Bob Homans September 20

20220920

Ukraine – 9/20 Sitrep
Compiled by: Robert Homans
Twitter: @rhomansjr
September 20, 2022

Russian Losses in the Kharkiv Offensive
(From the Euromaidan Press)

This does not include huge stocks of ammunition.   Ukrainian troops joke that next to the U.S., Russia has become Ukraine’s 2nd largest arms supplier.   This table illustrates what Ukrainian troops are referring to.

This table also buttresses Ukraine’s allegation that Russian troops simply gave up and ran away.   How else to explain the large number of captured pieces of equipment, and the small amount of Russian equipment that was destroyed? 

According to Ukraine, the captured tanks include a Russian T-90M main battle tank, captured intact in good condition (other than losing a tread).  Rather than using it on the battlefield, perhaps Ukraine can offer an exchange – the T-90M for several Abrams main battle tanks from the U.S.

Prof. Timothy Snyder on Why the Pundits Got it Wrong

Readers of these emails know that I have been taking particular pleasure in seeing the so-called “pundits” be proven consistently wrong about Ukraine’s capabilities and its chances of winning the war, where we have been almost consistently correct from the start.   I’ve often asked myself why this has been so.  

Prof. Timothy Snyder, in his course on Modern Ukrainian History, explains the reasons.   Prof. Snyder and Yale University have been kind enough to put his lectures on YouTube.   In the first 17 minutes of one of his recent lectures, Snyder explains the reasons.   

In the first 8 minutes or so, Snyder talks about the differences between “The Ukraine” and “Ukraine,” and the difference in spelling of Ukraine’s capital city, “Kiev” or “Kyiv.”  After that, Snyder gets into the reasons why the pundits got it wrong, when he talks about “deep geography” and the importance of a story that perpetuates itself.  

While talking with a group of American diplomats on a recent trip to Kyiv, Snyder said that they pondered the reasons why the pundits all got it wrong.   In short, he said the narrative that everyone who studied Eastern European History (except members of Snyder’s class) has learned was “first there was Kyiv, then there was Moscow, somehow it all got transferred to Moscow and Moscow inherited the traditions of Kyiv, in the 17th Century Moscow incorporated Kyiv, Moscow and Kyiv would be together forever, and somehow it’s all Russia.”    He goes on to say that everyone who has studied this region has been taught that “Russia is a real place,” and “Ukraine doesn’t exist.”

Snyder goes on to allege that in this narrative Ukraine is “questionable,” but “no one ever questions Russia.”  If the narrative alleges that Ukraine doesn’t exist than, as Snyder concludes, there is no way for the pundits steeped in Eastern European studies to conclude that Ukraine can win the war.  

He said that the exception has been military historians, “who may not know about Russia and Ukraine, but they know where the bridges are, and where the rivers are.”   He concludes that “not knowing anything about Russia seems to be an advantage in predicting who is going to win this war.”  He concludes by saying that this narrative exists not only in the U.S., but everywhere in Europe west of Poland.

I became aware that Ukraine was really a “thing” when watching the women’s figure skating at the 1992 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.   It was supposed to be a battle between the Americans, Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, the latter recovering from a kneecapping administered by Tonya Harding’s boyfriend.

Seemingly out of nowhere came Oksana Baiul to claim the Gold Medal.  She’s Ukrainian.  It was the first time I had seen a Ukrainian flag.  At the time of the 1992 Olympics Ukraine has been an independent country for roughly 6 months.  

As I remember, Olympic officials had to scramble to find the Ukrainian National Anthem, in order to play it at the medal ceremony.   13 years later, in January 2005, I went to Ukraine for the first time, knowing 2 things about Ukraine: that it is an independent country; the winters are cold.  For me, the latter held particular significance because at the time I lived in Los Angeles.   This was the extent of my education about Ukraine.  However, I am an amateur military historian.

It seems that Prof. Snyder would agree that my complete lack of formal education about Ukraine combined with my interest in military history, qualifies me as an expert on analyzing Russia’s latest invasion of Ukraine and explains why my collaborator in these emails and I got it right.   I look forward to watching the rest of Snyder’s lectures, which he claims is the only university course on Ukrainian history offered anywhere in the U.S.

The Latest on Ukraine’s Counteroffensive

As this video describes, Russia has shifted its focus toward hitting Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.  Yesterday there was a missile strike against another nuclear power installation in Southern Ukraine.  

The narrator recommends that Ukraine re-orient its antiaircraft missile defense to better defend these targets.   The U.S. is almost certainly providing Ukraine with launch data, obtained by satellites and other telemetry, of missiles launched from Russian airspace or international airspace like the Caspian and Black Seas, but Ukraine doesn’t have the long-range anti-aircraft systems that they can use to shoot down the missiles until they appear over Ukrainian territory, instead of earlier in their trajectory (the U.S. likely has satellite photos of the launch of the BUK missile that destroyed the Malaysian airliner MH-17).   Apparently, the handwringers in the Biden Administration are still concerned about provoking Russia.

