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Ukraine war latest: Russia claims capture of town near Pokrovsk, Kyiv says fighting ongoing in the area
Key developments on Sept. 9:
- Russia claims capture of town near Pokrovsk, Kyiv says fighting ongoing in the area
- Sweden includes Gripen jet spare parts in new $443 million military aid package for Ukraine
- Latvia confirms Russian Shahed drone armed with explosive crashed on its territory
- Iran denies sending ballistic missiles to Russia, Kremlin remains evasive
- Ukraine reportedly downs Russian Orlan drone at 'record height' of 3.6 km
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on Sept. 8 that its forces had captured the town of Novohrodivka in Donetsk Oblast, while Ukraine's military said that battles are ongoing in the area.
Novohrodivka is around 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Pokrovsk,an important logistical hub for Ukrainian forces. The sector is described by the Ukrainian military as the most difficult and has seen months-long fierce fighting.
Serhii Tsehotskyi, an officer with Ukraine's 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on Sept. 2 that the military command decided to withdraw from Novohrodivka because the town had "an unfavorable geographical location."
There were also unconfirmed reports that the town had been poorly fortified, and Russian soldiers captured it in a few days. The General Staff neither announced Ukraine's withdrawal from Novohrodivka nor commented on the claims.
In its daily update, the General Staff said that Ukrainian soldiers repel dozens of attacks near the settlements surrounding Pokrovsk, including Novohrodivka. The statement did not specify whether battles are ongoing within Novohrodivka itself or only in its vicinity.
The Kyiv Independent reached out to the Ukrainian military but has not received a response at the time of publication.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported capturing four other settlements near Pokrovsk over the past week: Zhuravka, Skuchne, Karlovka, and Zavitne. These claims could not be verified.
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said that Russia's advance in the Pokrovsk direction had been halted in the past six days in an interview with CNN aired on Sept. 5.
Syrskyi linked this development to Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk Oblast, which was designed to divert Russian forces from Pokrovsk and other hot sectors in Donetsk Oblast.
Sweden includes Gripen jet spare parts in new $443 million military aid package for Ukraine
Sweden has included combat boats, anti-tank weapons, ammunition, and Gripen jet spare parts in its latest military aid package for Ukraine, valued at 4.6 billion Swedish krona ($443 million), the Swedish Defense Ministry announced on Sept. 9.
With its 17th military aid package to Ukraine, Sweden is entering a "new phase of military support to Ukraine, with a greater focus on production instead of donation," the Swedish Defense Ministry said.
Transferring Gripen jets to Ukraine is currently "not a viable option, as it would interfere with the prioritized introduction of F-16 fighters," but Sweden is continuing its efforts to establish the conditions to send Gripen jets to Ukraine in the future.
Sweden is therefore "acquiring materiel parts for the JAS 39 Gripen" worth approximately 2.3 billion Swedish krona ($222 million), which are being reused in the construction of the E series of the jet.
"By acquiring new materiel parts, a number of JAS 39C/D will be saved from being dismantled and can – if the Swedish government decides so – be considered for a possible future donation to Ukraine," the Defense Ministry said.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said in July that Stockholm was open to providing Ukraine with Gripen fighter jets after the completion of the F-16 program, but further steps depend on Kyiv.
The latest package also includes 40 mm ammunition for the Combat Vehicle 90s previously supplied by Sweden, as well as camouflage equipment for the Pansarbandvagn 302s provided in the 16th aid package.
Sweden will also send a number of Robot System 70, a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS), anti-tank weapons, winter equipment, and marine equipment worth approximately 500 million Swedish krona ($48 million) due to the threat posed by Russia to Ukrainian merchant vessel traffic in the Black Sea.
To assist the Ukrainian Navy, Sweden will supply six Combat Boat 90s and "two launching trailers that can handle various types of boats," the Defense Ministry said.
Sweden will send "ground combat military equipment," also worth approximately 500 million Swedish krona ($48 million), as well as grenade launchers with ammunition, recoilless rifles with ammunition, and small-calibre ammunition.
The Swedish government also said in May that it was planning to allocate 75 billion Swedish krona ($7 billion) in military support to Ukraine from 2024 to 2026.
