Summary of the Day:
Russian President Vladimir Putin evaded questions about North Korean military presence in Russia during the BRICS summit in Kazan, as Ukrainian intelligence reported the first North Korean units arrived in Kursk Oblast. Meanwhile, Belarusian President Lukashenko publicly opposed deploying foreign forces in Ukraine, warning such actions could trigger NATO involvement.
On the battlefield, Russian forces advanced near Kreminna and Siversk, while Ukrainian forces made progress in Kursk Oblast and near Toretsk and Pokrovsk. Ukrainian authorities launched an investigation into the alleged execution of POWs by Russian forces near Selydove, where four captured Ukrainian servicemembers were reportedly killed on October 6.
The Kremlin attempted to leverage the BRICS summit as evidence of international support for Russia, though insider sources suggest BRICS members largely don’t support Russia’s position on Ukraine. Russian state media received specific guidelines to portray Putin as a global leader and emphasize Russia’s resistance to Western isolation.
Picture of the Day:
Local resident Volodymyr, 57, looks around his damaged flat in a residential building heavily damaged following a recent air strike, in the town of Lyman, Donetsk Oblast. (Genya Savilov / AFP via Getty Images)
Beyond Ukraine – The March Towards World War
According to Ukrainian intelligence, the first North Korean military units arrived in Russia’s Kursk Oblast on October 23, with approximately 12,000 North Korean personnel, including 500 officers and three generals, being trained at several Russian facilities in Primorsky Krai, Buryatia, Amur Oblast, and Khabarovsk Krai – specifically in Ekaterinoslavka, Knyaze-Volkonskoe, Sergeevka, Ussuriysk, and Ulan-Ude, under the supervision of Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov. The United States has confirmed that 3,000 North Korean soldiers have traveled from Wan to Vladivostok for military training, with plans to send up to 10,000 troops by December. This deployment follows a military deal signed between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in June.
U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby warned that these troops would become legitimate military targets if they engage in combat in Ukraine, prompting Kyiv to urge North Korean soldiers to surrender rather than “die senselessly in a foreign land.” Ukrainian President Zelensky reports that two brigades of up to 6,000 personnel each are training in Russia, with some officers already in occupied Ukrainian territories. Recently, 18 North Korean soldiers were reportedly detained after abandoning their positions in Kursk Oblast. South Korean media suggests North Korean pilots capable of flying Russian warplanes have been sent to Ukraine, and South Korea is considering sending personnel to monitor these troops.
Belarusian President Lukashenko dismissed the reports as “rubbish,” suggesting that deploying foreign troops would escalate the conflict and potentially trigger NATO involvement. He claimed Russia has sufficient forces and doesn’t need North Korean military support, though Russian state media TASS only reported his comments about potential NATO response, omitting his criticism of using North Korean forces. China’s Foreign Ministry claims no knowledge of North Korean troops in Russia, despite confirmations from the U.S., South Korea, and Ukraine. Both North Korea and Russia deny these reports, with Putin giving an evasive response when questioned about North Korean troops. U.S. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Michael Turner has called on the Biden administration to declare North Korean military involvement in Ukraine a “red line,” suggesting potential U.S. military action if North Korean troops enter the conflict.
Uzbekistan has rejected joining the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), according to First Deputy Speaker Akmal Saidov, despite Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s August visit to Tashkent offering “business benefits.” A parliamentary commission found no advantages for Uzbekistan in joining the Russian-led alliance, which includes Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. This decision follows similar moves by other Russian allies, with Kazakhstan declining BRICS membership and Armenia freezing its participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization. While Uzbekistan maintains trade relations with Moscow and hosted President Putin in May, it continues to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity and refuses to recognize the proxy authorities in Donetsk and Luhansk.
Moldova’s police chief reported that Russia channeled $39 million through pro-Russian oligarch Ilan Shor to influence recent elections against Western integration. Despite this interference, pro-European President Maia Sandu led the first round with 42% of the vote and will face Alexandr Stoianoglo in a November 3 runoff. Authorities revealed that over 130,000 Moldovans received Russian funds to vote against EU ties and spread disinformation. Police have conducted raids and made arrests in 19 districts, finding cash-filled envelopes intended for voter bribes. Moldova, which has supported Ukraine during the war and faces concerns about conflict spillover from its Transnistria region, recently expelled Russian diplomats for espionage.
