Russian Foreign Minister makes new accusations

Chiến sự đến tối 17.9: Ngoại trưởng Nga cáo buộc Mỹ kiểm soát chiến dịch ở Ukraine - Ảnh 1. — MGM-140 ATACMS fires during a joint South Korea-US exercise on July 29, 2017.

Possibility of US providing long-range missiles to Ukraine

"No matter what (the US) says, this country is the force controlling the conflict in Ukraine, through providing weapons, ammunition, intelligence, data from satellites. They are pursuing a war against the Russians," Foreign Minister Lavrov commented on the possibility of the US providing longer-range missiles to Ukraine.

Mr Lavrov added that the West's provision of long-range weapons to Ukraine would not change the current course of events in Ukraine.

On the same day, a group of US Republican senators sent a letter urging US President Joe Biden to "immediately" provide the type of missiles that Ukraine needs for the counterattack campaign, according to The Hill newspaper.

“We urge you to immediately send the MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) to Ukraine,” the letter said. “Any delay will only further undermine US national security interests and prolong the conflict,” the senators said.

According to an interview published by Funke (Germany) on September 17, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) also said that all parties "must be prepared for a prolonged conflict in Ukraine."

Regarding the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO, Mr. Stoltenberg said that this is a prospect that will happen. Kyiv came close to joining NATO at the bloc's summit in July, AFP quoted the Secretary General, and it is only a matter of time.

Chiến sự đến tối 17.9: Ngoại trưởng Nga cáo buộc Mỹ kiểm soát chiến dịch ở Ukraine - Ảnh 2. — Wreckage of Ukrainian tank near Bakhmut

Russia denies Ukraine controls another village near Bakhmut

Regarding war information, Russia denied Ukraine's claim that it had pushed Russian troops back from the frontline village of Andriivka, about 14 km south of Bakhmut in Donetsk.

The Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian army said on September 16 that the village had returned to Ukrainian control.

However, in its daily bulletin, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukrainian troops continued to launch attacks in a futile attempt to dislodge Russian troops from Andriivka and Klishchiivka, thereby denying reports of Ukrainian victories there.

Meanwhile in Odessa, the Ukrainian Air Force said Russia had launched a coordinated attack using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles, focusing mainly on the southern parts of Odessa, according to Reuters.

The Ukrainian Air Force recorded Russia launching 6 Shahed UAVs and 10 cruise missiles. Ukraine shot down all the UAVs while intercepting 6 missiles before they reached their targets. A warehouse containing agricultural products was hit by the missile.

The Russian Defense Ministry also announced that it had launched a missile attack and destroyed a Ukrainian armored vehicle repair plant in the city of Kharkiv.

Chiến sự đến tối 17.9: Ngoại trưởng Nga cáo buộc Mỹ kiểm soát chiến dịch ở Ukraine - Ảnh 3. — Domodedovo International Airport shut down after UAV attack in the early morning of September 17

Russia stops Crimea attack, Moscow

On the same day, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the destruction of two UAVs en route to Moscow, while at least six UAVs participating in attacks on targets on the Crimean peninsula were also intercepted.

"Russian air defense forces neutralized an attack on Moscow by UAVs, specifically in the Istra district, west of the capital," RT quoted Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin as confirming on Telegram.

Another UAV was intercepted over the Domodedovo district in the early hours of September 17. According to preliminary information, there were no casualties or damage on the ground.

As a precautionary measure, Moscow's three main airports, Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo, were temporarily closed for several hours before reopening.

The Russian Defense Ministry also said it had thwarted an attack by Ukraine in Crimea, with two UAVs shot down in the western part of the peninsula. Four more UAVs were destroyed over the Black Sea in the vicinity of Crimea.

While launching a counter-offensive in Ukraine, Kyiv is also said to have stepped up drone attacks on Russian territory. Kyiv rarely officially confirms this.

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