The Russian seizure of Vuhledar follows a series of costly, failed Russian assaults near the settlement over the past 2.5 years. Some Russian sources expressed doubts that Russian forces will be able to rapidly advance and achieve operationally significant breakthroughs.
Ukraine suffered daily drone attacks throughout September. Russian forces launched 1,339 Shahed-type UAVs on Ukraine, 1,107 of which were shot down. Electronic warfare devices jammed others. On average, the Russians launched 44 Shaheds every day.
For over the last two years, the Russian military has been brutally shelling Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and medical facilities. The enemy daily attacks outpatient clinics, maternity wards, and polyclinics, and also kills and terrorizes Ukrainian doctors.
A report that Russia is developing a China-backed attack drone program for the war in Ukraine is “deeply concerning,” EU spokesperson, Nabila Massrali, said. “If these reports are accurate, this would mean that Chinese companies are providing Russia with lethal assistance”.
Former United States President Donald Trump lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for not making concessions to Russia, giving his strongest indication to date he would stop backing Kyiv if he wins the United States presidential election.
Ukraine’s SBU struck the Shaykovka airfield in Russia’s Kaluga Oblast on Sept. 21, targeting Tu-22M bombers used for missile strikes. The operation also hit two Russian arsenals, including a major supply depot storing North Korean missiles, causing fires and detonations.
Russian forces launched an airstrike on Sumy on September 21, injuring one person and leaving part of the city without power. The attack caused fires and damaged homes in residential and industrial areas. A power outage affected the Baranivka district of the city.
Nearly 50% of Russians support withdrawing troops from Ukraine and negotiating a peace agreement, even without achieving the Kremlin’s military objectives, according to a joint survey conducted by independent pollsters ExtremeScan and Chronicles.
Russian forces launched guided aerial bomb strikes on central Kharkiv, targeting areas near a healthcare facility. The attacks hit Shevchenkivskyi and Kyivskyi districts, injuring three people. Authorities warn of possible repeated strikes as damage assessments continue.
Russia has lost 1,340 soldiers, 20 tanks, 39 armored vehicles, and 35 artillery systems in the past 24 hours, as reported by Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Total Russian losses since February 2022 include 639,480 personnel, 8,725 tanks, and 17,132 armored vehicles.
Russian missile and air strikes damaged 40 buildings in Kharkiv on the night of September 19, hitting the Industrial, Shevchenkivskyi, and Saltivskyi districts. Local workers have begun cleanup efforts, restoring windows and clearing debris as the city rebuilds.
Ukrainian air defense forces intercepted a Russian missile and 42 kamikaze drones on the night of September 19. The attacks targeted several regions, including Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Dnipropetrovsk, with Ukraine air defense successfully neutralizing all 46 air threats in one night.
