Putin’s brigades ‘suffer heavy losses’ as counteroffensive advances near Bakhmut

1695112803 Black smoke billows over the city after drone strikes in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv Black smoke billows over the city after drone strikes in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv Firefighters work at a site of an industrial warehouse damaged by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine Firefighters work at a site of an industrial warehouse damaged by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine The dramatic blaze at the warehouse struck by Russian attack Firefighters work at a site of an industrial warehouse damaged by a Russian drone strike Lydia Patrick 19 September 2023 09:40 1695102300 The commander of Ukraine ‘s ground forces has claimed the recapture of another village in the east of the country has helped Kyiv ‘s forces break through part of Russia ‘s defensive lines around the devastated city of Bakhmut . The area has been a key part of Ukraine’s counteroffensive to try and reclaim territory occupied by Russia as part of its near-19 month invasion. Bakhmut has been the scene for some of the bloodiest fighting of the war and in the process taking on symbolic importance for both Russia and Ukraine far greater than its size. Retaking Klishchiivka is considered tactically important as it will allow Ukrainian forces to further extend their gains around Bakhmut and keep pushing forward. ‘These settlements, at first glance small, were important elements in the enemy’s defensive line,’ general says Eleanor Noyce 19 September 2023 06:45 1695115873 Russian troop s face ‘significant losses’ as three brigades have been rendered ineffective and a commander has been killed, according to the Institute of Study of War. Ukrainian military officer Oleksander Syrskyi said troops destroyed the combat capability of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Brigade (3rd Army Corps), the 31st Guards VDV Brigade, and the 83rd Guards VDV Brigade during the liberation of the villages Andriivka and Klishchiivka, south of Bakhmut. Russian commander Alexander Khodakovosky claimed the 31st VDV brigade commander had been killed as the Ukrainian counteroffensive liberated Bakhmut . Lydia Patrick 19 September 2023 10:31 1695114363 Heartbroken Ukrainian girl breaks down in tears after seeing her nursery destroyed in Russian attack. Lydia Patrick 19 September 2023 10:06 1695110763 Ukraine claims Moscow falsely applied genocide law to justify Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Lydia Patrick 19 September 2023 09:06 1695108963 The Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelesnsky will join other world leaders in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly to make a security speech. The war in Ukraine and the climate crisis are expected to be discussed at great lengths as more than 140 leaders gather. It is not yet clear if he will stay for Russian diplomat Sergei Lavrov’s speech, last year Lavrov called Zelensky a ‘b*******’ and walked out after a strong line of accusations and condemnation aimed at Russia. The Ukrainian leader questioned world leaders as to why Russia still has a place in the UN ahead of his speech. He said: ‘For us, it’s very important that all our words, all our messages, will be heard by our partners. And if in the United Nations still – it’s a pity, but still – there is a place for Russian terrorists, the question is not to me. I think it’s a question to all the members of the United Nations.’ Lydia Patrick 19 September 2023 08:36 1695107163 Ukraine’s air defence systems destroyed 27 out of 30 drones and one Iskander ballistic missile that Russia launched on in the early hours of Tuesday, Ukraine’s air force said on the messaging platform Telegram – as reported by Reuters. The Iranian-made Shahed drones were destroyed in Ukraine’s southern, central and western regions, while the missile was launched in the direction of Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine, it said. Reuters could not independently verify the report. Lydia Patrick 19 September 2023 08:06 1695105363 Ukraine ‘s military claims its latest recapture of a key village in Bakhmut will act as a ‘springboard’ for further offensive actions against Russia ‘s continuing invasion. Ukraine scored another victory recently when it recently recaptured village Klishchiivka that lies in the southern flank of Bakhmut, as its forces fought off Russian attempts to get back into the area. The war-torn country’s forces had last week also recaptured Andriivka, another village a few kilometres to the south of Klishchiivka, after earlier criticism alleged Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian forces had slowed. Both settlements have been reduced to ghost towns and destroyed in the months of fighting for Bakhmut that had fallen into Russian hands in May this year. ‘Now we have gained a springboard for ourselves, which in the future will allow us to continue to develop offensive operations and liberate our land from the invaders,’ Illia Yevlash, spokesperson for Ukraine’s troops in the east, said in a national telecast after they retook Klishchiivka.’ Battle for Klishchiivka inflicted ‘powerful damage’ on Russian airborne units Lydia Patrick 19 September 2023 07:36 1695103610 Volodymyr Zelensky posed the question of why Russia and Vladimir Putin continued to have representation at the United Nations to world leaders ahead of his UN security council speech. Mr Zelensky was speaking in the US after visiting wounded Ukrainian military members at a New York hospital shortly after arriving for his diplomatic tour on Monday. ‘For us, it’s very important that all our words, all our messages, will be heard by our partners. And if in the United Nations still – it’s a pity, but still – there is a place for Russian terrorists, the question is not to me. I think it’s a question to all the members of the United Nations,’ he said. War-time leader has not confirmed if he will stick around for Russian minister Sergei Lavrov’s remarks Arpan Rai 19 September 2023 07:06 1695103200 Russian warships patrol the surface of the Black Sea , launching missiles at Ukrainian cities and towns as part of a near-daily assault. While also enforcing a de facto blockade, leaving ships in little doubt of the consequences if they try to break it. Such is the importance of this shipping route for both sides. For a long time, Russian ships moved with relative impunity. And a grain deal that enabled Ukraine to export from its ports on the Black Sea allowed for an uneasy status quo to hold. But, after Moscow withdrew from that deal in the summer and stepped up attacks on Ukraine’s ports, and Kyiv began a counteroffensive to retake land occupied by Russia in southern and eastern Ukraine – the Black Sea has become one of the most active fronts in the war. Russia has used the waters to launch missile assaults on Ukraine’s cities and blockade its ports. Now Kyiv is fighting back in a big way Eleanor Noyce 19 September 2023 07:00