A Russian-crewed cargo plane was reportedly shot down by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Darfur on October 21 while supplying weapons to the Sudanese army in Al Fashir. The Il-74 transport plane’s crew may have included Russians Viktor Granov, who had ties to arms dealer Viktor Bout, along with Anton Selivanets and Alexander Kabanov. The incident occurs amid Sudan’s ongoing civil war between the military government of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF, where both Russia (through Wagner Group) and Ukraine have involvement, with Russia supporting the RSF and Ukrainian forces reportedly assisting the government.
The Path to Peace
President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Ukrainian civil society representatives to discuss the Victory Plan and seek their support in its implementation. During the meeting, led by International Renaissance Foundation’s Oleksandr Sushko, Zelensky emphasized the importance of unity, comparing it to the solidarity shown at the start of Russia’s invasion. He called on civil society organizations to help unite Ukrainians and the international community behind Ukraine’s cause, and promised to consider their proposals for the plan’s development.
Situation On The Land, Sea, and Air in Ukraine
Ukrainian authorities announced an investigation into the alleged execution of four Ukrainian National Guard members by Russian forces near Selydove, with their bodies discovered on October 7 after Ukrainian forces recaptured the area where they had been captured and interrogated on October 6. This incident, which occurred 18 kilometers south of Pokrovsk in an area that has recently become a focus of Russian military operations, follows a similar reported execution of two Ukrainian POWs near Selydove on October 18 and adds to the reported 102 Ukrainian POW executions by Russian forces since 2022. Ukraine’s Human Rights Ombudsman has contacted the UN and ICRC regarding these Geneva Convention violations, and the Prosecutor General’s Office has launched an investigation into the incident.
Russian officials claim they destroyed three Ukrainian drones over the Black Sea and shot down a Ukrainian missile over occupied Sevastopol.
Ukraine’s Navy reports that Russia’s Black Sea Fleet is vulnerable to Ukrainian strikes at its Novorossiysk port in Krasnodar Krai. With no alternative ports available, Russian ships are leaving the base in large groups to avoid potential Ukrainian drone attacks.
Ukrainian Operations in the Russian Federation – Initiative Russia
Ukrainian forces made advances southeast of Korenevo in Kursk Oblast establishing positions along the Snagost River near Darino and Nikolaevo-Dar’ino. Russian forces claimed advances near Sheptukhovka, Khitrovka, and Tolsty Lug, and reported control of western Novoivanovka. Fighting was reported around multiple settlements including Darino, Obukhovka, Nizhny Klin, Lyubimovka, Zeleny Shlyakh, Novoivanovka, and Plekhovo.
A Russian military blogger reported that Ukrainian forces hold positions along the railway line south of Novy Put in the Glushkovsky area of Kursk Oblast.
Ukrainian forces reported destroying a Russian Strela-10 air defense system using a drone in Kursk Oblast.
Kharkiv Front – Initiative Russia
Russian forces attacked near Vovchansk, Starytsya, and Tykhe in northern Kharkiv Oblast with no confirmed advances. Ukrainian forces reported Russian attacks near Hatyshche. A Ukrainian spokesperson noted that Russian forces have built deep fortifications in the area and haven’t used mechanized assaults recently, possibly preparing for winter conditions.
Luhansk Front – Initiative Russia
Russian forces captured Novosadove northwest of Kreminna claiming this advance enables new operations across the Zherebets River and reporting the capture of Nevske. Fighting continues along multiple areas: north of Kupyansk near Holubivka; southeast of Kupyansk around Pishchane, Kruhlyakivka, Stepova Novoselivka, and Lozova; near Vyshneve east of Svatove; and in several locations around Kreminna including Terny, Torske, and Zarichne. Russian forces also reportedly struck bridges across the Oskil River near Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi and are attempting to establish river crossings to advance toward Kupiansk, with increased military activity around Tabaivka, Pishchane, and Kolisnykivka, though Ukrainian National Guard troops have successfully prevented Russian advances across the Oskil River and recently recaptured the strategically important village of Kruhlyakivka, considered crucial for Kupiansk’s defense.
