Russia asserts its role in thwarting substantial Ukrainian offensives
As per the Russian Ministry of Defense in Moscow, the western regions of Kursk, Bryansk, Voronezh, and Belgorod, bordering Ukraine, were significantly impacted by Ukrainian attacks. A staggering 122 drones were successfully shot down in this region alone.
In the night, Moscow was braced for five incoming drones, as reported by Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. Two critical infrastructure facilities, a coal power plant and an oil refinery in the Moscow region, were targeted. Remarkably, there were no casualties, damage to the facilities, or disruption to the power supply.
Moscow and its surroundings have been a target for Ukraine numerous times before. On August 21, according to Mayor Sobyanin, one of the largest drone attacks on Moscow yet was attempted.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stood by the attacks on Russian territory, justifying them on Sunday through a post on Facebook. "It's completely justified for the Ukrainians to counter Russian terror with all necessary means to put an end to it," he stated.
A Ukrainian ground offensive was launched in the Russian border region of Kursk roughly a month ago. According to Kyiv, around 100 settlements have been captured so far. This offence marked the first such move since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg considered the Ukrainian offensive as legitimate. Given Russia's "groundless aggressive war" against Ukraine, which has been ongoing for around 900 days, Russian soldiers, tanks, and support points are justified targets under international law, he asserted to "Welt am Sonntag". He argued that Ukraine's right to defend itself extends beyond its borders. However, NATO is not involved in the Kursk offensive.
Simultaneously, the Russian army escalated tensions in eastern Ukraine. According to Moscow's reports, the village of Ptitsy, approximately 20 kilometers from the strategic city of Pokrovsk, and Wyhymka near Seversk were taken over by Russian troops. Ukrainian General Staff Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi described the situation around Pokrovsk as challenging, with Russia enjoying an edge in troop numbers and firepower.
At least three civilians were killed and nine injured as a result of Russian shelling near the village of Kurakhove, according to Donetsk's Ukrainian governor, Vadym Fillaschkin. At least 41 people, including five children, were injured in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, as reported by regional governor Oleg Synegubov.
President Zelenskyy, commenting on the Kharkiv attack, accused Russia of aiming to "terrorize" the civilian population. He urged Western partners to provide Ukraine with the necessary aid to defend itself.
As per independent Russian news website Mediazona, over 66,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the Ukraine war so far. Mediazona, via the Telegram service, reported on August 30, the names of 66,471 soldiers who lost their lives in the conflict since the war's onset in February 2022. US government representatives had previously estimated the number of Russian soldiers killed at 120,000, based on a New York Times report.
In response to the ongoing conflicts, several nations have imposed sanctions on Russia. Despite these sanctions, Russian aircraft continue to fly in international airspace, a testament to the country's resilience in maintaining its air transportation.
Recently, a Russian aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, was spotted in the Mediterranean Sea, potentially signifying Russia's intent to showcase its military presence in international waters.
