Newsletter 17/10/2024
Daily news digest
TOP
Zelensky presents Victory Plan to European Union
Ukraine, Greece sign agreement on security cooperation
In Brussels, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic Kyriakos Mitsotakis signed a Security Cooperation Agreement, which confirms Greece's readiness to continue meeting Ukraine's most pressing defense needs.
Zelensky: North Korean officers already training Russian soldiers in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine
“That this is indeed a big problem. Firstly, North Korean officers are already in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and are training Russian soldiers. I don't know how many officers. But intelligence data suggests that Russia is counting on such reinforcement as it is unable to keep up with mobilization, suffers too many losses on the battlefield. And he (Putin - ed.) knows that the mood is such that society is against mobilization. That is why he is looking for external support. And I know that there is such an intention to train 10,000 soldiers from different branches of the armed forces: ground forces, ground forces...,” said Zelensky.
The president clarified that Putin wants to involve not only infantry, but also specialists from various branches of the military.
Kremlin theory of Russia’s ‘protracted offensive’ could create opportunities for Ukraine – ISW
Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s theory of ‘victory involves Russian forces carrying out continuous offensive operations in Ukraine for an indefinite period. However, this strategy will likely lead to a significant depletion of Russia's manpower and equipment.
This is according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
“Putin's theory of victory relies on Russian forces conducting consistent offensive operations indefinitely, but these grinding assaults will likely degrade available Russian manpower and materiel significantly enough that Russian forces will have to decrease offensive tempo on at least select sectors of the front — presenting Ukrainian forces with opportunities to contest and perhaps seize the battlefield initiative in these areas,” analysts noted.
Putin and the Russian military command have tasked the Russian army with conducting offensive actions along the eastern and northeastern frontlines in Ukraine over the past year, aiming to exhaust the Ukrainian forces and prevent Ukraine from accumulating the manpower and resources needed for its own counteroffensive operations.
Russians attempting to break through Ukrainian defenses near Chasiv Yar – military
“There are intense battles near Chasiv Yar. The enemy is trying to break through our defenses. When they realize they can’t attack us head-on due to significant losses they’re also suffering in the Kramatorsk sector, they attempt small probing strikes to find weak points in our defenses. They strike here and there, hoping they might eventually succeed,” said the Spokesperson for the Luhansk Operational Tactical Group, Anastasia Bobovnikova.
War
Russia using warships to divert Ukrainian air defense during mass attacks – Navy spokesperson
The low effectiveness of missile-carrying warships at sea has forced the enemy to use them more for diverting Ukrainian air defense during massive missile attacks.
This was stated by the spokesperson for the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Dmytro Pletenchuk.
“There should always be a consideration that danger is present as we observe one cruise missile carrier at sea. Moreover, it does not take much time to deploy and go out to sea to launch missiles. We're talking about hours. However, as practice shows, when there is one or two submarines at sea, especially if only one of them is a carrier, they do not carry out tasks related to the use of these missiles. They perform tasks related to the protection of the base point,” Pletenchuk said.
General Staff update: 163 combat clashes along frontlines over past day, Pokrovsk, Kurakhove sectors hottest
Russians launch 424 strikes on Zaporizhzhia region over past day
Ukraine downs 22 Russian drones since Wednesday night
Minus the "pride" of the Russian air defense system BMP-3 and the liquidated crew
Defense
Norway to provide Ukraine with six F16 fighter jets in near future - Umerov
The Defense Ministers of Ukraine and Norway, Rustem Umerov and Bjørn Arild Gram, have discussed the current battlefield situation, Ukraine's need for long-range weapons, and strengthening its air defense capabilities.
“During the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting, I held bilateral talks with Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram. I thanked the Norwegian government and people for their unprecedented support for Ukraine. We discussed the current battlefield situation and our needs, particularly long-range weapons. We reached certain agreements on strengthening our air defense,” Umerov said.
According to him, the parties also discussed strengthening Ukraine's capabilities with F16 fighter jets.
Netherlands to allocate EUR 271M for artillery shells for Ukraine
Dutch defense chief: Ukraine can use F-16s against targets located in Russia
Politics
Zelensky discusses Victory Plan with EU leaders at closed meeting
“This primarily relates to long-range weapons. That's is why I have held meetings with President Biden, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Chancellor Scholz, and President Macron, as well as Prime Minister Meloni. This does not mean that they are special. I treat all allies equally and I am grateful for their support. Each country in their alliance has supported our movement toward the EU and our candidacy. They have also supported us with various aid packages since the beginning of the war, including financial, military, and humanitarian aid. However, the decisions of these countries will have a significant impact on whether we will be strengthened with long-range weapons or not. I had separate meetings with each of them,” Zelensky noted.
Aid to Ukraine aimed at strengthening self-defense - Sholz
Ukrainian delegation in Switzerland taking part in Mine Action Conference
Ukraine blocks Russia's chairmanship of Black Sea Protection Commission
U.S. imposes sanctions on China, Russia for joint production of Garpiya drones
Economy
Norway to allocate EUR 250M to restore Ukraine's energy facilities
Norway will allocate a EUR 250 million aid package to restore destroyed energy facilities and build a modern energy infrastructure.
Almost $300M from Canada already transferred to Ukraine’s budget – PM Shmyhal
Zelensky urges EU to allocate EUR 35B as soon as possible
Society
Over 230 searches across 20 regions: Ukraine dismantles drug cartel
The law enforcement officials conducted over 230 searches across 20 regions of Ukraine, during which they discovered and dismantled 19 drug laboratories.
The minister noted that the law enforcement conducted more than 230 searches across 20 regions, apprehending over 60 individuals. Nineteen drug laboratories were dismantled, which produced nearly a ton of amphetamine and Alpha-PVP each month.
The criminals' income reached over UAH 350 million per month.