CDS Daily brief (10.09.22) | CDS comments on key events

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Humanitarian aspect:

As of the morning of September 10, 2022, more than 1,129 Ukrainian children are victims of full-scale armed aggression by the Russian Federation, Prosecutor General’s Office reports. The official number of children who have died and who have been wounded in the course of the Russian aggression is 383 and more than 746, respectively. However, the data is not conclusive since data collection continues in the areas of active hostilities, temporarily occupied areas, and liberated territories.

On the night of September 10, around 01:10, Mykolaiv was shelled, the Head of Mykolayiv Oblast Military Administration Vitaliy Kim said. Also, around 05:30, there was shelling outside the villages of Chervona Dolyna and Shyroke. There are no casualties reported. Shelling of the Bereznehuvate amalgamated community and nearby villages continued.

Today around noon, the Russian army shelled Zelenodolsk in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, with “Uragan” MLRS hitting an industrial enterprise, said the head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Council, Mykola Lukashuk. No victims were reported. Lukashuk stressed that Zelenodolsk is one the most heavily shelled towns in the Kryvy Rih district. During the morning shelling in the Sinelnykove district, two trucks and a tractor were damaged in two agricultural enterprises, and a garage and a forge were destroyed. The Russian forces fired six S-300 rockets. Their impact created craters up to seven meters deep.

At night, the Russian military once again hit Kharkiv Oblast with missiles. A private house was struck in the village of Nova Vodolaha. A female body was recovered from its rubble, the Kharkiv Oblast Directorate of the State Emergency Service reported.

The city of Kharkiv came under Russian fire on the evening of September 10. At least two people were injured and one person killed. As of 19:30, the shelling still continued, the city mayor Ihor Terekhov said.

As of today, September 10, due to the damaged power lines, poles and equipment, 38,748 households in 94 towns and villages of Zaporizhzhya Oblast are left without electric power supply. The data accounts only for the part of the Oblast controlled by the Ukrainian government, Zaporizhzhya Oblast Military Administration said.

The Russian-installed authorities of the part of Kharkiv Oblast occupied by the Russian Federation called on all residents of the occupied areas to “evacuate” to Russia “to save their lives”. The “evacuation” is due to the Ukrainian counteroffensive on the Kharkiv Oblast.

The “Yellow Ribbon” resistance movement distributed leaflets calling for the liberation of Crimea and stating that Crimea is Ukrainian territory. In Kherson Oblast, activists of the “Yellow Ribbon”

movement distributed leaflets calling on the locals not to take Russian passports. They also called on the residents to take yellow ribbons and tie them to trees and other objects outside, Ukrinform reports.

Occupied territories

At least 70 thousand people, which comprises more than half of the city’s population, have evacuated from Melitopol, Zaporizhzhya Oblast, the legally elected Ukrainian city mayor Ivan Fedorov said. He said that no official evacuation is organized; however, it is still possible to evacuate with private transportation, and volunteers are helping with that. A new wave of evacuation is expected before the start of the heating season in October.

The occupying authorities of the part of Kharkiv Oblast occupied by the Russian Federation called on all residents of the occupied areas to “evacuate” to Russia “to save their lives”. The “evacuation” is due to the Ukrainian counteroffensive on the Kharkiv Oblast.

The “Yellow Ribbon” resistance movement distributed leaflets calling for the liberation of Crimea and stating that Crimea is Ukrainian territory. In Kherson Oblast, activists of the “Yellow Ribbon” movement distributed leaflets calling on the locals not to take Russian passports. They also called on the residents to take yellow ribbons and tie them to trees and other objects outside, Ukrinform reports.

Operational situation

It is the 199th day of the strategic air-ground offensive operation of the Russian Armed Forces against Ukraine (in the official terminology of the Russian Federation – “operation to protect Donbas”). The enemy continues to concentrate its efforts on establishing full control over the territory of Donetsk Oblast, maintaining the captured parts of Kherson, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhya, and Mykolaiv Oblasts.

The Russian military conducts high intensity aerial reconnaissance and continues improving its troops’ logistical support.

