Topline
At least 23 people were killed in a Russian strike on a convoy of vehicles near the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia Friday, according to officials in Kyiv, on the same day Moscow is set to announce the annexation of four Ukrainian provinces, including Zaporizhzhia, following ‘sham’ referendums.
Destroyed vehicles are seen after Russian forces hit a convoy of vehicles that included civilians as … [+]
Key Facts
At least 28 people were injured as the Russian shelling hit a “humanitarian convoy,” according to Ukrainian Vice-Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who also tweeted images of the strike showing multiple damaged vehicles and dead bodies on the road.
On Telegram, Zaporizhzhia governor Oleksandr Starukh said the people in the convoy were heading towards Russian-occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia province with the intent to provide aid and help their relatives escape into Ukrainian-controlled territory.
Despite its annexation effort, Russia currently occupies around half of Zaporizhzhia province and the other half, including the provincial capital, Zaporizhzhia city, is under Ukrainian control.
According to the Washington Post, several families are trying to escape Russian-controlled parts of the province, amid fears that Russia may forcibly mobilize Ukrainian men in these regions to fight on its side.
News Peg
Russia is set to announce the annexation of four Ukrainian territories Friday: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. While Luhansk and Kherson are fully under Russian occupation, Moscow’s forces only control around half of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia. Fierce fighting has continued in Donetsk, with the Ukrainian counter-offensive making significant gains in recent weeks. Ukrainian forces have also managed to nearly encircle Lyman, a city in Donetsk that serves as a key logistics hub for Russian forces in the region. Losing control of Lyman could have a devastating impact on Russia’s ongoing offensive in the region as it is a major railway junction used by Moscow to resupply its forces. The Kremlin has said Russian forces will continue to fight in Ukraine until they capture all of Donetsk province.
Key Background
Putin is expected to formally sign the annexation decree Friday in what is expected to be a concert-like event in Moscow’s Red Square. Both Ukraine and the West have refused to acknowledge Russia’s illegal annexation, while countries like India and China—who are friendlier towards Russia—have made statements about respecting Ukraine’s territorial integrity. However, there is some concern that Putin may use the annexation as a pretext to suggest that Russia is now fighting a defensive war on its territory against Ukraine, which could allow it to escalate the conflict further. In a speech last week, Putin warned that Russia was prepared to use nuclear weapons if its territory was threatened.
Further Reading
In Zaporizhzhia, Russia controlled a referendum but not hearts or minds (Washington Post)
Here’s What Would Happen If Putin Ordered A Nuclear Strike In Ukraine (Forbes)
Russian Correspondent: Thousands Of Russian Troops Are About To Get Trapped In Eastern Ukraine (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/09/30/at-least-23-dead-in-zaporizhzhia-after-russia-strikes-civilian-convoy-ukrainian-officials-say/