Ukraine Reports 240 Combat Clashes as Kyiv Cancels Cultural Events in Current Wars in the World
In the context of current wars in the world, Ukrainian forces reported 240 combat clashes with Russian troops over the past day.
Frontline Combat Activity
Ukrainian defenders stopped one Russian assault on the North Slobozhanshchyna front in Russia's Kursk Oblast and repelled 22 attacks on the South Slobozhanshchyna front near multiple settlements. [2] Russian forces conducted 24 attacks on the Kostiantynivka front and 38 on the Pokrovsk front, attempting advances near numerous villages including Bilytske, Serhiivka, Udachne and Dobropillia. [2] A total of 240 combat clashes occurred on the battlefield on 3 September according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. [2] On the North Slobozhanshchyna front and in the operational zone in Russia's Kursk Oblast, Ukrainian defenders stopped one Russian assault towards the village of Bachivsk. [2] On the South Slobozhanshchyna front, Ukrainian units repelled 22 Russian attacks near the settlements of Kozacha Lopan, Lyman, Starytsia and Vilcha and towards Okhrimivka and Bochkove. [2] On the Kupiansk front, the Russians conducted one attack towards the village of Bohuslavka. [2] On the Lyman front, Russian forces carried out 11 attacks near the settlements of Lyman and Dibrova and towards Hrekivka, Kopanky, Novoiehorivka, Novoselivka and Drobysheve. [2] On the Sloviansk front, Russian troops conducted ten assaults towards Kalenyky and Ozerne and towards Kryva Luka. [2] On the Kramatorsk front, the Russians did not conduct any offensive operations. [2] On the Kostiantynivka front, 24 Russian attacks were recorded with troops trying to advance near Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, Mykolaipillia and Raiske and towards Novohryhorivka, Novopavlivka and Pavlivka. [2] On the Pokrovsk front, 38 attacks were recorded with attempts to advance near Bilytske, Serhiivka, Udachne and Molodetske and towards Novyi Donbas, Svitle, Vilne, Sofiivka, Toretske, Pryiut, Shevchenko, Dobropillia, Novohryshyne and Novopavlivka. [2] On the Oleksandrivka front, Russian soldiers conducted two attacks towards Rybne and Yehorivka. [2] On the Huliaipole front, the Russians carried out seven attacks towards Vozdvyzhivka. [2] On the Orikhiv front, Ukrainian defenders stopped three Russian attempts to advance near Orikhiv and Prymorske. [2] On the Prydniprovske front, the Russians did not conduct any offensive operations. [2] On the Volyn and Polissia fronts, there were no signs of Russian offensive groups being formed. [2]
Security-Driven Event Cancellations in Kyiv
At least six cultural events in Kyiv, including GogolFest, Kurazh festival, Pokolinnia festival and the Knyzhkova Kraina book festival, have been cancelled or postponed due to the deteriorating security situation. [1] The GogolFest festival, returning to Kyiv in September after a nine-year hiatus, has been forced to postpone some of its events until spring with a reduced programme running from 16 to 20 September featuring film screenings and visual arts events instead of events in the main building of the International Centre of Culture and Arts. [1] The Kurazh festival due on 19-20 September has temporarily suspended its activities and will refund tickets and participation fees while hoping to hold a Christmas edition. [1] All guided tours at the Mezhyhiria Landmark Park have been temporarily cancelled due to the security situation though the park remains open with visitors urged to proceed to the shelter during air raids. [1] The Pokolinnia festival due this weekend has been postponed until 25-27 September with previously purchased tickets remaining valid. [1] The Young Blood Live music showcase due at the Keller club on 6 September has also been postponed. [1] The Knyzhkova Kraina book festival due at the Expocenter of Ukraine has been postponed until spring. [1]
Ukrainian forces report 240 combat clashes with Russian troops over the past day. — Source: ukrainskapravda
Intelligence Agency Shootout
A confrontation between SBU and HUR officers in Kyiv over the detention of Russian Volunteer Corps deputy commander Stepan Kaplunov ended in a shootout that injured three HUR members. [4] President Zelensky called it disgraceful and ordered an investigation. [4] Kaplunov has denied allegations of contacts with Russia’s Federal Security Service and involvement in planned assassinations, saying he admitted to the allegations only after being held for nine days under psychological pressure and threats. [4] The SBU alleged that a specified person was tasked with preparing an assassination attempt against a Russian opposition figure and killing other Ukrainian service members in exchange for money while documenting correspondence with an FSB representative. [4] Kaplunov stated he was forcibly detained near his home on 23 August by men identifying as police officers, handcuffed, blindfolded and taken to a secret prison where he was intensively questioned and threatened during the first two days. [4] He said he agreed with the investigators' version under those conditions although in reality nothing like that happened. [4] Kaplunov was held at two different locations and released after nine days then returned to his home without being told investigators were about to search his apartment. [4] In a separate video he accused SBU officers of bandit-style abduction and alleged that acting head of the SBU Oleksandr Poklad personally questioned him during the first three days while seeking to implicate Dmytro Ivanov and President's Office Head Kyrylo Budanov in alleged cooperation with the FSB. [4] His lawyer alleged that a video in which Kaplunov admitted contacts with Russian intelligence was recorded while he was in detention under pressure, torture and threats of murder. [4] The SBU described the confrontation with HUR as an absolutely unacceptable conflict situation and said the