Kremlin expresses concern: "Kyiv persists in playing with danger"
13:46 France Dispatches Dozen Caesar Howitzers to Ukraine, Funded by Ukraine's GovernmentThe French-German defense firm KNDS has secured a deal for supplying twelve Caesar howitzers to Ukraine, at Ukraine's expense, as stated by French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu via the X platform. Caesar signifies "Vehicle Equipped with an Artillery System". This self-propelled artillery system is capable of striking targets up to 55 kilometers away. Lecornu expressed that bolstering France's defense industry production capacity aids Ukraine's support. France has provided Caesar howitzers to Ukraine on various occasions before this.
13:11 Ukraine: Attack Ravages FSB Headquarters in NovosibirskAn attack on the Novosibirsk headquarters of Russian domestic intelligence agency FSB on October 3 is suspected to be carried out by an individual who ignited the building and succumbed to fire, portrayed by a Ukrainian military intelligence video release. Russian media has confirmed the fire incidence.
12:34 Russia: Nuclear Plant Worker Perishes in Car Bomb ExplosionA high-ranking official from the Russian-occupied Ukrainian nuclear power plant Zaporizhzhia met his demise in a car bomb explosion, as per a Ukrainian security service video release. Tagged as the "security chief" of the nuclear plant, Andriy Korotky was killed in the explosion, as stated by the service. He collaborated voluntarily with Russian occupiers, deceivingly labeled as a "war criminal" by the service. He had criticized pro-Ukrainian nuclear plant employees, as revealed by the service. The pro-Russian plant administration confirmed Korotky's demise, blaming the incident on Kyiv's "terrorist attack." The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant discussion director, Yuri Chernichuk, labeled the attack as "reckless" and called for accountability. The Russian Investigative Committee asserted that a bomb was concealed beneath Korotky's vehicle, detonating as he drove away.
12:02 Munz: Putin Aims to Prove "War is Worthwhile"According to Rainer Munz, following the occupation of Vuhledar city in eastern Ukraine, the Russian army will intensify offensives in the region. Furthermore, Munz explains why Putin is increasingly assigning war veterans to official positions.
11:29 Ukraine: At Least 177 Ukrainian POWs Reportedly Lose Lives in Russian CaptivitySince the launch of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at least 177 Ukrainian POWs have passed away in Russian captivity, as per Victoria Tsymbaliuk of the Ukrainian coordinating center for POWs at "The Kyiv Independent". Tsymbaliuk indicates that numerous POW fatalities may have gone unreported due to the lack of international monitoring. "Not all bodies are returned, and many are even unacknowledged as hostages by Russia," she explains. Numerous reports of Ukrainian POWs enduring torture or execution in Russian captivity have emerged. In September, the Prosecutor General’s Office announced investigations concerning the execution of 84 Ukrainian POWs.
11:00 Ukraine: Russians Bombard Kiriwohrad Region with DronesRussian forces have bombarded the Kiriwohrad region in central Ukraine with drones, according to regional military administration head Andriy Raykovych's Telegram broadcast. A business office in Holovaniwsk was harmed in the drone attack, injuring one individual.
10:27 Insurer UNIQA Egresses from RussiaThe Austrian insurance enterprise UNIQA has wrapped up the sale of its Russian subsidiary to Russian Renaissance Life. The transaction price was kept under wraps. UNIQA had announced over a year ago its desire to sell the joint insurance venture with Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) to Russian Renaissance Life. "We have finally departed the Russian market following completion of the transaction," says UNIQA board member Wolfgang Kindl.
09:55 Severe Fires Ravage Two Russian Fuel DepotsFires have ravaged two Russian fuel depots overnight. In the Voronezh region (see entry 05:10), Governor Alexander Gusev blamed a Ukrainian drone strike. Scraps of an intercepted combat drone fell into the depot and ignited an unoccupied tank, he said on Telegram, sharing suspected drone strike videos on social media. The scale of the fire could not be ascertained. In a Russian Urals village, a 10,000-square-meter fuel tank is also on fire. The Russian emergency services reported this. Allegedly, Ukrainian drones can now cover such distances, but the emergency services do not mention a drone strike in this context. The town is located approximately 1,700 kilometers away from Ukraine.
09:30 Julia Navalnaya Views Negotiations with Putin as UnnecessaryJulia Navalnaya considers potential negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin pointless. "There's no need to engage in dialogue with him (...). We must fight him so that someday justice triumphs," Navalnaya said before the French Constitutional Council in Paris. "The West doesn't understand that Putin doesn't wait for anyone to approach him for dialogue. (...) He entirely disregards that," she added. Navalnaya emphasized the importance of not succumbing to fear and upholding resistance against this regime. She was labeled a "terrorist" and "extremist" by Russia in July. Shortly before, a Russian court ordered her arrest for alleged involvement in an "extremist organization." Upon evading preliminary investigations, she was placed on the wanted list.
08:58 Ukrainian Military Reveals Russian Troop CasualtiesThe Ukrainian Armed Forces have revealed recent losses suffered by Russian troops in Ukraine. As per their estimates, approximately 657,940 Russian soldiers have been killed since February 24, 2022. In the previous 24 hours, this toll increased by 1,230 soldiers. Besides these losses, Kyiv reported the destruction of 15 tanks, 59 artillery systems, and 101 drones, according to a local report. In total, Ukraine claims that Russia has lost 8,908 tanks, 18,965 artillery systems, 368 aircraft, 328 helicopters, 16,494 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine. Western sources, however, quote lower casualty figures, but these are considered minimum estimates.
