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1:42 PM

Russian proxies claim missile strike on Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol.

Mikhail Razvozhaev, the head of Sevastopol's illegal Russian occupation government, claimed that a Ukrainian missile strike hit the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet on Sept. 22. Kyiv hasn’t commented on the alleged strike.

12:53 PM

Belarus weekly

Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko seeks closer ties with Russia, North Korea

12:15 PM

Biden: 'Next week, the first Abrams tanks will be delivered to Ukraine.'

U.S. President Joe Biden announced at a press conference on Sept. 21 that the first tranche of U.S. Abrams tanks will be delivered to Ukraine next week.

11:17 AM

Governor: Russian forces shell Kherson, killing 1, injuring 1.

Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on Sept. 22 that Russian forces shelled residential neighborhoods of Kherson. A 25-year-old man was killed, and another was injured, Prokudin said on Telegram.

10:36 AM

CNN: Zelensky pledges to liberate Bakhmut, two other crucial cities.

“We will de-occupy Bakhmut. And I think we will de-occupy two more cities,” Zelensky said, according to CNN.

9:06 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 274,950 troops in Ukraine.

This number includes 480 casualties Russian forces suffered over the past day.

7:57 AM

Zelensky arrives in Ottawa, greeted by PM Trudeau.

President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives to Ottawa late on Sept. 21 for his first official visit to Canada since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022.

6:56 AM

Zelensky: Ukraine to produce weapons together with US.

In his evening address on Sept. 21, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that there is a "long-term agreement" between the U.S. and Ukraine to produce weapons.

5:59 AM

ISW: Ukraine advancing past final Russian defensive line in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Geolocated footage shared on Sept. 21 and analyzed by the Institute for the Study of War indicated that Ukrainian armored vehicles advanced south of the anti-tank ditches breaching the Russian tri-layered defense, and engaging in limited combat just west of Verbove on the southern Zaporizhzhia front.

3:35 AM

Stolen cultural property returned to Ukraine.

Cultural artifacts stolen from Ukraine during the ongoing Russian invasion were restored to President Volodymyr Zelensky at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., the president's office reported on Sept. 21.

2:25 AM

US announces $325 million in new security assistance for Ukraine.

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced via press statement on Sept. 21 that the U.S. has authorized a new round of security assistance for Ukraine worth $325 million.

1:48 AM

Pistorius: 'We are not refusing to deliver cruise missiles.'

In an interview with French media outlet Le Monde on Sept. 21, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that Germany is "not refusing" to send long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.

12:49 AM

Explosion and blackout reported in Tula, Russia.

A loud explosion in the city of Tula, Russia, on Sept. 21 was followed by a major power outage in one district, the Russian independent media outlet Meduza reported on Telegram.

12:25 AM

UPDATE: 2 more killed, 1 injured in Russian attacks against Kherson Oblast.

Russian forces have again targeted settlements in Kherson Oblast, killing two people and wounding another one, regional authorities reported on Sept. 21.

12:15 AM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Russia launches mass missile attack on energy infrastructure; Ukraine reportedly hits airbase in Crimea

12:05 AM

CNN: Republicans consider cutting $300 million in Ukraine aid from defense bill.

Republican Party leaders in the U.S. Congress consider cutting Ukraine support from their long-term defense spending bill to satisfy hardliners and unlock the gridlock, CNN reported on Sept. 21, citing two undisclosed sources.

11:49 PM

Business

Ukraine Business Roundup — Issue 2

11:28 PM

Zelensky arrives at White House for meeting with Biden.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska arrived at the White House on Sept. 21, welcomed by U.S. President Joe Biden and his spouse Jill Biden.

10:37 PM

Russia launches missile strike against recreational facility in Odesa Oblast.

Russian forces launched a missile attack against a recreational facility in the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district in Odesa Oblast, Governor Oleh Kiper reported on Sept. 21.

10:09 PM

UPDATE: 38 of 44 Russian cruise missiles downed by Ukraine overnight.

According to updated information, Ukrainian forces shot down 38 of the 44 cruise missiles launched by Russia overnight on Sept. 21, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported.

9:54 PM

Russian strikes against Donetsk Oblast injure 5.

Russian forces carried out attacks against Toretsk, Petropavlivka, and Molodenke in Donetsk Oblast on Sept. 21, injuring three men and two women, the Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office reported.

9:15 PM

Official: US aid package not to include ATACMS.

The U.S. aid package for Ukraine that President Joe Biden will announce on Sept. 21 will not include ATACMS long-range missiles, according to Amanda Sloat, the National Security Council's senior director for Europe, NBC News reported.

8:56 PM

Media: Polish Foreign Ministry surprised by Morawiecki's statement on arms transfers.

The Polish Foreign Ministry was surprised by the country's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki's statement that Poland is not sending more weapons to Ukraine as it is rearming itself, the news portal RMF24 reported on Sept. 21.

8:28 PM

Zelensky arrives at Pentagon for talks with Defense Secretary Austin.

President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the Pentagon for talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the New York Times reported on Sept. 21.

8:16 PM

Authorities: 1 more killed, 1 injured as Russia continues targeting Kherson Oblast.

Russian forces have again targeted settlements in Kherson Oblast, killing one person and wounding another one, regional authorities reported on Sept. 21. The oblast governor earlier said that multiple Russian attacks against the region had killed five civilians and wounded another 10 during the day.

MORE NEWS

Ukraine strikes Russian military base of drone operators

ISW: Ukrainian forces advance as Russian commentators complain of low supplies

General: Ukraine had only 1,500 soldiers in south when Russia launched full-scale invasion

US intelligence: 'Realistic possibility' that Ukraine can break through remaining Russian lines in 2023

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SBU: Firtash, top associates accused of embezzling millions of hryvnias worth of state gas

by The Kyiv Independent news desk May 15, 2023 3:34 PM 1 min read

Dmytro Firtash poses for a photograph inside the Group DF offices following a Bloomberg Television interview in Vienna, Austria, on Monday, March 14, 2016. (Photo: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

This audio is created with AI assistance

Ukrainian oligarch Dmytro Firtash and some of his top business associates have been informed that they are suspected of embezzling millions worth of state gas, Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) reported on May 15.

According to the SBU, among those implicated are the management of the Regional Gas Company, which oversees 20 city and regional gas companies that comprise 70% of gas distribution networks in Ukraine.

In 2021, the alleged illegal activities of Firtash and his associates caused over Hr 4.2 billion ($113 million) in losses for Ukraine, the SBU wrote. The total damages between 2016 and 2022 may amount to over Hr 18 billion ($487 million).

On March 17, the SBU and the Financial Investigation Service searched 16 offices of the Regional Gas Company, which is reportedly controlled by tycoon Dmytro Firtash.

According to both agencies, the searches were related to a criminal scheme regarding the manipulation of gas distribution prices that caused Hr 3.5 billion ($94 million) in losses to the state.

Firtash has lived in Austria since 2014, and has been fighting extradition attempts from the U.S. since 2014, where he is charged with corruption. He lost his most recent appeal in March 2022 and his lawyers continue to attempt to delay the process.

The Kyiv Independent news desk

We are the news team of the Kyiv Independent. We are here to make sure our readers get quick, essential updates about the events in Ukraine. Feel free to contact us via email with feedback and news alerts.

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