Biden calls for maintaining “American leadership” in aid measures for Ukraine and Israel
Ukrainian forces damaged and destroyed around 50 Russian tanks in just 24 hours as President Vladimir Putin’s forces launch a new offensive in the Donetsk region, according to a US war think tank.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Russian forces launched a new offensive near Advika on Friday and made “slight progress”, adding that “despite heavy material and personnel losses” in the area. It said it demonstrated Moscow’s commitment to offensive operations.
According to ISW, this includes a report by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Friday that around 50 Russian tanks and more than 100 armored vehicles were damaged and destroyed by Ukrainian forces during the past day’s fighting.
The think tank said that Mikhail Zvinchuk, also known as Rival, a well-known Russian mil blogger, claimed that Ukrainian forces had broken through Russian defenses, marched across the Dnipro River to the east bank, and invaded Russian-occupied territory. This is in response to the announcement.
According to ISW, Milblogger claimed to have temporarily captured the village and position of Poima on the northern outskirts of Piszcanivka on the afternoon of October 17. He later claimed that Russian forces had pushed Ukrainian troops back from these positions toward the Dnipro River.
Ukraine’s parliament upholds ban on Russia-linked churches in first vote
Ukraine’s parliament on Thursday gave its first approval to a law banning the minority Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) after Kiev accused it of collaborating with Russia after last year’s invasion.
Although the UOC has historical ties to Moscow, it says it is no longer affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church. The government denies Kiev’s accusations and calls the bill unconstitutional.
Most Christians in Ukraine are members of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which was established from two churches that broke away from Moscow in 2018.
In contrast, Ukraine’s UOC herd has declined from 18% before the Russian invasion in February 2022 to 4% of the population, according to a Kyiv International Institute of Sociology poll.
Parliament member Jaroslav Zhelezniak said on the messaging app Telegram that MPs had voted to support the bill on first reading. It must be upheld on second reading and approved by the president to take effect.
The law bans the activities of religious groups affiliated with the power centers of “states carrying out armed aggression against Ukraine,” and such activities can be stopped by courts.
Another lawmaker, Irina Herashchenko, said the vote was a step toward removing “Moscow priests from Ukrainian soil.”
The Cave Monastery, also known as the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, is one of the holiest sites of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
(Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Tara CobhamOctober 21, 2023 09:09
Russian forces launch new offensive near Avdiivka
Russian forces launched a new offensive near Avdiivka on Friday, according to a US war think tank.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Moscow’s forces had “barely made progress.”
It added that the attack shows that the Russian military command “remains committed to offensive operations in the region, despite heavy losses in materiel and personnel.”
ISW said this included a report by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Friday that nearly 50 Russian tanks and more than 100 armored vehicles were damaged and destroyed by Ukrainian forces in the past day’s fighting near Avdiivka. It was done.
Tara CobhamOctober 21, 2023 07:37
Russian missile hits house in Krivy Rief
On Friday, a Russian missile targeted a house in Kryvyy Riv, central Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, killing one man and leaving a woman in critical condition, the regional governor announced on the messaging app Telegram.
“The enemy aimed rockets at the dacha cooperative,” wrote Dnipropetrosk Governor Serhiy Raisak. A dacha is a traditional cottage, usually located on the outskirts of a town.
He said a 60-year-old man died and a 57-year-old woman was hospitalized in critical condition with shrapnel injuries. Lysak added that rescue workers extinguished the fire caused by the attack.
Reuters could not immediately confirm details of the attack.
katie cliftonOctober 21, 2023 06:00
Zelenskiy says Ukraine repulses new Russian onslaught on Eastern Front
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that Ukrainian troops were repelling a new Russian onslaught on the eastern town of Avdiivka and holding their ground in heavy fighting.
Zelenskiy and senior military officials visited the southern Kherson region and discussed the situation in the region and around Avdiivka, as well as in Kupiansk, a town north of Avdiivka that Russian forces have also stepped up attacks on.
“Thank you to all our boys who stand strong every day to defend our defense and defeat the occupiers,” Zelenskiy said in a video posted on the messaging app Telegram.
“Recently, Russia’s losses have been truly staggering, and losses at the hands of the occupier are exactly what Ukraine needs.”
President Zelenskiy’s office said Russia’s attack on Avdiivka resulted in “record losses” of personnel and equipment, but gave no further details on the scale of the losses.
A police officer stands in front of a damaged building in the town of Avdiivka in Donetsk region this week during the Russian attack on Ukraine.
(Reuters)
alexander butlerOctober 21, 2023 04:00
Ukrainian and Russian leaders assess resources ahead of winter
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he spoke by phone with US President Joe Biden about Washington’s future support for Kiev, as the belligerents plan for winter and next year’s combat operations, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. visited a military base near the Ukrainian border.
The nearly 20-month war has depleted military resources on both sides. Analysts say the fighting is likely to devolve into a war of positions and attrition as the cold weather approaches, with little change along a front more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) long.
Zelenskyy said late Thursday that he had discussed “important aid” to Ukraine with Biden. Western aid was essential to Ukraine’s war effort.
katie cliftonOctober 21, 2023 02:00
Biden: “America’s leadership brings the world together”
US President Joe Biden said US leadership is “bringing the world together.”
“If we risk it and turn away from Ukrainians or turn our backs on Israeli or Palestinian civilians, it’s not worth it.
“That’s why I sent an emergency budget request to Congress to fund America’s national security needs.”
This comes after the White House on Friday requested nearly $106 billion from Congress to fund ambitious plans for border security in Ukraine, Israel and the United States.
alexander butlerOctober 21, 2023 00:01
‘Europe should be armed’: Latvian president
The Latvian president called on European countries to increase the capabilities of their defense industries to produce enough weapons to protect themselves and Ukraine.
“Whether we like it or not, Europe must be armed,” President Edgars Rinkevich said in a broadcast on the TV3 channel, adding that mere slogans are not enough and that EU member states must be prepared to accept real costs. He added that it must be maintained.
alexander butlerOctober 20, 2023 22:00
Romania to introduce anti-drone system
According to reports, Romania plans to install anti-drone systems along its border with Ukraine.
The system will be provided by an unnamed “NATO agreed partner country.”
Debris from drone attacks on Ukrainian ports has been repeatedly found on Romanian territory.
Germany transfers three anti-aircraft guns and more ammunition to Ukraine
The German government said it had transferred three self-propelled Gepard anti-aircraft guns, more than 3,000 smoke grenades and other military equipment to Ukraine as part of its latest aid package.
This brings the total number of Gepard systems sent from Germany to Ukraine to 49. The gun helped protect Ukraine from Iranian-made Shaher drones used by Russia.
This comes after the White House on Friday requested nearly $106 billion from Congress to fund ambitious plans for border security in Ukraine, Israel and the United States.
“The world is watching, and Americans rightly expect their leaders to come together to achieve these priorities,” said Sharanda Yun, Biden’s budget director.
Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicle used by the Ukrainian army to fight Russian drones
(AFP via Getty Images)
alexander butlerOctober 20, 2023 20:00
“Global inflection point”: Ukraine-Hamas conflict
The White House national security adviser said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Hamas’ attack on Israel represented a “global turning point.”
“This budget request is critical to advancing America’s national security and ensuring the safety of the American people,” added Jake Sullivan.
This comes after the White House on Friday requested nearly $106 billion from Congress to fund ambitious plans for border security in Ukraine, Israel and the United States.
“The world is watching, and Americans rightly expect their leaders to come together to achieve these priorities,” said Sharanda Yun, Biden’s budget director.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan
(Getty Images)
alexander butlerOctober 20, 2023 18:00