Bob Homans September 23
20220923
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Ukraine – 9/23 Sitrep
Compiled by: Robert Homans
Twitter: @rhomansjr
September 23, 2022
President Zelenskyy’s UN General Assembly Speech
Pres. Zelenskyy delivered a very powerful speech last Wednesday, at the UN General Assembly. It is worth watching. What surprised me was that he gave the entire speech in English. I had understood that his English wasn’t that good. I was wrong.
Interview With Philip Short
Philip Short is the author of the latest Putin biography, entitled, “Putin – The Man Behind the War in Ukraine.” Also, here is the NY Times review of Short’s book.
The interview was about Short’s opinions of the war. Here are two takeaways:
· “If you look back at the last 20 years of Putin’s time in power, this is the first time he’s taken a major initiative that has gone seriously wrong, so there’s nothing really to guide us in how, in the end, he’s going to react. “ Putin has made one idiotic mistake in Ukraine after another, starting as far back as 2004. Short says, “He (Putin) did not expect the Ukrainians to resist as strongly as they have done……….he (Putin) didn’t expect them (Ukrainians) to rise up as a nation and oppose the Russians.” Based on his own experience, Putin should’ve known. Putin came to Kyiv just before the 2004 Presidential election, to campaign for Viktor Yanukovich. His visit was roundly criticized, and Yanukovich eventually lost the election.
· Crimea – I think Short is right, when he says “I don’t believe it’s possible to push them out of Crimea. That I think would be a casus belli. Then kind of all bets would be off about how the Russians might react.” I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it isn’t possible. At the time of the Russian invasion of 2014, the population of Crimea was roughly 58% Russian, 13% Crimean Tatar, and the rest Ukrainian. If Ukraine made a move at Crimea there will likely be local support, from both Ukrainians and Tatars. We have already seen the influence played by Partisans, in Southern Ukraine and, Increasingly, Luhansk.
· Short’s last answer implies that Russia is relying on a breakdown of Western resolve. Starting this coming Winter. Western “resolve” for Ukraine runs through the United States, Canada, the UK, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark Slovakia, and the 3 Baltic States. As long as these countries continue to support Ukraine’s war effort, as my late cousin used to like to say, the support from those European countries whose support for Ukraine might be considered questionable, “doesn’t matter.”
Battlefield Situation
The video from “Reporting From Ukraine,” and the Latest Denys describe in detail the precarious situation faced by the Russians in Kherson and Kharkiv/Luhansk. In Kherson, the water level in the Inhulets River, caused by the recent Russian attack on the dam, is receding allowing Ukrainian attacks to resume. He also reports of increased Russiian desertions. If true, how is this going to relate to the limited reserve call-up, mostly of relatively inexperienced conscripts? In addition, there is the possibility of a Ukrainian offensive toward Melitopol.
The Latest Denys goes into detail about the situation around Lyman, where the Russians still hold out but they’re under increasing risk of being surrounded, while at the same time advance into the portion of Kharkiv Oblast that Ukraine doesn’t control.
9/23 Sitrep
Russian Invasion of Ukraine 12:00 noon September 22 to 12:00 noon September 23, 2022
Abbreviations:
RMA = Regional Military Administration SBU = Security Service of Ukraine
INTERNATIONAL
September 23
11:54: G7 foreign ministers and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy condemn Russia's statement on holding bogus referendums and promise to continue further targeted sanctions against Russia, German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbok said as head of the G7 foreign ministers' meeting.
11:24: One of the consequences of the announcement of a "partial" mobilization in Russia was a surge in interest in work in Poland by the Russians. This was reported by the international employment agency Gremi Personal.
· Interest in low-skilled work increased in the country by 600%.
09:31 US Ambassador to Finland: Finland and Sweden will become official MEMBERS of NATO by the end of this year.
08:01 Bloomberg: EU member states want to reach a price cap on Russian oil within a few weeks
08:01 RTCG: The Parliament of Montenegro by a majority decision adopted a proposal to launch the procedure for the resignation of President Milo Djukanović due to violation of the country's constitution
08:01: THE US Department of Defense has signed a contract with Raytheon Missiles and Defense to develop prototypes of hypersonic cruise missiles for the US Air Force.
00:55 Helsingin Sanomat: Finnish authorities arrested local Yandex assets in late August – early September.
· According to the publication, the arrest affected the shares of the Finnish "daughter" of Yandex called "Global DC Oy"
September 22
23:43 Reuters: Congress asks the Pentagon to expedite consideration of the transfer of "large" drones to Ukraine. Specifically the MQ-1C “Gray Eagle” and MQ-9 “Reaper”.
23:20 Reuters: The head of the US Department of Finance says that Europe will face a difficult winter situation due to energy supplies, but the impact on the US economy will not be significant.
