Russo-Ukrainian war, day 603: Allies pledge support to Ukraine as winter approaches

Exclusives

Independent republics of post-Russia plan “denuclearized Northern Eurasia”. The post-imperial Russia disintegrated into 41 states will be nuke-free, nations subjugated by Moscow decided on their 8th meeting in Paris and London

Ukrainian fashion keeps lights on despite war’s darkness. Despite daily attacks on infrastructure that leave them in the dark, Ukrainian fashion brands carry threads of hope, devising workarounds to keep creating.

War of drones: can Ukraine keep its assymetric advantage?. From improvised “wedding drone” bombers to long-range kamikaze drones, Ukraine’s rapid drone innovation has given it a tactical edge against Russia’s forces. But can it stay ahead in the high-tech arms race?

Five Ukrainian war startups taking on Russia’s brute force. From AI spying systems to ground drones, Ukraine is revealing the power of grassroots innovation against Russia’s top-down military behemoth, with agile defense tech startups tailored to the war’s realities.

Tide turns in Warsaw: what Poland’s poll upset means for Ukraine. The Polish opposition’s landmark win over populist incumbents likely reinvigorates cooperation between the EU and Ukraine after years of tensions stoked by Warsaw.

Decade-long Euromaidan massacre trial ends with life sentence for 1 officer. A Kyiv court has delivered limited justice for the deaths of nearly 50 protesters shot in February 2014, and disproved conspiracy theories about the involvement of alleged “foreign snipers” in the Ukrainian capital. However, true justice is yet to be delivered: the bigwig perpetrators are fugitives in Russia.

Military

Russian strikes on east bank of Dnipro in Kherson Oblast hint at Ukrainian presence. Among areas struck by Russian aviation was the village of Pishchanivka on the left bank of Dnipro, the General Staff reported.

Frontline report: Ukraine gains bridgehead, reclaims two villages in Kherson Oblast on Dnipro. Through precise strikes and an amphibious assault, Ukraine seizes bridgehead on the Dnipro’s Russian-controlled eastern bank in Kherson Oblast, liberating two villages from Russian occupation.

ISW: Russian milbloggers worried over Ukrainian assaults in Kherson Oblast. Russian bloggers reported that Ukraine seized territory in two villages east of the Dnipro River, in Kherson Oblast, expressed doubts about Russia’s strength in that direction.

Russo-Ukrainian war, day 602: Fighting continues around Bakhmut and Kreminna in Donbas. Russia launched widespread missile strikes across Ukraine on Thursday, damaging civilian infrastructure. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continued limited advances around Bakhmut and Kreminna.

Air attack targeted occupied Sevastopol. On 18 October, air raid alarms began sounding in Sevastopol, in occupied Crimea, a few minutes after a loud blast hit the central part of the city, Krym.Realii reported.

Intelligence and technology

US to supply more ATACMS long-range missile to Ukraine, says foreign minister. This week, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba announced the US plans to supply more ATACMS to Ukraine and will continue delivering the long-range missiles in the future.

UK intel: Russia’s repaired Kerch Bridge faces continued traffic restrictions for trucks, fuel supplies. Following Ukraine’s attacks, Russia has mended the pivotal Kerch Strait Bridge. However, according to UK intelligence, some traffic limitations remain due to previous incidents.

International

Media: Germany prepares winter assistance package for Ukraine. Germany has pledged to continue supplying weapons to Ukraine and is already planning a winter military assistance package to help the country repel Russian drone and missile attacks, said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a speech in the Bundestag, according to Tagesschau.

Media: Biden expected to seek $60 bn assistance for Ukraine in $100 bn funding request. While a new funding package the Biden administration is expected to submit to Congress this week is not yet finalized, it is likely to seek $60 billion for Ukraine, NBC News sources said.

Scholz backs EU financial aid to Ukraine, calls out Putin’s hypocrisy over Gaza and Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reasserts the significance of European financial aid to Ukraine, while criticizing Russia’s double standards regarding Gaza and Ukraine civilian deaths.

Israel: 23 Ukrainian citizens killed in HAMAS terrorist attack on 7 October. The death toll of Ukrainians from the earlier HAMAS attack on Israel has reached 23, as revealed by Israeli Ambassador Michael Brodsky. Ukrainians are second in number after Americans.

Humanitarian and social impact

Russia’s night air attack on Ukraine causes no casualties, earlier attacks kill four, injure six civilians. Using an array of missiles and drones, Russia carried out overnight strikes across Ukraine, targeting civilians without casualties, while other attacks left four dead and six hurt.

ICMP: 30,000 civilians missing in Ukraine since February 2022. The cases of the missing may include civilians who were separated from their families or detained, unidentified victims of war, and illegally deported children, ICMP chief said.

Ukraine mulls 57,000-tonne grain aid for Nigeria and Sudan as humanitarian gesture. As part of the Grain from Ukraine humanitarian food program, Ukraine may send 57,000 tonnes of grain to Nigeria and Sudan, according to the Ukrainian Agriculture Ministry.

Political and legal developments

Ukraine initiates Bring Kids Back UA platform, unifying efforts to return children deported by Russia. The project provides up-to-date statistics, outlines efforts for their return, and shares personal stories of those reunited with their families.

Ukraine’s helicopter king accused of working with Russia to face new trial. The Security Service and Prosecutor General’s office of Ukraine have completed the investigation and submitted an indictment against Viacheslav Bohuslaiev, the former president of Motor Sich company, and Oleh Dziuba, the director of the company’s Department of Foreign Trade, suspected of collaborating with Russia.

SBU: Russian Orthodox Church training mercenaries to fight against Ukraine. A Ukrainian security agency claims the Russian Orthodox Church is creating private military groups to recruit and train mercenaries for combat against Ukraine, says training happening at churches.

Ukraine continues to fulfill the visa liberalization benchmarks despite Russian military aggression, European Commission report says. Ukraine continues to fulfill the visa liberalization benchmarks in general. However, further efforts are needed, where possible, according to the sixth report of the European Commission within the framework of the visa-free regime suspension mechanism.

New developments

Ukraine and Romania strengthen defense ties with new memorandum. The signing of a new memorandum between Ukraine and Romania indicates a strengthening defense partnership, aiming for mutual technical advancement and collaboration in defense matters.

Read our earlier daily review here.

As of 19 Oct 2023, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:

• • Personnel: 290680 (+630)
  • Tanks: 4992 (+11)
  • APV: 9437 (+17)
  • Artillery systems: 6983 (+39)
  • MLRS: 818 (+4)
  • Anti-aircraft systems: 548 (+1)
  • Aircraft: 320 (+1)
  • Helicopters: 324 (+1)
  • UAV: 5318 (+17)
  • Cruise missiles : 1534
  • Warships/boats: 20
  • Submarines: 1
  • Vehicles and fuel tanks: 9337 (+34)

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