Wednesday, October 30

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Women representing families of Ukrainian POWs and missing persons are staging a demonstration on Oct. 29, 2024 in front of the United Nations offices in Geneva. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

Small number of North Korean troops already in Ukraine, CNN reports. “It seems that a good many of them are already in action,” one of the officials told CNN, referring to the North Koreans.

Russia claims capture of Selydove, Kyiv hasn’t confirmed. While Kyiv did not confirm whether Russia captured the town, an expert told the Kyiv Independent that Selydove is effectively “lost.”

Zelensky asked US for Tomahawk missiles as part of victory plan’s secret part, NYT reports. According to the officials, Ukraine did not manage to convince Western diplomats why it needed Tomahawks. The number of Ukraine’s targets in Russia also allegedly far exceeds the stockpiles the U.S. could hand over without jeopardizing its interests in the Middle East and Asia.

160,000 people planned to be drafted into Ukrainian forces, National Security and Defense Council head says. Some 160,000 people are planned to be drafted into Ukrainian forces, which will raise the manning of units to 85%, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Lytvynenko said on Oct. 29.

Chechnya hit by drone strike for first time, special forces university damaged. The drones hit the building of the Russian Special Forces University named after Vladimir Putin in the city of Gudermes, the independent news outlet Agentstvo reported.

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Drone strike on Chechnya possibly launched from Dagestan, Ingushetia, source claims. One of the most likely versions explaining the incident links the attack to the deadly shooting in the Moscow office of the Russian online retailer Wildberries in September and a conflict between Kadyrov and lawmakers from the neighboring Caucasus republics, the source said.

Zelensky says he ‘didn’t hear Trump say he would reduce support to Ukraine.’ Speaking at a press conference in Reykjavik, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine “understands all the risks,” including a possible change in U.S. policy, and is preparing a plan to strengthen the country internally.

Kyiv, Seoul to strengthen intelligence sharing, Zelensky says after call with South Korean president. During the phone call, the presidents agreed to “strengthen the sharing of intelligence and expertise and to intensify contacts on all levels, including on the highest level, to develop a response strategy and a list of countermeasures,” the Ukrainian president said.

South Korean delegation to visit Ukraine to share information on North Korean troops. A South Korean delegation will visit Ukraine in the second part of the week to share information on North Korea’s troops in Russia and discuss cooperation, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Oct. 28, the Yonhap news agency reported.

Fire breaks out at Slovak factory producing artillery shells for Ukraine. The fire broke out at 1:30 p.m. local time in a hydraulic press used for the three-dimensional molding of steel shell casings.

Read our exclusives

Ukraine war latest: Russia claims capture of Selydove, Kyiv hasn’t confirmed

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed on Oct. 29 that its forces had captured the town of Selydove in Donetsk Oblast, which lies close to the key logistics hub of Pokrovsk.

Photo: Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent

Ukraine facing ‘grim’ situation in Donetsk Oblast, as Russia claims capture of Selydove

Ukraine faces a “pretty grim” situation in Donetsk Oblast in the east of the country as Russian forces make some of their swiftest advances since the summer of 2022, according to experts and OSINT analysts.

Photo: Roman Pilipey /AFP via Getty Images

Georgia sinks deeper into Russian-style authoritarianism amid stolen election allegations

Critics accuse Georgia’s ruling party of stealing opposition’s victory as Tbilisi moves further into Russia’s orbit

Photo: Giorgi Arjevanidze / AFP via Getty Images

Who is Sergei Kiriyenko, Russian hawk reportedly in touch with Elon Musk?

Late last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Elon Musk, the U.S.-based oligarch with extensive influence on American politics, had been in regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022.

Photo: Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

Human cost of war

Russia’s attack on Kharkiv injures 9, damages historic Derzhprom building. Russian forces attacked downtown Kharkiv using a FAB-500 bomb on Oct. 28, injuring at least nine people. The strike damaged the Derzhprom building (the State Industry Building), under enhanced UNESCO protection since 2022.

Mediazona confirms identities of over 75,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine. Through open-source research, Mediazona, a Russian independent media outlet, together with BBC Russia, confirmed the names of 75,382 Russian soldiers who had been killed since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Opinions and insights

Opinion: If elections were held today, Poland’s pro-democracy coalition could fall

If elections were held today in Poland, Tusk’s coalition would likely fall to a right-wing alliance — but hope remains.

Photo: Aleksander Kalka/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Opinion: It’s time to admit the West is already at war with Russia

The West must confront the hard truth: we are already at war with Russia, and only unwavering resolve will prevent this conflict from igniting into a full-scale conflagration.

Photo: Aleksander Kalka/NurPhoto via Getty Images

International response

Orban lauds Georgia’s ruling party for not allowing country to become ‘second Ukraine.’ “I would like to congratulate you on the fact that… you have not allowed your country to be turned into a second Ukraine,” Viktor Orban said at a press briefing with his Georgian counterpart, Irakli Kobakhidze.

Romania’s Defense Ministry proposes downing drones violating its airspace. Romania could shoot down aircraft illegally violating its airspace based on the level of threat, according to a draft law published by the Romanian Defense on Oct. 28.

Trump’s reported plan to ‘freeze’ Russia’s war ‘unrealistic,’ Ukrainian lawmaker says. Oleksandr Merezhko, the chair of the parliament’s foreign affairs policy, said that upon taking office, Trump would soon have to “face reality” and any such plan would fail in light of political realities.

Norway announces $127 million compensation for Romanian Patriot sent to Ukraine. The funds allocated by Norway will be used to buy a new Patriot system for Romania to replace the one it handed over to Ukraine on Oct. 3.

German Rheinmetall plant in Ukraine is ‘legitimate’ target for Russia, Kremlin says. The military plant of the German concern Rheinmetall, which opened in late October in Ukraine, is a “legitimate” target for Russian attacks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Oct. 29.

US urging China to pressure withdrawal of North Korean troops from Ukraine’s front line, CNN reports. United States National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has been urging China, which maintains relations with North Korea, to put pressure on Pyongyang to withdraw North Korean troops from Ukraine’s front line, CNN reported on Oct. 29, citing a U.S. official.

In other news

North Korean troops possibly heading to front lines, language barrier causing problems, says South Korea. The assessment comes shortly after NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed on Oct. 28 that North Korea had sent troops to Russia following a meeting with South Korean defense and intelligence officials.

Ukrainian parliament approves resignation of Prosecutor General Kostin. Andriy Kostin’s resignation was supported by 255 members of parliament.

EU to increase capacity to export electricity to Ukraine to 2.1 gigawatts ahead of winter. The new limit will take effect on Dec. 1, 2024, and operators will be able to review it monthly starting in March 2025.

Ukraine facing ‘most difficult’ winter since start of full-scale war, Ukrenergo chief says. If Russia continues its onslaught of attacks against critical energy infrastructure as it did in 2023, then Ukrainians may face up to eight hours of power outages on the most “critical” days, Brekht said.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Martin Fornusek, Oleg Sukhov, Francis Farrell, Chris York, Boldizsár Győri, Kateryna Hodunova, Dmytro Basmat, and Sonya Bandouil.

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