Air War in Ukraine - Russian Ammunition Depots Explode, Sarmat Missile Lost

Another month has passed, and here is a summary of the events in Ukraine from September 1 to September 30. This period was remarkable for Ukraine’s air force, as it did not lose a single aircraft or helicopter in the air or on the ground. The same cannot be said for the Russian side, which lost several ammunition depots to Ukrainian airstrikes—and even its latest intercontinental ballistic missile during a test.

Miro Barič

Russian Ammunition Depots Explode, Sarmat Missile Lost

On the ground front, Russian forces continued

their offensive in the Donetsk region. Toward

Pokrovsk, their advance stalled completely for

a few days, seemingly due to exhaustion after

their earlier human-wave attacks, which came

at a cost of high casualties. However, Russia

made some gains towards Vuhledar, where

Ukrainians had successfully repelled numerous

assaults since the war's beginning. Over two

years, Russian forces had lost substantial

armored equipment in that area. Now, Russia is

attacking the flanks of Vuhledar using the same

human-wave strategy, gradually encircling the

city. At the end of September, Ukrainian troops

were forced to withdraw from Vuhledar, partly

because the high command failed to replace the

exhausted defenders in time.

Meanwhile, Russia struggled on its home turf

in the Kursk region. Putin had ordered his forces

to push Ukrainian troops out by early October,

and a Russian counteroffensive was expected.

It began mid-month, with Russian media initially

celebrating progress. However, the offensive

unfolded exactly as Ukraine had anticipated.

Ukrainian reserves attacked the flanks of the

advancing Russian units, completely disrupting

the counteroffensive. By the end of the month,

the situation in the Kursk region had returned

to its starting point, forcing Putin to set a new

deadline for the expulsion of Ukrainian forces—

now February 25.

If the purpose of the Kursk offensive was

to divert Russian troops from the critically

threatened Donetsk region, it failed. Russia

continues to send reinforcements to Donetsk

from across the country, but not from the

eastern front in Ukraine. Russian armed forces

are even forming motorized rifle units using

personnel from various branches—air force

members, strategic missile operators, and

even crew from the aircraft carrier Admiral

Kuznetsov, which has been rusting in port for

over six years. These personnel are being sent

to fight—and die—as ordinary infantry.

"They Killed His Entire Family"

Airstrikes from both sides have continued

with little change. Ukraine targets military

installations on Russian territory, while Russia

retaliates by striking civilian targets deep inside

Ukraine. One example occurred on September 1,

when Russia launched a major missile strike on

Kharkiv during rush hour. The attack hit shops,

a post office, and a metro entrance, injuring

Another month has passed, and here is a summary of the events in Ukraine from

September 1 to September 30. This period was remarkable for Ukraine’s air force,

as it did not lose a single aircraft or helicopter in the air or on the ground. The same

cannot be said for the Russian side, which lost several ammunition depots to Ukrainian

airstrikes—and even its latest intercontinental ballistic missile during a test.

Air War in Ukraine

Ground preparation of a Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet.

UKRAINE

INFO Eduard28

November 2024