We Are Preparing Content for Detailed and Substantive Negotiations with Our Partners: This Concerns Both the Donetsk Region and Other Areas – Address by the President

19 September 2024 – 19:58

Dear Ukrainians!

Rescue operations are currently underway in Sumy following a strike by a Russian bomb. It hit a nursing home for the elderly. According to current information, there were nearly 300 people in the building – over 200 patients and 60 staff members. The evacuation of people is ongoing, and it is being checked whether anyone remains trapped under the rubble. There are reports of casualties, at least one person has died. My condolences. Russia could not have been unaware that this nursing home for the elderly is not a military base, not a military target. In just this one day alone – so far – Russian forces have already used nearly 90 guided aerial bombs targeting our cities and Ukrainian positions. We will definitely respond to the Russian army for this terror. In a tangible manner.

Today, there was a lot of work with the military and special services. Reports from Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi, the Foreign Intelligence Service, meetings with the Minister of Defense of Ukraine and the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine. We are preparing content for detailed and substantive negotiations with our partners. This concerns both the Donetsk region and other areas. The Ukrainian Defense Forces have now managed to reduce the assault capabilities of the occupiers in the Donetsk region. The situation remains extremely challenging, with heavy fighting daily in the Kurakhove and Pokrovsk directions. But we are doing everything possible for the resilience of our combat brigades. A separate issue was the operation in the Kursk region. We have already managed to divert around forty thousand Russian troops to this area. Our active operations continue. The “exchange fund” is also being replenished for us, for Ukraine.  All these are important factors influencing the overall situation in the war. I thank all our combat brigades, every soldier, sergeant, every commander, for their bravery.

And one more thing.

We are preparing for important negotiations with our European partners – with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Right now, ahead of the winter season and during this particularly significant autumn, we have many issues that critically affect Ukraine and the lives of our people. Of course, energy is an urgent priority. The front remains a constant priority, including the supply and joint production of weapons. Political cooperation – we have already started negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, and the negotiation process must be as active as necessary to genuinely strengthen the entire European system. There can be no doubt about the strength of the European project. Additionally, the issue of Russian assets is on the agenda. These assets should be used to protect lives in Ukraine against Russian aggression. There is a clear decision regarding €50 billion for Ukraine from Russian assets, and a mechanism for its implementation is needed to ensure that this support for Ukraine is felt in the near future.

I thank everyone who helps Ukraine! I thank all our people!

Glory to Ukraine!

Germany delivered another substantial military aid package to Ukraine.
The package includes:
◾️22 Leopard 1A5 tanks
◾️22 MRAPs
◾️5 BV206 tracked all-terrain vehicles
◾️1 Warthog All Terrain Tracked Carrier
◾️3 Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns
◾️2 TRML-4D air surveillance… pic.twitter.com/Awk5YjQQuu

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 19, 2024

Germany delivered another substantial military aid package to Ukraine.
The package includes:
◾️22 Leopard 1A5 tanks
◾️22 MRAPs
◾️5 BV206 tracked all-terrain vehicles
◾️1 Warthog All Terrain Tracked Carrier
◾️3 Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns
◾️2 TRML-4D air surveillance radars
◾️61,000 rounds 155mm ammunition
◾️30 Vector reconnaissance drones
◾️20 RQ-35 Heidrun reconnaissance drones
◾️20 unmanned surface vessels
◾️12 Songbird reconnaissance drones
◾️6 Hornet XR
◾️3 Beaver bridge-laying tanks
◾️1 Dachs armored engineer vehicle
◾️6 Wisent 1 mine clearing tanks
◾️16 ground surveillance radars
◾️2 AMPS self-protection systems for helicopters
◾️2 border protection vehicles
◾️material for explosive ordnance disposal
◾️112 vehicles (trucks, minibuses, all-terrain vehicles)
◾️8 Zetros tankers
◾️10 MG3 machine guns with 500 spare barrels and breechblocks
◾️1 million rounds of ammunition for fire arms

