Emergency workers investigate a post office depot damaged by a Russian missile, Kharkiv region, eastern Ukraine, October 22, 2023

Saturday’s Coverage: Biden Administration Requests $61. 4 Billion in US Aid for Kyiv

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 1749 GMT: Russia’s Defense Ministry — trying to dismiss geolocated footage and reports by Russian military bloggers — is denying that Ukrainian forces have taken settlements on the left (east) bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region in southern Ukraine.

The Ministry declared that Ukrainian “sabotage and reconnaissance” teams were rebuffed while trying to cross the river near the villages of Pridniprovske, Tiahynka, and Krynky.

Ukrainian units have reportedly taken Pridniprovske and Tiahynka and are attacking Russian forces in Krynky.

UPDATE 1744 GMT:

The toll from Russia’s early-morning missile strike on a post office depot in the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine has been raised to six killed and 17 injured.

The fatalities were all postal workers, aged between 19 and 42. Seven of the wounded are “fighting for their lives”.

UPDATE 1126 GMT:

Russian forces have again shelled the town of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine, hitting residential buildings and injuring three people — teens aged 15 and 17 and a 63-year-old woman.

The 15-year-old and the woman are in critical condition.

The Ukraine Air Force shot down three Iran-made kamikaze drones and a Kh-59 cruise missile overnight. Russia also fired two other drones and eight S-300 missiles.

UPDATE 1117 GMT:

UK military intelligence assesses that Russia has suffered 150,000 to 190,000 permanent casualties, defined as troops killed or permanently wounded, during Vladimir Putin’s 20-month invasion.

The estimate is 240,000 to 290,000 if temporary wounded, troops recovering and able to return to the battlefield, are included.

The casualties have risen by 90% amid recent Russian assaults, including on Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine.

See also Ukraine War, Day 600: “Zero Chance” of Russia Breakthrough in Assault on Avdiivka in East

The Ukraine military puts Russian losses at almost 300,000.

UPDATE 0636 GMT:

The founder of Immortal Barracks, a Russian project commemorating the victims of political repression, is missing after he was detained in Tver, north of Moscow.

Andrey Shalayev was seized on Thursday at the Tver train station while waiting in a cafe for his departure. He told friends that authorities wanted to open a report against him for public intoxication.

No one has heard from him since that evening. Immortal Barracks said in a statement:

At the moment, we don’t know where Andrey is located. His phone is not available. All police agencies, temporary holding facilities, special detention centers, Federal Security Service, Investigative Committee and others have told Andrey’s lawyer and father that they don’t have him in their custody. We couldn’t reach medical facilities, no one answered the phone.

UPDATE 0610 GMT:

The Ukraine Customs Service says about a third of the humanitarian aid intended for Ukrainian military units has disappeared after clearing customs.

The Service says it checked more than 9,000 cases, involving 200 military units, from January to September 2023. In more than 3,000, the units did not confirm receipt.

The agency submitted 387 reports indicating potential crimes over unlawful exploitation of humanitarian assistance for personal gain.

UPDATE 0550 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he expects representatives of more than 50 countries and international organizations at the “Peace Formula” summit next week in Malta.

Zelenskiy introduced the 10-point Formula at the G20 summit in November 2022. It includes:

  • A ceasefire and end to Russia’s invasion, with withdrawal of Russian forces, security guarantees for Ukraine, and Moscow’s affirmation of Ukrainian territorial integrity;
  • Release of all POWs and return of all deportees;
  • A special tribunal for Russian war crimes;
  • Food and energy security;
  • Radiation and nuclear safety;
  • Protection of the environment and prevention of ecocide.

On Saturday, Zelenskiy spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, confirming that Ankara will participate in the Malta summit. Earlier in the week, he conferred with the UN Secretary-General and the leaders of the US, Finland, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Germany, and France.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: A Russian missile strike on a post office in the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine has killed six employees and injured 16.

The Russians attacked the region early Sunday with S-300 missiles. The victims were in the depot of the privately-owned postal service Nova Poshta in the village of Korotych, 16 km (10 miles) west of Kharkiv city.

The Ukraine Interior Ministry said 22 people were in the depot when the missile struck at 2:30 a.m. The staff did not have time to reach shelter, with an alarm sounding only seconds before the missile’s impact.

Most of the employees, aged 19 to 42, sustained shrapnel wounds. Six are critically injured, and two seriously injured.

The terminal building suffered significant damage, with a fire of about 300 square meters. Seven trucks and two semi-trailers were demolished.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy tweeted: