Donald Tusk, the Polish Prime Minister, said on Nov. 1 that Poland has begun building defensive lines along the border with Russia in the “East Shield Initiative”.
The “East Shield” Program, presented in May, aims to strengthen Poland’s border with Belarus and the Russian exclave Kaliningrad. The program includes a mix new physical barriers, surveillance systems and infrastructure development.
The program is part the NATO’s Eastern flank joint regional defence infrastructure plan that Poland is implementing with Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Warsaw has allocated a total amount of 10 billion Zloty ($2.5 billion), to strengthen the border with Russia and Belarus in order to deter any aggression.
In spring, Wladyslaw KOSINIAK-KAMYSZ, the Polish Defense Minister, said that this was the largest operation since 1945 to strengthen Poland’s east border, NATO’s Eastern flank.
Kaliningrad Oblast measures 15,100 square kilometers, which is not much bigger than Connecticut in the U.S. It has a small, western coast on the Baltic Sea. Kaliningrad is also the name of its capital.
It may be small but strategically it gives Russia another point of direct access into the Baltic Sea. The other is through its most easterly arm in the Finnish Gulf.
Kaliningrad Oblast is the headquarters and main base of Russia’s Baltic Sea Fleet.
The Suwalki Gap marks the closest point to Kaliningrad Oblast and one of Russia’s staunchest friends, Belarus.
The border between Poland and Lithuania is only 40 kilometers wide on the Polish side.
In the event of war between NATO and Russia the Russian and Belarusian troops joining forces across the Suwalki Gap will cut off the only route to the three Baltic States.
Tusk stated in May that Poland has begun strengthening its eastern border with Belarus because of a growing “hybrid conflict” and illegal immigration.
Warsaw has accused Belarus for years of pushing migrants into Poland to pressure the EU on sanctions. Minsk denies this charge.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has raised concerns that the Baltic States, which have been among Moscow’s most vocal critics and Kyiv’s staunchest ally since the beginning of the war, could be the next target of aggression.
The repeated threats made by Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader, against NATO countries have only heightened these fears.
The General Staff reported that Russia launched more than 2,00 strike drones against Ukraine in October, breaking the previous record of nearly 700 set in September.
Following the suspension of operations at Arctic LNG 2, Russian LNG tankers have gathered off Russia’s east coast, indicating that Moscow has been unable to find buyers.
Trump has praised and backed Putin repeatedly, but rarely criticised him. He called the Russian invasion of Ukraine “genius” and a “smart” move in 2022.
Two men were arrested in Moscow recently after allegedly attempting to steal 25 packets butter.
The Air Force reported that Ukrainian forces shot down 31 of 48 Shahed drones and unidentified drones launched overnight by Russia. The Air Force added that 14 more drones had been “lost” and three others were flying towards Belarus.
Svetlograd is a town with around 35,000 inhabitants, located over 600 km (372 miles), southeast of the Ukrainian border in Donetsk Oblast.
This includes 1,460 casualties that Russian forces have suffered in the last day.
After the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of the Peace Formula held in Montreal, more than 45 countries signed an agreement on October 31 to support the facilitation of the return of all Ukrainian deportees and captives.
Oleh Osiian is the first deputy head of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection. He said that Ukraine and China are currently in talks to expand the exports of agricultural products.
Zelensky stated that the document was likely to cover issues related to national minorities and security cooperation.
Radiy Khabirov said that a Ukrainian drone had struck an oil refinery located in the city Ufa, in Russia’s Bashkortostan republic.
Antony Blinken, a British journalist, said that there have been no clashes yet between the North Korean military and the Ukrainian military. However, he added that they could happen “in the next few days.”
Interfax Ukraine reported that Mykola Tochytskyi, Culture Minister, said that the Ukrainian government does not plan to stop its support for the telethon – Ukraine’s state run pool of TV channels, created during the wartime – before the end the martial law.
Donald Tusk, the Polish Prime Minister, said in July that Warsaw could provide Kyiv additional Soviet-made jets if they can find a suitable replacement. Wladyslaw KOSINIAK-KAMYSZ, the Polish Defense Minister, responded to Zelensky’s call for a speedy transfer by saying, “Poland takes decisions based on security and has done everything possible for Ukraine.”
In an interview published by the South Korean KBS TV on October 31, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed to the West the fact that North Korea actively participates in the war against Ukraine.
“You do your job. You rely on reserves, special brigades and such equipment. If you get 10% of the package that has already been voted upon, then you’re in luck. Zelensky said, “It’s not funny.”
“Security and defense will be the priority of the budget for next year.” All taxes paid by individuals and businesses will be used to strengthen our military capabilities and defenders, Prime Minister Denys smyhal announced on his Telegram channel.
Bloomberg reported that the decision was in line according to analysts’ predictions and comes as Ukraine prepares for next week’s U.S. Presidential election.
Authorities said that the attack destroyed the entrance from the first to fifth floors of a nine-story building.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched at least fifty drones overnight. Of these, Ukrainian air defenses shot 17 down in various regions.
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