The Latest Denys reports that Ukraine has taken the town of Bilohorivka in Eastern Luhansk Oblast, possibly accomplishing the following:

·       Opens the route to retake Lysychansk and Svierodonetsk, both lost to Russia in late June and early July.

·       Sticks a fork into Russia’s goal of controlling the entirety of both Luhansk and Donetsk Oblasts, which becomes even more significant since Russia is now planning to hold referendums this Friday, on both oblasts joining Russia.

Denys also describes Russian offensives toward Bakhmut and west of Donetsk City.  Of the two, Bakhmut is potentially more significant since Ukraine has, over the past 8 years built up 3 rings of defensives in front of Donetsk City.   Apparently both Russian offensives are being led by Wagner Group mercenaries.

Agriculture

Yesterday I spoke with an old friend, a Ukrainian, who was CEO of a company that was the exclusive agent in Ukraine for several large producers of agricultural equipment, tractors, combine harvesters, etc.  He told me that farmers in the recently liberated areas of Kharkiv Oblast are already starting to plant winter crops, such as winter wheat and rapeseed.  Farmers vote with their feet.  They wouldn’t be sowing unless they were confident that Ukraine will hold the ground that was recently re-taken.   Today I confirmed what he said with another friend, who is a well-known agricultural expert and lives in Ukraine.

I asked my friend how these farmers are financing 2023 planting, paying for fertilizer, seeds, and other inputs.   He said that the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), Ukraine Central Bank, is offering a facility to farmers to finance input acquisition, interest free and payable in 12 months.  I also confirmed this with my second source.  All we hear about, from the experts, is how Ukraine is unable to finance its operations, the economy is cratering, etc.   I guess not.

9/20 Sitrep (my comments in bold face)

Russian Invasion of Ukraine 12:00 noon September 19 to 12:00 noon September 20, 2022

Abbreviations:

New York State a corn field labyrinth.

RMA = Regional Military Administration             SBU = Security Service of Ukraine

INTERNATIONAL

September 20

11:45 The Washington Post: The U.S. Department of Defense has ordered an inspection of U.S. information warfare operations conducted through social platforms.  The day before, Twitter and Meta discovered networks of fake accounts that are probably associated with the US Army.

11:14 PBS: Turkish President Erdogan believes that if the conflict is resolved, Ukraine will be able to return its territories.

·       When asked by the host "whether Russia should be allowed to retain part of the Ukrainian territories under its control, and whether this will become an element of resolving the conflict," Erdogan replied: "No, undoubtedly, no."

11:04 Politico: It will take two or three years to supply American F-16 aircraft to Ukraine.

·       "If such a decision is made, because of training and  logistics issues, it will take some time," said  U.S. Air Force Commander Gen. James Hecker.

11:09 RMA: Mykolaiv region authorities have a plan to evacuate the population in case Russia hits the South Ukrainian nuclear power plant.

·       "Of course, there are evacuation plans, everything has been worked out. Because it is an object of increased danger and critical infrastructure”.

10:17 Local Media: In Kazakhstan, Russian trucks with goods from Europe began to be detained and documents were seized from drivers due to new demands from Astana.

·       The Association of International Road Carriers advised Russian companies to temporarily suspend the transportation of goods to Kazakhstan until the dispute is resolved.

10:12 Financial Times: British Prime Minister Liz Trass will declare during a trip this week to the United States that London intends to spend at least $2.6 billion in 2023 to support Ukraine.

09:10: Belgium will send more weapons to Ukraine and step-up demining efforts.

08:34 Foreign Policy: The United States is ready to supply tanks to the Ukrainian army, but it must prove that it can use them.

·       " A U.S. Department of Defense spokesman said 'tanks are on the table' for Ukrainian forces, but Ukraine must demonstrate the ability to maintain more modern models to get them ".

08:16 PBS: Erdogan says Ukraine and Russia have agreed to exchange 200 prisoners

·       "200 hostages will be exchanged on the basis of an agreement between the parties," Erdogan said, talking about his talks with Putin in Uzbekistan.

08:00 CNN: After the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian military began to behave more aggressively in Syria - both in the air and on the ground, - the commander of the US Air Force Central Command, Lieutenant General Alex Grinkevich.

00:47 Ministry of Health of Poland: Poland will provide Ukraine with a million doses of Covid-19 vaccines and assist with the transport of wounded soldiers.

·       Also, the Polish side will transfer 100 thousand doses of mmr vaccine.

00:24: A group of deputies from the pro-Russian far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party announced plans to visit Russia and "eastern Ukraine."

·       The political force claims that the reason for the trip was the results of the AfD opinion poll, according to which "more than a third of the inhabitants of Saxony-Anhalt do not feel that the German media objectively inform theirs about the Russian-Ukrainian conflict."

00:07: The United States will help Ukraine as much as it needs, despite the energy blackmail of the Russian Federation, says Biden.

·       The President of the United States noted that the support of Ukraine from the United States would continue as long as there was a need for it.

·       "The Ukrainian people pay an extremely high price, and we will be with them as long as they need our help," he said.

00:30 Ukrainian ambassador to Poland: At the Dorohusk-Yagodyn checkpoint in Volyn, truck clearance takes place at an accelerated pace, so for the first time in many months there are less than a thousand vehicles in the queue.

