Ukraine This Week: Russians leaving Kharkiv Oblast and peace summit takeaways

10:51 AM

Russia helping North Korea with sanctions evasion, nuclear technology in return for soldiers, arms, Budanov says.

Russia's support in nuclear capabilities includes providing technologies for smaller tactical nuclear weapons and submarine missile-launch systems, military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov claimed.

10:12 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 5, injure 14 over past day.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 57 of the 81 Shahed-type drones launched overnight, the Air Force reported. Fifteen drones were lost, and nine are still present in the Ukrainian airspace at the time of the publication.

10:00 AM

UN secretary general visits Russia for BRICS summit despite Kyiv's criticism.

"This is a wrong choice that does not advance the cause of peace. It only damages the U.N.'s reputation," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said.

9:01 AM

US to continue to 'tighten the screws' on Russian LNG exports, senior official says.

"You can be assured that the Biden administration is going to continue to tighten the screws against Russia’s LNG exports," Jeffrey Pyatt, assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, said.

8:17 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 683,040 troops since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,460 casualties Russian forces suffered over the past day.

7:37 AM

Russia-linked disinformation campaign spreads false claims about Tim Walz, US intelligence officials say.

Russian disinformation groups have been linked to viral attacks targeting Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, a U.S. intelligence official said on Oct. 22.

5:21 AM

Turkey quietly curbs military goods exports to Russia following US warning, FT reports.

Turkey has quietly blocked the export of U.S.-origin military goods to Russia following a warning from Washington, the Financial Times (FT) reported on Oct. 22.

4:15 AM

Poland shuts down Russian Consulate in Poznan amid claims of sabotage.

"Russia is waging a hybrid war," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Oct. 22. "It is attempting sabotage on Polish territory."

2:04 AM

Ukraine's population dropped by 10 million after Russia's 2014 invasion, UN says.

Ukraine's birth rate is the lowest in Europe and the number of refugees has surged to 6.7 million, with the full-scale invasion of 2022 exacerbating an already dire decline, according to the U.N. Population Fund.

12:22 AM

Zelensky urges allies to increase pressure on North Korea.

Two North Korean brigades of up to 6,000 personnel each are currently undergoing training in Russia, Zelensky said in his evening address, citing military intelligence reports. "We expect a firm, concrete response from the world."

11:09 PM

North Korean troops to arrive in Kursk tomorrow, military intelligence says.

"We are waiting for the first units tomorrow in the Kursk direction," military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said, though he did not specify how many would be deployed.

10:53 PM

Putin, Xi discuss war in Ukraine at BRICS summit in Russia.

The leaders discussed Russia's war against Ukraine, the BRICS agenda, and bilateral relations. Russia hopes to increase cooperation with China on "all international platforms," Putin said.

10:21 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: US to provide Ukraine with another $800 million to boost domestic long-range capabilities

10:11 PM

Zelensky denies potential dismissal of defense minister, head of military intelligence.

"I wasn't going to do that. I was not going to replace Budanov. This information was circulating, yes. There was no such question about Umerov either," Zelensky said during a meeting with journalists.

9:18 PM

Business

'Not waiting until the war is over' – Foreign investment keeps growing in Ukraine

8:54 PM

Zelensky signs decree to liquidate medical examination commissions amid corruption scandal.

According to the decree, working groups will be set up to verify certificates of disability issued by medical examination commissions within three months. If any violations are found, the certificates must be annulled.

7:46 PM

North Korea has sent pilots to Russia to join its war in Ukraine, Newsweek reports.

A government official in South Korea claimed that North Korea had sent fighter pilots to Vladivostok, a city in the Russian Far East.

6:01 PM

MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak: Developments in Ukraine’s parliament on economic reforms, international obligations — Issue 78

5:34 PM

Ukraine's Prosecutor General Kostin resigns.

"I am grateful to the president of Ukraine and Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada for their trust. But in this situation, I believe it is right for me to resign from the post of prosecutor general," he said.

5:28 PM

Russia

Torn apart by infighting, without a plan, what comes next for Russia’s opposition?

5:09 PM

G7 plans to keep Russian assets frozen after war in Ukraine ends, Nikkei reports.

G7 leaders will issue a joint statement in October saying that "Russia's sovereign assets will remain immobilized until Russia ends its aggression and pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine," according to the draft prepared by this year's chair, Italy.

4:26 PM

Germany 'skeptical' about Ukraine's NATO membership, Zelensky says.

Talking to journalists, Zelensky did not rule out that "some partners" may think about Ukraine's membership in NATO in exchange for the occupied territories. "We are not discussing this," he said.

4:16 PM

Opinion

Opinion: Shifting the paradigm in Ukraine

3:50 PM

North Korea helping Russia in Ukraine 'for money,' Zelensky says.

Speaking at a meeting attended by the Kyiv Independent, Zelensky was asked about Pyongyang's increasing support for Moscow, which in recent days is reported to have developed from just weapons to boots on the ground.

3:09 PM

US to provide Ukraine with another $800 million to boost domestic long-range capabilities, Zelensky says.

Washington is also planning to provide $800 million as the first tranche for the production of Ukrainian drones, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.