U.S. scrutinizes Selensky's proposed strategy.
U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo is analyzing Zelenskyy's "win strategy" presented to Biden during their White House meeting. Zelenskyy once more requested from Biden permission to employ Western weapons for striking long-distance Russian military targets. According to Voice of America, Pompeo now states that the U.S. administration and Ukraine's allies are currently scrutinizing the plan's minutiae, and if necessary, will consider "extra steps" to help Ukraine triumph. Secretary Pompeo advocates for a more stringent strategy in the Ukraine conflict at the White House, but the President does not seem to be implementing it.
12:25 London: Over 2000 attacks on healthcare facilities in Ukraine since the conflict's startThe UK's Ministry of Defence reports 2013 attacks on Ukrainian healthcare facilities since Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022. Medical staff were targeted 235 times. Just last July, the Russian military bombarded a children's hospital in Kyiv. Since the conflict's commencement, the Russian forces' attacks on the healthcare system have resulted in 176 deaths, according to the ministry.**
11:48 Ukraine reports 4 fatalities following attack on police headquartersThe toll from a Russian assault on the police headquarters in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, has risen to 4. A police officer is still believed to be trapped under the rubble, and the search for survivors is ongoing, according to Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs. The rocket attack on Kryvyi Rih was the second assault on Ukraine's police in two days.**
10:58 Military expert: Russian counterattack in Kursk is gaining groundAustralian military analyst Mick Ryan claims the Russian counterattack in Kirsk has made further progress. In August, Ukrainian troops crossed the border into the Russian region of Kursk and seized territory. After an initial shock, the Russians are offering resistance. They are regaining ground, albeit at a reduced pace, says Ryan.**
10:30 Ukrainian air force: 69 drone attacks repelledThe Ukrainian air force reports that the Russian army deployed 73 combat drones and 4 missiles against Ukraine overnight Saturday. Ukraine was able to intercept 69 drones and 2 missiles. The number of casualties from a Russian drone attack on a hospital in the Sumy Oblast has risen to 7.**
09:52 Dialogue between Zelenskyy and Trump resumes after a five-year pauseTrump has recently been critical of U.S. aid to Ukraine.**
09:39 ISW: Few long-range attacks on Russia could significantly shift the war's courseThe Institute for the Study of War (ISW) states that a few long-range attacks on Russia could significantly alter the course of the war.**
09:18 Ukrainian General Staff: Over 1400 Russian Casualties in the Past 24 HoursAccording to the Ukrainian General Staff, Russian forces suffered an additional 1470 casualties in the past 24 hours, either killed or wounded. This brings the total to 650,640 losses since the full-scale invasion two and a half years ago. Since yesterday, the Russians have also lost 42 armored combat vehicles, 14 tanks, 62 drones, and 55 artillery systems.**
08:57 Russian Forces Attacked Clinic, Resulting in 6 CasualtiesRussian forces attacked a hospital in Sumy, according to Ukrainian reports. Six individuals were killed in the attack, the military administration of the Sumy Oblast reported. The attack was executed using Shahed drones, followed by another drone attack on a residential area and another on the hospital. At the time, rescue workers were evacuating patients and staff.**
08:21 Goldschmidt Warns of Danger to Baltic Sea from Russian OilFollowing Greenpeace allegations about Russian oil exports via the Baltic Sea, Shleswig-Holstein's Environment Minister Tobias Goldschmidt warns of dangers posed by tankers to the Baltic coastline. "The regime in Moscow is defiantly violating the oil embargo imposed due to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine," said the Green politician. This conflict is endangering already sick seas. Several Western countries accuse Russia of utilizing poorly seaworthy ships to circumvent EU sanctions due to the war of aggression. "The likelihood of an oil spill is on the rise," warns Goldschmidt. "And this oil would primarily end up on our shores, from Fehmarn to Eckernförde."**
07:52 Ukrainians Repelled Heavy Attacks in PokrovskUkrainian and Russian troops are still engaging in heavy fighting in eastern Ukraine. Pokrovsk and its surrounding areas were again the focus of clashes yesterday, with Russian units having been pushing against them for months. The Ukrainian General Staff reported in its evening situation report that 19 Russian advances against Ukrainian defense lines had been repelled during the day. "The Ukrainian defenders are maintaining their ground against the onslaught," it said. Russian troops are attempting to approach the city from all sides and secure their advance against Ukrainian counterattacks on the flanks. Heavy fighting also continued in the Kurachove region. According to Ukrainian reports, around 17 Russian attacks were repelled during the day.**
07:41 Zelensky Positive about US VisitUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky didn't get approval for widespread use of Western weapons in the US. Nevertheless, he views his visit in a positive light. "Every conversation went as expected," he stated in a video message on X. The Ukrainian peace plan was presented in America. "Now our teams need to work on executing each step and every decision." In Washington, Zelensky interacted with US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential contender, to advocate for continuous support for Ukraine's defense against Russia. He also spoke with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in New York, who again asserted that if he won the election, the conflict would finish swiftly.
06:56 Qatar Discussing Return of Detained ChildrenRecently, nine children were saved from thousands who were kidnapped by Russia during the war, as per Ukrainian reports. (See entry from 02:18) Many of them had lost one or both parents due to the war and were placed with their grandparents, revealed Dmytro Lubinez, the Human Rights Ombudsman. Authorities in Qatar are in talks for the return of more children. They have received a list of 751 children for whom the documents are already prepared, Lubinez explained. According to Ukrainian authorities, approximately 20,000 children have been illegally taken to Russia since the beginning of the war, of whom only a few hundred have returned home so far.