·       "Now trucks are being issued in an expedited manner: every day more than 600 trucks from Ukraine to Poland cross the border."

September 19

23:27: Delegation of the Association of Families of Defenders "Azovstal" and regiment "AZOV" held a meeting with representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Washington

·       During the meeting, urgent issues were discussed regarding the possibility of the Red Cross mission visiting places of detention of the military, the transfer of humanitarian convoys, the lack of proper care for pregnant prisoners, investigation of the terrorist attack in Olenivka and the return of the bodies of those killed in the tragedy and other issues.

22:53 Ministry of Internal Affairs of Poland: In Poland, potassium iodide tablets were distributed to the country's rescue departments amid hostilities around the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

·       "Within the framework of anti-crisis measures and civil protection, in connection with information in the media about the hostilities in the area of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, last week the district offices of the state rescue service received potassium iodide tablets”.

·       As noted, this is a standard procedure provided for by law in case of a possible radiation threat.

22:22 Hungarian Justice Minister: Hungary's talks with the European Commission have ended successfully, Budapest's proposed measures eliminate the commission's fears, so there is a chance to receive funds from the EU.

22:16: Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and First Lady Olena Zelenska met with King Charles III of Britain on the day of the funeral of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

·       "He stressed that Ukrainian people would be happy in the future to congratulate King Charles III on a visit to our country," Shmyhal wrote.

21:34: Slovenia and Germany have agreed to exchange military equipment with Ukraine.

·       Slovenia is to send 28 M-55S tanks to Ukraine and receive 40 German-made transport vehicles in return.

20:42 Reuters - Head of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff: It's not yet known how Russia can respond to recent failures on the battlefield in Ukraine and the US remains vigilant.

·       "Now Russia's affairs on the battlefield are not very good, so it is very important that we all maintain a high level of readiness ... When there's a war going on, you can't be seriously sure what's going to happen next," Mark Milley said.

20:33 Reuters: There is a recession in the German economy that will intensify during the winter months, citing Germany's central bank.

·       "Economic activity may decline slightly this quarter and decline markedly during the autumn and winter months," the central bank said.

20:05 Reuters: The U.S. Department of Commerce has added three cargo planes of Iranian airlines that have signed contracts with Russia to the register of export control violators.

·       Earlier, Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi said the U.S. was facilitating the rapprochement of countries thanks to the economic restrictions imposed against them. He stressed that Washington's sanctions policy is threatened with failure.

19:59: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba met with Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives Gregory Meeks in the U.S.

·       "I started my visit to the U.S. with a meeting with Gregory Meeks. I am grateful to the U.S. Congress for its iron-iron support for Ukraine, we focused on further military assistance to Ukraine, recognition of the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism, bringing it to justice and ensuring it global food security," the minister said on his Twitter.

19:47 Media Reports: Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan sign a protocol on the establishment of peace.

19:36 Bloomberg: India has been forced to buy one of the most expensive batches of liquefied natural gas, after canceling important supplies from Russia.

·       India's largest gas company, GAIL India Ltd. purchased several LNG shipments for delivery between October and November at more than twice the price compared to the cost in the same period last year.

19:29 CNN: A secret briefing for United States senators on Ukraine will be held in the Senate on Monday night.

·       It is noted that the briefing comes after Ukraine made some progress in counter-offensive efforts against Russia last week, and the Biden administration announced another package of military assistance Ukraine for $600 million.

19:23 Bloomberg: One of Turkey's largest private banks, Iş Bankası, refuses to work with the Russian payment system Mir.

·       "Iş Bankası stated that they had seen and appreciated the U.S. Treasury Department's statement on the matter, and that they had suspended the use of the system," the statement said.

18:14 German Ministry of Defense: The German government will hand over to Ukraine four more panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery installation.

·       "Despite the tense material situation, the Bundeswehr supports Ukraine four more Panzerhaubitze 2000, including ammunition," the statement said.

17:52 Reuters: China has sent "stern warnings" to the U.S. after U.S. President Joe Biden said U.S. forces would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.

·       Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning noted that the country reserves the right to take all necessary measures in response to actions that "split" the nation.

17:23 German Ministry of Defense: Germany handed over to Ukraine two Mars II multiple launch rocket systems and 50 Dingo armored personnel carriers.

·       In addition to equipment, Training projects for the Ukrainian military will also be launched in Germany.

·       "By doing so, we continue to support Ukraine in the struggle for its integrity and sovereignty," the statement said.

16:51 Prime Minister of the Netherlands: The leaders of the Netherlands and Germany discussed the latest counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and military assistance to Ukraine.

·       "We welcome Ukraine's recent military successes. They show that international military support is working, we have agreed that we will continue our support, including through Dutch-German military cooperation," Rutte said.

·       17:05 Social Networks: An explosion was heard in Kryvyi Rih.

16:22 Armenian Foreign Ministry: A meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Jeyhun Bayramov and Ararat Mirzoyan, will take place in New York today. Third party will be the United States and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

12:57 Delfi: The Lithuanian government is discussing the possibility of banning Belarusian citizens from entering the country on Schengen visas. Due to the participation of Belarusians in the war against Ukraine, said Lithuanian Interior Minister.

