Editor’s Note: This story is developing and will be updated.
Ukrainska Pravda, citing the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, reported on October 23 that Roman Hladkyi was dismissed just months after he was appointed to his controversial position in August 2024.
Hladyki became Chief of Staff for the USF on August 30 after being fired from his position as Chief of Staff for the Navy in April 2018 due to a scandal. The Navy’s Press Service stated that Hladkyi was dismissed due to “shortcomings” in official activities after an inspection of a unit by Ukraine’s Defense Ministry.
In a statement issued by the Defense Ministry following his recent dismissal, the Ministry said that “as a result of a Security Service of Ukraine investigation, it was determined Roman Hladkyi’s continued tenure as the Chief of Staff of Unmanned Systems Forces of Ukraine is untenable.”
The statement said that “this decision was made after all necessary procedures and thorough inspections, with the goal of enhancing the effectiveness of the unit and its ability to face modern challenges.”
According to the statement Hladyki was transferred to a Reserve battalion since the 14th of October.
Hladkyi was dismissed without further explanation.
Ukrainian lawmakers criticized his appointment in August. Mariana Bezuhla – a former member of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Servant of the People Party – questioned how Hladkyi a native of Crimea, a Navy Captain with a questionable record, passed the Security Service screening process and was appointed to a position of such high importance.
Bezuhla claimed that Hladkyi was “a suspect of high treason and espionage,” though the law enforcement agencies have not confirmed this.
Before his first dismissal, Ukrainian media reported that Hladkyi’s wife had Russian citizenship and lived in Russian occupied Crimea. They also claimed that his daughter competed in swimming competitions with the Central Sports Club of Russian Army.
In 2018, the Defense Ministry denied information about Hladkyi and his family members was used as the basis for an investigation.
The Defense Ministry announced that Colonel Oleksii Hladkyi was appointed to replace Hladkyi. He is the former commander of 28th Brigade, Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Both Ukraine and Russia invested heavily in drone technology during Russia’s full scale invasion, transforming the modern warfare. Drones are crucial for the outnumbered Ukrainian forces to target Russian warships and bases, refineries and airfields in occupied territory and behind enemy lines.
Ukraine officially established their Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) on June 11, four month after President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a directive to create a separate branch within the armed services dedicated to enhancing drone operation.
Belarus’ Central Electoral Commission, which announced the date on October 23, has set its next presidential elections for January 26, 2025. The incumbent Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, who is currently in power, is widely expected to remain in power following the results of the election.
Daleep Singh is the White House’s deputy national security advisor for international economics. He said that Joe Biden intends to divide the funds between helping Ukraine’s economy and its military.
The statement read: “The next step will be advanced fast jet training with partner nations and conversion to F-16.”
“The situation in Toretsk is relatively stable.” “We (Ukrainian Forces) are now holding our line unchanged,” Anastasiia Bobbyvnikova, spokesperson for the Operational Tactical Group Luhansk said.
Park Sun-won is a member of the parliamentary intelligence committee. He said that signs of troops being trained in North Korea had been detected between September and October.
The 24-hour “I Want to Live”, hotline launched by Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence in September 2022, helps Russian soldiers willingly surrender their units or themselves to the Ukrainian Army.
Ivan Petrychak of the 24th Mechanized Brigade press service had said on national TV that the Russian military had breached the defenses, but there was no sign of the potential loss of the city.
According to reports, the secret clause allowed North Korea to send its first 1,000 soldiers to Ukraine in order to gain military training. The source told WSJ that more North Korean troops will be deployed.
Ukrainska Pravda reported on October 23 that Ruslan Muzychuk, a spokesperson for the National Guard of Ukraine, said that the troops had repelled 13 Russian attacks near the town Selydove located in the Donetsk Region over the last day.
According to a poll conducted by independent Levada Center from Sept. 10 to 17, 61% of Putin supporters said that they supported peace in Ukraine with mutual concessions.
The planes are reportedly equipped with long-range missiles SCALP/Storm Shadow and French guided bombs AASM.
U.S. Defense secretary Lloyd Austin said that there is evidence of DPRK troops present in Russia.
After arriving at Tbilisi Airport on October 22 to cover the upcoming elections, Czech journalist Ray Baseley had his entry to Georgia denied without explanation.
Denys Shmyhal, the PM, said that “the funds will be used for important non-military spending.”
According to the SBU the suspects planned to detonate an improvised explosive in a crowded area in Ukraine’s capital in order to cause “the greatest number of civilian deaths” as well as to create panic.
The U.K. seeks partners to co-finance “hundreds” of additional naval drones, as well as surveillance cameras to protect Ukraine’s grain canal.
A source close to the Presidential Office said that the document would address Ukraine’s military and political, as well as economic and other areas. It would also include certain decisions regarding law enforcement.
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