Highlighting 602 day of Russia-Ukraine War: Key Events and Complex Dynamics: A recap of significant events

Ukraine has initiated the deployment of Atacms missiles provided by the United States, with a specific focus on targeting a Russian-held airfield. The destruction of the Kakhovka dam has resulted in an estimated $14 billion in damages.

AzureOctober 18, 2023

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What we know on 602 day :Russia-Ukraine war at a glance

Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has verified the utilization of long-range tactical missile systems (Atacms) provided by the United States. He expressed his gratitude, saying, “Today, I want to extend special thanks to the United States. Our agreements with President Biden are being executed with great precision, and the Atacms missiles have proven their effectiveness.” This incident marks the first official confirmation of Atacms missiles being used in Ukraine, with a range of up to 190 miles (305km).

Overnight, Ukrainian forces targeted airfields located in Russian-held territories in both eastern and southern Ukraine. These strikes resulted in the destruction of helicopters, the disabling of an air defense missile launcher, and runway damage, as reported by the Kyiv military. They emphasized the accuracy of their actions, describing them as “well-aimed strikes on enemy airfields” near the eastern city of Luhansk and the southern city of Berdiansk, with the likelihood that Atacms missiles were employed.
Sweden’s Civil Defence Minister, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, reported damage to a telecommunication cable connecting Sweden and Estonia. This incident seems to have taken place simultaneously with the damage to a subsea gas pipeline and a telecom cable linking Finland and Estonia on October 8th.

Meanwhile, China’s President, Xi Jinping, extended a warm welcome to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Beijing. The city is set to host representatives from 130 countries for a forum focused on Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative.
In another development, the lower house of the Russian parliament has given preliminary approval to a bill aimed at revoking the ratification of a global nuclear test ban treaty.
A report from the Ukrainian government and the UN reveals that the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in south-eastern Ukraine in June resulted in a staggering $14 billion in damage and losses.
The UK’s Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps, is scheduled to visit the US for urgent discussions on conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, with the meeting set for Tuesday.

Canada has introduced new sanctions targeting nine individuals and six TV stations associated with Russian collaborators in Moldova. These individuals have connections to influential oligarchs like Vladimir Plahotniuc and Ilan Mironovich Shor, while the TV stations are known for promoting and disseminating Russian disinformation, according to the Canadian Foreign Ministry.
Officials from the US, South Korea, and Japan have convened in Jakarta to discuss North Korea’s interactions with Russia, particularly in relation to arms transfers that may be in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
In a humanitarian effort, a convoy of British ambulances has arrived in Lviv, western Ukraine. These ambulances, generously donated by the charity Medical Life Lines Ukraine, will be delivered to hospitals on the frontline. Five of these vehicles are being sent to the embattled southern city of Kherson, currently under intense Russian attack, as well as the towns of Kupiansk and Vorozhba in the war-torn northeast of the country. Remarkably, this marks the donation of 43 vehicles by the charity since the full-scale invasion last year