NATIONAL

September 20

11:58 Defense Intelligence: "The announcement of a general mobilization will be a significant blow to the Putin regime.  This will mean recognition that Russia has not been able to fulfill all the tasks, that the so-called "special operation" and as a result and that there is a real war”.

11:50 Ministry of Reintegration:  Ukraine has returned the bodies of 25 dead servicemen.

·       "The process of returning the bodies takes place in accordance with the norms of the Geneva Convention,"  the statement said.

11:30 Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy: Ukraine lost up to 10 million tons of potential harvest in 2022 due to the Russian occupation.

11:33 Institute for the Study of War:

·       Ukraine's successes in the counteroffensive undermine the morale of Russian units that were considered elite before the invasion of Ukraine.

·       The size of the volunteer units that Russia can create is probably decreasing.

·       Ukrainian forces are likely to continue limited and local offensive operations across the Oskil River and on the Lyman-Yampil-Bilohorivka line.

·       Russian troops continued ground attacks south of Bakhmut.

10:50: President Zelenskyy noted that the SBU began to work more efficiently, particularly in the liberated territories of the Kharkiv region.

1.      "Thanks to the SBU, there is now confidence that the occupiers do not have any support on Ukrainian soil," Zelenskyy.

10:31 British intelligence:

·       Russia likely withdrew submarines from Crimea

·       The command of the Russian Black Sea Fleet almost certainly redeployed its Kilo-class submarines (a collective designation adopted by NATO for two Russian submarine projects) from annexed Sevastopol to Novorossiysk.

o   The Kilo Class submarine is diesel powered and the latest version runs very quietly.

·       British intelligence considers this very likely due to a change in the threat level due to the strengthening of Ukraine's long-range strike force. the Black Sea Fleet and its main airfield of naval aviation.

·       The guarantee of the Black Sea Fleet being based in Crimea was probably one of the reasons that prompted Russian President Vladimir Putin to annex the peninsula in 2014.

o   At the time of the Russian invasion of Crimea, Russia had a long-term lease, covering not only the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, but several airfields inside Crimea including one or more airfields recently attacked by Ukraine.

·       So far, the security of the Black Sea base has been undermined by the ongoing aggression against Ukraine.

09:20 Deputy Minister of Defense: The Ministry of Defense has signed all the necessary contracts for the supply of winter clothing for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

07:17 Operational information from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:

·       Over the past day, the Russians inflicted 10 missile and 15 air strikes, carried out more than 56 shellings from MLRS on objects on the territory of Ukraine.

·       The so-called "mobilization" measures in the temporarily occupied territories continue.

o   According to available information, from September 14 of this year, the previously issued documents on deferral from mobilization to about five hundred employees of the Yenakiieve Metallurgical Plant have been canceled. In addition, a ban was imposed on the departure of men from the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea without the permission of the military commissariats.

·       In the area of the settlement of Novoaidar, Luhansk region, a successful hit on an area of concentration of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Federation on September 18 this year was confirmed. At that time, about 50 units of military equipment were liquidated and disabled and ammunition was destroyed.

·       In addition, in the area of the settlement of Svatove, units of the Defense Forces defeated the Russians in the area of concentration of manpower. It is known that 70% of the personnel who were at the specified facility died.

·       According to available information, on the basis of the 36th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 29th Combined Arms Army of the Eastern Military District, the formation of four rifle battalions continues.

·       The recruitment of officer positions is carried out at the expense of teachers of the Far Eastern Higher Combined Arms Command School.

·       Earlier it was reported about the formation of a naval rifle regiment based on the Black Sea Higher Naval School in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol.

·       During the formation of these units, the Russian military leadership continues to apply the practice of the Second World War, which indicates significant problems and miscalculations.

·       During the day, units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine repulsed Russian attacks in the areas of the settlements of Mayorsk, Vesele, Kurdyumovka and Novomykhailivka.

·       The Armed Forces of Ukraine in the south sank a barge with Russians and weapons and destroyed 3 Russian tanks.

·       During the day, Ukrainian aviation in the south inflicted 15 strikes on Russian troops.

·       Confirmed losses of Russians are:

o   90 soldiers;

o   Three tanks;

o   eight units of other armored vehicles;

o   three howitzers "Msta-B" and "Msta-S";

o   four self-propelled 152-mm "Acacias";

o   two self-propelled guns "Hyacinth-S";

o   six multiple launch rocket systems "Grad";

o   ammunition depot in Pravdyne.

00:17: Since the beginning of the resumption of container transportation, the "Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company" has transported almost 3.3 thousand tons with its container fleet.

·       "In six months, 3298 TEU containers were transported. 12 vessels (open barges and dry cargo pusher vessels) are involved in the container direction," the message says.

September 19

23:45 Air Force Command: On September 19, 7 air targets of the Russian Army were destroyed: one Su-25 attack aircraft, one X-59 air-to-surface guided missile and five operational-tactical UAVs

23:00 U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine: The U.S. position has always been that Crimea is the territory of Ukraine.

