Ukraine Daily

Monday, October 31

Russia’s war against Ukraine

UN, Turkey, Ukraine reach deal to move 16 ships. The three parties agreed on Oct. 31 to move 16 ships that are in Turkish waters following Russia’s decision to exit the UN-backed Black Sea Grain Initiative that had allowed food exports from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, Reuters reports, citing a statement from the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul.

Bloomberg: Wheat prices soar after Russia exits grain deal. Wheat futures surged after Russia exited the UN-backed Black Sea Grain Initiative to allow grain exports from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, Bloomberg reports. If price rises continue, the recent setback in supply caused by Russia pulling out of the deal could add to global food inflation and worsen hunger, Bloomberg wrote.

Russia says it’s ready for negotiations with the West. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Oct. 30 that Russia is ready for negotiations if the West “fully takes into account the interests” of Russia and its security, as well as “offer some serious approaches that will contribute to defusing tensions,” as reported by Russian state-controlled RIA Novosti.

Governor: Russian troops blow up bridge over Krasna River in Luhansk Oblast. According to Luhansk Oblast Governor Serhii Haidai, the Russian forces are “afraid” that Ukrainian forces “are very close,” as Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the region continues.

General Staff: Russia to withdraw heavy artillery from Kherson. Russian forces plan to remove its artillery from the Dnipro River’s right bank in Kherson Oblast, which includes the city of Kherson, the General Staff reported on Oct. 30. The units that were stationed there could be transferred to other front-line areas, it wrote.

Official: Russia plants more mines around Sievierodonetsk, brings mobilized troops. The number of Russian troops has increased in the strategic city of Sievierodonetsk in Luhansk Oblast, according to the head of this city’s military administration, Oleksandr Striuk. He said Russians “mine everything around” and “build fortifications.” Russian forces have also set up a training camp for some of the recently mobilized soldiers in Sievierodonetsk, Striuk said.

Investigation: Oct. 29 drone attack likely hit Russian frigate Admiral Makarov in Sevastopol. GeoConfirmed, a group of volunteers that maps Russia’s war against Ukraine, published videos showing Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs), or ship drones, attacking the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, a port city in Russian-occupied Crimea.

UK intelligence: Wagner Group now prioritizes ‘numbers over experience or quality’ when recruiting troops. According to the U.K. Defense Ministry, the Wagner Group is recruiting Russian convicts suffering from severe diseases, including HIV and hepatitis.

Bloomberg: Russia may be using components from imported home appliances for military purposes. According to Bloomberg, the sudden rise in the European exports of home appliances to the countries neighboring Russia may be helping Moscow’s war effort.

Ambassador: Germany shouldn’t accept Russian men fleeing mobilization. Russian men fleeing mobilization in their country pose a security risk to other states, Ukraine’s new ambassador to Germany, Oleksiy Makeyev, told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag. According to him, these men are also dangerous to “all young Ukrainian women with children” abroad.

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Turkey, Russia in talks over possible resumption of Ukrainian grain exports as 218 ships stuck. Turkey has begun negotiating with Moscow concerning resuming grain shipments from Ukrainian ports, according to the country’s defense ministry.

Photo: Getty Images

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Europe’s largest tech conference withdraws invitation to pro-Kremlin speakers after backlash. Europe’s largest technology conference, Web Summit, sparked a raft of criticism in Ukraine when it invited pro-Russian speakers to its event in Lisbon in November.

Photo: Web Summit

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The human cost of Russia’s war

Governor: Russia’s attacks kill 5 civilians in Donetsk Oblast on Oct. 29. According to Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko, they were killed in the settlements of Antonivka, Pervomaiske, Druzhba, Klishchiivka, and Yelyzavetivka.

General Staff: Russia has lost 71,200 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24. Ukraine’s General Staff reported on Oct. 30 that Russia had also lost 2,672 tanks, 5,453 armored fighting vehicles, 4,120 vehicles and fuel tanks, 1,724 artillery systems, 383 multiple launch rocket systems, 197 air defense systems, 274 airplanes, 252 helicopters, 1,412 drones, and 16 boats.

International response

Blinken discusses Russia’s war with Chinese Foreign Minister. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during which Blinken raised Russia’s war against Ukraine and the threats it poses to global security and economic stability, according to a statement by the U.S. Department of State.

Turkish drone company Baykar to develop air-to-air missiles to counter kamikaze drone attacks in Ukraine. The new munitions, based on the existing Sungur air defense missiles, will be deployed on Bayraktar combat drones, including the TB2, which is currently serving in Ukraine.

Polish MFA: Russia has no intention of honoring international agreements. “Russia’s decision to suspend its participation in the grain initiative is further evidence that Russia has no intention of honoring any international agreements,” the Polish Foreign Ministry said. Poland is ready to continue working to help Ukraine and those in need to transport essential goods, the ministry added.

La Republica: Italy sends over 20 self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine. According to the Italian newspaper, from 20 to 30 US-made M109 155 mm self-propelled howitzers are to be sent to Ukraine. These M109 howitzers are part of the latest military aid package agreed upon by now-former Prime Minister Mario Draghi, La Republica reported.

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