Russia is facing calls for an international war crimes tribunal after the discovery of mass graves in Ukraine. It comes as the Ministry of Defense questioned whether Russian front-line forces have “sufficient reserves or sufficient morale” to withstand another coordinated attack in the east of the country. Any significant loss of ground here would “undoubtedly undermine” Vladimir Putin’s strategy for the conflict, experts say. Mr Putin warned on Friday that Ukraine risked provoking “more serious” action from Moscow with its sweeping counter-attack, arguing that “so far we have responded with restraint”. He vowed to continue his “special military operation” during a speech to reporters after attending a meeting of Asian world leaders, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, in Uzbekistan. He said that the “liberation” of the entire eastern Donbas region of Ukraine remains Russia’s main military objective and that it has no intention of giving up the fight. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered a public rebuke to Mr Putin for the first time and the Russian leader admitted there were also concerns about the situation in Beijing.
Basic points
Show latest update 1663453822
“Four powerful explosions” were heard in Kherson
A series of loud explosions were heard by locals in the Russian-held city of Kherson, reports said. In a tweet on Saturday night, the Kyiv Independent, citing Ukrainian media, claimed that “four loud explosions” were heard in the southern city. “Local residents said that black smoke was rising from the territory of a machinery manufacturing plant where a Russian military base is allegedly located,” he added. Emily Atkinson September 17, 2022 11:30 pm 1663450222
Ukrainian comrades pay tribute to Russian woman fighting against her homeland – report
A three-gun salute was fired by an honor guard to bid farewell to a Russian woman killed while fighting alongside Ukraine in her country’s war, the Associated Press reports. Olga Simonova, 34, had recently been redeployed from the east to the southern Kherson region, where Ukraine has launched a counter-offensive against Russian forces. According to her friends and comrades, she died on September 13 when her vehicle hit a mine. Emily Atkinson September 17, 2022 10:30 p.m 1663446621
Satellite images capture Izium’s ‘Forest Graveyard’
Aerial satellite photos documenting the location of the mass grave near Izium have been shared. Maxar Technologies shared the images of the entrance of the “Forest Cemetary” from March to August 2022. Emily Atkinson September 17, 2022 9:30 pm 1663443016
The EU Presidency calls for the creation of a war crimes court for mass graves
The current holders of the rotating presidency of the European Union, the Czech Republic have called for the establishment of a tribunal for Russia’s alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky tweeted: “Russia left behind mass graves of hundreds of shot and tortured people in the Izyum region. “In the 21st century, such attacks against the civilian population are unthinkable and abhorrent. We must not overlook it. We support the punishment of all war criminals. “I call for the speedy establishment of a special international court to prosecute the crime of aggression.” View of unknown graves of civilians and Ukrainian soldiers (AP) Sam Rkaina17 September 2022 20:30 1663441224
Four people were killed by shelling in Ukraine
A Ukrainian shelling attack has reportedly killed four people in central Donetsk. According to the mayor of the city Alexey Kulemzin, fragments of ammunition for Caesar shells were found. Bombing of Donetsk, controlled by Russian-backed separatists (AP) Jane Dalton17 September 2022 20:00 1663439424
More bodies were exhumed from mass graves
Ukrainian authorities recovered more dead Saturday from a burial site at a cemetery in Izium, where officials say hundreds are buried in land retaken by Russian forces. There was no immediate public comment from Russia, which denies it deliberately targeted civilians. Up to 30 emergency service officers carefully dug up the bodies at the wooded burial site using shovels. Police experts and investigators documented the findings on camera and inspected the bodies, which are of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. Jane Dalton September 17, 2022 7:30 p.m 1663438524
Russian bombing kills girl, 11
Russian shelling in the town of Chuhuiv in Kharkiv region killed an 11-year-old girl, according to the regional governor. Oleh Syniehubov said a rocket attack caused a fire in an industrial area. The remains suggested the Russians fired S-300 surface-to-air missiles at the city, he said. The S-300 is designed to hit missiles or aircraft in the sky, not targets on the ground. Analysts say Russia’s use of the missiles suggests it may be running out of some precision munitions. Jane Dalton September 17, 2022 7:15 p.m 1663436424
Memorial service for ballet dancer turned soldier
A leading Ukrainian ballet dancer who died this week fighting on the front lines has been honored with a memorial service at the National Opera of Ukraine. The National Opera described Oleksandr Shapoval as a “courageous romantic” and brave warrior who died from Russian mortar shelling in eastern Ukraine on Monday. Mourners, including soldiers from Shapoval’s unit, honor guards and members of Kyiv’s artistic community, thronged the lobby of the opera house, laying flowers on his coffin before it was draped in a Ukrainian flag. Shapoval, 47, retired from a long dancing career at the National Opera last year and began teaching in Kyiv before joining a territorial guard to defend the capital. He later volunteered for the army and fought in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. “For me he was a friend, a brother. He was a very decent man. My soul is empty. For me he will be alive forever,” said Roman Turshyiev, who fought alongside Shapoval. (REUTERS) (REUTERS) Jane Dalton September 17, 2022 6:40 p.m 1663434324
The power line to the Russian-held nuclear power plant was repaired
One of the four main power lines at the Russian-run Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been repaired and is re-supplying the plant with electricity from the Ukrainian grid two weeks after it was shut down, the UN nuclear watchdog says. Although the six reactors at Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, have been shut down, the fuel in them still needs to be cooled to prevent a potentially catastrophic meltdown. This means the plant needs electricity to pump water through the reactor core. Zaporizhzhia’s power supply was a major concern after the last main line went down, and three back-up lines that can connect it to a nearby coal-fired power plant were also disconnected. This prompted the plant to enter so-called “islanding mode” where the last active reactor provided power, although this mode of operation is not sustainable. A backup power line was reconnected a week ago, allowing that reactor to shut down as well. “With the reconnection of the main line yesterday afternoon, the three back-up power lines remain on standby again,” the International Atomic Energy Agency watchdog said. The other three main external power lines lost earlier in the crash remain down. Jane Dalton September 17, 2022 6:05 p.m 1663432224
In pictures: Ceremony for the Russian woman who fought with Ukraine
A Ukrainian soldier holds a photo of Olga Simonova (AP) Friends and comrades-in-arms gather to say goodbye to Olga Simonova (AP) Jane DaltonSeptember 17, 2022 5:30 p.m