There is a continued threat of air and missile strikes throughout the territory of Ukraine, in particular from the territory and airspace of the Republic of Belarus. Over the past day, the Russian forces launched 13 missile and 23 air strikes on targets on the territory of Ukraine. In particular, infrastructure was affected in the areas around Velyki Prokhody, Avdiivka, Nevelske, Maryinka, Velyka Novosilka, Neskuchne, Vilne Pole, Poltavka, Mali Shcherbaky, Bilohirya, Ternovi Pody, Blahodatne, Suhy Stavok, Kostromka and Bezimenne.

The Russian forces dealt airstrikes on civilian and military infrastructure in the areas around Senkivka, Bleshnya, Hai in Chernihiv Oblast and Slavhorod, Velyka Pysarivka, Stukalevka, Zapsillia, Khodyne, Myropilske and Velikiy Prykil in Sumy Oblast.

In addition, the Russian military conducted aerial reconnaissance using UAVs – 96 sorties were recorded.

During the day, to support the ground groupings, the Ukrainian Air Force carried out 33 strikes. It destroyed an ammunition depot, and inflicted damage on almost 25 enemy strongholds and places of manpower and equipment concentration.

Ukrainian air defense units destroyed two UAVs and one cruise missile in different directions.

Over the past day, missile troops and artillery of the Ukrainian Defense Forces damaged eighteen enemy control points of various levels, 28 areas of the Russian manpower concentration, air defense and EW systems, artillery units, and more than twenty ammunition and fuel depots.

During the day, the Russian forces launched more than 12 missile and more than 12 air strikes on targets on the territory of Ukraine. For this purpose, they flew up to forty sorties. In particular, infrastructure was affected in Velyki Prohody, Starovirivka, Yuryvka, Temyrivka, Ternovi Pody, Sukhy Stavok, Barvinok and Bilohirka.

Command and staff exercises continue in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus. Six battalions were deployed along the state border with Ukraine: one of the 11th separate motorized rifle brigade (Slonim), one of the 103rd separate airborne brigade (Vitebsk), and four from the 6th separate motorized rifle brigade (Grodno) and a detachment of the 5th separate SOF brigade (Maryina Gorka), up to two self-propelled artillery batteries (Ivanova Sloboda, Gomel Oblast), up to two self-propelled artillery batteries (Tonezh, Gomel region) and up to a “Msta-B” howitzer battery (Vidibor, Brest Oblast).

Units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces hold their positions and prevent the Russian military from advancing deep into the Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian troops successfully repelled Russian attacks in the areas of Kostyantynivka, Prudyanka, Ruski Tyshky, Virnopillya, Mykolaivka Druha, Zaitseve, Avdiivka, Kamianka, Pobieda and Bezimenne.

The 237th air assault regiment of the Russian Airborne Forces ceased to exist due to the death or injury of all servicemen of the regiment. A significant part of those who survived is in extremely poor condition.

At the same time, propagandists of Russian mass media claim that the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is a fake “PR action”. Kremlin propaganda is trying to convince its citizens that all reports of a counteroffensive are a “show performance” for Europe and the civilized world, and all the weapons and military equipment the West had provided [to Ukraine] have been sold to unknown buyers.

The morale and psychological state of the personnel of the invasion forces are considerably deteriorating due to significant losses and unwillingness to fight. The number of deserters in the Russian units is increasing. In the area of Babenkivka Druga (Kharkiv Oblast), the Russian military is using helicopters and weapons to search for deserters and return them to combat positions. In

addition, an intensive bus movement of unarmed Russian soldiers through the Kalanchak checkpoint in the direction of the temporarily occupied Crimea was recorded.

Kharkiv direction

• Zolochiv-Balakleya section: approximate length of combat line – 147 km, number of BTGs of the RF Armed Forces – 10-12, the average width of the combat area of one BTG – 13.3 km;
• Deployed enemy BTGs: 26th, 153rd and 197th tank regiments, 245th motorized rifle regiment of the 47th tank division, 6th and 239th tank regiments, 228th motorized rifle regiment of the 90th tank division, 1st motorized rifle regiment, 1st tank regiment of the 2nd motorized rifle division, 25th and 138th separate motorized rifle brigades of the 6th Combined Arms Army, 27th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 1st Tank Army, 275th and 280th motorized rifle regiments, 11th tank regiment of the 18th motorized rifle division of the 11 Army Corps, 7th motorized rifle regiment of the 11th Army Corps, 80th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 14th Army Corps, 2nd and 45th separate SOF brigades of the Airborne Forces, 1st Army Corps of so-called DPR, PMCs.

