October 26, 2023
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 06:29 Hardly any changes on the front – but isolated advances by both warring parties +++
According to the Ukrainian General Staff, there is heavy fighting on the almost 1,000 kilometer long front in the east and south of Ukraine, but there are hardly any changes. The Ukrainian army repelled Russian attacks in the towns of Kupyansk, Lyman, Bakhmut and Avdiivka, the situation report for Wednesday said. For its part, Ukraine is continuing attacks near Bakhmut in the east and Werbowe in the south. The military information cannot be independently verified. The Kiev General Staff did not comment on alleged Ukrainian advances on the Russian-occupied bank of the Dnipro in the southern Kherson region. Military bloggers reported this. As the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) writes in its daily situation report, the Ukrainian armed forces advanced slightly in the west of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Published geolocated images also show that the Ukrainian armed forces made further minor advances west of Robotyne. Russian forces, on the other hand, conducted offensive operations near Avdiivka and achieved a confirmed advance, according to the US think tank.
+++ 06:01 “Pressure on the terrorist state”: Zelenskyj calls for stricter technology sanctions +++
Before the EU crisis summit (see entry at 1:44 a.m), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj is calling for tougher technical sanctions against the aggressor Russia. “The sanctions against Russia must be expanded and strengthened,” Zelensky said in a video speech. This is exactly what he will tell the EU heads of state and government. The Ukrainian president is to join the meeting via video. According to Zelensky, many parts from other countries, including those from Western companies, are used in the combat drones and missiles that Russia uses against Ukraine. Moscow could circumvent the sanctions too easily. Every Russian attack on Ukrainian infrastructure is “evidence that the pressure on the terrorist state is not enough.”
+++ 05:30 Several countries condemn North Korean arms deliveries to Russia +++
South Korea, Japan and the United States condemn North Korea’s supply of weapons and military equipment to Russia. “Such arms deliveries, several of which we have now confirmed, will significantly increase the number of victims of Russia’s war of aggression,” said a joint statement. North Korea is seeking military support from Russia in return for arms deliveries to improve its own military capabilities. However, any arms deals with North Korea would violate several UN Security Council resolutions that the government in Moscow itself voted for, it continues. North Korea and Russia committed to closer military cooperation at a meeting of their heads of state in September. Both countries have always denied supplying weapons from North Korea for use against Ukraine.
+++ 03:56 Zelenskyj: Russia probably attacked nuclear power plant with drones +++
Ukrainian President Zelensky accuses Russia of probably targeting the Khmelnytsky nuclear power plant with a drone attack. A strong explosion shattered windows at the plant last night, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Operations were not interrupted, but the power supply to radioactivity measuring stations was temporarily interrupted. “The fact that numerous windows at the facility were destroyed shows how close it was. Next time we may not be so lucky,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.
+++ 01:44 EU countries discuss further aid package for Kiev +++
The heads of state and government of the European Union are meeting in Brussels this afternoon for their autumn summit. The dominant theme is the war in the Middle East. There was currently no consensus on the text of the planned final declaration. It is also about further support for Ukraine. According to Berlin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj could join the deliberations via video. A planned aid package for Kiev of around 70 billion euros is not yet ready for decision. Germany and other countries are pushing for shifts in the EU budget due to the tense economic situation. Other summit topics include migration and the European Union’s multi-year budget.
+++ 23:15 Russia claims to have shot down Ukrainian ATACMS +++
According to Moscow, Russian air defense has shot down two longer-range ATACMS missiles fired by Ukraine at Russian targets. The Russian Defense Ministry reported the shootdown in one of its regular reports on the war in Ukraine, which Moscow still describes as a “special military operation.” No further details are given. According to state media, it was the first launch of its kind. Ukraine had requested the missiles from the USA because of their longer range.
+++ 21:53 Ukrainian GDP increases despite war +++
Ukraine’s gross domestic product rose around 9.1 percent in September compared to a year earlier, as the battered country’s economy slowly recovers from the devastation caused by Russia’s invasion last year. However, ongoing fighting, disrupted logistics and attacks on the energy system remain major obstacles to growth. According to the Ministry of Economy, GDP rose 5.3 percent in the first nine months of the year compared to last year, when Russia launched its attack. “In addition to the low statistical basis for comparison, this is also explained by the economy’s high ability to adapt to new challenges as well as the support from the state and international partners,” it says.
+++ 21:13 Europe continues to import Russian raw materials worth almost 14 billion euros +++
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has continued to import “critical” raw materials worth billions of euros from Russia, research group Investigate Europe reports. Statistics show that between March 2022 and July 2023, European countries imported raw materials worth 13.7 billion euros from Russia. While certain raw materials such as oil, coal and steel are covered by EU sanctions, there are 34 minerals that are classified as “critical” by the EU and are therefore not subject to restrictions, the report said.
You can read more about the events of the previous day here.