Russia raids armored vehicle repair plant; Ukrainian president to visit US for 'persuasion'

A missile was launched from Belgorod province (Russia) towards Kharkiv (Ukraine) on September 17.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on September 17 that its forces had raided a factory in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv that repairs armored vehicles for the country's army, according to Reuters.

However, the Russian Defense Ministry did not specify the timing of the attack or other details.

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On the Ukrainian side, Kharkiv governor Oleh Synehubov said that Russia attacked the building of a "civil enterprise" in Kharkiv with four S-300 missiles.

Kharkiv was the second largest city in Ukraine with a population of more than 1.4 million people before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Parts of the city are less than 32 km from the border with Russia.

The northern suburbs of Kharkiv still bear traces of past conflicts.

Russia strengthens defenses in Zaporizhzhia

The Kyiv Independent news site on September 17 quoted an intelligence report from the British Ministry of Defense saying that Russian forces appeared to have strengthened their defenses in the town of Tokmak in Zaporizhzhia province.

Accordingly, Russian forces in recent days have added more checkpoints, anti-tank spikes and trenches in the area currently held by Russia's 58th Combined Army Group.

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The British Ministry of Defence believes the area, 10 miles from the frontline and about 37 miles northeast of Melitopol, is likely to become "the backbone of Russia's second main line of defence".

“Improvements to the town's defenses may reflect Russia's growing concerns about Ukraine's tactical penetration of its first major defense line in the north,” the report said.

More than three months after the start of the counter-offensive, Kyiv is said to be holding the initiative in some areas on the front line, mainly in Zaporizhzhia province and the Bakhmut and Velyka Novosilka axes in Donetsk province.

In Donetsk, press officer Illia Yevlash of Ukraine's Eastern Group of Forces said Russia had massed about 52,000 troops in the area near the city of Bakhmut.

In addition, Russia also concentrated about 274 tanks, more than 1,000 armored fighting vehicles, 150 artillery pieces and more than 120 multiple rocket launchers in the area.

The officer also said Ukrainian forces had made progress on the southern flank of Bakhmut, pushing Russian soldiers back from previously controlled positions.

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Russia has not commented on the above information from Ukraine.

Canada supports Ukraine's air defense

According to Reuters on September 17, Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair announced that the country will contribute 33 million CAD (591.5 billion VND) to a UK-led program to purchase air defense equipment to help Ukraine counter Russian missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

In a statement, Minister Blair said the contribution was part of a $500 million military aid package for Kyiv announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in June.

Canada is home to one of the world’s largest Ukrainian diaspora communities and has been a strong supporter of Ukraine. Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, Canada has pledged more than $8 billion in aid, including about $1.8 billion in military aid.

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The UK-led programme, which also includes the US, the Netherlands and Denmark, aims to buy hundreds of short- and medium-range air defence missiles and related systems for Ukraine.

Mr. Zelensky will lobby US lawmakers

CNN on September 17 quoted an assistant to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as saying that the leader is expected to address US lawmakers when he visits the Capitol on September 21.

The visit comes as the US Congress is considering a White House proposal for more aid to Ukraine, with Republicans sharply divided on the issue.

Mr. Zelensky is also expected to meet with US President Joe Biden at the White House. He previously traveled to the United States and met with President Biden on December 21, 2022, in his first foreign trip since the outbreak of hostilities.

According to informed sources, President Zelensky is expected to meet with leaders of several countries who are in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly meeting.

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