CDS Daily brief (26.10.22) | CDS comments on key events

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Humanitarian aspect:

As a result of another exchange of prisoners, Ukraine returned home 10 Ukrainian servicemen and the body of American volunteer Joshua Alan Jones, reported by the head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak, in Telegram. Among Ukrainian defenders who returned from Russian captivity, there are 9 sergeants and 1 officer. The youngest fighter is 21 years old; the oldest is Joshua Alan Jones, a volunteer who fought in the “Foreign Legion,” died in Donetsk Oblast on August 23, 2022.

Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Malyar emphasized that the topic of the release of Ukrainian POWs is very sensitive, so excessive coverage can harm the negotiation process.

The Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories announced that about 18,000 Ukrainians were evacuated from the temporarily occupied and newly liberated territories in October. “Evacuation rates on the eve of winter remain high. About a thousand citizens leave for safer regions of Central and Western Ukraine daily,” the message reads. Mandatory evacuation from the Donetsk Oblast continues. Just last month, more than 5,000 people left it for safer regions of Ukraine, including more than 700 children and more than 500 people with disabilities. The evacuation from the temporarily captured territories slowed down but did not stop. The ministry emphasized that the opportunity to leave has almost been exhausted, and occupation authorities put more obstacles. More than 1,300 people were evacuated from the Kherson Oblast, and about 1,400 residents from the Zaporizhzhia Oblast. At the same time, the evacuation rate from the liberated territories, where it is still impossible to restore life support systems on the eve of winter, is increasing.

Consequences of enemy shelling as of the morning of October 26:

• In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, two people died when a Russian rocket hit a gas station. Four are injured. In the Nikopol district, the Russian occupiers shelled the Chervonogrygorivska community. There is destruction and damaged power lines.
• In Mykolaiv Oblast, Russians targeted two infrastructure facilities.
• During the past day, the Russian military shelled Vasylivka and Polohy districts in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. 21 reports were received about damage to civilian homes and apartments, and infrastructure. In Orihiv, a multi-story building in the city center and private houses around it were on fire after the shelling. Information about the victims is being clarified. Two killed and one wounded in Preobrazhenka village were confirmed.
• Over the past day, the enemy shelled the Kupyansk, Kharkiv, and Chuguyiv districts of Kharkiv Oblast. A 71-year-old was injured by a mine explosion while she was herding goats near Kozacha Lopan. In the afternoon, the sappers’ car ran into an anti-tank mine in Kharkiv Oblast. As a result, one of the pyrotechnics died, and ten more were injured.
• On October 25, 1 civilian died in Bakhmut (Donets Oblast) from enemy shelling. Four more people were injured.

After the last Russian missile attack on the energy infrastructure of Ukraine, power supply has been restored in most regions, but some towns still remain without reliable energy supply. Ukrenergo continues repairs but still urges Ukrainians to save energy resources. “Ukrenergo” is working on more convenient power outage schedules. “Unfortunately, in some regions, some consumers have access to electricity all the time, and some suffer from frequent blackouts.” – chairman of the board of “Ukrenergo” Volodymyr Kudrytskyi said.

“Heroes of the Azov Regiment” street has officially appeared in Kyiv. The first plaque with the new name was unveiled today, October 26. “This dedication concerns, first of all, those Heroes who died defending our Country and those who are in enemy captivity,” said the first commander of “Azov” Andriy Biletskyi.

As a result of the Russian invasion, 154 Ukrainian athletes and coaches died. Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Vadym Gutzait reported on the number of athletes who died defending Ukraine on the battlefield and due to the enemy shellings.

Ukrainian journalistic organizations call on the International Federation of Journalists to revoke membership and condemn the Russian Union of Journalists, which forms its branches in the temporarily occupied territories – in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts.

As reported by Ukrinform, a corresponding protest was sent to the executive committee of the IFJ on October 25, as soon as it became known about the decision of the Russian Union of Journalists to form its branches in the four temporarily captured Oblasts of Ukraine. As reported by Ukrinform, according to the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, as of September 14, at least 39 media workers became victims of the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine.