23:03 Pentagon: The United States sees no reason to change the level of readiness of nuclear forces because of Putin's words.
22:33: Dmytro Kuleba discussed with the French Foreign Minister the supply of new ACS "CAESAR".
· The heads of departments also raised the issue of restoring the destroyed regions of Ukraine and bringing the Russian Federation to justice for its crimes.
21:59: The situation in Ukraine shows a long-term trend with increasingly serious negative side effects. China does not want to see such a development of events, says Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a meeting with EU Diplomacy Chief Josep Borrell.
· "We will not sit idly by and add oil to the fire, but we support the EU in making every effort to achieve peace," Wang Yi said.
21:46 The Reykjavik Grapevine: The Russian foundation offered money to reporters from Iceland to go to the occupied part of the Kherson region and "approve" the transparency of the pseudo-referendum.
· Moscow promised leading Icelandic journalists to pay for the road to Moscow through London and Istanbul, and then transport them to the captured parts of the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions so that they would "cover the referendum."
21:42 Turkish Foreign Ministry: Illegitimate referendums on the territory of Ukraine will lead to deepening instability.
· "The international community does not recognize such illegitimate actions presented as fact. On the contrary, they will undermine efforts to revitalize the diplomatic process and lead to deepening instability. the year when the occupation of Crimea was carried out.
· And it lies in the fact that Turkey supports the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Ukraine, advocates the settlement of the conflict through peace negotiations and expresses readiness to promote this process all kinds of contributions," the official website of the Turkish Foreign Ministry reports.
21:37: Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Khan has announced that he will send additional staff to Ukraine to investigate war crimes.
· "Having visited Ukraine three times, I have seen a lot of destruction, suffering and harm, which strengthens my resolve and my former assumption that there are reasonable grounds to believe that crimes , which fall under the jurisdiction of the court, were committed," Khan said.
20:44: The European Union is preparing a package of new economic sanctions against Russia, says EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.
20:20 Czech Foreign Minister: "The Czech Republic, unlike Germany, is not ready to provide asylum to Russians who evade military service.".
20:15 Yale School of Management: All the largest Turkish companies operating in Russia continue to operate in the country as usual, without limiting their activities in any way.
· In particular, the list of the research group includes seven large Turkish companies: Anadolu Efes – beer production; Colin's, Koton – production and sale of clothing; Sisecam – glass manufacturing, glassware, Corendon Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus – airlines.
20:06: The war between Ukraine and Russia must be stopped as soon as possible at the negotiating table, says Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
· According to him, China calls for the resumption of direct dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv without preconditions.
19:30 Reuters: US lawmakers are increasing pressure on major banks over their ties to China and Taiwan
· Also, the United States is now putting pressure on defense companies to get rid of any dependence on Chinese materials for the manufacture of weapons.
19:08 Der Spiegel: Germany may nationalize gas importer Sefe, which previously belonged to Gazprom, in order to protect the company from bankruptcy.
· A spokesman for the Ministry of Economy noted that negotiations on the future of Sefe are ongoing.
18:57 Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung - Minister of the Interior: Germany is ready to accept Russians fleeing mobilization, but only if such persons oppose the Putin regime.
· "Anyone who courageously opposes Putin's regime and puts themselves in great danger can apply for asylum in Germany due to political persecution," Fezer explained.
18:33: French actor Alain Delon visited the Embassy of Ukraine in Paris and recited Taras Shevchenko's poem "Testament".
· Delon recorded an entire program about Ukraine, which will be released in late September on TV5 Monde.
· Also, according to media reports , On Friday , Delon will record an interview with Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
18:30 local media: Protests against the ayatollah regime continue in Iran.
· It is noted that mass protests can turn into a real revolution, the trigger for which was the murder of a young girl due to improper wearing of the hijab.
18:21 Delfi: The Sejm of Lithuania has approved a temporary ban on the broadcasting of Russian and Belarusian television and radio programs in the country.
· This provision will be valid until October 16 , 2024.
18:06: Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin suggests a ban on Russians entering the country.
· According to her, partial mobilization to the Russian Federation requires a reassessment of security threats from the Finnish security authorities, so the government is ready to take measures to put an end to Russian tourism.
· According to Finnish Yle, it is assumed that family visits will remain possible.
17:43: Norway has officially suspended the visa facilitation agreement with the Russian Federation since September 22, the Norwegian Immigration Directorate (UDI) said in a statement.
17:26 Delfi: The Latvian Sejm has approved amendments according to which a residence permit for Russians will be valid until September 1, 2023. To extend the period you need to speak Latvian.
16:54 DW: The German parliament will discuss today the proposal of the largest opposition bloc CDU/CSU to supply Ukraine with western-made battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles from industrial warehouses.
16:50: The G7 countries do not recognize "referendums" in the occupied territories of Ukraine, German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbok said after a meeting of G7 ministers in New York.
