Exhumation of bodies completed in Izyum, Ukrainian Defense Forces destroy Iranian drones: highlights of the day
A sham referendum on accession to Russia has begun in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine; exhumation of bodies from a mass grave site near Izyum, Kharkiv Oblast; the Defense Forces destroyed at least six Iranian drones used by the Russians during the day. We have collected the key news from September 23.
The beginning of the sham referendums
On September 23, pseudo-referendums on joining Russia started in the temporarily occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhya oblasts. In order to collect "votes" the occupying authorities closed the cities and organized "commissions" with armed escorts who went from apartment to apartment with "ballots". Ukrainian law enforcers have already identified more than 4,000 representatives of hostile groups, traitors and collaborators, who are planned to be involved in the "voting".
Exhumation of bodies in Izyum
The exhumation of bodies at the mass grave site in Izyum has been completed: 425 civilians (including five children) and 22 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were found among 447 bodies. 11 cities are so mutilated that it is currently impossible to establish their gender.
Most of the bodies found during visual inspection showed signs of violent death. Kharkiv regional governor Oleg Synegubov noted that bodies were found with a rope around their necks, hands tied, broken limbs and gunshot wounds. Several men had their genitals amputated.
The final cause of death of each victim will be established as a result of additional assessment.
Ukrainian Armed Forces destroy Iranian drones
On September 23, units of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed six Iranian-made kamikaze drones of the Shahed series, which have been actively used by Russian troops recently. Also, a multi-purpose strike UAV of Iranian production Mohajer-6, which Russia received from Iran, was shot down in the Ukrainian sky for the first time.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to respond to the facts of the use of Iranian-made weapons by Russian troops.
NATO issues a warning to Russia
NATO has warned Russia of the consequences if it uses nuclear weapons. "They know that there will be severe consequences. I will not go into the details of how we will respond, it depends on what weapons of mass destruction they may use," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.
Advancement of Ukrainian military
Ukrainian troops have established control over the village of Yatskivka in Donetsk Oblast, which is located on the border with Kharkiv Oblast. The village is separated from the rest of the region by the Oskil River. In addition, the Defense Forces managed to regain previously lost positions south of Bakhmut. In general, the situation in this area is difficult but under control.
In the south, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are gradually securing newly liberated territories and forcing the Russian occupation troops to retreat. On September 22, Ukrainian defenders managed to inflict significant damage to the occupiers by striking at the clusters of their equipment and weapons.
Yanukovych-era ministers detained
A court allowed the detention of former Foreign and Justice Ministers Kostyantyn Gryshchenko and Oleksandr Lavrynovych, who are suspected of supporting the Kharkiv agreements. Both Yanukovych-era ministers were served notices of suspicion of treason on July 25. The following day they were put on the national and international wanted list.
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