Ukraine remains on the offensive in defending its country. After the successes around Lyman, reports of sometimes significant gains in the Cherson region are piling up. Meanwhile, gestures are coming from Chechnya leader Kadyrov. Meanwhile, Russian gas is said to be flowing again in Italy in the next few days. The 221st day of the war at a glance.
Ukraine makes a major breakthrough on the southern front
The Ukrainian armed forces made the biggest breakthrough on the southern front since the beginning of the war. The troops advanced on the front line in the Dnipro River area of the Kherson region. Thousands of Russian soldiers were at risk of being cut off from the supply lines. Initially, Kyiv was only cautious. Russian sources, on the other hand, reported how Ukrainian tank formations advanced south along the course of the river. "The information situation is tense, let's put it that way, because there have indeed been breakthroughs," said Vladimir Saldo, the governor installed by Russia in the occupied parts of Kherson, on Russian state television. After the start of the Russian war of aggression, the area around Cherson was marked by a rigid front line for a long time.
Duma votes to include four Ukrainian regions
Meanwhile, deputies in the Russian parliament approved the law on the annexation of four Ukrainian regions. All parliamentarians voted for the incorporation of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the east and Zaporizhia and Kherson in the south of Ukraine, according to the Russian Duma side. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the documents on Friday. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had appealed to MPs to support the bill. This was to protect the Russian language, culture and borders. He accused the US of bringing all western countries together to support Kyiv against Moscow.
Kadyrov wants to send his underage children to the front
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov wants to send three of his sons to the front in Ukraine. The 14 to 16-year-olds would soon be deployed to the "most difficult sections of the contact line," he wrote on Telegram. His sons had received military training "for a long time". He also shared a video showing the youth firing bullets at a shooting range. According to his official website, Kadyrov is the father of 14 children.
Russian governor: One dead in Ukrainian attack
According to Russian sources, a woman was killed in a Ukrainian attack near the Russian border. "The Ukrainian armed forces bombed our village of Golovchino in the district of Graivoron," said the governor of Russia's Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov. Shells fell in the center of the village, killing a 48-year-old woman. The Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine has been shelled several times since the start of the Russian offensive at the end of February. Among other things, one person was killed and four others injured in an attack on a Russian border post in mid-September.
Baerbock: If Putin won, the peace order would be in ruins
Meanwhile, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock accuses Russian President Vladimir Putin of "imperial madness" that is not only aimed at Ukraine. "That's why we are continuing our support for Ukraine in a responsible manner," she told the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung". If Russia got away with "land grabbing and blackmail" and won it, "not only would the European peace order be in ruins, but no small country would be safe anymore." The Greens politician was also concerned about Putin's repeated threats to use nuclear bombs. Kremlin chief Putin has "repeatedly shown that he does not shy away from the worst war crimes."
Chief of Zaporizhia nuclear power plant released again
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced the release of the head of Ukraine's Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, which is under Russian control. He had received confirmation that Ihor Murashov had "returned home safely," said IAEA chief Rafael Grossi. The IAEA has several experts on site. Murashov was arrested by a Russian patrol on Friday, according to Ukrainian sources. Europe's largest nuclear power plant has been occupied by Russian troops since March.
Report: EU wants to train 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers
According to a report, the EU members have agreed to train up to 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers as quickly as possible. The "Spiegel" reports on the communication at the working level. 3,000 of the soldiers are to receive special training, such as tactical combat training, according to diplomats. The final details are to be negotiated in Brussels next week. A decision is planned for the next meeting of the EU External Council on October 17th.
Italy wants to pay Vienna guarantees for Russian gas
Italy, meanwhile, is hoping for a solution this week after the temporary suspension of deliveries of Russian gas. The state-owned group and largest gas importer Eni wants to pay guarantees to Austria so that the Alpine Republic can again forward gas to Italy, as Eni boss Claudio Descalzi said, according to the news agencies Ansa and Adnkronos. Gazprom stopped supplying gas to the Mediterranean country over the weekend. The Russian group stated that it was no longer able to transfer 20 million euros in security guarantees to the Austrian transporter due to new regulations. Eni is therefore checking whether it can raise the money instead of Gazprom. Italy receives Russian gas via a pipeline route that runs through Austria. The delivery stop had "absolutely no geopolitical reasons," Descalzi said.
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