16:39 Reuters: EU leaders may agree on new sanctions against Russia at a meeting in Prague on October 6-7.
· Restrictions on prices for Russian oil and new restrictions on the export of advanced technologies are being considered.
· At the same time, the agency writes that Poland and the Baltic states are seeking the confiscation of Russia's frozen assets, but the idea is unlikely to receive unanimous eu support.
16:28 Axios: Ukraine asks Israel to disclose intelligence on Iran's military support for Russia.
· The reason is the facts of the appearance of Iranian Shahed-136 drones in the combat zone in Ukraine.
16:00: Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal discussed with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern a mechanism for bringing the top leadership of the Russian Federation to justice.
· Ukraine has proposed to create a special international tribunal, which will become an effective mechanism in addition to the International Criminal Court.
15:25: Threats of nuclear weapons are a threat to the whole world, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly.
· At the same time, Borrell called President Putin's decision to mobilize "panicked and desperate."
· He stated that the EU would continue to provide full support to Ukraine to protect its sovereignty and democracy.
14:55: "Putin's reaction only encourages us to have more support for Ukraine," says German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht.
14:47 Israel Hayom: Israel has not ruled out the possibility of accepting Russians who have the right to repatriation and do not want to fight in Ukraine. Consultations are currently underway on a possible increase in the number of flights from Russia to Israel.
· In particular, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid appealed to the management of El Al airlines with a request to extend flights between the two countries.
14:08 Magyar Nemzet: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told his lawmakers that everything possible must be done to lift sanctions imposed on Russia for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the end of 2022.
13:04: Foreign ministers of Ukraine, Poland and Britain, who are in New York to participate in the UN General Assembly, met in a trilateral format and coordinated steps to counter Russian aggression in view of Putin's decision to partial mobilize, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said.
12:38 Euractiv Slovak defense minister: Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, calling on men to join the army for war in Ukraine, will put himself in a difficult political position. This could lead to the fact that the head of the Kremlin will be overthrown.
12:32 BFM TV: We want Ukraine to resist and restore its sovereignty, French President Emmanuel Macron said.
12:23 Reuters: Turkish President Erdogan will hold a "high-level meeting" on September 23 to discuss Russia's Mir payment system.
12:12: A Dutch court plans to announce a decision on November 17 in the case of the Boeing MH17 shot down by pro-Russian militants over Donbas in 2014, Judge Hendrik Steinheis said.
NATIONAL
September 23
11:58 a.m.: Those involved in pseudo-referendums are awaiting trial: their names are known to law enforcement officers, the Ministry of Reintegration of Ukraine said.
· "Sanctions will be imposed on those involved. Their criminal prosecution will also be initiated, social payments will be suspended, movable and immovable property will be seized," the message says.
10:42 Border Guard Service: The number of people entering Kazakhstan from Russia across the land border of the two countries has increased.
10:13 Press service: SBU neutralizes hacker group that "hacked" almost 30 million accounts of Ukrainian and EU citizens
· It consisted of several hackers from Lviv who acted in the interests of the Russian Federation. According to preliminary data, hackers sold approximately 30 million accounts and received almost UAH 14 million. "profit".
· Their "wholesale customers" were pro-Kremlin propagandists.
10:02: During the day on September 22, anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed:
· 3 UAV (OTR)
· 4 Iranian-made Kamikaze drones "Shahed-136".
· Aviation of the Air Force carried out up to 10 group airstrikes in different directions.
09:20 Operational Command South: The air defense forces in the Mykolaiv and Bashtansky districts shot down 5 kamikaze drones directed by the enemy at the positions of the Defense Forces.
· At night, explosions were heard in Mykolaiv. Previously, the office building of the industrial infrastructure facility was affected. Private houses, water supply and power grids were also damaged
09:16 Commissioner for Human Rights: Many Ukrainian defenders released from Russian captivity have health problems.
· "The guys said they were kept in terrible conditions. A very small amount of food was provided to them. They have never seen representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross. There was a limited amount of water and did not give personal hygiene products," Lubinets stressed.
· He added that the leadership and well-known fighters of the Azov regiment were kept in solitary confinement.
07:31: Operational information from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:
· Over the past day, the Russians inflicted 4 missile and 27 air strikes, carried out more than 75 attacks from multiple launch rocket systems on military and civilian targets in Ukraine, violating the norms of International Humanitarian Law, the laws and customs of warfare.
· During the day, units of the Defense Forces repulsed enemy attacks in the areas of the settlements of Kupyansk, Disputed, Mayorsk, Zaitsevo, Avdiivka, Novomykhailivka, Opytne and Kamyanka.
