Ukraine Strikes Crimean Air Base Amid Tensions
Ukraine Strikes Crimean Air Base:
On Thursday, the Ukrainian military asserted that they had conducted an airstrike on a Russian military airfield close to the town of Saky in Crimea. This marks another offensive by Kyiv on the Ukrainian peninsula, which was annexed by Moscow and subsequently used as a staging ground for its invasion of Ukraine.
“On Wednesday night, the Ukrainian defense forces executed a coordinated attack on an enemy military airfield located near the town of Saky,” reported the army’s communications center on Telegram. No additional information was provided.
According to a Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) insider, this operation was a collaborative effort involving the SBU and naval forces, employing drones and domestically-produced Neptune cruise missiles.
This attack occurred shortly after Crimea’s Russian-appointed authorities reported the prevention of Ukrainian missile and drone strikes aimed at Sevastopol and its vital port area, a crucial facility for the Russian navy.
As stated by Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvojaev, Ukrainian forces launched missile strikes on the city and deployed drones to target two adjacent towns, Kacha and Verkhnessadovoye.
On September 13, an airstrike inflicted damage on two ships and resulted in injuries to 24 individuals at a shipyard in Sevastopol. In August, a notably large-scale assault involving 42 drones was carried out on the peninsula, subsequent to a special forces operation by Ukrainian troops.
The Ukrainian military has frequently aimed at Russian vessels either navigating the Black Sea, stationed in Crimea, or harbored in Russian ports along the coastline.
Kyiv cautions of challenging times ahead for Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities have issued a warning of challenging times on the horizon.
Oleksiy Kuleba, the deputy head of the presidential administration, stated on Telegram, ‘Difficult months lie ahead of us, as Russia persists in its attacks on Ukraine’s critical energy and infrastructure assets.’
As winter approaches, Ukrainian officials are concerned that Moscow may resume its campaign of targeting these facilities, potentially subjecting the civilian population to cold and darkness, as witnessed last winter.
Ukrainian cities face a barrage of Russian missile attacks.
Overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, Russian rockets struck multiple cities and towns in Ukraine, resulting in casualties.
In the southern city of Kherson, residential areas were reportedly targeted, leading to the tragic deaths of two men, aged 29 and 41, in an apartment building hit by a missile. Four others were hospitalized, with one in critical condition.
In Kyiv, seven individuals, including a 9-year-old girl, sustained injuries from falling debris caused by downed Russian missiles, as reported by Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
The town of Cherkasy also witnessed injuries to several people after a Russian attack hit a hotel.
Furthermore, the eastern city of Kharkiv, near the Russian border, and the northwestern Lviv region experienced bombings.
Despite Moscow’s denial of targeting Ukrainian civilians, experts previously highlighted to Euronews in June that there appeared to be a deliberate strategy underpinning its bombing campaign.
Poland to halt weapons supplies to Ukraine.
Wednesday evening, Warsaw declared the suspension of arms shipments to Kyiv, as tensions escalated between the two nations, primarily over grain trade.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced on television, “We are ceasing all arms transfers to Ukraine. Our primary focus is on modernizing and swiftly strengthening the Polish armed forces to position them as one of Europe’s most potent land armies.”
Morawiecki clarified that the military hub in Rzeszow, which serves as a conduit for Western equipment destined for Ukraine, remained operational.
The Prime Minister did not specify a timeline for Poland’s cessation of arms supplies or whether it was related to the grain dispute. Poland, a major arms supplier to Ukraine, has imposed a ban on Ukrainian grain to safeguard its domestic farmers, who have voiced concerns about their inability to compete with cheaper imports.
During his speech at the United Nations on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indirectly criticized Poland’s decision, remarking that “certain countries” were pretending to support Kyiv while indirectly assisting Russia.
In response, the Polish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs refuted these allegations, labeling them as “false” and “unjustified,” pointing out that Poland had been supporting Ukraine since the early days of the conflict.
Zelenskyy visits Washington to secure ongoing support from the United States.
Recognizing that there is growing weariness in the US regarding support, Ukraine’s leader will make a White House visit on Thursday.
During this visit, Zelenskyy is expected to seek five key objectives from Washington, his nation’s strongest and most influential ally, as Ukraine’s counteroffensive efforts persist.
Zelenskyy strongly condemns Russia as ‘criminal’ during UN address.
During an extraordinary session of the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Ukraine’s leader confronted Russia, condemning Moscow’s “aggression.”
He also expressed frustration at how Russia wields its veto power to obstruct the UN body.
“Most nations around the world acknowledge the truth about this conflict,” Zelenskyy asserted, while addressing Russia’s UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia. “This is a criminal and unjustified act of aggression by Russia against our nation, driven by its desire to seize Ukraine’s territory and resources,” he continued, dressed in his customary khaki green military attire.
Zelenskyy called upon the UN to reconsider Russia’s veto authority within the Security Council, which it holds as one of the five permanent members, alongside China, France, the UK, and the US.
He argued that “the aggressor’s veto power hinders the UN” and asserted that the war’s cessation is “impossible to achieve” due to Russia’s veto and its support from other UN member states.
Divergent stances on the Ukraine conflict persist in the Global South, with many nations abstaining from endorsing UN resolutions condemning Moscow, instead advocating for peace talks.
Wednesday’s address marked the first time Zelenskyy had spoken in person at the UN Security Council since Russia initiated its invasion in February 2022.
By: M Z Hossain, Editor Sky Buzz Feed
