RFE/RL’s Live Briefing brings you all the latest developments on Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western military aid to Kiev, worldwide reactions and the civilian and refugee situation. For all of RFE/RL’s coverage of the war, click here.
Latest developments at a glance North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has arrived in Russia ahead of an expected meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Swedish government is considering donating Gripen fighter jet to Ukraine to help the country fight Russia, Swedish public radio reported, citing unnamed sources. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy vetoed legislation which allowed officials to continue not disclosing their assets, as Kiev struggles to crack down on corruption and reassure allies that it is committed to fighting graft. Ukrainian forces have reclaimed more territory from the invading Russian forces on the eastern and southern fronts, Kiev said on September 11. Ministers of Justice and other representatives of Council of Europe member states and observers met in Riga to explore ways “to achieve comprehensive accountability for the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine and provide redress to all victims of the war.” European Union has warned Russia of “consequences” for those involved in organizing the weekend’s “illegal” elections in Ukrainian regions occupied by the Kremlin, while Germany said new EU sanctions were possible. Is Ukraine’s counteroffensive finally starting to make some serious headway?
It has been three months since Ukraine launched its biggest counteroffensive of the 18-month Russian invasion. Progress has been laborious and messy, and for some Western officials, frustratingly slow. But Ukrainian forces may now be on the verge of a small, but notable, battlefield breakthrough. Read the story by Mike Eckel here.
Zapo/Donetsk offensive (updated weekly) How will Kolomoyskiy’s arrest affect the future of Western aid to Ukraine?
The 60-day jail sentence handed down to Ukrainian tycoon Ihor Kolomoyskiy is the most high-profile in the current graft crackdown and comes weeks before a crucial vote in the US Congress on whether to approve a new round of massive aid to the embattled country. Read the story by Todd Prince and Current Time here.
What will be the long-term effect of the latest Krimbros explosion?
Although Russian officials have been quick to downplay the damage caused by the July 17 explosion on the only bridge connecting Russia to occupied Crimea, experts say even a few hours of logistical delay at this point could be significant. Read the report by Robert Coalson here.
Suspected drone attacks on Moscow How do ordinary Russians feel about the war being delivered to their doorstep?
Attacks in Shebekino and elsewhere in the Belgorod region have brought the war home to Russia as locals grapple with the new reality. Read the article by Oleg Artyushenko here.
Fierce fighting in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine (updated weekly) The Ukrainian cities were wiped out in Russia’s self-proclaimed “Liberation”
Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine has almost wiped several towns and cities off the face of the earth, despite the Kremlin’s claim that it is waging a “liberation campaign”. Read the report by RFE/RL’s Donbas.Realities, Svitlana Kuzmenko and Carl Schreck here.
Territorial control of Ukraine (updated weekly) After the flood: What do we know about the damaged Ukrainian dam and its consequences?
The collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam led to torrents of water flooding Ukraine’s southern Dnieper river basin, prompting evacuations and flooding thousands of hectares of land. Among other consequences, it could cause the biggest environmental disaster of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Read the report by Mike Eckel here.
Who flies military-grade drones over Moscow?
The drones that smashed into buildings and hit other sites in Moscow this week were the second round to rattle the Russian capital in a month. It is still unclear who is behind them and what the target is. Here’s what we know. Read the report by Mike Eckel here.
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Source: sn.dk