Day 228. Ukraine might be behind the explosion on the Crimean bridge. The Russian authorities resumed movement across Crimean Bridge. Residents of Crimea are buying up food in panic. Сollaborators flee from Crimea through Melitopol en masse. The Russian military hit Zaporizhzhia with over ten missiles. Russians block 6,000 cars at a checkpoint in the Zaporizhzhia region. EU does not recognize Russia’s seizure of ZNPP and calls for reinforced IAEA presence at the site. IAEA chief announces urgent steps to protect Zaporizhzhia NP
OK, they didn't mention the attacks by 83 missiles and 40 some drones. Electricity and water out in lots of the country. Not as much damage as you would expect from that much firepower. russians are not very good at precision hits. Were able to shoot down about half of the missiles and drones. need more anti-aircraft weapons. If Putin's aim is to demoralize Ukrainians or scare Euro[e, it didn't work. Ukrainians more determined than ever to oust russians from their country and Europe more united with Ukraine than ever. Day 229. The Kremlin named the Russian Commander of the Aerospace Forces, Army General Sergey Surovikin, the new commander of the Russian operation in Ukraine, and this appointment has generated positive feedback within the nationalist community. Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations in Kharkiv and Luhansk Oblasts. Russian forces continued establishing defensive positions in northern Kherson Oblast. Russian forces continued to attack settlements around Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and west of Donetsk City. Ukrainian forces continued to shoot down Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones. Belarus officially accused Ukraine of preparing a strike on its territory. Iranian Shahid UAVs spotted in eastern Ukraine.
Unless Ukraine comes out and claims they did it, I'm convinced Putin did this. He stands to gain the most from it. How better to both attempt to rally Russian citizens, politicians and the military. And it gives you the perfect excuse to retaliate (which he did leading up the war) and bomb a bunch of Ukrainians and infrastructure. And the bomb itself doesn't make much sense to me. Ukraine goes to all that trouble to blow up half the road and none of the train tracks? On the other hand Putin can blow up half the road and hours later both the road and the train bridge are allowing traffic through, yet now Putin has both an excuse to escalate and a way to motivate/unite.
Traffic is single file and rail traffic is not fully restored. Also it was the pride of Putin. Add to that Ukraine is not denying it and I say Ukraine did it. I think it was a great move. Ukrainian civilians remain at their peril although I don't blame them for being patriotic and staying.
Day 230. Russia launches 83 missiles at Ukraine, kills 14, injures 97. Sweden won’t share Nord Stream investigation findings with Russia. 15 Ukrainian oblasts partially cut off from the grid after Russian strikes. More than 1,170 sq km were liberated in the Kherson direction. 7 settlements liberated in Luhansk Oblast. The Russians have been planning missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital and infrastructure since the beginning of October. Russians reload warships with Kalibr missiles and prepare for new air strikes. Ukraine suspends electricity exports to stabilize the energy system. The United States to supply advanced air defense systems for Ukraine. Germany to ‘quickly’ send air defense systems to Ukraine. Biden, G7 to hold a virtual meeting Tuesday on Ukraine support.
I think that Putin took too much pride in the bridge, it was his pet project, built by one of his best friends, He was himself driving the big truck that crossed the bridge to mark the opening. Ukrainian intelligence claims that russia had already been planning these strikes for a couple weeks (although I don't remember seeing any official warnings). It's difficult to say if he gained or not from the bombing; I think an argument could be made that it shook the confidence of the russian people in him. (again)
Day 231. Russian forces conducted massive missile strikes across Ukraine for two days in a row. 23 killed and 100 injured on October 10 as a result of Russian massive strikes on Ukraine. Ukrainian forces continued to conduct counteroffensives east of the Oskil River and in the direction of Kreminna-Svatove. Ukrainian troops continued ground attacks in northern and western Kherson Oblast. Russian forces continued to conduct ground assaults in Donetsk Oblast. More explosions in Crimea reported. Russian and occupation administration officials continue to conduct filtration activities in Russian-occupied territories.
Russians have not understood anything,” said Danilov. “In the 20th century alone, Ukrainians have survived world wars, revolutions, terror, and the Holodomor.” Danilov noted that Russia has been destroying Ukrainians for centuries, "and we still established our own state". "The Kremlin thinks it will break us with cold weather, cutting off light or water? Dunces, they have learned nothing," he said. https://english.nv.ua/nation/ukrain...rrorize-ukrainians-ukraine-news-50276260.html
Again seem to have proof that Ukraine is not exaggerating russian combat losses. This is from a russian media source, "More than 90,000 troops make up Russia’s “irrecoverable” military losses in Ukraine, as reported by the Russian media project iStories (or Vazhnye Istorii). One of the two sources of this information works in the FSB; the other is a former state security officer. 'Irrecoverable losses' is a category that includes servicemen who were killed, went missing, died from their wounds or were disabled and cannot return to military service." (FSB is like FBI/CIA of russia) https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/10/1...more-than-90-000-troops-dead-disabled-or-awol
True, but it hurts russia supply efforts. It seems that destroying a bridge is a process, maybe more will come?
These are tremendous losses if you consider they originally invaded with 160,000 and added maybe 50,000 since (before the mobiliztion).
Day 232. Russia caused damage to 28 energy facilities over three days. Over 70 people killed in Zaporizhzhia by Russian rockets since 30 September. Russia is intensifying efforts to set information conditions to falsely portray Ukraine as a terrorist state to deflect recent calls to designate Russia as a terrorist state. Russian forces may have imported Iranian military to occupied areas in Ukraine to train Russian troops use Shahed-136 drones. Ukrainian troops continue the counteroffensive in Svatove and Kreminna areas. Ukrainian forces are conducting ground attacks in Kherson Oblast. Russian forces conducted ground attacks around Bakhmut and Avdiivka. Russian forces are likely reinforcing the frontline in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Ukraine’s Air Force shoots down 4 Russian helicopters in 18 minutes. Russia’s ‘irrecoverable losses’ in Ukraine: more than 90,000 troops dead, disabled, or AWOL. Another convoy with tanks and trucks heading to Russia was spotted in Belarus. FSB prepares a plan to evacuate families of Russian officers from Ukraine. Russia kidnaps over 500 residents in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, exit from occupied territory almost blocked. More than 120 bodies were exhumed in liberated areas of the Donetsk region. Russia strikes at infrastructure in Sumy Oblast, two districts are cut off from the grid. Dnipropetrovsk Oblast: Russians hit energy facilities in Kamianske district. United Nations condemns Russia’s move to annex parts of Ukraine