Donetsk Front – Initiative Russia
Siversk
Russian forces made progress southeast of Siversk advancing along a railroad line near the settlement of Vyimka.
Chasiv Yar
Russian forces attacked several settlements near Chasiv Yar targeting Hryhorivka to the northeast and Predtechyne, Bila Hora, and Stupochky to the south, but made no territorial gains during these attacks.
Toretsk
Ukrainian forces regained positions in central Toretsk along Dzerzhynskoho Street, despite ongoing Russian attacks in and around the area. While Russian sources claimed advances in southern Shcherbynivka and near Nelipivka, only their presence has been confirmed.
Pokrovsk
Russian forces have made Selydove their primary target, with Ukrainian sources reporting significant Russian presence in the town. A Ukrainian servicemember claimed Russians control about 85% of Selydove, though this remains unconfirmed. Ukrainian National Guard reports that fighting continues on the town’s northern and eastern outskirts, particularly near Mykhailivka. Russian forces have shifted troops from the Pokrovsk area to concentrate on Selydove, using infantry assaults and electronic warfare systems to support their advance.
Ukrainian forces launched a successful counterattack near Novohrodivka Mine No. 1/3, northeast of Selydove. Meanwhile, Russian forces continued their offensive, attacking multiple settlements east and southeast of Pokrovsk, including Myrolyubivka, Novotoretske, Promin, Mykhailivka, and several others. Russian claims of advances near Sukhyi Yar, Vyshneve, Novodmytrivka, and Novoselydivka remain unconfirmed.
Kurakhove
Russian forces attacked near Kurakhove targeting Maksymilyanivka to the east and Hostre and Dalne to the southeast. Despite deploying drone units and motorized rifle elements in the area, Russian forces made no territorial gains.
Southwest of Donetsk City
Russian forces attacked multiple settlements around Vuhledar, including Antonivka, Katerynivka, Kostyantynivka, Bohoyavlenka, Zolota Nyva, and Novoukrainka. Despite Russian claims of advances near Bohoyavlenka, no territorial gains have been confirmed.
Zaporizhia Front – Initiative Russia
Ukrainian forces successfully targeted Russian air defense systems in southern Ukraine, destroying a Buk-M2 system on October 23 using HIMARS, and a Buk-M3 system on October 20-21 about 60 kilometers from the front line.
Zaporizhia-Donetsk Border Area
There were no reports of Russian or Ukrainian military activity along the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border.
Zaporizhia Line
Russian forces launched attacks near Novodanylivka in western Zaporizhia Oblast with no confirmed territory changes. A Russian military blogger suggests Russia may increase operations in the Zaporizhia region, citing new brigades formed in occupied Kherson Oblast. However, open terrain and weather could hamper Russian advances. Meanwhile, Ukraine has reportedly increased drone strikes on Russian artillery positions in the area.
Kherson (Dnipro River) Front – Initiative Russia
Russian forces continued attacks in eastern Kherson Oblast without gaining ground. Ukrainian forces are reportedly mining the Dnipro River floodplain to prevent Russian advances.
Ukraine News
Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine using 50 drones and 4 cruise missiles from various locations. Ukrainian forces intercepted 40 drones across 11 regions, while 7 drones were disrupted by electronic warfare and 2 entered Belarusian airspace. Drone debris caused damage to businesses and a transformer in Kyiv Oblast, and a hotel in Starokostyantyniv, Khmelnytskyi Oblast.
President Volodymyr Zelensky will not sign a bill to abolish daylight saving time in Ukraine. While Parliament passed the bill in July 2023, sources indicate it will remain unsigned due to potential economic losses of several billion hryvnias. Though supporters presented the change as a step toward EU integration, Ukraine will continue its current practice of adjusting clocks twice yearly, aligning with most European countries where daylight saving time remains in effect despite ongoing debates about its future.
