07.09.2023
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 06:55 Russia attacks the Danube port city again +++
Russia is continuing its airstrikes on the Ukrainian port city of Izmail on the Danube. The governor of the southern Ukrainian region of Odessa, Oleh Kiper, said the port infrastructure, a grain silo and administration buildings were damaged in the renewed attack with drones. A person was injured. It was the fourth attack on Izmail in five days. Since Russia pulled out of the grain deal in July, it has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian ports. The Danube ports have become Ukraine’s most important base for grain exports.
+++ 06:33 Corruption in the military: New Ukrainian defense minister puts pressure on +++
The newly appointed Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announces that he wants to introduce an electronic military ID card in Ukraine and establish a unified register of conscripts. This reports the “Kyiv Independent”. He also intends to digitize the procedure at the military medical commissions, as he explained in parliament. “The task is to digitize all operations and introduce a unified register of conscripts that eliminates any risks of corruption. Everything that can be digitized must be digitized,” he said, according to Interfax-Ukraine.
+++ 06:12 sanctions loopholes: Western officials advise in United Arab Emirates +++
Western officials meet in UAE to discuss sanctions against Russia. This is reported by the US broadcaster CNN. The officials feared that the Russian military would use certain technology exports as weapons in the war against Ukraine. Representatives of the United States, the United Kingdom and the EU therefore want to talk about the implementation of sanctions against Russia as part of a number of “partner countries”, a spokesman for the US embassy told CNN. A number of goods and technologies that are classified as “dual-use” and can be used for both civilian and military purposes have been able to circumvent restrictions on arms sales to Russia time and again over the past year and a half.
+++ 05:45 ISW: Rumors in Moscow about the second wave of mobilization +++
The Russian authorities continue their covert mobilization efforts amid rumors of an imminent generalized wave of mobilizations. This is reported by the US institute ISW with reference to Russian authorities. For example, the Moscow Ministry of Defense submitted decrees to the State Duma that would allow Russian correctional facilities, correctional facilities and military registration and enlistment offices to register prisoners for military service without their appearing in person. According to the ISW, the head of Ukraine’s Luhansk Oblast, Artem Lysohor, reports that banks in the People’s Republic of Luhansk are passing on their customers’ personal data to Russian authorities. The Russian opposition portal Mobilization News reports letters from draft offices to residents of St. Petersburg announcing a longer period of conscription. The Russian independent media Mozhem Obyasnit (We Can Explain), on the other hand, quotes an insider from the Russian presidential administration who predicts a second wave of mobilization after the September 10 regional elections.
+++ 04:57 Ukraine expects good sugar harvest +++
According to a broker, Ukrainian sugar production is likely to increase significantly in the coming 2023/24 season (October-September). The international broker Czarnikow expects 1.6 million tons, which would be 40 percent more than a year ago. The reasons are increased beet cultivation and the good weather. If the forecast is correct, the country could export around 500,000 tonnes of excess white sugar. Czarnikow expects sugar production to increase in other important regions such as China, Mexico and Brazil. But the sugar broker sees a slowdown in India, where monsoon rains have been well below average.
+++ 04:06 drone launches in Rostov and Moscow +++
The Russian air defense said it shot down drones in Rostov-on-Don near the border with Ukraine and in Moscow. Officials report this early in the morning. In Rostov-on-Don, a person was injured in the city center by the debris of a downed drone, but did not have to be hospitalized, Rostov governor Vasily Golubev writes on Telegram. In addition, facades and windows of houses and several cars were damaged. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote on Telegram that a drone had been shot down in a district of the capital. No injuries or damage were initially reported.
+++ 02:59 Russia condemns delivery of uranium mutation +++
Russia condemns US delivery of controversial uranium munitions to Ukraine. “The US government’s decision to supply depleted uranium weapons is a sign of inhumanity,” the Russian embassy in Washington said on Telegram. “It is clear that Washington, with its idea of bringing about a ‘strategic defeat’, is ready not only to fight to the last Ukrainian, but also to wipe out entire generations.” The use of uranium ammunition is controversial. Opponents criticize health risks from contact with radioactive uranium dust.
+++ 01:29 Türkiye becomes a broker for Russian grain +++
According to the government in Moscow, Turkey has agreed to handle one million tons of Russian grain. “All basic agreements have been made,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, according to a report by the Interfax news agency. Accordingly, Turkey should take care of the onward transport of the grain. With the financial support of Qatar, it is to be supplied to African countries at reduced prices.
+++ 00:34 South Africa: No arms delivery to Russia +++
A commission of inquiry commissioned by the South African government rejects allegations of arms deliveries to Russia. According to a summary of the investigation report, the Russian freighter in question “Lady R” loaded an armaments delivery for the South African army that had been delayed for years. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the probe after questions were raised about the ship. It docked at the Simon’s Town naval base near Cape Town last December and switched off its transponders. In May, the US ambassador to South Africa accused the state of supplying weapons or ammunition for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
+++ 23:29 blinking in Kiev: US support also for counter-offensive +++
During his visit to Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced more than $1 billion (€930 million) in US aid to Kiev. At a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kiev, he said 665.5 million of these are for military aid and protection of the civilian population. The additional support will help the Ukrainian counter-offensive against the Russian armed forces to “gain momentum”, explains Blinken.
+++ 22:33 Baerbock: “Attack on humanity” with a Russian missile on the market +++
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock describes the Russian shelling of a market square in eastern Ukraine, which killed at least 17, as an attack “on humanity” and international law. It was a brutal attack “on innocent people who are peacefully shopping in a market”. According to Ukrainian sources, 32 people were injured in the bombardment in the center of Kostyantynivka. The city with around 70,000 inhabitants is located near the war front in the industrial region of Donetsk. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians.
+++ 22:12 Delair delivers drones to Ukraine, Daimler off-road truck +++
French company Delair, which produces unmanned aerial vehicles, has delivered 150 drones to Ukraine. “(The drones) were selected by Ukraine, financed by France and already delivered,” said French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu. Already yesterday informed Daimlerto have delivered more than 100 Zetro military off-road trucks from Germany to the Ukraine. They are used for military support and also for logistical purposes, such as supplying civilians or reconstruction.
+++ 21:39 Ukrainian Army: Making progress towards Melitopol and at Bakhmut +++
In the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian army has continued to advance towards the major city of Melitopol, the General Staff said. “Step by step” Russian soldiers were killed and occupied countries were liberated. The armed forces also made progress south of the city of Bakhmut in the east of the country and took Russian positions. Russian attacks were repelled on other front sections.
Read more about the events of the previous day here.