Thank you for your unwavering support!
🇺🇦🤝🇩🇪
#StandWithUkraine
@BMVg_Bundeswehr

India:

“Artillery shells sold by Indian arms makers have been diverted by European customers to Ukraine and New Delhi has not intervened to stop the trade despite protests from Moscow.” https://t.co/D88enMtZqD

— Michael Weiss (@michaeldweiss) September 19, 2024

Reuters has the details:

NEW DELHI, Sept 19 (Reuters) – Artillery shells sold by Indian arms makers have been diverted by European customers to Ukraine and New Delhi has not intervened to stop the trade despite protests from Moscow, according to 11 Indian and European government and defence industry officials, as well as a Reuters analysis of commercially available customs data.

The transfer of munitions to support Ukraine’s defence against Russia has occurred for more than a year, according to the sources and the customs data. Indian arms export regulations limit the use of weaponry to the declared purchaser, who risks future sales being terminated if unauthorised transfers occur.

The Kremlin has raised the issue on at least two occasions, including during a July meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Indian counterpart, three Indian officials said.

Details of the ammunition transfers are reported by Reuters for the first time.

Following the publication of this report, India’s foreign ministry described it as “speculative and misleading”.

“It implies violations by India where none exist and, hence, is inaccurate and mischievous,” ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday.

“India has been carrying out its defence exports taking into account its international obligations on non-proliferation and based on robust legal and regulatory framework, which includes a holistic assessment of relevant criteria, including end user obligations and certifications,” Jaiswal added.

The foreign and defence ministries of Russia and the defence ministry of India did not respond to questions. In January, Jaiswal told a news conference that India had not sent or sold artillery shells to Ukraine.

Two Indian government and two defence industry sources told Reuters that Delhi produced only a very small amount of the ammunition being used by Ukraine, with one official estimating that it was under 1% of the total arms imported by Kyiv since the war. The news agency couldn’t determine if the munitions were resold or donated to Kyiv by the European customers.

Among the European countries sending Indian munitions to Ukraine are Italy and the Czech Republic, which is leading an initiative to supply Kyiv with artillery shells from outside the European Union, according to a Spanish and a senior Indian official, as well as a former top executive at Yantra India, a state-owned company whose munitions are being used by Ukraine.

The Indian official said that Delhi was monitoring the situation. But, along with a defence industry executive with direct knowledge of the transfers, he said India had not taken any action to throttle the supply to Europe. Like most of the 20 people interviewed by Reuters, they spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

The Ukrainian, Italian, Spanish and Czech defence ministries did not respond to requests for comment.

Delhi and Washington, Ukraine’s main security backer, have recently strengthened defence and diplomatic cooperation against the backdrop of a rising China, which both regard as their main rival.

India also has warm ties with Russia, its primary arms supplier for decades, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has refused to join the Western-led sanctions regime against Moscow.

But Delhi, long the world’s largest weapons importer, also sees the lengthy war in Europe as an opportunity to develop its nascent arms export sector, according to six Indian sources familiar with official thinking.

Ukraine, which is battling to contain a Russian offensive toward the eastern logistics hub of Pokrovsk, has a dire shortage of artillery ammunition.

The White House declined to comment and the U.S. State Department referred questions on Delhi’s arms exports to the Indian government.

India exported just over $3 billion of arms between 2018 and 2023, according to data compiled by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute think-tank

More at the link.

Romania:

⚡️ Romania has called on Ukraine to intercept and shoot down Russian drones that enter its airspace.https://t.co/3oZUxP9J5e

— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) September 19, 2024

Let’s make this really clear: NATO and NATO member states will not shoot down Russian missiles or drones aimed at Ukrainian targets over Ukraine, but a NATO member state is now asking Ukraine to shoot down Russian drones aimed at Romania over Romania.

