Lukashenko is a ‘low-cost partner’ to Putin, says leader of Belarusian Democratic Movement
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Aleksandr Lukashenko are in a “fake friendship” with either side just using one another, in accordance with Belarusian Democratic Movement leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
“They use one another because … Lukashenko is a loyal partner … very low-cost partner, I might say, who gives [Putin] territory to attack Ukraine,” she told CNBC’s Hadley Gamble on Tuesday.
In February, Lukashenko hosted Russian troops and equipment, and permitted Russia to make use of Belarus as a staging post for its invasion of Ukraine.
The opposition leader described the connection of the 2 leaders as a symbiotic one.
“Without Putin, Lukashenko won’t survive the events of 2020. So that they need one another, they usually use one another.”
Lukashenko claimed victory within the 2020 Belarusian presidential election, which was contested by Tsikhanouskaya at that time limit.
The victory of Ukraine against Russia is “crucial for Belarus,” the democratic leader emphasized, “because this victory will give us opportunity, one movement of opportunity to apprise and to do away with the [Putin’s] regime.”
“That is why it is so essential for [everyone] to support Ukrainians as much as we will.”
— Lee Ying Shan
Zelenskyy says it is a matter of time before Ukraine expels Russian troops
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy is pictured during his regular address to the nation, Kyiv, capital of Ukraine.
Ukrinform | Future Publishing | Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was only a “matter of time” before his war-weary country expels Russian troops.
“Today now we have excellent news from the front lines. First: the Ukrainian army is making pretty fast and powerful movements within the south of our country as part of the present defense operation,” Zelenskyy said on a nightly Telegram update.
“Dozens of settlements have already been liberated from the Russian pseudo-referendum this week alone. That is in Kherson region, Kharkiv region, Luhansk region and Donetsk region together,” he said, adding, “that is removed from a whole list.”
“Our soldiers aren’t stopping. And it’s only a matter of time before we expel the occupier from all of our land.”
— Amanda Macias
World Bank estimates Ukraine’s war-torn economy will sink 35% in 2022
Destruction after an apartment constructing hit by Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine on March 14, 2022.
Alejandro Martinez | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Devastated by Russia’s invasion eight months ago, the Ukrainian economy will plunge 35% this 12 months, the World Bank forecast.
The war has destroyed factories and farmland and displaced tens of millions of Ukrainians. The World Bank, a 189-country anti-poverty agency, estimates that rebuilding the country will cost a minimum of $349 billion, 1.5 times the dimensions of Ukraine’s prewar economy.
“Ukraine continues to wish enormous financial support because the war needlessly rages on in addition to for recovery and reconstruction projects,” said Anna Bjerde, World Bank vice chairman for Europe and Central Asia.
Still, the bank’s assessment for Ukraine’s economy marks an upgrade from the 45.1% freefall it forecast in June. And it expects that the Ukrainian economy will return to growth in 2023, expanding 3.3% — though the outlook is very uncertain and can rely on the course of the war.
Meanwhile, the Russian economy, hammered by Western sanctions, is anticipated to shrink each years — by 4.5% in 2022 and three.6% next 12 months. In June, nevertheless, the bank had predicted the Russian economy would fare even worse this 12 months, shrinking by 8.9%. The energy-producing Russian economy has proven surprisingly resilient, helped by a surge in oil and natural gas prices.
— Associated Press
White House calls on Moscow to simply accept offer for detained Americans in Russia
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre holds the every day press briefing on the White House in Washington, September 23, 2022.
Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
The Biden administration reiterated its calls to bring detained U.S. residents Paul Whelan and WNBA star Brittney Griner home from Russia.
“We wish Russia to take the offer we placed on the table, a considerable offer, seriously, or they will make a serious counter offer but they should make a serious counter offer,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a every day briefing. She added that President Joe Biden “is committed to creating every effort to bring them home.”
Jean-Pierre’s comments follow a Russian court’s decision to listen to Griner’s appeal after she was convicted on drug charges and sentenced to nine years in prison.
“We’re aware of Russia’s announcement that Britney Griner shall be forced to undergo one other sham judicial proceeding, she must be released immediately,” Jean-Pierre said, referring to the upcoming hearing.
— Amanda Macias
Latest U.S. weapons package for Ukraine brings commitment to $16.8 billion since Russia invaded
Pro-Russian separatist forces are seen within the Donetsk Oblast in eastern Ukraine on May 28, 2022.
Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
The Biden administration announced one other $625 million military aid package for Ukraine on Tuesday, bringing the U.S. commitment to greater than $16.8 billion since Russia invaded the country in late February.
The newest weapons package includes 4 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, in addition to munitions for those systems, 16 155mm and 105mm Howitzers, 75,000 155mm artillery rounds, 500 precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds, 1,000 155mm rounds of Distant Anti-Armor Mine, or RAAM systems, 200 mine-resistant armored vehicles and 200,000 rounds of small arms ammunition.
“Recent developments from Russia’s sham referenda and attempted annexation to recent revelations of brutality against civilians in Ukrainian territory formerly controlled by Russia only strengthens our resolve,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote in a press release announcing the twenty second weapons installment.
“The capabilities we’re delivering are fastidiously calibrated to make probably the most difference on the battlefield and strengthen Ukraine’s hand on the negotiating table when the time is correct,” Blinken added.
— Amanda Macias
Biden speaks with Zelenskyy and publicizes recent $625 million security assistance package
President Biden has warned Putin that the U.S. and its allies are willing to impose swift and severe costs on Russia.
Courtesy: The White House
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy concerning the war in Ukraine and reiterated that the U.S. “won’t ever recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Ukrainian territory.”
Biden told Zelenskyy that his administration would support Kyiv “for so long as it takes,” in accordance with the White House readout of the decision. The U.S. president also said he approved a recent $625 million security assistance package for Ukraine’s fight against Russia.
“Biden also affirmed the continued readiness of the USA to impose severe costs on any individual, entity, or country that gives support to Russia’s purported annexation,” the readout added.
— Amanda Macias
Greater than 260 vessels carrying agricultural products have left Ukrainian ports since exports restarted
Barbados-flagged general cargo ship Fulmar S is pictured within the Black Sea, north of the Bosphorus Strait, in Istanbul, Turkey August 5, 2022.
Mehmet Caliskan | Reuters
The organization overseeing the export of agricultural products from Ukraine said that greater than 260 vessels have left the besieged country since ports reopened.
The Joint Coordination Center, an initiative of Ukraine, Russia, the United Nations and Turkey, said the ships transported a complete of 5.9 million metric tons of grain and other food products.
In July, three of Ukraine’s ports were reopened to exports under the U.N.-backed Black Sea Grain Initiative.
— Amanda Macias
Ukraine’s elderly and disabled at higher risk of death because of lack of access to evacuation routes and shelter
An area resident, Raisa Kuval, 82, reacts next to a damaged constructing partially destroyed after a shelling in town of Chuguiv, east of Kharkiv, on July 16, 2022.
Sergey Bobok | AFP | Getty Images
Lots of Ukraine’s elderly and disabled persons are unable to access evacuation routes or shelter, the U.N. warned in a recent report.
About 13%of individuals in need of humanitarian assistance in Ukraine have a disability, in accordance with the U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA.
“And now, with the escalation of the fighting, air attacks, and Russian troops within the country, older people and individuals with disabilities are at high risk of losing their lives, having difficulty accessing secure evacuation and lacking dignified shelter and access to humanitarian assistance,” the authors of the brand new report added.
“Individuals with disabilities often cannot reach train stations and shelters, that are incessantly inaccessible for individuals with limited mobility,” the report added.
— Amanda Macias
Lack of coaching and supplies will proceed to plague Russian troops and mobilized recruits
Service members of pro-Russian troops load ammunition into an armoued personnel carrier during fighting in Ukraine-Russia conflict within the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 12, 2022.
Alexander Ermochenko | Reuters
The British Ministry of Defense said Russia likely could have difficulty training and equipping the lots of of hundreds of troops recently mobilized to fight in Ukraine.
Because the early days of the war, Russian forces on the bottom in Ukraine have been beset with a slew of logistical problems on the battlefield, including reports of fuel and food shortages.
“The challenges of accommodating, training, equipping and deploying mobilized and conscripted personnel are significant,” the Ministry of Defense wrote in an intelligence update.
“Deficiencies inside the Russian administrative and logistical systems will proceed to undermine these efforts,” the update added.
— Amanda Macias
Ukraine unlikely to have the option to affix NATO while war ongoing, former commander says
Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) from 2013-2016, Philip Mark Breedlove attends a session on the Warsaw Security Forum in 2016.
Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Ukraine applied for a fast-track entry to the NATO military alliance last week after Russia annexed more of its territories following a set of sham referendums, but a top former military commander has said Ukraine is most unlikely to have the option to affix the bloc while the war is ongoing.
“The demonstrated history of NATO is that they don’t seem to be going to bring a nation in that’s in the midst of a border dispute or has occupied land,” Philip Breedlove, former commander of U.S. European Command, seventeenth Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO Allied Command Operations, told CNBC Tuesday.
“They are not going to bring them in because then the entire alliance is committed to go straight to Article 5 [the principle that an attack on one member of NATO is an attack on all members] and so until this issue with Russia occupying Ukrainian land is over I do not think there’s going to be a fast-track” to NATO membership, he said.
“I support it, I applaud Mr. Zelenskyy but I’m just being a realist,” he told CNBC’s Hadley Gamble on the sidelines of the Warsaw Security Forum.
Breedlove said Ukraine’s successes on the battlefield in recent weeks represent a “fundamental shift” within the war, but that the nuclear threat posed by Russia is larger than ever.
Breedlove said Russian President Vladimir Putin was now facing an existential fight “as he starts to lose ground” and that the nuclear threat posed by Russia had grown because the war was not going Russia’s way.
“Two months ago I might’ve told you that [the threat] was credible but highly unlikely. Now I might let you know that it’s credible and the chance is greater than it was two months ago,” he said.
— Holly Ellyatt
The nuclear threat is ‘absolutely credible,’ says retired Lt. General Ben Hodges
Retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, former commanding general for the U.S. Army in Europe, says the nuclear threat is “absolutely credible,” but there isn’t any battlefield advantage for President Putin to make use of it.
200,000 have joined army after mobilization, Russian defense minister says
Russia’s Ministry of Defense has seen 200,000 people reply to the mobilization announced by President Putin on Sept. 21, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed Tuesday.
“Today, greater than 200,000 people have arrived within the armed forces,” he said in accordance with comments reported by Ria Novosti, adding that the training of personnel is being carried out at 80 training grounds and in six training centers.
Much attention has been focused on Russia’s mobilization with analysts saying that Russian reservists being called up are prone to be poorly-trained, inexperienced and ill-equipped fighters.
Reservists drafted through the partial mobilisation attend a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea, on September 27, 2022.
Stringer | AFP | Getty Images
The decision-up also prompted tens of hundreds of eligible fighting men to attempt to flee the country with queues forming on the border with neighboring countries like Finland and Georgia.
Shoigu reportedly stressed on Tuesday that those called up shall be sent to the areas of the special military operation “only after combat coordination, along with the units already involved.”
He demanded that the commanders of the military districts and the Northern Fleet “as a way to quickly adapt the recruits to the combat situation, conduct additional training with them under the guidance of officers with combat experience.”
— Holly Ellyatt
Kremlin responds to Musk debacle, saying Twitter intervention on Ukraine was ‘positive’
SpaceX Chief Engineer Elon Musk gestures during a joint news conference with T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert (not pictured) on the SpaceX Starbase, in Brownsville, Texas, August 25, 2022.
Adrees Latif | Reuters
The Kremlin waded right into a dispute between Ukraine and U.S. tech billionaire Elon Musk, saying it was a “positive” step that Musk was outlining a possible peace deal between the warring countries.
Chatting with reporters Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was “very positive that an individual like Elon Musk is searching for a peaceful way out of the situation,” Russian news agency Interfax reported.
Musk caused anger amongst Ukraine’s top officials on Monday after the Tesla CEO posted a Twitter poll asking the general public to agree or disagree with what he claimed is the probably end result of Russia’s invasion.
“F– off is my very diplomatic reply to you,” Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Andrij Melnyk, wrote in response to Musk’s tweet while President Volodymr Zelenskyy responded with a Twitter poll of his own. “Which Elon Musk do you want more,” Zelenskyy asked. “The one who supports Ukraine” or “The one who supports Russia.”
What Musk called a “highly likely” end result presumed that Russia would accomplish several of its major goals, including permanently annexing Crimea and prohibiting Ukraine from joining NATO.
Ukraine has repeatedly stated that it would not cede any of its territory to Russia and can reclaim all its lost land. It has also applied to affix NATO.
— Holly Ellyatt, Christina Wilkie
Putin ‘likely’ to sign laws formally annexing Ukrainian territories today
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a gathering on the military-industrial complex on the Kremlin, September 20, 2022, in Moscow, Russia.
