Thursday, October 17

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A man looks at the sky while hearing artillery explosions as he cleans debris next to a damaged house following a recent air attack in a village outside of Kostyantynivka, in the eastern Donetsk Oblast, on Oct.16, 2024. (Photo by Roman Pilipey / AFP via Getty Images)

Zelensky unveils Ukraine’s victory plan, says it’s doable but ‘depends on our partners.’ The proposal is comprised of five points: an invitation to join NATO, a defense aspect, deterrence of Russian aggression, economic growth and cooperation, and post-war security architecture. The plan involves three secret addenda that have been shared with international partners. David Arakhamia, the ruling party’s parliamentary leader, said the classified parts would be presented to faction leaders.

51 of 136 Russian drones downed in mass overnight attack on Ukraine, Air Force says. Sixty drones were “lost” due to electronic warfare in a number of regions, while 20 more drones were flying over Ukraine at the time of publication, according to the statement. Two more drones flew back toward Russia.

Ukraine reportedly reclaims territory in north of Kharkiv Oblast, almost entire Russian regiment destroyed. According to HUR, Ukrainian soldiers captured a Russian battalion defense area, destroyed three motorized rifle battalions, a Storm platoon, and a reconnaissance company of Russia’s Seventh Separate Motorized Rifle Regiment.

Ukraine approves ‘electronic warfare resistant’ domestic-made Chaklun drone for military use. The drone can help adjust artillery fire and is resistant to Russian electronic warfare means thanks to “high-tech materials,” the Defense Ministry said.

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Technical malfunction leads to large-scale power outages in Ukraine’s south. Ukraine’s state-owned energy company Ukrenergo said later during the day that the outages were caused by unspecified “technical reasons” and that the repairs are underway. The energy supply should resume “within hours.”

SBU arrests Ukrenergo security head for allegedly justifying Russia’s war, supporting murder of civilians. The media outlet RBC-Ukraine reported, citing unnamed sources, that the individual in question was Oleh Hrybenko, who is reportedly responsible for maintaining the security of critical infrastructure facilities.

Missile fragments found in Moldova by Ukrainian border. Missile fragments were found near the Moldovan village of Lencauti, located just 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the Ukrainian border, the country’s border police reported on Oct. 16.

Read our exclusives

Ukraine war latest: US announces $425 million in security aid for Ukraine, Zelensky says package includes long-range weapons

North Korea has sent 10,000 soldiers to Russia to boost its war efforts against Ukraine, a Western diplomat familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent on Oct. 15.

Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Russia has reportedly made gains in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Should Ukraine expect a broader offensive?

Fears of a larger Russian offensive in Zaporizhzhia Oblast are growing as Russian forces have reportedly made progress along the border between Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts and intensified air strikes on the regional capital.

Photo: Ozge Elif Kizil/Anadolu via Getty Images

Opinions and insights

Opinion: Pakistan can’t walk the tightrope between Russia and the West forever

“In a context where Russia is increasingly alienating itself from the global community due to its war in Ukraine, why is a large, developing South Asian country so keen on rapprochement?” writes Aisha Ryan, programs and partnerships manager at Adam Smith International.

Photo: Kremlin Press Office/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

As Saudi oil hike tests Russia’s war-railed economy, Israeli strikes on Iran could offer boost

Saudi Arabia’s oil production hike plan may not break Russia’s petro-export-fueled economy, but escalations between Iran and Israel would be a gold rush for Moscow.

Photo: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images

International response

US announces $425 million in security aid for Ukraine, Zelensky says package includes long-range weapons. The new package will consist of “additional air defense capability, air-to-ground munitions, armored vehicles, and critical munitions to meet Ukraine’s urgent needs,” the White House said in a statement.

Biden to meet UK, German, French leaders in Berlin this week, CNN reports. U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to meet the leaders of Germany, France, and the U.K. in Berlin later this week after his earlier visit was postponed due to Hurricane Milton, CNN reported on Oct. 16, citing three unnamed Western officials.

France’s first ‘kamikaze’ drones to arrive in Ukraine ‘in the coming weeks.’ France successfully tested its first ‘kamikaze’ drones and will deliver them to Ukraine “in the coming weeks,” French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Oct. 16, BFMTV reported.

UK preparing suggestions to Ukraine’s victory plan, Syrskyi says. Following a conversation with the U.K. counterpart, Tony Radakin, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said that they discussed the possibility of hitting Russian military targets “in operational and strategic depth.”

Scholz says he is open to talk to Putin about peace in Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized that he would speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin “if asked” but stressed that no decisions would be made without the input of Ukraine or other Western allies.

Australia to give Ukraine almost 50 US-made Abrams tanks. The tanks will be delivered as part of a larger package of military aid worth 245 million Australian dollars ($163 million).

NATO Secretary General Rutte announces Ukraine-NATO Council meeting. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that the next meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council is scheduled for Oct. 17. The meeting will bring together defense ministers from NATO member states alongside Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Investigation: Shattering secrecy of Putin’s top spy chief

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Martin Fornusek, Kateryna Denisova, Lili Bivings, Nate Ostiller, Olena Goncharova, and Dmytro Basmat.

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