CDS Daily brief (01.11.22) | CDS comments on key events

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Humanitarian aspect:

Ukrainian refugees who have been issued temporary visas in the European Union and have returned to Ukraine can come back to the EU before winter, stated the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Czech Republic, Vit Rakushan, after returning from Kyiv. Ukrainians who already received temporary protection status in the EU but returned to Ukraine now have the right to come to the EU under the conditions that do not allow them to stay in Ukraine during the winter. He assumes that these people will return, and the number of refugees in the European Union may increase to 5 million. According to him, the Czech Republic could receive a maximum of half a million people.

Consequences of enemy shelling on the morning of November 1:

• On October 31, the Russian occupiers shelled Zaporizhzhia, Polohy and Vasyliv districts of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. 29 reports were received about the destruction of houses (apartments) and infrastructure facilities.
• At night, the Russians hit Mykolaiv with four rockets; 1 person was killed. A 2-story building was destroyed, an educational institution and private houses were damaged, and a 5-story building was on fire. In the Mykolaiv district, the enemy hit an industrial infrastructure facility.
• Around   midnight,   8   mines    hit    the    Znob-Novgorod    community    of Sumy Oblast. Preliminary, no victims and destruction were reported.
• After 21.00, the Russian occupiers attacked Kupyansk in Kharkiv Oblast; an apartment building was destroyed. There are no reported victims or injured. Also, during the day, the enemy shelled the Kupyansk (1 wounded) and Chuguyivskyi districts of the Oblast. In Kharkiv, due to the Russian attack on energy facilities on October 31, the boiler house and several heating stations are still not working.
• On October 31, enemy shelling killed 2 civilians in Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, and 1 in Kurakhovo. 3 more were wounded. As a result of the impact, a private house and a high- rise building were damaged in the city. Four houses were destroyed in the Toretsk community, and shellings were recorded near Yakovlivka, Bakhmutsky and Razdolivka in the Soledar community, Pavlo Kirilenko, head of the Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, said. The enemy fired fourteen missiles at the industrial zone in Kramatorsk. In Kurakhovo, one private house was completely destroyed. In Avdiivka, one shelling was recorded at night and two massive shelling in the morning. Due to the shelling of the Ocheretyanska community, the power supply line was damaged.
• At night, 40 enemy shells landed in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. 14 high-rise and private buildings, a kindergarten, a pharmacy, a hairdresser salon, shops and bank premises were damaged. In the Marganetsk community, the shelling damaged the power line and cut off the power to the water utility’s pumping station.
• Russians attacked Poltava Oblast at night. According to the head of the OMA, Dmytro Lunin, at night, Poltava Oblast was attacked by 10 Shahed-136 drones. Air defense forces shot down six of them, and four hit civilian infrastructure. The Russians released Iranian-

made UAVs from the territory of the temporarily occupied Huliaipole in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Water and energy supply in Kyiv is fully restored, Kyiv mayor Klitschko said. However, according to the mayor of Kyiv, power cuts are still applied because the deficit in the energy system, after the barbaric attacks of the Russian aggressor, is significant. All trolleybuses in Kyiv are being replaced by buses to save electricity.

In the Kyiv Oblast, about 20 thousand households remain without electricity. Power engineers are working around the clock to eliminate the consequences of enemy shelling. To stabilize the network at 6:15 a.m., scheduled power outages began in the region, said the head of the Kyiv OMA, Oleksiy Kuleba. “When you have electricity at home, please charge your phones and power banks,” he said. During the day, there was an emergency power outage in four districts of Kyiv, Obolon, Vynogradar, Minsk and Kurenivka neighborhoods.

In the case of a worst-case scenario, Kyiv is preparing for a hard winter. According to the mayor Vitali Klitschko, over 1,000 heating points have already been prepared in the capital. Electric generators and water supplies were established. The Kyiv City State Administration appealed to the Kyiv residents to organize the necessary supplies at home. Among other things, they need water, essential food supplies, warm clothes, etc.

