Saturday’s Coverage: Russia’s “Largest Drone Attack of Invasion”

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 1024 GMT:

Ukraine’s Infrastructure Ministry and the Association of International Motor Carriers are distributing water, food, and medicines to truck drivers stranded at the border by a blockade by Polish counterparts.

The Polish truckers have closed three crossings for almost three weeks. They are calling for access to Ukraine’s markets and a reduction in permits for Ukrainian drivers.

Ukrainian officials said 2,500,000 liters of water, 1,200 lunches, and necessary medications were distributed this weekend to drivers in front of the Dorohusk-Yahodyn checkpoint.

The World Central Kitchen has handed out almost 14,000 hot lunches over the past 10 days.

More than 800 trucks are held up at Yahodyn-Dorohusk, the largest cargo checkpoint on the border. Another 700 are blocked at Korczowa-Krakivets and 600 at Grebenne-Rava-Ruska.

UPDATE 1008 GMT:

The Ukraine Air Force says air defenses downed 8 of 9 attack drones launched overnight by Russia.

There are no immediate reports of damage.

A day earlier, Ukrainian defenses intercepted 74 of 75 Iran-made attack drones, Russia’s largest assault of its 21-month invasion.

The Russian Defense Ministry claims that at least 20 Ukrainian drones have been shot down over regions, including Moscow, Tula, Kaluga, and Bryansk.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: The “Grain from Ukraine” summit, held in Kyiv on Saturday, has discussed further arrangements to protect shipping in the Black Sea and defeat Russia’s efforts to choke Ukrainian ports.

Those joining Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy included Latvia’s President Edgars Rinkēvičs, Swiss President Alain Berset, and Lithuania’s Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.

Zelenskiy said at a joint press conference that international partners have agreed to provide warships so Ukraine can escort ships transporting grain from its ports.

The initiative will bolstered a “protected corridor” established in the western Black Sea in mid-August. A month earlier, Vladimir Putin had tried to reimpose Russia’s blockade of three ports, ripping up a July 2022 grain deal brokered by the UN and Turkey.

More than 150 vessels have successfully used the corridor in just over three months.

However, Zelenskiy noted on Sunday that Ukraine needs further support against Russian missile and drone strikes targeting port infrastructure and grain warehouses.

“There is a deficit of air defense – that is no secret,” he said.

In a letter to Zelenskiy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union will provide €50 million ($55 million) for “quick repairs and upgrades of infrastructure in Ukraine’s ports”.

In Kyiv, the leaders summarized in a statement:

We strongly believe that threatening global food supplies should not be used as a weapon of war and recall that the starvation of civilians as a tactic of warfare is prohibited. Countries compromising food security should face immediate international repercussions.

Zelenskiy said more than $100 million has been pledged to “Grain For Ukraine”, with Lithuania pledging another €2 million ($2.19 million).