·       "I do not want to comment on military issues, but I can voice the position of the United States: Crimea is Ukraine. This is our policy," the diplomat said in response to a question about whether the United States allows the military return of the peninsula to Ukraine's control.

22:48: A hand with blue and yellow bracelets from a burial in Izyum is a fragment of the body of a soldier from Nikopol; a 36-year-old soldier of the 93rd Kholodny Yar Brigade, Sergei Sova.

·       The son of the deceased Ukrainian hero Marat Sova appealed to President Zelenskyy to facilitate the speedy return of his father home for a decent burial.

·       "I would have the honor of accepting an award from you for dad posthumously.

·       I am very proud of him!" wrote Marat in his address.

22:29 Deputy Prime Minister: In recently liberated territories of Kharkiv region, a pilot project has been launched to issue one-time financial assistance to people who were forced to live under occupation.

·       "Today we started paying UAH 1200 each in cash in the first settlements of the de-occupied Kharkiv region," she reports in her telegram channel.

21:55 The Guardian - Educational Ombudsman: In Russian occupied Ukrainian territories, teachers do not cooperate with the occupiers, but adhere to a pro-state position, for which the occupiers are persecuting them.

·       "We have received hundreds of messages from the occupied territories. They force teachers to use the Russian program, introduce Russian textbooks with the concept that Ukrainians and Russians are one people, full of Russian imperialism, this is a complete package."

21:49 Minister of Digital Transformation: Ukraine's IT Army hacked the website of the Wagner mercenary army, which sends Russian prisoners to fight against Ukraine.

·       "We have all the personal data of mercenaries! Every executioner, murderer and rapist will be severely punished!"

21:26 Ukrhydroenergo press service: The company refuted "manipulative assessments" of the catastrophic consequences of destroying the Kyiv Hydroelectric Dam, which is possible if Russian troops launch a missile strike on the structure.

·       "As for possible scenarios of rocket attack by Russian troops on the dam of the Kyiv hydroelectric complex, a critical threat to the population is not predicted," the message says.

21:15 Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine: Ukraine will provide African countries with 50 thousand tons of wheat at no cost.

·       The government of Ukraine allocated UAH 420 million to reimburse the cost of milling grade wheat compensate for the cost of up to 50 thousand tons to provide humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia and Somalia.

20:56: Russia is trying to hide the truth about its crimes in Izyum by carrying out a disinformation operation using pro-Russian accounts in the West, says Stanislav Zharin, the Polish government's commissioner for information space security.

·       "An information operation is underway regarding the crime in Izyum, where Ukrainians discovered mass graves”.

20:50: An interactive map on the Starlink website shows where the technology is already functional and where it will be available in the coming years.

·       Among the countries where the launch of the technology is not yet planned - Russia, Belarus, China, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela. The company explains this by the lack of permission of state regulators to launch it.

20:26 Verkhovna Rada: People's deputies of Ukraine propose to speed up the consideration of the state budget for 2023, citing the martial law imposed in Ukraine.

·       In fact, parliamentarians propose to change the procedure for considering the state budget and reduce it by a month.

19:12 Ministry of Health: The second case of monkeypox has been registered in Ukraine.

·       It is also reported that the patient is hospitalized with fever, rashes on the face, mouth and hands.

18:33 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:

·       During the day, Russia launched 4 missile and 9 air strikes, carried out more than 11 MLRS attacks on military and civilian targets on the territory of Ukraine, violating the norms of International Humanitarian Law, laws, and customs of warfare. The infrastructure of more than 24 settlements was affected.

·       At the training ground near the city of Torez, Donetsk region, the Russians set up a training camp to train personnel arriving from prisons to complete the units of the 1st Army Corps that suffered losses during the fighting.

·       For the current day, units of the Defense Forces repulsed Russian attacks in the areas of the settlements of Nikolaevka Druha, Kurdyumivka and Zaitsevo.

·       During the day, the aviation of the Defense Forces hit 11 areas of concentration of manpower and military equipment of the Russian Federation, one position of the anti-aircraft missile system and one ammunition depot.

o   In addition, Ukrainian air defense units in different directions destroyed the Su-25 aircraft, a guided aircraft missile and three Russian UAVs.

·       Rocket troops and artillery inflicted fire on 5 strongholds and areas of concentration of personnel and military equipment, as well as 3 Russian ammunition depots. The total losses of the Russian Federation are being clarified.

·       Confirmed the facts of destruction of manpower and objects of the Russian Federation for September 18 in the Zaporizhia region. In this direction, 10 artillery systems, 5 units of military equipment and personnel of the Russian Federation were destroyed. According to available information, the losses of the wounded amounted to more than a hundred servicemen.

18:19 Chief medical officer of Ukraine: Ukraine will not introduce a nationwide lockdown due to the beginning of a new wave of COVID-19. But certain restrictions can be applied in some regions due to the epidemic situation.

17:56 National Police: Police exposed a "conversion center" with a turnover of more than UAH 3.5 billion.