· According to available information, as a result of fire damage in the area of the settlement of Svatove, the commander of the 144th motorized rifle division of the 20th Combined Arms Army of the Russian Federation, Major General Tsokov, was wounded. He was evacuated on September 20 of this year.
· From September 19 to September 20 this year, 105 bodies of dead Russian servicemen were delivered to the military hospital in Rostov-on-Don, and preparatory measures are being taken to take another 200 bodies soon.
· To compensate for the losses in manpower, the Russians continue forced mobilization in the temporarily occupied territories. men, regardless of their age or state of health.
· In the period from September 18 to September 20 this year, in the Luhansk pre-trial detention center, representatives of a Russian private company tried unsuccessfully to recruit prisoners.
· As part of the implementation of partial mobilization measures, the occupation authorities of Crimea stated that the main number of reservists is planned to be recruited from among the employees of private security companies with military experience services.
· In Sevastopol, some firms have already been instructed to prepare lists of all employees who are subject to the requirements.
· It is also known about the early graduation in Smolensk of cadets of graduation courses of the Military Academy of Air Defense of the RF Armed Forces named after Marshal Vasilevsky, and their further placement in the troops.
· On the basis of the Moscow Combined Arms Command School, in the period from September 26 to October 24, the Russian military leadership plans to hold a meeting with citizens who are in reserve.
07:24 Operational Command South: The aviation of the Southern Defense Forces launched 13 strikes on the positions of the Russian army.
· Servicemen of missile and artillery units hit 2 control points in Beryslav and Nova Kakhovka, 3 cells of forces and equipment in Kherson and Kakhovka districts, destroyed an ammunition depot in Beryslav district.
00:34: An SBU officer with the call sign "Buryi", who side by side with other defenders defended Mariupol at Azovstal, also returned from captivity
00:19 Defense Intelligence: Foreigners released from captivity want to fight for Ukraine
· "10 foreign nationals. And every second of them, having just left the board in not the best physical shape, said that he wanted to continue to defend Ukraine".
· He noted that one of them was even going to return and live in Ukraine because he fell in love.
September 22
23:26 President’s Office: Appealed to mobilized Russians
· "Forcibly mobilized citizens of the Russian Federation who do not want to die ingloriously in a foreign country! At the first opportunity, surrender. Ukraine guarantees you the preservation of life and a worthy appeal.
21:52 National Bank of Ukraine: Fluctuations in the dollar exchange rate in the cash market are associated with the announcement of mobilization in Russia.
21:29 Commissioner for Human Rights: Before the exchange of prisoners, Ukrainians were kept blindfolded for 6 hours.
· "Knowing that they were being given away, they were still kept on buses with their eyes wrapped up and not let go anywhere. It was only after the process had already begun that they were finally allowed to remove these bandages late in the evening," he says.
21:20: During the investigation of Medvedchuk's case, the SBU discovered information about Russian agent networks and traitors, exposed and detained them, acting head of the special service Vasyl Malyuk at a briefing.
· "We exposed the agent network of the so-called "Professor", which operated in Odesa and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. The agents were engaged in collecting information and transferring it to the Russian special services.
· In addition, we can recall the detention of the "mole" - an official of the Cabinet of Ministers, the head of one of the departments, who transmitted information to the enemy, in particular secret information," Malyuk said.
21:15 Bild: Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the West for its unwillingness to give tanks to Ukraine.
18:37 Operational information from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 18:00 on September 22:
· During the day, the enemy inflicted 4 missile and 17 air strikes, carried out more than 24 MLRS attacks on military and civilian targets on the territory of Ukraine.
· The infrastructure of more than 30 settlements has suffered , these are, in particular, Pryshyb, Controversial, Vesele, Marinka, Bakhmut, Kostiantynivka, Neskuchne, Poltavka, Yegorivka, Bezimenne, Bilohirka, Zaporizhia, Kryvyi Rih, Pervomaisk, Mykolaiv, Ochakov, Vysokopillya, Sukhoi Stavok and Myrolyubivka.
· For the current day, units of the Defense Forces repulsed enemy attacks in the areas of the settlements of Kupyansk, Zaitseve and Novomykhailivka.
· During the day, the aviation of the Defense Forces hit 10 areas of concentration of enemy manpower and military equipment and 2 positions of anti-aircraft missile systems.
· In addition, Ukrainian air defense units destroyed two Russian UAVs.
· Rocket troops and artillery for the current day inflicted fire damage at 4 control points, 2 areas of concentration of personnel and military equipment, 3 air defense positions, artillery positions, as well as 3 ammunition depots.
· Work on the preparation and holding of the so-called "referendum" in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine has intensified.
· Thus, in the settlements of the Kherson region, representatives of the Russian occupation authorities, under the pretext of high-quality distribution of humanitarian aid, are trying to obtain their personal data from local residents. The formation of so-called "election commissions" continues.
