Closing summary
Aid money for Ukraine has become a bargaining chip for US congressional Republicans, as lawmakers negotiate on a bill to extend government funding beyond the end of the month and avoid a government shutdown. The House speaker, Kevin McCarthy, said that he would not support the part of the bill that addresses funding for Ukraine if there also wasn’t something included that would address the immigration crisis at the Mexican border.
Some mercenaries of the Russian Wagner Group have left Belarus and returned to the front in Donetsk oblast, a Ukrainian military spokesperson told RBC-Ukraine. “We confirm that the ‘Wagners’ are present on the territory of the Eastern Group of Forces,” Illia Yevlash, spokesperson of the Eastern Group of Forces, said. “These are servicemen of the ‘Wagner’ PMK who were on the territory of Belarus. Now their camps are being disbanded there. There were about 8,000 of them there. Now some of these militants have gone to Africa, and someone have renegotiated contracts with the ministry of defence of the Russian Federation and returned here, to eastern Ukraine, to take part in hostilities - both as instructors and as military personnel.”
Russian forces launched 44 air strikes and 27 multiple launch rocket system attacks today, and engaged Ukrainian troops in 17 combat engagements, the general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces said in their evening briefing. “Unfortunately, the Russian terrorist attacks have killed and wounded civilians,” the general staff said in its update. “Residential buildings, a hospital and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed or damaged.”
Russia’s ministry of defence has issued updated figures for the amount of equipment it claims to have destroyed during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine since February 2022. On its Telegram channel, it claimed: 479 airplanes, 250 helicopters, 7,191 unmanned aerial vehicles, 438 air defence missile systems, 12,170 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,155 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,557 field artillery cannon and mortars, as well as 13,449 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation. The claims have not been independently verified.
The Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny will be transferred to a single-cell type facility in an EPKT – “the most severe possible punishment” – for 12 months for supposed “incorrigibility”, Navalny said today on Telegram.
At least three pro-war Russian journalists were sent severed pigs’ heads over the past week, the Moscow Times is reporting. The journalists who received the pigs’ heads include state media columnist Timofey Sergeitsev – who last year published an article calling for the murder of Ukrainian civilians – military expert Konstantin Sivkov and Tass news agency photojournalist Mikhail Tereshchenko. All three had previously reported receiving death threats.
Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for the Russian president, said the US and the UK were “one way or another” involved in last year’s attack on the Nord Stream pipeline, Tass news agency is reporting. Responding to a question about a report published by the US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh in February that claimed the attack was a US operation, Peskov said: “What’s important here is that de facto such a terrorist act against critical energy infrastructure, one belonging to an international joint venture, was, of course, organised one way or another by the United States of America and Great Britain. And they are one way or another involved in this terrorist act.”
Peskov also spoke at length on the incident of the Canadian parliament giving a standing ovation to a Ukrainian man who had fought for the German SS during the second world war. Anthony Rota, the speaker in Canada’s parliament, stepped down yesterday after growing cross-party calls for his resignation. On Friday, after a speech by Zelenskiy, Rota singled out 98-year-old Hunka, whom he had invited to sit in the gallery, describing the man as a “Canadian hero”. Zelenskiy had raised his fist in acknowledgment as Hunka saluted from the gallery. “The addiction to the Nazi ideology of the Kyiv regime is not news, this is something we have been talking about for a long time,” Peskov said. “The fact that Zelenskiy also applauded the fascist standing up confirms this once again.”
Russia has accused Ukraine’s western allies of helping to plan and carry out last week’s missile strike on the Black Sea fleet’s headquarters in Crimea, the Associated Press is reporting. “There is no doubt that the attack had been planned in advance using western intelligence means, Nato satellite assets and reconnaissance planes and was implemented upon the advice of American and British security agencies and in close coordination with them,” Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, said at a briefing on Wednesday.
Russia’s military news outlet Zvezda on Wednesday published an interview with Black Sea fleet commander Viktor Sokolov – despite Ukraine claiming to have killed him in an attack on the fleet’s headquarters in Sevastopol. This report comes after Russia’s defence ministry released footage showing Sokolov attending a defence board meeting via video call.
Updated
Air raid alert issued for Sevastopol
Less than a week after a Ukrainian missile stuck Russia’s Black Sea fleet headquarters in Sevastopol, the port city has issued another air raid alert, Russian-installed regional governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said on Telegram.