Innocent Victims Of War
The casualty count of civilians in the past 24 hours: (Russian War Crimes)
DEATHS: 1 INJURIES: 11
A Russian air strike on Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast, killed a 73-year-old woman and injured 11 others near a local market. The attack damaged a two-story commercial building and 12 market stalls, with casualties including eight women and three men.
The aftermath of a Russian attack on the town of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast. (Oleh Syniehubov/Telegram)
Ukrainian Mobilization and Industrial Defense Base
Ukrainian military officials met to discuss creating a dedicated cyber warfare branch of their armed forces. This would add cyberspace as a fifth operational domain alongside land, sea, air, and space capabilities. The move comes after Ukraine’s informal IT army, formed in February 2022, has conducted cyber operations against Russian targets, while Russian hackers have targeted Ukrainian government and business systems. The new branch aims to strengthen Ukraine’s cyber defense and offensive capabilities during the ongoing war with Russia.
Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar signed a new agreement with Ukraine at the Saha Expo Defense & Aerospace Exhibition in Istanbul. While specific details weren’t disclosed, the agreement comes as Baykar is building a drone manufacturing plant near Kyiv, expected to produce 120 drones annually when completed in early 2025. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha attended the signing and received a model of Baykar’s KIZILELMA supersonic drone with Ukrainian symbols. While Baykar’s Bayraktar drones were effective against Russian tanks early in the 2022 invasion, they are now primarily used for reconnaissance due to improved Russian air defenses.
Ukraine’s Allies
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced that his country might reconsider its ban on sending lethal weapons to Ukraine if North Korea deploys special forces there. While South Korean law currently prohibits weapons exports to conflict zones, Seoul might change its stance due to growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. Currently, South Korea only provides humanitarian and non-lethal aid to Ukraine, though it indirectly supplies ammunition through the U.S.
The G7 nations have agreed to provide Ukraine with a $50 billion loan in 2024, with the United States contributing $20 billion of the total. The loan will be secured by interest earned from frozen Russian assets. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen emphasized that the funds would be available by year’s end and send a message to Putin that “waiting out our coalition is a losing strategy.” President Zelensky expressed gratitude for the assistance, particularly emphasizing the importance of receiving the funds this year.
The European Parliament has approved a €35 billion ($37.84 billion) loan to Ukraine, backed by revenues from frozen Russian assets. The measure passed with 518 votes in favor, 56 against, and 61 abstentions. The loan, part of a larger G7 partners’ $50 billion aid package, will be disbursed through 2025 and is funded by profits from €210 billion in frozen Russian Central Bank assets held in the EU. The final amount might decrease if other G7 partners, including the US, UK, Canada, and Japan, contribute more than expected. The aid package requires Ukraine to maintain democratic mechanisms and includes anti-fraud measures. The loan is designed to help Ukraine finance its budget during 2025, though questions remain about whether the funds can be used for military defense.
According to Politico, seven NATO countries – the United States, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Belgium, Slovenia, and Spain – currently oppose Ukraine’s invitation to join NATO, though Ukrainian President’s spokesperson Serhiy Nykyforov disputes this report, stating that most NATO members support Ukraine’s membership. While Ukraine submitted its NATO application in September 2022 and the alliance affirmed Ukraine’s path to integration in July 2024, key leaders have expressed resistance to immediate membership: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized that a country at war cannot join NATO (despite President Zelensky’s suggestion that Germany’s position had softened), Slovak President Peter Pellegrini called immediate accession “not realistic,” and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán described President Zelensky’s Victory Plan as “horrifying” while blocking EU military aid to Ukraine.
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith has confirmed there are no immediate plans for Ukraine’s invitation, though the U.S. and Germany don’t rule out future membership, with concerns primarily focused on potential conflict with Russia. While NATO affirmed Ukraine’s path toward integration, any formal membership would only be possible after the end of the current conflict, despite NATO membership being a top priority in Zelensky’s five-point victory plan.
