Newsletter 31/10/2024
Daily news digest
TOP
Three killed, 36 injured: rescue operations complete in Kharkiv following Russian strike
On the evening of October 30, the Russian forces targeted Saltivka district of Kharkiv, hitting a residential nine-story building with a guided bomb. The impact nearly destroyed an entire section of the building.
Parliament endorses draft state budget for 2025 in first reading
In particular, the revenues of the state budget general fund (excluding grants and interbudgetary transfers) are expected to reach UAH 2.007 trillion, which is UAH 411 billion higher compared to 2024.
The expenditures of the state budget general fund were estimated at UAH 3.644 trillion, which is UAH 535 billion higher compared to 2024.
A total of UAH 2.223 trillion (about 26% of GDP) will be provided for the national security and defense sector in 2025, which is UAH 46 billion higher compared to 2024 (taking into account the amendments to the state budget, which had been passed by the Verkhovna Rada).
Zelensky: Bilateral document being prepared between Ukraine, Hungary
"Today, a bilateral document is being prepared between Ukraine and Hungary. It contains many elements to eliminate misunderstandings and respond to modern, future, and past challenges, so that the issue of minorities would not be raised. More precisely, the issue may arise, but it should be resolved quickly to avoid questions between our countries. We view this very positively," Zelensky said.
Sybiha explains why Russia should be invited to second Peace Summit
"Yes, we support the invitation of Russian representatives to the second peace summit but we will never support peace initiatives developed without Ukraine and behind Ukraine’s back. We will never support peace agreements at the expense of Ukraine. We will never support peace agreements that leave the perpetrators unpunished," said Sybiha.
He emphasized that "unpunished evil returns with more evil". "We in Ukraine unfortunately know this better than anyone else," the minister said.
According to the top diplomat, it is hard to find another nation in the world that wants peace more than the Ukrainian people. "But peace at any cost is not peace it is a capitulation, occupation, deportation and torture. Ukraine will never agree to this," Sybiha stressed.
Kyslytsya tells UNSC names of North Korean generals deployed for war against Ukraine
According to the available information, the Ukrainian diplomat noted, the DPRK contingent, consisting of up to 12,000 servicemen, is being trained at five training grounds in Russia’s Eastern Military District. The force includes at least 500 officers from the DPRK army, with three generals from the General Staff of the “Korean people’s army”.
The envoy revealed their positions and names:
- Colonel General Kim Young Bok, Deputy Chief of the General Staff for Special Forces Operations;
- Colonel General Lee Chang Ho, Deputy Chief of the General Staff – Head of the Reconnaissance Directorate; and
- Major General Shin Geum Cheol, Head of the Main Operational Directorate.
Subsequently, the plan is to build up at least five 2,000 to 3,000-strong units or formations staffed by North Korean troops. One such unit would be equivalent to a motorized rifle regiment.
North Korea's military already in Donetsk - CCD
North Korea's military is already present in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, in particular in Donetsk.
“These North Korean soldiers will be in Russian uniforms, with Russian documents, mixed with Kalmyks and Buryats, and try to prove that they are DPRK military. The Russians are counting on this,” emphasized the head of the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) Andriy Kovalenko.
“At least we are aware of such plans of the enemy to do so, first in the Donetsk sector,” he said.
Kovalenko noted that after the “run-in” they will be deployed in other areas.
War
Blasts heard in temporarily occupied Berdiansk
“Since six in the morning, our drones have been attacking Berdiansk. The main strikes are in the port area, where large amounts of smoke from a significant fire are visible. Numerous ambulances and fire trucks are present. Additionally, for the first time, the local occupation administration has acknowledged the impact, reporting an attack on their administrative building in the city,” reported on Telegram by Petro Andriushchenko, Advisor to the Mayor of Mariupol
Fighters of the "Chervona Kalina" brigade turned the Russian BMP into scrap metal in the Pokrovsky direction
Russians try to cross channel in Chasiv Yar - AFU
Around 150 shellings in border areas daily, most in Sumy region
Ukraine receives batch of pickup trucks with demining equipment from Canada
MoD approves universal machine gun for use
Poland to deliver remaining MiG-29 jets to Ukraine on receiving replacements from allies – Polish FM
Consequences of a night attack by Russian drones in the Podilskyi district of the capital
Politics
Explaining: UNSC meeting on N.Korean troops deployment in Russia, report on EU enlargement, Ukraine’s digitalization
Warsaw hopes for "best cooperation" with new ambassador of Ukraine
South Korea’s MoD says dispatching analysts to Ukraine “obvious” task
Ukraine signs memorandum on natural gas quality with GTS operators of CESEC countries