Traffic on the Crimea bridge linking the Russian mainland with the Crimean peninsula has been temporarily suspended.
Russian forces launched 44 air strikes and 27 multiple launch rocket system attacks today, and engaged Ukrainian troops in 17 combat engagements, the general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces said in their evening briefing.
“Unfortunately, the Russian terrorist attacks have killed and wounded civilians,” the general staff said in its update. “Residential buildings, a hospital and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed or damaged.”
In the Donetsk oblast, Ukrainian forces repelled an attack near Hryhorivka, but Russian forces launched air strikes near Andriivka, Kostyantynivka, Pivnichne and Toretsk. More than 15 settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Mykolaivka, Markove, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka and Kurdyumivka. In this reason, Russian troops continues to lay down minefields.
Still in the Donetsk oblast, Ukrainian forces repelled eight attacks near Mar’inka and and one near Rivnopil. Russian forces launched an air strike near Novomykhailivka, Urozhaine and Staromaiors’ke, and fired artillery at about 20 settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Oleksandropil, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Katerynivka. Bohoyavlenka, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva and Blahodatne.
In the Zaporizhzhia oblast, Russian forces launched an air strike near Novodanylivka and fired upon more than 20 settlements with artillery and mortar fire, including Charivne, Robotyne, Mali Shcherbaky, Levadne, Hulyaipole, Orikhiv, Shcherbaky, Kam’yans’ke and Plavni, as well as on Nikopol in the Dnipropetrovsk oblast.
In the Kherson oblast, Russian forces launched air strikes near Mykolaivka, Burhunka and Ol’hivka. More than 10 settlements came under enemy artillery and mortar fire, including Antonivka, Dniprovs’ke, Shyroka Balka and the city of Kherson.
Some mercenaries of the Russian Wagner Group have left Belarus and returned to the front in Donetsk oblast.
“We confirm that the ‘Wagners’ are present on the territory of the Eastern Group of Forces,” Illia Yevlash, spokesperson of the Eastern Group of Forces, told RBC-Ukraine. “These are servicemen of the ‘Wagner’ PMK who were on the territory of Belarus. Now their camps are being disbanded there. There were about 8,000 of them there. Now some of these militants have gone to Africa, and someone have renegotiated contracts with the ministry of defence of the Russian Federation and returned here, to eastern Ukraine, to take part in hostilities - both as instructors and as military personnel.”
⚡️ Ukraine's military confirms Wagner fighters return to front.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) September 27, 2023
Some mercenaries of the Russian Wagner Group have left Belarus and returned to the front in Donetsk Oblast, RBC Ukraine reported on Sept. 27, citing the spokesperson of the Eastern Grouping of Forces, Illia Yevlash.
One of the pro-#Russian channel is reacting to a CNN report suggesting Wagner PMCs are being deployed to Bakhmut.
— Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) September 27, 2023
The channel (which is also being quoted by Wagner-tied channels) nuances that former Wagner PMCs have indeed been redeployed, but that they are no longer part of…
Earlier this month, the UK home office determined that the Wagner mercenary group will be declared a terrorist organisation.
In the Donetsk oblast, Ukrainian members of the Opfor battalion (Opposing Force) train to fight against Russian forces.
Updated
Alexei Navalny to be transferred to single cell for allegeed "incorrigibility"
Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny will given “the most severe possible punishment” for 12 months, Navalny said today on Telegram.
Following an appeal on his case yesterday, Nalvalny learned that he was going to be transferred to a single-cell type facility in an EPKT – the strictest form of isolation – due to his “incorrigibility”.
“I feel like a tired rock star on the verge of depression. Reached the top of the charts and there is nothing more to strive for,” he posted on Telegram. “On the other hand, it was I who did not fly to the top, but fell to the bottom. And there, as you know, they can always knock from below.”
With a federal government shutdown looming if US lawmakers cannot agree on a budget to extend funding beyond the end of the month, it appears that aid money for Ukraine has become a bargaining chip for congressional Republicans:
NEW -- MCCARTHY said he told MCCONNELL that he cannot take up a bill that funds Ukraine and doesn't fix the border.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) September 27, 2023
In other words, if it wasn't clear, the CR the Senate is taking up is dead on arrival in the House.
