Section: The Centre for Eastern Studies (Poland)
Reaction to the annexation: the West announces tougher sanctions against Russia
In response to the annexation of four occupied Ukrainian regions to the Russian Federation and the Kremlin’s threats (including the possible use of nuclear weapons), Western countries are extending their sanctions on Russia, or announcing that they will take such action. New restrictions have already been introduced by the United Kingdom,...
Lyman rebounded. 221st day of the war
In the last days of September, Ukrainian forces outflanked Russian positions in the northeastern region of Donetsk Oblast, leading to the hasty withdrawal of enemy units from the surrounding villages and Lyman (1 October). In the final period of fighting, this pre-war town of 20,000 was to be defended by up to 5,500 soldiers from the 2nd Army...
Russia announces the annexation of four regions of Ukraine
On the afternoon of 30 September, President Vladimir Putin signed ‘agreements’ to annex four Ukrainian oblasts to Russia: Donetsk (the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, DPR), Luhansk (the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, LPR), Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. In a speech before the ceremony, he declared these acts irreversible....
The Kremlin pressurises Belarus to get involved in the war in Ukraine
On 27–28 September, representatives of the Belarusian and Russian defence ministries met in Moscow for talks on the prospects for military cooperation. Belarusian military officials announced an unannounced test of the combat & mobilisation readiness of the 50th Air Base, which operates the airfield in Machulishchi (Minsk Oblast) used by...
Hungary’s campaign against the West’s Russia policy
In recent weeks, the Hungarian government’s main message at home and abroad has been to criticise EU sanctions against Russia and advocate lifting them, or at least not imposing any new sanctions. Fidesz politicians have accompanied this with an open contestation of the West’s support for Ukraine. On 26 September, in his speech...
Sham Russian ‘referendums’ in Ukraine
On 23–27 September, ‘referendums’ on the annexation of four Ukrainian regions to Russia were held in the occupied territories in Ukraine. They were organised in the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (Donetsk oblast; DPR), the Luhansk People’s Republic (Luhansk oblast; LPR) and the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts of Ukraine,...
Chancellor Scholz’s gas-related visit to the Arabian Peninsula
On 24-25 September, Olaf Scholz visited Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. In Jeddah, he met with heir to the throne Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. They discussed energy and economic cooperation, particularly hydrogen production and Saudi energy imports to Germany. The war in Ukraine and human rights were also discussed....
No change on the front. 216th day of the war
The situation on the front remained essentially unchanged. Russian forces continued to attack Ukrainian positions on the eastern outskirts of Bakhmut, as well as to the north, southeast, and south of the city. Fighting also took place south and southeast of Siversk, north and west of Horlivka and north and west of Donetsk. The Ukrainian army did...
Ukraine: stabilisation on the fuels market
On 21 September the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law which reinstated excise on fuels – 100 euros for 1,000 litres of petrol and diesel and 52 euros for 1,000 litres of LPG. Purchases made by the Ministry of Defence during martial law (no later than until 1 July 2023) were exempted from excise tax. According to government estimates, the excise will...
Successful prisoner exchange. 211th day of war
On 22 September, 215 soldiers fighting on the Ukrainian side (including 108 from the Azov regiment) were exchanged for Viktor Medvedchuk – a pro-Russian politician with close personal ties to Vladimir Putin – and 55 Russian soldiers. According to the agreement, five senior Azov officers were handed over to Turkey, covered by President Recep...
