Friday, October 11

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Ukrainian firefighters at the scene of destroyed building following Russian air attack in Druzhkivka, Donetsk Oblast on Oct. 10, 2024. (Maciek Musialek/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Zelensky presents victory plan to Starmer, meets NATO Secretary General Rutte. President Volodymyr Zelensky presented Ukraine’s victory plan to U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the former’s visit to London on Oct. 10.

Ukraine, Croatia sign bilateral agreement, vow to bolster defense cooperation. The agreement covered cooperation between defense industries and Croatian assistance in demining, as well as a strong condemnation of Russia’s war, calling it “unprovoked, unjustified and illegal.”

Ukraine confirms strike on Russian airbase in North Caucasus housing Su-34, Su-27 jets. Ukraine carried out a successful strike against Russia’s Khanskaya military airfield in the Adygea Republic, the military said.

US tech firm Anduril announces selling drones after successful tests in Ukraine. According to Anduril, their new drones will be capable of flying for 40 minutes and covering a range of 20 kilometers (12 miles).

Large fires erupt at oil depot in occupied Crimea’s Feodosia at site of previous Ukrainian strike. Two large fire erupted at an oil depot terminal in Russian-occupied Feodosia late at night on Oct. 10 at the site of a previous Ukrainian drone strike, where another blaze has been burning for four days, local media reported.

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Oil depot in occupied Crimea’s Feodosia burning for 4th day after Ukraine’s strike. Russian emergency services were unable to extinguish a fire for the fourth day after it erupted at an oil depot in Russia-occupied Feodosia, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) Crimean service reported on Oct. 10.

Ukraine’s parliament approves ‘historic’ tax hike. According to opposition lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak, the version of the bill adopted in the second reading saw several changes.

Russia responsible for 80% of foreign influence operations in the world, Czech FM says. “Russia is currently responsible for 80% of influence operations in the world. This is four times more than the rest of the world combined,” Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said at a conference in Prague on Oct. 9.

Second Russian Kinzhal missile carrier arrives in Belarus in 2 days, monitoring group says. A second Russian Mig-31K jet, capable of carrying Kinzhal missiles, landed in Belarus’ Machulishchy airport, the Belarusian Hajun monitoring group reported on Oct. 10.

Kyiv confirms death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna held in Russian captivity. The circumstances of Viktoria Roshchyna’s death are still being confirmed, said Petro Yatsenko, a spokesperson of Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

Read our exclusives

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine confirms strike on Russian airbase in North Caucasus housing Su-34, Su-27 jets

Ukrainian forces carried out a successful strike against Russia’s Khanskaya military airfield in the Adygea Republic, Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed on Oct. 10.

Photo: Andrii Kovalenko/Telegram

Russia gains Donbas ground as Ukraine’s Western allies delay weaponry talks

Russia’s grinding Donbas ground offensive makes fresh gains as Ukraine’s Western allies delay Ramstein airbase meeting key to securing more weaponry.

Photo: Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images

Human cost of war

Russian attack on Kharkiv’s outskirts injures 5. A Russian attack against the village of Cherkaska Lozova north of Kharkiv on Oct. 10 injured five people, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

Russian missile strike on Odesa Oblast hit ship with humanitarian aid for Palestine, Kyiv says. The Oct. 9 strike, which killed eight people and injured another 11, hit a Panama-flagged civilian vessel and damaged its cargo of aid. It was the third Russian attack against a civilian vessel in four days.

Opinions and insights

Opinion: JD Vance’s neutrality pitch for Ukraine is a shortcut to Putin’s next invasion

J.D. Vance’s neutrality pitch for Ukraine is a misguided shortcut to peace that only paves the way for Putin’s next invasion.

Photo: Drew Hallowell/Getty Images

Opinion: Putin’s war? The case for Russia’s collective responsibility in Ukraine

Reducing the war against Ukraine to “one man’s doing and one man’s problem” allows Russia to whitewash its image, evade the topic of collective responsibility, and create further distraction and confusion in efforts to seek justice.

Photo: Contributor/Getty Images

International response

Experts urge setting up ‘NATO bank’ to ‘Trump-proof’ alliance, Guardian reports. German and British think tanks urged decision-makers to set up a “NATO bank” to “Trump-proof” the alliance’s military spending in a report published on Oct. 9 and seen by The Guardian.

Despite mounting evidence, Russia denies North Korean soldiers are fighting in Ukraine. Earlier in October, South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-Hyun told lawmakers that North Korea was likely planning to send troops to Ukraine to fight alongside Russia.

Russia expands visa-free entry for Georgian citizens. Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a presidential decree on Oct. 10 expanding visa-free entry for Georgian citizens who are working or studying in Russia, as Moscow continues to cozy relations with Tbilisi amid concerns over the country’s democratic backsliding.

In other news

Russia claims downing over 90 Ukrainian drones amid reports of airbase strike. Local authorities in Russia’s Adygea Republic, an enclave within Krasnodar Krai, reported a drone attack “against the suburb of (the capital) of Maykop by (Ukrainian) drones.”

Ukraine’s parliament passes bill allowing foreigners to serve as officers in International Legion. Until now, volunteers could оnly fight as privates or sergeants.

Unilever concludes sale of Russian, Belarusian business to local firm. Unilever concluded the sale of its business and four factories in Russia and Belarus for an undisclosed amount to Arnest Group, a Russian manufacturer, the company announced on Oct. 10.

EBRD, IFC to provide $435 million to new Ukrainian telecom company. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) provided $435 million long-term debt for Datagroup-Volia-Lifecell, a recently merged Ukrainian telecom company, to improve telecoms service quality, the EBRD said on Oct. 10.

Kadyrov claims group of Russian lawmakers are plotting his assassination. “There are witnesses, there are people from whom they tried to commission, whom they asked how much they would take for the order,” Ramzan Kadyrov said in Chechen to other officials from the North Caucasian republic.

War risk insurance surges after recent Russian strikes on foreign vessels in Black Sea, Bloomberg reports. War risk insurance premiums for vessels traversing Ukraine’s shipping corridor in the Black Sea have increased by about 33 per cent following Russia’s recent attacks on foreign ships, Bloomberg reported on Oct. 10, citing sources in the market.

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