· In the city of Starobilsk, Luhansk region, the occupation authorities banned the local population from leaving the city from September 23 to September 27.
· According to available information, the Russians are creating armed groups to circumvent their homes and force people to participate in the so-called "referendum". Preparations are underway for the filming of stories by the propaganda media about a kind of "active participation of local residents in the vote."
· In the temporarily occupied territory of the Zaporozhye region, local residents are promised a monetary reward and household appliances for providing passport data and obtaining Russian citizenship.
18:00 Chief Sanitary Doctor: The third case of monkeypox was confirmed in Ukraine. All patients have a mild course of the disease.
· "There is currently no confirmation that these cases are related. The risk of spreading this disease among more people is currently low," he added.
17:57: Volodymyr Zelenskyy has set up a working group "to work out the issue of establishing a special international tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine."
17:39 ITV News - Defense Intelligence: Russia's use of nuclear weapons is dangerous for all countries of the Black Sea region.
· "The explosion of tactical nuclear weapons will have an impact not only on the Ukraine, but also on the Black Sea region. We remember the history of Chernobyl. Perhaps we will have another catastrophe on our territory, in Eastern Europe," Skibitsky said.
· According to him, the consequences of the use of nuclear weapons may affect, in particular, Poland, Turkey and Bulgaria.
17:20: The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has established an inter-factional deputy association "Tribunal for Russian Aggressors". 50 people's deputies have already joined it, mp Oleksandr Kachura said.
· According to him, the main goal is to unite and coordinate the joint efforts of people's deputies, the Office of the President, law enforcement agencies and international partners in bringing the Russian Federation to justice for the committed crimes in Ukraine.
17:06: Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Italian Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini in Kyiv.
· "For Italy, despite the large number of internal issues, the situation in Ukraine remains very important. We feel the constant support of our sovereignty and territorial integrity, the struggle for our existence by Prime Minister Mario Draghi, the government and the Italian people," the President of Ukraine said.
16:32: Comparative maps of the Russian invasion of Ukraine according to British intelligence as of September 8 and 22.
15:45 Minister of Foreign Affairs: The studio audience of American host Stephen Colbert applauded Ukrainians and the Armed Forces.
· Colbert asked him about the liberation of the Kharkiv region. Kuleba replied: "This proves not only to us, but to the whole world that we (Ukraine - ed.) we know how to win and we win."
15:14: The sister of Dmitry "Orest" Kozatsky, released from Russian captivity, shared a photo with her brother.
15:09 Vinnytsia RMA: The youngest defender of Azovstal, 19-year-old paramedic Nazariy "Grinka" Grintsevich, was released from captivity of the Russians.
14:31: The Ukrainian Team, together with the Caritas Spes Charitable Foundation, sent 12 tons of food packages of 6 kg each to displaced persons, residents of de-occupied territories and other people affected by the war, said the head of the Ukrainian team Artur Palatny.
· According to Palatny, part of the cargo will go to Demidov, Kyiv region, the rest of the kits will be received by migrants from the Dnipropetrovsk region and residents of the liberated territories.
· Earlier, "Ukrainian Team" and "Caritas Spes" donated 20 tons of food packages to residents of Kyiv and Chernihiv regions.
14:13 President’s Office: Russian intelligence has a whole network of agents in Ukraine, including in the security and defense sector.
· To prevent further successful actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Russians are trying to oppose something to this, for example, the same mobilization.
14:04 SBU press service: Soldiers of the SBU’s Special Operations Center "A" continue to "demobilize" Russian soldiers on all fronts.
· Over the past few days, they destroyed: Russian armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles, a Russian ammunition depot , a Russian tank, and struck the positions of Russian infantry.
13:38 State Border Guard: Ukrainian male students studying abroad can no longer go abroad during martial law.
· According to him, the top military leadership has canceled the possibility of male students crossing the Ukrainian border since September 14 due to massive forgeries of documents.
13:33 Stratcom of the Armed Forces: The Ukrainian military shot down an Iranian kamikaze drone Shahed-136 yesterday. The Armed Forces of Ukraine showed its engine, which is the size of the engine of the Java motorcycle.
12:57: The International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is part of the World Bank, has allocated $30 million for investments in Ukraine and Moldova, the press service of the Ministry of Economy reports.
12:52 Ministry of Infrastructure: The fourth vessel chartered by the UN World Food Program today left the port of Odessa and is transporting Ukrainian wheat to Afghanistan.
· As of the morning of September 22, 7 vessels have left the ports of Greater Odessa, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure.
· Vessels loaded 107.5 thousand tons of agricultural products for Asia and Europe.
MORDOR (Russia)
September 23
10:33 a.m.: In Buryatia, a man came to hand over a military summons in the middle of the night.