McCarthy said if House Republicans pass a CR it makes them…
🚨BREAKING: FIX BORDER OR NO MORE UKRAINE FUNDING - McCarthy
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) September 27, 2023
Speaker McCarthy won't support a bill funding Ukraine without addressing the border crisis, 4 days before the Gov Shutdown deadline.
This comes just days after the Pentagon said it would exempt Ukraine operations from… pic.twitter.com/6kMFFPwg3R
The House speaker, Kevin McCarthy, said that he would not support the part of the bill that addresses funding for Ukraine if there also wasn’t something included that would address the immigration crisis at the Mexican border.
Updated
At least three pro-war Russian journalists were sent severed pigs’ heads over the past week, the Moscow Times is reporting.
The journalists who received the pigs’ heads include state media columnist Timofey Sergeitsev – who last year published an article calling for the murder of Ukrainian civilians – military expert Konstantin Sivkov and Tass news agency photojournalist Mikhail Tereshchenko. All three had previously reported receiving death threats.
Supposedly after Tereshchenko received a pig’s head from a deliveryman on 19 September, authorities searched the deliveryman and uncovered four additional bags with severed pigs’ heads.
No suspects have been named.
Today in Kyiv:
Updated
“Too bad Vladimir, you brought it on yourself,” the former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton quipped yesterday, needling the Russian leader over Nato enlargement.
Her comment, made at the unveiling of her official portrait for the state department, was met with applause and laughter from the crowd. Today, Russia responded to the remark by reminding Clinton of a 2009 gaffe, when a symbolic button designed to mark a “reset” of US-Russia ties was instead labelled “overload” in Russian.
“It is clear that this was probably not a deliberate mistake, but very telling,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Read more here:
Updated
The head of the Kherson city military administration urged residents to take shelter after explosions were reported in the city.
“The Russian army is shelling the city from the temporarily occupied left bank,” Roman Mrochko said on Telegram. “Go to safer places! Take care of yourself and your loved ones!”
Russia’s ministry of defence has issued updated figures for the amount of equipment it claims to have destroyed during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine since February 2022. On its Telegram channel, it claimed:
In total, 479 airplanes, 250 helicopters, 7,191 unmanned aerial vehicles, 438 air defence missile systems, 12,170 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,155 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,557 field artillery cannon and mortars, as well as 13,449 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.
“Special military operation” is the preferred term by Russian authorities for its invasion of Ukraine. The claims have not been independently verified.
Here is our video report on the clip released by Russia’s defence ministry showing an interview with the Black Sea fleet commander, Viktor Sokolov. It was released on Wednesday, days after Ukraine claimed he had been killed in a missile strike on Russian navy headquarters in Crimea, which Russia unilaterally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
Updated
Russian state-owned news agency Tass has quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov at some length on the incident of the Canadian parliament giving a standing ovation to a Ukrainian man who had fought for the German SS during the second world war. It quotes Peskov saying:
The addiction to the Nazi ideology of the Kyiv regime is not news, this is something we have been talking about for a long time. The fact that Zelenskiy also applauded the fascist standing up confirms this once again. Of course, one can only sympathize with the memory of Ukrainian veterans who fought against fascism, including Zelenskiy’s grandfather.
Peskov went on to say that Yaroslav Hunka should face justice for having fought for the German side in the second world war.
We believe that the Canadian authorities are obliged to bring this criminal to justice or to extradite to those who are going to bring this criminal to justice. There is hardly even any place for a trial here. It’s clear that we are talking about a Nazi
Anthony Rota, the speaker in Canada’s parliament, stepped down yesterday amid growing cross-party calls for his resignation. On Friday, after a speech by Zelenskiy, Rota singled out 98-year-old Hunka, whom he had invited to sit in the gallery, describing the man as a “Canadian hero”.
Zelenskiy raised his fist in acknowledgment as Hunka saluted from the gallery. Hunka fought against the Soviet Union – Canada’s allies in the war – as a member of the Waffen-SS “Galicia” Division or the SS 14th Waffen Division, a volunteer unit that was under the command of the Nazis and which is accused of war crimes.
Updated
Summary of the day so far
Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for the Russian president, said the US and the UK were “one way or another” involved in last year’s attack on the Nord Stream pipeline, Tass news agency is reporting. Responding to a question about a report published by the US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh in February that claimed the attack was a US operation, Peskov said: “What’s important here is that de facto such a terrorist act against critical energy infrastructure, one belonging to an international joint venture, was, of course, organised one way or another by the United States of America and Great Britain. And they are one way or another involved in this terrorist act.”
