Ukraine Daily Summary - Tuesday, October 4

Ukrainian military 'changes battlefield dynamics' in Russia's war -- Russia to consult locals on 'borders' of illegally annexed Kherson, Zaporizhzhia oblasts -- Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant head released from Russian captivity -- Czechs crowdfund over $1 million to buy tank for Ukraine -- and more

Ukraine Daily

Tuesday, October 4

Russia’s war against Ukraine

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Ludmila Burmistrova waits for food from Myrne Nebo (Peaceful Heaven), a Ukrainian humanitarian organization making hot meals for the needy on October 3, 2022, in Izium, Ukraine. Izium is still without electricity and water after the town was liberated by Ukrainian forces. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Zelensky: Ukraine liberates Arkhanhelske, Myroliubivka in Kherson Oblast. Ukrainian armed forces recaptured two settlements in the north of Kherson Oblast, Arkhanhelske and Myroliubivka, amid their counteroffensive, President Volodymyr Zelensky officially confirmed on Oct. 2.

Ukraine liberates Borova village in Kharkiv Oblast. The Ukrainian military liberated the village of Borova, Kharkiv Oblast, on Oct. 3, according to the local council. Borova is located east of the Oskil River.

US defense secretary: Ukrainian military ‘changes battlefield dynamics’ in Russia’s war. Ukrainian troops are making progress in Kherson Oblast due to their skills and strategic use of weapons supplied by Western countries, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told CNN on Oct. 2. Ukraine has “changed the dynamics, and it’s created an opportunity for the Ukrainians to maneuver,” said Austin.

Kremlin spokesman: Russia to consult locals on ‘borders’ of annexed Kherson, Zaporizhzhia oblasts. Russian authorities are “consulting with the local population” to define the “borders” of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, which Russia claimed to annex on Sept. 30, according to Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov. He said there are no plans, however, to hold new pseudo-referendums in these territories, reported Russian state-controlled news outlet TASS.

UK Defense Ministry: Putin ‘highly unlikely’ to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said that although Russia had the use of nuclear weapons in its doctrine, Putin is “highly unlikely” to use them in its war with Ukraine, because it would be unacceptable for Moscow’s allies India and China, Evening Standard reported on Oct. 3. Putin’s actions, however, have been “totally irrational” so far, added Wallace.

Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant head released from Russian captivity. International Atomic Energy Agency Chief Rafael Grossi said on Oct. 3 that Ihor Murashov, head of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, “returned safely to his family.” According to the state nuclear company Energoatom, Russian forces kidnapped Murashov in occupied Enerhodar when he was on his way home on Sept. 30.

AP: Russia stole at least $530 million worth of Ukrainian grain. The AP and PBS used satellite imagery and marine radio transponder data to track three dozen ships making more than 50 voyages carrying grain from Russian-occupied Ukrainian ports to the Middle East.

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Ukraine war latest: Ukraine making more gains in east and south. Ukraine pushed ahead with its counteroffensive on Oct. 3, reclaiming control over settlements in the country’s east and south.

Photo: Anatolii Stepanov via Getty Images

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Supreme Court fails to dismiss deputy with Russian passport. The commercial chamber of Ukraine’s Supreme Court on Oct. 3 failed to gather enough votes to fire the chamber’s Chairman Bohdan Lvov. Days prior, Ukraine’s Security Service confirmed that Lvov is a Russian citizen, which he continues to deny.

Photo: UNIAN

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Zelensky at Harvard University: ‘Prevention key to lasting peace.’ Amid mounting fears of Russia using nuclear weapons in its war against Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to an audience at Harvard University on Sept. 27 of the importance of preventing further Russian escalation before any devastating consequences occur.

Photo: President’s Office

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The human cost of Russia’s war

Update: Woman killed as a result of Russian attack on Kharkiv. A 46-year-old woman was killed after Russian forces struck an industrial site in the Kholodnohirskyi District as well as critical infrastructure in the Novobavarskyi District of the city just after midnight on Oct. 4, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Synehubov reported on Telegram.

Governor: Russia’s attacks kill 1, injure 8 in Donetsk Oblast. In the past 24 hours, Russian forces have killed one civilian in Bakhmut and wounded eight in other cities of Donetsk Oblast, not including Mariupol and Volnovakha, reported Pavlo Kyrylenko, the oblast governor. Russian troops have also shelled Kharkiv Oblast, wounding two people.

Governor: 1 person killed, 1 injured in Russian attack on hospital in Kharkiv Oblast. Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Oct. 3 that the hospital building in the Kupiansk district was almost completely destroyed as a result of the attack.

International response

Reuters: $625 million US military aid package expected to include 4 HIMARS. The package, which could be announced as soon as Oct. 4, is expected to include four High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers, munitions, mines, and mine-resistant vehicles, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Oct. 3.

Bloomberg: Most valuable US chipmaker ceases Russian operations. California-based chipmaker Nvidia Corp. had already suspended its shipments to Russia but had maintained a presence there “to support our employees and their families,” the company said in a statement on Oct. 3, Bloomberg reports. It is now “ceasing all activities” in the country, the company said.

EU consumes 4 times less Russian gas than before all-out invasion. Since Russia started its full-scale war of Ukraine, the European Union has decreased its consumption of Russian natural gas from 40% to 9%, even though it has hurt the European economy, Matti Maasikas, the head of the EU delegation to Ukraine, told RBK-Ukraine. “The EU and its member states are making a purposeful effort to stop importing Russia’s gas completely,” said Maasikas.

Lithuania’s Defense Ministry: Negotiations on Ukraine joining NATO should begin now. Ukraine can count on Lithuania’s “unconditional support” in relation to NATO membership “even if it looks like an elusive goal,” said Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas, according to Lithuanian media outlet LRT. Despite the war in Ukraine, negotiations with 30 NATO member countries and other formal procedures should already begin, said Anusauskas.

Czechs crowdfund over $1 million to buy tank for Ukraine. The crowdfunding campaign was run by the Ukrainian embassy in Prague and raised 33 million Czech crowns ($1.31 million) from 11,288 donors to buy a T-72 Avenger tank that has been modernized, according to the campaign statement.

Media: Bulgarian President opposes Ukraine’s fast-track NATO accession. President Rumen Radev said on Oct. 3 that Bulgaria doesn’t support the declaration adopted by nine European countries regarding Ukraine’s NATO membership. However, he added, Bulgaria “reaffirms support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” as quoted by the BTA news agency.

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