Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy with US counterpart Joe Biden in Washington, September 21, 2023 (Reuters)

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Ukraine War, Day 575: Russia Strikes Kill 3, Injure 21+

Thursday’s Coverage: Russia Strikes Kill 3, Injure 21+

Map: Institute for Study of War

UPDATE 1837 GMT:

A scene from Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea….

UPDATE 1821 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been given a standing ovation by the Canadian Parliament after he addressed them about the necessity of support against the Russian invasion.

It is not just about an ordinary conflict, it is about saving lives of millions of people, literal physical salvation.

Life and justice must prevail, everywhere in Ukraine and all Ukrainians. This Russian aggression must end with our victory.

Russia will never bring back genocide to Ukraine and will never ever try to do so. Moscow must lose once and for all.

Praising Canada “where justice is not an empty word”, he told the MPs, “You’re always on the bright side of history… I have no doubt that you will choose the side of freedom and justice.”

When you are fighting for something, when you are fighting for good in human nature, the false neutrality looks obviously immoral,” he continued.

Thank you Canada for being a real example of leadership and honesty for so many around the world, an example that inspires others to defend life….

Don’t give up, stay strong against all odds….Slava Ukraine.

UPDATE 1808 GMT:

A Russian missile strike on Kremenchuk in the Poltava region of Ukraine has killed one person and injured 15 others, including a child.

Governor Dmytro Lunin said the attack was on civilian infrastructure.

UPDATE 1751 GMT:

US President Joe Biden told Ukraine counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday that the US will provide a small number of ATACMS missiles, with a range of 186 miles (300 km), according to “three US officials and a Congressional official”.

The Administration officials did not confirm the date of delivery. The Congressional official said there is still a debate about the exact type of missile and how many will be sent to Ukraine.

Another source said the Biden Administration is close to deciding whether it will deliver an ATACMS version with cluster bomblets rather than a single warhead.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan had said, after Wednesday’s White House meeting, that Biden would not supply ATACMS but that “he had not taken it off the table” (see Original Entry).

UPDATE 1743 GMT:

Ukraine Air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat has given some information about the Ukrainian missile strike on the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea (see 1448 GMT).

Ihnat said, “I wanted a bigger hole to be honest.”

However, he praised the UK and France-supplied Storm Shadow and SCALP cruise missiles used in the attack:

This is the best advertisement in the world of our weapons, which fly exactly on target.

For some reason, the Russian air defence cannot cope, for the umpteenth time. To be continued.

The spokesperson said the operation was completed with the help of “Russian residents of Crimea” who provided information.

“This is not only a blow to the heart of the naval forces of the Black Sea Fleet, this is a blow to the dictatorship of Putin,” he said. “Everyone will see it. This cannot be hidden.”

UPDATE 1525 GMT:

The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Russia, Mariana Katzaraov, said the situation is the worst since the Stalin era.

Katzarova said that since Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, “the level of repression against the civil society independent media, and generally anybody with a dissenting voice…is unprecedented in recent history”.

She said, “Civic society in Russia has been closed by the authorities.” The “repression is very sophisticated”, with new laws presented almost every week to stifle criticism or dissent.

Katzarova was appointed last April. Russia has refused her access to the country, and has declined to take part in a debate about her report at the UN Human Rights Council this week.

UPDATE 1448 GMT:

Ukraine has carried out a missile strike on the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea.

The Russian Defense Ministry said one soldier is missing, while claiming that five missiles aimed at Sevastopol were intercepted.

Sevastopol residents said they heard explosions and saw smoke. As ambulances gathered, firefighters fought a blaze, with shrapnel scattered for hundreds of meters.

The Russian Defense Ministry had claimed earlier that a Ukrainian attack on Crimea was repulsed, with the downing of one guided missile and two “aircraft-type” drones.

UPDATE 1440 GMT:

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the European Union has sent another €1.5 billion in aid to Kyiv.

UPDATE 0923 GMT:

A second grain ship has departed Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Chornomorsk, using a temporary corridor to challenge the Russian blockade.

The Palau-flagged Aroyat made the inbound journey last weekend. It left the port, near the city of Odesa after loading 17,600 tons of Ukrainian wheat for Egypt.

Infrastucture minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said three cargo ships are heading towards the Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi ports to export “tons of agricultural products and iron ore for China, Egypt and Spain”.

