At 4:00 p.m., the elderly governor of Cherson met his demise due to a Russian drone strike.
15:49 Wagenknecht and Wadephul commend Woidke, Voigt, and Kretschmer for Ukraine initiative
Despite the majority of criticism directed at the joint Ukraine appeal by the ministers of Saxony and Brandenburg, Michael Kretschmer, and Dietmar Woidke, as well as the Thuringian CDU chairman Mario Voigt, Sahra Wagenknecht, BSW chairwoman, has given her approval. She deemed their joint appeal as "smart and unique," stating to the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung". Likewise, CDU foreign policy expert Johann Wadephul praised the proposal, calling it "responsible" as it underscores our principles, recognizing Russia's violation of international law, our unwavering commitment to the EU, and NATO, and advocating for a resolution in accordance with the UN Charter. Wadephul acknowledged the appeal as a "serious effort" to foster a potential coalition negotiation bridge while maintaining personal beliefs. He further highlighted how the three top politicians from the CDU and SPD jointly coming forward is "an impressive gesture." Read more here.
15:30 Eastern politicians' Ukraine proposal invites criticism: "Integrity is being sacrificed for power preservation"
CDU leader Friedrich Merz condemns the petition by prominent eastern politicians for an enhanced diplomatic resolution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. "Ukraine is constantly battling for its very survival. To support it should remain our priority, even as peace negotiations eventually materialize if both parties agree," Merz told the "Süddeutsche Zeitung". Furthermore, the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag, Michael Roth, expressed his concerns, stating that the letter from the three designated minister-presidents, should it have been a strategic move for potential coalition negotiations with the BSW, warrants a cautious approach. The same sentiment was echoed by FDP MEP Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, who shared her perspective on the "Rheinische Post": "It appears that our country's cherished principles are being traded for a modicum of power and political gain." The leaders of Saxony and Brandenburg, Michael Kretschmer of the CDU and Dietmar Woidke of the SPD, and the Thuringian CDU chairman Mario Voigt had contributed a guest article to the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung," advocating for a ceasefire in Ukraine and urging the federal government to engage Russia in discussions. Read more here.
15:05 Autopsy Suggests Likely Natural Cause of Death for "Spy Whale"
The unsubstantiated claims by animal rights activists suggesting that the alleged "spy whale" in Norway had been shot have been debunked following an autopsy. The probable cause of death was determined to be bacterial infection, possibly due to a mouth wound. The Norwegian Veterinary Institute and police forensic investigators confirmed that there were no gunshot wounds or metal fragments discovered on the marine mammal, and only superficial skin wounds were detected. The beluga whale, which was initially reported in Norway in 2019 wearing a harness with a camera and the inscription "Equipment of St. Petersburg,", was found deceased in a Norwegian bay in August 2024, resulting in criticism from two animal protection organizations.
14:33 Reports of Ongoing Drone Attacks in Kyiv
Ukraine's air force reported that Russian drones attacked the country throughout the night, with the primary targets being critical infrastructure. Per the air force report, 19 drones were launched, resulting in 9 being shot down and 7 more being neutralized by electronic countermeasures. The status of the remaining three drones is unknown. Authorities in Kyiv reported that a multi-story building in the capital had been damaged by one of the drones, with the ensuing fire being promptly extinguished. In the southern region of Kherson, officials reported multiple attacks on critical infrastructure, utilities, and 35 private residences over the previous 24 hours, leading to one fatality and four injuries.
14:04 Kremlin Dismisses Kyiv's Actions as Necessitating IAEA's Attention
"Kyiv continues to act recklessly, and we will, undoubtedly, inform the IAEA representatives of this," stated Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov, referencing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN's nuclear watchdog. On Thursday, Russian forces claimed to have intercepted a Ukrainian drone near the Kursk nuclear power plant, with certain news agencies reporting a fire reportedly miles away. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi refuted claims that Ukraine had targeted the power plant with weapons.
13:46 France Delivers 12 Caesar Howitzers to Ukraine
The defense conglomerate KNDS, headed by France and Germany, has signed a contract for the delivery of 12 Caesar howitzers, funded by Ukraine. Caesar stands for "Camion équipé d'un système d'artillerie" - a self-propelled artillery system with a range of up to 55 kilometers. French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced the delivery on the X platform. "Increasing our defense industry's production capacity supports Ukraine," said Lecornu. France has previously furnished Ukraine with Caesar howitzers on multiple occasions.
13:11 Ukraine: Firebombing Wreaks Havoc on FSB HQ in NovosibirskA mystery individual set fire to the Russo-Federal Security Service (FSB) headquarters in Novosibirsk on October 3, as depicted in a video released by the Ukrainian military intelligence service. The arsonist is allegedly seen lighting the flames and getting engulfed in them themselves. Russian media corroborated the incident.
