WAR IN UKRAINE: October 13, 2022
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: Day 232
Today marks the fourth consecutive day of Russian strikes targeting civilian infrastructure across Ukraine. One of Russia's strikes included a "kamikaze" drone attack on the Kyiv region and shelling of residential buildings in the southern city of Mykolaiv - CNN
Russia's Vladimir Putin is meeting Turkey's President Erdogan on the sidelines of a summit in Kazakhstan. Kremlin officials said Erdogan was likely to "officially" offer to mediate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine
Putin has reportedly suggested that Turkey could be used as a hub to deliver Russian gas to Europe, reports BBC. He said the route via Turkey was proving to be the most reliable way of getting gas to the EU. Gas supply through the Nord Stream pipeline from Russia to Germany has been disrupted since Russia invaded Ukraine, and completely halted after an explosion on the pipeline under the Baltic Sea, which is believed to have been a deliberate act of sabotage.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his plea for more air defense capacities, saying Kyiv has only about 10% of what it needs to combat Moscow's blitz. "We are fighting a large country that has a lot of equipment and lots of missiles," Zelensky said during a virtual address today. He specifically called on Western countries such as the US and France to increase their military aid to the country - CNN
Overnight, the Russian military shelled Mykolaiv, hitting a five-story building. The two upper floors were completely destroyed, the rest were under rubble. A young boy reportedly died. At least seven people are reported missing, with two bodies recovered so far, CNN reported.
During the day, anti-aircraft missile units and fighter aircraft of the Air Force destroyed 19 kamikaze drones and five Ka-52 attack helicopters, the command reported - Suspilne
Iran has reportedly sent instructors to occupied areas to teach Russian forces how to use the ‘Shahed’ drones. According to the Institute for the Study of War, a US-based think tank, Moscow “launched a satellite into orbit on behalf of Iran” in exchange for the ‘kamikaze’ drones. They’ve also been used by Houthi rebels in Yemen to damage oil installations in Saudi Arabia, reports France 24. Iranian-made drones that Russia uses in Ukraine are "slow and fly at low attitudes"; they have a small explosive payload and can't fulfill "the deep strike function which Russia probably aspired to use it for," the U.K. Defense Ministry says.
Britain will transfer to Ukraine medium-range AMRAAM missiles for anti-aircraft American missile systems NASAMS, and France its air defense systems.
The Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations took binoculars with him to examine the small support of Russia at the General Assembly "Oh, my God! I don't see! How many, you say, voted for Russia? Four? Well, well!" – Serhii Kyslytsia writes on his Twitter