The EU:

⚡EU allocates over $100 million from Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine in winter.https://t.co/9k86EYEOKf

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) September 19, 2024

From The Kyiv Independent:

The EU will support Ukraine with 160 million euros ($178 million) ahead of winter to improve the country’s resilience to Russian strikes on energy infrastructure, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Sept. 19.

Close to 100 million euros ($111 million) of the funding comes from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets in the EU, von der Leyen said.

“Russia must pay for the destruction it caused,” von der Leyen said.

Russia launched nine coordinated attacks against Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure between March and the end of August, striking facilities in 20 oblasts and destroying around 9 gigawatts of electricity generation capacity.

Around 60 million euros ($67 million) of the EU aid will go toward humanitarian aid such as shelters and heaters. 100 million euros ($111 million) will be spent on repairing energy infrastructure and developing renewable energy.

EU ambassadors agreed on May 8 to use the windfall profits from the frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction and defense needs. Kyiv is expected to receive roughly 3 billion euros ($3.2 billion) every year, according to earlier discussions.

Australia:

The Australian government would rather auction off military equipment than offer it to #Ukraine. A story of parsimony & mean spiritedness towards a country in need by ⁦@RichardMarlesMP⁩ ⁦@AlboMP⁩ and ⁦@SenatorWong⁩. Shameful. https://t.co/p6wGIWxTBX

— Mick Ryan, AM (@WarintheFuture) September 18, 2024

The Sydney Morning Herald has the details:

“Our community is in touch with frontline troops every day, who tell us these ex-ADF platforms are exactly what they need,” Argyrou said.

“Ukrainian soldiers are outnumbered, exhausted and working with whatever they are given, so it’s upsetting this equipment hasn’t been considered for Ukraine … The government says its policy goal is to empower Ukraine to win on its own terms, but Defence has simply carried on with business as usual by auctioning equipment off to the highest bidder.”

Retired army major-general Mick Ryan said it was “ludicrous and frankly mean-spirited” that ex-military equipment was being sold to motoring enthusiasts rather than offered to Ukraine.

Former army chief Peter Leahy, however, questioned how useful many of the older vehicles up for auction would be to Ukraine because they lacked sufficient armour.

A report released by the Senate’s foreign affairs and defence committee this week called for the government to adopt “a default position that Defence materiel being retired or otherwise disposed of will be gifted to Ukraine unless there is a compelling case against this for an individual asset”.

Liberal senator Claire Chandler, who chaired the inquiry, said: “Ultimately, if the Ukrainians believe retiring equipment can be used effectively by their forces, we should be providing it to them rather than disposing of it.”

The committee also called for the Australian embassy in Kyiv to be reopened and the appointment of a co-ordinator-general to oversee Australia’s support to Ukraine across all agencies.

A Defence spokeswoman said: “Gifting to Ukraine is a prominent consideration in the disposal of surplus Defence assets and equipment. Australia is working closely with the government of Ukraine to ensure we are providing practical assistance that is making a difference.”

Ukraine is trying to hold back a Russian counter-offensive in the Kursk region, after Ukrainian troops made a surprise incursion into Russian territory last month.

Argyrou, of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, said she was baffled the government had not agreed to offer any discontinued Chinese-made surveillance drones to Ukraine despite the technology playing a pivotal role in the conflict.

A single DJI drone the Ukrainian-Australian community bought and sent to the front had saved an entire unit by alerting Ukrainian soldiers that they were about to be attacked by a nearby Russian unit, she said.

Defence last year said it had grounded its fleet of about 450 DJI drone devices after concerns were raised about the company’s links to the Chinese military and state surveillance, a move quickly followed by other government agencies.

In its submission to the Senate inquiry, the federation said: “Software and hardware patches for these drones have been developed in Ukraine which makes them safe to use and the [federation] reached out to the Australian government with a request to consider transferring the DJI drones to Ukraine where they would save lives.