12:34 Russia: Nuclear Plant Official Assassinated by BombAn individual associated with the Russian-controlled Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia met their untimely end in a car bombing. The Ukrainian security service disseminated footage of the blast, identifying the victim as Andriy Korotky, the "security chief" of the power plant. Korotky held the title of "war criminal" for conspiring with Russian forces and denouncing pro-Ukrainian plant employees, as stated by the security service. The power plant administration confirmed Korotky's death, attributing it to a "terrorist attack instigated by Kyiv". Yuri Chernichuk, the power plant director, denounced the "reckless" plan that required punishment. Russian authorities claim an explosive device was planted beneath Korotky's car at his residence, which detonated upon his departure.
12:02 Munz: Putin's Strategy: Demonstrate War's ValueFollowing the Russian army's capture of Vuhledar in eastern Ukraine, Putin is expected to exert additional pressure on the region. As per Rainer Munz, Putin's frequent promotion of war veterans to influential positions serves to emphasize the value of the conflict.
11:29 Ukraine: 177 Ukrainian POWs Perish in Russian CaptivitySince Russia invaded Ukraine, at least 177 Ukrainian soldiers held as prisoners of war have succumbed in Russian captivity, as reported by Victoria Tsymbaliuk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Prisoners of War Coordination Center at "Kyiv Independent". The actual number of fatalities in Russian custody is presumed to be significantly higher due to the lack of global monitoring. "Not all casualties are accounted for, and numerous cases remain unacknowledged by Russia," she stated. Numerous reports of inhumane treatment and lethal consequences for Ukrainian POWs during Russian custody have emerged. Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office initiated criminal proceedings over 84 Ukrainian POW executions in September.
11:00 Ukraine: Russian Drones Ravage Kirowohrad RegionRussian forces launched a drone assault on the Kirowohrad region in central Ukraine, according to Andriy Raykovych, the head of the regional military administration, who posted the news on his Telegram channel. The drone attack purportedly damaged an administrative building of a business in Holovanivsk, leaving one individual injured.
10:27 Insurer UNIQA Exits RussiaUNIQA, an Austrian insurer, has concluded the sale of its Russian subsidiary to local insurer Renaissance Life. The sale price was not disclosed. UNIQA announced its plans to sell the joint insurance venture with Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) to Renaissance Life over a year ago. "[The transaction completion marks] our exit from the Russian market," stated Wolfgang Kindl, UNIQA board member.
09:55 Russian Fuel Depots in FlamesFires have erupted at two Russian fuel depots overnight. In the Voronezh region (see entry 05:10), the regional governor, Alexander Gusev, apportioned blame to a Ukrainian drone strike for the inferno. He claimed fragments from an intercepted combat drone ignited an empty tank. Unverified footage of the supposed drone strike was disseminated on social media, although the scope of the destruction was unclear. Meanwhile, a blaze has engulfed a fuel storage area covering 10,000 square meters in a Russian village near Perm in the Ural region. The Russian emergency services reported this, but made no mention of drone strikes. The village is located nearly 1,700 kilometers from Ukraine. Explore more details here.
09:30 Navalny Dismisses Talks with Putin as WorthlessJulia Navalny, wife of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, dismissed the prospect of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin as futile. "There's no need to engage in dialogues with him [...]. Our goal remains to pursue justice, one day triumphant," she stated before the French Constitutional Council in Paris. She asserts that the international community fails to comprehend that Putin does not anticipate negotiations but instead displays disregard for them. Navalny emphasized the significance of being steadfast in the face of this regime and without fear. In July, she was added to a Russian list of "terrorists and extremists". Shortly prior, a Russian court had issued an arrest warrant against her for her role in an "extremist organization".
08:58 Ukraine Discloses Russian Casualty Figures
The Ukrainian General Staff revealed updated casualty statistics for Russian troops in Ukraine. As per their estimates, Russia has endured approximately 657,940 troops deaths since February 24, 2022, including 1,230 fatalities within the last 24 hours. The report from Kyiv also cites 15 destroyed tanks, 59 obliterated artillery systems, and 101 eradicated drones. Russia has purportedly sustained 8,908 tank losses, 18,965 artillery system casualties, 368 aircraft losses, 328 helicopter losses, 16,494 drone losses, 28 naval casualties, and 1 submarine loss, as reported by Ukraine. Western assessments suggest much more modest losses, but these are likely underestimates.
08:09 Ukraine Reports 82 Russian Assaults on Sumy Region
Forces affiliated with Russia attacked Sumy region in eastern Ukraine 82 times within the past 24 hours, as per the regional military administration's Telegram update. Unfortunately, 8 people were injured in these attacks. The assailants reportedly used mortars, artillery, rocket launchers, guided bombs, and drones. More than ten communities, including Mykolajiw, Chotyn, Junakiwka, Myropillja, Bilopillja, Richkyivka, Krasnopillja, Velika Pysarivka, Nova Sloboda, Hluchiw, Shalyhyne, Esman, and Seredyna-Buda, were impacted. The Sumy region shares borders with Russian regions of Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod.
07:33 Ukraine Opens Its First Recruitment Center in Poland
Ukraine's military has established a recruitment center in Poland's city of Lublin. Announced by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, it's the initial overseas recruitment center for the Ukrainian military. A "Ukrainian Legion" was planned to be trained in Poland under a security agreement signed between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in July. The Russian invasion has led Poland to host almost a million Ukrainians. Estimates suggest that around 300,000 Ukrainian adults are settled in Poland currently. Poland's Defense Minister Waldemar Sadowski confirmed that Poland is responsible only for the military training of Ukrainian volunteers, and the number of volunteers so far is low.
