Ukraine: realities | «The Weekly Five»: 09.10 – 15.10

ISW: Russian Attack on Avdiivka Failed

Russian offensive operations in the Avdiivka region of Donetsk Oblast on October 13 have suffered a setback, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War.

Military analysts believe that the Kremlin is attempting to portray its offensive operations around Avdiivka and other local actions as seizing operational initiative in Ukraine.

Russian sources claimed that Russian forces continued to attack areas to the north and south of Avdiivka, and geolocation footage released on October 12 and 13 showed that troops had advanced south of Krasnohorivka (5 km north of Avdiivka) and southeast of Pervomaiske (11 km southwest of Avdiivka).

Russian sources also published conflicting reports about Russian control of the Avdiivka Coke Plant, and ISW found no evidence that Russian forces controlled the plant at the time of publication.

 

Events in Israel Will Not Affect NATO's Support for Ukraine

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that the Alliance, amid the escalation of the Arab-Israeli conflict, has not wavered in its determination to continue supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression. The Alliance Secretary-General recalled that in the recent meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's defense, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky personally participated.

«And NATO Allies strongly stated that, yes, we are concerned and, of course, appalled by the brutality of the terrorist attack in Israel over the weekend. But this will not undermine our ability, our readiness, our determination to continue supporting Ukraine», he emphasized.

Stoltenberg added that the Alliance confirms this commitment not only in words but also in actions.

 

Politico: Ukrainian Pilots to Begin Training on F-16s in the U.S. Next Week

Ukrainian pilots are set to commence training on F-16 fighter jets at the U.S. Air National Guard's military airbase in Arizona next week, as reported by Politico citing multiple sources. The Ukrainian aviators have already completed language courses and arrived in the U.S. in September.

According to the publication, a small group of Ukrainian pilots, after undergoing language training at the Lakeland airbase in Texas, are heading to the Arizona airbase for flight training. The initial phase of training is expected to cover the fundamentals of F-16 operation in classrooms and simulators, followed by actual flights on the aircraft.

It is anticipated that the Ukrainians will undergo an accelerated course due to the urgency for them to return for potential participation in combat operations in their homeland.

 

White House: North Korea Transferred 1000 "Military Equipment" Containers to Russia

The United States has information that North Korea has transferred a thousand containers of «military equipment» to Russia, expecting to receive heavy weaponry, including aviation, in return. Journalists received this information from John Kirby, the coordinator for strategic communications at the White House National Security Council.

"We have information that North Korea supplied Russia with weapons for use in Ukraine. North Korea provided Russia with over 1000 containers of military equipment and ammunition. Today, we are publishing a schedule depicting the movement of containers," Kirby was quoted as saying by journalist Laura Rosen.

Reuters also published  a brief news item that the White House released schedules of North Korea's weapon deliveries to Russia. According to the U.S., the shipments occurred between September 7 and October 1.

 

PACE Calls for Recognition of Putin as Illegitimate and Declares Russia a Dictatorship

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has urged member states of the Council to recognize Vladimir Putin as illegitimate after the end of his current presidential term and declared Russia a dictatorship. In a unanimously adopted resolution, PACE also called for the cessation of all contacts with Putin, except for humanitarian contacts and efforts towards peace.

The Assembly emphasized that Vladimir Putin has been in power as president or prime minister since 2000. Amendments to the Russian Constitution made in July 2020 extended his potential presidency until 2036, raising concerns about the lack of checks and balances. This, combined with increasing repression against internal opponents and Russia's actions in Ukraine, highlights the cost of unchecked presidential power, according to PACE.

 

The project «Ukraine: realities» is implemented by the News agency «Konkurent» together with the Civic Movement «SVIDOMI» and the charity organization Global Empowerment Mission in English for readers from other countries to tell the stories of people who survived the horrors of the Russian occupation.

Проєкт «Ukraine: realities» реалізовується Інформаційним агентством «Конкурент» спільно з Громадянським Рухом «СВІДОМІ» та благодійною організацією Global Empowerment Mission на англійській мові для читачів з інших країн аби розповісти історії людей, які пережили жахи російської окупації.