Key developments for October 13:
Zelensky: Ukraine holds front line in Kursk Oblast, despite Russian attacks
* Prosecutors launch investigation into the alleged killing of nine POWs in Kursk Oblast by Russians
WP reports that Russia’s illegal Starlink terminal use hastened the fall of Vuhledar.
Zelensky: Russia used around 900 aerial weapons against Ukraine in the last week
Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, said on October 12 that despite Russian attempts at breaking through the front line, Ukrainian troops were holding it in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
“Russia tried to push our positions back.” “But we are holding the lines defined,” he said.
Zelensky posted his comments on his official Telegram account after Russian military sources claimed that the previous day they had recaptured nearly twenty settlements in Kursk Oblast.
According to analysts from the Institute for the Study of War, “Russian forces are likely to have advanced in at least 13 settlements within the Kursk Oblast where Ukrainian forces were previously reported to have operated as of October 11,”
Andrii Kovalenko, the head of the counter-disinformation department at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, also commented on the issue on his Telegram channel on Oct. 12.
“Active fighting is continuing in Kursk Oblast,” said he. “After (Ukrainian) troops partially regained positions where the Russians entered, (Russian) troops began to send columns for attack again.”
Early in August, Ukraine launched a border incursion into Kursk Oblast. It is claimed that they seized over 1,300 square kilometers of land and around 100 settlements. In September, Russia launched a counteroffensive with little success in the region.
In the early part of the week, U.S. officials estimated that Ukraine could hold territory in Kursk Oblast indefinitely.
Prosecutors launch investigation into the alleged killing of nine POWs in Kursk Oblast by Russians
On October 13, Ukraine’s Prosecutor-General Andriy Kostin said that his office opened an investigation following reports that Russian troops had shot nine Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk Oblast who had surrendered.
“The killings of prisoners of war are a gross violation and international crime of the Geneva Conventions.” Kostin wrote on X that a criminal case was opened for the violation of laws and customs in war, combined with premeditated killing.
“We are doing everything we can to identify and prosecute those responsible for the crimes committed by the aggressor against Ukraine and Ukrainians.”
According to sources from Ukraine’s First Tank Brigade, the shootings took place on October 10, according to a crowd-sourced monitoring organization DeepState.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiga published a message on X on October 13, calling on the international community to act immediately by issuing warrants to Russian executioners, increasing sanction, and demanding access detention sites.
“Russia’s mistreatment” of Ukrainian prisoners of War is barbarism and a grave violation of international human rights law, laws, and customs of warfare. According to the UN, 95% POWs are tortured and denied access to basic needs.
Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s Ombudsman, said that he has provided information to the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross about the executions in Kursk.
In the last year, summary executions of Ukrainian prisoners by Russians have increased dramatically.
On Oct. 4, a senior representative from the Prosecutor’s Office told national television that Kyiv knew of 93 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were summarily killed by Russian soldiers during the full-scale conflict.
WP reports that Russia’s illegal Starlink terminal use hastened the fall of Vuhledar.
The Washington Post (WP), which reported on October 12, said that Russian forces were using Starlink internet terminals bought on the black market in Ukraine to gain territory.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX began supplying Starlink terminals for Ukraine shortly after the full invasion. This gave Kyiv an important battlefield advantage. SpaceX doesn’t sell units directly to Russia, but Russian troops in Ukraine continue obtaining Starlink terminals via shadowy supply chains.
The WP reports that the proliferation of Starlink terminals by Russian front-line soldiers has contributed to Moscow‘s recent battlefield gains. This includes the occupation of Vuhledar, in Donetsk oblast, according to several Ukrainian soldiers and officers.
The WP quoted an officer from the 72nd Mechanized Brigade as saying, “They just overpowered them.”
The officer said that Russia’s access Starlink, along with the lack of weapons and personnel, was a major factor in the loss.
A drone platoon leader with the 93rd Mechanized Brigade stated that Ukraine’s Starlink terminals had previously given them a technological advantage over Russian forces. This advantage has now vanished.
He said that the Russians could not control some of their movements and maneuvers. They also couldn’t control their artillery or infantry.
The platoon leader said that when Ukraine intercepted Russian transmissions they observed that soldiers often gave their commanders incorrect or incomplete information. This has changed.
“Now they’ll only improve and unfortunately, this is what’s happening all over the board,” said he.
Zelensky: Russia used around 900 aerial bombardments against Ukraine this week
On October 13, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia had used around 900 guided air bombs against Ukraine in just this week.
Guided aerial bombs (GABs) are precision-guided munitions with a shorter range but a lower cost of production. The weapons are launched by aircraft on Russian territory, beyond the range of Ukrainian air defence.
Zelensky, in a video message posted on Telegram, said that Russia has also launched over 40 missiles and more than 400 combat drones.
“No nation should face such trials alone.” “Our partners have the chance to provide the quantity and quality air defense systems that we need, to decide on our adequate range, and to ensure timely delivery of defense aid to our soldiers,” Zelensky stated.
“We cannot waste time. We must send the necessary signal of resolve.”
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