06:52 ISW: Russian Forces Lack The Resources to Sustain Attacks in Eastern Ukraine
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian forces lack the required personnel and supplies to sustain their offensive operations in eastern Ukraine indefinitely. The offensive aimed at eastern Ukraine had been meticulously planned by the Russian military leadership for several months, but the accumulated reserves and resources set aside for this purpose have likely been significantly depleted by the prolonged confrontations of the past months, as per ISW.
06:12 Zelensky: "Front Line Needs to be Reinforced"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky viewed the recent visit of the new NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to Kyiv as "significant" in his evening address. Zelensky emphasized the importance of implementing all unfulfilled or partially implemented agreements regarding support for Ukraine's defense... He also emphasized the need to reinforce the front lines and requested rights to use long-range weapons against military targets located within Russian territory.
05:35 Ukraine Seeks Foreign Investors for Its Arms Industry
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry is looking for foreign investors for its arms industry, as reported by the news agency Ukrinform. A special arms expo was organized for potential overseas investors at an undisclosed location in Ukraine, according to Deputy Minister Dmytro Klimenkov. He displayed various Ukrainian weapons, such as an anti-tank missile system, a self-propelled artillery system, unmanned drones, and mine-clearing vehicles. According to him, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has invested USD 4 billion (EUR 3.6 billion) into the arms industry, and it aims to attract further investments from international partners.
05:10 Moscow: Downed Drone Causes Oil Tank Fire
In Russia's Voronezh region close to the Ukrainian border, air defense officials claim to have downed several Ukrainian drones overnight. One of these drones reportedly landed on the property of an oil depot, causing an empty tank to catch fire, as per regional governor Alexander Gusev's Telegram update. Initial reports suggest no injuries. The events cannot be independently verified.
02:51 Kyiv Reinforces Eastern Defense
The commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Oleksandr Syrsky, has ordered the enhancement of defensive installations in the eastern Donetsk region. Russian forces have made progress in various sectors in eastern Ukraine. Syrsky announced through social media that he is working with the 25th Sicheslav Airborne Brigade to strengthen "one of the most important front lines."
22:22 Tourism in Latvia Suffers Due to War
Latvia's tourism industry is being affected by Russia's war in Ukraine, as reported by the Latvian newspaper "Diena" today. Entrepreneurs in hospitality as well as the Statistical Central Bureau have reported that the war is preventing the tourism industry from recovering after the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, potential guests from various countries perceive the Baltics as an unsafe location where military conflicts are taking place.
21:40 Switzerland Commits 1.5 Billion Swiss Francs for Ukraine's Rebuilding Switzerland has pledged to give 1.5 billion Swiss francs (equivalent to 1.54 billion euros) toward rebuilding efforts in Ukraine over the next four years, as announced by the Swiss Ambassador to Ukraine and Moldova, Felix Baumann. Approximately 1 billion francs will be allocated to Ukraine's self-governance sectors, mine clearance, and humanitarian aid. The remaining funds will be dedicated to rebuilding initiatives involving the Swiss private sector, as per the Ukrainian Ministry of Community and Territorial Development. "To underscore our commitment, our representative here will be involved in the project's execution," Baumann stated at a meeting with Minister Oleksiy Kuleba. Kuleba also noted the construction of housing for over 4.5 million internally displaced individuals in Ukraine as a priority of cooperation with Switzerland.
20:39 Ukraine Receives Patriot Air Defense System from Romania The Ukrainian authorities have confirmed the receipt of a Patriot air defense system from Romania, according to Romanian Defense Ministry spokesman Constantin Spinu, speaking to Radio Free Europe. "I extend my gratitude to every nation aiding us with air defense. I am particularly appreciative of Romania for donating Patriot systems. Together, we can boost our effectiveness, putting an end to Russian terror by jointly destroying Shahed drones and missiles," said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his Wednesday evening address. Initially hesitant, Romania ultimately decided in June to give one of its Patriots. The order for delivery was issued last month.
19:57 Forbes: Gazprom Named Russia's Least Profitable Company According to Forbes, Gazprom, a Russian state-owned company, recorded a net loss of an astounding 5.5 billion euros in 2023, marking the first such loss in 25 years. The Amur Gas and Chemical Complex, a joint venture between Russia's Sibur Holding and China's Sinopec, ranked second on Russia's Forbes list of the most unprofitable companies. Other companies on the list of Russia's five most unprofitable companies include Ozon (with a net loss of 408 million euros), United Aircraft Corporation (a Rostec affiliate, with a net loss of 326 million euros), and the Russian social network VK (with a net loss of 326 million euros).
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The European Union could be called upon to provide support for the diplomatic initiative regarding Ukraine, given its commitment to upholding international law and promoting peace.
The cooperation between the European Union and its member states, such as Germany and France, in addressing the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, could be strengthened through the European Union's involvement.