·       Law enforcement officers investigated the activities of the State Geo Cadastre of one of the districts of the Kyiv region and found that officials, abusing their position, committed offenses during decision-making regarding the transfer land plots owned by individuals and legal entities.

·       Analyzing the information, the experts exposed the activities of the "conversion center", which probably belonged to one of the owners of the land plots.

16:02 SBI press service: A criminal case has been opened against the former head of the State Service for Special Communications in excess of official authority.

·       According to the investigation, during 2018-2019, the lieutenant general illegally charged bonuses and other incentive payments to himself and those close to him.  The ex-official did this contrary to the current legislation and without the consent of the Cabinet of Ministers.

15:43 Operational Command Pivden (South): Russian troops are trying to equip new lines of defense on the southern front. The reason for this was the rather rapid advance of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

15:09: Military intelligence officers received 23 drones.

·       On the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the company, employees of the Favbet Group of Companies handed over 23 reconnaissance drones to the Defense Intelligence Unit.

14:51 The Guardian: Ukraine is lobbying the UN for the confiscation of Russian assets to compensate for war losses.

·       The resolution will form the basis for the creation of an international compensation mechanism that could lead to the seizure of Russian state assets abroad in the amount of up to $300 billion.

14:48 President's Office: Zelenskyy signed a decree on the creation of 15 military administrations in the Kherson region.

14:42 Air Force Command: During last seven days, the Air Force of Ukraine liquidated 8 Russian planes, 2 helicopters.

14:17 Prosecutor General: More than 5,500 children have been abducted and sent to Russia since the start of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

14:05 SBU press service: The SBU prevented the "leakage" abroad of secret technologies to produce aircraft engines for fighters.

·       As a result of the special operation in Zaporizhia, an attempt to illegally transfer the latest military technologies subject to state export control to one of the East Asian countries was blocked.

14:03 U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine: The United States is discussing measures with partners in response to a possible nuclear strike threatened by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

·       "We are working on this in the United States as well, and we are discussing with our partners how we could act in response to those actions that would be completely unacceptable. And the president announced this very clearly," she said.

13:40 State Sanitary Doctor: Ukraine authorised a second booster COVID vaccination to all adults. Previously, only Ukrainians at risk could receive a booster dose a second time.

12:15 CBS: Prosecutor General of Ukraine Andriy Kostin, in an interview on the Face The Nation program, announced that Ukraine has documented 34 thousand war crimes as a result of the Russian invasion.

MORDOR (Russia)

September 20

10:55 Reuters: PepsiCo stopped producing Pepsi, 7UP and Mountain Dew in Russia.

10:46 Russian Media: Private Military Corporation "Wagner" recruited about 6000 prisoners in the Russian prison colonies.

·       It is noted that the real number may even exceed this figure.

09:40 Rosaviatsiya: Restrictions on flights to the southern airports of the Russian Federation have been extended until September 28.

·       Airports of Anapa, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Gelendzhik, Krasnodar, Kursk, Lipetsk, Rostov-on-Don, Simferopol and Elista remain closed.

09:15 VTsIOM survey: Only 12% of Russians intend to obtain a passport in the near future, a Schengen visa - 1% -

September 19

23:40: Gazprom employees are required to hand over money to help Russian soldiers wounded in the war in Ukraine.

·       The Russian service of Radio Liberty published a screenshot of the message in the WhatsApp messenger from the chat of employees of the Lensky Security Department of Gazprom in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). transfer 1000 rubles to help the military wounded in Ukraine.

23:05 Social Networks: In Rostov, a billboard dedicated to Russian soldiers who take part in the war against Ukraine was doused with red paint.

21:10 Luhansk RMA: If the Russians hold a "referendum" in the Luhansk region, it could lead to a general mobilization in the Russian Federation.

·       "The occupiers can hold a fake referendum, quickly somehow blind it, recognize the results. According to the results, they will all "want" to join the Russian Federation.

·       And then our de-occupation of the temporarily occupied Ukrainian Luhansk region, in the opinion of the Russian Federation, will be a "direct attack on Russia", and this will allow for general mobilization, to declare war," Gaidai said.

21:03: A referendum on the recognition of the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic" as a subject of the Russian Federation will take place in the fall, soon - a deputy of the State Duma Vodolatskyi.

19:52 Russian Media: The so-called "Public Chamber of the DPR" appealed to Pushilin to immediately hold a "referendum" on joining the Russian Federation.

·       A similar initiative was made by the so-called. "LNR Public Chamber". This was also stated by the "authorities" appointed by the Russians in the Kherson region.

15:48 Presidential Press Officer: Peskov called the Russian atrocities in Izyum in the Kharkiv region a "lie," saying the killings of 400 people were just a "scenario" like "provocation in Bucha."

13:32 Defense Intelligence: Russians are trying to mobilize men in the occupied territories and promise "tourist trips" to pensioners.

·       Russian troops are trying to mobilize men in the territories of Luhansk region, which were occupied in 2022.  In Severodonetsk, it was planned to find 500 men who were to replenish the composition of the 2nd Army Corps and units of the so-called "people's militia".  Currently, the "mobilization" program has completely failed, the report said.