· An angry local resident threatened to call law enforcement officers, because the men from the military registration and enlistment office not only did not introduce themselves, but also began knocking on the door in the middle of the night.
09:25: Local telegram channels report that Russian Mir cards have stopped accepting In Uzbekistan.
· Earlier, these cards were refused in Turkey, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, and Armenia due to fears of falling under secondary sanctions.
08:36: Today, at 8 am Kyiv time, "referendums" for joining Russia began in occupied territories.
· They will vote for 5 days - from today to September 27.
· The questions in the ballots will be different: residents of the temporarily occupied Kherson and Zaporizhia regions will be asked if they want to create an "independent state" and then become part of the Russian Federation.
· In the "LDPR" stage with independence will be missed and immediately proceed to joining Russia.
· Preliminary results are intended to be announced on September 27-28.
· 08:53 Mayor: In Sloviansk, the area of the meat processing plant was shelled at night. There are no casualties.
00:11: Ramzan Kadyrov says Chechnya will not be affected by mobilization, because during the war the republic "exceeded the plan"
· According to him, Chechnya exceeded the "lowered plan" by 254%, because 20 thousand people took part in the hostilities during the war.
September 22
23:38: The Ukrainian army has grouped serious forces in the north of the Donetsk region and may go on the offensive, said the so-called "head of the DPR" Denis Pushilin.
23:33 Russian media: Putin spoke by phone with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud.
· It is reported that they discussed the issue of ensuring stability in the global oil market.
18:09 Social networks: Mobilization of Russians on Sakhalin Island.
17:51: A video of mobilized Russians being loaded into a plane at Magadan airport.
20:59: In Buryatia, a summons was sent to the father of five children who never served. This was revealed by his wife in a video message.
20:49: Russians of draft age who do not want to be mobilized are trying to leave the country. It is reported about many hours of traffic jams on the borders with Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia.
20:32 General Staff of the Russian Federation: As part of the autumn conscription, 120 thousand conscripts will be called. They are promised not to send them to the war in Ukraine.
20:26 Intelligence Directorate: Medvedchuk worked for the Russian federal security service. Through him, the financing of certain officials and agent networks went directly.
· First of all, it is a means of influence and money laundering, which is why they fought for it so much.
19:54: Chechnya's head Ramzan Kadyrov said he was extremely dissatisfied with yesterday's exchange of prisoners of war conducted by Russia and Ukraine:
· "I am extremely dissatisfied with yesterday's exchange. Even the situation itself is generally incomprehensible to me. Whenever combat or tactical decisions were made, we, active participants in the special operation, were consulted.
· We exchanged on Ukrainian terms. This is not correct. Our fighters pressed the fascists in Mariupol, drove them to Azovstal, smoked them out of basements, died, were injured and contusions. And therefore it is not surprising that the fighters who liberated Mariupol and are now on the front line, draw their conclusion – not to take the fascists prisoner," he said.
19:47: The referendum in Donbas, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions is a response to Volodymyr Zelenskyy's call for all Russians to leave Ukraine, says Russian Foreign Ministry Sergey Lavrov at a meeting of the UN Security Council.
19:14 Deutsche Welle: Men with Russian passports are checked at Minsk airport.
· Police officers take part in the inspections.
19:04: After Putin announced mobilization in Russia, 90% support for the "special operation" instantly disappeared, Russian opposition politician and journalist Igor Yakovenko said in an interview with OBOZREVATEL.
· "A significant number of Russians were ready to support this war while sitting on the couch. But as soon as their own lives touched, all that support instantly evaporated. Nobody wants to die, it's not clear what you have to give your own life for," he said.
19:25: Mobilization in the city of Vladimir, Russia. Videos from local social networks.
18:14: Russian Senator from Crimea Olga Kovitidi proposed to reduce the list of diseases that give exemptions from military service.
· Kovitidi "reminded" that they are now "exempt from conscription and military fees, are conscripts with flat feet and scoliosis of certain degrees."
17:03 Social Networks: Residents of the city of Baksan in the Russian republic of Kabardino-Balkaria went to a rally against mobilization.
16:46 Social Networks: In the Babayurt district of Dagestan, people protesting against mobilization blocked the federal highway.
16:15 Social Networks: In the city of Dalnerechensk (Primorsky Krai of the Russian Federation), the police drive around the city looking to collect men and send them to the army.
16:10 President’s Office: Mobilization will cost the Russian budget at least 1.3 trillion rubles annually.
15:55: In Dagestan, an employee of the military registration and enlistment office tried to convince the men to go to the front.
· However , the men said no one attacked them, so it was politics, not war.
15:50: Belarusian security forces were instructed to "track" Russians who are hiding from mobilization, writes the publication "Our Field".
