Ukraine's victory plan is almost ready; Putin increases the size of Russia's armed forces: September 16 highlights

Ukraine's victory plan is almost ready

Ukraine's "victory plan" is 90% complete. It will cover military, diplomatic, and economic issues, Zelenskyy said during his evening address on September 16. The document is based on foreign partners permitting Ukraine to strike deep inside Russian territory.

According to President Zelenskyy, there is “not a single impossible thing” in the plan. It will be presented to partners next week (23-29 September).

Unmanned Systems Forces are officially a separate branch of Ukraine’s Armed Forces

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a law establishing the Unmanned Systems Forces as a separate branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

As previously explained by MP Iryna Herashchenko, the law regulates the legal framework for establishing the Unmanned Systems Forces as a separate branch of the Armed Forces, approves staff positions for working with drones, training, systematizing experience, and scaling up production.

Ukraine repels massive drone attack 

On the night of 16 September, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 56 Shahed 131/136 attack drones. Ukraine’s Air defense forces shot down 53 enemy drones.

Nearly 20 drones were launched at Kyiv. No casualties are reported, Kyiv City Council said. In Kyiv region, the attack injured a woman, damaged cars and residential buildings.

Putin increases the size of Russian army

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to increase the size of Russia's armed forces to 2 million 389 thousand people. This includes 1.5 million military personnel.

The last time the number of troops was boosted in December 2023. Russia’s Defense Ministry explained this by “increasing threats” to Russia, in particular from NATO.

Ukraine to receive the next delivery of F-16 fighter jets from Denmark

Ukraine will receive the next delivery of F-16 fighter jets from Denmark by the end of the year. In total, Denmark has committed to supply 19 aircraft, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said.

However, Denmark did not disclose the exact number of jets in this delivery and the exact date explaining that this is a question of operational security.

Odesa Regional Military Administration dismisses its advisor 

The head of the Odesa Region Military Administration, Oleh Kiper, has dismissed his advisor Ivan Draliuk, who has ties with sanctioned businessman Vadym Yermolaiev.

TIFF will screen the film Russians at War

The film Russians at War will be screened at the Toronto Film Festival (TIFF), although the organizers had previously claimed that the event was canceled. The film portrays the occupiers as "ordinary" people and does not show the destruction and war crimes they commit.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Ministry of Culture has added Anastasia Trofimova, the director of the film, to the list of people who pose a threat to Ukraine's national security. Consul General of Ukraine in Toronto, Oleh Nikolenko, said “TIFF’s decision to resume the screening of Russians at War is outrageous.”

Other important news

• Alley of Memory of journalist and activist Georgiy Gongadze, who was kidnapped and murdered in 2000, has been opened in Kyiv.
• Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski says that Ukraine should have adopted the law on mobilization a year earlier.
• Verkhovna Rada Committee approved for the second reading the draft law on tax increases.
• The President of Kazakhstan said that Russia is "militarily invincible" and supported the peace plan of China and Brazil.