with the Chairman of the Dutch Freedom Party Geert Wilders and invited him to visit Ukraine.
Visits to Ukraine
Visit by the Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof to Zaporizhzhia on September 2:
Dick Schoof and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky:
Attended a thematic class and talked with students of one of the city’s universities;
Met with veterans of the Russo-Ukrainian war, including warriors from the Armed Forces, Territorial Defense, and the National Guard, those who have fought at different fronts, defending Ukraine both since 2014 and 2022.
Spoke at a joint press conference where the Netherlands announced a new security aid package for Ukraine worth in excess of €200 million.
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Visit by the Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris to Kyiv on September 4:
President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Prime Minister of Ireland Simon Harris signed the Agreement on support for Ukraine and bilateral cooperation. Under this agreement, Ireland has committed to provide EUR 128mn worth of non-lethal military assistance and at least EUR 40mn worth of humanitarian aid to Ukraine;
Volodymyr Zelensky and Simon Harris held a joint press conference at the end of their talks.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense Michael Martin announced a new aid package for Ukraine and its neighboring countries, worth EUR 36 million.
Mr. Harris visited the Center for the Protection of Children's Rights in Kyiv, where he met and talked with John Marks, UNICEF Ukraine Deputy Representative for Operations and Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Ombudsman to discuss the situation with protection of Ukrainian children’s rights and the implementation of Clause 4 in Ukraine’s Peace Formula.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris discussed the strengthening of Ukrainian air defenses to protect people and peaceful cities, as well as granting Ukraine a permission to use Western supplied weapons against military targets deep inside Russia.
On 6 September, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Acting U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery, Richard Verma in Kyiv.
Denys Shmyhal told about Russia's missile attacks against energy infrastructure and the Ukrainian Government's projects to protect and restore the energy sector.
The meeting was also attended by representatives of leading American private companies who confirmed their readiness for long-term investments in Ukraine. Mr. Shmyhal thanked the President of the United States, the Congress and the American people for the significant support for our country.
***
Piotr Lukasiewicz has begun his tenure as Poland’s Ambassador to Ukraine.
***
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine:
September 3: adopted as a whole Bill No. 11507 that authorizes elements of the newly-organized Unmanned Systems Forces to be included into particular branches of the Armed Forces.
September 4: passed a law that simplifies procedures for the transfer of particularly valuable land and forest plots to the armed forces for placement and permanent operation of military bases;
dismissed Olha Stefanishyna as Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration;
dismissed Oleksandr Kamyshin as Minister for Strategic Industries;
dismissed Ruslan Strilets as Minister for Environmental Protection and Natural Resources;
dismissed Denys Malyusyka as Minister of Justice;
ratified Ukraine’s accession to the Agreement Establishing the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD Agreement);
September 5: dismissed Dmytro Kuleba as Minister of Foreign Affairs;
dismissed Iryna Vereshchuk as Deputy Prime Minister - Minister for Reintegration of the Currently Occupied Territories;
dismissed Vitalii Koval as head of the State Property Fund;
appointed Andrii Sybiha as Minister for Foreign Affairs;
appointed Olha Stefanishyna as Minister of Justice - Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration;
appointed Oleksii Kuleba as Minister of Community and Territorial Development -- Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction;
appointed Mykola Tochytsky as Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications;
appointed Natalia Kalmykova as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs;
appointed Herman Smetanin as Minister for Strategic Industries;
appointed Vitaly Koval as Minister for Agrarian Policy;
appointed ex-commander of the Logistics Forces Oleh Hulyak as the interim CEO at Ukroboronprom.
Cabinet of Ministers:
September 2: increased from 80% to 100% the amount of compensation to agricultural producers for the costs incurred in humanitarian demining of agricultural lands;
September 3: empowered state-owned enterprises to use charitable donations deposited on NBU’s accounts to pay for demining works, in which Ukroboronprom will be involved;
September 4: changed procedures for using the funds raised via the United24 platform for humanitarian demining operations;
September 6: appointed Anatoly Stelmakh, Deputy Minister for Reintegration of Currently Occupied Territories as interim Minister for Reintegration.
Earmarked UAH 224.6 million for solders’ treatment in Feofania hospital;
Endorsed a resolution to fit out educational institutions with equipment for classes on actions to take in emergency situations;
simplified paperwork for businesses involved in the manufacture of explosives and detonators.
September 8: simplified procedures for compensating military personnel for subletting housing.
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The Defense Ministry has authorized the indigenous FOXTAC unmanned logistics and evacuation transporter for use by the Armed Forces.
The Ministry of Defense commissioned the first underground stabilization point for the Armed Forces, with a capacity to support over one hundred wounded soldiers simultaneously.
The Defense Procurement Agency at the Ministry of Defense awarded the first contract to purchase UAH 47mn worth of ammunition with funds raised through the United24 fundraising platform.
As part of the Armed Forces’ digital transformation effort, the Center for Scaling Technology Solutions developed an information and communication system, named Impulse, which is intended to automate all the procedures related to the internal service.
On 3 September, 2024, Ukraine announced that it successfully concluded the restructuring of approximately US$20.5 billion of Ukraine's international bonds and the sovereign-guaranteed debt obligations of the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure (Ukravtodor), exactly three months from the date Ukraine first entered into restricted negotiations with the representative bondholder committee. The comprehensive debt restructuring follows Ukraine's successful two-year debt payment deferral effected in 2022.
Over August, Ukraine's international reserves grew by 13.7 percent to reach USD 42.3 billion as of September 1.
