WAR IN UKRAINE: October 26, 2022
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: Day 245
Ukraine Deputy PM Iryna Vereshchuk has urged Ukrainian asylum seekers not to return home this winter after more than one-third of the country’s energy sector was destroyed by Russia. She said the grid "won't survive" the return of refugees from abroad, and that the situation would "only get worse.” Vereshchuk added: "If it is possible, stay abroad for the time being.”
A House progressive leader Pramila Jayapal abruptly withdrew a letter pushing the Biden admin to pursue diplomacy in Russia's war with Ukraine, an about-face following furious internal backlash from Democrats feeling blindsided just two weeks before the midterms. The release of the letter was blamed on an error of staff members, however many on social media question that excuse.
Russia accused the West on Monday of stealing from its currency and gold reserves. Western sanctions have frozen $640 billion worth of Russian assets. The European Council is considering transferring those assets to Ukraine - Business Insider
As a result of the missile attack on the Dnipro, 2-3 people died including a pregnant woman. As of now, the fire has been contained - head of the OVA Valentyn Reznichenko - TRUKHA
U.S. President Joe Biden warned Russia that the use of a tactical nuclear weapon would be an "incredibly serious mistake" after Moscow claimed Ukraine is preparing to use a so-called dirty bomb on its own territory. Meanwhile, the United States is considering sending older HAWK air-defense systems to Ukraine to help it shoot down Russian drone and cruise missile attacks - RFE/RL
Required reading..
Ukraine defiant as Putin’s terror bombing plunges cities into darkness
In Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine, rolling power blackouts are now the new normal. With Russia’s terror-bombing campaign of civilian targets and critical infrastructure currently in its third week, the Ukrainian government has been forced to limit electricity and impose regular cutoffs in order to preserve energy amid damage to around 40% of the country’s power grid.
Vladimir Putin hopes that by destroying Ukrainian infrastructure and depriving the civilian population of essential services such as heating, water, and electricity, he can break Ukraine’s will to resist and force the Kyiv authorities to accept a peace deal on Moscow’s terms. So far, there is little sign of that happening. Instead, Ukrainians are responding to Russia’s terror tactics with the kind of resolve that has characterized the country’s war effort ever since the invasion began eight months ago.
A new nationwide poll released this week underlined the current mood of defiance across the country. Conducted on October 21-23 by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, the survey found that 86% of respondents supported the continuation of Ukraine’s military counteroffensive and rejected negotiations despite Russia’s escalating airstrikes against civilian targets.
Read the full Atlantic Council analysis by Peter Dickinson here