Yevheniia Martyniuk

A major fire started at the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in occupied Sevastopol while the Russian Ministry of Defense unusually quickly recognized at least one serviceman “missing.” Ukrainian strikes on the city of Sevastopol have become regular since the summer of 2023.

On the eve of Russia's invasion, 1,500 Ukrainian troops were overpowered by a 20,000-strong invasion army from Crimea. A general speaks about the events that led to Russia's rapid occupation of South Ukraine, which Ukraine's counteroffensive is struggling to reverse.

Kyiv plans WTO action against three EU countries over the restrictions, Ukraine's Trade Representative Taras Kachka told POLITICO. Earlier, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia imposed their own bans on Ukrainian grain following the EU Commission's decision to end its restrictions.

An explosive drone was discovered in the Bulgarian Black Sea town of Tyulenovo last weekend, according to Reuters. On 18 September, Bulgaria's defense ministry sent a special unit to deactivate a drone. Earlier this month, Romania reported finding debris from a Russian drone on its territory near the Ukrainian border.

The prolonged war poses significant risks for Ukraine, as it drains the internal resources and those of the Western world, according to Ukraine’s spy chief. However, Western support will not diminish, and their military stockpiles are not empty.

35,000 Hasidic Jews have traveled to Uman in the Cherkasy Oblast, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs. This marks the second time they are celebrating the Jewish New Year in Ukraine during the full-scale invasion by Russia. Before the war, nearly 40,000 Hasidic Jews visited Ukraine for this occasion.

Following the loss of several vessels in the Black Sea to Ukrainian strikes, the Russians have relocated three large landing ships to the Sea of Azov. This week, Ukraine damaged or destroyed at least four ships in the Black Sea.

The Ukrainian partisan group Atesh reported conducting a successful sabotage operation in Henichesk, a Russian-occupied town on the Azov Sea coast. They recruited a Russian soldier who blew up two trucks with Russians onboard, the National Resistance Center confirmed. The vehicles were completely destroyed.

Ukrainian pilots have completed orientation training on Swedish Gripen fighter jets, local media report. Everything reportedly went well, and the results may influence Sweden's decision to transfer these aircraft to Ukraine.

On 14 September, the Bulgarian Parliament lifted the ban on importing Ukrainian grain after 15 September, according to local media. Bulgaria had been considering extending the ban for a while, but on the eve of the decision, the government announced a change in its stance based on "macroeconomic indicators."

In the early hours of 14 September, locals reported powerful explosions heard in the occupied Yevpatoria on the western coast of Russian-occupied Crimea. Russia’s Ministry of Defense claims it has neutralized attacking Ukrainian aerial drones. Additionally, Moscow says that underwater drones attacked the Russian patrol ship "Sergey Kotov" in the Black Sea but were also destroyed.

Pyongyang has been providing military assistance to Moscow, albeit discreetly, said Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's intelligence chief, the NV reports. On 13 September, the leader of North Korea visited Russia's Far East and met with Putin. Following the talks, Kim Jong Un expressed support for Russia but did not mention military aid.

On 13 September, Ukraine used British long-range Storm Shadow missiles to target the occupied city of Sevastopol in Crimea, Sky News reports. Two Russian military vessels, a submarine, and a large landing ship were damaged in the attack.

In 2022, due to Western sanctions, Russia significantly reduced the production of missiles and other weapons. However, by the end of 2022, Moscow's military-industrial manufacturing has practically recovered and has even exceeded its pre-war levels, according to the NYT. It means Moscow has found a way to evade sanctions and export controls.