On September 9, a Russian air bomb struck during a pension payout in the village of Yarova, Donetsk region, killing 23 people, mostly pensioners, and injuring over 20 more. The attack was confirmed by Oleksandr Zhuravlov, head of the Lyman City Military Administration.
Meanwhile, Russia continues its attacks on various Ukrainian cities. General Gerasimov was recently awarded for his actions against civilians. President Zelensky stated in an interview that Putin intends to seize all of Donbas by the end of the year; according to Zelensky, the cost for Russia could reach millions of lives.
In the geopolitical arena, changes are underway: Hungary has signed a new gas contract with the British company Shell, reducing its reliance on Russian gas. Russian energy imports to Europe have already dropped by 80% compared to the start of the full-scale invasion.
There have also been explosions at oil pipelines on Russian territory, notably in Penza and Saratov regions, affecting critical infrastructure and impacting energy flows and security.
Western media, including The New York Times, report that Kremlin strikes intensify after key calls between Putin and Western leaders. Donald Trump claimed that Russia is deliberately stalling decisions on the war, and that every attempt at progress is met with new attacks on Ukraine.
Politically, the issue of potential demilitarized or buffer zones in Ukraine is under discussion. Zelensky asserts that Ukraine already has a "death zone" of 10-20 km at the front and opposes splitting the country into regions, arguing that such moves align with Russian narratives.
European countries continue their support for Ukraine: EU states are preparing new ammunition deliveries, and German company Rheinmetall is producing Sky Ranger mobile anti-drone systems for Ukraine.
The Middle East remains tense: during an Israeli airstrike in Qatar, the Hamas headquarters was destroyed. Qatar announced it will suspend its mediation in negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
Ukraine's Ministry of Defense estimates that over an additional 280 billion UAH is required to fund the army through 2025. Statistics also show a wave of resignations among men aged 18-22 for overseas departure, impacting the labor market and Ukrainian economy.
