Ukraine war latest: Russia’s neighbour launches military action – sparking fears of new war; ‘very important moment’ as ship defies threat from Moscow

Key points

Biden appears to hint at olive branch to Putin – before warning to Moscow
‘A very important moment in the war’ as Ukrainian cargo ship leaves port despite Russian threat
Fears of new war involving country neighbouring Russia after military action launched
Russian brigades ‘suffer heavy losses’ – as Ukrainian forces liberate village amid ‘successful operations’Inferno rages after attack sparks ‘major’ fireDeputy defence minister dismissed by Ukrainian governmentPhotos appear to show destroyed Russian submarineYour questions answered: What will happen in Ukraine if Russia prevails?Live reporting by Ollie Cooper and (earlier) Samuel Osborne

15:57:12 Fresh wave of US sanctions targets those linked with Iranian drone making

While Joe Biden addresses the crisis in Ukraine and other global issues at the UN General Assembly, his administration has just announced a fresh wave of sanctions. 

The sanctions target multiple people and entities in Iran, Russia, China and Turkey in connection with Tehran’s drone and military aircraft development, according to a US Treasury Department statement. 

Seven individuals and four entities across those countries were sanctioned after facilitating “shipments and financial transactions” to the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company and its unmanned aerial vehicle and military aircraft efforts, according to the Treasury. 

Russia has extensively used the Iranian-made Shahed-136 drone in Ukraine. 

15:43:29 Russia cannot be allowed to ‘brutalise’ or ‘carve up’ Ukraine, Biden warns

The US president has now addressed the Ukraine war directly during his UN General Assembly address.

He called on world leaders not to allow support for Ukraine to dwindle, saying that Russia is counting on countries to grow tired of prolonged conflict that will “allow it to brutalise Ukraine without consequence”. 

“If we abandon the core principles of the UN charter to appease an aggressor, can any member state feel confident that they are protected?”

He built on that question with another: “If we allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure?”

And following comments that may be seen as verging on conciliatory towards Moscow (see previous post), he warned the US and its partners would “defend democracy”, adding that “we must stand up to this naked aggression today to deter other would-be aggressors tomorrow”. 

Russia alone stands in the way of peace, he said, before repeating his country’s commitment to supporting Ukraine and receiving applause from those gathered, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine.

15:31:01 Biden: Adversaries can become partners

Joe Biden has started his address at the UN General Assembly – saying it is possible for enemies to become partners, as a number of global crises grip the world – including the war in Ukraine.  

In comments that could be interpreted as offering an olive branch of sorts to Vladimir Putin, he began by saying that “wounds can heal” and “adversaries can become partners”.

While not specifically mentioning the crisis in Ukraine, he said that the US’ future was “bound” to all other UN members – which includes Russia. 

He urged those present to “bend the arc of history”, but said “no nation can meet the challenges of today alone”. 

He is expected to directly address Ukraine shortly – and we’ll bring you the latest as we get it. 

15:16:23 Fears of new war involving country neighbouring Russia after military action launched

Azerbaijan has launched military action in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, in a move it is feared could lead to a new war in the volatile area.

Baku claimed it was necessary to restore constitutional order and drive out Armenian military formations.

But it comes at a time when Russia – which has previously taken responsibility for keeping peace between the neighbouring countries, is distracted by it’s own war in Ukraine.

Karabakh is internationally recognised as Azerbaijani territory, but part of it is run by breakaway ethnic Armenian authorities who say the area is their ancestral homeland.

It has been at the centre of two wars – the latest in 2020 – since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union.

It was not clear whether Baku’s actions would trigger a full-scale conflict dragging in neighbouring Armenia or be a more limited military operation.

But there were already signs of political fallout in Yerevan, where Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke of calls for a coup against him.

The fighting could alter the geopolitical balance in the South Caucasus region, which is crisscrossed with oil and gas pipelines, and where Russia is seeking to preserve its influence in the face of greater interest from Turkey, which backs Azerbaijan.

14:39:02 In pictures: Bulgarian farmers protest lifting of restrictions on Ukrainian grain exports

Bulgarian farmers have protested against the lifting of restrictions on Ukrainian grain exports.

These photos show an assortment of tractors parked in a demonstration in Dolni Bogrov, near Bulgarian capital Sofia.

It comes as a cargo vessel carrying grain left the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Chornomorsk in a test of Ukraine’s ability to unblock its seaports for grain imports (see 11.22 post).

14:20:42 Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ‘has unleashed nexus of horror’, UN chief says

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine violates the UN charter and “has unleashed a nexus of horror”, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres has said in his opening remarks at the UN General Assembly.

The war in Ukraine has serious implications for us all, he said, adding that “nuclear threats put us all at risk”.

Mr Guterres said the world badly needed Ukrainian and Russian food and fertilisers to stabilise markets and guarantee food security.

“I will not give up on my efforts to make it happen,” he added.

The global humanitarian system is on the verge of collapse, Mr Guterres warned, saying needs were rising and funding was drying up.

14:04:03 Czech Republic to be funded by Denmark and Netherlands to supply weapons to Ukraine

The Czech Republic has signed a letter of intent with Denmark and the Netherlands for financial support for deliveries of Czech weapons to Ukraine, the country’s defence ministry has said.

The ministry said it will help cover supplies of additional tanks, howitzers, small arms, air defence capacities and forms of electronic warfare or ammunition.

The first project will be the donation of modernised T-72EA tanks in the near future, it added.

13:48:56 Russia blames Ukrainian for explosion that killed 16

Russia has blamed Ukraine for an explosion in the Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka that killed at least 16 people on 6 September.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Ukraine had fired a 9M38 missile from a Buk surface-to-air missile system which struck the city.

“Even if it was done unintentionally, it is obvious to everyone: the complete demilitarisation of the Kyiv regime is not just a requirement, but a vital necessity,” Ms Zakharova said.

The New York Times had reported evidence suggesting the explosion had been caused by an errant missile fired by Ukraine.

Kyiv blamed Russia for the attack at the time, with Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying it was evidence of the need to destroy “Russian evil.” 

13:30:11 Russian court sends US reporter’s appeal against detention back to lower court

A Russian court has declined to hear US reporter Evan Gershkovich’s latest appeal against his pre-trial detention in Moscow on spying charges (see 13.01 post), state news agency RIA reported.

The court instead sent the  Wall Street Journal reporter’s appeal back to a lower court because of procedural violations, the agency added.

13:15:46 At least three killed in Russian attack on Ukrainian town

At least three people have been killed in a Russian attack on the northeastern Ukrainian town of Kupiansk, a regional official has said.

“Today, the enemy attacked the town of Kupiansk with a guided air bomb,” Kharkiv region governor Oleh Synehubov said on Telegram. 

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