Occupied territories:

In the temporarily occupied territories of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the Russian invaders kidnapped and captured a total of 540 people. 208 of them are still in captivity, and the rest have been released, said Oleksandr Starukh, the head of Zaporizhzhya Oblast Military Administration, during a briefing. Since March, the mayor of Dniprorudny, Yevhen Matveev, and the first deputy mayor of Energodar, Ivan Samoydiuk, have been in captivity. Currently, nothing is known about their whereabouts.

In Mariupol, Donetsk region, captured by Russian troops, people still live in tents, as the enemy bombed their houses, and new housing was not provided, the [Ukrainian] Mariupol City Council reported. The City Council published relevant photos from today’s Mariupol.

Operational situation

It is the 245th day of the strategic air-ground offensive operation of the Russian Armed Forces against Ukraine (in the official terminology of the Russian Federation – “operation to defend Donbas”). The enemy tries to maintain control over the temporarily captured territories and improve its tactical position. It concentrates its efforts on disrupting the counteroffensive actions of the Ukrainian troops and, at the same time, does not give up attempts to conduct the offensive in the Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions.

Over the past 24 hours, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled the enemy attacks in the areas of Ivangrad, Bakhmut, Bakhmutske, Soledar, Kurdyumivka, Krasnohorivka, Novomykhailivka, Nevelske and Ternova.

The enemy fired at the positions of Ukrainian troops along the contact line. Russian military continued to fortify their positions in certain directions, and conducted aerial reconnaissance. In violation of the norms of International Humanitarian Law, the laws and customs of war, the Russian military continues to strike critical infrastructure. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy launched 5 rocket and up to 30 airstrikes, and fired more than 100 MLRS rounds. Areas of more than 40 Ukrainian towns and villages, including Dnipro and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Prykolotne in Kharkiv Oblast, and Velyka Oleksandrivka in Kherson Oblast, were hit by enemy strikes. In addition, near the state border, Starykove, Seredyna-Buda, Basivka, Mykolaivka, Ryzhivka of Sumy Oblast and Vilkhuvatka, Budarka, Shevchenkove, Strilecha and Dvorichna of Kharkiv Oblast were shelled.

In the Russian Federation, the search for additional sources to replenish the combat losses is underway. Russian servicemen discharged due to injuries are offered to retrain for specialties that involve less physical work.

The Republic of Belarus continues to support the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The threat of missile strikes and the use of attack UAVs on the territory of Ukraine remains.

Ukrainian Defense Forces aircraft carried out 21 strikes during the past 24 hours. Impact on 17 areas of concentration of enemy weapons and military equipment, 2 strongholds, 2 positions of the enemy’s anti-aircraft missile systems is confirmed. Ukrainian air defense units shot down 5 enemy UAVs.

Over the past day, Ukraine’s missile forces and artillery hit the enemy command and control post, two areas of concentration of manpower, weapons and military equipment, radar, and other important military targets.

The morale and psychological state of the personnel of the invasion forces remain low.

Kharkiv direction

• Zolochiv-Balakleya section: approximate length of combat line – 147 km, number of BTGs of the RF Armed Forces – 10-12, the average width of the combat area of one BTG – 13.3 km;

• Deployed enemy BTGs: 26th, 153rd, and 197th tank regiments, 245th motorized rifle regiment of the 47th tank division, 6th and 239th tank regiments, 228th motorized rifle regiment of the 90th tank division, 1st motorized rifle regiment, 1st tank regiment of the 2nd motorized rifle division, 25th and 138th separate motorized rifle brigades of the 6th Combined Arms Army, 27th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 1st Tank Army, 275th and 280th motorized rifle regiments, 11th tank regiment of the 18th motorized rifle division of the 11 Army Corps, 7th motorized rifle regiment of the 11th Army Corps, 80th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 14th Army Corps, 2nd and 45th separate SOF brigades of the Airborne Forces, 1st Army Corps of so-called DPR, PMCs.

The operational situation is unchanged.

