Major Events of September 2022: Key Historical Moments from the Month
Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from September 2022 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of September 2022: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Sep 2022 Gazprom Halts Nord Stream 1 Gas Supplies to Europe: Russian state-controlled energy giant Gazprom indefinitely suspended natural gas supplies to Germany and Europe through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, escalating tensions in the ongoing energy conflict related to the Russia-Ukraine war. This move is widely interpreted as a strategic political and economic pressure tactic.
- 02 Sep 2022 Attempted Assassination of Argentina's Vice President: A shocking assassination attempt targeted Argentina's Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner on Thursday evening. A 35-year-old Brazilian suspect attempted to shoot the prominent political figure at close range, but the firearm malfunctioned, preventing the attack. Eyewitness video captured the dramatic moment, showing Fernández de Kirchner ducking as her bodyguards swiftly intervened and apprehended the would-be assassin. The incident occurred in a public setting, highlighting significant security concerns for high-profile political figures.
- 03 Sep 2022 Serena Williams' Farewell at US Open: Tennis legend Serena Williams concluded her illustrious professional career with a poignant third-round match at the US Open, losing 7-5, 6-7, 6-1 to Australian player Ajla Tomljanovic. This emotional match marked the end of Williams' extraordinary 27-year tennis journey, during which she won 23 Grand Slam singles titles and transformed women's tennis.
- 04 Sep 2022 Ukrainian Forces Recapture Vysokopillia: In a significant strategic development during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, Ukrainian military forces successfully recaptured the town of Vysokopillia in Kherson Oblast. This liberation marked a symbolic moment as Ukrainian troops raised their national flag over the town's hospital, signaling a potential turning point in the regional conflict.
- 05 Sep 2022 Devastating Earthquake in Sichuan, China: A powerful magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Sichuan province in China, resulting in at least 93 confirmed fatalities and 25 people reported missing. The earthquake caused significant destruction and prompted immediate rescue and relief efforts in the affected region.
- 06 Sep 2022 Ukraine's Kharkiv Counteroffensive: During the Russo-Ukrainian War, Ukraine launched a surprising counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region, successfully recapturing over 3,000 square kilometers of land and the entire Kharkiv Oblast west of the Oskil River within a week, marking a significant strategic victory.
- 07 Sep 2022 Ukrainian Counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast: Ukrainian military forces launched a significant counteroffensive, breaking through Russian defensive lines and advancing over 30 kilometers into Russian-occupied territory in the Kharkiv region. The operation resulted in the liberation of multiple towns and cities, including the strategically important town of Balakliia, marking a crucial turning point in the Russo-Ukrainian War.
- 08 Sep 2022 Death of Queen Elizabeth II: Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, passed away at Balmoral Castle in Scotland at the age of 96. Her 70-year reign came to an end, with her son Charles immediately ascending to the throne as King Charles III. This momentous event marked the end of an era for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
- 09 Sep 2022 Death of Queen Elizabeth II: Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, passed away at Balmoral Castle in Scotland at the age of 96, concluding her historic 70-year reign. Her eldest son, Prince Charles, immediately succeeded her as King Charles III, marking a significant moment in British royal history.
- 10 Sep 2022 Death of Queen Elizabeth II and Accession of King Charles III: In a historic ceremony at St James's Palace, King Charles III was formally proclaimed as the new monarch during a meeting of the Accession Council, following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. This marked the official transition of the British royal leadership after the longest-reigning monarch in British history.
- 11 Sep 2022 Ukrainian Counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast: During the Russo-Ukrainian War, Ukrainian forces launched a significant counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region, successfully withdrawing Russian forces from most of the Kharkiv Oblast. Ukrainian soldiers strategically recaptured key settlements including Chkalovske and Velykyi Burluk. The operation caused significant disruption, with the Governor of Belgorod Oblast, Vyacheslav Gladkov, reporting that thousands of civilians were fleeing across the border into the region.
- 12 Sep 2022 Queen Elizabeth II's Final Journey in Edinburgh: Following her passing, Queen Elizabeth II's coffin made a solemn procession down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, moving from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles' Cathedral. Approximately 20,000 people queued to pay their final respects to the United Kingdom's longest-reigning monarch.
- 13 Sep 2022 Queen Elizabeth II's Final Journey Through Edinburgh: In a solemn and historic moment, Queen Elizabeth II's coffin was transported in a ceremonial procession along the Royal Mile from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles' Cathedral. Approximately 20,000 people queued to pay their final respects to the United Kingdom's longest-reigning monarch, marking a significant moment of national mourning.
- 14 Sep 2022 Death of Queen Elizabeth II: State Funeral Preparations: Queen Elizabeth II's funeral preparations commenced with her coffin being transported from Buckingham Palace on a gun carriage of The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery. The procession moved to Westminster Hall, where she would lie in state for four days. Thousands of mourners formed an extensive queue stretching along the River Thames, demonstrating the profound national grief.
