war in Ukraine
Ukraine claims to have recaptured more than 6,000 square kilometers – army continues to advance
Ukrainian military vehicles move on the road in the liberated area in Kharkiv region, Ukraine
© Kostiantyn Liberov/AP/DPA
The advance of the Ukrainian army and the retreat of Russian soldiers make a turning point in the war seem possible. In Germany, the pressure on the chancellor to help with tanks is growing. The events of the night at a glance.
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian army has recaptured more than 6,000 square kilometers of land from the Russian occupiers since the beginning of September. “Our troops are on the move,” he said in Kyiv on Monday evening. In the face of Russian rocket attacks on his country’s power grid, he called for faster deliveries of anti-aircraft weapons from abroad.
The Ukrainian General Staff reported Russian attacks on many parts of the front. In the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, which was occupied by Russian troops, the situation eased somewhat because two power lines to the cooling system of the shut down reactors could be repaired. Tuesday marks the 202nd day of Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion. In Germany, the discussion about the delivery of battle tanks and armored personnel carriers to the attacked country continues.
Army of Ukraine continues to advance
The Ukrainian troops are combing the recaptured areas in the east for collaborators of the Russian occupying power. In addition, mines would be cleared, the Ukrainian general staff said in its situation report on Monday evening. He gave no further information on the advance of the Ukrainians, who have largely routed the Russian troops in the Kharkiv region. The Russians left behind many weapons and heavy material. The Ukrainian advance is seen as a stage victory in the reconquest of occupied territories, which nourishes hopes of a military turnaround beyond Ukraine.
On Monday photos showed that Ukrainian soldiers are in Sivatohirsk in the Donetsk region. The leader of the Moscow-controlled Donetsk separatists, Denis Pushilin, confirmed fighting for the city, which has an important Orthodox monastery. “Svyatohirsk, I’ll say this in all honesty, is currently not fully controlled by us or the enemy,” he said in a video message. The information could not initially be verified.
Pushilin also confirmed a Ukrainian attack on Donetsk airport. The attackers were destroyed, he said, which also could not be verified. The first Ukrainian reports of the attack made the rounds on Saturday. Since then, the front between the separatists and the Ukrainian army has passed through the airport, which was destroyed in 2014. An attack there would be the first advance by Ukrainians into the territory of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic since Russia invaded the neighboring country on February 24.
Selenskyj wants stronger anti-aircraft defenses faster
The aid of international partners for Ukraine must be increased, demanded Zelenskyj in his video speech every evening. “Together we can overcome Russian terror.”
Russian rocket hits on a power plant near Kharkiv temporarily paralyzed large parts of the power grid in eastern Ukraine on Sunday evening. “Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians found themselves in the dark – without electricity. Houses, hospitals, schools, municipal infrastructure,” Zelenskyy said. “Russian missiles hit precisely those objects that have absolutely nothing to do with the infrastructure of our country’s armed forces.” He interpreted the shelling as revenge for the advance of the Ukrainian army in the Kharkiv region.
Germany has promised Ukraine the modern Iris-T air defense system. Ukraine hopes for quick delivery. According to Ukrainian reports, the first unit will be sent by the end of the year.
Zaporizhia NPP better supplied with electricity again
Zaporizhia nuclear plant in Ukraine, occupied by Russian troops is now reconnected to two reserve power lines. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna announced on Monday evening that one line could supply the cooling system for the reactors that were shut down, while the second was in reserve. The sixth and last reactor has been shut down and now requires less electricity for cooling.
Nevertheless, the situation at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in the middle of the combat zone remains precarious, warned IAEA boss Rafael Grossi. The four main lines have been destroyed and the power plant is not delivering any electricity. “A nuclear protection and safety zone is urgently needed,” he warned. He had conducted the first consultations with all those involved.
That will be important on Tuesday
In Germany, the dispute over the delivery of battle tanks and armored personnel carriers to Ukraine continues. The pressure from the Greens and FDP is growing, even though Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) once again emphasized the limitation to artillery and air defense on Monday. It remains the case that “there are no Germans going it alone,” said Scholz in Berlin. Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) also warned of this. SPD leader Saskia Esken did not rule out the delivery of battle tanks, but insisted on international coordination.
Federal Finance Minister and FDP leader Christian Lindner pleaded for additional support. “You have to salute the bravery of the Ukrainians. We have to check every day whether we can do more to help them in this war,” wrote Lindner on Twitter. “Ukraine must win this war.”
Robin Wagener (Greens), chairman of the German-Ukrainian parliamentary group in the Bundestag, also called for more support: “Our freedom is not being defended on the combat training grounds of the Federal Republic, but on the front in Ukraine.”
So far, the German supply list has included the Gepard anti-aircraft vehicle, the Panzerhaubitze 2000, multiple rocket launchers and the Iris-T anti-aircraft system as well as other weapons and ammunition.