14:01: The head of North Ossetia said a third volunteer battalion was being formed in the republic to send to war in Ukraine.

·       "Now the squad is at the training ground. I myself will organize combat coordination and I will take them to the area of combat missions myself. This is especially important for me: I must be sure that our fighters are as prepared as possible to be on the front line," said the head of North Ossetia Serhii Minyaylo.

13:27: The supreme court of the so-called "LPR" sentences OSCE mission officer Dmytro Shabanov to 13 years in prison for treason.

·       Shabanov was a security assistant at the Stakhanov forward patrol base of the mission. He was detained in the temporarily occupied Luhansk region in mid-April. He was later accused of allegedly "transmitting classified information to representatives of foreign intelligence services."

KHARKIV

September 20

10:18 Social Networks: In the Kharkiv region, residents report a strong explosion.

09:46 RMA: Last night, at about 1:30 a.m., the Russians launched a missile strike on an infrastructure facility in the Chuguev district.

·       Over the past day, Russians continued shelling Kharkiv region settlements along the border line with Russia and the contact line in Kharkiv, Kupyansk, Dergachi, and Izyum districts.

·       According to the Emergency Medical Center, during the past day in the Kupyansk district, 3 people were injured by exploding mines.

00:37 Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs: In Kharkiv region, the Armed Forces of Ukraine established control and carried out a sweep in 118 settlements of the region that were under occupation. Control over another 12 settlements was established on September 18, and the sweep there continues.

September 19

21:00 Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Kharkiv.

12:01 State Bureau of Investigation: On the outskirts of the liberated Balaklia, Kharkiv region, found a spare command post of the Russian military based in a private house.

·       Dozens of ammunition boxes were seized, including artillery and tank rounds of various calibers, mines, grenades, and powder charges. In addition, they found 2 infantry fighting vehicles with ammunition. The seized ammunition and equipment were handed over to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

LUHANSK

September 20

10:01 Luhansk RMA: 50 pieces of equipment destroyed in Novoaidar, 70% of Russian personnel at a facility in Svatove.

·       "September 18 was an 'explosive' night. Something happened right away in the Novoaidar forestry and the old bus station in Svatove.

September 19

16:07 RMA: Luhansk Bilohorivka is cleaned up and completely under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

DONETSK

September 20

11:40: Activists of the Zhovta Lenta movement distributed leaflets in occupied Donetsk.

11:27: Ukrainian Special Operations Forces in the Bakhmut direction liquidated the Observation Post of the Russian military with a shot from ATGM.

08:39 RMA: Around 01:00, Russians launched an airstrike on Bakhmut — hit a high-rise building. There can be two people under the rubble.

·       Also on the night before, Khromove came under fire - one person was wounded.

·       Shelling destroyed at least 2 private houses in Siversk. No information has been received on the victims at this time.

·       At night, the Russians shelled the old part of Avdiivka, in the morning — the central part, according to preliminary information, without casualties.

·       At half past midnight, the Epiphany church in the Vuhledar community was shelled — we are establishing the amount of destruction.

01:01 Social Networks: In Donetsk, a Russian rocket launched at Ukrainian positions fell, and hit residential buildings.

September 19

17:28 State Emergency Service: The Russian army struck Toretsk, killing a local resident.

·       "Upon arrival at the scene of the call, it was established that there was a partial destruction of a 2-storey residential building," the statement said.

14:32: Today, in the Kuibyshev district of the city of Donetsk, a provocative terrorist act was carried out - the shelling of baku komisars' square. According to preliminary data, 13 civilians were killed.

13:13 Social Networks: A photo from the Kramatorsk district, where a Ukrainian flag flies in the village of Yarova.

ZAPORIZHYA

September 20

11:52: "There is no mobilization, but everyone has to fight!" -  photos of newspapers distributed to residents of occupied Melitopol appeared on the network.

10:21 Social Networks: Residents report an explosion in temporarily occupied Melitopol.

08:47 Mayor: Confirmed the explosion.

08:42 Social Networks: Residents occupied Melitopol report an explosion.

·       Near the city elevator, residents observe black smoke. We find out the details.

September 19

15:37 Mayor: Explosions again at the airfield of Melitopol captured by the Russians.

12:46 Mayor: In occupied Enerhodar, local residents report provocations by the Russian military shelling the opposite bank of the Kakhovka reservoir.

·       As a result of these shellings, the water supply in part of the Energodar microdistricts disappeared.

12:30 RMA: The first attack of the Russian military on Zaporizhia was carried out at about 02:00 with S300 missiles.  Social infrastructure facilities were destroyed.

·       Already in the morning, the Russian Federation carried out another missile attack on the regional center, again using the S300.  Several private houses were destroyed. A 70-year-old woman was injured.

12:03 Social Networks: Explosions in occupied Energodar of Zaporizhia region.

DNIPRO

September 20

07:58 RMA: The Russians covered three communities with "Grads" and heavy artillery at night - Nikopol, Marganets and Chervonohryhorivska

·       Russian troops hit them 5 times. More than 100 shells were fired at cities and villages.

·       No reports that people were injured.

