Pseudo-referendums and news about released defenders of Mariupol: highlights of the day

News about the released defenders of Mariupol

The patronage service of Azov Regiment said that the Ukrainian soldiers released from captivity are in a shocking state — almost all 215 people have an extreme degree of malnutrition.

"There are cases when families cannot recognize their relatives. Our guys are exhausted, shell-shocked, there are a lot of hidden fractures and exacerbations of various degrees of chronic diseases," said the head of the patronage service of Azov Olena Tolkachova.

She says that all the fighters are now being provided with proper medical care. Many are already undergoing treatment and recovery. Soon the patronage service in cooperation with the state will send some of the defenders abroad for treatment and recovery.

At the same time, Ukrainians continued to actively raise funds for the rehabilitation of the released defenders. In particular, they have collected more than 12 million ($322,900) for the rehabilitation of the liberated Azov and more than 6 million ($161,450) — for the treatment of marine Mykhailo Dianov.

Pseudo-referendums

Sham referendums on joining Russia continue in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Advisor to the Mayor of Mariupol Petro Andriushchenko said that in his city the occupying authorities threaten to deprive people of their jobs and salaries or even deport them because of non-appearance at the "voting".

The first deputy head of Kherson regional council Yuriy Sobolevskyi said that in Kherson Oblast the occupiers are forcing people to "vote" twice and for all family members if they are not at home due to empty polling stations of the pseudo-referendum.

The "voting" will last 5 days — until September 27. Social networks report that not many people go to these "referendums". There are reports that collaborators together with the military go to people's homes and force them to "vote" by blackmail. Ukrainian authorities urge not to participate in these "votes".

Imprisonment for refusing to fight for Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin approved amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which introduce punishment for military personnel for voluntary surrender and desertion.

According to the amendments, punishment of up to 10 years in prison for voluntary surrender and up to 15 years in prison for desertion during mobilization or wartime is introduced. Looting in wartime will be punishable by imprisonment for up to 15 years.

Situation at the front

As the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported in the evening, Ukrainian air defense destroyed four Russian planes (Su-25, two Su-30 and one Su-34), five drones and a cruise missile. Ukrainian artillery and missile forces hit four control points, more than 10 clusters of enemy manpower and equipment, three air defense positions and four ammunition depots.

Also, Operational Command "South" reported that Ukrainian troops near Antonivskyi bridge near Kherson hit and weakened Russian reserves of equipment, which the occupiers wanted to transfer across the Dnipro River by an alternative crossing.

According to the Ukrainian command, Russians continue to focus on attempts to fully occupy Donetsk Oblast, hold the seized territories and disrupt the actions of the Defense Forces.

Attacks on Ukraine

The General Staff also said that the Russian military continues to strike at civilian infrastructure and civilian homes. Since the beginning of the day on September 24, the Russians have carried out at least five missile and 12 air strikes, as well as conducting over nine attacks from multiple rocket launchers on military and civilian targets.

As a result, more than 20 settlements were affected, including Bakhmut, Mykolaivka, Kalynivka, Mykolaiv, Sukhyi Stavok, Pivdenne, Mali Shcherbaky.