The incident has taken on new significance in light of Ukraine’s blitzkrieg against Russian troops in Kharkiv, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said “successfully liberated more than 6,000 square kilometers” of territory it had lost from the Kremlin. Kremlin mouthpiece RIA Novosti deleted the story, which prematurely claimed victory over neighboring Ukraine, even before Ukrainian defenders pushed back Russian forces north of Kiev. However, a copy of the article remains in online archives known as the Wayback Machine. “Russia’s military operation in Ukraine ushered in a new era,” said Petr Akopov’s mispublished article, which was titled “Russia’s Offensive and the New World.” “Russia is restoring its unity — the tragedy of 1991, that terrible disaster in our history, its unnatural dislocation, has been overcome,” the deleted article said. The 1991 “tragedy” article referred to is the breakup of the Soviet Union. —Joanna Tan
Russia is “almost certainly” getting weapons from states like Iran and North Korea, UK says
Russia is “almost certainly” increasingly acquiring weapons from other heavily sanctioned states such as Iran and North Korea as its stockpiles dwindle, according to the latest intelligence update from Britain’s Ministry of Defence. He tweeted on Wednesday that it is highly likely that “Russia … has deployed Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Ukraine for the first time.” On Tuesday, Ukrainian officials reported that their forces shot down a Shahed-136 UAV near Kupiansk, in the area of Ukraine’s successful attack on Kharkiv. “The Shahed-136 is a one-way attack UAV with a powerful range of 2,500 kilometers. Similar Iranian-made systems have likely been used in attacks in the Middle East, including on the oil tanker MT MERCER STREET in July 2021,” the ministry noted. “The loss of a Shahed-136 close to the front line suggests that there is a realistic possibility that Russia may attempt to use the system to conduct tactical strikes rather than against more strategic targets farther into Ukrainian territory.” Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi greets Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 19, 2022. Putin likely wanted to show that Moscow is still important in the Middle East by visiting Iran, said John Drennan of the US Institute of Peace. Sergey Savostyanov | AFP | Getty Images Yesterday, the Pentagon said it was unable to determine the impact of Russia’s use of Iranian drones on the battlefield in Ukraine. Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. General Pat Ryder said the US was closely monitoring the situation, but declined to confirm press reports that Russia had begun using drones in Ukraine. Last month, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed that Russia had received the drones, but said it was “too early to tell” how the new weapons would shape the battle. — Holly Elliott
Ukraine seeks to root out occupiers, collaborators and saboteurs in the reoccupied territories
Russian military vehicles in Balakliya on September 10, 2022. Zelenskyy said that, in Balakliya, a town in the northeastern Kharkiv region that was recaptured by Ukrainian forces last week, the payment of pensions has already started. Juan Barretto | AFP | Getty Images Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday night that “stabilization measures” had been taken in liberated towns and villages in northeastern Ukraine, which has seen a major counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces in the past week. “Remnants of occupiers and sabotage groups are being identified, collaborators are being arrested and full security is being restored,” he said, adding in his nightly address to the nation that border guards had been sent to protect “state borders in liberated territory.” “It is very important that together with our troops, with our flag, an ordinary, normal life enters the occupied territory,” he said. Zelensky said that in Balaklia, a town in the northeastern region of Kharkiv that was recaptured by Ukrainian forces last week, the payment of pensions has already begun. “All Ukrainian pensioners in the liberated territory will receive payments. Ukraine always fulfills its social obligations to the people,” he said. — Holly Elliott
‘Hard to say’ if Ukraine war is at tipping point, says Biden
With Ukraine making significant progress in pushing Russian forces out of occupied parts of the country over the past week, thoughts have turned to whether this is a defining moment in the conflict. But when asked on Tuesday whether Ukraine had reached a turning point in the war, US President Joe Biden said: “The question is unanswerable. It’s hard to say. It’s clear that the Ukrainians have made significant progress. But I think it’s going to be a long haul.” When asked on Tuesday whether Ukraine had reached a turning point in the war, US President Joe Biden said: “The question is unanswerable. It’s hard to say. It’s clear that the Ukrainians have made significant progress. But I think it’s going to take a long time.” Kevin Lamarque | Reuters Ukrainian officials have asked for more arms aid from the West to help them maintain momentum in the war. Russian forces in northeastern Ukraine have been scattered amid the Ukrainian advance, which has seen them retake more than 300 villages in the Kharkiv region. — Holly Elliott
German Chancellor Scholz tells Putin to end war in Ukraine during phone call
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for 90 minutes about the ongoing war in Ukraine. “Given the seriousness of the military situation and the consequences of the war in Ukraine, the Chancellor urged the Russian President to find a diplomatic solution as soon as possible, based on a ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Russian troops and respect for territorial integrity. and the sovereignty of Ukraine,” German federal government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit wrote. Solz warned that any further Russian annexations “will not go unanswered and will not be recognized under any circumstances.” The two leaders agreed to stay in touch. Scholz spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week. — Amanda Macias
More than 300 villages in Kharkiv region freed from Russian occupation, Ukraine says
Ukrainian flags placed on statues in a square in Balakliya, Kharkiv region, on September 10, 2022. Juan Barretto | AFP | Getty Images Ukrainian Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said that the counter-offensive carried out by Ukrainian troops in Kharkiv for several days resulted in the liberation of more than 300 villages from Russian occupation. “The operation will continue until the area is completely liberated,” Malyar said during a national telethon briefing, as translated by NBC News. He said about 150,000 people living in an area of about 3,800 square kilometers are returning under Ukrainian leadership. — Amanda Macias
White House hints at new security package amid recent gains in Ukraine
John Kirby, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, speaks during a news conference in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on June 21, 2022. Nicholas Kamm | AFP | Getty Images The White House said another US security aid package for the Ukraine tranche would be announced in the coming days, but declined to elaborate. US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the next package would be “tailored” to Kiev’s demands and welcomed Ukraine’s recent advances in taking back territory from Russian forces. “At least in Donbass, there is a sense of momentum,” Kirby told reporters at the White House. “Certainly in the north, we’ve seen Russians withdrawing from the Kharkiv region. They’ve left combat positions, they’ve left supplies and they’re calling it a redeployment,” Kirby said, adding that Russian forces still face a catastrophe of logistical challenges. “It’s still a very large and very powerful military, and Mr. Putin still has a very large military capability at his disposal, not only to be used in Ukraine but potentially elsewhere,” Kirby added. — Amanda Macias
Blinken says US will keep sending weapons to Kyiv, welcomes advances by Ukrainian forces
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the State Department in Washington, March 17, 2022. Saul Loeb Swimming pool | Reuters US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken hailed Ukraine’s lightning-fast advances over the weekend, but warned that Russian forces still maintain “very significant forces in Ukraine”. “As we’ve seen, the brutalization of the country continues by the Russian aggressor and I think, unfortunately, the prospect of that continues, but I think it’s encouraging to see the progress that Ukraine has made,” Blinken said. he told reporters alongside Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in Mexico City. Blinken said the US would continue to provide Kyiv with additional military aid packages. “We will continue to do whatever is necessary to support Ukraine to maintain pressure on Russia to end its aggression,” Blinken added. — Amanda Macias