Kramatorsk direction

• Balakleya – Siversk section: approximate length of the combat line – 184 km, the number of BTGs of the RF Armed Forces – 17-20, the average width of the combat area of one BTG – 9.6 km;
• 252nd and 752nd motorized rifle regiments of the 3rd motorized rifle division, 1st, 13th, and 12th tank regiments, 423rd motorized rifle regiment of the 4th tank division, 201st military base, 15th, 21st, 30th separate motorized rifle brigades of the 2nd Combined Arms Army, 35th, 55th and 74th separate motorized rifle brigades of the 41st Combined Arms Army, 3rd and 14th separate SOF brigades, 2nd and 4th separate motorized rifle brigades of the 2nd Army Corps, 7th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 1st Army Corps, PMCs.

The Russian troops shelled from tanks, mortars, barrel and jet artillery positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the areas of Berestove, Pershotravneve, Nevske, Bilohorivka, Serhiivka, and Spirne.

With pointed strikes, Ukrainian artillery destroyed an enemy ammunition warehouse and more than 10 so-called “kadyrov combatants” in Novoivanivka, in Luhansk Oblast. Up to 10 Russian occupiers and up to 5 trucks with ammunition were also destroyed in Svatove.

Donetsk direction

• Siversk – Maryinka section: approximate length of the combat line – 235 km, the number of BTGs of the RF Armed Forces – 13-15, the average width of the combat area of one BTG – 17 km;
• Deployed BTGs: 68th and 163rd tank regiments, 102nd and 103rd motorized rifle regiments of the 150 motorized rifle division, 80th tank regiment of the 90th tank division, 35th, 55th, and 74th separate motorized rifle brigades of the 41st Combined Arms Army, 31st separate airborne assault brigade, 61st separate marines brigade of the Joint Strategic Command “Northern Fleet,” 336th separate marines brigade, 24th separate SOF brigade, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 15th, and 100th separate motorized rifle brigades, 9th and 11th separate motorized rifle regiment of the 1st Army Corps of the so-called DPR, 6th motorized rifle regiment of the 2nd Army Corps of the so-called LPR, PMCs.

The enemy shelled Ukrainian positions in the areas of Bakhmut, Bakhmutske, Soledar, Ivangrad, Klishchiivka, Kurdyumivka, Mayorsk, Odradivka, Novomykhailivka, Pervomaiske, Avdiivka, Krasnohorivka, Nevelske and Novokalynove from tanks, mortars, barrel and rocket artillery.

Zaporizhzhia direction

• Maryinka – Vasylivka section: approximate length of the line of combat – 200 km, the number of BTGs of the RF Armed Forces – 17, the average width of the combat area of one BTG – 11.7 km;

• Deployed BTGs: 36th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 29th Combined Arms Army, 38th and 64th separate motorized rifle brigades, 69th separate cover brigade of the 35th Combined Arms Army, 5th separate tank brigade, 37 separate motorized rifle brigade of the 36th Combined Arms Army, 135th, 429th, 503rd and 693rd motorized rifle regiments of the 19th motorized rifle division of the 58th Combined Arms Army, 70th, 71st and 291st motorized rifle regiments of the 42nd motorized rifle division of the 58th Combined Arms Army, 136th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 58 Combined Arms Army, 46th and 49th machine gun artillery regiments of the 18th machine gun artillery division of the 68th Army Corps, 39th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 68th Army Corps, 83th separate airborne assault brigade, 40th and 155th separate marines brigades, 22nd separate SOF brigade, 1st Army Corps of the so-called DPR, and 2nd Army Corps of the so-called LPR, PMCs.

The enemy fired at Defense Forces positions and civilian infrastructure in the areas of Vremivka, Vuhledar, Zaliznychne, Novopil, and Poltavka.

Tavriysk direction

• Vasylivka – Stanislav section: approximate length of the battle line – 296 km, the number of BTGs of the RF Armed Forces – 39, the average width of the combat area of one BTG – 7,5 km;
• Deployed BTGs of: the 8th and 49th Combined Arms Armies; 11th, 103rd, 109th, and 127th rifle regiments of the mobilization reserve of the 1st Army Corps of the Southern Military District; 35th and 36th Combined Arms Armies of the Eastern Military District; 3rd Army Corps of the Western Military District; 90th tank division of the Central Military District; the 22nd Army Corps of the Coastal Forces; the 810th separate marines brigade of the Black Sea Fleet; the 7th and 76th Air assault divisions, the 98th airborne division, and the 11th separate airborne assault brigade of the Airborne Forces.

