September 6 2024

CNN released a video showing the execution of three Ukrainian soldiers by Russian soldiers near Pokrovsk, Donetsk, on August 27, 2024. The footage was captured by a Ukrainian drone and shows the soldiers emerging from a position hidden among smoking shrubbery. They kneel with their hands placed behind their heads, clearly surrendering. They are in this position for a significant period of time when Russian soldiers open fire on them, and the Ukrainian soldiers collapse face down, lying motionless on the ground. This incident is part of a growing pattern of POW executions, with 15 cases reported since November. Ukraine’s prosecutor General said his office was investigating 28 instances like this one that have occurred since the start of the full-scale invasion.


Zeleskyy visited Germany for the new “Rammstein” Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine meeting.

The US announced a new military aid package that contains:

    • RIM-7 missiles and support for air defense;
    • Stinger missiles;
    • Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
    • 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition;
    • Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missiles;
    • Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;
    • Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles;    
    • M113 Armored Personnel Carriers;
    • Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles;
    • Small arms ammunition and grenades:
    • Patrol boats;
    • Maritime training equipment;
    • Demolitions equipment and munitions; and
    • Spare parts, ancillary equipment, services, training, and transportation

The European Commission is allocating 35 million Euros for repairing infrastructure in Ukraine and 5 million Euros for refugee support (safety, basic services) in Moldova in preparation for winter.

Lithuania announced on September 6 that it is donating 11 million Euros to purchase Palianytsia missile-drones for Ukraine.

Germany announced a plan to deliver 12 more self-propelled Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzers worth $165 million to Ukraine and also plans to deliver 77 older Leopard 1A5 tanks shortly, in cooperation with Denmark, and the Netherlands.

Canada is giving Ukraine a new aid package that includes:

• 80,840 additional CRV-7 rocket motors
• 1,300 CRV-7 warheads
• 970 C6 machine guns
• 10,500 9mm pistols
• 29 M113s decommissioned chassis
• 64 Coyote LAVs decommissioned chassis
• 50 ambulances

Spain is providing Ukraine with a HAWK air defense system battery. It includes 6 launchers and will be delivered in the next few weeks. Spain also pledged to expand its role in the EU training program for Ukrainian soldiers.

Spain has joined the IT and Maritime Coalitions to support Ukraine's defense. The Maritime Coalition focuses on training and equipping Ukraine's navy, including minehunters, amphibious vehicles, and patrol vessels. The IT Coalition focuses on communications and cybersecurity.

Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced a new military aid package for Ukraine. The Netherlands will provide technical equipment, air-to-air missiles, spare parts, generators, small vehicles, and specialized tools worth €80 million to support Ukraine’s F-16s. Ukraine began deploying F-16s in late summer. Ukraine reportedly received six F-16s from the Netherlands.

Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair announced the first group of Ukrainian pilots has arrived in Canada this week to start training on F-16s. This training is part of Canada's $389 million support package, which includes equipment and assistance for Ukrainian airbases.

At the Ramstein meeting on September 6, President Zelenskyy discussed Ukraine’s readiness to increase
joint production of weapons and ammunition with allies after the war. He brought up Ukraine's ability to produce drones, missiles, and other weapons domestically and the need for funding and assistance from partners. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the U.S., Ukraine, and European countries are working to replace the S-300 missile systems and R-27 missiles. The U.S. has allocated over $200 million to help Ukraine produce UAVs and electronic warfare systems. Austin reiterated how important it is for Ukraine to expand its domestic defense industry.


The Ukrainian Air Force is testing a new domestically made glide bomb, adapted from a Soviet free-fall bomb. This weapon features folding wings and an aerodynamic fairing to reduce air resistance and increase its ability to glide. It has X-shaped control surfaces and possibly a solid fuel rocket booster or jet engine to increase range. The testing was shown in a video. One of these bombs was shown to be mounted on a Su-24M.


The US Department of Defense has released a document titled “Fact Sheet on Efforts of Ukraine Defense Contact Group – National Armaments Directors.” In that document is a report on the US efforts to ramp up ammunition production.

