On the occasion of the 211th day of the Russia-Ukraine War, we take a look at the most important developments.
Here is the situation as it stands on Thursday, September 22nd.
Diplomacy/Politics
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also called on the UN to punish Moscow for its invasion and called for a special tribunal to be set up and for the UN Security Council to lift Russia’s veto.
- Russia and Ukraine conducted a surprise prisoner exchange involving nearly 300 people, including prisoners from the United States, the United Kingdom and Morocco, the largest since the invasion of Moscow began nearly seven months ago.
- A police watch group said more than 1,300 people were arrested during demonstrations across Russia against President Vladimir Putin’s announcement that civilians would be partially drafted to fight in Ukraine.
Very welcome news that five British nationals being held by Russian-backed deputies in eastern Ukraine will be safely returned, bringing months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families to an end.
— Liz Truss (@trussliz) September 21, 2022
- Russian-backed separatists in the occupied territories of Ukraine announced referendums for September 23-27 in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia provinces, which represent about 15 percent of Ukraine’s territory.
- A US astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts are scheduled to take off on a Russian-operated flight to the International Space Station, despite rising tensions between Moscow and Washington over the invasion of Ukraine.
Nuclear Safety
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he doesn’t think the world will allow Putin to use nuclear weapons after the Russian president said Moscow would use all means to protect its territory.
- Putin’s thinly veiled threat to use nuclear weapons is “dangerous and ruthless rhetoric,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.
- US President Joe Biden said Moscow made “irresponsible” threats after the comments.
- The head of the UN nuclear agency, Rafael Grossi, said he would not abandon the plan to create a safe zone around the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, despite Russian plans and efforts to hold a referendum in the region.
Battle
- Ukrainian official Roman Prymush said Ukraine is beginning demining of 12,000 square kilometers (4,633 sq mi) of territory wrested from Russian control in the northeastern Kharkiv region, adding that this could take several years.
- Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said 5,937 Russian soldiers had been killed since the conflict began in Moscow’s first update of casualty figures in nearly six months.
- Uzbekistan’s prosecutors warned citizens against joining foreign armies after Russia offered accelerated citizenship to those who enlist.
Business
- The foreign ministers of the European Union agreed to prepare new sanctions against Russia and to increase arms supplies to Kyiv.
- Germany nationalized gas importer Uniper and Britain capped wholesale electricity and gas costs for companies.
- The Russian ruble rebounded from two-month lows and Russian stocks pared losses after falling on mobilization news.