The main efforts of the Russian forces were focused on restraining the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the Balaklia operational direction. As part of this effort, the Russian command moved additional units of the “Wagner” PMC and the marines of the Northern Fleet. The occupation authorities considered a possible “mobilization” of the male population in the occupied territories.

The Russian occupiers shelled the military and civilian infrastructure with tanks, combat vehicles, barrel and rocket artillery in the areas around Dmytrivka, Prudyanka, Zolochiv, Sosnivka, Duvanka, Udy, Liptsi, Peremoha, Momotove, Borshchova, Velyki Prokhody, Ruski Tyshki, Stary Saltiv, Cherkaski Tyshki and Petrivka.

As a result of the successful actions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, the enemy retreated from Velyki Prokhody, Nechvolodivka, and Morozivka. On September 9, the enemy 7th separate motorized rifle regiment of the 11th Army Corps of the Coastal Forces of the Baltic Fleet withdrew from Balaklia in the direction of Savyntsi and took up the defense.

In total, more than a thousand square kilometers of Ukrainian territory were liberated from the Russian occupation forces. Units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces wedged themselves into the enemy’s defense to a depth of up to 50 km. More than thirty towns and villages were liberated or taken under control.

Ukrainian communities are returning to normal life in the liberated territories. Demining is underway. Units of the Ukrainian National Guard conduct stabilization measures. The National Police has resumed its operation. The police record numerous crimes committed by the Russian military on Ukrainian soil and are ready to counter provocations and infiltration by sabotage reconnaissance groups. The local population is immediately provided with all possible assistance because the [Russian] occupiers left behind destroyed infrastructure, houses, and [lots of] scrap metal [from their destroyed equipment].

As a result of the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in several directions, the occupying forces are looking for ways to withdraw from the hostilities and possible encirclement areas safely.

The enemy 202nd separate motorized rifle regiment retreated from its positions and moved to the nearest forest strip. The military unit was left without commanders and communications. Currently, the Russian soldiers call their relatives with requests to contact the command and find out where they should go next. Some of them ask their wives to contact the hotlines of the Russian Ministry of Defense and the Red Cross with a demand to withdraw them from the territory of Ukraine.

The Russian occupiers tried to resist the offensive in the Kharkiv direction, shelling the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with tanks and the heavy flamethrower system “Solntsepiok”. However, they suffered considerable losses, left their positions and retreated in small groups. They complain about the powerful offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the lack of ammunition and equipment. Due to the lack of logistics, they retreat in a disorganized manner. Bicycles and scooters taken from the local population are used to leave combat positions. Many enemy soldiers go on foot.

Kramatorsk direction

• Balakleya – Siversk section: approximate length of the combat line – 184 km, the number of BTGs of the RF Armed Forces – 17-20, the average width of the combat area of one BTG – 9.6 km;
• 252nd and 752nd motorized rifle regiments of the 3rd motorized rifle division, 1st, 13th and 12th tank regiments, 423rd motorized rifle regiment of the 4th tank division, 201st military base, 15th, 21st, 30th separate motorized rifle brigades of the 2nd Combined Arms Army, 35th, 55th and 74th separate motorized rifle brigades of the 41st Combined Arms Army, 3rd and 14th separate SOF brigades, 2nd and 4th separate motorized rifle brigades of the 2nd Army Corps, 7th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 1st Army Corps, PMCs.

The Russian forces concentrate their main efforts on the Siversk direction, shelling the Ukrainian positions with barrel, rocket artillery and tank weapons in the areas around Sloviansk, Dolyna, Krasnopillya, Velyka Komyshuvakha, Mykilske, Dibrivne, Serebryanka, Kryva Luka, Sydorove, Hryhorivka, Ivano -Daryivka, Spirne, Dmytrivka, Virnopillya, Bohorodychne, Verkhnokamyanske, Siversk, and Rozdolivka.

Ukrainian Defense forces successfully repelled enemy attacks in the Soledar area.

