US General Sees Limited Time for Ukrainian Counteroffensive
According to US Chief of Staff General Milley, Ukraine likely has 30 to 45 days left for their counteroffensive. The Ukrainian army has reportedly made some minor territorial gains. Updates on the situation in the live blog.
Selenskyj: Talks with the US on Cruise Missiles Progressing
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj, discussions with the US regarding the possible delivery of long-range cruise missiles, specifically ATACMS, to Kyiv are showing progress. Selenskyj told CNN that the talks are moving forward, and he hopes that Ukraine will receive the missile system in the fall. He emphasized the military importance of such weapons to sustain the counteroffensive. Selenskyj intends to discuss the matter further with US President Joe Biden.
ATACMS missiles, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, have a range of up to 300 kilometers and can be launched from the ground against ground targets. Ukraine has been requesting these missiles for some time, while the US has been hesitant. Ukraine has also requested a similar missile system, the Taurus, from Germany.
Ukraine Reports Progress in Donetsk and Zaporizhia
The Ukrainian military has announced territorial gains in the contested regions of Donetsk and Zaporizhia. The Ukrainian General Staff stated on Facebook that Russian troops were displaced from their positions in Klishtchykivka, just a few kilometers from the long-fought city of Bakhmut. The Ukrainian counteroffensive in the vicinity of Robotyne in Zaporizhia was also partially successful.
Earlier, spokesperson Oleksandr Schtupun stated that the Ukrainian army had liberated an additional 1.5 square kilometers near the recently captured Robotyne. However, intense fighting continues. Schtupun revealed that Russian forces are holding onto every inch of Ukrainian territory, but Ukrainian forces are making efforts to impede enemy supplies, achieving success in some areas.
Aid Worker Killed in Ukraine – German Citizen Injured
According to the Spanish government, a humanitarian aid worker was killed near the heavily contested city of Bakhmut due to shelling. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated that a vehicle carrying the Spanish citizen, who worked for a non-governmental organization (NGO) and provided humanitarian aid in Ukraine, was struck by a projectile. “We have received verbal confirmation that she was killed.”
The Spanish newspaper “El Mundo” reported that the victim was 32-year-old Emma Igual, the head of the organization Road to Relief. The vehicle that was attacked by the Russian army on Saturday morning also resulted in the death of a Canadian and severe injuries to a German and a Swede.
The German Foreign Office confirmed knowledge of a injured German citizen but did not provide further details due to privacy concerns. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense holds the Russian army responsible for the deadly attack.
Media: General Surowikin Appointed Head of CIS Air Defense
According to media reports, Russian General Sergei Surowikin has been appointed as the head of the Coordinating Committee for Air Defense matters for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The pro-government Russian news platform EADaily reported this, citing the Council of CIS Defense Ministers. The decision is said to have been unanimous. The Kremlin has not yet commented on the appointment.
During the war against Ukraine, Surowikin served as the commander-in-chief of Russian forces in Ukraine from October 2022 to January 2023. He was considered one of the key allies of the now-deceased leader of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in his power struggle against Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
While Surowikin publicly condemned Prigozhin’s Wagner group uprising at the end of June, he has not been seen in public since. In mid-August, he was reportedly relieved of his position as the head of the Russian Aerospace Forces. On Tuesday, an image of the missing general since the Wagner uprising was circulated.
Romania Sends Protest Note to Russia
The Romanian government has issued a protest note to Moscow following Russian drone attacks on the Ukrainian-Romanian border region along the Danube. “State Secretary for Strategic Affairs, Iulian Fota, strongly urged the Russian side to cease actions against the Ukrainian population and infrastructure, including those that could jeopardize the safety of Romanian citizens in the region,” quoted Romanian media from a press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Russian Embassy advisor Elena Kopnina to Bucharest on Saturday regarding the matter. The Romanian Ministry of Defense recently confirmed the discovery of drone fragments near the village of Plauru. The Danube village is located directly opposite the Ukrainian port of Izmail, which has been repeatedly attacked by Russia in recent days.
US Chief of Staff: Ukraine Has 30 to 45 Days
According to US Chief of Staff Mark Milley, the Ukrainian armed forces likely have 30 to 45 days for their counteroffensive before weather conditions complicate combat operations. Milley stated in an interview with the BBC that this is still a considerable amount of time. He mentioned that the Ukrainians have made steady progress and maintained significant combat capabilities, but the battle is not yet over.
Milley further explained that in about a month, the cold weather will come, accompanied by rain and muddy conditions. “Then it gets very difficult to maneuver, and then deep winter comes,” said Milley. At this point, it is still too early to determine if the offensive has failed or not.
Erdogan Warns of Russian Isolation in Grain Agreement
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned against isolating Russia in the discussion concerning the renewal of an agreement for the export of Ukrainian grain. “A process that excludes Russia from the grain issue will likely not be sustainable,” Erdogan told journalists after the G20 summit in New Delhi. Turkey continues to seek mediation. Erdogan stated that a resumption of the agreement is possible but referred to demands made by Russia.
