Odessa, Kyiv under massive attack at night
Ukraine’s military said on September 6 that Russia had bombed the capital Kyiv and the southern Odessa region early in the day, according to Reuters. The nearly three-hour attack in Odessa damaged many port and agricultural facilities, and several fires broke out in Izmail, Ukraine’s main grain export center on the Danube River. A local agricultural company employee was killed in the attack.
Firefighters work at the scene of a UAV attack in Odessa.
Scene of the attack in Kyiv
In Kyiv, the pre-dawn missile attack caused no casualties but sent falling debris destroying several buildings, cars, windows of a medical facility and a police office.
The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia launched 33 weapons overnight, including 25 Iranian-made Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), seven cruise missiles and one Iskander ballistic missile. Ukrainian air defense systems destroyed 23 targets.
Russia has not commented yet.
Quick view: What hot developments happened in the Russian military campaign in Ukraine on day 559?
Russia admits tactical retreat
Yevgeny Balitsky, the top Russian-appointed official in Zaporizhzhia province (which belongs to Ukraine but Russia annexed last year), admitted that Russian forces had withdrawn from the village of Robotyne, more than a week after Kyiv declared it had been retaken.
"The Russian army abandoned the settlement's tactics because it was unreasonable to hold out in a place that had been flattened. Therefore, the Russian army moved to the hills," Reuters quoted Mr. Balitsky as telling Russia's RBC.
Ukraine announced the recapture of Robotyne on August 28, but Russia has yet to officially acknowledge it. In a situation update on September 5, the Russian Defense Ministry said its forces had repelled two Ukrainian attacks near the village.
Some media outlets such as TASS or RT only reported that the Ukrainian Challenger 2 tank was destroyed near Robotyne.
First Challenger 2 tank destroyed in Ukraine
British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed on September 6 that this was the first Challenger 2 tank provided by the UK to Ukraine to be destroyed in the war. "We have donated 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine. We accept that in a war zone, there may be material losses," Mr. Shapps told Sky News.
On the other hand, Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said on September 6 that the situation along the eastern frontline remains difficult and the main task of the soldiers is to ensure the defense and positions in Kupiansk (Kharkiv province) and Lyman (Donetsk province).
On September 6, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit and will meet with Ukrainian leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
CNN quoted a senior US State Department official as saying that Secretary Blinken will announce a new aid package worth more than $1 billion for Ukraine. This is the diplomat's fourth visit since the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out last year.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on board train to Kyiv
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his counterpart Dmytro Kuleba at a cemetery in Kyiv on September 6.
The visit comes as Ukraine’s counteroffensive enters its fourth month. After initially slow and disappointing progress, Ukrainian officials have recently claimed some success.
Commenting on the visit, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was clear that the US planned to provide military funding for Ukraine to fight "to the last Ukrainian". "This will not affect the course of the special military operation," Peskov said.
On the same day, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen addressed the Ukrainian parliament during a visit to Kyiv. Last month, Denmark pledged to provide 19 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
US: North Korea will have to "pay the price" if it supplies weapons to Russia
US warns North Korea
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan warned on September 5 that North Korea would pay a price if it provided weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine.
Russia puts tires on bombers
Satellite images show that Russia may be placing tires on military aircraft, possibly to avoid being attacked by drones and missiles.
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