Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 213

Because the Russia-Ukraine warfare enters its 213th day, we check out the principle developments.

Right here is the state of affairs because it stands on Saturday, September 24.

Diplomacy

Russia has launched referendums aimed toward annexing 4 occupied areas of Ukraine, drawing condemnation from Kyiv and Western nations who dismissed the votes as “a sham” and pledged to not recognise the outcomes.
Ukrainian officers stated individuals had been banned from leaving some occupied areas till the four-day vote was over, armed teams had been going to houses to power individuals to solid ballots, and staff had been threatened with the sack if they didn't take part.
The votes within the provinces of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia had been unexpectedly organised after Ukraine recaptured massive swaths of the northeast in a counteroffensive.
Ukraine, Western leaders and the United Nations condemned the votes as an illegitimate precursor to unlawful annexation. There aren't any unbiased observers, and far of the pre-war inhabitants has fled.
Russia maintains the referendums supply a chance for individuals within the area to precise their views.
The USA is ready to impose extra financial prices on Russia along side US allies if Moscow strikes ahead with annexing parts of Ukrainian territory, the White Home stated.
NATO will ramp up its assist for Kyiv in response to the “sham” referendums, the alliance’s secretary-general stated.
British music stars Harry Kinds and Ed Sheeran, US basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, and different celebrities will donate private objects for a marketing campaign launched to assist healthcare in Ukraine.

A UN-mandated investigation fee stated it discovered proof of warfare crimes together with executions, rape, torture and confinement of kids in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine after visits to 27 areas and interviews with greater than 150 victims and witnesses.
Russia denies intentionally attacking civilians within the battle and says abuse accusations are a smear marketing campaign. It didn't instantly touch upon the report.

Ukraine stated it could downgrade diplomatic ties with Iran over its choice to produce Russian forces with drones.
Russia struck the Pechenihy dam on the Siverskyi Donets river in northeast Ukraine this week utilizing short-range ballistic missiles or comparable weapons, the British navy stated.
Russian commanders could also be trying to strike sluice gates of the dams in an effort to flood Ukrainian navy crossing factors, the UK defence ministry stated.
A Russian missile hit a residential constructing in Zaporizhzhia inflicting casualties, the town’s performing mayor stated.
Ukraine stated two drones killed a girl and destroyed a constructing in Odesa port. An Iranian-made Shahed-136 drone, designed to slam into its targets, was destroyed over the Black Sea by air defences.
The White Home stated the USA sees no cause to regulate its nuclear posture after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin warned the West he was not bluffing when he stated he could be prepared to make use of nuclear weapons to defend Russia.
Some draft-age Russians headed overseas to flee their nation’s largest conscription drive since World Struggle II.