Donetsk direction

• Siversk – Maryinka section: approximate length of the combat line – 235 km, the number of BTGs of the RF Armed Forces – 13-15, the average width of the combat area of one BTG – 17 km;
• Deployed BTGs: 68th and 163rd tank regiments, 102nd and 103rd motorized rifle regiments of the 150 motorized rifle division, 80th tank regiment of the 90th tank division, 35th, 55th and 74th separate motorized rifle brigades of the 41st Combined Arms Army, 31st separate airborne assault brigade, 61st separate marines brigade of the Joint Strategic Command “Northern Fleet”, 336th separate marines brigade, 24th separate SOF brigade, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 15th, and 100th separate motorized rifle brigades, 9th and 11th separate motorized rifle regiment of the 1st Army Corps of the so-called DPR, 6th motorized rifle regiment of the 2nd Army Corps of the so-called LNR, PMCs.

The enemy’s main efforts were focused on conducting hostilities in the Bakhmut operational direction, shelling the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the areas around Zaitseve, Mykolaivka Druga, Vesela Dolyna, Soledar, Bakhmutske, Bakhmut, Yakovlivka, Krasnohorivka, Avdiivka, Opytne, Vodyane, Karlivka, Pervomaiske, New -York, Zaitseve, Mayorsk, Vesele, and Pisky.

Ukrainian Defense forces successfully repelled Russian attacks in the areas of Zaitseve, Vesela Dolyna, Bakhmut and Pervomaiske.

The enemy 3rd separate motorized rifle brigade of the 1st Army Corps of the so-called DPR attacked the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the areas of Zaitseve (lower), Mayorsk and Hladosove, Mykolaivka Druga. The battle continues. In the area of Kodema, Mykolaivka Druga, the Russian military wedged into the Ukrainian defense to the depth of the platoon strongholds. It was stopped and pushed back in other directions.

The units of the “Wagner” PMC and the 7th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 1st Army Corps of the so-called DPR attacked Pokrovske, Vesela Dolyna, Soledar, Klynove, and Bakhmut. They failed and retreated.

Units from the 11th separate motorized rifle regiment of the 1st Army Corps of the so-called DPR tried to storm Pisky and Pervomaiske, suffered losses and were repulsed.

Zaporizhzhya direction

• Maryinka – Vasylivka section: approximate length of the line of combat – 200 km, the number of BTGs of the RF Armed Forces – 17, the average width of the combat area of one BTG – 11.7 km;
• Deployed BTGs: 36th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 29th Combined Arms Army, 38th and 64th separate motorized rifle brigades, 69th separate cover brigade of the 35th Combined Arms Army, 5th separate tank brigade, 37 separate motorized rifle brigade of the 36th Combined Arms Army, 135th, 429th, 503rd and 693rd motorized rifle regiments of the 19th motorized rifle division of the 58th Combined Arms Army, 70th, 71st and 291st motorized rifle regiments of the 42nd motorized rifle division of the 58th Combined Arms Army, 136th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 58 Combined Arms Army, 46th and 49th machine gun artillery regiments of the 18th machine gun artillery division of the 68th Army Corps, 39th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 68th Army Corps, 83th separate airborne assault brigade, 40th and 155th separate marines brigades, 22nd separate SOF brigade, 1st Army Corps of the so-called DPR, and 2nd Army Corps of the so-called LPR, PMCs.

The Russian military did not engage in active offensive operations. They shelled the positions of Ukrainian troops with tanks, mortars, barrel and rocket artillery in the areas around Maryinka, Novomykhailivka, Mykilske, Vuhledar, Shevchenko, Velyka Novosilka, Bohoyavlenka, Neskuchne, Vremivka, Novoandriivka, Hulyaipole, Charivne, Novosilka, Shcherbaky, Vilne Pole, Malynivka, Orihiv, Novopil, Paraskoviivka, Kurakhove, Pavlivka, Novodanylivka.

The Russian military tries to hold positions. However, dissatisfaction with the new reinforcements is growing; most of the “new recruits” are 55-60 years old.

Russian troops turned five schools in Melitopol into military bases. Ukrainian partisans have already destroyed one such base.

Kherson direction

• Vasylivka–Nova Zburyivka and Stanislav section: approximate length of the battle line – 252 km, the number of BTGs of the RF Armed Forces – 27, the average width of the combat area of one BTG – 9.3 km;
• Deployed BTGs: 114th, 143rd and 394th motorized rifle regiments, 218th tank regiment of the 127th motorized rifle division of the 5th Combined Arms Army, 57th and 60th separate motorized rifle brigades of the 5th Combined Arms Army, 135th, 503rd and 693rd motorized rifle regiments of the 19th motorized rifle division, 70th, 71st and 291st motorized rifle regiments of the 42nd motorized rifle division, 51st and 137th parachute airborne regiments of the 106th parachute airborne division, 7th military base of the 49th Combined Arms Army, 16th and 346th separate SOF brigades.

