Because the battle enters its 939th day, these are the principle developments.
Right here is the state of affairs on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
Preventing
- 4 folks had been injured after a Russian missile assault on the Ukrainian port metropolis of Odesa. Governor Oleh Kiper stated some port services and an Antigua-flagged civilian vessel had been additionally broken.
- Ukraine’s air power stated 61 out of 70 Russian assault drones and one out of 4 missiles throughout 13 areas of Ukraine had been destroyed.
- Some 70,112 Russian troopers have died in Ukraine for the reason that full-scale invasion started in February 2022, in accordance with the BBC and the unbiased Russian information web site, Mediazona. The toll was documented from publicly accessible data reminiscent of official statements, dying notices within the media and bulletins on social media, in addition to tombstones in Russian cemeteries. The “precise quantity is believed to be significantly larger”, the BBC stated.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated Russia would regain management of its Kursk area “in a well timed method”, however declined to say how quickly this may very well be achieved. Ukraine launched a shock cross-border incursion into Kursk on August 6, taking swaths of territory.
Politics and diplomacy
- Ukraine’s Nationwide Safety and Defence Council banned the usage of the Telegram messaging app on official gadgets utilized by authorities officers, army personnel and key staff amid issues about Russian surveillance.
- Visiting Kyiv, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen introduced the European Union would lend Ukraine as a lot as 35 billion euros ($39bn) backed by revenues from frozen Russian belongings to assist the nation “keep warm” via the third winter of battle with Russia.
- Russia charged 4 of its troopers serving in occupied Ukraine with the torture and killing of Russell Bentley, a 64-year-old US citizen residing in Russian-held Donetsk who was discovered lifeless in April. Bentley was a longtime supporter of Russia. His spouse stated he had been kidnapped and killed by Russian troopers.
- Norway will improve civilian assist to Ukraine by 5 billion kroner ($475m) this yr and lengthen its assist package deal by three years to 2030, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Retailer stated.
- Outstanding Russian opposition chief Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was launched from jail in a high-profile prisoner swap earlier this yr, stated Russian President Vladimir Putin ought to not be allowed to win the battle in Ukraine.
Weapons
- The USA is making ready a $375m army assist package deal for Ukraine, two senior officers informed the Reuters information company. The help package deal, anticipated to be introduced subsequent week, contains patrol boats, extra ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket methods (HIMARS), 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, spare components and different weapons, the officers stated, talking on situation of anonymity.
- International Minister Antonio Tajani stated Italy would ship Ukraine one other Samp-T antimissile system to “shield hospitals, faculties, universities”.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated senior Ukrainian officers together with the defence and overseas ministers and prime army commanders agreed in an “emotional” dialogue that the nation must make extra weaponry domestically and pace up manufacturing.