Ukraine-Russia war live: Putin’s troops thwart cross-border attack as he warns against long-range weapons
Russia loses nearly 200 soldiers, with 80 confirmed fatalities in Ukraine’s east, in the past 24 hours
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Russian forces blocked another cross-border incursion allegedly by Ukraine into south-western Russia, a local official has claimed.
An “armed group” attempted to breach the border between Ukraine and Russia’s Bryansk region yesterday but was beaten back, local governor Aleksandr Bogomaz claimed. The Russian local official did not specify whether Ukrainian soldiers carried out the attack.
Bryansk region neighbours the Kursk province, where Ukraine launched a surprise push on 6 August that rattled the Kremlin and constituted the largest attack on Russia since the Second World War.
The region has been previously attacked by two murky groups – the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion.
It came as Vladimir Putin claimed Russia would use “a range of responses” if the US and its Nato allies allowed Ukraine to strike inside his country with Western long-range weapons.
On the frontline, Russia lost nearly 200 soldiers, with 80 confirmed fatalities in Ukraine’s east in the past 24 hours where a fierce battle is underway, military officials said.
Watch: Zelensky taunts Putin by wearing ‘make russia small again’ T-shirt
Two injured in ‘drone attack on ethanol plants’ in Russia
Ukrainian drones targeted ethanol plants in Russia’s southern Voronezh region, Russian Telegram channels have claimed, as the regional governor said the attack injured two people, sparked a fire and damaged two industrial enterprises.
Firefighters have doused the fire in the region’s Anninsky district that injured two workers, said governor Alexander Gusev, adding that around 10 Ukrainian drones were destroyed or intercepted over the region late on Sunday, with debris damaging several buildings.
The Russian defence ministry said only one Ukrainian drone was destroyed over the Voronezh region, however, from a total of 21 downed over its territory overnight.
Explosions were heard near an ethanol spirit plant in the village of Krasnoye in the Novokhopersky district, claimed the Baza Telegram news channel, which has close links to Russia’s security services, as well as several other news channels on the app.
The SHOT breaking news channel said the fire broke out at a distillery in the village of Anna in Anninsky. Videos on social media showed large blaze at a building lighting up the dark. It was not possible to onfirm the date, however Reuters reported that the video had indeed been taking in Anninsky.
Estonian security chief says Russia suffering biggest losses over October
Russian troop casualties over October may reach around 40,000, Janek Kesselmann, the deputy commander of the Estonian Military Intelligence Center has said.
Kesselmann told ERR: “The advance of the Russian Federation armed forces has been made possible by massive bombings, including cluster bombs, killer drones and indirect fire.
“This effect is carried out by meat attacks, so to speak, where Russia cynically wastes its personnel.
“The losses in Russia are quite high. And it seems that this month will be one of the biggest losses in Russia
“We estimate that the enemy will lose somewhere around 40,000 soldiers both wounded and killed during the month.”
Furious Vladimir Putin blasts BBC journalist Steve Rosenberg
A furious Vladimir Putin blasted BBC journalist Steve Rosenberg when challenged at a post BRICS press conference.
Putin was asked whether the Ukraine war went against the values put forward by the BRICS of justice, regional stability and security, and a fair world on Thursday (24 October).
It was the final question introduced by Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov who smiled as he claimed the BBC was “a rare guest these days”.
Putin hit back at the question saying: “Is it fair that for years our (Western) partners for years ignored our constant appeals not to expand NATO to the East? To lie to our face and violate all their obligations... to get into Ukraine and build military bases?”
Furious Vladimir Putin blasts BBC journalist when challenged at press conference
A furious Vladimir Putin blasted BBC journalist Steve Rosenberg when challenged at a post BRICS press conference. Putin was asked whether the Ukraine war went against the values put forward by the BRICS of justice, regional stability and security, and a fair world on Thursday (24 October). It was the final question introduced by Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov who smiled as he claimed the BBC was “a rare guest these days”. Putin hit back at the question saying: “Is it fair that for years our (Western) partners for years ignored our constant appeals not to expand NATO to the East? To lie to our face and violate all their obligations... to get into Ukraine and build military bases?”
Canadian armoured vehicles arrive in Ukraine
Canada has sent an undisclosed number of armoured vehicles to the Ukrainian frontline.
Ukraine’s Security Forces announced the arrival on X on Sunday,
“After training on the operation and maintenance of armoured combat support vehicles in the ‘ambulance’ version in Germany, the vehicles were loaded and sent to Ukraine.
“These vehicles will help Ukraine defend against the unlawful invasion of its territory,” the post says.
Ukraine drones target ethanol plant in Russia – reports
Ukraine’s drones targeted an ethanol plant in Russia’s Voronezh region, Russian news Telegram channels reported last night.
The attack sparked a fire at an unspecified industrial facility and injured one person, according to the region’s governor.
Emergency services were dispatched to the fire, Alexander Gusev, governor of the Voronezh region in southern Russia, said on his Telegram channel.
He said that about 10 Ukrainian drones were destroyed or intercepted over the region late yesterday, with debris falling onto an industrial enterprise and sparking a fire.
The Baza news Telegram channel close to Russia’s security services and several other Russian news Telegram channels reported that two explosions were heard near the Ethanol Spirit plant in the village of Krasnoye.
While Kyiv has not issued a comment on the reported attacks, it has often said that its drone attacks inside Russia target infrastructure key to Russia’s war efforts and are in response to Moscow’s continued strikes on Ukraine‘s territory.
In pics: Ukrainian troops train on Leopard tanks near frontline
Russia says it destroys 21 Ukrainian drones overnight
Russia’s air defence units destroyed 21 Ukrainian drones overnight, Russia’s defence ministry said this morning.
Of these, 13 drones were destroyed over the border Belgorod region, six over the Bryansk region, also bordering Ukraine, while the remaining two were destroyed over the Voronezh and Kursk regions each, the ministry said.
ICYMI: Vladimir Putin denies having any contact with Donald Trump
Vladimir Putin has denied having any contact with former US president Donald Trump.
Speaking after the BRICS summit in Kazan on Thursday (24 October), the Russian president said: “This is something that has been constantly discussed for more than one year.
“At one time, we were accused of this, and Trump himself of being somehow connected with Russia. Then, as a result of an investigation in the United States itself, everyone came to the conclusion, including in the Congress, as far as I know, that this was complete nonsense, that nothing like this had ever happened.
“It didn’t happen before, and it doesn’t happen now.”
Vladimir Putin denies having any contact with Donald Trump
Vladimir Putin has denied having any contact with former US president Donald Trump. Speaking after the BRICS summit in Kazan on Thursday (24 October), the Russian president said: “This is something that has been constantly discussed for more than one year. “At one time, we were accused of this, and Trump himself of being somehow connected with Russia. Then, as a result of an investigation in the United States itself, everyone came to the conclusion, including in the Congress, as far as I know, that this was complete nonsense, that nothing like this had ever happened. “It didn’t happen before, and it doesn’t happen now.”
‘Ukraine plus Northern Europe’ co-operation format gaining speed, says Zelensky
Volodymyr Zelensky said cooperation within the ‘Ukraine plus Northern Europe’ format is gaining speed with more steps that can increase pressure on Russia expected in the coming week.
“They understand that it is necessary to create problems for the aggressor, so that Russia loses the opportunity to spoil the life of the world,” Mr Zelensky said in his nightly address last night.
“We will talk (in the coming week) with the ‘Nordics’ about new fundamental steps that can increase the pressure on Russia for this war and for the sake of honest diplomacy,” he said.
The five Nordic countries - Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland - are all now Nato countries and have all been staunch supporters of Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion.
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