Areas of more than 15 towns along the contact line suffered fire damage. The enemy made up to 20 sorties of UAVs of various types to conduct aerial reconnaissance.

Over the past 5-6 days, the command of the enemy’s troops has increased the total number of battalion-level units by 6. In total, at least 39 enemy BTGs are operating on both banks of the Dnieper, of which up to 22 BTGs are directly on the bridgehead.

As part of the enemy grouping, there is a separate operational-tactical grouping of the Russian Guard, which consists of eight combined tactical groups: 12th SWAT “Ural,” 146th special motorized regiment, 94th and 96th regiments of operative purpose of the 46th separate brigade of operative purpose (Chechnya), and 50th separate brigade of operative purpose.

The artillery group consists of units of the 439th MLRS brigade of the Southern Military District, the 165th artillery brigade of the 35th Army, the 227th artillery brigade of the 49th Army, the 8th artillery regiment of the 22nd Army Corps, the 944th self-propelled artillery regiment of the 20th motorized rifle division, 1141th artillery regiment of the 7th Air assault division, 1140th artillery regiment of the 76th Air assault division.

During the last two days, in addition to regrouping and improving the defense system at the bridgehead, the enemy continued preparations for counterattacks to improve their tactical position. Thus, the enemy command is regrouping to the area south of Pervomaiskyi (where two BTGs from the 33rd and 255th motorized rifle regiments of the 20th motorized rifle division are currently deployed) forces and equipment from the 35th Army (probably up to two BTGs of the 64th and 38th separate motorized rifle brigades).

Azov-Black Sea Maritime Operational Area:

The forces of the Russian Black Sea Fleet continue to project force on the coast and the continental part of Ukraine and control the northwestern part of the Black Sea. The ultimate goal is to deprive Ukraine of access to the Black Sea and to maintain control over the captured territories.

The Russian naval group at sea is comprised of 9 ships and boats. They are located along the southwestern coast of Crimea. Among them are 3 Kalibr cruise missile carriers: a project 11356R frigate, a small project 21631 missile ship, and a project 636.3 submarine with a total number of more than 20 missiles; and 3 large landing ships of project 775.

In the Sea of Azov waters, 6 enemy patrol ships and boats are on the approaches to the Mariupol and Berdyansk seaports to block the Azov coast.

Enemy aviation continues to fly from Crimean airfields Belbek and Gvardiyske over the northwestern part of the Black Sea. Over the past day, 15 combat aircraft from Belbek and Saki airfields were deployed.

Over the past day (in the interests of the Russian Federation), passage through the Kerch-Yenikal Strait was carried out:

-to the Sea of Azov by 35 vessels, of which 13 vessels were moving from the Bosphorus Strait;

-to the Black Sea by 31 vessels, of which 8 vessels continued their movement in the direction of the Bosphorus Strait.

Russia continues to violate the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) by turning off automatic identification systems (AIS) on civilian vessels in the waters of the Sea of Azov.

“Grain initiative”: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on Russia to continue the grain agreement and ensure constant food supplies. He said this at a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Romania, Nicolae Chuke. He stated that the Russian war had turned part of the Black Sea into a war zone, and missile launches from Russian ships were aimed at Ukrainian cities. “For months, Russian forces have been blocking Ukrainian ports, creating the worst food crisis in years,” the Secretary-General added.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, also made a special statement on October 26 regarding the situation with the grain initiative, stressing that the delay of ships is solely due to the actions of the Russian side.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to use a possible extension of the grain export agreement to gain leverage and dominate next month’s G20 summit in Indonesia, Reuters reported, citing a European diplomat.

From Wednesday, October 26, the state enterprise “Seaports Administration of Ukraine” introduced an electronic queue for the approach and processing of ships heading to the ports of the Odesa region as part of the “grain initiative.” “The introduction of an electronic queue for the processing of ships in the ports of Greater Odesa is another step towards creating more transparent and comfortable conditions for business,” commented the head of the enterprise. A similar technology was previously implemented in the Danube ports and proved to be effective.