Russia terminated the grain agreement brokered by Turkey and the UN at the end of July. The agreement facilitated the export of Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea ports of Odessa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi (Yuzhnyi). Additionally, there was an agreement with Russia to facilitate the export of Russian food and fertilizers.
Kyiv: Minor Territorial Gains in the South
According to the Ukrainian army, minor territorial gains have been achieved on the frontlines in the south of the country. “We are making progress! In the Tavriya region, the armed forces have advanced more than one kilometer,” said Ukrainian General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi in his daily situation report. He leads the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the region. The mentioned region is located between the cities of Zaporizhia and Tokmak.
In early June, Ukraine launched a large-scale counteroffensive to reclaim the territories occupied by Russia. However, the advancing forces often encounter areas with tank traps and mines.
Scholz: G20 Stands for Ukraine’s Territorial Integrity
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) praised the G20 summit in India as a “summit of decisions.” Regarding the war in Ukraine, Scholz stated that the G20 made a “clear commitment” that the territorial integrity of Ukraine is “beyond question.”
In an interview with ARD, the chancellor also clarified that there have been “no sanctions regarding the export of grain and fertilizers by Russia to enable the export of grain from Ukraine through the Black Sea.” There have also
South Korea to Provide $2 Billion in Aid to Ukraine
According to the news agency Yonhap, South Korea has pledged long-term assistance of $2 billion to Ukraine. President Yoon Suk Yeol made this announcement at the G20 summit in New Delhi. The funds will be provided starting from 2025, in addition to the $300 million promised for the coming year.
Kyiv Attacked by 32 Shahed Drones
During the nightly drone attacks on Kyiv, the Ukrainian air defense reportedly shot down “more than two dozen” unmanned aerial vehicles, according to Serhij Popko, the head of the Kyiv Military Administration, on the Telegram online service. According to the Ukrainian armed forces, Ukraine was attacked with a total of 32 Shahed drones, of which 25 were destroyed. The majority of the nightly attack targeted the capital region.
A journalist from the AFP news agency reported from Kyiv that she heard about ten explosions. According to Popko and Mayor Vitali Klitschko, debris from shot-down drones fell in the Podilsky, Shevchenkivsky, and Sviatoshynsky districts, most of them in undeveloped areas, Popko explained. In the Shevchenkivsky district, a residential building was damaged by falling debris, according to the Kyiv Military Administration on Telegram. One person was injured, but not critically.
Moscow Reports Destruction of Ukrainian Naval Boats and Drones
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Russia destroyed multiple Ukrainian naval boats and drones targeting the Crimean Peninsula in the Black Sea. The ministry announced in Moscow today that aircraft from the Black Sea Fleet destroyed three US-type “Willard Sea Force” military speedboats with crews to the northeast of the Snake Island.
The boats were heading toward the Crimean Peninsula. The ministry had previously reported that air defense forces had also repelled attacks with eight drones near the coast of Crimea during the night. These claims could not be independently verified.
Kiew Targeted by Drones Again
According to the Ukrainian Military Administration, Moscow has once again attacked the capital of Kyiv with drones. “The air defense forces are combating the attacks,” the agency announced through the Telegram messaging app. “Drones are still approaching Kyiv!” Mayor Vitali Klitschko also wrote on Telegram.
Preliminary information suggests that there is one injured person. Drone debris has fallen in three districts, causing a fire near a park and hitting streets, Klitschko added. At least five explosions were heard in the early hours of Sunday in the Ukrainian capital, according to witnesses reported by Reuters.
New Ukrainian Defense Minister Calls for Heavy Weapons
Ukraine’s new Defense Minister, Rustem Umjerov, has called on Western supporters of Kyiv to quickly supply his country with more heavy weapons. “We are grateful for the support provided,” Umjerov said at a conference in Kyiv. “We need more heavy weapons,” he added. “We need them today. We need them now.”
In early June, Ukraine launched a large-scale counteroffensive to reclaim the territories occupied by Russia. As Ukrainian forces advance against Russian units, they encounter extensive areas where tank traps and mines have been laid. Umjerov said, “Ukrainian warriors are sacrificing their lives today for the fundamental values of democracy and freedom. They need support from you, dear partners. And that support is weapons.” The 41-year-old Crimean Tatar assumed the position after Oleksiy Resnikov was dismissed last week against the backdrop of corruption scandals surrounding the military.
Almost All Ukrainians Believe in Victory over Russia
According to a survey, 90 percent of people in Ukraine believe that their army can recapture the entire territory of Ukraine, while only six percent do not believe this. This was determined by a Ukrainian polling institute (Democratic Initiatives Foundation) for “Bild am Sonntag.” All respondents live in areas controlled by Ukraine.
According to the survey, 83 percent of respondents want another counteroffensive next year if Ukraine does not achieve enough success this year. When asked if they support direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to end the war, 30 percent answered yes, while 63 percent opposed it. And: Nine years after Russia’s annexation of Crimea, 40 percent of Ukrainians would not consider it a defeat if the peninsula remained under Russian control after the war. However, 50 percent see it differently.
Live blog from Saturday for reference:
According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the G20 declaration is “nothing to be proud of.” President Selenskyj stated that Ukraine is preparing for the second winter of war.
