Progress on day 607

World - Ukraine-Russia: Developments on day 607 — Photo: Alex Babenko/AP.

Russian forces have carried out a series of reckless and bloody attacks on the town of Avdiivka, a town considered by Ukraine as a gateway to the liberation of the Donetsk region and the rest of Donbas, including Donetsk and Luhansk.
The U.S. Institute for the Study of the War reported that Ukrainian forces in Kherson had crossed the Dnipro River to reach new positions in an attempt to dislodge Russia. Russian forces occupy the eastern bank of the river in Kherson, while the western bank remains under Ukrainian control, although the area is frequently shelled by Russia. Russia claims Ukraine attempted to cross the river.

Six people were killed in a Russian missile attack on a postal distribution center in Kharkiv on Saturday; all were postal workers, aged between 19 and 42. Of the 17 injured, seven are in critical condition.

On Sunday, Mitch McConnell strongly supported the US President Joe Biden's office's proposal for $106 billion in aid to Israel and Ukraine, asserting that he and Biden "agree" on the matter.

Russian officials said Russian forces shot down three missiles aimed at the Crimean Peninsula on Sunday. The peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014, plays a crucial role in Russia's offensive, both in supplying troops in southern Ukraine and in launching missile attacks from the sea.

Russia may have suffered between 150,000 and 190,000 permanent casualties (killed or permanently injured) since the war began, according to the latest report from the UK Ministry of Defence . If temporary injuries are included, the number rises to between 240,000 and 290,000.
Russian soldiers attacked the village of Stanislav in the Kherson region on the night of October 22, damaging 30 houses; however, there is no information yet on casualties.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to visit Tehran on Monday to discuss matters with regional rivals. Iran's state-run IRNA reported that the foreign ministers of Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia have been invited to the meeting. Western countries have accused Tehran of supporting Russia's attack in Ukraine by supplying large quantities of drones and other weapons.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had discussed with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, to express his gratitude to Qatar for its humanitarian assistance and help in bringing Ukrainian children illegally deported back home.

The BBC reports that Ukraine is concerned about a potential shortage of drones after China tightened export restrictions. The war in Ukraine was the first armed conflict to see widespread use of drones from both sides. These drones are commercially manufactured in China, and new supplies are crucial given the large number of drones lost in combat.

Russia's Gazprom, seeking to offset losses in the European market, will sell more gas to Hungary and China. Hungary is the only EU member whose leader, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, continues to maintain close ties with Putin and is considered the biggest opponent of a decision before December on whether the EU should consider allowing Ukraine to join, requiring unanimous support from all 27 member states.

Nguyen Quang Minh (according to The Guardian)

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