Russian operational losses from 24.02 to 26.10

Personnel – almost 68,900 people (+480);

Tanks – 2,628 (+17)

Armored combat vehicles – 5,351 (+30);

Artillery systems – 1,686 (+12);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 379 (+2); Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 192 (+2); Vehicles and fuel tanks – 4,076 (+22); Aircraft – 271 (0);

Helicopters – 248 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level – 1,379 (+7); Intercepted cruise missiles – 350 (0);

Boats / ships – 16 (0).

Ukraine, general news

60% of the Ukrainian budget goes to defense; another 16% goes to social needs. Medicine and education also require significant allocations. However, the Ukrainian government also recently managed to allocate 125 million euros for quick recovery. This is not enough, as it covers only 5% of the objects that have been destroyed, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said during a panel discussion at the International Conference on Reconstruction of Ukraine in Berlin.

761 Ukrainian enterprises have moved to safer areas from the regions where active hostilities are underway. 588 of them have already resumed their operation, and another 274 are looking for a location or means of transportation, Deputy Minister of Economy Tetyana Berezhna said.

International diplomatic aspect

Vladimir Putin compensates for his little gains on the battlefields in Ukraine with massive nuclear drills, which include all components of the triad (land, air, and sea). The plot of the exercise is a “massive nuclear strike” in retaliation for a nuclear attack on Russia. Moscow has been criticized for its nuclear saber-rattling and PSYOP of alleged Kyiv’s plans to use a “dirty bomb.” The Biden Administration warned the Kremlin of catastrophic consequences if it used a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine. In a phone conversation between Russian and Indian ministers of defense,

the latter pointed out that “the nuclear option should not be resorted to by any side as the prospect of the usage of nuclear or radiological weapons goes against the basic tenets of humanity.”

The mounting pressure might be why Moscow decided to cool down the situation. “The US was notified, and, as we’ve highlighted before, this is a routine annual exercise by Russia,” the US Air Force spokesman announced. The Russians showed their commitment to the New START Treaty, which obliges them to provide the US with advance notification of such missile launches.

Moreover, the Institute of World Economy and International Relations (based in Moscow) published an Analytical Report, “Nuclear Factor in the Ukrainian Conflict,” which says it’s unlikely that Russia will use nuclear arms against Ukraine under current circumstances. “It can be assumed with a high degree of certainty that nuclear weapons will not be used provided that the conflict remains within the current borders and without the direct involvement of other participating states on the side of Ukraine,” the Report concludes. The paper reminds that “the Russian Military Doctrine states that nuclear weapons can be used not just in case of “aggression with the use of conventional weapons” against the Russian Federation, but only in the case when this aggression would threaten “the very existence of the state.” Such threats to the Russian Federation in connection with the conflict in Ukraine are currently not visible, in case NATO countries continue to adhere to their position – to provide military assistance to Kyiv, but without their direct military involvement in the conflict”.

“Russia is not going to use nukes. It is out of the question,” Russian Ambassador to the UK told CNN’s anchor Christiane Amanpour. “Defense Minister Shoigu assured every minister that we are not going to use nuclear weapons… This is what has been said by the defense minister and our president,” Andrey Kelin said.

Without a doubt, neither fellows of the government-controlled research institution nor Russian diplomats have influence over decisions of such nature or even knowledge of thereof. Such reports and statements and notification of the drills are undoubtedly a coordinated effort to portray Russia as a responsible nuclear power. However, all those public actions don’t mean either cessation of the nuclear blackmail or a clear signal that the Kremlin will not use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine or elsewhere.

Russia’s Ambassador to the UK has claimed that massive missile and [Iran-made] drone strikes across Ukraine were conducted because Kyiv has crossed a “red line,” striking the Kerch bridge. “The Crimean bridge is essential for our infrastructure. Ukrainians are aware that this is a red line and that they should not attack it. They have severely damaged it, and it should not be a surprise that there is a serious response to that,” Andrey Kelin told Christiane Amanpour of CNN.