There is no change in the operational situation.

Kherson-Berislav bridgehead

• Velyka Lepetikha – Oleksandrivka section: approximate length of the battle line – 250 km, the number of BTGs of the RF Armed Forces – 22, the average width of the combat area of one BTG –11.8 km;

• Deployed BTGs: 108th Air assault regiment, 171st separate airborne assault brigade of the 7th Air assault division, 4th military base of the 58th Combined Arms Army, 429th motorized rifle regiment of the 19th motorized rifle division, 33rd and 255th motorized rifle regiments of the 20th motorized rifle division, 34th and 205th separate motorized rifle brigades of the 49th Combined Arms Army, 224th, 237th and 239th Air assault regiments of the 76th Air assault division, 217th and 331 Air assault regiments of the 98th Air assault division, 126th separate coastal defense brigade, 127th separate ranger brigade, 11th separate airborne assault brigade, 10th separate SOF brigade, PMC.

Ukrainian missile units attacked two Russian pontoon crossings in Darivka and Nova Kakhovka across the Ingulets and Dnipro rivers. Ukrainian forces struck the ferry crossing in Nova Kakhovka, two ammunition depots in the Berislav district and several command posts. They repulsed the Russian assault on Bezymenne.

To strengthen the Russian grouping in the captured territories of Kherson Oblast, an ethnicity- based unit of the so-called “Kadyrovites” numbering up to 1,300 people arrived.

In order to maintain their positions in Kherson Oblast, the Russian forces brought in “fresh” soldiers from the territory of the Russian Federation. However, the replenishment categorically refuses to participate in offensive combat operations.

Russian troops forbid civilians to leave Velyka Oleksandrivka on the Ingulets River to use them as “human shields” against Ukrainian attacks.

Azov-Black Sea Maritime Operational Area:

The forces of the Russian Black Sea Fleet continue to project force on the coast and the continental part of Ukraine and control the northwestern part of the Black Sea. The ultimate goal is to deprive Ukraine of access to the sea and connect unrecognized Transnistria with the Russian Federation by land through the coast of the Black and Azov seas.

Along the southern coast of Crimea, there are two enemy cruise missile carriers, a frigate and a small missile ship. Up to 16 enemy Kalibr missiles are ready for a salvo. Additionally, six other enemy warships and vessels of the auxiliary fleet of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and the Caspian Flotilla are at sea, providing reconnaissance and blockade of navigation in the Azov-Black Sea waters.

Three Russian patrol ships and boats are on combat duty in the waters of the Sea of Azov on the approaches to the Mariupol and Berdyansk seaports.

All large amphibious ships are in the ports of Novorossiysk and Sevastopol for replenishment and scheduled maintenance. There are no signs of preparation for an amphibious assault on the southern coast of Ukraine.

One enemy project 636.3 submarine is on high alert in Sevastopol; three submarines are in Novorossiysk.

Enemy aviation continues to fly from Crimean airfields Belbek and Gvardiyske over the northwestern part of the Black Sea. Over the past day, 12 Su-27, Su-30 and Su-24 aircraft from Belbek and Saki airfields were involved.

A Russian corvette, minesweeper and boats are on patrol in the Sea of Azov.

According to the Navy of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, during the day, 69 vessels passed through the Kerch-Yenikal Strait in the interests of the Russian Federation: 31 vessels sailed in the direction of the Black Sea, of which 6 continued their movement in the direction of the Bosphorus Strait; 38 ships sailed in the direction of the Sea of Azov, of which 12 were moving from the Bosphorus Strait.

On September 9, a minesweeper of the Romanian Navy F-29 “Lt. Dimitrie Nicolescu” (Musca type) hit a drifting mine. The mine drifted about 25 nautical miles northeast of Constanta’s Romanian Black Sea port. The explosion on the water’s surface damaged the compartment in the aft part of the ship. The ship is operational. All 75 crew members are doing fine. This is the third drifting sea mine detected in the Romanian territorial waters since the beginning of the Russian armed aggression against Ukraine. Since February 24, 2022, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine have already destroyed 28 mines in the western part of the Black Sea waters.

