The 72nd Mechanized Brigade announced on October 7 that Colonel Oleksandr Ohrimenko has been appointed as the new commander, replacing Ivan Vinnik.
Okhrimenko took over after the 72nd Brigade, which had been forced to withdraw from Vuhledar, a key frontline town in Donetsk Oblast, was forced to withdraw.
“We have become hardened by Donbas.” Battles for Bakhmut, Pavlivka, Vuhledar, Mykilske, Novomykhailivka, Vodiane. Vuhledar again… The enemy did us not break us during this time,” the unit stated on Facebook.
Arsenii Prylepko told Hromadske that after withdrawing from the town the 72nd Brigade moved to a new defensive line to continue to hold back Russian forces.
“Colonel Oleksandr Ohrimenko will lead the ‘Black Zaporizhzhians” into battle. New goals, tasks and purposes, as well as the acquisition of new capabilities.”
Okhrimenko, who has received numerous awards for his service, has been fighting with Russia in the Donbas conflict since 2014.
Okhrimenko, who was in charge of the 14th Mechanized Brigade when the full-scale invasion began, led his unit into battles in Kyiv and Kharkiv as well as Donbas.
Okhrimenko became the head of the regional enlistment in Odesa, Ukraine, in July 2023, after Yevhen Borisov was fired and detained for a scandal involving the purchase of a large property in Spain.
Vinnik was dismissed from command in late September, while the battle for Vuhledar continued. The decision was presented as a promotion that would allow Vinnik to “transfer his combat experience” to a higher position.
Vinnik was appointed commander in August 2022. Vinnik has been in charge of the 72nd Brigade for over two years. Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, Russian forces have tried to capture the town.
“Thank you for your stability, strength, wisdom, will and love for our staff!” Congratulations and good luck on your new path! Vinnik received a Facebook message from the unit.
Mariana Bezuhla, a former member of the parliamentary committee for defense, criticized Oleksandr Syrskyi‘s change in command. She said that the dismissal of Vinnik threatened the brigade’s combat effectiveness.
Bezuhla, the central figure in many controversies is known for her inflammatory remarks toward the Armed Forces which put her at odds both with her fellow legislators and military members.
Around 10:40 am, Russia attacked the city. Two KAB bombs were dropped in the coastal region of the central district of Kherson and two others in the northern part.
The unit announced that Colonel Oleksandr OKhrimenko has been appointed as the new commander of 72nd Mechanized Brigade following the transfer of Ivan Vinnik.
In a statement released last week, NATO accused North Korea of “fueling” war in Ukraine through the supply of missiles, shells and drones to Russia.
The announcement follows multiple warnings issued in the morning regarding a Russian threat of guided aerial bombs, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.
Alexander Dugin, an ultra-nationalist Russian ideologue, greeted Russian President Vladimir Putin with the salutation “God Save the Tsar” at the occasion of the 72nd birthday on his Telegram channel minutes after midnight on October 7.
The Air Force reported that Ukrainian air defenses destroyed two Kinhzhal rockets launched at Kyiv Oblast as well as 32 attack drones in various regions.
Robert Fico, the Slovak prime minister, visited Ukraine shortly after he said that as long he was prime minister he would block Kyiv from joining NATO.
Viktor Bout became famous in 2005 when a movie called “Lord of War” portrayed his life of selling arms for decades to Middle Eastern clients, South American clients, and African customers before he was imprisoned and arrested in 2008.
After explosions and an air raid alert, missile debris fell on the morning of October 7, according to Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kiev.
According to Russian media, a fire broke out at an oil depot located in Feodosia, a region occupied by Russia. The fire was reportedly caused by a drone strike.
The Russian forces have suffered 1,160 casualties in the last day alone.
Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brkelmans announced during an unannounced trip to Kyiv, Ukraine on Oct. 6 that the Netherlands would invest 400 million Euros ($440 million) into a joint advanced drone initiative with Ukraine.
The President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Kursk Operation has made one the most significant contributions to Ukraine’s exchange fund. This has helped the release of Ukrainians who were in captivity.
Ksenia Larina, a former journalist for the Echo of Moscow, reported that Ildar Dadin was killed in Kharkiv during a battle.
Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brckelmans visited Kharkiv on 6 October.
In a report from the German media outlet Welt, NATO was advised to significantly boost its defense capabilities.
The Ukrainian national futsal team won a decisive match with a score 7:1.
The intelligence agency reported that a drone worth “several hundreds of dollars” was used to destroy a $10 million automated air defence system.
Peter Magyar, Hungary’s most prominent opposition figure and leader of the Tisza Party, organized the protests outside the building of MTVA, the state-owned media company.
Anna Belokur, Kyiv Independent, explains the top stories from the week. From the fall of Vuhledar and the increasing Russian casualties. How might the conflict in the Middle East affect the war in Ukraine as well?
According to the Air Force, Russia launched 87 Shahed drones, 2 Iskander M ballistic missiles and 1 Kh-59/69 Cruise missile against Ukraine over night.
Delfi reported on October 5 that Lithuanian customs officers found military uniforms and camouflage on passenger trains traveling between the Russian exclave Kaliningrad and Moscow.
These artifacts, which were stolen from our museums, archeological sites and other institutions, are now being sold on the black market. “We already have enough evidence for new criminal proceedings,” said Prosecutor-General Andrii Kostin.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com