Moscow for the first time openly recognizes a defeat since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, in February 2022. Kremlin officials and state media propagandists are extensively discussing the reasons for the Russian defeat in Kharkiv Oblast, informs the Institute for the Study of War.
The Kremlin never admitted that Russia was defeated around Kyiv or, later, at Snake Island, framing the retreat from Kyiv as a decision to prioritize the «liberation» of Donbas and the withdrawal from Snake Island as a «gesture of goodwill».
The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) originally offered a similar explanation for the Russian failure in Kharkiv, claiming that Russian forces were withdrawing troops from Kharkiv Oblast to regroup, but this false narrative faced quick and loud criticism online. The Kremlin’s acknowledgment of the defeat is part of an effort to mitigate and deflect criticism for such a devastating failure away from Russian President Vladimir Putin and onto the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) and the uniformed military command.
U.S. Department of Defense informed that according to Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force general Pat Ryder, Ukraine’s success in its counteroffensive against the Russian invasion did not surprise its allies and partners.
«I think if anyone was surprised, just based on the reports that we’ve seen in terms of the Russian military’s response, it was probably the Russians,» Ryder said.
Meanwhile, president Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian troops are pressing Russian forces northeast of Kharkiv and many of the invaders have fled across the border into Russia.
Deputy Prime Minister for European integration Olga Stefanishyna told France24 that Russian officials had reached out to Ukraine to negotiate in recent days, a move she believes is aimed at stopping the rapid Ukrainian advance.
Stefanishyna said that Ukraine would only talk with Russia when it reaches its military goals.
The Ukrainian media The Kyiv Independent informs that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had a phone call with Russian President Valdimir Putin on Tuesday, 13 September. During a 90–minute conversation, Scholz urged Putin to reach a diplomatic solution as soon as possible based on a ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Russian troops, and respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Scholz stressed that any further Russian annexation steps «would not go unanswered and would not be recognized under any circumstances.»
According to news network CNN, nearly 50 municipal deputies have now signed a petition demanding the resignation of President Vladimir Putin.
That is 29 more signatures than on Monday, 12 September, and Ksenia Thorstrom, a municipal deputy of the Semenovsky District in Saint Petersburg, told CNN: «Now we have 47 verified signatures.»
CNN also informs that Russia has covertly transferred over USD 300 (EUR 300.54) million to foreign political parties around the globe since 2014, a senior Biden administration official said Tuesday, citing a review by the US intelligence community.
Meanwhile, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) informs that access was renewed to another, third backup power line to the Zaporizhzhia plant in the Russian–occupied city of Enerhodar. All of the plant’s six reactors remain in a cold shutdown state, but they still require power to maintain necessary safety functions.