What the world's news held on 28 September 2018
A look back at Russia's reaction to Kyiv's treaty decision, Moscow's Syria plans and a water poisoning in occupied Makiivka.
What was in the news on 28 September 2018? Several developments from the preceding days were still shaping the picture, from Kyiv's decision on the Friendship Treaty to Russia's military plans in Syria.
Treaty with Russia
On 25 September 2018, Russia acknowledged that it had been notified of Ukraine's decision not to renew the Russian–Ukrainian Friendship Treaty. The agreement, also known as the "Big Treaty", was signed in 1997. It fixed the principle of strategic partnership, recognised the inviolability of existing borders and committed both sides to respect territorial integrity. The Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko, had signed a decree on 19 September 2018 not to extend it, citing the war that began in 2014. The treaty later expired, on 31 March 2019.
Syria
On 24 September 2018, Russian officials said Russia would send an S-300 air-defence missile system to Syria within two weeks. They also said Russia would begin jamming radar and satellite signals of aircraft attacking Syrian territory from the Mediterranean. This followed the loss of a Russian Il-20 aircraft, which Syrian air defences had accidentally shot down on 17 September 2018 while responding to Israeli strikes; 15 crew were killed. Russia blamed Israel, accusing its air force of hiding behind the Russian aircraft.
Occupied Makiivka
On 27 September 2018, it was reported that more than 110 people had been affected by water poisoning in occupied Makiivka.