01:07 Social Networks: Sounds of explosions in Nikopol.

00:11 Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Nikopol, Dnipro region.

September 19

22:46 Social Networks: Explosions are heard in the Sinelnikovsky district of the Dnipro region.

17:39 RMA: Confirmed the explosion in the Kryvyi Rih district.

14:10: Explosions in Kamenskoye, Dnipropetrovsk region, air defenses responded.

13:21 RMA: The Russians again shelled the Zelenodolsk community in the Dnipropetrovsk region. A 58-year-old woman received injuries of moderate severity.

KHERSON

September 20

00:45 Social Networks: Report explosions in occupied Nova Kakhovka.

September 19

22:34 Social Networks: Photos of the liberated village of Potemkine, Kherson region.

16:43 RMA: Residents of de-occupied settlements of the Kherson region are urged to leave for the winter period.

·       "Given the situation in the liberated settlements, we advise you to evacuate for the winter period to Zakarpattia, Khmelnytsky and Zhytomyr regions. This is especially true for families with children and people with limited mobility," he wrote.

14:55 Social Networks: Explosions heard in occupied Nova Kakhovka, Kherson regionn.

14:37 Schemes: Satellite photos show attempts by Russian troops to rebuild the crossing near the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant.

12:23 Social Networks: Explosions in occupied Kherson.

MYKOLAIV

September 20

08:52 Mykolaiv RMA: On September 19 and tonight, the Russians struck the coastal zone of the city of Ochakiv. There are no casualties.

·       Also under fire were Shyrokivska, Berezneguvatska, Bashtanska communities. There are no casualties.

September 19

21:42 Mayor: As a result of today's night shelling of Mykolaiv, 40 houses of the private sector were damaged.

·       Two apartment buildings were also damaged by shelling, and more than 20 windows were broken and the front door was damaged.

17:03 Mykolaiv Police: Law enforcement officers in the Mykolaiv region seized the assets of Belarusian firms. The value of arrested assets is estimated to be 50 million hryvnias.

13:17 Ukrainian military: The Armed Forces of Ukraine shot down a Russian "Cartographer" in the Mykolaiv region. "Cartographer" is the unofficial name of a reconnaissance UAV with a camera for 12 objects.

12:51 Mykolaiv regional council: As of this morning, there are 707 people in Mykolaiv hospitals who have suffered from the attacks of the occupiers in the Mykolaiv region. Another 53 victims received assistance on an outpatient basis.

·       On September 18-19, the settlements of Mykolayiv, Voznesensky and Bashtansky districts came under attack.

OTHER REGIONS

September 20

10:26: In Kyiv, in the Singing Field Park overlooking the Dnipro, it is planned to install a memorial to the fallen defenders of "Azovstal"

·       According to the head of the patronage service of the Azov regiment Olena Tolkachova, the memorial should be on the slopes of the Dnieper, on a place that will be visible from all sides of Kyiv.

·       The project of the memorial has already been submitted to the Kyiv City State Administration.

September 19

23:20 Sumy RMA: Russian troops on September 19 again shelled the Sumy region from the territory of Russia. As a result of the shelling, civilians of the Krasnopilska community were injured.

·       "Directly hitting civilians in a residential building was a married couple of retirees. A woman and a man were injured, both in the hospital. The house has been destroyed, the issue of providing other housing is being worked out, because their house cannot be restored."

20:10 Prosecutor General's Office: A court in Lviv arrested the corporate rights of a hotel chain and real estate worth more than UAH 55 million belonging to a Russian citizen.

·       "The profits from the activities of hotels, in Lviv, were later directed through banking and financial institutions as wages for the Russian owner. Thus, taxes were paid to the state budget of the Russian Federation and sent to finance the war in Ukraine," the Prosecutor General's Office stressed.

16:17: In the Vinnytsia region, the SBU blocked trafficking of psychotropics worth more than UAH 37 million.

·       According to the investigation, the smuggling was organized by three residents of the Kyiv region.

15:30 Odesa RMA: In the Black Sea, 1 Russian carrier of cruise missiles "caliber" is on alert, the total volley is 8 missiles.

14:07 United Jewish Community of Ukraine: Hasidim began arriving in Uman to celebrate Rosh Hashanah.

·       "From today begins a massive arrival in Uman of a large number of Hasidic pilgrims who go to Ukraine from different parts of the world, despite the war, demonstrating faith in the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the report said.

12:37 SBU press service: In the Chernihiv region, the SBU detained a Russian agent who was transmitting intelligence on the movement of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

·       Counterintelligence officers detained a resident of one of the border villages of Chernihiv region, who handed over intelligence to the Russian Federation about the movement and deployment of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the region.

Comparing Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to Russian invasion of Ukraine using Wikipedia and Ukraine Ministry of Defense Daily Bulletins. Soviet and Russian military losses not including captured equipment.

SOURCES

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/

https://euromaidanpress.com/

https://invite.viber.com/?g2=AQBD3wxTrZ6XUU7IdXeHUfjVCydekezQCCGuwYnT6qPd1r7n1aVbFIewa6ng6Lis

www.ubn.news