Blinken to visit Ukraine as Washington confirms Iranian missile shipments to Russia

U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced on September 10 that he would travel to Ukraine alongside U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken later in the week, marking the first joint visit of this kind in over a decade. This announcement was made during a joint press conference with Blinken in the U.K., where the two diplomats discussed various global issues, including the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Blinken's visit to the U.K. began on September 9, focusing on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the challenges posed by Iran's activities in the region. Both Blinken and Lammy emphasized their countries' alignment in addressing Iran's destabilizing actions.

Recent reports confirmed that Iran has supplied Russia with hundreds of ballistic missiles, bolstering Moscow's military capabilities amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Blinken confirmed these reports and warned of further sanctions against Tehran, highlighting the dangerous escalation this arms transfer represents. The European Union also reported having "credible" information regarding these shipments.

Iran, however, has denied these accusations, dismissing the reports as "psychological warfare." The Kremlin offered a vague response, stating that Russia and Iran cooperate across various domains but did not directly address the missile shipments.

The deepening military and political cooperation between Russia and Iran has been evident since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Iran has supplied Russia with thousands of Shahed kamikaze drones, which have been used in attacks on Ukraine. Additionally, Iran's support for militant groups in the Middle East has further strained its relations with Western nations, with Washington accusing Tehran of destabilizing the region's security.

Russia ramps up pressure near Kupiansk

Russian forces have significantly increased their activity in the Kupiansk sector of northeastern Kharkiv Oblast over the past month, according to a spokesperson for Ukraine's National Guard. This escalation is part of a broader effort by Moscow to intensify pressure along the entire eastern front, with particularly heavy fighting reported near the Donetsk Oblast towns of Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, and Vuhledar.

In recent days, Russian troops have launched serious assaults in the areas of Synkivka and Stelmakhivka, attempting to storm Ukrainian positions. Ruslan Muzychuk, the spokesperson, noted that Russia is concentrating tank and motorized rifle units in an effort to advance. In the southern part of the region, Russian forces are also trying to push towards the defense line along the Chornyi Zherebets River.

Kupiansk, located about 25 kilometers from the administrative border with Luhansk Oblast, has been under increasing pressure from Russian military forces. Although the town was occupied by Russia in 2022 and later liberated in a surprise Ukrainian offensive, it remains a focal point for Russian military efforts.

Muzychuk explained that Russia's strategy includes increasing pressure along the entire front to stretch Ukrainian defenses. Russian forces have also become more active near the Tykhe settlement in the Kharkiv sector.

Additionally, the 92nd Assault Brigade reported that it successfully repelled a recent attempt by Russian mechanized forces to break through the border in Kharkiv Oblast. While the exact location was not specified, footage shared by the brigade showed Ukrainian forces striking Russian armor, including two BMP-2 armored vehicles and one T-72 tank, during the unsuccessful attack.

This winter might be the hardest one for Ukraine – Ukrainian Prime Minister

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has warned that the upcoming winter could be the most challenging yet for the country, despite having successfully navigated through three previous heating seasons. Speaking at a press conference, Shmyhal highlighted the significant challenge of maintaining energy sustainability during the autumn and winter months.

According to Shmyhal, Ukraine is currently receiving power equipment from around the world, and efforts are underway to restore as much of the damaged energy infrastructure as possible. He emphasized the importance of decentralization and increasing the autonomy of critical infrastructure to enhance resilience.

Additionally, Shmyhal mentioned that projects with the third level of protection are being constructed at 22 facilities operated by Ukrenergo, Ukraine's grid operator. However, the completion of just one or two of these projects is expected in the near term to assess their effectiveness.

As Ukraine prepares for what could be its hardest winter yet, the government is taking proactive steps to bolster energy security and ensure the country's infrastructure can withstand the challenges ahead.