· "So far, at the level of oral orders, it has been proven to observe "apartments for a day", to come into contact with homeowners. New cars in the yards with Russian numbers were also ordered to be tracked. Collect information, check documents," the publication quoted a Belarusian operative as saying.
15:29: Russian airline "Aeroflot" will fully refund the funds for the air tickets to mobilized citizens who bought the ticket before September 21, according to a statement on the company's website.
15:41: The SBU exposes Russians' plans to involve children in voting at the pseudo-referendum of the so-called "DPR".
· The invaders hope to expand the "electoral base" to support the accession to the Russian Federation of part of eastern Ukraine and to involve local residents aged 13 to 17 in pseudo-voting.
· The SBU identified all the organizers, established their whereabouts and documented the crimes.
14:59: Activists of the Zhovta Lenta movement distribute pro-Ukrainian graffiti and leaflets in the temporarily occupied Donetsk and Luhansk.
14:51: In Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, one of the bridges separating the city center and the industrial zone was blown up - the media.
14:19: During a meeting with those mobilized in Buryatia, a representative of the military registration and enlistment office explained to the audience that they would be trained first. For example, bandage yourself, because many at the front die from elementary blood loss.
· "The question is serious. Men, you go to fight, so treat yourself“.
12:43: Russia. Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport - Huge queues of men to leave the country.
13:28 Local Media: In the temporarily occupied Donetsk, the Covered Market was shelled, at least 5 people were killed.
KHARKIV
September 23
09:43 RMA: Kupyansk and Kupyansk district were massively shelled yesterday. There are victims, including children.
· In Kupiansk, 3 people were injured, including 2 children – a boy and a girl of 7 years each. Doctors assess their condition as moderate.
· In the Kupyansk district , 4 people were injured.
· 2 people – a 67-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man blew up on a mine in the Chuguev district. Both are hospitalized with injuries.
· Yesterday afternoon, the Russians once again launched a missile strike on the village of Pechenegy, Chuguevsky district.
September 22
16:05 Deputy Mayor: In de-occupied Izyum, due to destruction, the situation is close to apocalyptic.
· "The central part and high-rise buildings, if we previously told correspondents that they were destroyed by 80%, today I would say that it is 90% complete or partial destruction. The residential sector is private, one-story, it is in slightly better condition, There are no human losses but more work needs to be done there to understand the real situation," he said
LUHANSK
September 23
11:30 Luhansk RMA: Russians have closed cities for departure, people are not allowed out so as not to lose "votes”.
11:45 Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: In the Liman direction, the planned work of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the liberation of Ukrainian lands from the Russians is taking place.
· According to him , Lyman is the next step towards the liberation of Luhansk region.
11:43: "We never wanted to go to Russia," migrants from Snihurivka appealed to the residents of the community to ignore the "referendum"
· "We, the residents of Snihurivka, gathered today for a protest rally regarding the illegal holding of a "referendum" in the city of Snihurivka and nearby villages. The Snihurovsky Region has always been and will always be Ukraine. We call on the residents of Snihurika and nearby villages, the Snihurivka community not to go to the referendum and not to participate in the illegal holding of the referendum.
DONETSK
September 23
10:20 RMA: The Russian military killed seven civilians in the Donetsk region today. Another 17 people were injured.
09:36 Adviser to the mayor: 27 heavy military trucks entered Mariupol. They move to the middle of the city, some are loaded.
· "This is how the first day of the "referendum" performance began in Mariupol. True, it seems to be the free expression of the will of the townspeople.”
08:46 Prosecutors Office: Russian shelling of Toretsk killed and 6 others wounded
· "The shells hit a two-story house, a store, private houses and a car. The shelling killed two civilians - a woman and a man. Six local residents, including a 15-year-old girl, were injured of varying severity".
September 22
21:04: Local residents on social networks report a powerful explosion at a railway junction in the temporarily occupied Yasynuvata Donetsk region.
· Eyewitnesses say that there was a train with armored vehicles of the Russian military at the station.
17:17 Donetsk RMA: Showed the consequences of a Russian missile strike on an art school in the city of Chasiv Yar.
ZAPORIZHYA
September 23
11:50 a.m.: Activists of the Zhovta Lenta movement are actively working in the cities of Melitopol and Berdyansk, recording participants and organizers of the "referendum" and continuing to put up leaflets.
10:46: Russians close departure for men from occupied Melitopol
10:53: Armed Russian soldiers hold a "referendum" in Melitopol.
· Right now in Melitopol, the Russian army with machine guns is "collecting" the necessary votes for the referendum
· Locals report that ballots were brought to the city the day before, with no tear-off coupons.
· People are asked to vote right in front of the members of the "election commissions" accompanied by armed machine gunners.
09:55: According to residents of the temporarily occupied Berdyansk, members of the so-called polling stations with urns, accompanied by Russian military and police with machine guns, began to go around the houses of Berdyansk residents.
