Bloomberg reported on October 9 that senior U.S. officials believe that Ukrainian forces can hold the territory they have seized in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, for several months, if not longer.
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.
According to senior U.S. official, the U.S. believes that Ukraine can continue to maintain territory in Kursk Oblast months to come.
Bloomberg spoke to anonymous officials who said that the reliable flow of supplies and Russia’s focus towards the eastern Ukraine advance are key factors.
Officials said that after months of severe ammunition shortages, Ukrainian soldiers are now receiving a constant supply of shells.
The supply chain has been improved by the efforts of allies to boost Kyiv’s arsenal ammunition stores. A Czech-led initiative to supply ammunition to Ukraine is already delivering and aims to send Ukraine between 80,000 and 100,000 rounds per month by the end of the year.
The Russian counteroffensive has not yet pushed Ukrainian troops out of the region. The Ukrainian military claimed that the counterattack was over on September 18 and that Russia had only retaken a few settlements.
Moscow is instead concentrating its relentless advance in eastern Ukraine and closing in on Pokrovsk, Toretsk, and other cities in the Donetsk Oblast.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, said that the Kursk incursion had succeeded in removing some Russian troops from the front lines of Ukraine but that it was “too soon to judge” whether the operation had been successful.
Zelensky claims that the offensive helped Ukrainian prisoners by replenishing the “exchange fund” of the country, enabling prisoner exchanges with Russia.
According to Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Zelensky Chief of Staff Andriy Yeermak on August 16, the seizure by Ukraine of Russian territory will improve its bargaining position for future peace talks.
Senior U.S. officials stated that the reliable flow of supplies to the region, and Russia’s focus in eastern Ukraine, will allow Kyiv hold territory in Kursk Oblast well into the future.
Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stltenberg stated that “if we had delivered even a fraction of what we have delivered since 2022, we might have prevented the war.”
“Russian losses – both killed and injured in action – in the first year of war exceeded all Soviet losses since World War II,” a senior Pentagon officials said.
Telegram reported that at least six people died and 11 were injured in a Russian rocket strike on the southern Odesa Oblast of Ukraine on Oct. 9. Regional governor Oleh Kiper confirmed this.
The European Union has approved a plan that is unprecedented in the world. It involves issuing a 35 billion euro ($37.2 billion), loan to help Ukraine’s war-torned economy. This loan will be secured by assets of Russia’s Central Bank, which are currently immobilized.
The Ukrainian General Staff stated that the destruction of the Shahed drones base would significantly reduce the ability for the Russian occupiers terrorize civilians living in Ukrainian cities and villages.
“I will meet separately with the leaders of Britain and France in each country. “I will be quick and then present the victory plan to our partners at Ramstein,” said President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The MiG-31K is the first to land in over a year. The Belaruski Hajun group reported that three Russian MiG-31Ks had left the country in April 2023 and that they have not been seen there since.
“In October, December and November we have the chance to make a real difference in moving things towards peace and stability.” Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, said that the situation on the battlefield offers an opportunity to take decisive action and end the war by 2025.
“France is a pioneer in training a fully-fledged Ukrainian Brigade on its soil.” This initiative is unprecedented in terms of both the number of soldiers trained and the duration of training,” said the French Embassy in Kyiv.
In a press release, the Ramstein Air Base stated that “announcements regarding future Ukraine Defense Contact Group Meetings will be forthcoming.”
The State Property Fund of Ukraine announced on October 9th that it sold UMCC-Titanium, a state-owned company, to Cemin Ukraine for Hr 3.94 bn hryvnia (96 million dollars).
Lithuania’s Defense Minister Laurynas stated that other bridges leading to Kaliningrad will also be fortified and some may even mined.
Berlin, initially a reluctant partner, has become Ukraine’s largest military donor after the U.S.
Viktor Orban: “I would have loved to debate the Presidential Program but I see that you are not interested.”
Ukraine’s independent press has made great strides since 2014’s EuroMaidan Revolution, but there are concerns since Russia’s full scale invasion.
The talks will be centered around achieving peace, Ukraine’s path to NATO and EU, as well the reconstruction of Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on October 9.
Finland joined NATO in early 2023, after abandoning its long-standing neutral position following Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine.
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