Russia has accused Ukraine’s western allies of helping to plan and carry out last week’s missile strike on the Black Sea fleet’s headquarters in Crimea, the Associated Press is reporting. “There is no doubt that the attack had been planned in advance using western intelligence means, Nato satellite assets and reconnaissance planes and was implemented upon the advice of American and British security agencies and in close coordination with them,” Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, said at a briefing on Wednesday.
Russia’s military news outlet Zvezda on Wednesday published an interview with Black Sea fleet commander Viktor Sokolov – despite Ukraine claiming to have killed him in an attack on the fleet’s headquarters in Sevastopol. This report comes after Russia’s defence ministry released footage showing Sokolov attending a defence board meeting via video call.
Twelve people were injured in the Russian shelling of the Kherson oblast yesterday, the regional governor, Oleksandr Prokudin, said on Telegram. Russian forces mainly targeted “the residential quarters of the populated areas of the region”, as well as buildings of educational institutions, factories, a penitentiary in Kherson and a medical institution in Beryslav, Prokudin said.
Russian forces launched 36 strikes on Ukraine with Iranian kamikaze drones yesterday, the general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces said in its morning briefing. It was a Shahed drone that struck the key Ukrainian grain exporting port of Izmail, injuring two people and damaging infrastructure. The Guardian recently learned that these Shahed drones are filled with European components, with five European companies including a Polish subsidiary of a British multinational, named as the original manufacturers of the identified components.
Nearly 50 Russian companies involved in the extraction, processing and sale of diamonds could be put under western sanctions under a proposal from the Ukrainian authorities. A large number of the companies in line to be hit with economic restrictions have links to Alrosa, which controls more than 90% of diamond production in Russia, a third of the world’s total. Alrosa is already under sanction regimes operated by the US, Canada, the UK and New Zealand, among others.
Russia has begun building direct railway links to the occupied Ukrainian cities Mariupol, Volnovakha, and Donetsk, said Petro Andriushchenko, an adviser to Melitopol’s exiled mayor – a move that could decrease Moscow’s logistical dependence on the Crimean bridge.
“In practice, this is not only a global solution to the issue of military and civilian logistics, but also a drastic reduction in dependence on railway communication via the Crimean bridge,” Andriushchenko said on Telegram.
The official noted that if these efforts are successful, Russia will connect the railway line of Mariupol-Aslanove-Kalchyk-Volnovakha in occupied Ukraine with the Russian cities of Taganrog and Rostov-on-Don.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) September 27, 2023
📷 Petro Andriushchenko/Telegram pic.twitter.com/itRos4Ve8b
Updated
Here are some of the latest images from Ukraine coming in over news agency wires:
Updated
Russia accuses US, UK of aiding in attack on Black Sea fleet headquarters
Russia has accused Ukraine’s western allies of helping to plan and carry out last week’s missile strike on the Black Sea fleet’s headquarters in Crimea, the Associated Press is reporting.
“There is no doubt that the attack had been planned in advance using western intelligence means, Nato satellite assets and reconnaissance planes and was implemented upon the advice of American and British security agencies and in close coordination with them,” Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, said at a briefing on Wednesday.
Kyiv claimed the strike put a large hole in the main building of the headquarters in Sevastopol and wounded 105 people, but those claims could not independently be verified. Meanwhile, Russia initially said one serviceman was killed but quickly retracted that statement and said the person was missing. Moscow has provided no updates on any casualties.
The accusation comes after Russia’s military news outlet, Zvezda, published an interview with the Black Sea fleet commander, Viktor Sokolov, despite Kyiv’s claims to have killed him in the attack. Yesterday, Russia’s defence ministry released footage showing Sokolov attending a defence board meeting via video call. Sokolov did not speak in the clip.
When asked about Sokolov on Wednesday, the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, pointed to the Tuesday video call, but made no further comment. Peskov did, however, say that the US and the UK were “one way or another” involved in last year’s attack on the Nord Stream pipeline.
Moscow has repeatedly claimed that the US and its Nato allies have effectively become involved in the war in Ukraine by supplying weapons to Kyiv, providing intelligence information and helping to plan attacks on Russian facilities.