“Despite our repeated pleas to send these drones to Ukraine, it was decided to dispose of them instead.”

Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, said: “If the government was willing to provide these drones to Ukraine, we would be happy to receive them.”

Australia, not advancing fair!

Kharkiv:

It’s almost 5 in the morning, Kharkiv just woke up with an explosion our genocidal neighbors caused. 😑

— Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) September 19, 2024

Mayor of Kharkiv reports that the city likely just got struck by 3 glide bombs.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) September 19, 2024

Kherson:

🤯Russians dropped a grenade from a drone on civilians who were repairing the roof of their house in #Kherson after previous Russian shelling.#RussiaIsATerroristState #RussiaUkraineWar pic.twitter.com/wfCVBfwCzI

— Denys from Kharkiv (@GlushkoDenys) September 19, 2024

Pokrovsk:

👁 Infantry war at Pokrovsk: why Ukraine’s key eastern front started (and continues) to crumblehttps://t.co/ydX55lp1ro

— Ukrainska Pravda in English (@pravda_eng) September 18, 2024

Ukrainska Pravda has the details:

This is a long article, so I’ll keep the introduction brief.

This is the story of how within six months, the Russian army has advanced 30 km from Avdiivka towards one of the largest and most strategic cities in Donetsk Oblast, one that until recently was far removed from the war: Pokrovsk.

We’ll ask whether this advance could have been prevented and what role Ukraine’s Kursk offensive has played.

The names and positions of most of the sources cited in this article have been omitted at their request. Only a handful are rank-and-file soldiers; the majority are officers, battalion commanders, and deputy commanders.

The Pokrovsk front: a timeline

The Pokrovsk front didn’t just crumble overnight. Since 15 February 2024, when they withdrew from Avdiivka, Ukraine’s defence forces have been retreating towards Pokrovsk – sometimes faster, sometimes slower – almost every week.

The first difficulties arose when the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, which had been holding the line in the vicinity of Orlivka and Semenivka (not far from Avdiivka), was replaced by the 68th Separate Jaeger Brigade. The rotation of military units is one of the most vulnerable defence areas in general, and for the Ukrainian army in particular, and the Russians took advantage of that.

Vitalii, a crew member who operates a large attack drone, tells Ukrainska Pravda that he was deployed in the area in March, and that the Russian attacks started even before the 68th Brigade could take up its positions.

“We met guys from the 68th who had only just taken up their positions and were forced to retreat immediately because of the FPV drone attacks. When a brigade leaves, they take all the electronic warfare equipment with them. This is typical on this front: they [the Russians] advance the most during rotations. The occupiers take advantage of those times.”

“The night we replaced the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade in Semenivka, the enemy attempted to carry out an assault operation. The meat-grinder attacks haven’t stopped since then,” an Ukrainska Pravda source in the 68th Brigade confirms.

Throughout March and some of April, Russian forces gradually advanced west towards Umanske, Yasnoborodivka and Netailove. Then, in mid-April, they chose a route that was particularly advantageous for them: north from Avdiivka along the railway line. This tactic helped them to capture Ocheretyne, Prohres, Zhelanne, Novohrodivka…

There are densely planted trees and shrubs all along the railway line, making it easier for the Russians to amass larger units there prior to launching assaults. The foliage made it more difficult for Ukrainian forces to detect these build-ups of Russian troops and deploy artillery or drones to neutralise them. Given that the Russians mostly deployed infantry in the area, it was the most effective tactic they could have chosen.

“In order to stop the Russians as they advanced along the railway line, we should have set up barricades and rigged those areas with explosives. We should have cut down the dense woods to create clear lines of sight. We didn’t start doing that until around Zhelanne! But by then it was no use, because the front was crumbling too fast. We had the time and the opportunity to do it, but someone decided to ignore the situation. The top brass were getting reports that we were doing great,” a source in the 47th Separate Mechanised Brigade familiar with the situation tells Ukrainska Pravda.