The United States has proposed new sanctions on Russian palladium and titanium during a G7 deputy finance ministers meeting in Washington, D.C. on October 22. While the U.S. has already banned Russian titanium, European support for broader sanctions faces challenges due to the region’s dependence on these metals, which are crucial for computer chips, automotive parts, and aerospace manufacturing. The proposal requires backing from all EU members, particularly Germany, France, and Italy. Previous sanctions on Russian metals, including aluminum, copper, and nickel, have already been implemented by the U.S. and U.K., with palladium prices rising 12% last December following London’s restrictions.
Life in Russian-Occupied Ukraine
A Wall Street Journal report reveals that Chechen figures linked to Ramzan Kadyrov now control Mariupol’s steel plants. While Azovstal was largely destroyed, the Ilyich Iron and Steel Works remains operational under new management tied to Valid Korchagin (son of Kadyrov’s lieutenant) and Yuri Murai. The plant has exported 130,000 tons of iron products worth approximately $16 million between October 2023 and March 2024. According to Metinvest, the former owner, the new management has also dismantled and relocated a $220 million production line to Russia, part of larger claims of industrial looting in occupied Ukrainian territories.
Russia News
French retail chain Auchan is finalizing negotiations to sell its Russian operations to an unnamed local buyer, French media La Lettre reported. The sale includes 94 hypermarkets and 138 supermarkets. Despite initially refusing to leave Russia in March 2022 to protect 30,000 jobs, Auchan is now moving to exit as Russia increases its “exit tax” from 10% to potentially 35%. The company, which also operates 43 stores in Ukraine, has seen its performance suffer due to the war, with operations in both countries contributing to a 378-million-euro loss last year.
Russian War Losses (Today/Total)
| Troops +1630
685910 |
Tanks +7
9097 |
Artillery +34
19753 |
Arm. VEH +33
18287 |
Aircraft
369 |
Heli
329 |
Ships
28 |
Russian Mobilization and Defense Industrial Base
Russia’s military structure includes multiple Akhmat Chechen units spread across three main organizations: the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), Ministry of Defense (MoD), and Rosgvardia. The MoD units are the only ones fighting on the frontline in Ukraine, including near Chasiv Yar and Robotyne. These include Akhmat Sever, Yug, Vostok, Rossiya, Chechnya, and Spetsnaz units. The MVD Akhmat units handle police duties, while Rosgvardia units operate behind the lines. Each unit has its own command structure, with Apty Alaudinov specifically leading the Akhmat Spetsnaz forces.
Russia has significantly increased its spending on anti-drone defenses in 2024. According to the Russian opposition outlet Agenstvo, state and private organizations have already spent 1.46 billion rubles ($15.1 million) this year, with total spending expected to reach 2 million rubles ($20.7 million) by year’s end – a 13% increase from 2023. Rostec’s Vector Research Institute estimates the market could grow even larger, potentially reaching 30 billion rubles ($311.6 million) by the end of 2024, though actual spending may be higher as some procurement data isn’t publicly available.
Controlling the Narrative and Russian Propaganda
According to Russian opposition media on October 24, the Kremlin is orchestrating a propaganda campaign around the BRICS summit in Kazan to convince domestic audiences of Russia’s international support. Russian state media received guidelines to portray Putin as a global leader and emphasize Russia’s successful resistance to Western isolation. However, insider sources claim BRICS members largely don’t support Russia’s position on Ukraine, forcing the Kremlin to downplay this issue during the summit. The Kazan Declaration suggests Russia has not yet achieved its desired level of international backing or established an alternative security structure.
At a press conference following the BRICS summit, Russian President Putin claimed that Russian forces have surrounded 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk Oblast, ignoring that Ukrainian forces maintain control of border sections allowing free movement. Putin also made an unlikely claim that Ukraine lost 26,000 troops in the Kursk region over the past month.
Source Material
Institute for the Study of War – understandingwar.org
The Kyiv Independent – kyivindependent.com
Kyiv Post – kyivpost.com