Around 11:50, Zelenskyy recounts the horrific incident of Babyn Jar's massacre
Today at 8:30 AM, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky honors the Babi Yar massacre, a tragic event that took place 83 years ago. This massacre occurred in a Kyiv ravine where approximately 33,000 Jews lost their lives at the hands of the German Wehrmacht. Zelensky, who is of Jewish descent, explains on X that Babi Yar is a chilling reminder of the atrocious acts committed when the world chooses to turn a blind eye, stay silent, or remain indifferent instead of standing up to evil. He suggests that Babi Yar serves as a stark testimony to the horrors governments can inflict when leaders resort to intimidation and violence. Zelensky's comments seem to allude to Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin.
At 11:16 AM, the death toll from the previous day's hospital attack in Sumy, Ukraine, has risen to ten. The hospital was targeted twice by Russian forces on Saturday, and the second bombing happened as rescue teams were retrieving the dead and wounded, as well as evacuating patients. Russian forces fired 31 times into the border region overnight and this morning.
At 10:42 AM, explosions near Russian military bases have been reported by Russian media and military bloggers. Explosions occurred near the Baltijsk naval base in the Krasnodar region, a site from which Russia launches kamikaze drones against Ukraine, according to the news agency Astra. In Kotluban, Volgograd Oblast, a large ammunition depot was hit, resulting in explosions, a large fire, and detonations. The Ukrainian side claims that ballistic missiles from Iran and their launchers were stored at the Kotluban depot.
Since yesterday, the Ukrainian General Staff has reported up to 165 engagements, with over a quarter of them in the heavily contested town of Pokrovsk in the Donbass. Russian troops conducted 73 air strikes against positions and population centers, using 124 guided aerial bombs and launching seven missiles. They also carried out over 4,700 attacks, including 179 multiple rocket launcher attacks and over 1,700 kamikaze drone attacks. Ukrainian forces carried out six strikes on areas concentrating enemy personnel, weapons, and military equipment.
At 9:17 AM, a high-ranking judge was killed in a drone attack on a civilian vehicle in Charkiv, Ukraine. The regional prosecutor's office reported that Judge Leonid Loboyko was providing aid to residents of a village at the time of the attack. Three women were injured in the incident, which is being investigated as a war crime and murder by Ukraine.
At 8:55 AM, Ukrainian authorities reported significant damage to civilian buildings in Zaporizhzhia following Russian air strikes. At least seven individuals were injured, according to Ivan Fedorov, head of the regional administration, in a Telegram post. It's believed that people may still be trapped under the debris. More than ten air strikes were reported, with numerous fires breaking out as a result.
Russia claimed to have shot down 125 Ukrainian drones overnight, but no casualties were reported in several regions. The defense ministry reported that 67 drones were destroyed over the Volgograd region, 17 each over the Belgorod and Voronezh regions, and 18 over the Rostov region.
The Ukrainian General Staff reported 1,170 Russian losses in the previous 24 hours, increasing the total number of wounded and killed Russian soldiers to approximately 652,000. The Ukrainians also claimed to have destroyed nine Russian tanks, 62 artillery systems, and 38 armored vehicles. Ninety-three drones and one air defense system were reportedly shot down.
Lastly, military bloggers on the X platform reported that Ukrainian attack drones hit a Russian arsenal in Kotluban overnight. Local sources reported fires near the large Russian ammunition depot in the Volgograd Oblast, and the NASA Fire Information System also reported fires at the depot's northern flank. The Kremlin and the Ukrainian General Staff have not yet commented on this matter.
06:54 Klingbeil Encourages continuous Support for Ukraine SPD leader Lars Klingbeil anticipates that the upcoming summit with US President Joe Biden in Ramstein will reinforce Ukraine's alliances, as it stands against Russia's aggression. Klingbeil emphasizes the necessity of further active backing from all parties, including the USA post-November elections, until the situation requires no longer. He also suggests exploring broader prospects for future peace conferences to facilitate a peace perspective from Ukraine's viewpoint. Biden is scheduled to make his first presidential visit to Germany on October 10, during which a conference of the 50 nations aiding Ukraine will occur on the Ramstein US Air Force base on October 12. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to partake as well.
