Latest Ukraine updates: Russia campaign pushed back in Lyman
President Zelenskyy says his forces now control the key supply hub in the east, a day after Russia’s military announced its retreat.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared the key eastern Ukrainian town of Lyman “fully cleared” of Russian forces.
- Pope Francis appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to “stop this spiral of violence and death” in Ukraine.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared the key eastern Ukrainian town of Lyman “fully cleared” of Russian forces.
- Pope Francis appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to “stop this spiral of violence and death” in Ukraine.
- The United Kingdom’s defence ministry says Russia has “probably” suffered heavy losses as its forces retreat from Lyman.
- The head of the UN nuclear watchdog calls for the release of the director general of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
This live blog is now closed, thank you for joining us. Here are the updates for Sunday, October 2:
Zelenskyy says success of Ukraine’s soldiers ‘not limited to Lyman’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the success of the country’s soldiers is not limited to the recapture of Lyman.
“The story of the liberation of Lyman in the Donetsk region has now become the most popular in the media,” he said in his nightly address.
“But the successes of our soldiers are not limited to Lyman,” he added without providing any details.
Zelenskyy says Russia’s abduction of head of Zaporizhzhia plant act of terror
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the abduction of the director-general of Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is an act of Russian terror.
“This is another instance of clear act of Russian terror, for which the terrorist state must bear an ever-increasing punishment,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address.
A Russian patrol detained Ihor Murashov on Friday, the state-owned company in charge of the plant said, and the International Atomic Energy Agency said Russia had confirmed the move.
Control over Lyman ‘key factor’ in helping Ukraine reclaim lost territory
The Ukrainian military has said in its evening statement that its forces had repelled Russian advances in several areas — particularly in the Donetsk region near Bakhmut and Spirne, just inside the Donetsk region near Lysychansk, and a major centre in the neighbouring Luhansk region.
Control over Lyman could prove a “key factor” in helping Ukraine reclaim lost territory in the neighbouring Luhansk region, whose full capture Moscow announced in early July after weeks of grinding advances, Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai said.
Lyman’s recapture by Ukrainian troops is Russia’s most significant battlefield loss since Ukraine’s lightning counteroffensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region in September.
US and allies not ‘intimidated’ by Putin, says Biden
President Joe Biden has said the United States and NATO will not be intimidated by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and warned that the Western alliance would defend “every inch” of its territory if attacked.
“America and its allies are not going to be intimidated,” he said in remarks at the White House. Putin is “not going to scare us”.
Biden then addressed the Kremlin leader directly, pointing his finger into the television camera as he warned against any attack spilling beyond Ukraine onto NATO territory.
“America’s fully prepared, with our NATO allies, to defend every single inch of NATO territory,” he said. “Mr Putin, don’t misunderstand what I’m saying: every inch.”
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 221
As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its 221st day, we take a look at the main developments.
Read more here.
Russian hawks criticise loss
Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Russia’s southern Chechnya region, has called for a change of strategy “right up to the declaration of martial law in the border areas and the use of low-yield nuclear weapons”.
Other hawkish Russian figures criticised Russian generals and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on social media for overseeing the setbacks, but they stopped short of attacking Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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Fall of Ukraine rail hub threatens Russian war gains
As Russian troops retreat after losing the key Ukrainian town of Lyman, they need to set up a new front line to protect their dwindling gains – but one key supply route has already been cut off.
The railway lines in northeastern Ukraine converge at Kupiansk Vuzlovyi before heading south towards Svatove, in the Luhansk region, now claimed by Moscow as an annexed Russian territory.
During the first six months of this year’s Russian invasion of Ukraine, the trains rattling through Kupiansk Vuzlovyi’s huge marshalling yards carried supplies southwards to the occupation forces.
But now the soldiers patrolling the modern – but heavily-damaged – station are Ukrainian, and the tracks are silent.
“This site has always been considered a target of strategic importance, it’s a railway and cargo connection point,” said “Rosomakha”, a soldier whose call sign is the Ukrainian word for “Wolverine”.
More than 180 men trying to escape conscription stopped at Russian border
Russia has already stopped more than 180 men from crossing the border to neighbouring Georgia to escape the partial mobilisation recently ordered by President Vladimir Putin, the Interfax news agency has reported.
The men were handed a draft notice directly at the Verkhny Lars border crossing, the report said, citing the armed forces’ commissioner’s office of the Russian constituent republic of North Ossetia in the Caucasus, which borders Georgia.
It was also announced that checks on men of conscript age would be increased at the border.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Ministry announced that the recruits would have to undergo training in the “rear areas” of the combat zone.
Zelenskyy awards Territorial Defence members
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has given awards to members of the Territorial Defence Forces.