Zakharova’s statements follow comments made yesterday by Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, who said the arrival of Abrams tanks in Ukraine and the US’s promise to supply an unspecified number of long-range missiles would push Nato closer to a direct conflict with Russia.
Updated
Twelve people were injured in the Russian shelling of the Kherson oblast yesterday, the regional governor, Oleksandr Prokudin, said on Telegram.
Russian forces mainly targeted “the residential quarters of the populated areas of the region”, as well as buildings of educational institutions, factories, a penitentiary in Kherson and a medical institution in Beryslav, Prokudin said.
Russian activity continued this morning, with an aerial attack near Mykolaivka in the Beryslav district at about 5am. Prokudin has been issuing warnings all morning about Russian activity in the area, urging people to stay in shelters until the air alert is over.
Updated
Russia accuses US, UK of involvement in terrorist attack on Nord Stream
Tass news agency is reporting that Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for the Russian president, said the US and the UK were “one way or another” involved in last year’s attack on the Nord Stream pipeline.
Responding to a question about a report published by the US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh in February that claimed the attack was a US operation, Peskov said:
“What’s important here is that de facto such a terrorist act against critical energy infrastructure, one belonging to an international joint venture, was, of course, organised one way or another by the United States of America and Great Britain. And they are one way or another involved in this terrorist act.”
One year ago, underwater explosions caused four ruptures of the Nord Stream pipeline that carry natural gas from Russia to Europe. Researchers in Norway recently shared with the Guardian seismic evidence of the four explosions linked to the attack, becoming the first national body to publicly confirm the second two detonations.
Western officials quickly denounced the attack as an act of sabotage, while Russia accused the west. Moscow and Kyiv have motive, but have both denied responsibility in the attack. One year later, it’s still unclear who is responsible.
While Hersh’s report blaming the US has gained popularity, it was founded on the account of a single unnamed source and has been widely viewed by experts as unreliable.
Updated
Russian forces used Shahed drones 36 times yesterday
Russian forces launched 36 strikes on Ukraine with Iranian kamikaze drones yesterday, the general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces said in its morning briefing.
It was a Shahed drone that struck the key Ukrainian grain exporting port of Izmail, injuring two people and damaging infrastructure.
The Guardian recently learned that these Shahed drones are filled with European components, with five European companies including a Polish subsidiary of a British multinational, named as the original manufacturers of the identified components.
Ukrainian forces were able to destroy 26 Shahed drones yesterday, via combat efforts and air defence, said Pavlo Kovalchuk, spokesperson of the general staff of the armed forces of Ukraine.
In total yesterday, Russian forces fired 10 missiles and 77 air strikes, carrying out 44 shellings that targeted both Ukrainian troops and civilian infrastructure.
The majority of the air strikes took place the Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk and Kherson oblasts.
The general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces believe that Russian forces lost 320 personnel yesterday.
Загальні бойові втрати противника з 24.02.22 по 27.09.23 орієнтовно склали / The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 27.09.23 were approximately pic.twitter.com/TYe6luXC1W
— Генеральний штаб ЗСУ (@GeneralStaffUA) September 27, 2023
Nearly 50 Russian companies involved in the extraction, processing and sale of diamonds could be put under western sanctions under a proposal from the Ukrainian authorities.
A large number of the companies in line to be hit with economic restrictions have links to Alrosa, which controls more than 90% of diamond production in Russia, a third of the world’s total. Alrosa is already under sanction regimes operated by the US, Canada, the UK and New Zealand, among others
In 2022, Russia exported more than $3.8bn worth of diamonds.
Some countries in the western sanctions coalition have banned the import of Russian diamonds, but the prohibition applies only to rough diamonds.
After being processed in third-world countries, mainly India and China, Russian diamonds receive the status of “mixed” and can be freely supplied to the markets of the G7 countries which comprises France, the US, the UK, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada, plus the EU.
India, the United Arab Emirates, and Belgium are the three largest hubs where Russian diamonds can be transformed into “mixed” diamonds. The US, China, and the EU are their largest consumers.
Ukraine’s national agency for the prevention of corruption has sent proposals to the security service of Ukraine and other responsible authorities to impose sanctions against Russian diamond companies, with the intention that western partners will reciprocate.
