August, 30-September, 05

Russian troops continue to shell settlements located along the front line in the Donetsk oblast. In Avdiivka, Druzhkivka, and Kramatorsk, humanitarian aid depots have been destroyed. In Kostyantynivka, Chasiv Yar, Bakhmut, and Slovyansk, the headquarters of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society has been damaged, and a kindergarten demolished. Kurakhove, Soledar, and other cities are subjected to shelling. The evacuation of civilians from the Donetsk oblast continues.

In Mykolayiv,on 3-4 September the city’s three hospitals were shelled. Kharkiv, Voznesensk, Marhanets, Nikopol, Zelenodolsk, Kryvyi Rih, and other cities are also regularly subjected to shelling along with settlements in the Sumy oblast located on the Russian border (shelling is carried out from Russian territories). On 4 September, large-scale shelling of Ochakiv destroyed a grain elevator and damaged tens of residential houses. At the same time, a significant number of missiles are being shot down by Ukraine’s air defense. For example, on 3 September five missiles were taken out over the territory of the Dnipropetrovsk oblast. Nevertheless, shelling carried out by multiple rocket launchers has led to significant destruction. Furthermore, local authorities are unable to warn locals of artillery shelling in time, leading to numerous casualties.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine continues their counteroffensive in the Kherson oblast. On 4 September, the village of Vysokopillya was liberated. There was a fierce battle for this village, the control over which will allow Ukraine to end the massive artillery shelling of the South of the Dnipropetrovsk oblast. Some settlements in the Donetsk oblast have also been liberated. Russian military bases and ammunition depots located on Ukrainian territories, which are currently under Russian occupation continue to be shelled. Meanwhile, Russian troops are preparing advances in both South and East Ukraine. Recently formed Russian military units are being readied for battle.

The humanitarian challenges faced by those living both in the occupied territories and along the front line – shortage of water, electricity, and medicines – remain critical. Even Russian public figures admit that it will be impossible to prepare several of the captured settlements for the heating season. This could result in a new wave of refugees to Russia.

Out of almost 13.000 Ukrainian schools only 3500 will offer an offline format of education. In approximately 4500 schools teaching will take place both online and offline. The remainder of Ukrainian schools will offer only online lessons.

On 1 September a mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), led by Director General, Rafael Grossi, arrived at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant despite the ongoing shelling of the plant and other provocations organised by Russian. Grossi and his team inspected the plant. Part of the team plan to remain at the plant in order to monitor the situation.

On 2 September, a further exchange of prisoners of war took place. Ukraine managed to retrieve 14 of its soldiers.

Despite the shelling of infrastructure objects, Ukrainian crops continue to be exported to different countries around the world. For example, on 4 September a record-breaking (since the start of the full-scale invasion) 13 ships left Ukrainian ports carrying 282.5 thousand tons of Ukrainian agricultural products. Overall, since the signature of the “grain agreements”, some 70 ships have left Ukrainian ports with 1.5 million tons of products on board.

On 2 September the mission of IAEA arrived at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The Kremlin has allowed members of the mission to continue working at the plant. However, the situation remains dangerous. On 3 September, Moscow issued a statement which declares that due to technical issues the supply of energy to Ukraine from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Enerhodar (located in the occupied territories of the Zaporizhzhia oblast) had been temporarily suspended. Russia claims that it it prevented spies in the IAEA missionfrom entering the plant. Russia refers to representatives of the media as “spies”. The Russian Ministry of Defense claims to have thwarted an attempt by the Ukrainian army to attack the premises of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, with the help of eight unmanned aerial vehicles.

The rhetoric about a “neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine”, used by Russia’s leadership remains unchanged. For example, on 5 September Putin said that the tragedy that is currently unfolding in Donbas ”was the result of the policies implemented by the neo-Nazi regime which in 2014 forcibly seized power and launched hostilities in the region”. Moscow avoids directly implying any changes in its position vis-à-vis possible negotiations with Ukraine. On 4 September Kremlin Spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that Russia had some issues that it wanted to discuss with Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but that Russian conditions “certainly” remain the same. Ukraine is accused of fomenting aggression and sabotaging the Minsk agreements. The Russian ambassador to Belarus, Boris Gryzlov, said that Kyiv had lost its sovereignty and that it could not make independent decisions, which means that no agreements with the Ukrainian authorities are possible.

Russian officials are sharing information about the losses incurred by the Ukrainian army as well stories claiming the Russian army is destroying western weapons (HIMARS). Officially, Russia denies that the Ukrainian army has made advances in the Kherson oblast. Kherson itself is referred to as “a Russian city”. The Kremlin is promoting narratives of the “foiled Ukrainian counteroffensive”.

Russian occupation administrations have started talking about “taking a break in the organisation of referendums” on the accession of the occupied territories (in particular, the Kherson oblast) to Russia. For example, on 5 September the speaker of the occupation administration said that the Kherson region was prepared for the referendum and plans were underway to hold the referendum in the near future. However, for security reasons there was a need for a break. He said that the priority was to “provide people with food”. No further details about the exact date of the referendum have been provided. The Russian Ministry of Interior claimed that the organisation of these referenda was the task of the local authorities, and that the Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, as well as the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblast were entitled to ask Russia, other countries and international organisations for assistance (also, financial assistance) to organise these referenda.

Anti-government demonstrations taking place in EU countries (e.g., the Czech Republic) are being actively covered by the Russian media. The Kremlin claims that such demonstrations will also be held in Germany. The demonstration in Prague is being presented by Russia as a call for the government to resign. According to Russian media, Czech society does not approve of its government’s policy regarding Ukraine.

The possible resignation of Chechnyan leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, is being discussed. Kadyrov, who has actively participated in Russian aggression against Ukraine, announced his intention to resign on his Telegram account. Political analysts loyal to the Kremlin speculate that Kadyrov may be offered a position in one Russia’s federal institutions. The Kremlin has remained silent on this issue.

Russia is constantly sharing stories about its humanitarian operation in occupied Ukrainian territories as well as its integration initiatives. MPs from the Russian State Duma are frequently visiting occupied Ukrainian territories. Representatives of the “United Russia Party” visited the so- called Luhansk People’s Republic, having agreed on measures to provide aid for the republic’s municipalities, children’s rehabilitation and the implementation of Russian education programmes on the territory. Representatives of “A just Russia – For Trust” party are also active in visiting Ukraine’s occupied territories.