Highlighting the Russia Ukraine War: Key Events and Complex Dynamics: A recap of significant events, unfolding over 604 days

A journalist with dual US-Russian citizenship has been apprehended in Russia, while the Ukrainian parliament has passed a resolution to prohibit the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

AzureOctober 20, 2023

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Russia Ukraine War Day 604

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed gratitude to President Joe Biden for his robust show of support. Zelenskiy’s remarks came after a conversation with the US President, shortly before Biden’s uncommon Oval Office address, in which he urged Americans to endorse increased military aid for both Ukraine and Israel.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s parliament has overwhelmingly voted in favor of advancing legislation that is widely perceived as a measure effectively prohibiting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church due to its ties to Moscow. The church maintains its autonomy and unwavering support for Ukraine’s resistance against Russian invaders.
A United Nations inquiry commission has presented further evidence of Russian forces engaging in “indiscriminate attacks” and committing war crimes in Ukraine, which include cases of rape and the deportation of children to Russia.
A Russian-American journalist, Alsu Kurmasheva, has been arrested in Russia on charges related to her alleged violation of the foreign agents law. Her arrest is reportedly linked to her reporting on Russia’s military preparations for the invasion of Ukraine. Kurmasheva serves as an editor for Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty’s Tatar-Bashkir service and was apprehended on Wednesday.

European leaders have expressed frustration over the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s Prime Minister, held in Beijing this week. Petr Pavel, the President of the Czech Republic, commented, “As past experiences have shown, Putin’s meetings with European leaders do not aim to bring about peace in Ukraine. Peace can be achieved without his involvement by simply halting the attacks and withdrawing Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.”
The UK Ministry of Defence, in its daily intelligence briefing, noted that a Ukrainian strike on Russian helicopters and air defense equipment this week could lead Moscow to relocate its operational bases and command and control centers further away from the front lines.
According to the morning briefing from the general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces, Russian forces conducted a significant number of operations yesterday, which included launching 12 missiles, carrying out 60 airstrikes, and shelling 53 times. Additionally, they engaged Ukrainian troops in 90 combat engagements.
Tragically, a woman lost her life in a Russian airstrike on Beryslav in the Kherson oblast this morning, as reported by the regional governor, Oleksandr Prokudin. The attack involved the use of guided bombs on Beryslav and the firing of four anti-aircraft guns, resulting in the serious injury of an 80-year-old woman in her home.

Ukraine reported a modest territorial gain of 400 meters to the southwest of Verbove in the Zaporizhzhia region. However, military spokesperson Oleksandr Stupun highlighted the ongoing challenges faced in the southern advance, such as Russian minefields and heavily fortified defenses.
In a significant move, Kazakhstan has imposed a ban on the export of 106 goods to Russia that could potentially be used in the conflict in Ukraine. This decision comes as Kazakhstan has pledged not to aid its ally in circumventing Western sanctions. During a visit to Berlin last month, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that his country would “adhere to the sanctions regime,” amid suspicions that Moscow may still be receiving essential supplies through Kazakhstan.
NATO is enhancing its patrols in the Baltic Sea following recent damage to undersea infrastructure. These heightened measures involve increased surveillance and reconnaissance flights, along with the deployment of a fleet consisting of four NATO minehunters to the affected area, as stated by NATO in a recent announcement.