State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting. [4] RVC commander Denis Kapustin rejected the SBU's allegations and said the first confrontation occurred late on 1 September when SBU officers brought Kaplunov to his apartment and encountered fellow service members with the dispute resuming the following morning when SBU officers opened fire. [4] Three HUR service members were wounded while several HUR representatives were detained. [4] Kaplunov has not been formally charged and remains free. [4] Zelensky called the confrontation an absolutely disgraceful situation and ordered a full investigation with those responsible facing accountability and possible personnel decisions while subsequently dismissing Oleh Khramov, head of the SBU's department for the protection of state secrets. [4] Shooting broke out on the streets of Kyiv during a conflict between members of Ukraine’s two intelligence services with three people injured two of them seriously and only one side firing according to available videos. [5] The SBU claimed its officers used weapons to stop armed resistance and subsequently searched the apartment. [5] Zelensky stated here in Ukraine it is permitted to shoot only at Russian occupiers in defence of Ukraine. [5] The RVC operates under HUR. [5]
Strategic Role of Drained Kakhovka Reservoir
The drained Kakhovka Dam reservoir has created dense vegetation in a no-man's land where Russian and Ukrainian reconnaissance patrols engage in limited cat-and-mouse infantry actions and drone strikes, serving as a natural obstacle that Russia uses for pressure without major offensives. [3] When the Russian Army exploded the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023 the landscape changed dramatically with lush vegetation taking over the terrain including tall weeds, tangled bushes and willow thickets. [3] The changed landscape has become the theatre for a new type of combat where drones are not as helpful in spotting the enemy in the dense thickets. [3] Ukrainian forces try to track and ambush Russian infantry units attempting to infiltrate the area by stepping into the tree line themselves to engage in firefights. [3] Even in its narrower form the Dnipro River is still a significant water obstacle that would be an issue for advancing Russians to cross while the area of the dried-out riverbank should be considered as a no man’s land because it is possibly easier for the Russians to enter. [3] Russia’s presence in the former basin is only for reconnaissance purposes and could not be the basis for a larger more significant offensive. [3] The area forms a natural obstacle between the Ukrainian and Russian forces with some infantry movement more possible than before but still very difficult especially for larger movements. [3] The forest there isn’t fully grown yet so infantries can move somewhat concealed but it is not the same as some older and denser forests with certain vegetation that grows in these old riverbanks and the area full of smaller streams and ponds. [3] There is a limited amount of combat in the area with smaller Russian infiltration and reconnaissance patrols operating just like Ukrainian ones. [3] Reconnaissance drones fly around the area trying to spot enemies with drone strikes against spotted enemies happening. [3] Russian and Ukrainian reconnaissance teams have been playing a game of cat and mouse in the former basin with Russia wanting to keep some pressure on the Ukrainians through manpower while losing a few squads to Ukrainian drones every now and then is not a big issue. [3]
Ukrainian forces report 240 combat clashes with Russian troops on multiple fronts. — Source: france24
Broader Context of Russian Advances
Russian propagandists are rejoicing over the spy shootout on the streets of Kyiv. [5] This was not the first serious conflict between the services. [5] How far the Russians advanced in August according to a Russian channel and ISW shows data indicating the number of Russian attacks on civilian warehouses really rose sharply in August. [5] Videos of the day include a Russian Mi-8 helicopter landing on a road, a Russian drone dropping a net on a Ukrainian one, and the burning city of Dobropillia. [5] A bloodstain remained on the pavement outside a nine-storey building in the sleepy Kyiv district of Berezniaky. [5] An armed conflict between the SBU and HUR is exceptional but certain disputes have also emerged in the past with both intelligence services having gained influence and power during the war. [5] The SBU has 30,000 agents bringing it close in size to the FBI while HUR has also grown. [5] One similar dispute was linked to the situation shortly after the start of the Russian invasion. [5]
Developments in Current Wars in the World
The battle for Zaporizhzhia has been going on for a prolonged amount of time with active battles in some areas of the Zaporizhzhia oblast as the Russians have been trying to advance toward the city without much progress throughout the years. [3] The Russians have annexed Zaporizhzhia in their legislation and from the Russian point of view it is Russian territory with them currently holding something like 75% of the Zaporizhzhia oblast. [3] Taking Dnipro would be difficult because there is the river and the dam which would be extremely hard to cross especially in the age of ground warfare. [3] If the Russians got into Zaporizhzhia a very gruesome and grinding urban battle would follow that could take months if compared to how slowly things are progressing in towns that are 10 times smaller. [3] Yet Russian and Ukrainian reconnaissance teams have been playing a game of cat and mouse in the former basin as Russia wants to keep some pressure on the Ukrainians. [3]
What to watch next includes further details on the investigation ordered by President Zelensky into the confrontation between the SBU and HUR along with any personnel decisions and the outcome of the State Bureau of Investigation probe into the shooting.
