Wednesday, September 29. Russia’s War On Ukraine: Daily News And Information

Dispatches from Ukraine. Wednesday, September 29. Day 218

As Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues and the war rages on, reliable sources of information are critical. Forbes gathers information and provides updates on the situation.

By Polina Rasskazova

The United States Department of Defense (DoD) will allocate additional security assistance for Ukraine in the amount of $1.1 billion. “It represents a multi-year investment in critical capabilities to build the enduring strength of Ukraine’s Armed Forces as it continues to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty and territory in the face of Russian aggression,” the DoD said in an official statement.

The new aid package will include: High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), Armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs), funding for training, maintenance, and sustainment for the armed forces of Ukraine and other equipment to strengthen the protection of Ukrainian borders. “In total, the United States has now committed approximately $16.9 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since January 2021. Since 2014, the United States has committed approximately $19 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, more than $16.2 billion since the beginning of Russia’s unprovoked and brutal invasion on February 24,” the statement says.

In an interview with the Guardian, a representative of Ukraine’s military intelligence called the threat of Russia’s use of tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine “very high.”

“They will likely target places along the frontlines with lots of [army] personnel and equipment, key command centers and critical infrastructure,” said Vadym Skibitsky, of Ukraine’s military intelligence. “In order to stop them we need not just more anti-aircraft systems, but anti-rocket systems…But everything will depend on how the situation develops on the battlefield.” According to Skibitsky, Ukraine’s task is to inflict the greatest losses possible on Russia on the battlefield, which, along with sanctions and political isolation, will impact the Russia’s society and economy.

Mykolaiv. Russian forces shelled a bus stop in the city of Mykolaiv with cluster munitions, Hanna Zamazeyeva, head of Mykolaiv Oblast’s legislature, said on Sept. 29. The attack killed three civilians, injured twelve civilians.

Dnipropetrovsk Region. A nighttime missile attack by the Russian army claimed four lives, including two adults and two children – an 8-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl. “The Russians aimed at the bus station, not far from it there was a hole with a diameter of seven meters, the building was damaged,” reported the Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. “61 private houses, one multi-storey building, dozens of cars, power lines were damaged, 220 subscribers are still without electricity.” Also, during the attack, 19 people were injured in the Zelenodolsk community.

Kharkiv region. The Russian army continues to attack the eastern part of Ukraine. In the Kupyansk district of the Kharkiv region, Russian forces shelled the villages of Dvorichna, Hrushivka, Senkove and Kolodyazne. Near Kharkiv they targeted Strelecha and Krasne, as well as Sosnivka in Bogoduhivskyi. Private houses and commercial buildings were damaged, fires broke out.

“…during the day, 7 people were hospitalized with injuries in the Kupyansk district,” the head of Kharkiv OVA, Oleg Sinegubov, announced on his Telegram channel. “A 26-year-old man was injured in a mine explosion in the Izium district.” Demining continues in the de-occupied territories. During the day, 586 explosive objects were neutralized by the pyrotechnicians of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

Consequences of pseudo-referendums in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.

According to a source within the Counter-Disinformation Center of Ukraine, in the Zaporizhzhia region, within hours of the closing of polling stations, Russian occupiers announced the preliminary results of the pseudo-referendum and declared a false statement that more than 90% of the temporarily occupied territory voted “For joining the Russian Federation.”

In the Kherson region, Russian forces are barring men of conscription age from leaving in anticipation of the upcoming mobilization of the local population immediately after the pseudo-referendum. Russian occupiers describe these actions as “strengthening the security of the region.”

In the Donetsk region, the residents of Mariupol received text messages offering them the opportunity to work in the state military service. But following the fake referendum and the anticipated illegal annexation planned for tomorrow, Russian forces will be able to mobilize men openly.

In the Luhansk region, Russian occupiers included hundreds of thousands of evacuees who were physically unable to participate in the “voting” in their final vote tally during the illegal pseudo-referendum.