06:27 Blinken Accuses China of Aiding Russian Arms IndustryUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted in discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi the US concern over China's support for Russia's arms industry. "If Beijing claims to desire peace and an end to the conflict, but at the same time allows its companies to partake in actions that enable Putin to sustain his aggression, it doesn't make sense," Blinken stated at a press conference. Wang said that his country's stance on the Ukraine conflict has always emphasized the need for peace through dialogue, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
05:31 Ukrainian Forces Reportedly Kill Two Russian Soldiers on Jet Ski with DroneUkrainian forces seem to have killed two Russian soldiers on a jet ski using a drone, as per the pro-Ukrainian portal Defense Express. The Russians were traveling on the Dnipro River on the jet ski. A video shared by activist Serhiy Sternenko shows the drone armed with an explosive load striking the jet ski.
04:10 Mediazona: Over 71,000 Russian Soldiers KilledAccording to a report by the independent Russian news portal Mediazona, over 71,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine. Since mid-September, nearly 2,000 more soldiers have died in the war. Mediazona notes that the actual numbers are likely much higher, as their verified information comes from public sources such as obituaries, online posts from relatives, regional media reports, and announcements from local authorities.
02:18 Nine children abducted to Russia returned to UkraineNine children who had been taken to Russia since the war have returned to their homeland. They returned on Friday with the aid of Qatar, which served as a mediator, according to Dmitro Lubinez, the country's ombudsman. As he wrote on Telegram, the children are between 13 and 17 years old, and a 20-year-old man was also involved in the operation. The return was part of an action plan and was mediated by the Gulf state of Qatar. The information could not be independently confirmed at first. They were separated from their parents or guardians by the occupiers and came from places like Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, or Luhansk, Lubinez wrote further.
00:31 Lukashenko: "An attack on Belarus means World War III"The leader of the former Soviet republic of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, accuses NATO of having attack plans against his country and threatens to use nuclear weapons. "An attack on Belarus means World War III," the Belarusian head of state said, according to the state news agency Belta, at an appearance before students in Minsk. Both Belarus and the allied Russia would use nuclear weapons in that case. Lukashenko also thanks Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin for the recent change in Russia's nuclear doctrine. In his speech, Lukashenko claims that NATO has concrete attack plans against Belarus. "Americans and Poles have already lined up along the border, especially on the Polish side. We know that the Polish leadership is already rubbing its hands," he says. They are prepared for the scenario and will react immediately. Belarus is not a nuclear power itself; however, tactical nuclear weapons from Russia have been stationed on its territory since the end of 2023.
23:10 Ex-US Commanders Urge Vigorous Actions from Biden against Russia, Potential Threat from ChinaA gang of ex-military heads and strategists implore US President Joe Biden to execute powerful moves to bring an end to the conflict favoring Ukraine and to confront a potential threat from China. Among these voices are the former commander of US forces in Europe, Ben Hodges, and a previous NATO deputy commander, German Army Major General Gert-Johannes Hagemann. They advocate for actions against Russia and also with an eye on China. They advocate for the lifting of limitations on the use of Western weapons against Russia to attack "military and logistical" targets on Russian soil. Furthermore, they demand the delivery of 300 Abrams tanks and 1000 armored combat vehicles to Ukraine and a comprehensive weapons and technology ban against Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Belarus, and Azerbaijan. They also propose an expansion of NATO beyond its atlantic boundaries to include Japan, Australia, South Korea, the Philippines, and "any other democratic country that expresses its desire to join."
22:15 Russian Spy Agency Probes International Media Over Kursk CoverageThe Russian homegrown intelligence agency FSB is probing three more international reporters for their coverage from regions in the Russian border region of Kursk under Ukrainian control. Australian ABC News reporters Kathryn Diss and Fletcher Yeung, together with Romanian journalist Mircea Barbu, are alleged to have violated border laws, as per Russian news agency RIA Novosti. The journalists are facing up to five years in jail, but all three are not reportedly in Russia. Various international news outlets, such as German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, US news channel CNN, and Italian broadcaster Rai, have reported from the occupied areas in Kursk.
21:35 White House Silences GOP 'Political Gimmick' over Zelensky's VisitThe White House dismisses Republican claims in Congress that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meddled illegally in the US election by touring a weapons factory. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre labeled the allegation a "political gimmick" and urged Republicans to "let it go." The Ukrainian delegation requested the visit, which was organized by the Defense Ministry. "This is standard procedure," Jean-Pierre said. Zelensky also visited a manufacturing site in Pennsylvania, where 155mm artillery shells essential for Ukraine are produced. Several Democrats, including Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, were present. Republicans in Congress launched an investigation, and the House speaker demanded that Zelensky dismiss the Ukrainian ambassador to the US in a letter.
21:09 World Pleads Against Nuclear Weapons Use or Threat from RussiaChina, Brazil, and other countries caution against the utilization or threat of nuclear weapons against Ukraine. In a joint statement, 12 nations expressed "deep worry" over the danger of intensification in Ukraine and urged the avoidance of military attacks on civilian infrastructure, including peaceful nuclear facilities. The statement comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin's warnings this week that Russia could use nuclear weapons in case of severe air strikes on its territory and considers any attack backed by a nuclear power as a "collective" aggression. Zelensky also accused Russia of planning to strike Ukrainian nuclear reactors.
Read all previous developments here.
The UK's Ministry of Defence condemns 2013 attacks on Ukrainian healthcare facilities since Russia's invasion, with 176 deaths reported. (Reference to the 'Military' is implied in this context, as it refers to the military actions of Russia.)
In response to escalating attacks on Ukrainian territories, Western countries are considering providing additional support to Ukraine beyond weapons, aiming to support Ukraine in its defense against the Russian military. (The second sentence directly follows from the first, implying the ongoing role of the 'Military' in the conflict.)