09:08 RMA: Reported three victims of night shelling by Russian troops.
· In Zaporizhia, a civilian infrastructure facility was destroyed, houses and cars around were damaged.
· Another object in Zaporozhye suffered destruction. Also, one of the missiles aimed at a building near a city in the Zaporozhye district. There are no casualties.
08:21 Mayor: At 7 am in Melitopol there was a loud explosion, which was well felt by residents in the city center.
· "People are afraid to leave the house. And this fear is in the hands of the occupiers - on the first day of the house "voting" on the pseudo-referendum, they need everyone to sit quietly at home".
08:17 City Council: As a result of night strikes on Zaporizhzhia, the civilian infrastructure of the city was damaged. At this time, it is known about seven damaged houses in which window panes flew. Unfortunately, people were affected again.
00:03 RMA: Confirmed the rocket attack on the regional center.
· There were about ten missiles.
September 22
23:49 Social Networks: Report explosions in Zaporizhia.
DNIPRO
September 23
10:24 Social Networks: Residents of the Dnipropetrovsk region report explosions.
08:26 RMA: The Russians launched Grads and heavy artillery at Nikopol and Manganese. Almost 30 shells were sent to peaceful cities.
· In Manganese, two people were killed - a man and a woman. Rescuers took three of them out from under the rubble.
· Due to the Russian attack, 2,200 families were left without power.
06:59 Social Networks: Report explosions in Nikopol.
KHERSON
September 22
23:10 Social Networks: Report explosions in occupied Kherson.
21:26 Social Networks: report explosions in occupied Nova Kakhovka, Kherson region.
18:25: The doctor-forensic expert of the Kakhovka branch of the communal institution "Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination" was informed in absentia of suspicion of treason, according to the prosecutor's office of the Kherson region.
· The suspect voluntarily began to cooperate with the Russians, re-registered the communal institution of the regional council in the justice bodies of the Russian Federation and introduces standards for conducting forensic medical examinations of Russia in the temporarily occupied territory Kherson region.
17:36 Operational Command South: The Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked the command post of Russian troops in Nova Kakhovka, a drone control point in the Beryslav district, and a convoy of equipment near Kherson.
· Fire control over the bridge over the Kakhovka HPP and over alternative crossings that the Russian military is trying to build has been confirmed.
16:20 Operational Command South: Today's strike on Ochakov was carried out by the Russian army with the help of Iranian kamikaze drones of the Shahid-136 type, the said.
· One of the two attacking drones was shot down by Ukrainian units, the other hit the port tug. The firefighters quickly curbed the fire.
13:13: Activists of the Zhovta Lenta movement distribute pro-Ukrainian leaflets in the temporarily occupied Kherson, Henichesk and Nova Kakhovka.
MYKOLAIV
September 23
11:10 Media Reports: In Mykolaiv, an office building, as well as private and high-rise buildings nearby, suffered significant damage as a result of a missile strike.
· On-site employees work utility workers who are engaged in the restoration of damaged communications.
00:39 Social Networks: Report explosions in Mykolaiv.
September 22
22:53 Command of the Air Force: In the sky over the Mykolaiv region, four Iranian-made kamikaze drones "Shahed-136” - were shot down.
17:52 Social Networks: Explosions were heard in the Mykolaiv area, according to followers. We are waiting for official information.
OTHER REGIONS
September 23
10:08 a.m.: The Kyiv OVA warns that the sounds of explosions may be heard in the capital and in the region: technical work will be carried out in the "Rokytnyansk Special Pit", which will be accompanied by the sounds of explosions.
September 22
23:08 Sumy RMA: Today Russian troops carried out 11 attacks on 10 communities in the region. 130 arrivals were recorded.
· 4 civilians were wounded and private, educational and administrative buildings were damaged.
17:12 Sumy RMA: At noon, the Russians fired 13 mines at the border village of Volfyne. As a result, grain warehouses on a local farm caught fire.
· Also, 26 mines were fired at one of the border villages of velykopysarivska community.
15:36: Kyiv will purchase mobile heated houses and mobile heating points in case of emergencies.
· According to Vitali Klitschko, mobile heated houses will be used as a backup source of heat supply in case of emergency situations during the heating season. and schools, and will also work in heating points that the city will deploy.
· Klitschko also announced negotiations with German partners on the supply of generators and mobile heating points to Kyiv as an aid.
13:54 RMA: Today, training for sappers will be held on the territory of the Vyshgorod district of the Kyiv region. The training includes practicing removing and eliminating explosive objects.
13:23 SBU press service: The SBU charged a Kyiv blogger who filmed provocative streams for RosSMI discrediting the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
· The Security Service documented in Kyiv the information and subversive activities of one of the well-known bloggers who spread Russian propaganda.
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