DrThe Ukrainian army says it continues to attack Russian forces in two important sectors of the front in the east and south. The General Staff in Kiev said in its report on the situation on Saturday morning that, south of the city of Bakhmut in the east, “partial success” had been achieved in the village of Andreyivka.
While Bakhmut itself is in Russian hands, the Ukrainians have recaptured a strategically important railway south of it in recent weeks. They are now extending their positions on the other side of the track.
It was said that on the southern front in the Zaporozhye region, „partial successes” were also achieved north of the villages of Kobani and Novoprokopivka. In this area, Ukrainian forces have been making their way through Russian defense lines heavily fortified with minefields, anti-tank barriers and trenches for weeks. The fighting in Kobani and Novoprokopivka suggests that the Ukrainians are expanding their penetration point into Russian defences.
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11:50 am – Ukraine condemns the Hamas attack as an act of terrorism
Ukraine condemned the surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian extremist Islamic movement Hamas, describing it as a terrorist act and declaring its solidarity with Israel. “Ukraine strongly condemns the ongoing terrorist attacks against Israel, including rocket attacks on the civilian population in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv,” the Foreign Ministry in Kiev said on the X electronic platform. The statement continued that Ukraine supports Israel in its right to defend itself and its people.
11:40 AM – Ukraine has increased drone production by a hundredfold
According to Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal, Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia, has increased its production of drones a hundredfold in the past year. According to media reports on Saturday in Kiev, he said that 200 companies alone have begun developing new drones. “Now the path of the drone from development to purchase is as short as possible,” Shmyhal said in a question session in parliament. The Ukrainian defense industry has changed its approach and the state-owned arms company Ukroboronprom has been modernized.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, drone warfare has changed several times. While Ukraine initially had an advantage with its drones from the Turkish company Bayraktar, Russia later caused serious damage to Iran’s Shahed drones, which were widely used. Both sides fly small reconnaissance planes and drones over the battlefield so that no movement goes unnoticed. Drone attacks as far away as Moscow in recent months show that Ukraine is building aircraft with longer ranges, even if the explosive payload carried is still small.
10:52 AM – Current status
9:52 AM – NATO Secretary General praises Germany for delivery of Patriot missiles
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg praised Germany’s announcement of the delivery of another Patriot air defense system to Ukraine. Stoltenberg told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that he welcomed the announcement. “We can expect more Russian attacks on the Ukrainian power grid. Air defense is critical to saving Ukrainian lives.” Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) promised to deliver the plane on Thursday on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit.
Meanwhile, Stoltenberg told the newspaper: “I understand concerns that our support for Ukraine carries the risk of escalation, but the risk pales in comparison to allowing Putin to win this war.” He is likely to use violence again in his war of aggression in Ukraine.
Stoltenberg also commented on the continuing threats from Moscow of the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. Russian nuclear rhetoric is completely irresponsible, but the risk of Russia using nuclear weapons remains low. Moscow knows that a nuclear war can never be won and should never be waged. He added: “Of course, we continue to closely monitor Russian activities. NATO is a nuclear alliance, and nuclear deterrence has worked for 75 years.
9:10 am – Steinmeier concerned about US aid
During his visit to Washington, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed concern about further US aid to Ukraine due to the paralysis in Congress. “I am one of many in Germany who have watched this not only with interest but also with concern,” Steinmeier said on Friday after meeting with US President Joe Biden, aimed at confronting the unrest following the removal of the sanctions law. Republican Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy.
“We felt the tensions here in political Washington,” Steinmeier continued. He very much hopes that there will be a “solution” that allows for agreements to be reached between Democrats in Biden’s party and the opposition Republicans. “This of course also includes continued support for Ukraine,” he added. “President Biden was confident that this would work.”
Steinmeier said that Germany and the United States have stood firmly by Ukraine „since the beginning of Russia’s brutal war of aggression.” “People in Ukraine know that what Germany promised will be fulfilled. You can count on Germany,” Biden assured him that the United States could be counted on as well. “That’s why it was important for President Biden and me to send this signal together today: We will continue to support Ukraine in its fight for its country, its freedom, and its democracy.”
Steinmeier traveled to Washington on Friday in a visit that was announced at short notice, and was received by President Biden at the White House. The official reason for the trip was German-American Friendship Day, celebrated in the United States on October 6. An important topic of conversation was Ukraine’s continued support in its defense against Russia’s war of aggression.7:48 AM – Moscow reports the presence of a Ukrainian drone near Moscow
the Russian army According to his own statements An incoming Ukrainian drone was shot down near Moscow on Saturday morning. The plane was intercepted over the city of Istra, which borders the Russian capital from the west. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin also confirmed the shooting. There was no damage to the ground due to falling debris. As happened in recent weeks, the drone disrupted air traffic at Moscow’s Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo airports. There was a temporary stop there and individual flights were cancelled.
6:04 AM – NATO Secretary General praises delivery of German weapons to Ukraine
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg praised the German decision to supply another Patriot air defense system to Ukraine, which is under Russian attack. “I welcome Germany’s announcement that it will send another Patriot air defense system to Ukraine,” Stoltenberg told WELT AM SONNTAG. He added: “I understand concerns that our support for Ukraine carries the risk of escalation, but the risk pales in comparison to allowing Putin to win this war.” If Putin wins the war in Ukraine, he will likely use violence again.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had previously justified his decision not to deliver Taurus cruise missiles with a range of up to 500 kilometers to the war zone despite urgent requests from Ukraine at the moment with the risk of escalation. Schulz specifically said it must be ensured „that the war does not escalate and that Germany does not become part of the conflict.” Instead, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky promised another Patriot air defense system for the winter months on the sidelines of the European summit in Granada, Spain.
6:10 am – More than 110 war crimes
Since the Russian attack on Ukraine, Berlin police have counted more than 1,100 war-related crimes. Most of the cases involved damage to property, insults and threats to people, with the Senate and the police responding to several inquiries from the Left Party.
About 650 works had a general connection with the war, about 230 of which were anti-Russian and another 200 were anti-Ukrainian. Then there were other actions directed against Belarus or Poland.
There have also been isolated attacks on Russians or Ukrainians. Restaurants, companies or institutions with ties to Russia or Ukraine were also damaged. According to police figures, these crimes were recorded most often in the Mitte area, perhaps because that is where most of these facilities are located.
The State Criminal Police Office (LKA) reported on the threat faced by Ukrainians and Russians: “There is no change in the identifiable threat situation.” The number of cases peaked at the beginning of May 2022 and has declined continuously since then. then. At the same time, the number of demonstrations and their participants also decreased.
5:59 AM – Russian missiles hit Odessa
The coastal city of Odessa in southern Ukraine was the target of Russian missile attacks on Saturday evening. Ukrainian media reported this morning that a residential building and a grain warehouse were bombed.
The Russian army launched „Onyx” missiles, which are usually used against naval targets, from launch sites in the occupied Crimean Peninsula. Initially, there was no information available about potential victims.