Russo-Ukrainian war, day 608: Ukraine uses underwater drones to strike Russian military

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Here is a map of all Ukraine’s 2023 drone strikes on Russian targets. The skies above Russia have become a battleground as Ukraine’s drone warfare takes center stage.

Military

Ukraine to hit Russian Black Sea Fleet outside Crimea, Zelenskyy says. Ukraine’s President promised to liberate Crimea and destroy the Russian navy in the Black Sea.

Russian shelling wounds two in Kherson Oblast after strikes killed two, injured 14 others. Russia’s October 24 morning shelling in Ukraine’s Kherson Oblast wounded two civilian women, adding to the casualties from the previous day’s strikes there that killed two people and injured 14 others.

Ukraine intel: Russia has over 400,000 troops deployed in Ukraine. Russia has amassed over 400,000 troops in Ukraine, says a Ukrainian military intelligence official. Russia continues mobilization and has lots of weapons, but it is not expected to repeat the February 2022 massive invasion.

Ukraine reportedly conducts underwater drone raid on Sevastopol. Explosions and gunfire were heard overnight in Russian-occupied Sevastopol as Ukraine reportedly launched an underwater drone attack.

Air Force: Ukraine downs all six Russian drones during nighttime attack. Ukrainian forces positioned across Mykolav, Vinnytsia, and Khmelnytskyi oblasts thwarted a Russian air assault, successfully destroying all six Shahed one-way attack drones in a nighttime operation.

Intelligence and technology

UK intel: Russia depends on convicts in Ukraine offensives. Russia continues relying on Shtorm-Z units manned with convicts for Ukraine offenses, underscoring their low priority for support and orders to attack, according to UK intelligence.

Rheinmetall, Ukraine create joint venture to maintain, repair, produce military equipment. The Ukrainian PM announced a Ukraine-Rheinmetall joint venture for military equipment services and a green hydrogen project between Ukrhydroenergo and Andritz Hydro.

Ukraine develops new kamikaze robot to destroy Russian tanks . Minister of Digital Transformation Mikhailo Fedorov has announced that a Ukrainian ground-based robotic platform Ratel S has undergone successful field testing and has been launched into serial production – the development that was designed by Ukrainian engineers from Brave1 military technology cluster.

International

Republicans nominate pro-Ukraine candidate as new US House speaker. Tom Emmer won the majority of votes in the internal Republican race but does not yet have enough GOP support to be elected as a Speaker of the US House of Representatives.

Poll shows unity on Israel, Ukraine aid, rift on US global leadership role among Americans. A survey finds Americans strongly support providing more military aid to Israel and Ukraine but are divided on whether the US should maintain a major role in leading world events.

NATO urges its member states to ramp up production of ammunition. Admiral Robert Bauer called on NATO countries to agree on a standard for artillery ammunition to increase production.

Media: Ukraine expects EU report on compliance with membership criteria in November 2023. The European Union is set to present a report on progress made by Ukraine in its membership bid on 8 November, three officials familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Humanitarian and social impact

Bloomberg: Russia steps up cyberattacks to disrupt Ukraine’s key services. Ukraine recorded nearly 4,000 cyber incidents from January 2022 to September 2023, with most coming from Russia, according to government data seen by Bloomberg.

BILD: Russia plans to strike Ukraine with a space rocket. A group of high-ranking Russian officials and scientists is planning to turn a Soyuz rocket into a mega-bomb to drop it on a major Ukrainian city.

Germany is preparing new military aid package to protect Ukraine from Russian attacks, says prime minister. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has announced Germany is preparing a new “winter” assistance package which will include air defense systems.

Political and legal developments

Spain detains smugglers of Ukraine’s historic artifacts worth over USD 63 mln. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Spanish police arrested a group of smugglers in Madrid, including a representative of the Russian-linked church of the Moscow Patriarchate which had stolen golden artifacts from Ukraine and attempted to sell them in Europe.

New developments

Ukraine intel: Russia ramps up missile production but falls behind pre-war levels. Ukraine braces for massive missile attacks as Russia builds up its arsenal of Kalibr and Kinzhal missiles.

Ukrainian startup makes eco-friendly packaging from mushrooms and hemp. S.Lab company is tackling plastic waste with its innovative biodegradable packaging made from hemp stalks and mushroom mycelium, decomposing within a month in soil.

Danish Defense Minister visits Ukraine, meets Zelenskyy. During a meeting on 24 October, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen discussed bolstering Ukraine’s air defenses, focusing on new systems and F-16 pilot training.

Vice PM: Ukraine exports 1.5 mn tons of agri products amid Russia’s seaport blockade. Despite Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian seaports, Ukraine successfully exports 1.5 million tons of agricultural products via alternative sea routes, showcasing national resilience and commitment to maintaining maritime trade

Read the daily review for Mon 23 Oct 2023 here

As of 24 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: 295510 (+810)
  • Tanks: 5105 (+12)
  • APV: 9669 (+16)
  • Artillery systems: 7081 (+24)
  • MLRS: 828 (+3)
  • Anti-aircraft systems: 552 (+1)
  • Aircraft: 320
  • Helicopters: 324
  • UAV: 5363 (+18)
  • Cruise missiles: 1537 (+1)
  • Warships/boats: 20
  • Submarines: 1
  • Vehicles and fuel tanks: 9447 (+28)

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