However, Bellingcat’s investigation supports the Ukrainian military intelligence’s assessment that the massive, combined attack on Ukrainian critical infrastructure on October 10 had been planned in advance and was only rhetorically linked to the flames on the Kerch bridge. “There was a lull of communication for approximately two weeks, consistent also with the absence of

reports of intensive cruise missile use. This suggests that the planning for the October 10 attack began approximately one week earlier… This timing also implies that the attack on the energy infrastructure may not have been a direct consequence of the partial destruction of the Kerch Bridge in Crimea on October 8 2022,” concluded the Report “The Remote-Control Killers Behind Russia’s Cruise Missile Strikes on Ukraine.”

The Polish Senate unanimously adopted a Resolution declaring the Russian Federation a terrorist regime and calling on the international community to support the International Criminal Court in investigating people responsible for war crimes in Ukraine. Russia “unleashed a beastly war on Ukraine… Its aim is to wipe a sovereign country off the map and to wipe out the Ukrainian nation,” the Resolution reads. “The Russian invaders are terrorizing the residents of Ukrainian towns, bombarding civilian targets: kindergartens, schools, theatres, and housing estates. Bandits in Russian uniforms are torturing and murdering prisoners of war and civilians in the occupied territories. They are kidnapping Ukrainian children to raise them in a regime of Janissaries. They are deporting, resettling, and sending Ukrainian citizens to the farthest reaches of Russia,” the Resolution explains the reason behind calling Russia a terrorist state.

The UK Prime Minister made his first international call to the President of Ukraine to highlight that the UK’s “support for Ukraine would be as strong as ever under his premiership.” “Both leaders agreed on the need to continue to place pressure on Putin’s barbaric regime through continued economic sanctions,” the Downing 10 Press-release reads.

Australia sent 30 additional Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles to Ukraine, bringing the total number to 90. It’s reported that the US is considering sending Hawk medium-range, surface-to- air guided missile systems to Ukraine. Earlier, NATO Secretary-General said that Spain also would supply the four Hawk anti-aircraft missile launchers. Meanwhile, Switzerland rejected German’s request to send Ukraine ammunition for the Gepard anti-aircraft defense system.

A few believers of the Moscow Church staged a march to “exorcise demons” of Azov and Ukrainian Armed Forces around Azovstal and in the city of Mariupol, leveled by the Russian invaders. Earlier, an assistant secretary of Russia’s Security Council called for “desatanization” of Ukraine. “Using network manipulation and psycho-technologies, the new authorities turned Ukraine from a state into a totalitarian “hypersect”,” Aleksey Pavlov said.

Meanwhile, the Patriarch of the Moscow Church proposed to amend the National Security Strategy by including “faith, love for the motherland, and sacrifice” to the list of values. “It [the history of Russia] and our well-being are built, among other things, on the sacrifices of previous generations,” Kirill Gundyev said. He also highlighted that “dignity”, “human rights and freedoms” have been borrowed from Western European philosophy and should only follow the traditional Russian values. In the time of war, sacrifice is the “right” value Moscow Church should be promoting. On the one hand, Kirill Gundyev is reported to be a billionaire with luxury apartments, limousines, and a yacht. On the other, “the analysis showed that out of the total number of families of mobilized citizens [in Siberia], 46% of families have an average per capita income below the subsistence level,” the Ministry of Labor of Khakassia calculated.

Russia, relevant news

Mercedes-Benz leaves Russia and sells its plant. The company has become the third major automaker to announce its withdrawal from Russia. The Mercedes plant in the Moscow region, which opened in 2019, will be sold to the dealer holding Avtodom. Presumably, the plant will start producing Chinese cars.

Reuters reports that the American car manufacturer Ford Motor Company has announced its exit from the Russian market. The announcement comes after the company completed a deal to sell its 49% stake in Russian joint venture Sollers Ford for an undisclosed “nominal” price. At the same time, the American company retains the option to buy them back within 5 years “if the situation in the world changes.”

A fire broke out in a large warehouse of building materials not far from St. Petersburg. The area of the fire reached 12 thousand square meters. The fire was contained only in the morning.

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