Ukrainian forces are celebrating another strategic victory after Russian troops were forced to retreat from the eastern Ukrainian town of Lyman over the weekend.

On Saturday evening, Russia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed the withdrawal of Russian troops from Lyman in the Donetsk region due to the „risk of encirclement.”

The capture of the town is a significant setback for Russia, occurring only a day after Russian president Vladimir Putin announced the forced annexation of the Donetsk region, along with three other oblasts, citing local support via „referenda” broadly condemned as a farce.

Lyman is a critical railway junction that may allow Ukrainian troops to recapture the western part of the Luhansk region, including the cities of Lysychansk and Severodonetsk, RFE/RL notes.

Source: Radio Poland, PAP

Russia detained the director general of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on Friday, with his current location still unknown as of this morning.

Ihor Murashov was reportedly seized by a Russian patrol on Friday afternoon local time on his way from the plant to the Moscow-controlled city of Energodar. Local officials report that Murashov’s vehicle was flagged down and he was forcibly removed, then blindfolded and driven in an unknown direction.

Energoatom chief Petro Kotin warned that Murashov’s detention „poses a threat to the operation of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant,” adding that he had also called on the International Atomic Energy Agency to intervene.

Source: Radio Poland

Poland ushered in a new period of energy independence yesterday with the official start of gas transmission via the newly-completed undersea Baltic Pipe.

Although the pipeline was officially opened last week, scheduled technical gas flows on a commercial basis began October 1, with the start of the so-called „gas year.”

Polish state utility operator PGNiG is currently the only company using the pipeline, having already purchased most of the gas pipeline’s estimated 10 million cubic meters of transmission capacity. Partnering Danish company Energinet expects the Baltic Pipe system to reach full capacity by the end of November, following some final tests in Norway and the construction of additional sections near Denmark.

Russia’s energy giant Gazprom in April suspended gas deliveries to Poland after the country refused to pay in Russian roubles amid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The Baltic Pipe will have the capacity to replace roughly 60 percent of Polish gas imports coming from Russia via the Gazprom-owned Yamal pipeline.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, Radio Poland

Universities in Trójmiasto officially kicked off the academic year at noon yesterday with a parade and festivities in the center of Gdańsk.

The City of Gdańsk jointly organized the event along with the Fahrenheit Union of Universities (FarU) – the Medical University of Gdańsk, the Gdańsk University of Technology, and the University of Gdańsk.

Several hundred participants were in attendance, including representatives of fourteen universities, Pomeranian Voivode Dariusz Drelich, and numerous residents and visitors to Gdańsk.

After a colorful parade down Długa Street, the senate and faculty councils of the participating universities held a ceremonial meeting at the European Solidarity Center, followed by a lecture by prof. Szymon Malinowski entitled „Climate crisis, planetary crisis.”

An estimated 60,000 students are currently enrolled for the 2022/2023 academic year at over a dozen institutions in Pomerania.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

The Polish women’s volleyball team lost to Turkey Friday night after a hard-fought five sets to close out Phase 1 of the FIVB Women’s World Volleyball Championships.

The disappointing 3:2 loss dropped Poland into last place in Group B, with Turkey taking the top spot with four wins overall, followed by Thailand in second place, and the Dominican Republic in third.

South Korea and Croatia were eliminated from the tournament, and the remaining four contenders in Group B, Poland included, will advance to Phase 2 in Łódź this week.

Poland will take on returning world champions Serbia Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, en.volleyballworld.com

Weather

Today will be cool and mostly cloudy with a chance of intermittent rain showers brought in by strong winds from the west. Temperatures will remain on the chilly side, with a high of 14°C, or 58°F, dropping to a low of 11°C or 51°F overnight. Similar overcast, rainy weather is expected tomorrow, with a chance for some sunshine and clearer skies returning on Tuesday.

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Elizabeth Peck/MarWer