Zelenskyy noted how Territorial Defence fighters are involved in the liberation of Kharkiv and the defence of several regions including Mykolaiv and Zaporizhia.
“Kharkiv region is being liberated, in particular, by the military units of Territorial Defence from Podolia and Kyiv Oblast,” he said.
He stressed the importance of further developing the Territorial Defence, saying that “this is the best foundation of our national security.”
Pope calls for end to ‘spiral of violence and death’
Pope Francis has for the first time directly appealed to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to stop the “spiral of violence and death” in Ukraine, saying he is haunted by “rivers of blood and tears”.
The head of the Catholic Church also condemned the annexation of four regions of Ukraine, saying it risked nuclear escalation and urged Putin to think of his own people during an address dedicated to Ukraine in St Peter’s Square.
He also called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to consider proposals to halt the fighting.
“On the other side, pained by the enormous suffering of the Ukrainian population following the aggression it suffered, I address an equally hopeful appeal to the president of Ukraine to be open to a serious peace proposal,” he said.
The war in #Ukraine has become so serious, devastating and threatening as to cause great concern. In the name of God and of the sense of humanity that dwells in every heart, I renew my call for an immediate ceasefire. #Russia #Peace
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) October 2, 2022
Ukrainian troops raise flag within sight of the Russian-held Luhansk region
Ukrainian media have shared an image of Ukrainian troops carrying the country’s yellow-and-blue flag in front of a statue marking the village of Torske, 15km (9 miles) east of Lyman and within sight of the Russian-held Luhansk region.
The images were shared shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that his forces control Lyman.
In another online photo, a Ukrainian soldier was standing in front of a giant watermelon landmark just south of the village of Novovorontsovka on the banks of the Dneiper River, along the Russian-controlled province of Kherson’s northern edge.
A Ukrainian flag flew above the statue as several apparently deactivated landmines lay beside it.
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Ukraine advance in Lyman shows it can push back Russian forces: NATO
Ukraine’s capture of a city within the territory of Putin’s declared annexation demonstrates that Ukrainians are making progress and able to push back against Russian forces, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said.
Stoltenberg said in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, the best way to counter Russia’s proclaimed annexation of parts of Ukraine is to continue supporting the government in Kyiv.
Ukraine to get 16 Slovak howitzers in deal part-financed by Berlin
German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht has announced the delivery of 16 wheeled armoured howitzers from Slovakia to Ukraine for the coming year in a deal Berlin is partly financing.
The systems of the type Zuzana would be produced in Slovakia and financed together with Denmark, Norway and Germany, the minister told public broadcaster ARD after returning from her first trip to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24.
The relevant production facilities are available in Slovakia, Lambrecht said. “This shows how important it is to keep exploring such possibilities together with one’s partners, but then also to implement them,” the minister added.
The Zuzana howitzer is the flagship product of the Slovak defence industry and the only heavy weapon system produced in the country. According to the manufacturer, it can fire all types of NATO ammunition in 155mm calibre.
Russian deputy PM says restoration of Nord Stream pipelines possible
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak says it is technically possible to restore the ruptured offshore infrastructure of the Nord Stream pipelines, the TASS news agency reported.
“There have never been such incidents. Of course, there are technical possibilities to restore the infrastructure. It takes time and appropriate funds. I am sure that appropriate possibilities will be found,” he said.
Germany, Denmark, Norway to give Ukraine more long-range weapons
Germany, Denmark and Norway will buy 16 Slovak Zuzana-2 howitzers for Ukraine, the German defence ministry said, with delivery to begin next year.
The guns, which can fire six projectiles a minute over a distance of 40km (25 miles), will be built in Slovakia, the ministry said. The three countries will spend 92 million euros ($90m) on the systems.
Ukraine, which has scored notable battlefield successes against Russia in recent weeks, says it needs more and heavier armaments to repulse the invasion that Moscow launched in February.
Gas outflow from last Nord Stream leaks has ended: Danish agency
The Danish Energy Agency says it has been informed by Nord Stream AG that stable pressure had been achieved in the damaged Nord Stream 1 pipeline and that this indicates the outflow of natural gas from the last leaks had now halted.
A total of four leaks were discovered on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in the Baltic Sea near Denmark and Sweden last week.
While neither pipeline was in use at the time of the suspected blasts, they were filled with gas that has been spewing out and bubbling to the surface of the Baltic Sea since Monday.
Russia says its forces destroyed seven artillery depots in Ukraine
Russia’s defence ministry says its forces destroyed seven artillery and missile depots in the Ukrainian regions of Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv and Donetsk.
It said the guidance radar for an S-300 air defence missile system had also been destroyed near Nova Kaluha in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military said it carried out an attack on a Russian ammunition depot in the country’s south, in Chernihiv, and hit other Russian command posts, ammunition depots and two S-300 anti-aircraft batteries.