Updated
Summary of the day so far …
Russia’s military news outlet Zvezda on Wednesday published an interview with Black Sea fleet commander Viktor Sokolov, despite Ukraine claiming to have killed him in an attack on the fleet’s headquarters in Sevastopol. “The Black Sea Fleet carries out the tasks set by the command confidently and successfully,” Sokolov says in the short video, wearing a military uniform. On Tuesday Russia’s defence ministry released footage showing Sokolov attending a defence board meeting via video call.
Iranian kamikaze drones used in the latest attacks on Ukrainian cities are filled with European components, according to a secret document sent by Kyiv to its western allies in which it appeals for long-range missiles to attack production sites in Russia, Iran and Syria. In a 47-page document submitted by Ukraine’s government to the G7 governments in August, it is claimed there were more than 600 raids on cities using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) containing western technology in the previous three months.
Ukraine’s security forces claim to have arrested two men in the Kyiv region who were assisting Russia. They cite an attack on the city on 21 September as one of the occasions on which the men helped Russia identify targets in the city. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, described the arrests as “a good signal to all traitors: there will be retribution.”
Scientists investigating the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines have revealed key new details of explosions linked to the event, which remains unsolved on its first anniversary. Researchers in Norway shared with the Guardian seismic evidence of the four explosions, becoming the first national body to publicly confirm the second two detonations, as well as revealing a detailed timeline of events.
Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, has announced on his Telegram channel that one person has been injured and hospitalised with shrapnel wounds after Ukrainin shelling of the village of Bolshetroitskoe.
The Russian-installed head of occupied Luhansk region has announced that three kindergartens and four schools in Krasnodon have switched to remote learning after the area came under fire.
Germany has welcomed a decision by Switzerland to open the way to sell back some of its German-made Leopard II tanks to help rebuild stocks depleted by aid to Ukraine. To comply with Swiss neutrality laws, Berlin has assured Berne the weapons would not go to Kyiv, but remain in Germany or with a Nato or EU ally.
Robert Telus, Poland’s agricultural minister, has said talks with Ukraine about grain imports are going in a good direction.
Updated
Ukraine has said it will not play in football tournaments involving Russian teams after the European governing body of the sport, Uefa, announced plans to reinstate Russia’s under-17 sides to European competitions.
In a statement released late on Tuesday, the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) urged Uefa to reconsider its decision and urged other countries not to play against Russian teams.
Uefa said on Tuesday that “children should not be punished for actions whose responsibility lies exclusively with adults”, and that Russian U-17 sides would be readmitted to UEFA competitions “in the course of this season”.
Reuters reports the UAF said the return of Russian teams to competitions “in the midst of hostilities conducted by the Russian Federation against Ukraine is groundless and such that it tolerates Russia’s aggressive policy.”
Ukraine’s sports ministry has barred Ukrainian national sports associations from sending delegations to compete at events where Russians or Belarusians were competing, however the men’s football team has been competing in qualification for Euro 2024, despite the fact that the Belarusian team is competing in a separate qualifying group
Updated
In a post on Telegram, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has commented on the arrest of people accused of helping Russia guide missile strikes on Kyiv. He wrote it was “a good signal to all traitors: there will be retribution.”
Ukraine’s security forces claim to have arrested two men in the Kyiv region who were assisting Russia. They cite an attack on the city on 21 September as one of the occasions on which the men helped Russia identify targets in the city.
Suspilne reports that in Donetsk region, Russia has attacked six cities and villages in the last 24 hours. It writes “the Russian army destroyed 22 residential buildings, a bus station, trade pavilions, an enterprise and a hangar.”
Black Sea fleet commander seen on video again
Russia’s military news outlet Zvezda on Wednesday published an interview with Black Sea fleet commander Viktor Sokolov, despite Ukraine claiming to have killed him in an attack on the fleet’s headquarters in Sevastopol.
“The Black Sea Fleet carries out the tasks set by the command confidently and successfully,” Sokolov says in the short video, wearing a military uniform.
On Tuesday, Russia’s defence ministry released footage showing Sokolov attending a defence board meeting via video call.
In response to the Russian video, Ukraine’s special forces appeared to backtrack their earlier claims that Sokolov was killed, writing on Telegram: “Since the Russians were urgently forced to publish a response with Sokolov allegedly alive, our units are clarifying the information.”
Germany has welcomed a decision by Switzerland to open the way to sell back some of its German-made Leopard II tanks to help rebuild stocks depleted by aid to Ukraine.