In case of a nuclear attack, there are 425 special underground facilities with two entrances and exits and ventilation in the Kyiv Oblast. “The last 8 months have taught us that anything can happen. As an official, I am preparing for the worst scenario, but I hope everything will be fine,” said Oleksiy Kuleba, head of the regional military administration. In total, there are about a thousand shelters in the [Kyiv] Oblast. Kuleba says there will most likely be no communication in case of a nuclear strike. “The only thing that will work is the radio. Therefore, portable radios with batteries should be equipped everywhere to receive the signal. Because information will be the most important thing.”

In the Kyiv Oblast, the bodies of 200 victims of the Russian military are currently unrecognizable, stated the head of the Kyiv region police, Andrii Nebytov, during a briefing at the “Ukraine- Ukrinform” Media Center. He noted that with the results of examinations, the number of unrecognizable corpses is decreasing. Relatives are informed where the body is buried, and a decision is made to rebury at the request of relatives. As previously reported, as of October 28, 1,367 bodies of dead Ukrainians were exhumed in Kyiv Oblast.

Occupied territories:

Due to the explosion of a land mine near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the fourth power unit was shut down. The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency stated that the situation at the ZNPP is unstable. Russian invaders at the Zaporizhzhia NPP canceled Ukrainian passes for personnel, and military equipment was installed on the roof of one of the power units, reported the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The Russians set a condition for the licensed shift workers of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power

Plant that by November 2, they have to sign or reject the contract with Rosatom. Other ZNPP employees have been given a deadline of December 1. It has been reported that Ukrainian passes to the station will be canceled shortly. Currently, engineering and technical workers of the station are not allowed to work. Only operatives (change of management) have access. According to intelligence data, the so-called “Kadyrov combatants” have arrived in Enerhodar, patrolling in groups of 15-20 people. On the roof of the fifth power unit, the Russian invaders installed EW equipment to combat aerial reconnaissance. The [Russian] command staff is scattered around the city and lives in the apartments of people who have left the city.

Russian invaders took 300 children from the temporarily occupied Enerhodar, and Kamianka to the regions of the Russian Federation,

[legally elected Ukrainian Mayor] of Melitopol Ivan Fedorov said during the national telethon. The mayor also reminded of the military censorship [Russian occupies] introduced in the city. If earlier the use of Ukrainian mobile communications and the Internet was restricted, now it is forbidden to use Ukrainian public and messenger channels.

Operational situation

(please note that this part of the report is mainly on the previous day’s (October 31) developments)

It is the 251st 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, concentrates its efforts on disrupting the counteroffensive actions of the Ukrainian troops, and does not give up attempts to conduct the offensive in the Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions.

The enemy continues shelling the Defense Forces units along the contact line. It carries fortification of the frontiers in some directions and conducts aerial reconnaissance. The enemy strikes critical infrastructure [of Ukraine], violating the norms of International Humanitarian Law, laws and customs of war. During the past 24 hours, the enemy launched 60 missile and 15 air strikes, and carried out more than 45 shellings with anti-aircraft missiles. Areas of more than 50 Ukrainian towns and villages, including Soledar, Vuhledar, Yakovlivka, and Vesele of the Donetsk Oblast, were hit by the enemy. Near the state border, Vilkhuvatka, Vovchansk, Gatishche, Strelecha and Veterynarne in Kharkiv Oblast came under fire.

The Republic of Belarus supports the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The Russian Federation continues the transfer of units to the territory of the Republic of Belarus. The threat of missile strikes and the use of attack UAVs from the territory of the Republic of Belarus remains.

During the past day, the Ukrainian Defense Forces aircraft struck the enemy 14 times. Areas of concentration of enemy weapons and military equipment, strongholds and positions of the air

defense systems were affected. Ukrainian air defense units shot down 4 enemy helicopters, 2 UAVs and 45 enemy cruise missiles.

Over the past day, Ukraine’s missile troops and artillery hit 2 enemy command and control points, 3 areas of concentration of manpower, weapons and military equipment and other important enemy targets.

The morale and psychological state of the personnel of the invasion forces remain low. The Russian command investigates the arbitrary abandonment of positions by personnel of the 2nd motorized rifle battalion of the 423rd motorized rifle regiment in the area of Kolomychyikha village. The personnel of the 5th and 6th motorized rifle companies suffered significant losses due to the powerful fire impact of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for several days. Russian “mobilization” personnel, having failed to obtain any clear and adequate leadership from the constantly drunk commanders, retreated on foot, independently, without any command from the higher authorities, for almost 15 km to the rear, where the Russian command discovered them at the gas station on the western outskirts of Svatove; the hungry personnel were trying to get something edible. It was also established that Russian units, at the positions behind them or on the flanks, opened fire on them at least twice.