The reports of military activity from both sides could not be verified immediately.
European heads condemn Russian annexations in Ukraine
The presidents of nine NATO countries in central and eastern Europe declared they would never recognise the annexation by Russia of four Moscow-occupied regions of Ukraine: Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhia.
The presidents issued a joint statement saying they could not “stay silent in the face of the blatant violation of international law by the Russian Federation”.
“We reiterate our support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” they said. “We do not recognise and will never recognise Russian attempts to annex any Ukrainian territory.”
The statement was issued by the presidents of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.
Russia attacks Zelenskyy’s hometown with suicide drone
In southern Ukraine, Zelenskyy’s hometown Kriyvyi Rih came under Russian attack by a suicide drone that struck a school and destroyed two stories of it, according to Valentyn Reznichenko, the governor of Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region.
A fire sparked by the drone attack has been put out, Reznichenko said.
Russia in recent weeks has begun using Iranian-made suicide drones to attack targets in Ukraine. In southern Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said Sunday that it shot down five Iranian-made drones overnight, while two others made it through air defences.
Russia is stepping up its use of Iranian drones this weekend
Ukraine says it shot down 5 drones, while 2 passed through its air defences. A suicide drone also struck Zelensky's hometown of Kryvvi Rih destroying 2 stories of a school
— Samuel Ramani (@SamRamani2) October 2, 2022
IAEA head seeks release of Ukrainian nuclear plant head
The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has called for the release of the director-general of Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, saying his detention posed a threat to safety and security.
A Russian patrol detained Ihor Murashov on September 30, the state-owned company in charge of the plant said, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Russia had confirmed the move.
“IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed the hope that Mr Murashov will return to his family safely and promptly and will be able to resume his important functions at the plant,” the agency tweeted late on Saturday.
The IAEA has been in contact with relevant authorities seeking clarifications on his temporary detention, which it said had a “very significant impact” on him and nuclear safety and security standards.
IAEA has been in contact w/ relevant authorities seeking clarifications on temporary detention of #Ukraine #Zaporizhzhya NPP Murashov; detention has very significant impact on the individual & the 7 nuclear safety & security pillars, @RafaelMGrossi said. https://t.co/KYluTWhsfZ pic.twitter.com/oPQQuHiSX8
— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency (@iaeaorg) October 1, 2022
Russia’s Constitutional Court says Ukraine annexation treaties lawful
Russia’s Constitutional Court has recognised as lawful treaties signed by President Vladimir Putin to annex four Moscow-occupied regions of Ukraine, according to court documents published online.
The court ruled to “recognise … as corresponding to the constitution of the Russian Federation” accords for Ukraine’s Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhia regions to become part of Russia.
British intelligence says high Russian losses probable on exit from Lyman
Russia has probably suffered heavy losses as its forces retreated from the strategically important eastern Ukrainian town of Lyman, according to British military intelligence.
The town in the Donetsk region was “likely being defended by undermanned elements of Russia’s Western and Central Military Districts as well as contingents of voluntarily mobilized reservists,” the British defence ministry’s daily brief said.
“The force probably experienced heavy casualties as it withdrew along the only road out of the town still in Russian hands”, it continued.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 2 October 2022
Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/UByep7EnYS
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/zvR1BPU9Xe
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) October 2, 2022
Putin allies bash Russia’s retreat from Lyman
Powerful supporters of Putin have criticised the military’s withdrawal from a city in Ukraine, saying military leaders should be punished for their retreat.
“There is a lot of questioning and criticism going on here since the withdrawal from Lyman and now we have these strong statements from no one less than the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, a very close ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin,” said Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Vall, speaking from Moscow.
“He said the army leadership has covered for [an] incompetent general who should now be sent to the front lines to wash his shame off with his blood,” he continued, adding that such statements from Putin’s allies are seen as an indirect warning from the Russian president himself.
“These criticisms are also a reflection of what is being said in the street by Russian individuals, that a powerful nation like Russia with all the weapons it has, superior army, and technology, shouldn’t be receiving those defeats in the front against a less strong army like that of Ukraine,” Vall said.
Oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close confidant of Putin, also echoed those sentiments and referred to Russia’s military generals as “pieces of garbage”, saying they should be sent “barefoot with machineguns straight to the front”.
Zelenskyy declares eastern town of Lyman ‘fully cleared’ of Russian forces
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared the strategic eastern town of Lyman “fully cleared” of Russian forces, a day after Moscow said its troops had decided to withdraw from their months-long stronghold in the north of Donetsk region.
“As of 12:30 [09:30 GMT], Lyman is fully cleared,” Zelenskyy said in a short video clip on his Telegram channel. “Thank you to our militaries, our warriors.”