Russia has widened its strikes on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine and is likely to extend its target range further, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said. Five civilians were killed in Russian attacks in the Donetsk region last day, while in Nikopoli several dozen high-rise and private buildings, gas pipelines and power lines were damaged by Russian strikes, the governors of those regions said on Sunday. In an intelligence briefing, the State Department said Russia had fired several thousand long-range missiles against Ukraine since the invasion began. “However, over the past seven days Russia has increased its targeting of civilian infrastructure even where it may not perceive an immediate effect,” the ministry said. “As it faces setbacks on the front lines, Russia has likely expanded the locations it is prepared to strike in an effort to directly undermine the morale of the Ukrainian people and government.” It comes after Vladimir Putin warned on Friday that Ukraine risks provoking “more serious” actions from Moscow with its sweeping counter-offensive, claiming 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.
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Russia is stepping up targeting of civilian infrastructure, State Department says
Britain’s Ministry of Defense has warned that last week Russia “increased its targeting of civilian infrastructure”. The government department warned in a tweet that this was happening “even when it probably does not perceive an immediate effect”. “As it faces setbacks on the front lines, Russia has likely expanded the locations it is prepared to strike in an effort to directly undermine the morale of the Ukrainian people and government.” Emily Atkinson18 September 2022 18:00 1663517201
Trudeau says mass graves are evidence of Russian war crimes
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Sunday that mass graves found in Ukraine are proof of Russia’s war crimes and that full accountability for its actions is required. Trudeau, in London for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, told reporters he had met with Prime Minister Liz Truss and that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was at the top of their agenda. “Obviously the United Kingdom and Canada have been two of the strongest countries in supporting Ukraine and pushing back against Russia’s illegal actions,” Trudeau said. These actions “increasingly clearly involve war crimes, they involve absolutely unacceptable crimes, whether we think of what we found in Bukha or the discovery of mass graves in the territories reclaimed from Ukraine,” he said. “There needs to be a proper investigation and transparency and Vladimir Putin, his supporters and the Russian military must be held accountable for the atrocities they have and continue to commit in Ukraine,” Trudeau said. Trudeau, who was scheduled to meet with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal on Sunday afternoon, said Canada strongly supports Ukraine and will continue to provide assistance. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signs the book of condolence at Lancaster House (David Parry Media Assignments/PA) (PA Wire) Sam Rkaina September 18, 2022 5:06 p.m 1663513249
Russian forces committed more than 34,000 war crimes, Ukraine says
Russian forces have committed more than 34,000 war crimes, Ukraine says. On Saturday, Ukraine’s General Prosecutor’s Office said it has recorded 34,441 war crimes committed by the Russian military since the start of the war in February. Since then, the European Union has called for a war crimes tribunal and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy has called Russia a “terrorist country”. Furvah Shah18 September 2022 16:00 1663510549
Four doctors were killed by Russian shelling in Kharkiv
Four doctors were killed by Russian shelling in the Kharkiv region. The city’s governor, Oleh Syniehubov, said doctors were trying to evacuate patients from a psychiatric hospital in the village of Stryletsa when Russian forces began “a massive bombardment” of the area. Two patients were also injured in the attack, he said. Furvah Shah18 September 2022 15:15 1663508743
Biden urges Putin not to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine
US President Joe Biden urged Vladimir Putin not to use nuclear or chemical weapons in Ukraine. When asked about the Russian president’s possible use of such methods in an interview that aired Sunday, Biden said: “Don’t do it. Don’t do it. Don’t do it. It would change the face of warfare unlike anything since World War II.” He added that Russia “will become more of a pariah in the world than ever.” “Depending on the extent of what they do will determine what response there is.” Furvah Shah September 18, 2022 2:45 p.m 1663506043
The exhumation of the grave at Izyum will continue for weeks
The exhumation of the grave in Izyum, Ukraine, will continue for at least two more weeks. City mayor Valery Marchenko said exhumation work would continue “because there are many burials” in the newly liberated city in Kharkiv Oblast. About 450 bodies were found in the mass grave, with some showing signs of torture, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy. Furvah Shah18 September 2022 14:00 1663504243
Over 50,000 dead Russian soldiers
Over 50,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the ongoing war with Ukraine. About 54,480 soldiers have been killed, according to the Ukrainian armed forces. Over 3,000 vehicles, 2,000 tanks and 200 aircraft have also been destroyed by 18 September. Furvah Shah September 18, 2022 1:30 p.m 1663501543
Vladimir Putin ‘failed at all his military goals’, says UK army chief
Vladimir Putin is “failing in all of his military strategic objectives”, says the British army’s defense chief. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said pressure was mounting on the Russian president as the country’s defenses weakened and international support for Ukraine grew. He told the BBC: “At the beginning, we said this was a strategic mistake by President Putin and that strategic mistakes lead to strategic consequences. And in this case, it is a strategic failure. “Putin is failing in all his military strategic goals, he wanted to subjugate Ukraine, that’s not going to happen. “He wanted to take control of the capital, we saw that he was defeated earlier. We saw that he wanted to weaken NATO. NATO is now much stronger and we have Finland and Sweden joining. “He wants to break international resolve. Well, that’s actually been reinforced during this period, and he’s under pressure, his problems are increasing.” Furvah Shah September 18, 2022 12:45 p.m 1663499715
Russia is ‘escalating attacks on civilian targets’ after military setbacks, UK says
Russia has increased its attacks on civilian targets despite serving no “direct military effect” as Vladimir Putin’s forces face setbacks, according to British intelligence. A defense ministry statement on Sunday said Russia had stepped up its long-range missile attacks in the past week after reports the forces lacked sufficient resources or morale to continue against Ukrainian counterattacks. Strikes hit a power grid and a river dam in the Kryvyi Rih causing widespread flooding in the central city. Read the full story here. Furvah Shah September 18, 2022 12:15 p.m 1663497915
EU calls for war crimes tribunal over mass graves in Izyum, Ukraine
The European Union has called for a war crimes tribunal as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said evidence of torture was found on bodies exhumed in Izyum, eastern Ukraine. The town was retaken by Ukrainian forces, where a mass grave was found with around 450 graves, some showing evidence of torture. Jan Lipvasky, the Czech Republic’s foreign minister, said on Saturday that Russia’s attacks “against the civilian population are unthinkable and heinous”. “We must not overlook it. We support the punishment of all war criminals,” he tweeted. “I call for the speedy establishment of a special international court to prosecute the crime of aggression.” Furvah Shah September 18, 2022 11:45 am