Contributor | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Russian President Vladimir Putin is “likely” to sign laws incorporating 4 annexed Ukrainian territories into the Russia Federation on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier, in accordance with Russian state news agency Ria Novosti.
Earlier today, Russia’s upper house of parliament approved laws incorporating the regions into the Russian Federation.
The move to annex Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk — following sham referendums in late September within the occupied regions on whether to affix Russia — has been internationally condemned, with Ukraine and its allies calling the votes illegal and illegitimate.
— Holly Ellyatt
Russia’s upper house greenlights annexation, Putin’s signature will seal it
Russian President Vladimir Putin on a screen at Red Square as he addresses a rally and a concert marking the annexation of 4 regions of Ukraine — Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia — in central Moscow on Sept. 30, 2022.
Alexander Nemenov | Afp | Getty Images
Russia’s upper house of parliament has approved laws incorporating 4 regions of Ukraine that Russia announced it was annexing last week, into the Russian Federation.
The move to annex Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk — following sham referendums within the occupied regions on whether to affix Russia — was internationally condemned, with Ukraine and its allies calling the votes illegal and illegitimate.
Despite the prospect of further sanctions in response to the annexation, Russian lawmakers have plowed ahead with the legal process to annex the territories. The State Duma, or lower house of parliament, yesterday approved the annexation and the upper house, the Federation Council, today unanimously approved laws ratifying the annexation.
It now stays for Russian President Vladimir Putin to place his signature to the documents to finish the formal annexation process.
(From left) The Moscow-appointed heads of Kherson region Vladimir Saldo and Zaporizhzhia region Yevgeny Balitsky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Donetsk separatist leader Denis Pushilin and Luhansk separatist leader Leonid Pasechnik hearken to the Russian national anthem after signing treaties formally annexing 4 regions of Ukraine Russian troops occupy, on the Kremlin in Moscow on Sept. 30, 2022.
Mikhail Metzel | AFP | Getty Images
It’s still unclear where the boundaries of Russia’s recent so-called “territory” are, with not one of the regions fully occupied by Russian forces and with Ukrainian troops making advances into Donetsk within the east and Kherson within the south.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday that the DPR and LPR (so-called “people’s republics in eastern Ukraine) will change into an element of the Russian Federation in accordance with their current boundaries but that Russia will seek the advice of with the residents of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia over where the borders of those regions are set.
When asked whether the parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions which can be now under control of the Ukrainian army are Russian or Ukrainian territory, Peskov said “I actually have nothing more so as to add to what I said without delay.”
— Holly Ellyatt
Correction: An earlier version of this post mistated which upper house approved the annexation.
Russia’s routine conscription cycle delayed
Russia’s routine conscription cycle, which takes place in the autumn and which goals to coach 120,000 conscripts, has been delayed this 12 months, in accordance with Britain’s Ministry of Defense.
Last week, Putin signed an order for the routine fall conscription cycle to start on Nov. 1, a month later than usual.
“The late begin to the cycle is a sign of growing pressures on Russia’s ability to coach and equip numerous recent conscripted personnel,” the ministry said on Twitter Tuesday.
“The challenges of accommodating, training, equipping and deploying mobilised and conscripted personnel are significant. Deficiencies inside the Russian administrative and logistical systems will proceed to undermine these efforts,” the ministry added.
Reservists drafted through the partial mobilization at a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea, on Sept. 27, 2022.
Stringer | Afp | Getty Images
Russia’s forthcoming conscription cycle comes soon after Putin announced a partial mobilization of around 300,000 reservists to be sent to fight in Ukraine. There at the moment are increasing reports of rapidly called up, poorly trained and ill-equipped troops being sent to the front in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia’s inexperienced conscripts are dying within the war just per week or so after arriving within the country to fight. 1000’s of men have tried to flee conscription by fleeing to countries neighboring Russia.
— Holly Ellyatt
What’s happening within the war? Here’s the most recent assessment by defense analysts
Ukraine’s counteroffensive continues within the south within the Kherson region and within the northeast, with Ukrainian forces trying to push further into the Donetsk region and toward Luhansk. Here’s how defense analysts on the Institute for the Study of War assessed Ukraine’s progress late on Monday:
- Ukrainian forces have made substantial gains around Lyman and in northern Kherson Oblast [a province or region] during the last 24 hours. The Russian units defeated on these fronts were previously considered to be amongst Russia’s premier conventional fighting forces.
- Ukrainian forces made advances on the Oskil River-Kreminna line toward the Luhansk Oblast border.
- Ukrainian forces advanced in northern Kherson Oblast.
Ukraine recaptures Lyman, a key logistics hub for Russian forces.
Institute for the Study of War
Summing up Ukraine’s progress following the recapturing of Lyman (a key logistics hub for Russian forces in the world) on Saturday, analysts on the ISW wrote that the country’s forces “continued to make substantial gains around Lyman and in Kherson Oblast within the last 48 hours.”
“Ukrainian and Russian sources reported that Ukrainian troops made significant breakthroughs in northern Kherson Oblast between October 2 and three. Geolocated footage corroborates Russian claims that Ukrainian troops are continuing to push east of Lyman and can have broken through the Luhansk Oblast border within the direction of Kreminna.”
The ISW noted again that Russian groupings in northern Kherson Oblast and on the Lyman front were largely comprised of units that had been thought to be amongst Russia’s premier conventional fighting forces before the war but said “their apparent failures to carry territory against major Ukrainian counter-offensive actions is consistent with ISW’s previous assessment that even probably the most elite Russian military forces have gotten increasingly degraded because the war continues.”
— Holly Ellyatt
Zelenskyy says there are newly liberated settlements in several regions
Ukraine’s counteroffensive within the northeast and south of the country continues to construct momentum, with President Zelenskyy announcing last night that there have been “recent liberated settlements in several regions.”
On Monday, Ukrainian forces saw more successes on the battlefield, pushing through Russian defenses within the south of the country, in addition to consolidating their hold on territory around Lyman within the northeast Donetsk region, and looking out to push further eastward into Luhansk.
President Putin announced Russia was annexing each regions last Friday but Moscow’s hold on them looks increasingly fragile.
Wreckage of a automobile marked with a Russian military symbol “Z” at a Russian military base, which Ukrainian forces destroyed by HIMARS during a counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast, on Sept. 26, 2022 in Balakliia, Ukraine. Balakliia was under Russian occupation for half a 12 months. On Sept. 10, Ukraine’s armed forces liberated town.
Global Images Ukraine | Getty Images News | Getty Images
In his nightly address, Zelenskyy didn’t name the newly liberated towns but said “fierce fighting continues in lots of areas of the front” but said an increasing variety of occupying forces were attempting to escape and “an increasing number of losses are being inflicted on the enemy army.”
Zelenskyy said Russian men who had been mobilized to fight in Ukraine just just a few weeks ago were already dying in Ukraine.
“Among the many dead occupiers we will already see those that were taken [brought to fight in Ukraine] just per week or two ago. People weren’t trained for combat, they haven’t any experience to fight in such a war. However the Russian command just needs some people – any kind – to switch the dead. And when these recent ones die, more people shall be sent. That is how Russia fights. That is how it would lose as well,” he said.
“No sham referenda, announcements about annexations, conversations concerning the borders they invented and drew somewhere, will help them,” he added, referring to a set of pretend referendums in Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine that led to Moscow announcing their annexation last week, a move branded as illegitimate and illegal by Ukraine and its allies.
— Holly Ellyatt
Elon Musk is publicly rebuked by Zelenskyy over his Twitter poll
SpaceX Chief Engineer Elon Musk takes part in a joint news conference with T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert (not pictured) on the SpaceX Starbase, in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., August 25, 2022.
Adrees Latif | Reuters
American tech billionaire Elon Musk drew public ire from Ukraine’s top officials after the Tesla CEO posted a Twitter poll asking the general public to agree or disagree with what he claimed is the probably end result of Russia’s invasion.
“F– off is my very diplomatic reply to you,” Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Andrij Melnyk, wrote in response to Musk’s tweet.
Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy responded with a Twitter poll of his own. “Which Elon Musk do you want more,” Zelenskyy asked. “The one who supports Ukraine” or “The one who supports Russia.”
What Musk calls a “highly likely” end result presumes that Russia accomplishes several of its major goals, including permanently annexing Crimea, using referendums to find out the fates of 4 other attempted annexations, and prohibiting Ukraine from joining NATO.
For Ukrainians, these outcomes would never, ever be acceptable.
— Christina Wilkie
Photos show destroyed Russian armored vehicles left behind in Izium, Kharkiv
Ukrainian forces transport Russian vehicles and missile launch pads left behind by the Russian forces in Izium, Kharkiv, Ukraine on October 02, 2022.
Metin Aktas | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Over the weekend Ukrainian forces seized the strategic city of Lyman and continued a shocking counteroffensive within the northeast of the country.
The next photos show destroyed Russian armored vehicles and tanks left behind as Ukrainian forces battle for Izium, Kharkiv and proceed to push east through Russian lines.
Destroyed Russian armored vehicles left behind by the Russian forces in Izium, Kharkiv, Ukraine on October 02, 2022.
Metin Aktas | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Destroyed Russian armored vehicles left behind by the Russian forces in Izium, Kharkiv, Ukraine on October 02, 2022.
Metin Aktas | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Destroyed Russian armored vehicles left behind by the Russian forces in Izium, Kharkiv, Ukraine on October 02, 2022.
Metin Aktas | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
A destroyed Russian armored vehicle left behind by the Russian forces in Izium, Kharkiv, Ukraine on October 02, 2022. (Photo by Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Metin Aktas | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
— Metin Aktas | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Russian forces release Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant official, IAEA chief says
A Russian serviceman stands guard the territory outside the second reactor of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in Energodar on May 1, 2022.
Andrey Borodulin | AFP | Getty Images
The pinnacle of the International Atomic Energy Agency said that Russian forces released an worker from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi said Ihor Murashov, the director general of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, was released and returned to his family.
Last week, Murashov was allegedly detained by Russian troops upon leaving the facility plant facility within the town of Energodar.
— Amanda Macias
Russia’s Parliament approves annexations, but boundaries remain unclear
People attend an event marking the declared Russia’s annexation of the Russian-controlled territories of 4 Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, after holding what Russian authorities called referendums within the occupied areas of Ukraine that were condemned by Kyiv and governments worldwide, in Luhansk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, September 30, 2022.
Alexander Ermochenko | Reuters
Russia’s Duma, or lower house of Parliament, unanimously approved the annexation of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson although the borders of what Russia now claims is its territory remain unclear.
A statement from the Duma on Telegram said “the entry of the Donetsk, Luhansk people’s republics [self-proclaimed separatist regions], Zaporozhzhia and Kherson regions into the Russian Federation is the one approach to save tens of millions of individuals’s lives from the criminal Kyiv regime,” the Duma said, repeating baseless accusations against the federal government in Kyiv.
Russia’s annexation of 4 regions of Ukraine has been almost internationally condemned with Ukraine and its allies calling the move, after sham referendums in those occupied regions, illegitimate and illegal.
It is also unclear where the boundaries are of Russia’s recent so-called “territory” with not one of the regions fully occupied by Russian forces.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters today that the DPR and LPR (so-called “people’s republics in eastern Ukraine) will accede to the Russian Federation as they’re but that Russia will seek the advice of with the residents of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia over where the borders of those regions are set.
Asked whether the parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions which can be now under control of the Ukrainian army are Russian or Ukrainian territory, Peskov said “I actually have nothing more so as to add to what I said without delay.”
Ukraine has vowed to retake all of its lost territory, with around 18% of the country currently occupied by Russian forces.
— Holly Ellyatt
Ukrainian forces gaining a foothold in southern Kherson region
Ukrainian soldiers scavenge an abandoned Russian T-90A tank in Kyrylivka, within the recently retaken area near Kharkiv, on September 30, 2022.
Yasuyoshi Chiba | AFP | Getty Images
Ukraine’s forces are gaining a foothold inside liberated areas of the southern Kherson region, in accordance with a spokeswoman for the southern military command.
Southern command spokesperson Natalia Humeniuk told reporters Monday that Ukraine’s forces within the south are “conducting battles and gaining a foothold inside the areas which have already been liberated and people which can be still keeping the defense.”
“Also, we proceed working with local residents along the contact line, along the front line, in those settlements which can be under enemy fire. About 45 settlements have been shelled over the past day,” Humeniuk told reporters, in accordance with comments reported by news agency Ukrinform, with efforts underway to evacuate civilians.
Humeniuk also said that Russian troops are inspecting households in occupied areas of the region for men aged between 18 and 35 as a way to call them up and replenish their military units.
CNBC was unable to confirm Humeniuk’s comments.
— Holly Ellyatt