The War Zone: Ukrainian forces have made rapid advances against the Russians, seizing the strategic city of Izyum, a railroad hub in the East, and handing the invaders their most embarrassing defeat since they were stopped outside the capital of Kyiv. Some citizens told The Washington Post they’ve seen Russian soldiers dropping their weapons and running as Russia itself admitted losing nearly all the northeast region of Kharkiv.

  Late yesterday the Russians knocked out power and water facilities in the city of Karkiv in what was interpreted as revenge for its military losses. “No military facilities,” Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelensky wrote on Twitter. “The goal is to deprive people of light and heat.”

  The Institute for the Study of war says, “Ukrainian forces have penetrated Russian lines to a depth of up to 70 kilometers in some places and captured over 3,000 square kilometers of territory in the past five days since September 6 – more territory than Russian forces have captured in all their operations since April.” The ISW says that in one area the Ukrainians are back to within 15 kilometers of the international border.

  Russia’s defense ministry had previously announced that it is pulling back troops from two areas in the eastern Kharkiv  region.  “The Russian army in these days is demonstrating the best that it can do — showing its back,” Zelenskyy said in a video. “And, of course, it’s a good decision for them to run.” 

  Russia’s defense spokesman said the move was being made “in order to achieve the stated goals of the special military operation to liberate Donbas,” which Russia claims as its own. What that more likely means is that they’re getting their butts kicked in the East and they are fortifying the southeast in an attempt to hold on. 

  But the ISW says, “Russian forces are not conducting a controlled withdrawal and are hurriedly fleeing southeastern Kharkiv Oblast to escape encirclement around Izyum. 

  Down in the southeast, the Ukrainians are also making advances, now fighting on the outskirts of the Russian-held town of Lyman. 

Royalty: Crowds lined the streets of Edinburgh yesterday as the body of Queen Elizabeth II arrived after a six-hour cortege from her Balmoral estate. It was the first leg of a nine-day farewell journey to her burial at Windsor Castle. Her funeral is scheduled for the 19^th. 

  Along the way, mourners lined the roads and streets of villages.

  King Charles III delivered his first address to Parliament today, praising his mother’s reign.

  The tabloid sideshow to the Queen’s death is what’s happening with Prince Harry and his relationship with the family. He notably went to Scotland when the Queen was dying without his wife, Meghan Markle. She may not have been welcome.

  Over the weekend, Princes William and Harry and their wives greeted mourners outside Windsor Castle on Saturday, their first public appearance all together since Harry and Meghan ditched  royal duties criticizing the media and the palace’s treatment of Meghan.

  Much has been made of King Charles’s first speech in which he expressed love for Harry and Meghan, “as they continue to build their lives overseas.” While some took that as a rapprochement, others interpreted it as a royal kiss off, more like “lots of luck.”

At the Net: Spain’s Carlos Alcarez, only 19 tears old, beat 23-year-old Casper Ruud of Norway in four sets last night in the US Open to win his first Grand Slam championship, becoming the youngest player ever to be  #1 in world rankings. Alcarez has a serve that would take your foot off.

  Matthew Futterman wrote in The NY Times, “The future of tennis arrived at 7:38 p.m.”
  In the women’s singles competition Saturday night, Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek beat Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in two sets. In the post-match interview she attributed her win in part to a bathroom break after the first set. She said, “I kind of needed to go. For sure I felt lighter. Sorry, that’s disgusting.”

  It was Swiatek’s third career grand slam, and her first outside of the French Open, which she won in 2020 and 2022. She also comes away ranked #1 in the world. 

The Spin Rack: Republican Rep. Louis Gohmert last Friday presented an American flag that had flown over the Capitol to a woman just released from prison after serving time for participating in the Capitol insurrection. Gohmert said the woman, election denier Dr. Simone Gold, is “the definition of what a political prisoner looks like – something I never thought I’d see here in the United States of America.” —  Princeton University announced that it is now tuition free for families making under $100,000. — The US military will deploy a new device to help soldiers avoid back strain lifting heavy loads such as ammunition boxes and artillery rounds. The new three pound harness goes over the back with straps around shoulders and legs. A button activates the straps. Of course, it has a name only the Pentagon could coin … the Soldier Assistive Bionic Exosuit for Resupply, or SABER. 

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