Another major turning point that marked the undoing of the Pokrovsk front was the Russians’ sudden breakthrough in Ocheretyne, a relatively large, urbanised town on the railway with industrial facilities, and therefore a particularly useful defence position. Russian occupation forces entered the town in mid-April.

Ukrainska Pravda has previously outlined two possible reasons for the Russians’ rapid advance: either the abrupt withdrawal of Ukraine’s 115th Separate Mechanised Brigade from Ocheretyne, or the unsuccessful rotation when the 100th Separate Mechanised Brigade replaced the 115th.

While working on this article, we received further evidence – from an officer in a brigade stationed nearby at the time – to suggest that it was the first of these reasons that facilitated the Russians’ advance.

“Before the offensive, I received intelligence that the Russians were going to assault Ocheretyne, where we had no troops at the positions,” the officer says. “I passed this information on to my commanders straight away, but the commander of the brigade stationed there [the 115th Separate Mechanised Brigade – ed.] responded: ‘We have forces there, they’re all there.’

Next morning the Russians started to walk into [Ocheretyne], moving through what were officially minefields – but in fact there were no mines there. After we surrendered Novobakhmutivka, Ocheretyne and Soloviovo, the front started to collapse at the rate we’re seeing now.”

“When the Russians captured Ocheretyne, there was no stable contact line as such,” Vitalii the drone crew member adds. “No one knew where the front was. Soldiers in the villages of Sokil, Yevhenivka and Voskhod were walking around with guns in their hands, asking each other for passwords to figure out if they were dealing with one of us or the enemy.”

The village of Prohres, which is also located on the railway line, was the third and final settlement that contributed to the domino effect on the Pokrovsk front. In late July, Ukrainian forces in Pokrovsk ended up in an encirclement, news of which was leaked to the public.

Around 50 soldiers from the 31st Separate Mechanised Brigade ended up squeezed in between Prohres and Lozuvatske, two villages on the railway line. The Russians broke through the first line of defence, manned by the 31st Brigade, and then the second, which due to personnel shortages was held by the then newly formed and inexperienced 151st Separate Mechanised Brigade. The Russians were thus able to approach the Ukrainian forces from behind.

At the time, DeepState analysts said that Colonel Andrii Usanov, the commander of the 31st Separate Mechanised Brigade, had not issued an order to withdraw, so his soldiers decided to break out of the encirclement on their own. However, one of the battalion commanders from the 31st Brigade told Ukrainska Pravda that this was not the case. He said Usanov had personally approved an exit plan devised by the commanders of the 1st and 3rd Battalions and provided them with artillery cover.

The battalion commanders’ rescue plan was brilliant. All 46 soldiers, including several who were wounded, were able to get out of the encirclement overnight by crossing a field. This is one of the few examples of a truly well-planned operation on the Pokrovsk front.

Yet Usanov was removed from his post, despite an appeal his soldiers recorded in his support (their video has since been deleted from the brigade’s website) – apparently for his “failure on the Pokrovsk [front]”. The brigade was transferred to another front.

There’s a ton more at the link. Including pictures and maps.

For your anti-aircraft twin barreled autocannon enthusiasts:

Interception of the Shahed kamikaze drone by Zu-23-2 anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon.https://t.co/RwWPAApI7s pic.twitter.com/iqiLEnH5VN

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 19, 2024

The Kursk cross border offensive.

A week ago, Russian 🇷🇺 armed forces launched a large counter-offensive to take back the territory they lost in #Kursk oblast.

At the same time, Ukrainian 🇺🇦 armed forces tried to trap these russian forces, launching their own offensive.

🧵THREAD🧵1/13 ⬇️

This week has seen many fightings in the western part of ukrainian presence of Kursk oblast. Russian offensive had initial successes, and broke through the defenses of the 103rd territorial defense brigade south of Korenevo, taking some prisonners. 

