NU.nl regularly provides an overview of the situation in Ukraine. This time: the counterattack of the Ukrainian armed forces continues unabated. Furthermore, 200,000 Russians have already traveled to neighboring Kazakhstan for fear of partial military mobilization.
Ukraine has regained territories, particularly along the Dnipro River. The river meanders through Ukraine and is a kind of natural dividing line between Ukrainian and Russian forces.
The pro-Russian leader of the southern province of Kherson, Vladimir Saldo, acknowledged that Ukraine has recaptured the city of Dudchany. Balance told Russian television that “several settlements on the western shore” are now in Ukrainian hands.
According to Ukrainian sources, the Russians are fleeing the counter-offensive and are trying to destroy bridges and roads during their retreat. But according to Russian sources and pro-Russian leaders in the city of Kherson, Ukrainians suffer huge losses, while making little territorial gains.
Last weekend, pro-Russian Russians and Ukrainians fled the city of Lyman after four months from the northeastern province of Donetsk. This defeat in an impending encirclement came the day after President Vladimir Putin announced the annexation of Donetsk.
Situation in Ukraine on 3 October
200,000 Russians have traveled to Kazakhstan since the mobilization
More than 200,000 Russians have traveled to neighboring Kazakhstan since Putin’s announcement of a partial military mobilization. Kazakh Interior Minister Marat Akhmetzhanov reports that 147,000 of them have passed, but did not share the details.
Putin announced on September 21 that 300,000 reservists were to serve in the war in Ukraine. Since then, Russians who don’t want to fight either go abroad or try to avoid being drafted in any other way, such as by hiding.
Minister Akhmetzhanov reports that 7,000 Russians arrived in Kazakhstan on Monday and 11,000 left the country. He said there are no plans to impose travel restrictions on travelers from Russia. The minister added that 68 Russians have so far applied for Kazakh citizenship.
Zelensky absolutely does not want to negotiate with Putin
President Zelensky has formally declared negotiations with Russian President Putin “impossible”. He signed a decree on the matter, but still left the door open for talks with Russia.
The decree confirms Zelensky’s statements last Friday, when Putin held a ceremony for the annexation of the Ukrainian regions of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk. Zelensky later said he would not negotiate with the Russians as long as Putin was in power. “We are ready for dialogue with Russia, but with another president,” he said at the time.
On the same day, Zelensky announced that Ukraine has requested accelerated NATO membership. Putin does not want neighboring Ukraine to join the military alliance. In the negotiations immediately after the outbreak of the war, Russia asked Ukraine to remain neutral and not to join NATO.
The released director of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant does not return
The director of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant will not return to his post, reports the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). “He is safe with his family in Ukrainian territory, but he will not continue his duties. It is not yet clear who will replace him.”
The director was released on Monday. It is not yet clear why the Russians arrested the man.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is located on the Dnipro River. It is the largest power plant in Europe and has been in the hands of Russia since the beginning of March.
