Ukraine War Briefing: Key Developments - October 16, 2023
Here’s a summary of the latest developments in the Ukraine war as of October 16, 2023:
Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Territory & Infrastructure: Kyiv has signaled an intention to escalate strikes within Russia, specifically targeting oil infrastructure, in response to ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and the Ukrainian energy network.These Russian attacks have, at times, resulted in widespread power and heating outages affecting millions of Ukrainians.Overnight, Russia’s defense ministry reported intercepting 251 Ukrainian drones – a figure representing one of the highest daily tolls since the start of the offensive in February 2022.
Ukrainian Military Targets Key Russian Sites: Ukrainian forces successfully struck a major Russian ammunition plant, a key oil terminal, and a notable weapons depot located behind the frontline. The Sverdlov ammunition plant in the Nizhny Novgorod region of western Russia was hit, causing explosions and a fire. This plant is a crucial supplier of ordnance for Russian forces, including aviation and artillery munitions. Additionally, an oil terminal on the Russia-annexed Crimean Peninsula was struck, igniting a blaze, and an ammunition depot belonging to russia’s 18th Combined Arms Army was also targeted.
Fighting in Pokrovsk & russian Sabotage: Intense fighting is ongoing in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a strategically vital hub for Ukrainian forces. According to Dmytro Lavro, a deputy commander in Ukraine’s 25th Airborne Brigade, Russian sabotage groups are operating within the city, with clashes occurring “on the ground and in the sky.”
Foreign Components in Russian Weaponry: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Russia utilized 549 weapon systems containing 102,785 foreign-made components during a recent combined attack on ukraine on the night of October 5th. These components included parts originating from western countries.
Nord Stream Pipeline Examination & arrest: A Polish court has ruled to extend the detention of a Ukrainian diver, Volodymyr Z, wanted by Germany in connection with the 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipeline. His custody has been extended by another 40 days while a decision is made regarding his potential transfer to Germany based on a European arrest warrant.
EU Discussion on Russian Asset Use: The European Union is exploring options for utilizing approximately €210bn ($245bn) in frozen russian state assets to aid Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde stated that any decision must adhere to international law and that the ECB is closely monitoring the process. A proposed plan involves investing the Russian funds in zero-coupon bonds issued by the European Commission, backed by EU government guarantees, and then issuing a “reparations loan” to Ukraine.
Trump’s Stance on Missile Supply: (As referenced in the title) Former US President Donald Trump has indicated he would want to know Kyiv’s plans for Tomahawk missiles before agreeing to supply them.
