Tue Sep 17 06:33:21 UTC 2024: ## Ukraine Claims Missile Strike on Russian Ammunition Depot in Mariupol, Russia Reports Gains in Donetsk

**Mariupol, Ukraine/Moscow, Russia** – The Ukrainian Navy claimed on Tuesday to have destroyed a Russian ammunition depot near the occupied city of Mariupol with a missile strike. The statement said the attack obliterated not only the ammunition but also the supporting infrastructure, although the claims could not be independently verified.

Meanwhile, Russia announced the capture of another town in the eastern Donetsk region, Ukrainsk, according to state-owned RIA news agency and pro-Russian bloggers. However, neither the Russian nor Ukrainian defense ministries have officially confirmed the claim.

The Ukrainian navy’s reported strike comes as Russian forces continue their offensive in eastern Ukraine. Overnight, Russian drones targeted energy facilities in the northeastern Sumy region, knocking out power. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 16 of the drones, according to local officials.

Across Ukraine, the military claimed to have downed 34 out of 51 Russian drones, with interceptions occurring in the Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Poltava regions. Russia, in turn, reported shooting down 15 Ukrainian drones over the Bryansk region, with no reported damage or casualties.

In a separate development, Russia announced an expansion of its military by 180,000 personnel, bringing the total number of troops to 1.5 million. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attributed the decision to “threats” along Russia’s borders, citing the “extremely hostile environment” in the west and “instability” in the east.

This move comes as Russian forces attempt to push back Ukrainian forces who had advanced into Russia’s Kursk region in early August. On Monday, Russia claimed to have regained control of two villages in Kursk, Uspenovka and Borki.

Following the reported gains, the governor of Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, ordered the evacuation of villages in the Rylsky and Khomutovsky districts, citing security concerns.

Ukraine, in turn, requested that the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross send teams to evaluate the situation in the areas of Kursk under Ukrainian control. Russia responded by calling the request a “provocation”.

The UN, while expressing readiness to comply, stated that it would need authorization from Russia to proceed with the visit.

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