Germany had asked Switzerland in February to sell back some of the 96 Leopard II tanks it has in storage to manufacturer Rheinmetall, Reuters reports.
To comply with Swiss neutrality laws, Berlin has assured Berne the weapons would not go to Kyiv, but remain in Germany or with a Nato or EU ally.
“We are very happy and grateful for this decision,” Michael Flügger, Germany’s ambassador to Switzerland told Swiss TV. “We need these tanks, they will fill gaps with us and our European partners.”
He was speaking after the Swiss parliament on Tuesday approved the decommissioning of 25 Leopard II tanks, paving the way for them to be resold to Germany.
Requests from Germany, Denmark and Spain to allow Swiss-made weaponry they have previously bought to go to Ukraine have been blocked by Berne citing Swiss neutrality, which prevents weapons being sent directly or indirectly to combatants in a war.
Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, has announced on his Telegram channel that one person has been injured and hospitalised with shrapnel wounds after Ukrainin shelling of the village of Bolshetroitskoe.
The Russian-installed head of occupied Luhansk region has announced that three kindergartens and four schools in Krasnodon have switched to remote learning after the area came under fire.
Tass quotes Leonid Pasechnik saying: “In order to ensure the safety of our children and the continuity of their educational process, it was decided to temporarily transfer three kindergartens and four schools in Krasnodon to distance learning. As soon as all the consequences are eliminated and the premises are restored, the children will return to classes.”
Updated
Reuters has a quick snap that Robert Telus, Poland’s agricultural minister, has said talks with Ukraine about grain imports are going in a good direction.
Relations between Poland and Ukraine have become strained over the accusation that cheap Ukrainian imports are undermining Poland’s agricultural sector, which has become a campaigning issue in Poland’s elections, which are due to be held mid-October.
Suspilne includes these details in its morning news round-up, writing on Telegram:
At night, Russian troops shelled the Nikopol district of Dnipropetrovsk region with heavy artillery: two people were injured. Six houses, a private enterprise, a car, power lines were damaged.
At about 5.00am, Russian military aircraft struck near Mykolaivka in the Kherson region. Information about the consequences of the attack is being clarified.
Yesterday, the Russian army shelled the Kherson region 119 times: 12 people were injured. The Zaporizhzhia region was attacked 130 times: one person died, another was wounded.
The claims have not been independently verified.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence has conjectured that “a concerted new Russian offensive is less likely over the coming weeks”, based on its assessment that “Russia has highly likely committed elements of its new 25th Combined Arms Army (25 CAA) to action for the first time.”
It claims that “the formation started moving into Ukraine from late August 2023”, and: “Since the start of the invasion, Russia has only rarely maintained an uncommitted army-size grouping which could potentially form the basis of a major new offensive thrust.”
It goes on to add 25 CAA appears to have been “deployed piecemeal to reinforce the over-stretched line”.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 27 September 2023.
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) September 27, 2023
Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/5vTwe4o6Qm
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/QSg4h3lGYT
This is Martin Belam taking over the live blog in London. You can contact me at martin.belam@theguardian.com
Updated
More now on the report on European components used in Shahed drones: Among the suggestions for action by Ukraine’s western allies – at which they would probably baulk – are “missile strikes on the production plants of these UAVs in Iran, Syria, as well as on a potential production site in the Russian federation”.
The document goes on: “The above may be carried out by the Ukrainian defence forces if partners provide the necessary means of destruction.”
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by the western companies whose parts have been identified. “Iranian UAV production has adapted and mostly uses available commercial components, the supply of which is poorly or not controlled at all,” the report says.
Customs information is said by the Ukrainian report to show that “almost all the imports to Iran originated from Turkey, India, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Costa Rica”.
Sokolov situation ‘remains unclear’ says US thinktank
The US thinktank the Institute for the Study of War says it remains “unclear” whether or not the Russian Black Sea fleet commander Viktor Sokolov has been killed.
Russia’s defence ministry released footage showing Sokolov attending a defence board meeting via video call, a day after Ukraine claimed that Sokolov was killed in an attack on the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea fleet in Sevastopol.
Suspilne, Ukraine’s state broadcaster, reported that Ukraine’s special forces were “currently clarifying information regarding the possible death” of Sokolov.