At least four other ships, trapped in Ukrainian ports since the Russian invasion of February 2022, have made it through the Black Sea since August 16.

Vladimir Putin reimposed the Russian blockade on July 17, when he ripped up the July 2022 deal allowing shipments from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports.

UPDATE 0750 GMT:

Alongside photographs of his visit to the US, Volodymyr Zelenskiy has posted on his Telegram channel:

These are different people: doctors and soldiers, politicians and businessmen, adults and children…Ukrainians, Americans. There isn’t a soul here who doesn’t care what happens to freedom. And there is not a single soul in Ukraine that does not feel gratitude to you, America.

To you – people who help us not because they should, but because your heart cannot allow you to do otherwise. This is humanity. This is what makes us Ukraine. This is what makes you America.

If America didn’t have such big hearted people, there wouldn’t be any freedom left in the world.

UPDATE 0659 GMT:

The latest Russian shelling of the Kherson region in southern Ukraine has killed one person and injured another.

Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said a residential building and a garage were set on fire.

UPDATE 0637 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is now in Canada, where he will meet Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and address Parliament.

Zelenskiy will also see Canadian business leaders in Toronto.

Meeting Zelenskiy and First Lady Olena Zelenska at the airport, Trudeau said, “Canada remains unwavering in our support to the people of Ukraine as they fight for their sovereignty and their democracy, as well as our shared values like respect for the rule of law, freedom, and self-determination.”

Canada has provided more than C$8.9 billion (US$6.6 billion) in support to Ukraine. The Trudeau Government says it is the highest per-capita direct financial support to Kyiv from a G7 nation.

More than 175,000 Ukrainians have come to Canada during the Russian invasion, and an additional 700,000 have received approval to enter. They are promised an open work permit for three years with a pathway to permeant residency and citizenship.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Shoring up support for Ukraine’s resistance against Russia’s 19-month invasion, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met US counterpart Joe Biden and American legislators in Washington on Thursday.

The US has approved $113 billion of military, economic, and financial aid to Kyiv during the invasion, and the Biden Administration is asking Congress to authorize another $24 billion.

However, some Republicans and Trumpists, particularly in the House, are calling for a reduction or even a cut-off of assistance.

In the closed-door sessions with Republican and Democratic legislators at the Capitol, Zelenskiy countered misleading and false assertions about Ukraine’s 3 1/2-month counter-offensive with the assurance that the nation is “winning” as territory is liberated in the east and south.

Biden then welcomed Zelenskiy at the White House. In their photo oppportunity, he said, “Your bravery has inspired the world.” The US was “determined to show” that “we stand with you”.

Zelensky told Biden that he looked forward to their discussion with a “special emphasis on air defense”.

Afterwards, the US President said, “I’m counting on the good judgment of the United States Congress. There’s no alternative.”

Zelenskiy also met Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. He said the conversation revolved around “deliveries of artillery systems and long-range capabilities, as well as strengthening air defense”.

The Administration announced another $325 million in Presidential drawdown assistance, with additional air defense, artillery ammunition, cluster munitions and other weapons.

Biden said, “Next week, the first US Abrams tanks will be delivered in Ukraine.”

However, he again refrained from provision of ATACMS missiles with a range of 186 miles (300 km).

Zelenskiy told CNN on Tuesday that he was sure negotiations over the missiles were “on the finishing line”.

“You Give Money, We Give Lives”

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Zelenskiy’s visit would “send the unmistakable message that in the 21st century, a dictator cannot be allowed to conquer or carve up his neighbor’s territory”.

If we allow that here, it will happen elsewhere in ways that will undermine the fundamental security, not to mention the values that the American people hold so dear.

Sullivan said that Biden had decided not to confirm delivery of ATACMS missiles at this point, but that the President “had not taken it off the table”.

Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, told reporters about the meeting in the Capitol:

There was a single sentence that summed it all up, and I’m quoting him verbatim, Mr Zelenskiy said: “If we don’t get the aid, we will lose the war.”

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The Ukraine President had another sentence, according to an attendee, “You give money. We give lives.”

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell expressed his pride in welcoming Zelenskiy: “Americans’ support for Ukraine is not a charity. It’s an investment in our own self-interest.”

Zelenskiy summarized in his nightly address to the nation: