PM: Russia damaged more than 400 facilities in 16 Ukrainian regions from Oct. 10 until Oct. 20.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that these include dozens of energy enterprises. “The situation remains difficult but under control,” Shmyhal said.
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Giorgia Meloni named as Italian PM amid speculation about her cabinet's stance on Russia.
Meloni, head of the nationalist Brothers of Italy party and the country's first female prime minister, presented her list of ministers after meeting President Sergio Mattarella. Meloni's right-wing coalition won the Sept. 25 legislative election in Italy. She was in favor of better relations with Russia and praised Russian dictator Vladimir Putin before he launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. But later she changed her stance and said in September that she fully supported "the cause of the freedom of the Ukrainian people."
Belarus provides Russia with 24 more tanks.
The T-72A tanks were sent towards Russian-occupied Donetsk, according to Belarusian Hajun, a civic watchdog that monitors the movement of military equipment in Belarus. In total, the country has transported at least 94 tanks and up to 44 Ural military trucks to Russia in recent weeks, Belarusian Hajun reported.
Industrial enterprise on fire in Belgorod Oblast, Russia.
Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said that the enterprise was hit by a projectile. As a result, one woman was injured. Ukraine hasn't officially commented on the issue.
Governor: Ukraine downs Russian Su-25 attack aircraft in Mykolaiv Oblast.
Mykolaiv Oblast Governor Vitaliy Kim said the jet had been shot down during an air alert in the region.
US, Russian defense ministers speak about war against Ukraine.
According to a statement by the Pentagon, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stressed the importance of “maintaining lines of communication amid the ongoing war against Ukraine" during his call with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
Lukashenko denies that Belarus prepares to join Russia's war in Ukraine
"We are not going anywhere. No war for now. We don't need it," said Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, cited by state-controlled media Belta. Lukashenko also dismissed the reports by independent Belarusian media regarding covert mobilization in the country, claiming that the authorities are "simply checking the lists," which is done "every year."
German minister: Russia commits genocide in Ukraine
Tobias Lindner, minister of state at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, said carpet bombings, killings of civilians in Mariupol, Vladimir Putin's denial of the Ukrainian nation's existence, and mass deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia are signs of a genocidal war. "The crimes that are being committed now should be qualified as genocide, and with such qualification, they should be brought to court," said Lindner.
Lithuania's president: Belarus fully participates in Russia's war against Ukraine
"We see movements in Belarus that prove that some of (the Russian) mobilized military are sent or are planned to be sent to fight in Ukraine through the territory of Belarus. This is clear evidence that Belarus is fully involved in this war," said Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda, cited by Latvian news site Defli. He urged to impose more sanctions against Moscow and Minsk.
Ukrainian military confirms it hit Antonivskyi Bridge near Kherson
Ukraine's Armed Forces, however, deny Russian media reports that three civilians were killed and nine injured as a result of the attack, Hromadske reports. The occupiers contradict themselves, as they had repeatedly claimed they enforced people to stay home after curfew, spokeswoman of Operational Command "South" Nataliia Humeniuk said. People who died must have been Russian soldiers, she added.
US State Department: Russia is exploring supply arrangements with North Korea
Russia's leadership is working on agreements with North Korea on providing the wares for its war against Ukraine that Russia is "unable to produce or to acquire through other means" due to export controls and sanctions, according to the U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price. Russia may be turning to countries like Iran and North Korea "out of desperation," but "it doesn't make it any less dangerous," said Price.
Report: Damage caused by Russian attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure reaches $127 billion
Damaged and destroyed housing has the largest share of total losses – $50.5 billion, as Russia has destroyed roughly 135,800 civilian buildings in Ukraine since February, according to the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE). The losses caused by Russian attacks on Ukraine's roads, railways, bridges, and other critical infrastructure sites amount to $35.3 billion; business losses amount to $9.9 billion, the KSE reported.
UK intelligence: Russia, Belarus bluff to make Ukraine 'divert its forces to guard northern border'
Russia has unlikely managed to deploy 15,000 troops to Belarus to join the Belarusian military in their new Group of Forces, as Alexander Lukashenko announced on Oct. 14-15, according to the U.K. Defense Ministry. Russia can't generate combat-ready formations of the claimed size, while the Belarusian troops "maintain a minimal capability to undertake complex operations," reads the report.
Russia's attacks kill 2 in Donetsk Oblast, injure 3 in Zaporizhzhia
In the past 24 hours, Russian forces have killed two people and wounded one in Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko reported on Oct. 21. Russia also hit Zaporizhzhia with S-300 missiles in the morning on Oct. 21, injuring three people and damaging a residential building, a school, and several critical infrastructure sites.
Governor: 6 people already injured after Russia's strike in Kharkiv
Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov said six people got wounded after Russia had hit an industrial enterprise in Kharkiv on the morning of Oct. 21. Emergency works are ongoing; the information about damage and casualties is being clarified, said Syniehubov.
General Staff: Russia has lost 66,750 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24
Ukraine’s General Staff reported on Oct. 21 that Russia had also lost 2,573 tanks, 5,258 armored fighting vehicles, 4,006 vehicles and fuel tanks, 1,648 artillery systems, 372 multiple launch rocket systems, 189 air defense systems, 269 airplanes, 243 helicopters, 1,325 drones, and 16 boats.
Minister: In past 10 days, Russian troops carried out 300 strikes on Ukraine's energy system
Ukraine is preparing for new attacks on its power system, according to Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko. Since Oct. 10 Russia has carried out about 300 strikes on the country's energy system. Halushchenko called on Ukrainians to reduce electricity consumption by at least 20% to avoid power cutoffs.
Zelensky approves sanctions against 3,600 Russian individuals, firms, Putin's relatives
President Volodymyr Zelensky has approved the National Security and Defense Council sanctions against 2,507 individuals and 1,374 legal entities "who did not have the courage to speak out in defense of humanity" or who are "involved in aggression against Ukraine." Most of them are Russian citizens and companies, according to the President's Office.
EU reportedly approves sanctions against Iran for selling drones to Russia
The European Union countries have decided to freeze the assets of three Iranian individuals and one entity responsible for kamikaze drone deliveries to Russia, the Czech Presidency of the European Union Council reported on Oct. 20. According to it, sanctions will come into force after publication in the EU Official Journal "this afternoon."
Scholz: Germany to train 5,000 Ukrainian soldiers by spring
The training will take place as part of the Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine, which aims to prepare about 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers, AP reports, citing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. "With this, we are underlining our readiness to participate in the long-term building of strong Ukrainian Armed Forces, hand in hand with our partners," said Scholz.
General Staff: Iranian instructors to teach Russians to use kamikaze drones
Iran's leadership has agreed on sending instructors to train Russian operators of Iranian-made Shahed-136 and Arash-2 drones, Ukraine's General Staff reported on Oct. 20. Drones Arash-2, reportedly purchased by Russia in an unknown number, are "faster and more destructive" than the Shahed-136 drones that are currently in use by Russian troops, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
Governor: Water cut off in Sumy Oblast, electricity supply limited
Water supply has been cut off in Sumy Oblast on Oct. 20, said the oblast governor, Dmytro Zhyvytskyi. Electric public transports and street lights are not working either. The governor added that if local businesses and private consumers "reduce electricity consumption (today), they will help Ukraine's energy system withstand and avoid blackouts in the future."
US warns about sanctions on 'all involved' in selling Iranian drones to Russia
The U.S. promises to work with its allies and partners on preventing Iran's transfer of kamikaze drones to Russia for its war against Ukraine, according to the U.S. State Department. "We will not hesitate to use our sanctions and other appropriate tools on all involved in these transfers," reads the report.
UK intelligence: Russia is 'seriously considering' major withdrawal from Kherson
The Oct. 18 announcement by the commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, Sergei Surovikin, highlighting negative news about the war and approving the relocation of civilians from Kherson, shows that "the Russian authorities are seriously considering a major withdrawal of their forces from the area west of the Dnipro river," according to the U.K. Defense Ministry.
Russia's attacks kill 1, injure 5 in Donetsk Oblast
In the past 24 hours, Russian forces have killed one and wounded five civilians in Donetsk Oblast, not including Mariupol and Volnovakha, the oblast governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko, reported on Oct. 20. In Kharkiv Oblast, Russia hit several settlements, injuring a 78-year-old man and destroying a grocery store.
General Staff: Russia has lost 66,650 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24
Ukraine’s General Staff reported on Oct. 20 that Russia had also lost 2,567 tanks, 5,255 armored fighting vehicles, 4,005 vehicles and fuel tanks, 1,646 artillery systems, 372 multiple launch rocket systems, 189 air defense systems, 269 airplanes, 243 helicopters, 1,311 drones, and 16 boats.
Air Force: Ukraine downs 4 out 6 Russian cruise missiles, 10 kamikaze drones on Oct. 19
Russian Tu-95 and Tu-160 bombers launched six cruise missiles on Ukraine at 12 p.m. on Oct. 19, four of which were shot down in Kyiv, Vinnytsia and Chernihiv oblasts, according to Ukraine's Air Force. Russia also attacked Ukraine with Iranian-made Shahed-136 kamikaze drones, from "the northern direction, in particular, from the territory of Belarus," Air Force reported. Ten drones were shot down.
Mayor: Air defense shoots down 'several' Russian missiles above Kyiv
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko did not provide more details. He asked people to stay in shelters and said that "air defense continues to work." At least two explosions were reported in Kyiv earlier today.
Explosions reported in Kyiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia oblasts
At least two explosions were reported in Kyiv. In Kyiv Oblast, according to its governor Oleksiy Kuleba, air defense is hitting targets. Vinnytsia Oblast Governor Serhiy Borzov also reported at 2 p.m. that the region is under Russia's missile attack. Ukraine's media reported explosions in Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernihiv.
At least 2 explosions heard in Kyiv
It can indicate either incoming Russia's attacks or that Ukrainian air defense system destroyed airborne threats.
Russia hits Zaporizhzhia Oblast, injures 8 and causes blackouts
Russian troops attacked a critical infrastructure facility in Orikhiv, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, injuring eight civilians, according to Oleksandr Starukh, the oblast governor. "(Russia's) attack lasted almost seven hours. Private houses, the building of the city council, and an educational institution were (also) damaged," Starukh said. At the moment, there's no electricity and water supply in Orikhiv, Starukh said.
Russian proxies in Kherson plan to relocate or deport up to 60,000 city residents
Moscow-installed proxy in Kherson Oblast Vladimir Saldo announced an "organized displacement of the civilian population" from municipalities around Kherson to the territories "on the Dnipro River's left bank." He said that all Russian top proxies, including himself, will move too, but didn't specify to where exactly.
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