Russia still has a significant presence in Ukrainian territories and the conflict is likely to continue says the US secretary of state as the fighting enters into 202nd day.
Ukrainian troops continued to pile pressure on the Russian forces, seeking to hold on to their sudden momentum that has produced major territorial gains.
(Reuters)
Tuesday, September 13, 2022Ukraine advancing in Kharkiv region but fighting still raging: minister
Fighting is still raging in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region but Ukraine's forces are making good progress because its forces are highly motivated and its operation is well planned, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar has said.
"The aim is to liberate the Kharkiv region and beyond - all the territories occupied by the Russian Federation. Fighting is continuing (in Kharkiv region). It is still early to say full (Ukrainian) control has been established over Kharkiv region," Malyar said in an interview.
"Our strength stems from the fact that we are very motivated and that we plan operations thoroughly," she said, adding that Ukraine had taken the decision to press on with its operation in the Kharkiv region due to the successes notched up so far.
Ukraine piles pressure on retreating Russian troops
Ukrainian troops continued to pile pressure on retreating Russian forces, seeking to hold on to their sudden momentum that has produced major territorial gains.
Fresh yellow-and-blue flags fluttered from the tallest buildings left in partly destroyed towns around Ukraine's second city, Kharkiv, while Ukrainian soldiers inspected charred Russian tanks left along the way.
"From the beginning of September until today, our soldiers have already liberated more than 6,000 square kilometres of the territory of Ukraine — in the east and south. The movement of our troops continues,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Ukraine military claims downed Iran drone used by Russia
Ukraine's military claimed for the first time that it encountered an Iranian-supplied suicide drone used by Russia on the battlefield, showing the deepening ties between Moscow and Tehran.
A Ukrainian military official, as well as a pro-Ukrainian army website closely associated with the military, published images of the wreckage of the drone. It resembled a triangle, or delta-shaped, drone flown by Iran known as the Shahed, or “Witness” in Farsi.
US intelligence publicly warned back in July that Tehran planned to send hundreds of the bomb-carrying drones to Russia to aid its war on Ukraine. While Iran initially denied it, the head of its Revolutionary Guard has boasted in recent days about arming the world's top powers.
Sony Music exits Russia
Sony Group Corp's music business has exited Russia, transferring the business and musicians to local management, due to the Ukraine conflict.
"As the war continues to have a devastating humanitarian impact in Ukraine, and sanctions on Russia continue to increase, we can no longer maintain a presence in Russia," Sony Music said in a statement.
The music business suspended operations in Russia earlier this year following that country's offensive Ukraine.
More grain ships leave Ukraine under Istanbul deal: Türkiye
Seven more ships have left Ukrainian ports under the Ankara-brokered grain export deal, the Turkish National Defence Ministry has said.
A ministry statement did not disclose the ships’ points of departure or destinations.
Since the first vessel sailed under the deal on August 1, more than 120 ships have carried over 2.5 million tonnes of agricultural products through the grain corridor.
Ukraine makes 'significant progress' against Russia — US
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that Ukrainian forces had made important progress in their counteroffensive against Russian troops, although it was too early to predict the outcome.
"Clearly we've seen significant progress by the Ukrainians, particularly in the northeast, and that is a product of the support we've provided, but first and foremost it's a product of the extraordinary courage and resilience of the Ukrainian armed forces and the Ukrainian people," Blinken told reporters in Mexico City.
Blinken said the Ukraine conflict was likely to continue for some time as Russia still has very significant forces and arms in Ukraine that it was still using "indiscriminately" against civilians and civilian infrastructure.
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Source: TRTWorld and agencies