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 enemy shelled the Defence Forces’ positions in Kucherivka, Stelmakhivka, Myasozharivka, and Petropavlivka.

The enemy’s troops command is taking active measures to stabilize the situation in the Svatove area and deployed the consolidated BTG of the 12th and 13th tank regiments of the 4th tank division of the 1st Tank Army (up to 22 tanks, not all in combat condition) in the Kolomiyichykha village area. Fierce street fighting continues in the village.

Due to the loss of about 45-50% of personnel and combat equipment, the enemy BTG of the 15th motorized rifle regiment of the 2nd motorized rifle division of the 1st Tank Army was withdrawn to restore combat capability.

The 1st motorized rifle battalion of the 1st separate motorized rifle brigade of the 1st Army Corps was transferred from the Donetsk region to the operational subordination of the commander of the 3rd motorized rifle division of the 20th Army.

During the past two days, due to the advance of the advanced units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to the west of Svatove, the enemy command had to hastily organize and carry out a poorly prepared counterattack in the direction of Dzherelne – Andriivka by the remnants of BTG consisting of the 254th motorized rifle regiment of the 144th motorized rifle division of the 20th Army, which was previously forced to move to this area from the south-west of Svatove. The BTG was hastily supplemented by [Russian] citizens who were called for mobilization and thrown into battle. As a result, it lost several dozen soldiers killed and wounded, two BBM and rolled back to the starting line.

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 enemy fired from tanks, mortars, barrel and jet artillery at the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the areas of Nevske, Bilohorivka, Rozdolivka, Spirne, Hryhorivka and Berestove.

The enemy deployed two reinforced companies from the 201st military base of the Central Military District of Tajikistan (the rest of its forces are now deployed in the Lysychansk direction) to the Lyman direction battle in the area of Zhyylivka village.

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 the areas of Zelenopillya, Klishchiivka, Bakhmut, Bakhmutske, Soledar, Maryinka, Vodyane, Krasnohorivka, Pervomaiske and Nevelske from tanks and artillery.

The enemy carried out several unsuccessful assault actions. Thus, the 7th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 2nd Army Corps (AC) attacked with the forces of two platoons in the direction of Striapivka and Soledar. The reinforced platoon of the 6th separate motorized rifle regiment of the 2nd AC attacked Pokrovske and Bakhmutske. Two platoons of the 2nd separate motorized rifle brigade of the 2nd AC stormed Trypillya and Yakovlivka. A platoon of the 3rd separate motorized rifle brigade of the 1st AC attacked Zaitseve (lower) and Mayorsk. Up to two platoons of the 131st rifle battalion of the mobilization reserve attacked Horlivka- Mayorsk in foot formation. With the forces of two assault detachments from the “Wagner” PMC, the enemy attacked in the directions of Mykolaivka, Kurdyumivka; Odradivka, Andriivka; Vesela Dolyna, Bakhmut; Shypylivka, Beiohorivka; Zolotarivka, Beiohorivka. Attacks were carried out by units ranging from an assault detachment to a reinforced platoon. The enemy units of the 11th separate motorized rifle regiment made an unsuccessful attempt to attack Vodiane village and suffered losses. At the same time, units from the 1st separate motorized rifle brigade (2nd motorized rifle battalion), separate reconnaissance battalion “Sparta”, 185th special battalion of the so-called “people’s militia of DPR”, and the “Storm” detachment of the 102nd motorized rifle regiment of the 150th motorized rifle division tried to consolidate on the positions captured on

28.10 to further develop an offensive on Opytne – Vodyane. They conducted aerial reconnaissance and combat reconnaissance, and tried to inflict fire damage on the Ukrainian Joint Forces advanced units.

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 shelled the positions of the Defense Forces in the areas of Vremivka, Vuhledar, Poltavka, Olhivske, Malynivka, Pavlivka, and Novodanilivka.

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.

The [Russian] occupiers forcibly relocate the civilian population. Thus, in Kakhovka, citizens living in apartments along the banks of the Dnipro river are forcibly evicted from their homes. The Russian invaders are equipping engineering fortifications and mine-explosive barriers around civilian housing. In Novochornomorya, Skadovsky District, Russian servicemen psychologically and physically put pressure on civilians. They are kicked out of their own homes. The houses released in this way are planned for the occupiers’ placement.

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 enemy holds eight ships and boats at sea. They are located along the southwestern coast of Crimea. Among them are 2 Kalibr cruise missile carriers: two small project 21631 missile ships with a total of 16 missiles.

There are 6 enemy patrol ships and boats in the Sea of Azov waters 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, 16 aircraft from Belbek and Saka airfields were deployed.

In Sevastopol, around 3:40 on November 1, the sound of an explosion was heard. According to local media reports, the explosion sounds were similar to the activation of the anti-aircraft system. The Russian head of Sevastopol, Mykhailo Razvozhaev, wrote in a telegram that at night in the area of Lyubimivka, the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation shot down a drone.

Grain Initiative: The Joint Coordination Center for the Grain Initiative, under the auspices of the United Nations, reported that by noon on Tuesday, November 1, three more vessels had left Ukrainian ports after Russia suspended its participation in the initiative. The center’s statement said the movement of the vessels had been agreed upon by the delegations of Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations at the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) in Istanbul, and the Russian delegation had been informed. It is also noted that Amir Abdullah, coordinator of the UN Black Sea Grain Initiative, “continues negotiations with all three member states, seeking to restore full participation in the SCC.”

The United Nations does not believe that Russia’s suspension of participation in the “grain agreement” means that it has lost its validity. UN inspectors will continue to inspect ships transporting grain from Ukrainian ports. Martin Griffiths, Deputy Secretary General of the Organization for Humanitarian Affairs, told journalists about this at a briefing after the meeting of the UN Security Council on October 31.

Turkey holds a similar opinion, actually demanding that Russia return to the agreement. During a telephone conversation with Shoigu, Turkey Defense Minister Khulusi Akar emphasized the need to restore the “grain corridor” functioning. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed his full commitment to continuing grain exports during a telephone conversation with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. In turn, Putin said that the reason for suspending Moscow’s participation in the “grain agreement” was a threat from Ukraine. Only in the case of security guarantees in the Black Sea can he reconsider this decision.

Russian operational losses from 24.02 to 01.11

Personnel – almost 72,470 people (+650);

Tanks – 2,698(+12)

Armored combat vehicles – 5,501 (+16);

Artillery systems – 1,730 (+2);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 383 (0); Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 197 (0); Vehicles and fuel tanks – 4,143 (+15); Aircraft – 276 (+1);

Helicopters – 257 (+4);

UAV operational and tactical level – 1,415 (+2); Intercepted cruise missiles – 397 (+45);

Boats / ships – 16 (0).

Ukraine, general news

The Russians damaged about 40% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Pesiden Zelensky said. He discussed with the European Union Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson the issue of restoring the Ukrainian energy infrastructure after the Russian strikes and stabilizing the operation of the Ukrainian energy grid. He added that Ukraine is preparing for winter and stocking up on additional equipment, and Ukrainians should also prepare for a difficult winter and have supplies of technical water, flashlights, power banks, warm clothes, batteries and other things.

Prime Minister Shmygal said that yesterday’s Russian attack is part of a larger, pre-planned Russian strategy to destroy the Ukrainian energy system. He noted that the possibility of evacuating the population in the event of a critical energy situation is an emergency step that will be used as a last resort.

12 countries will assist Ukraine in the form of energy equipment to restore the energy system, said Kuleba, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Israel, Spain, Italy, Lithuania, Germany,

North Macedonia, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland and France will deliver 954 units of energy equipment to Ukraine.

The IAEA has begun inspecting two Ukrainian nuclear facilities at the request of Ukraine to officially refute Russian fakes about the development of a “dirty bomb”. A month ago, the IAEA already inspected one of the facilities. No undeclared nuclear activity or materials were found there. According to the Director General of the Agency, Rafael Grossi, a preliminary report on the audit results will be made public before the end of this week.

Ukrainian rescuers received the fourth tranche of assistance from the French government, including:

• 7 fire trucks;
• 6 light specialized cars;
• ambulance car;
• mobile medical center with radiological equipment
• 7 trailers with boats;
• fire, rescue and medical equipment.

International diplomatic aspect

Iran is preparing to provide Russia with about a thousand additional weapons items, including ballistic missiles and kamikaze drones. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force spokesman said that Ukraine does not have an effective means of defense against Iranian-made ballistic missiles Russia is about to acquire.

About a hundred Ukrainian military personnel are about to complete their NASAMS air defense system operation course in Norway. The US will provide two first NASAMS at the beginning of November and six more within a couple of years. “France is fully prepared to step up its military support for Ukraine forthwith, especially as concerns anti-air defense,” Emmanuel Macron told Volodymyr Zelensky in a phone conversation.

Russia is trying to create a “foreign legion” and hire Afghan special forces soldiers who fled Afghanistan for Iran after the US’s troublesome withdrawal. The Kremlin is ready to offer a generous $ 1,500-a-month salary and safe havens for families of would-be mercenaries. Given Russia’s previous failed attempts to attract “soldiers of fortune” from Syria and other corners of the world, it’s unclear how many Afghanis will end up in the trenches in Ukraine.

Dmitriy Medvedev threatened Ukraine with nuclear weapons because “the goal of Ukraine in the war is the return of all territories that previously belonged to it. This is a threat to the existence of our state and the collapse of today’s Russia”. Ukraine’s National Security Council’s Secretary replied, “Russia will definitely and irrevocably lose. The Kremlin regime voluntarily launched the disintegration process of the sub-empire and the fake federation. All territories occupied by Moscow will be returned, which applies not only to Ukraine but also to Georgia, Moldova, Japan, and other countries and peoples. Belarus will be a free country, including from the Russian invaders. The threat and use of nuclear weapons by the Russian Federation is an act of suicide.

Russia will finally turn into enemy number one for the whole world.” “Complete denuclearization is the ultimate goal of dismantling the Russian Federation… It’s the only [real] guarantee of security for the world and Ukraine,” Oleksiy Danylov continued.

Boris Johnson has told Sky News that he does not think Vladimir Putin will use a tactical nuclear weapon in his war in Ukraine. “I don’t think he will, he’d be crazy to do so,” the ex-prime minister said. Boris Johnson believes it would be a “total disaster” for Russia and will put it into a “cryogenic economic freeze.” At the same time, Putin would “lose a lot of the middle ground of global tacit acquiescence that he’s had.”

Meanwhile, the Kremlin’s mouthpiece threatened the UK with “further steps” because “such actions cannot be put aside.” Peskov is developing a new narrative about alleged UK involvement in blowing up Nord Stream pipelines. “There is evidence that Britain is involved in sabotage … a terrorist act against vital energy infrastructure,” he said.

The US military personnel is conducting onsite inspections of the US weapons provided to Ukraine. The US Defense Secretary said before that the US side knows every detail about the American weapons in Ukraine and is not worrying about them being misused. However, several Russian IPSOs have claimed that weapons had ended up in the “wrong hands,” and a bunch of Republican congressmen insisted on setting up an oversight. Ukraine is interested in assuring its partners that their weapons are in good hands and being used for a good purpose – annihilating Russian invaders.

Ukraine has already introduced a NATO-based LOGFAS logistics accounting and control system. Its integration with the Ukrainian information and analytical system “SOTA,” which tracks foreign weapons from their entrance into the country’s territory to their use on the battlefield, provides complete control over every item.

Russia, relevant news

Russian Gazprom reduced production by 18.6% in 10 months of the current year. The company produced 344 billion cubic meters of gas in January-October of the current year, which is 78.8 billion cubic meters less than last year’s figures. At the same time, in the domestic market, demand for Gazprom’s resources during this period fell by 11.1 billion cubic meters, i.e. 5.6%. On the other hand, according to the company’s data, gas exports amounted to 91.2 billion cubic meters, which is 67.6 billion less than in 2021. At the same time, the company claims that the export of energy resources to China through the “Power of Siberia” gas pipeline is growing.

International company 3M Co. decided to completely withdraw its business from Russia and Belarus and is considering the possibility of selling its Alabuga SEZ and Volokolamsk production facilities – the Russian Interfax news agency reported, citing the company.

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