Russia Ukraine War
Highlighting 601 day of Russia-Ukraine War: Key Events and Complex Dynamics: A recap of significant events
601 day of Russia-Ukraine War Here is the situation on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.
- Ukraine’s Ground Forces Commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported an escalation in hostilities in the northeastern Kupiansk-Lyman region, stating that Russia’s primary objective was to breach Ukrainian defenses.
- Meanwhile, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu informed President Vladimir Putin that Russian military operations in Ukraine were ongoing, with a focus on areas where they could gain a tactical advantage.
- In recent events, Russia launched a total of five missiles and deployed 12 kamikaze drones into Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force successfully intercepted and destroyed two of the missiles, which were targeting northern and eastern regions. Furthermore, they managed to neutralize 11 kamikaze drones, which were launched in various directions, with a notable concentration over western Ukraine.
- In the eastern Poltava region, Governor Filip Pronin reported an attack involving both drones and missiles, resulting in injuries to three civilians who were subsequently transported to the hospital. Simultaneously, the Zaporizhia region experienced artillery shelling and air attacks, causing damage to several residential buildings and injuring an elderly woman, according to the local governor.
- In Kyiv’s Independence Square, approximately 200 relatives of Ukrainian soldiers who are missing in action or have been taken as prisoners staged a protest. They voiced their frustration, accusing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the country’s military leadership of not providing adequate assistance. This predominantly female group expressed their preference for certainty regarding the fate of their loved ones, even if it meant confirming their unfortunate demise.
- Reports from Reuters revealed that a Liberian-flagged tanker carrying oil products struck a mine in the Black Sea off the coast of Romania on Sunday. Fortunately, the vessel sustained minor damage, and the crew remained unharmed. Notably, this incident marked the second occurrence this month of a vessel encountering a floating mine in the Black Sea.
- Finance Minister Anton Siluanov informed Russia’s parliament that Moscow is allocating over 60 billion roubles ($618 million) towards a new national drone manufacturing project. This initiative is in response to the predominance of Chinese-made drones in the country. The goal is to ensure that 41 percent of all drones produced by 2025 bear the “Made in Russia” label.
