Victory Chronicles-DAY 923

At least 41 people have been killed and 180 others wounded in Ukraine’s Poltava region after two Russian ballistic missiles struck a military training center and a hospital, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The attack occurred in Poltava, the region’s capital, about 350 kilometers southeast of Kyiv. This strike is among the deadliest carried out by Russian forces since the war began over 900 days earlier. Zelenskyy stated that one of the buildings of the Poltava Military Communications Institute was partially destroyed and that rescue operations are ongoing. He has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident but did not provide further details. 

On the night of September 3, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine using various ballistic missiles and drones. The attack consisted of 3 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, an X-59/69 guided missile, and 35 Shahed-131/136 attack UAVs. Ukrainian forces successfully shot down 27 enemy drones and lost 6 in the local area. Additionally, 2 enemy drones flew towards the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation and the occupied Donetsk Oblast. The attack was reportedly launched from the territory of Crimea, which is temporarily occupied by Russia, as well as from the Kursk region in Russia. 

Ukrainian Armor showcased their new Varta 2 armored vehicle at a defense exhibition in Poland. The vehicle, which weighs 14 tons, is built on the Base chassis and can travel at a speed of 110 km/h. 

It has been designed using the company’s ten-year experience, military requirements, and the conditions of modern warfare. The Varta 2 can accommodate 10 crew members and is equipped with the Sich combat module featuring a 30 mm automatic cannon, providing strong firepower for infantry support and destroying enemy armored vehicles. 

The vehicle has NATO STANAG 3 ballistic protection and 3a/3b mine protection, along with mine-resistant seats and safety systems for crew protection. It includes advanced features like a suspended floor system to minimize the impact of blasts and an air filtration system to safeguard against chemical and biological threats. Additionally, the Varta 2 has an ICoMWare software and hardware complex, which uses a secure Mesh network to provide situational awareness and information support to the unit commander.

Russia is once again engaging in acts of terrorism by targeting the city of Kharkiv in Ukraine. The strikes have specifically targeted civilian infrastructure, resulting in more than 30 individuals being wounded. The Ukrainian government has mobilized all necessary forces to carry out a rescue operation in response to the ongoing attacks. However, it is emphasized that in order to effectively stop this terror, the international community must also provide support. The leaders of the world are urged to have the courage to provide Ukraine with the necessary resources and assistance to defend itself against these acts of aggression. This call for action is made by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, through the official channel of the President.

Iran is expected to “imminently” deliver ballistic missiles to Russia to support the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A version of this text appears in the September 2 ISW-CTP Iran Update. An unspecified European official told Bloomberg on September 2 that Iran could begin shipping ballistic missiles to Russia “within a matter of days.”

European intelligence sources previously told Reuters in August 2024 that Iran and Russia signed a contract in December 2023 for Iran to deliver Ababil close-range ballistic missiles and Fateh-360 short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) to Russia.

The intelligence sources added that dozens of Russian military personnel are currently in Iran training to operate Fateh-360 missiles. Russia’s acquisition of Ababil or Fateh-360 ballistic missiles would likely allow Russian forces to strike Ukrainian near-rear targets while preserving Russia’s stockpiles of domestically-produced missiles, such as Iskanders, for deep-rear Ukrainian targets, as CTP-ISW previously assessed.

Senior fighter Anatoliy Nor died of an explosive injury on July 13, 2024, in the village of Yevhenivka, Donetsk Oblast. The defender was 54.

Anatoliy was born in the village of Semenivka, Kremenchuk district, Poltava Oblast. He studied at the local secondary school No. 1 (now Lyceum No. 1), and then entered a railway technical school.

The profession of a railroader, which he chose for himself at that time, became his life’s work. He worked in the industry for over 30 years. In particular, he held the position of a 4th category track fitter at the Kremenchuk track distance of the Southern Railway. In his spare time, he loved to travel and spend time with his family.

In the fall of 2023, Anatolii was mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the 151st separate mechanized brigade.

“Anatoliy was very calm, decent, non-conflict, and understanding of others. He dreamed of raising his grandson to be a real man. His family came first,” said his colleagues at Ukrzaliznytsia. Anatoliy is survived by his wife and daughter.

*Anatoliy’s story on the Heroes Memorial – a platform for stories about the fallen defenders of Ukraine.

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