Since the beginning of the 2024/2025 marketing year, Ukraine has exported 7.201 million tons of cereals and leguminous crops as of September 4;
The National Bank of Ukraine plans to change the name of exchange coins from "kopiyka" to "shag (step)”. The name “kopiyka” is considered a symbol of the Moscow Occupation and has an imperial origin.
On September 2, 2024, the National Cashback program officially became operational, allowing citizens to get 10 percent refund on purchases of locally made items and products. More than 600 manufacturers joined in the program with 63,000 products.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has endured more than 600 cyberattacks, making 20 percent of all such attacks staged across the world.
Ukrainian prosecutors have sent the case against Nestor Shufrych, a former MP from the banned Opposition Platform – For Life party, and his ex-aide to court, according to a statement by the Office of the Prosecutor General on Telegram on September 3.
Shufrych and his former assistant are accused of financing actions aimed at the violent overthrow of the government, the overthrow of the constitutional order, the seizure of state power, and the change of the state borders of Ukraine (Part 3 of Article 110-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Additionally, Shufrych is charged with treason (Part 1 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
ALLIES AND PARTNERS
At the US Ramstein Air Base in eastern Germany, members of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (aka Ramstein Group) came together for their 24th meeting on September 6.
The key results are as follows:
The United States announced a new $250 million military aid package for Ukraine, containing critical weapons and equipment, M2 Bradley fighting vehicles and HIMARS missiles. However, the USA is still reluctant to give permission for Ukraine to use long-range ATACMS missiles it transferred to Ukraine against military targets in Russia.
Canada will provide a large shipment of engines for unguided aircraft missiles, plus 1,300 warheads, which will significantly enhance our air defense capabilities.
The new aid package additionaly contains thousands of machine guns and pistols, military equipment and fifty ambulances to help meet our medical evacuation needs on the battlefield.
In addition, Canada has taken on an important role in training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s under the FLIT programme. The government will allocate $389 million in funding for a 5-year training program for Ukrainian pilots and technicians.
Germany announced the transfer of self-propelled guns worth €150 million and air defense equipment, but said it retains its policy to ban Ukraine from using the weapons it provided for strikes on military targets inside Russia.
The UK committed to transfer 650 Light Multipurpose Missiles (LMM) worth £162 million, which will significantly strengthen our air defence capabilities.
The Netherlands will provide €80 million worth of air-to-air missiles and maintenance materials for F-16 fighters.
Sweden has joined in the mine action coalition by signing a Memorandum of Understanding and committing €5 million to the Coalition Fund to support mine action efforts.
Spain will send a battery of the HAWK surface-to-air missile system, which includes 6 launcher vehicles. Moreover, Spain announced joining in the IT coalition and the maritime coalition for Ukraine.
Another key outcome of the meeting with the allies was the signing of the Maritime Capabilities Coalition (MCC) Regulations, which will mean long-term support for Ukraine in ensuring security in the Black Sea.
The Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe adopted a declaration on creating a Special Tribunal to try the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and several other countries have signed the world's first legally binding treaty aimed at regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI). "The Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law" was developed by the Council of Europe and opened for signatures on September 5, 2024. The primary goal of the treaty is to ensure that AI systems are designed, developed, deployed, and decommissioned in ways that respect human rights, support democratic institutions, and uphold the rule of law. The Council of Europe has opened for signature the world's first convention on artificial intelligence.
PARTNERS’ AID TO UKRAINE
Lithuania provides EUR 10mn to support Ukraine’s procurements of its new Palyanytsia missiles;
The Netherlands provides Ukraine with a new aid package worth more than €200 million;
The Romanian Parliament endorsed the transfer of a battery of the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine;
Norway provides $53 million to procure UAVs and air defense capabilities for Ukraine;
Germany has committed to transfer 17 IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine by 2026, with two set for delivery by 2025.
France will provide EUR 300mn worth of military aid to Ukraine, using windfall proceeds from immobilized Russian central bank assets.
Canada will transfer one battery of the NASAMS system to Ukraine in early 2025.
The European Union earmarked €35 million to help Ukraine get prepared for the upcoming cold season.
Ukrainian air force pilots arrived in Canada for F-16 training.
Sanctions against Russia
The US government slapped sanctions on Russia’s state media outlet Russia Today (RT) and its editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan, along with other Russian propagandists and hacker teams for allegedly interfering in the 2024 presidential election.
Mrs Simonyan has been described as the most ardent advocate of Putin, almost more Putinist than Putin himself.
The US introduced new sanctions to limit gas exports from Russia.
South Korea expanded sanctions against Russia and Belarus for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, having added 243 high-tech products to the blacklist of items prohibited for export to the aggressor country and its accomplices.
The United Kingdom and the United States have agreed to impose sanctions against the head of Rosatom, Aleksei Likhachev.
PUBLICATIONS AND INTERVIEWS
September 3/ Maria Prymachenko's grandson, alias Marcel, protects the skies over Kyiv and the surrounding
September 3/ Armor for the Pokrovsk Front: National Guardsmen showed off performance of Ukraine’s new armored personnel carrier Roshel
September 4/ The war has entered a new phase: Ukraine and Russia are exchanging with heavy strikes
September 5/ "Caesar" and "Zaporizhians": incendiary tandem
September 6/ Ramstein-24: air defense capabilities, howitzers, missiles, and not only…
September 6/ Kursk offensive has forced Moscow to change its SVO objectives
September 6/ Russian propaganda overestimates Ukrainian losses after missile attack on Poltava, shares fakes about "NATO instructors" killed in the attack;
September 6/ Russian propaganda shares a fake video showing purported "massive use of Nazi symbols" by Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk
Compiled by Zhanna Teleganova, Kyiv
