Key developments on October 16:
Zelensky claims package includes long-range weapons
* Zelensky unveils Ukraine’s victory plan and says it is doable, but ‘depends’ on our partners
Australia will give Ukraine nearly 50 Abrams tanks made in the US
* Ukraine reportedly reclaims land in the north of Kharkiv Oblast. Almost entire Russian regiment is destroyed
The U.S. president Joe Biden announced a new $425 million security assistance to Ukraine during a telephone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky on October 16.
Biden and Zelensky talked on the phone after President Obama canceled his foreign trips in order to deal with the aftermath of the repeated hurricanes that hit the United States.
The White House released a statement saying that the new package would include “additional capabilities in air defense, air-to ground munitions, armored cars, and critical munitions for Ukraine’s urgent requirements.”
The White House announced that the U.S. would also provide Ukraine “a range of new capabilities, including hundreds and dozens of air defense interceptors and tactical air defense systems; additional artillery systems; significant quantities of ammunition; hundreds of armored personal carriers and infantry combat vehicles and thousands of additional armored vehicle,” in the coming months.
Zelensky, in a post to X on the subject, thanked the U.S. and added that the package also included “long-range weaponry.” He did not specify what kind of weapons were included, and he did not mention that the debate about allowing Western weapons for long-range attacks into Russia is still ongoing.
Biden and Zelensky discussed the victory plan as well, which had been presented to Biden and other leaders behind closed doors, in September, but made public on October 16.
Zelensky unveils Ukraine’s victory plan and says it is doable, but ‘depends’ on our partners.
On Oct. 16, President Volodymyr Zelensky presented the much-discussed victory plan of Ukraine to parliament, though some parts were classified.
The proposal consists of five points, including an invitation to join NATO; a defense component; deterrence against Russian aggression; economic growth and co-operation, and a post-war security framework.
Three secret addenda have been shared with international partners. David Arakhamia said that the classified parts will be presented to the faction leaders.
Zelensky, in the presence Commander-in Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budaynov, as well as Western diplomats, said in the Parliament: “If the plan gets support, we can end this war no later than the next year.”
“Ukraine’s victory plan is an attempt to strengthen our position and our state.” To be strong enough for the war to end. Zelensky said, “We must ensure that Ukraine has the strength to end the war.”
“This plan can easily be implemented.” It depends on partners. It depends on our partners. “It definitely does not depend upon Russia.”
Ukraine’s invitation for NATO membership was at the top. Kyiv submitted their application to join NATO in September 2022, but has not received a clear message from allies.
Zelensky stated that “we understand that NATO membership in the future is a matter of the present, not the past,” but added that if an invitation was extended immediately, it would show Russian President Vladimir Putin that “his geopolitical calculaions” were wrong.
“We are a democracy that has proven it can protect our way of life.”
The second article emphasizes the need to bring war to Russian soil, as was the case during the cross-border Kursk invasion launched at the beginning of August. This will prevent the possible creation of “buffer zones” in Ukraine.
This item also calls on lifting restrictions on long range strikes in Russia, supplying additional long-range capability, and Western assistance in downing Russian drones and missiles over Ukraine.
The president said that additional support for building up Ukrainian ground forces and air defenses as well as defense investment, intelligence assistance and other military aid would help strengthen Ukraine and discourage the Russian population from its “ideology of warfare”.
Thirdly, the third point is non-nuclear dissuasion. A part of this will remain classified. Ukraine proposes a “comprehensive strategic non-nuclear deterrence package” on its territory that would protect the country from future aggression.
This point was explained to the leaders of Germany, France and Italy, as well as the U.S.
The fourth part focuses on Ukraine’s use its natural resources such as uranium and titanium, which offer economic growth potential to Kyiv and EU. Ukraine offers a special agreement for joint investment and use with the EU and U.S.
The part calls for a stepped-up international sanctions campaign against Russia in order to undermine its ability sustain its aggression.
This fourth section contains a classified part that was shared with Western Partners.
The fifth part is about Ukraine’s postwar security architecture. Zelensky stated that Kyiv has a large, experienced military force capable of strengthening NATO and the security on the European continent.
The president said that if the partners agree to it, they could replace certain U.S. military units stationed in Europe by Ukrainian units after the war.
The president told lawmakers that if Putin achieved his insane geopolitical and military goals, as well as his ideological and economic goals, this would create an overwhelming impression among other potential aggressors in the Gulf, the Indo-Pacific, and Africa regions, that wars can be profitable to them too.
Zelensky pointed out that Putin’s “coalition criminals” now includes North Korea. This country has provided not only weapons, but also personnel to Russian factories and the military.
“This is a second state participating in the war against Ukraine from Russia’s perspective.” The president also highlighted Iran and China’s support.
“We must implement a victory plan to force Russia at the peace summit to be ready to end war.”
Australia will give Ukraine nearly 50 Abrams tanks made in the US
ABC News, citing Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy, reported on October 16 that Australia would donate to Ukraine 49 “soon to be retired” Abrams tanks made in the United States.
The delivery follows a controversy that erupted in 2024, when media reports revealed that the Australian military had decided to quietly disassemble its fleet of multirole Taipan helicopters and bury them, despite Kyiv’s official request to transfer them to Ukraine.
Conroy told reporters it was “time for us to move on” with the Taipan helicopters. He did not indicate that the decision to give Ukraine Abrams tanks had anything to do with the backlash caused by the non-delivery of the helicopters.
The tanks will be part of a larger package worth 245 million Australian Dollars ($163 millions).
Conroy said that Australia had been unwavering in its support for Ukraine.
Vasyl Myroshnychenko said that the delivery was a “significant” contribution that would be “essential to our land defenses.”
Since the start of the full-scale conflict, Australia has provided Ukraine more than $1 billion worth of aid, including $866 millions in military assistance.
Ukraine reportedly reclaims land in the north of Kharkiv Oblast. Nearly entire Russian regiment is destroyed
The agency reported that on October 16, units of Ukraine’s military Intelligence (HUR) liberated a forest of 400 hectares (988 acre) in Kharkiv Oblast and killed a number Russian soldiers.
The operation was conducted 10 kilometers (6 miles south) of the Russian border, north of the village Lyptsi. The village was occupied by Russia from February to September of 2022. It was again targeted in 2024 during Russia’s renewed offensive on Kharkiv Oblast.
The duration and time frame of the operation was not disclosed.
According to HUR’s report, Ukrainian soldiers captured an area of Russian battalion defence, destroyed three motorized-rifle battalions, Storm platoons, and a reconnaissance unit of Russia’s Seventh Separate Motorized Rifle Regiment. The units reportedly also took over Russian prisoners.
The agency claimed that after clearing 400 hectares north of Lyptsi the situation for the invaders in this section of front has deteriorated and is close to hopeless.
The successful HUR mission will allow for the further expulsion of Russian occupiers in the northern part Kharkiv Oblast.
In August, Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade successfully launched a counterattack in Kharkiv Oblast. They advanced almost 2 square kilometers into the frontline area.
The elite 3rd Brigade is holding the line near Borova village in Kharkiv Oblast and repelling repeated Russian attacks. The brigade claimed that it had regained positions and freed a group captive Ukrainian soldiers in an engagement with a Russian terrorist group in the area earlier in October.
We are the Kyiv Independent’s news team. We want to ensure that our readers receive timely, essential updates on the events in Ukraine. Please contact us by email with any feedback or news alerts.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com