Newsletter 28/10/2024
Daily news digest
In Lviv, an exhibition has opened showcasing nonviolent resistance by Ukrainians in occupied territories
TOP
NATO Sec Gen confirms presence of N. Korean troops in Russia
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has confirmed the presence of North Korean troops in Russia and their deployment to the Kursk region to participate in the war against Ukraine.
Defense intelligence, resistance movement destroy railway bridge in occupied Berdiansk - source
The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry and local guerillas executed a successful special operation in the temporarily occupied Berdiansk, effectively destroying a railway bridge used by the invaders to ship military cargo.
At Naftogaz’s request, court in Helsinki freezes certain Russian assets in Finland
This decision is part of Naftogaz’s global strategy to recover compensation for losses caused by the seizure of assets of the Group’s companies in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea following a ruling from The Hague arbitration.
This is also the first publicly known successful seizure of assets outside the country to enforce an arbitration award in cases of lawsuits by Ukrainian companies against Russia regarding the expropriation of property in Crimea in 2014. It is an intermediate step on the way to the actual recovery of assets in favor of Naftogaz Group.
Parliamentary Budget Committee recommends State Budget 2025 for first reading
The Budget Committee of the Verkhovna Rada has recommended the draft State Budget of Ukraine for 2025 and the draft Budget Conclusions for the first reading; their review in the session hall is expected in the coming days.
The MP outlined key changes to the budget draft that the Committee will propose to the government.
Specifically, all sources of funding for the Road Fund are proposed to be redirected to the general budget fund (amounting to UAH 43.2 billion next year) for "priority needs, primarily national security and defense requirements."
The MPs also propose to allocate at least UAH 2 billion for humanitarian demining; consider the possibility of allocating funding (UAH 4.8 billion) for new passenger carriages; and exclude the proposal to transfer hospitals' accounts in banks to the Treasury.
Explaining: new format of support for Ukraine, NATO’s reaction to N.Korean soldiers’ dispatch, outcome of Georgia election
War
Russians sending wounded servicemen into assaults near Lyman – Ukrainian intel
The Russian occupying army is attempting to increase its offensive pace near the town of Lyman in Donetsk region. To this end, the enemy has deployed additional assault units from the 283rd and 488th motorized rifle regiments of the Russian Armed Forces to the area.
In the Kramatorsk district, demining of the de-occupied territories affected by hostilities continues
Ukrainian bomber drones take out two Russian artillery systems deep behind contact line/Video
Fighters from the 100th Separate Mechanized Brigade of Ukraine’s Ground Forces destroyed two Russian high-power 2S7 Pion self-propelled artillery systems in the Russian deep rear, employing bomber UAVs.
Missile attack on Dnipro: Russians targeted the city, killing civilians
N. Korean troops transported to front in trucks with civilian plates – intel
DTEK brigade comes under Russian fire in Dnipropetrovsk region
Police officer killed in Russian shelling of Donetsk region
Russians attack Nikopol with drones, two children wounded
Another 54 people evacuated from Kupiansk, Borova sectors overnight
Five killed, 13 injured as enemy shells 19 settlements in Kherson region in past day
Train for transporting grain spotted in Feodosia
Invaders accommodate Russian arrivals in new apartment blocks erected to replace mutilated Ukrainian houses
In the temporarily occupied Mariupol, a group of St. Petersburg moved into new apartment blocks on the site of destroyed buildings in the city center, while Ukrainian owners of the latter were offered no compensation whatsoever.
"White Angels" continue their mission to rescue residents of the Sumy region border
Consequences of nighttime enemy shelling in Kherson
The Kherson Regional Military Administration has showed the consequences of a nighttime enemy attack on apartment blocks in Kherson.
“Completely burnt out apartments, smashed windows, balconies, walls and people who still can't get over what they have experienced. Last night, the Russian army shelled high-rise buildings in the Tsentralnyi district of Kherson,” wrote Regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.
Politics
Zelensky suggested that every G20 leader should demand that Putin return 1000 children
President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested that each G20 leader demand that Putin return a thousand children.
When asked how India could help in returning the children, the President replied: “To join the coalition for the return of children, to support the communiqué of the Peace Summit, because the third point there was about the return of children, to call Putin and tell him who he is and make him return the children. (Indian Prime Minister Narendra) Modi can do this, he has a lot of influence... To tell (Putin) directly: “Give me a thousand children, and I will return them to Ukraine.” This is a real step. He took tens of thousands, let Modi return a thousand. If every influential person like Modi can return a thousand children, then we will be able to return most of our children.”
According to the President, the issue of returning children can be raised at the G20 meeting.
“If twenty thousand Ukrainian children have been deported, then every leader of the G20 should take responsibility for returning a thousand children,” Zelensky said.
He also noted that the International Criminal Court's warrant for the arrest of Vladimir Putin for kidnapping children is in force.
Polish President: territorial concessions in Ukraine would be catastrophic mistake
The Polish leader reaffirmed his stance, noting that despite political disputes between Poland and Ukraine, he believes Kyiv should be given all the support it needs to secure a full victory over Russia, which is essential for both Ukraine and Europe. Responding to the question of whether Ukraine could realistically reclaim all occupied territories given Russia's numerical advantage, Duda countered, "If you’re so generous towards Russia, why not give them a piece of your own land?"
“On what grounds, may I ask, does Russia deserve anything — especially someone else’s territory?" he stressed.
Zelensky: Second Peace Summit may be held in India
Sybiha calls for lifting ban on deep strikes into Russia amid N.Korea escalation
Swiss president supports lifting ban on arms re-export to Ukraine
Society
Ukrainians consider EU support in combating corruption as most relevant
A recent survey reveals that Ukrainians regard support from the European Union in combating corruption as the most pressing need. Additional priorities include assistance for de-occupied territories, investigation of war crimes, and support for fair justice.
Crime
Court sets preventive measures for six defendants in Holosiivskyi TCC case
A court in Kyiv has set preventive measures for six individuals involved in a case of facilitating military draft evasion, including employees from the Holosiivskyi District Territorial Recruitment Center (TCC).
Earlier, the State Bureau of Investigation detained three officials from the Holosiivskyi TCC and three civilians who allegedly organized an illegal scheme allowing military-eligible individuals to evade conscription. During searches, authorities uncovered USD 1.2 million in cash and a collection of luxury cars.
According to investigators, TCC employees and the head of the district's military medical commission formed a criminal group offering ‘services’ to those seeking to avoid the draft. The group was organized by a civilian who found clients, collected necessary documents, and delivered them to the TCC.