Russia targets Sumy region’s energy system with drones. Ukraine’s Navy destroys Russian ammunition depots near Mariupol. Allies can increase effectiveness of Ukraine’s combat efforts by providing more mechanized equipment, ISW says.
Russia targets Sumy region’s energy system with drones
Russia launched a drone attack on Sumy region overnight into Tuesday. The strike hit the Konotop, Okhtyrka and Sumy districts where local authorities had to switch critical infrastructure sites, including hospitals and water utilities, to a backup power supply. A total of 16 Shahed drones were shot down over the region, the Sumy regional military administration said.
By late morning, power and water supply was partially restored in the city of Sumy, head of the city’s military administration, Oleksiy Drozdenko said. Hospitals continue to operate normally, while electric public transport was suspended, he added.
Ukraine’s Navy destroys Russian ammunition depots near Mariupol
The Ukrainian Navy said Tuesday it had launched a missile strike that destroyed Russian ammunition depots near occupied Mariupol.
“The reports were confirmed, the strike destroyed both the infrastructure of the warehouses and tons of munitions that [Russian forces] accumulated to use in Ukraine,” the Navy said in a statement. It did not specify when the strike happened.
Advisor to Mariupol city mayor in exile, Petro Andryushchenko has posted photos to social media showing the aftermath of the attack. He said warehouses were struck in the town of Hlyboke in the Mariupol district.
Allies can increase effectiveness of Ukraine’s combat efforts by providing more mechanized equipment, ISW says
Ukraine needs more mechanized equipment to be able to generate effective combat units, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in a report on September 16.
The generation of more Ukrainian infantry without a commensurate increase in mechanized equipment will not substantially increase Ukraine’s combat power or increase Ukraine’s warfighting capabilities, the analysts said.
Ukraine’s 155th Infantry Brigade was recently upgraded to a mechanized infantry brigade after the brigade was equipped with Leopard tanks, for example.
Ukraine has also been working to increase its production of armored vehicles, including armored personnel carriers (APCs), since 2022, but Ukraine cannot manufacture complete tanks.
The US and other foreign allies likely can greatly increase the effectiveness of Ukrainian force-generation and force-reconstitution efforts by providing Ukrainian forces with more mechanized equipment, such as M113 armored personnel carriers, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, and main battle tanks, ISW said.
Why is Russia targeting Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure? Ukraine in Flames #663
How much damage did the latest Russian strikes cause to the Ukrainian energy system? There is no final count yet. However, everyone feels the consequences. There is a significant deficit in the system, and industry and businesses are already switching to shutdown schedules. To avoid cutting off residential blocks across the country, as is currently happening in Kharkiv, Ukraine is requesting emergency assistance from its neighbors or buying expensive imports. However, everyone understands that these solutions are temporary, and there is less and less time left until winter. Watch Ukraine in Flames #663 to find out about why Russia targets Ukrainian civilian energy facilities with missile strikes and explore effective responses to these terror tactics from the Russian Federation.
Guests:
- Valeriy Chaly, Chairman of the UCMC Board, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine
- Mykhailo Gonchar, President of the Centre Strategy XXI