Ukraine Daily

Wednesday, October 5

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Surviving horses are seen in Yackivka village, Kharkiv region on October 4, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Anatolii Stepanov / AFP) (Photo by ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP via Getty Images)

Ukrainian army confirms liberation of eight villages in Kherson Oblast. Ukrainian troops liberated the villages of Lyubymivka, Khreshchenivka, Zolota Balka, Biliaivka, Ukrainka, Velyka Oleksandrivka, Mala Oleksandrivka, and Davydiv Brid, Operational Command South said. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that dozens of settlements had been liberated in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson oblasts during the past week. “Ukrainian forces are moving fast and powerful in the south as part of the ongoing defensive operation,” Zelensky said in an evening address.

ISW: Ukraine continues to make simultaneous advances in Kherson, Kharkiv and Luhansk oblasts. The Institute for the Study of War reported that Ukraine’s interdiction campaign is crippling Russian attempts to transfer additional ammunition, reserves, mobilized men, and means of defense to front-line positions. The experts noted that Ukrainian forces liberated several settlements on the eastern bank of the Inhulets Rive, forcing Russian troops to retreat toward Kherson. They have also severed two Russian ground communication lines in northern Kherson Oblast, pushing Russian units south of the Kherson-Dnipropetrovsk Oblast border toward the Beryslav area.

Russian parliament approves annexation of Ukrainian occupied territories. The Federation Council, the Russian parliament’s upper house, on Oct. 4 unanimously rubber-stamped the illegal annexation following its approval by the Constitutional Court and the State Duma, the parliament’s lower house. To become Russian law, the annexation bill must be signed by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. On Sept. 30, Putin signed treaties to illegally annex Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts after staging sham referendums in the areas. The United Nations, the U.S., and other Western countries have opposed the annexation of the Ukrainian territories by Russia.

Forbes Russia: 700,000 people have left Russia since mobilization began. Forbes Russia cited sources close to Russia’s Presidential Administration. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin announced the mobilization of conscripts for the war against Ukraine on Sept. 21. In early September Russia’s state statistics agency estimated that 419,000 people had left Russia since Jan. 1 - a figure that reflects massive emigration since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. This is double the number of Russians who emigrated in the same period in 2021.

Official: NATO secretary-general receives Ukraine’s bid for membership. Ambassadors of NATO member states will discuss the application in Brussels, Ihor Zhovkva, a deputy head of the President’s Office, said. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sept. 30 that Ukraine would apply for fast-track NATO accession shortly after Russian dictator Vladimir Putin declared the illegal annexation of four Ukrainian regions. Nine European countries have signed a joint statement in favor of Ukraine joining NATO.

Russian forces strike Kyiv Oblast with kamikaze drones. Kyiv Oblast Governor Oleksiy Kuleba reported early on Oct. 5 that Russian forces targeted the city of Bila Tserkva with kamikaze drones. Bila Tserkva is located 80 kilometers south of Kyiv. According to the governor, an infrastructure object caught fire and one person was injured following the attack. The rescue operation and fire extinguishing are ongoing. Kuleba urged residents to remain in shelters.

Governor: Russians try to set up border in Zaporizhzhia Oblast after annexation. The attempt to create a border follows Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts. As a result of the annexation, Russian authorities have banned local men of the age subject to conscription from leaving Russian-occupied territories in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Governor Oleksandr Starukh said.

UK intelligence: Late start of autumn conscription shows Russia’s poor mobilization abilities. Russian routine autumn conscription cycle will begin on Nov. 1, a month later than usual, which indicates the “growing pressures on Russia’s ability to train and equip a large number of new conscripted personnel,” the U.K. Defense Ministry reports.

Read our exclusives here

Life near Russian-occupied nuclear plant: ‘I don’t know if tomorrow will come.’ When Russian soldiers captured Enerhodar, the satellite city of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in early March, it was a shock for Anastasiia, one of roughly 50,000 residents of the city.

Illustration: Karolina Gulshani

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Ukraine war latest: Ukraine advances 30 kilometers in Kherson Oblast, settlements liberated. Ukraine continues to make substantial gains in Kherson Oblast, occupied by Russia since March. Ukrainian soldiers have published videos from previously occupied settlements – Arkhangelske, Starosillia, Velyka Oleksandrivka, Davydiv Brid, and Dudchany.

Photo: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images

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The human cost of Russia’s war

Russia’s attacks kill 1 in Donetsk Oblast, injure 4 in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. In the past 24 hours, Russian forces have killed one civilian in Krasnohorivka and wounded two in Kramatorsk and Bakhmut, reported Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko on Oct. 4. They have also attacked Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, with Grad multiple launch rocket system and artillery, wounding four people and damaging over 30 high-rise residential buildings and private houses.

International response

Pentagon to send HIMARSs, howitzers, artillery rounds to Ukraine. The U.S. Department of Defense provided a breakdown of its new $625 million security assistance package for Ukraine. The package includes four High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and associated ammunition; 16 155mm howitzers; 75,000 155mm artillery rounds; 500 precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds, and 1,000 155mm rounds of Remote Anti-Armor Mine (RAAM) Systems. Other items on the list are 16 105mm howitzers; 30,000 120mm mortar rounds; 200 MaxxPro Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles; 200,000 rounds of small arms ammunition; obstacle emplacement equipment, and Claymore anti-personnel munitions.

Ukraine to receive 5 billion euros from EU in three tranches. Ukraine will receive the macro-financial assistance package in October, November, and December, Reuters reported, citing European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis.

Estonian president calls Ukraine ‘worthy ally,’ backs its NATO bid. “Ukraine has proven to be a worthy ally, so it’s time to move forward with the promises made in Bucharest in 2008,” Estonian President Alar Karis said on Oct. 4, referring to the summit, at which NATO members agreed that Ukraine would join the alliance.

Ukraine to receive $500 million loan from World Bank. The loan will meet Ukraine’s urgent needs caused by Russia’s war. “(The loan is guaranteed by) the United Kingdom and Denmark: the loan repayment period is 19 years with a five-year grace period. The interest rate is 0.25% per annum,“ Ukraine’s Finance Ministry said. The loan will help cover pension payments and certain state social programs, support for low-income families, children with disabilities, IDPs, and healthcare programs, the ministry said.

Biden announces $625 million security assistance package for Ukraine. Following a call with President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. President Joe Biden pledged to continue supporting Ukraine as it defends itself from Russian aggression for as long as it takes, the White House said. The security assistance package includes HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, artillery systems, ammunition, and armored vehicles. President Biden also affirmed the continued readiness of the United States to impose severe costs on any individual, entity, or country that provides support to Russia’s purported annexation.

The Times: Putin prepares to test nuclear weapons on Ukraine’s borders. A train operated by the Russian secretive nuclear division was spotted in central Russia moving towards Ukraine, The Times reports, citing Poland-based defense analyst Konrad Muzyka. This move “could be a form of signaling to the West that Moscow is escalating” or preparing for a “strategic deterrence exercise,” said Muzyka. NATO has already warned its allies about possible nuclear tests by Russia, according to The Times.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Denys Krasnikov, Dinara Khalilova, Oleg Sukhov, Oleksandr Khrebet, Brad LaFoy, and Olena Goncharova.

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