- 15 Sep 2022 Ukrainian Kharkiv Counteroffensive and Mass Grave Discovery: During the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, Ukrainian forces successfully launched a significant counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region, reclaiming territories previously occupied by Russian forces. In a grim discovery, a mass grave containing over 440 bodies was found in the recently liberated city of Izium, highlighting the human cost of the conflict.
- 16 Sep 2022 Death of Mahsa Amini Sparks Global Protests: The death of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian woman, while in police custody triggered widespread international protests against Iran's strict hijab laws and systemic oppression of women's rights. Her death became a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for women's freedom in Iran.
- 17 Sep 2022 Modi Criticizes Putin's Ukraine Invasion: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly confronts Russian President Vladimir Putin, asserting that the current global era is 'not an era of war' in response to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
- 18 Sep 2022 President Biden Pays Respects to Queen Elizabeth II: U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden viewed the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II lying in state at Westminster Hall in London, symbolizing international mourning and diplomatic solidarity.
- 19 Sep 2022 Queen Elizabeth II State Funeral: The state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II was held at Westminster Abbey in London, marking the end of a historic 70-year reign. World leaders, dignitaries, and hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered to pay their final respects to the longest-reigning monarch in British history.
- 20 Sep 2022 Russian State Duma Approves War-Related Criminal Code Amendments: During the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, Russian State Duma deputies approved significant amendments to the Criminal Code, introducing legal concepts related to mobilization, martial law, wartime, and armed conflict. These changes also established new punishments for military desertion.
- 21 Sep 2022 Putin Announces Partial Military Mobilization in Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a 'partial mobilization' of approximately 300,000 military reservists, framing the move as a response to Western involvement in Ukraine. In a rare televised address, Putin made a veiled nuclear threat, stating Russia would protect its 'territorial integrity' by 'all means at our disposal'.
- 22 Sep 2022 Biden and Zelensky Address UN on Ukraine Invasion: At the United Nations General Assembly, President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered powerful speeches urging global solidarity against Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, emphasizing international unity and support for Ukraine's sovereignty.
- 23 Sep 2022 Russia Begins Controversial Annexation Referendums in Ukrainian Regions: Russia and pro-Kremlin separatists initiated referendums in four Ukrainian provinces (Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia) to assess potential annexation. These referendums, covering approximately 15% of Ukraine's territory, have been widely condemned by Western nations as illegitimate and a violation of international law. The United States and its allies view these votes as a sham designed to provide legal cover for territorial expansion.
- 24 Sep 2022 Florida Governor Faces Civil Rights Lawsuit Over Migrant Transportation: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis faced a federal civil rights lawsuit after arranging for approximately 50 Venezuelan migrants to be transported from Texas to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, without prior notification or consent. The lawsuit alleged that the migrants were misled about their destination and the available support services, raising significant legal and ethical questions about the treatment of vulnerable populations.
- 25 Sep 2022 NASA's DART Mission Successfully Impacts Asteroid: NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission achieved a historic milestone by successfully crashing into the Dimorphos asteroid, demonstrating the first-ever planetary defense test to potentially protect Earth from future asteroid threats.
- 26 Sep 2022 Chinese Foreign Minister's UN Address on Ukraine: At the United Nations General Assembly, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a significant diplomatic address, advocating for peace negotiations to resolve the Ukraine conflict. He emphasized the critical need to address the legitimate security concerns of all parties involved, signaling China's diplomatic approach to the ongoing international crisis.
- 27 Sep 2022 State Funeral for Assassinated Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe: A solemn state funeral was held at Nippon Budokan Arena in Tokyo for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, who was tragically assassinated in July 2022. The ceremony honored Abe's significant political legacy and marked a moment of national mourning for Japan.
- 28 Sep 2022 Hurricane Ian Devastates Florida: Hurricane Ian made a catastrophic landfall as a high-end Category 4 hurricane near Cayo Costa, Florida, with sustained winds reaching 150 miles per hour. The National Hurricane Center reported that the storm caused widespread destruction and tragically resulted in at least 148 fatalities in Florida, making it one of the deadliest hurricanes in the state's recent history.
- 29 Sep 2022 Iran Launches Ballistic Missiles at Erbil, Kurdistan Region: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran conducted a missile strike on Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan Region. The attack resulted in nine civilian casualties and left 32 others injured, escalating regional tensions and highlighting ongoing geopolitical conflicts.
- 30 Sep 2022 Putin Signs Controversial Ukrainian Territory Annexation Treaties: Russian President Vladimir Putin signed treaties to annex occupied Ukrainian territories, though these require ratification by the Russian parliament. This unilateral action significantly escalates the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict and challenges international law.