What happened today in brief: 30 September

23 civilians were killed and 28 were wounded by Russia’s strike on Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region. The pro-Russian occupation authorities blame Ukraine, unsurprisingly.

The pro-Russian authorities of the Donetsk region admit 'partially’ losing control over Yampil and Drobysheve, Lyman 'semi-encircled'' [sic].

Alexey Katerinichev, the deputy head of the pro-Russian “occupation administration” in Ukraine’s Kherson, was killed by a missile strike as a HIMARS rocket hit a building he was in.

Vladimir Putin delivered a speech at the Kremlin's St George Hall, formally completing annexation of Ukraine's 4 regions and urging Ukraine to ceasefire and negotiation renewal at the same time.

Ukraine's President Zelensky announced his county had applied for "fast-track NATO membership" today. “De facto, we have already made our way to NATO. De facto, we have already proven compatibility with the treaty’s standards, they are real for Ukraine both on the battlefield and in all aspects of our interaction. Ukraine was and remains a leader in negotiation efforts [with Russia]. It is obvious that this is impossible with this Russian President. He does not know what dignity and honesty are. Therefore, we are ready for a dialogue with Russia, but with another President,” Zelensky said.