08:09 Sumy Region Under Renewed Russian AttacksRussian forces attacked the Sumy region in northeastern Ukraine 82 times within a 24-hour period, according to a regional military administration's Telegram channel. As a result, eight civilians sustained injuries. Russian troops employed mortars, artillery, rocket launchers, guided bombs, and drones in these attacks. More than ten communities in Sumy, including Mykolajiw, Chotyn, Junakiwka, Myropillja, Bilopillja, Richkyivka, Krasnopillja, Velika Pysarivka, Nova Sloboda, Hluchiw, Shalyhyne, Esman, and Seredyna-Buda, were affected by these attacks. The Sumy region shares borders with the Russian regions of Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod.
07:33 Ukraine Establishes Recruitment Center in PolandThe Ukrainian military has set up a recruitment center in Poland, as announced by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. Located in Lublin, the Ukrainian Legion's office in Poland is the first such foreign recruitment hub for Ukrainian military personnel. The establishment of this recruitment center was part of a security agreement signed between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in July. Poland has accommodated almost one million refugees from Ukraine since the commencement of the Russian invasion. With an estimated 300,000 combat-ready individuals from Ukraine residing in Poland, the country is just a starting point for Ukrainian military recruitment. Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz informed Wirtualna Polska that Poland is not involved in the recruitment process but merely responsible for the military training of the Ukrainian volunteers. Despite minimal interest shown by the prospective recruits, around 200 applications have been garnered so far, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
06:52 ISW: Russian Resources for Eastern Ukraine Offensive DepletedAccording to the Institute for the Study of War, the Russian military is lacking the required manpower and resources to sustain an intensified offensive in eastern Ukraine indefinitely. The Russian summer offensive had been prepared meticulously by the military for several months, but the reserves and resources amassed for this purpose have reportedly been considerably depleted due to the recent string of battles, as per ISW's assessment. Ukrainian officials and ISW had earlier predicted that the current Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine may reach its zenith in the forthcoming months or weeks.
06:12 Zelensky Emphasizes on Strengthening Front LineUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the visit of NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte to Kyiv just two days after his appointment, likening it to a significant step. Acknowledging the need for implementing agreements that ensure the support of Ukraine's defense, Zelensky stated, "Now it's about converting this priority into action." Highlighting the importance of fortifying the front line, Zelensky argued for the approval to employ long-range weapons against Russian military targets within their territory. "Everyone in the alliance is cognizant of this requirement," said President Zelensky, underlining air-defense as another crucial priority.
05:35 Ukraine Showcases Small Arms Expo for Potential Foreign InvestorsInviting foreign investors to invest in Ukraine's arms industry, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense organized a special arms exhibition for international investors in an undisclosed location. Deputy Minister Dmytro Klimenkov presented a comprehensive array of Ukrainian weapons, such as an anti-tank missile system, a self-propelled artillery system, remotely-operated explosive vehicles, and mine clearance equipment, to potential foreign investors. "We have unique innovations that have proven their effectiveness in combat and have been further refined by our developers to meet specific standards," he said. In a bid to attract more investment from international partners, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense had invested four billion dollars (3.6 billion euros) in the arms industry thus far.
02:51 Ukrainian Arms Chief Boosts East DefensesUkrainian Army supreme leader, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyj, has instructed the beefing up of defense units in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. Russian forces are pushing ahead in multiple fronts across eastern Ukraine. In a social media post, Syrskyj revealed his association with the 25th Sicheslav Airborne Brigade at one of the decisive battlefronts.
22:22 Baltic Tourism Takes a Hit from WarWar between Russia and Ukraine is also causing turmoil in Latvia's tourism industry, according to today's "Diena" report. The hospitality sector and Central Statistical Bureau are both saying that the conflict is hindering the recovery of tourism post-COVID-19. Furthermore, international visitors perceive the Baltics as a risky zone where conflicts are erupting.
21:40 Switzerland to Pump 1.5 Billion Euros into Ukraine's RebuildSwitzerland is planning to invest 1.5 billion Swiss francs (1.54 billion euros) in reconstruction projects in Ukraine over the next four years. Swiss Ambassador to Ukraine and Moldova, Felix Baumann, disclosed this. Half a billion Swiss francs will be allocated to Ukraine's autonomous bodies, mine clearance, and humanitarian assistance. The remaining funds will be channeled towards reconstruction programs involving the Swiss private sector, per Ukraine's Ministry of Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure. "Our commitment is solid, as our envoy will personally handle this project implementation," Baumann explained during a meeting with Ukraine's Minister Oleksiy Kuleba. Kuleba further highlighted the need for constructing housing units for eastern Ukraine's over 4.5 million internally displaced persons as a top priority in collaboration with Switzerland.
20:39 Ukraine Obtains Patriot Defense System from RomaniaUkraine has obtained a Patriot air defense system from Romania, according to the spokesperson for Romania's defense ministry, Constantin Spinu. Radio Free Europe confirmed the news. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had already praised the country's air defense allies, including Romania, for its Patriot systems. Romania decided to donate one of its Patriots in June, with the Romanian government ordering its delivery last month.
19:57 Forbes Names Gazprom the Least Profitable Russian FirmBusiness magazine Forbes reported this year that Gazprom, Russia's state-owned oil and gas giant, suffered a colossal net loss of 5.5 billion euros. Amur Gas and Chemicals Complex, a joint venture between Russian Sibur Holding and Chinese Sinopec, came in second in Russia's most unprofitable companies ranking. Together with Ozon (408 million euros net loss), United Aircraft Corporation (326 million euros net loss), and social media site VK (326 million euros net loss) formed the top five financially struggling Russian corporations.
The European Union has recently pledged additional aid to support Ukraine, acknowledging its ongoing need for external assistance.
In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, several Western nations, including France, have provided military equipment like Caesar howitzers to Ukraine, bolstering its defense capabilities.
