ISW Key Takeaways
Ukrainian forces continued to target Russian logistical nodes and key positions throughout Kherson Oblast in support of the ongoing counteroffensive in southern Ukraine.
Russian milbloggers reiterated claims that Ukrainian forces are fighting along four axes of advance in Western Kherson Oblast.
Russian forces conducted ground attacks northwest of Slovyansk, south and northeast of Bakhmut, and northwest and southwest of Donetsk City.
Russian authorities escalated claims that Ukrainian forces are threatening both the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and the newly arrived International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) delegation on the territory of the ZNPP.
The Russian 3rd Army Corps is continuing to form for deployment to Donbas.
Russian occupation authorities are likely increasingly recognizing their inability to successfully hold sham referenda in occupied areas of Ukraine due to Russian military failures and ongoing Ukrainian resistance in occupied territories.
[also:
The Ukrainian General Staff stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended the deadline for Russian forces to capture Donetsk Oblast from August 31 to the still highly unlikely target date of September 15, and Russian forces are conducting several redeployments to meet this goal. ...... RFE/RL’s footage also shows that Russian forces are continuing to react to the Ukrainian counteroffensive in Kherson Oblast by consistently transferring military convoys to southern Ukrainian via the Kerch Strait Bridge]
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from Zelensky, it doesn't look like the visit to the ZPP is going the way he wanted, or was promised:
"When we met with Mr. Grossi and members of the mission in Kyiv, we agreed that the mission would be accompanied by journalists from Ukrainian and international media. Independent journalists. .....Unfortunately, this wasn’t done. Although it was promised. Unfortunately, the occupiers did not let the journalists in, but organized a bunch of their propagandists. Unfortunately, the IAEA representatives did not protect the representatives of independent media...... And it is bad that we have not yet heard the appropriate calls from the IAEA. Although we talked about it with Mr. Grossi at our meeting in Kyiv. This was the key - the key! - security point of our agreements. It was clearly stated: demilitarization and full control by Ukrainian nuclear specialists."
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⚡️Lithuania suggests sending UN Police to Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
⚡️General Staff: Ukrainian troops repel Russian attacks in 4 directions in Donbas.
⚡️Business association: Ukraine's grain exports rise 53% in August compared with July.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that only Kremlin propagandists were present during a mission by the International Atomic Energy Agency at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Russian-occupied Enerhodar.
He also said that Russia had intimidated residents of Enerhodar and forced people to lie to IAEA representatives.
🗣Mykhailo Podolyak, Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, considers it strange that the IAEA mission stayed at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant only for two hours
[two hours?!?!?!! ..... no independent journalists? this is a joke]
ith personnel — Suspilne
The IAEA mission inspectors moved around the plant and spoke to the personnel of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the presence of Russian military and Rosatom employees.
A Zaporizhzhia NPP engineer told this to Suspilne on condition of anonymity.
"They led Grossi and the inspectors along their route, showed the “[missile] arrivals maps” and brought local collaborators to them with statements from “non-indifferent citizens” about the need to stop shelling. It was a circus," said a ZNPP employee.
According to him, the Russians were convincing the mission representatives that there were radiological, chemical, and biological defense troops at the plant and that it was the Ukrainian Armed Forces who shelled the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, not combat units of the Russian army.
💡Russia convenes the UN Security Council meeting on September 6 due to the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant — Russian state-owned news agency TASS
⚡️Sweden to purchase 40,000 tons of Ukrainian grain for countries in need.
⚡️BBC: Second cruise ship arrives in Scotland to house Ukrainian refugees.
⚡️Finland prepares 8th batch of military aid for Ukraine.
⚡️WSJ: Ukraine claims Russia transporting weapons to Black Sea ports using cargo ships.
⚡️ LEGO Foundation donates $13.4 million to support education of Ukrainian children.
📍Russia threatens Moldova because of Transnistria
"Moldova must understand that the creation of threats to the security of Russian "peacekeepers" in Transnistria will be regarded as an attack on Russia," – Foreign Minister Lavrov.
❗️New instructions: Putin ordered his troops to capture Donetsk region by September 15
Le Figaro: Macron says he will continue diplomatic dialogue with Putin
🗣Zelensky held a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark Jeppe Kofod
[also a Japanese ambassador met with him in the last day or so]