Victory Chronicles-DAY 1297

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sept. 12 urged NATO to respond decisively to Russia’s drone attack on Poland, warning that Moscow is testing Western limits. 

 “He is testing the waters,” Zelenskyy said of Vladimir Putin. “He watches if after a bit of isolation, he can go further. And yes, he can.”

Acknowledging NATO’s caution about triggering direct confrontation with Russia, Zelenskyy pressed for concrete support on the ground, including new categories of weapons to bolster Ukrainian forces who are defending relentless Russian assaults. 

“Ukraine is standing on the frontlines of Europe’s security,” he added. “Every delay in support gives [Kremlin ruler Vladimir] Putin a chance to escalate.”

Zelenskyy concluded: “This is not about NATO – it is about Ukraine.” 

UK pledges $185 million to help Ukraine through winter. Britain will provide 142 million pounds (about $185 million) in aid to help Ukraine weather the coming winter, U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper announced on Sept. 12 during her first official visit to Kyiv.

One-hundred million pounds of that amount ($130 million) will go toward humanitarian assistance in frontline communities, including repairs to water and heating systems, emergency aid for civilians affected by Russian strikes, and programs to protect vulnerable groups and sustain local jobs.

Another 42 million pounds ($55 million) will be used to repair Ukraine’s power grid and bolster defenses for gas and energy infrastructure ahead of expected Russian attacks on utilities.

Russian drone strike kills man, sets building ablaze in Sumy. A Russian drone strike on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy early on Sept. 12 killed a security guard and set a nonresidential building on fire, local officials said.

Acting Mayor Artem Kobzar confirmed that two explosions heard across the city were caused by drones hitting the building. Photos released by regional authorities showed the structure smoldering in flames, with thick smoke plumes pouring into the morning sky.

Russian artillery strike sets central Kherson ablaze, destroys homes and shops. Russian troops shelled the center of Kherson overnight on Sept. 12, hitting residential areas and sparking a fire that destroyed apartments and storefronts, local officials said.

Emergency services reported that an elderly man was trapped under rubble but miraculously escaped injury. Videos from the scene showed firefighters battling flames that tore through buildings, leaving charred ruins where homes and businesses once stood.

The attack comes amid ongoing Russian attempts to destabilize southern Ukraine, following months of heavy fighting in the Kherson region. The city, situated along the Dnipro River that also straddles the Black Sea, has been a focal point since Russian forces first occupied it in early 2022, and subsequent Ukrainian counteroffensives have made it a frequent target of artillery and missile strikes. Residents continue to face constant threats to life and property, highlighting the human cost of the war in urban areas. 

Key Takeaways

1. Polish officials provided additional clarification on the impact that the Se-t; 9-10 Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace.
2. Poland’s allies reiterated their support for Poland following the drone incursion, condemning Russia for purposefully conducting the incursion to test NATO readiness.
3. Ukrainian officials responded to the drone incursion by drawing parallels to Russian cycles of aggression and escalation against Ukraine and offered to share Ukraine’s now-institutional counter-drone knowledge with Poland.
4. The Kremlin continues efforts to destabilize the Balkans and dismantle the 1995 Dayton Accords that ended the 1992-1995 Bosnian War, likely as part of a larger campaign to divide and distract Europe.
5. Russian state media is acknowledging the growing gasoline shortages in Russia but is downplaying the role that Ukraine’s deep strike campaign is playing in generating these shortages.
6. Sweden pledged additional military and financial assistance to Ukraine.
7. Russian forces recently advanced near Lyman, Velykomykhailivka, and in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area.

• Polish prime minister: Poland will work with Ukraine on finding most effective defence against Russian drones
• UK hits Russian covert fleet and defense supply chain with new sanctions
• FT: US urges G7 to impose high tariffs on China and India over oil purchases from Russia
• Guardian: Trump says his patience with Putin ‘running out and running out fas’”
• Japan and New Zealand sanction Russia, Zelenskyy urges world to follow suit
• US senators introduce bill to label Russia and Belarus state sponsors of terrorism