Victory Chronicles-DAY 950

The Helsinki Commission, a bipartisan committee dedicated to promoting democracy and human rights in post-Soviet countries, is urging the United States to re-evaluate its approach to Russia and recognize Moscow as a persistent global security threat. 

The commission’s report, obtained by The Hill, suggests a major shift in Washington’s strategy toward Russia. The focus will be on providing significant military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine to help it win the conflict against Russia. 

The report goes against former President Trump’s and his allies’ views, who favored direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. Additionally, the report emphasizes the importance of addressing Russia’s nuclear threats with sound reasoning rather than fear. It also recommends changing Washington’s attitude towards Russia, urging policymakers to stop treating the country as a superpower solely due to its nuclear arsenal.

According to the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Russian troops launched over 150 attacks in 10 different directions within a single day. The combat engagements occurred in various areas, including the Pokrovske direction, where the Russians attacked nine settlements 28 times, and the Kurakhivka direction, where Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled 25 Russian attacks. Overall, there were 153 instances of battle on the battlefield during this period. Additionally, three firefights took place on the Kharkiv front near the town of Vovchansk.

A recent Russian airstrike on Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine has resulted in 16 civilian casualties. The attack involved dropping 13 bombs, which caused significant damage to the area. 

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration have confirmed the number of wounded and the completion of search and rescue operations. Among the injured are nine women, five men, a 17-year-old boy, and an 8-year-old girl. Three of the injured are currently hospitalized, while eight have declined hospitalization. The two women who remain in the hospital are receiving treatment for their injuries. This attack follows the destruction of an apartment building and wildfires in the area caused by the Russian attack. The situation in Zaporizhzhia remains tense as the community recovers from the damage and cares for the wounded.

According to the Official Channel of the Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, a fighter from the 15th Brigade of the Kara-Dag Brigade successfully destroyed a Russian T-72B3 tank. The tank was taken down with a precise shot from an FGM-148 Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM). 

Western countries continue to invest in the growth of Ukraine’s defense industrial base (DIB). The Danish Ministry of Defense (MoD), in collaboration with the Danish DIB, announced on September 29 the establishment of a defense industrial hub at the Danish embassy in Kyiv with the aim of enhancing Danish-Ukrainian defense industrial cooperation.

The Danish initiative aims to support Danish defense and dual-use companies that want to establish production or partnerships with Ukraine. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Danish Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Troels Lund Poulsen also signed a Letter of Intent on September 29 that pledges Danish financial support for defense production in Ukraine.

Denmark will allocate a total of 575 million euros ($641 million) for investment in the Ukrainian DIB, with 175 million euros ($195 million) coming directly from the Danish budget and an additional 400 million euros ($446 million) from profits from frozen Russian assets. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated on September 14 that Ukraine will be able to domestically produce $20 billion worth of defense equipment in 2025 if Ukraine receives additional funding from its partners.

ISW has assessed the importance of sustained and timely Western military support for Ukraine, particularly Western assistance to develop Ukraine’s DIB, so that Ukraine can become more self-sufficient and reduce its reliance on Western military aid in the long-term.

Fighter Bohdan Ivanchyshyn, with the call sign Bob, died on February 26, 2024, while performing a combat mission near the village of Bilohorivka, Luhansk region. The fighter was 38 years old.

Bohdan was born in the village of Zapytiv, Lviv region. He received secondary specialized education at a railway school. He worked at the VEND enterprise in the village of Staryi Yarychiv. He was fond of football.

The man was called up for military service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine on February 22, 2023. He served in the 81st Airmobile Brigade of the Airborne Assault Forces. He was a squad leader.

“We will always remember you. You were always cheerful, friendly and cheerful. We miss you very much. We miss and love you,” wrote the fighter’s sister Mariana.

The paratrooper was buried in the village of Tseperiv, Lviv region. Bohdan is survived by his mother, sister and nephews.

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

• The EU is preparing a regime of sanctions against hybrid threats from Russia
• Russia’s Putin signs decree on autumn military conscription
• German Foreign Minister supports supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles, despite Scholz’s position
• Zelenskyy is feeling more positive about US authorisation for strikes deep into Russia
• Denmark to invest over US$628 million in Ukraine’s defence industry