“ISW is unprepared at this time to make an assessment about the authenticity of the Russian MoD’s footage of Sokolov or about Sokolov’s status on Earth,” the institute said.
Updated
Shahed drones contain European components, according to report
Iranian kamikaze drones used in the latest attacks on Ukrainian cities are filled with European components, according to a secret document sent by Kyiv to its western allies in which it appeals for long-range missiles to attack production sites in Russia, Iran and Syria.
In a 47-page document submitted by Ukraine’s government to the G7 governments in August, it is claimed there were more than 600 raids on cities using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) containing western technology in the previous three months.
According to the report, obtained by the Guardian, 52 electrical components manufactured by western companies were found in the Shahed-131 drone and 57 in the Shahed-136 model, which has a flight range of 2,000km (1,240 miles) and cruising speed of 180kmh (111mph).
Five European companies including a Polish subsidiary of a British multinational are named as the original manufacturers of the identified components.
“Among the manufacturers are companies headquartered in the countries of the sanctions coalition: the United States, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Japan, and Poland,” it claims.
According to the report, Iran has already diversified its production through the use of a Syrian factory in the port of Novorossiysk but the production of drones is shifting to Russia, to the central Tartar region of Alabuga, although Tehran continues to supply the components.
It says the Iranian government is trying to “disassociate itself from providing Russia with weapons” and “cannot cope with Russian demand and the intensity of use in Ukraine”:
Opening summary
Welcome back to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine. This is Helen Sullivan with the latest.
Our top story this morning: Iranian kamikaze drones used in the latest attacks on Ukrainian cities are filled with European components, according to a secret document sent by Kyiv to its western allies in which it appeals for long-range missiles to attack production sites in Russia, Iran and Syria.
And the Institute for the Study of War, a US thinktank, writes in its daily report that it “remains unclear” whether the Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF) Commander Adm Viktor Sokolov, who Ukraine claimed to have killed, is alive or dead.
Russia’s defence ministry released footage showing Viktor Sokolov, the commander of the Black Sea fleet, attending a defence board meeting via video call, a day after Ukraine claimed that Sokolov was killed in an attack on the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea fleet in Sevastopol.
Suspilne, Ukraine’s state broadcaster, reported that Ukraine’s special forces were “currently clarifying information regarding the possible death” of Sokolov.
More shortly. Elsewhere meanwhile:
Scientists investigating the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines have revealed key new details of explosions linked to the event, which remains unsolved on its first anniversary. Researchers in Norway shared with the Guardian seismic evidence of the four explosions, becoming the first national body to publicly confirm the second two detonations, as well as revealing a detailed timeline of events.
The European Union must begin a major wave of change to prepare for the arrival of Ukraine as a member state, the leader of its parliament has said. Roberta Metsola told the Guardian said she expected member states to begin formal negotiations with Ukraine as soon as December.
Turkey’s parliament will keep its promise to ratify Sweden’s Nato bid if US president Joe Biden’s administration paves the way for F-16 jet sales to Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, according to Turkish media.
An overnight Russian airstrike on the key Ukrainian grain exporting port of Izmail injured two people and damaged infrastructure, the governor of the Odesa region said on Tuesday. A port building, storage facilities and more than 30 trucks and cars were damaged in the attack, which lasted more than two hours, Oleh Kiper said, while the ferry service with Romania was also closed.
The Ukrainian military reported shooting down 26 of the 38 Iranian-made attack drones it said were launched by Russia. Separately on Tuesday, a Russian missile strike also damaged a local enterprise in the southern Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, its mayor, Oleksandr Vilkul, said. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Ukrainian troops have “enjoyed success” by villages near Bakhmut, a key city seized by Russian forces in May, Ilia Yevlash, spokesperson for forces in the east, told national television. A spokesperson for troops in the south, Oleksandr Shtupun, meanwhile told the news site Espreso TV that Ukrainian troops were digging in and poised to move on the village of Verbove as part of their advance to the Sea of Azov. Russian troops were bringing in reserves. “I believe we will soon have good news,” Shtupun said.
A cargo vessel left a Ukrainian Black Sea port on Tuesday, an industry source told Reuters, without giving any further details. Kyiv has tried to establish a temporary “humanitarian corridor” hugging the coastline, and two bulk carriers left the port of Chornomorsk last week using it. In July the UN and Turkey-brokered deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain via the Black Sea collapsed after Russia withdrew.