Five ships left Ukrainian ports as part of the “grain initiative” implementation. They have 90,000 tons of Ukrainian agricultural products on board. The vessel will go to African and European countries. In total, 2.6 million tons of agricultural products have already been exported since the departure of the first ship with Ukrainian food. A total of 113 ships with agricultural products left Ukrainian ports, destined for the countries of Asia, Europe and Africa.

Operational losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 10.09

Personnel – almost 52,250 people (+350);

Tanks – 2,136 (+14);

Armored combat vehicles – 4,584 (+9);

Artillery systems – 1,259 (+22);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 311 (+5); Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 162 (+3); Vehicles and fuel tanks – 3,426 (+27); Aircraft – 239 (0);

Helicopters – 212 (+1);

UAV operational and tactical level – 898 (+10); Intercepted cruise missiles – 215 (+1);

Boats / ships – 15 (0).

Ukraine, general news

Since the beginning of September, when active hostilities began, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have liberated about two thousand square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, President Zelenskyi said in his evening address.

According to the advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office, Mykhailo Podolyak, Russia is not ready to talk about Ukraine’s negotiating position, which Podolyak believes to be adequate. First, Russian troops have to leave Ukrainian territory, including the occupied areas of Donbas and Crimea, and then Ukraine will be ready to discuss the following three things. 1) reparations for all the losses that Ukraine has suffered. 2) ways to exist, and coexist, since Ukraine and Russia are neighbours, to ensure security for Ukraine, and 3) the legal responsibility that must be borne by a number of people, including those with Russian citizenship, who committed crimes in Ukraine.

International diplomatic aspect

Germany “will continue to stand by Ukraine as long as it takes — with the delivery of weapons, as well as humanitarian and financial support,” said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her unannounced visit to Kyiv. She pledged Germany’s support in demining areas liberated from the Russian invaders. Annalena Baerbock is one of the most die-hard critics of Russia and a proponent of more vigorous defence support of Ukraine.

However, during the visit of Ukraine’s Prime Minister [to Germany], Chancellor Olaf Scholz was “general and vague” and showed “no desire to change his negative stance on tank deliveries.” The German defence minister insisted that Berlin “hit the limit” in weapons it could send to Kyiv from army reserves, contrary to the information that Krauss-Maffei Wegmann indicated its readiness to supply Ukraine with 100 Leopard 2A7 tanks.

At the same time, NATO’s Secretary-General believes that the risks of depletion of stockpiles are overweighted by the benefits of sending more arms to Ukraine. “By ensuring that Russia, that President Putin doesn’t win in Ukraine, we’re also increasing our own security and strengthening the Alliance by proving that we don’t allow that kind of behavior close to our own borders. So, the use of these stocks actually helps to increase our own security and reduce the risk of any aggressive actions by Russia against NATO Ally countries,” said Jens Stoltenberg. NATO is “calling for even more support, and we urge them to dig deeply into the inventories, to the stocks, to continue to provide the supplies that Ukraine need immediately”.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is to provide Ukraine with about $530 million of assistance. EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn calls on the member states to step up financial support to Ukraine in 2023 as the “war is very likely to still go on.”

The Ukrainian and French presidents agreed on the necessity of Russian troops’ withdrawal from the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. The two leaders also discussed future defense assistance to Ukraine.

Russia, relevant news

Russian mass media reported that municipal council members of the Smolensk municipal entity in St. Petersburg adopted a resolution appealing to the Russian State Duma to remove President Putin from the post of the head of the Kremlin over the decision to invade Ukraine.

Most likely, the successes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, in particular, on the Kharkiv – Izyum line undermined confidence in the Kremlin’s military and political leadership. Apparently, the Russian Ministry of Defense faced a problem in need of communicating the issues of “unexpected operations” of the Ukrainian army. Therefore, in the absence of a reaction from the Ministry of Defense, this information gap was filled by bloggers with their own explanations and coverage of actual footage of combat operations that testify to losses with the Russian Federation and, accordingly, with criticism of the Russian leadership.
Describing the Ukrainian breakthrough in Kharkiv Oblast, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation claimed a “planned” operation “to curtail and organize the transfer” of troops to the territory of the so-called DPR in the area of Balakleya and Izyum in the last three days.

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