Two main units were engaged in the counter-offensive : VDV of the 51st Airborne Regiment and Marines of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade.

In two days, they took back Snagost and small villages near the Seym river. Ukrainian 501st Marine batallion of 36th Marine had to withdraw.

The days after, VDV launched new attacks toward Liubimovka, while 155th Marines managed to enter Gordeevka, Veznapnoe, Apanasovka and Obukhovka.

Here is a video of the assault on Liubimovka and a BMD of the VDV getting hit by a FPV drone.

Ukrainian command was unable to keep its positions, which were in fact strategic. The Glushkovo district (on the west) was nearly encircled (only pontoon bridges on the Seym river were allowing supply).

Russian army amassed thousands of men there to avoid losing it. 

Ukrainian command decided to mobilize 21st mecanized brigade, 225th Assault Batallion and 95th Air Assault brigade to launch an attack directly on Glushkovo.

Here is a good thread by @Danspiun including all the geolocated footages of this area.

Here is a map of the Ukrainian assault on Veseloe south of Glushkovo. They may be a little more in the north, but I don”t have proofs for now.

Today, we spotted this ground drone attacking the western flank of this attack. The use of unmanned systems like this one allows Ukraine to keep its men safe. 

During this assault, we saw Swedish CV 9040 and STRV 122 (Leopard 2). Some CV 9040 and STRV 122 were lost during the assault.

Russia tried to counter-attack multiple times there but failed to take back territory lost. The Glushkovo pocket is now at a high risk of being encircled.

I said multiple times russia has to hold there, because if they loose the pocket, it will be very difficult to take it back.

On the other side of Kursk frontline, Russian forces took back Borki. Sudja is still far from Russian forces.

The ukrainian presence in Kursk has decreased recently, however, russian army is still on a difficult position on the western part.

Today images from ©Planet show a lot of bombing east of the current russian presence and some recent russia attacks (we can see the scars in the corn fields + the roads used by Ukraine on the border.

I’m now going to update Pokrovsk fortifications since today sentinel-2 does not have any cloud.

You can follow @atummundi (where i also write) and follow me on my LinkedIn () linkedin.com/in/cl%C3%A9men…

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cl%C3%A9ment-molin-a11730261/

Here’s more on what’s left of the Toropets ammo depot:

Red lines at Russia’s Toropets ammo depot on FIRMS today.

That’s approximately 9-10 square kilometers (about 3.5 square miles).

It is roughly comparable to the area of the city next to the army facility. https://t.co/ZG6ebx1xS1 pic.twitter.com/lvS0tcvkFC

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) September 19, 2024

The Russian ammunition depot recently struck by Ukraine is still smoldering in new satellite imagery from today.

More than 100 drones were reportedly used in the attack on this site. pic.twitter.com/rwpBvxjEip

— Brady Africk (@bradyafr) September 19, 2024

/2. The left crater was caused by the explosion captured on the video https://t.co/6Vembi6VC3

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 19, 2024

🛰️💥High resolution satellite images of Toropets ammunition depot!

Also, as said, Iskander and Tochka-U missiles, as well as guided aerial bombs, were stored there.”

One of the most successful Ukrainian attacks on Russian targets during the entire war. Total annihilation! Great… https://t.co/yQUvPOxsDC pic.twitter.com/JZrR2l2su0

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 19, 2024

🛰️💥High resolution satellite images of Toropets ammunition depot!

Also, as said, Iskander and Tochka-U missiles, as well as guided aerial bombs, were stored there.”

One of the most successful Ukrainian attacks on Russian targets during the entire war. Total annihilation! Great job!👏
https://t.me/cxemu/4158

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

There are no new Patron tweets or videos today. Here is some adjacent material from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.

Under reliable protection of 🇺🇦 warrior.

📷: Rubizh Brigade pic.twitter.com/crDihdbZOq

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 19, 2024

Open thread!