From the Fact Sheet:

    “The United States has invested $5.3 billion to expand domestic production capacity of the following munitions or subcomponents (NOTE: entries reflect increases from 2022 to current production rates):

• 155mm Projectiles: 14,400 per month to 40,000 per month (178% increase)
• 155mm Propelling Charge: 14,494 per month to 18,000 per month (24% increase)
• GMLRS: 833 per month to 1,167 per month (40% increase)
• Javelin: 175 per month to 200 per month (14% increase)
• AIM-9X: 116 per month to 137 per month (18% increase)
• PAC-3 MSE: 21 per month to 42 per month (100% increase)
• HIMARS: 5 per month to 8 per month (60% increase)
• M777 Tubes: 11 per month to 18 per month (64% increase)”

In August, Ukrainian Air Defense units destroyed over 330 Russian UAVs and 127 Shahed kamikaze drones. Additionally, Ukraine also downed 1 Su-25 attack aircraft, 6 cruise missiles, 42 Orlan reconnaissance drones, 140 Zala drones, and 149 other types of Russian drones. Ukraine is increasingly using FPV drones to intercept long-range reconnaissance UAVS.


On September 6 at around 10 a.m. local time, a Russian ballistic missile strike (using Iskander-M or KN-23) on Pavlohrad in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast resulted in one death, and 64 injuries, including 5 children, two 11-year-old boys, a 4-year-old girl, and a 9-year-old girl. The strike caused several fires, including one in a high-rise building where firefighters rescued five people.

Russia attacked Krasnopillia, Sumy with 3 KAB guided aerial bombs around 3 p.m. local time, killing 1 and injuring 5 (including 2 teens).


Ukrainian athletes won 6 more medals on September 6, the 9th day of the Paralympic Games, bringing the total medal count up to 67, (16 gold, 23 silver, and 28 bronze), which is currently in 5th place of all teams in terms of medal count.


On September 6, the Azov brigade reported having regained control over parts of Niu-York and rescued the Ukrainian forces who surrendered and were surrounded.


The WHO's health cluster started relocating hospital resources from Donetsk to other locations due to the worsening humanitarian situation in Donetsk since July. Civilians who left frontline communities increased to 1k+ per day since September. 4 partners have relocated 70 ICU beds, about 1k general/surgical beds, and 30 maternity beds from 6 facilities.


The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran has sent short-range ballistic missiles to Russia. While the exact number and types of missiles were not disclosed, it is speculated they could include the Fateh-360 system, which has a 120 km range and a 150 kg warhead. EU has pledged to respond if Iran supplies Russia with ballistic missiles. Iran denies providing military aid to Russia, despite evidence to the contrary.


Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that protective structures at Ukrenergo’s facilities are over 85% complete, while those handled by the Recovery Agency are less advanced but ongoing. The government has allocated $219 million for energy facility protection, with Ukrenergo contributing an additional $109 million. Shmyhal said that Ukraine is likely to not face power cuts this winter unless Russia launches more successful major strikes against Ukraine’s energy grid. Though he said outages of 12 hours in length will likely be experienced, and if strikes are especially bad, they may last up to 20 hours.


The Netherlands has announced new restrictions on the export of advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment, including those used to produce high-end High-NA chips with extreme ultraviolet technology. This decision requires national licensing for exporting certain types of advanced equipment. These restrictions were implemented partly in response to pressure from the United States, which aims to prevent advanced chip technology from reaching non-friendly nations, including Russia and China.


Raiffeisen Bank International, an Austrian bank has decided to exit the Russian market due to international pressure. In May 2024 Raiffeisen announced its plan to leave Russia but has faced significant obstacles, including a lawsuit from MCAO Rasperia Trading Limited. Rasperia attempted to sell its 27.78% stake in Strabag SE to Raiffeisenbank and is now claiming €1.51 billion in damages after the deal fell through. Recently, a Russian court issued a preliminary ruling blocking the sale of Raiffeisenbank shares, firther complicating Raiffeisen’s exit process. Raiffeisen plans to appeal the court's decision and is scaling back its Russian operations, focusing on recovering loans and only rarely issuing new ones. By 2026, the bank is expected to reduce its lending by 65% as compared to the 3rd quarter of 2023.


Quote of the Day:

    “You need to avoid certain things in your train of thought: everything random, everything irrelevant. And certainly everything self-important or malicious. You need to get used to winnowing your thoughts, so that if someone says, "What are your thinking about?" you can respond at once (and truthfully) that you are thinking hedgehogs.”

― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations