WAR IN UKRAINE: October 23, 2022
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: Day 242
Massive Russian attacks have resulted in cuts to electricity to over 1.4 million Ukrainian households, says an official. Ukrenergo says it’s been forced to impose electricity supply limitations across Ukraine. The latest attacks include the Cherkasy region to the south of Kyiv and the city of Khmelnytskyi in western Ukraine. Most of the attacks involved Iranian-supplied drones purchased by Russia. President Volodymyr Zelensky says the majority have been shot down
Meanwhile, a Russian missile strike yesterday completely destroyed an energy facility in Lutsk, Volyn Oblast. Lutsk Mayor Ihor Polishchuk said on Oct. 22 that it's currently impossible to restore the unspecified facility - Kyiv Independent
The U.S. and Russian defense ministers -- Lloyd Austin and Sergei Shoigu -- have discussed Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in a telephone call. Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says the use of a nuclear weapon by Russia in the war in Ukraine would be considered an "act of hostility against humanity” - RFE/RL
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Die Welt that his country does not want to "act alone", meaning that other Western countries should also send their tanks if Germany does.
Ukraine's energy minister said he has seen no signs of a deal involving Russia, Ukraine, and the UN's nuclear watchdog on resolving the situation at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant.
Kyiv has accused Russia of deliberately delaying the passage of ships carrying grain exports under UN brokered-deal. It allows for three Ukraine Black Sea ports to allow ships to carry grain and food oils via Turkey to world markets. Ukraine says 150 vessels were waiting to be loaded. I can confirm from my observations from Odesa that the flow of ships has been reduced to a trickle. The deal is up for renewal shortly and Russia’s expected to renegotiate certain aspects
Required reading…
Watch as support for funding Ukraine erodes among Republicans
If Republicans win the House in the midterm elections, their pledge is to take a hard look at the money the US is spending to help foot the bill -- to the tune of billions in security aid -- for Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion.
Kevin McCarthy, who would likely be Speaker of the House in January if Republicans win in November, still supports US aid. But if Republicans win the House, he said there will be no more "blank check."
Read the full CNN analysis here