Ukraine war – voices and developments: Russia increases “storm attacks” in the east: “Situation is getting worse”

Russian artillery fire appears to have killed at least 27 Russian soldiers. An expert does not rule out the possibility that there is intent behind it. Germany delivers 20 more Marder tanks to Ukraine. All news about the war in Ukraine in the ticker.

North Korea: Putin accepts invitation from Kim Jong Un

Thursday, September 14th, 6:35 a.m.: During his visit to Russia, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un invited Russian President Vladimir Putin for a return visit to his country. Kim extended the invitation at the end of a reception on Wednesday at the Vostochny cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East and President Putin happily accepted it, North Korea’s state media reported on Thursday. After saying goodbye, Kim left for his next destination. No details were given.

His visit is a significant opportunity to raise cooperative relations between the two countries to a higher level, Kim was quoted as saying. North Korea’s ruler, who arrived in the neighboring country on Tuesday in a special armored train, had previously negotiated with Putin first in a larger circle and then in private.

Observers expected that Putin would also discuss arms deals with his guest. It was not officially announced whether corresponding agreements had been made. The USA fears that Putin wants to purchase large quantities of artillery ammunition from North Korea. In return, Kim could hope for Russian technology for the construction of satellites or nuclear submarines, as well as food aid. Putin is largely isolated internationally because of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and Kim because of his country’s long-standing nuclear weapons program.

Kiev: Stronger Russian attacks at Avdiivka and Mariinka

9:35 p.m.: The Ukrainian military has reported increased Russian attacks on the front line in the eastern Donetsk region. “If we talk about the East, then the situation in Maryinka and Avdiivka has worsened,” Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maljar said on Ukrainian state television on Wednesday. “The Russians have increased the shelling there. In addition, they launched storm attacks there.” At the same time, Maljar emphasized that the Russian army has been trying in vain to take the two places for around a year.

Ukraine, which has been defending itself against a Russian war of aggression for more than a year and a half, launched a counteroffensive to liberate occupied territories in June. In the south of the country in particular, she has already had several smaller successes and, according to her own information, is currently progressing an average of 50 to 200 meters every day.

Russian artillery kills 27 of its own soldiers – expert suspects revenge

4:56 p.m.: Russian artillery has killed dozens of Russian soldiers, according to multiple reports. As journalist Igor Sushko and the “Picture“Report that Russian troops have withdrawn near Opytne. Russian artillery commanders then mistook the soldiers for Ukrainians and opened artillery fire. According to Sushko, 61 Russian soldiers were killed or wounded. According to “Bild”, at least 27 of the soldiers were killed.

It is unclear whether this was intentional or an accident. Military expert Thomas Theiner told “Bild” that he could well imagine that fleeing soldiers were deliberately shot at – almost as revenge for the retreat. “This method has always been used in Russia,” says Theiner. “We experienced it in this war with Bakhmut, we experienced it in the Second World War under Stalin and also in the First World War, when the Tsar had at least 300,000 of his own soldiers killed.” But Theiner does not rule out accidental shelling either.

Another 20 armored personnel carriers marten in Ukraine

1:06 p.m.: Germany has provided Ukraine, which is under attack by Russia, with another 20 Marder armored personnel carriers. Ukraine also received two more Wisent mine clearing tanks. This emerges from the federal government’s list of military aid for Ukraine, which was updated on Wednesday.

The package also included 1.2 million rounds of ammunition for small arms and 3,000 rounds of 155 mm caliber artillery ammunition. Ukraine was also handed over 20 drones and heavy and light vehicles. Ukraine has been fending off a Russian invasion for over a year and a half. Germany is one of its most important supporters.

Kim believes the “heroic Russian army” will win

11.50 a.m.: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un predicted Russia’s victory in its war of aggression against Ukraine at a meeting with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. “I am deeply convinced that the heroic Russian army and people will brilliantly inherit the tradition of victory and demonstrate their honor and glory on the fronts of military special operations,” Kim said on Wednesday, according to the Interfax news agency. At the same time, Russia will be able to build a strong state.

Moscow is far from its original war goals in the invasion ordered by Putin in February 2022. The Russian army has suffered several defeats and is currently defending itself against Kiev’s counteroffensive in southern Ukraine. Although Russia still occupies around 20 percent of the neighboring country, including the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed in 2014, there has recently been information about increasing problems in supplying the troops with weapons and ammunition.

According to observers, the talks between the internationally isolated heads of state Putin and Kim at the Vostochny cosmodrome in the Russian Far East are also about possible military aid from North Korea.

On the sidelines of the official lunch, the North Korean ruler announced that he had spoken to Putin during the one-on-one meeting about the political and military situation in Europe and on the Korean peninsula. Kim added that he hopes his visit will lay the foundation for a strategic partnership between the two neighboring countries. Details about possible arms deliveries were not known for the time being.

Two Russian warships damaged by Ukrainian attacks

10:32 a.m.: According to official reports, two warships were damaged during Ukrainian missile attacks on the port city of Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. “Two ships under repair suffered damage as a result of hits from enemy cruise missiles,” the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday morning. The Moscow-appointed governor, Mikhail Razvoshayev, had previously announced that 24 people had been injured in the attack.

According to Russian information, the anti-aircraft defense shot down seven cruise missiles. In addition, three water drones used in the attack on the Ordzhonikidze naval shipyard were destroyed. The information cannot be independently verified. In addition, the ministry’s report does not indicate how many cruise missiles reached their target or how severe the damage was.

Ukrainian media published images of the burning shipyard. US military bloggers wrote that a Kilo-class submarine and a landing ship were hit in the docks. The Kilo-class submarines, which have been built since 1980, are powered by diesel engines and are still used by the Russian Navy for a variety of purposes today.

London: Parts of new Russian army rushed in Ukraine used

9:52 a.m.: According to information from British secret services, Russia has moved parts of a new army to Ukraine much earlier than planned. “It is likely that the units were deployed hastily, also as Russia continues to struggle with an overstretched force at the front and Ukraine continues its counteroffensive on three different axes,” the British Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday.

As recently as August, recruitment advertisements for the new Russian 25th Army claimed that the force would not be deployed in Ukraine until December. But the first parts have now “most likely” been sent to Ukraine for the first time and will be stationed in the occupied Luhansk region in the east of the country, it was said in London. “However, there is also a realistic possibility that Russia will seek to use parts of the 25th Army to refresh a reserve force in the operational area, thereby allowing commanders more operational flexibility,” the ministry continued.

The British Ministry of Defense has been publishing daily information on the course of the war since the Russian attack against Ukraine began in February 2022. Moscow accuses London of disinformation.

Six injured in Russian airstrikes in southern Odessa region

9:40 a.m.: According to Ukrainian reports, six people were injured in a Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian Danube port of Izmail. Russia has “again attacked the south of the Odessa region,” regional governor Oleg Kiper said on Wednesday in the Telegram online service. “Several groups of combat drones” targeted the Izmail district. “Six civilians were injured and taken to the hospital,” Kiper wrote, three of whom were in serious condition.

In addition, “damage to the port and other civil infrastructure was found,” Kiper explained. Rescue workers are on site to put out the fires caused by the impact. The governor had previously urged people in Izmail to stay in a safe place until the air alert ends.

After Russia canceled the grain agreement for the export of Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea at the end of July, the Danube port of Izmail has developed into one of the most important transshipment points for grain exports. Since the end of the agreement, Russia has repeatedly carried out attacks on infrastructure important for maritime trade in the southern regions of Odessa and Mykolaiv.