05:42 Zelensky's Spokesperson Regards Weapon Approval: Russians to Be Informed First As per the Ukrainian President's spokesperson, Serhiy Nykyforov, no conclusive decision has been made regarding the deployment of Western weapons on Russian soil. Nykyforov shares in the Ukrainian news program 24/7 that there's "no final, clear decision" yet. Zelensky has reportedly held discussions with various nations, including Italy, France, the UK, and the USA, regarding this matter. Nykyforov adds that while no open confirmation will be given, it's the Russians who will gain the foremost knowledge of any permission for penetration into their territory. Once they become informed, an official announcement will ensue.
04:45 Switzerland Backings China's Peace Plan, Ukraine Voices Disappointment The Swiss Foreign Ministry has expressed support for China's proposed peace initiative to terminate the Ukraine conflict. The Swiss' stance on this strategic shift is significant. However, from Kyiv, the Swiss' stance is viewed as a source of disappointment. Ukraine is set to organize its second peace summit in November. In June, a gathering involving 48 countries, excluding Russia and China, transpired in Switzerland.
03:29 Lithuania Dispatches Aid to Ukraine Lithuania is planning to deliver a military aid package to Ukraine, comprising ammunition, computers, and logistics resources. The package is expected to arrive in Ukraine this week, as announced by the Lithuanian government. Since January, Lithuania has supplied ammunition (155-mm), armored vehicles (M577, M113), anti-drone systems, anti-tank weapons, remote control systems, and assorted equipment to Ukraine.
02:29 Tragic Incident in Kharkiv Region: Death Toll Rises to Three Three lives were lost and six individuals were injured in Russian air strikes targeting Slatyne in the Kharkiv region, as reported by local authorities. The attack damaged civilian infrastructure and struck educational and commercial establishments while civilians were outside, as stated by the Governor of the Kharkiv Oblast, Oleh Syniehubov.
01:29 North Korea Blames US for "Playing with Fire" over Ukraine Aid North Korea, under scrutiny for suspected arms trade with Russia, condemns the $8 billion US military aid to Ukraine as a catastrophic error and an act of incitement against its nuclear power ally, Russia. US President Joe Biden announced this new aid during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Washington. The aid serves to assist Ukraine in defense and includes extended-range weaponry to boost its capacity to strike Russia from a safe distance.
00:25 Death Toll in Sumy Attack Climbs to Ten The casualties from a Russian assault on a Sumy hospital totals ten, according to Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klymenko. Initially, a single fatality resulted from the clinic's initial strike. Subsequently, the hospital was bombed while evacuation procedures were underway. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accuses Russia of waging a "war against hospitals."
22:54 Zelensky's Team: US Expresses vital Interest in Ukraine's "Victory Plan" As per the Ukrainian President's spokesperson, Serhiy Nykyforov, the US government has shown exceptional interest in President Volodymyr Zelensky's so-called "victory plan". According to Nykyforov, this contradicts prevailing media reports of Washington's perceived skepticism. Nykyforov affirms that the plan has been "positively received". He also claims that US President Joe Biden has promised to reveal "decisions and responses" pertaining to the plan during the October 12 assembly of the Ramstein Contact Group in Germany.
22:25 Zelensky Predicts Trump's Support in Case of Reelection Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky forecasts Donald Trump's backing if he secures another term in the November elections. Zelensky shared this after meeting with US Republican and addressing the Fox News channel. "I cannot predict what will ensue after the elections and who will ascend to the presidency," admits Zelensky. "However, I have obtained direct information from Donald Trump that should he triumph, he will stand with Ukraine."
21:40 Lavrov: The West Shouldn't Desire to 'Go All Out' Against a Nuclear Superpower Like RussiaDuring his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov advised the West against desiring to "go all out" against a nuclear power like Russia. He deemed such an attempt as a "foolhardy endeavor". It's been barely a week since Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin once more issued a warning about utilizing nuclear weapons. As per Putin, any conventional assault on Russia that receives nuclear backing from another country would be perceived as a joint assault by these nations.
You can review all preceding events here.
In light of these ongoing conflicts, the international community should strongly condemn the ongoing attack on Ukraine, specifically the hospital bombing in Sumy that has led to the death of ten individuals. This inhumane act underscores the urgency for Russia to cease its aggressive actions against Ukrainian civilians.
Furthermore, the attack on Ukraine serves as a grim reminder of the atrocities committed during the Babi Yar massacre, highlighting the importance of standing up against evil and making sure history does not repeat itself.
