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Latest Developments in Ukraine: Oct. 10


A rescuer works at a site of a residential building heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Oct. 10, 2022.
A rescuer works at a site of a residential building heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Oct. 10, 2022.

For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine.

The latest developments in Russia’s war on Ukraine. All times EDT.

11 p.m.: The German government on Monday failed to approve a draft law to put on reserve two of the country's last nuclear power plants beyond their planned phase-out due to political disagreements, the Economy Ministry said, complicating Berlin's energy plans for the winter.

Germany had planned to complete a phase-out of nuclear power by the end of this year, but a collapse in energy supplies from Russia because of the war in Ukraine has prompted the government to keep two plants on standby until April.

But disagreements within the German cabinet could jeopardize the possible lifespan extension for the Isar II power plant, a spokesperson for the Economy Ministry told Reuters.

"This means that the tight schedule for the procedure cannot be kept," the spokesperson said, adding that the power plant operators were informed of the delay on Monday.

9:22 p.m.: India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said Russia’s war on Ukraine “does not serve the interests of anybody,” but declined to say whether his government would support a United Nations General Assembly motion condemning Moscow’s annexation of Ukrainian territories, The Associated Press reported.

Jaishankar was speaking at a joint news conference Monday with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong after a bilateral meeting at Parliament House where the Ukraine war was discussed.

“We have been very clearly against the conflict in Ukraine. We believe that this conflict does not serve the interests of anybody. Neither the participants nor indeed of the international community,” Jaishankar said.

“As a country of the Global South, we have been seeing firsthand how much it has impacted low-income countries, the challenges that they are facing in terms of fuel and food and fertilizers,” he added.

Asked if India would support the U.N. motion this week condemning Moscow’s annexation of four Ukraine regions, Jaishankar replied: “As a matter of prudence and policy, we don’t predict our votes in advance.”

India is a major market for Russian-manufactured weapons.

India’s relationship with Russia had “certainly served our interests well,” Jaishankar said.

8:22 p.m.:

7:27 p.m.: The United Nations and other aid organizations in Ukraine said on Monday that Russia firing missiles at cities across the country had disrupted their humanitarian work on the ground, Reuters reported.

Russia hit sites across Ukraine, striking Kyiv with an intensity not seen since Russian forces sought to capture the capital early in the more than seven-month war.

Moscow says the strikes were against energy, command and communication targets in retaliation for what it describes as terrorist attacks.

"The wave of attacks, claimed by Russia, has... impacted humanitarian operations across Ukraine, particularly hampering the movement of aid workers and delivery of emergency supplies in the east of the country, where people are in desperate need of assistance," the U.N. humanitarian office said in a report.

6:44 p.m.: The websites for a number of major U.S. airports were briefly taken offline Monday after a cyberattack promoted by a pro-Russian hacking group, Agence France-Presse reported.

The distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks hit the airport websites of several major U.S. cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix and St Louis.

A DDOS attack involves knocking a website offline by flooding it with traffic.

The airport websites were targeted after the pro-Russian hacking group known as "KillNet" published a list of sites and encouraged its followers to attack them.

The DDOS attacks only affected the public-facing websites of the airports, which supply flight and services information and do not have any impact on operations.

KillNet claimed responsibility last week for attacks on a number of U.S. state government websites, and it has taken aim at other countries opposing Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

There was no immediate comment from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

5:55 p.m.:

5:23 p.m.: The European Union joined an international chorus of criticism and condemnation following the Russian missile attacks across Ukraine Monday, The Associated Press reports.

“Russia once again has shown to the world what it stands for. It is terror and brutality,” said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “I know Ukrainians will not be intimidated. And Ukrainians know that we will stand by your side, their side as long as it takes.”

EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders had to be rushed to an underground shelter as he was visiting the Ukraine capital Kyiv to assess evidence of possible war crimes with local officials.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola called the attacks “sickening. It shows the world, again, the regime we are faced with: One that targets indiscriminately. One that rains terror & death down on children.”

4:27 p.m.: British Prime Minister Liz Truss says Russia’s missile strikes across Ukraine are a sign of Ukrainian success and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “increasing desperation,” The Associated Press reports.

Truss spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Monday.

“The U.K. stands wholeheartedly behind President Zelenskyy and Ukraine. Putin’s destructive rhetoric and behavior will not diminish our resolve,” the prime minister’s office said.

Britain said Group of Seven leaders would “re-emphasize the unity of opposition to Putin’s despicable campaign” when they hold a virtual meeting with Zelenskyy Tuesday.

3:11 p.m.: A second round of air raid sirens rang across Kyiv Monday afternoon, sending many across the city back underground into shelters following missile strikes earlier in the day, The Associated Press reports.

Missile strikes across Ukraine Monday morning marked the biggest and most widespread Russian attacks in months.

Andriy Yermak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said a Russian missile had hit a playground in downtown Kyiv and another struck a central building of a local university. He said there was no “practical military sense” in the strikes, maintaining that Russia’s goal was to cause a “humanitarian catastrophe.”

An injured woman receives medical treatment at the scene of Russian shelling, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Oct. 10, 2022.
An injured woman receives medical treatment at the scene of Russian shelling, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Oct. 10, 2022.

Explosions have been reported in Kryvyi Rih, a city in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region, that came under attack for a second time Monday.

City governor Oleksandr Vilkul said the city was attacked by Iranian-built Shahed-136 drones.

2:32 p.m.: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has promised to continue “unwavering” support for Ukraine after Monday’s missile strikes, The Associated Press reports.

“I just spoke with (Ukrainian Foreign Minister) Dmytro Kuleba to reiterate U.S. support for Ukraine following the Kremlin’s horrific strikes this morning,” Blinken wrote in a tweet. “We will continue to provide unwavering economic, humanitarian, and security assistance so Ukraine can defend itself and take care of its people.”

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also spoke to Kuleba Monday. In a tweet, Stoltenberg said the “condemned Russia’s horrific and indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.”

He affirmed that “NATO will continue supporting the brave Ukrainian people to fight back against the Kremlin’s aggression for as long as it takes.”

1:56 p.m.: Hundreds of protesters gathered in the Czech capital to condemn the Russian missile strikes against multiple cities across Ukraine and demand additional international support for Ukraine’s air defenses, according to The Associated Press.

The demonstrators at central Wenceslas Square held up crosses with the names of places hit by the Russian missiles as well as umbrellas symbolizing air defenses.

Czech political leaders condemned the strikes that hit both civilian and infrastructure targets.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said they were “not meant to damage military targets. It’s about murdering the civilian population and spreading fear.”

More protests are planned Tuesday and Saturday.

12:33 p.m.: President Joe Biden has condemned Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, on Monday, saying the strikes “once again demonstrate the utter brutality” of Vladimir Putin’s “illegal war on the Ukrainian people.”

“These attacks only further reinforce our commitment to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes. Alongside our allies and partners, we will continue to impose costs on Russia for its aggression, hold Putin and Russia accountable for its atrocities and war crimes, and provide the support necessary for Ukrainian forces to defend their country and their freedom,” Biden said in a statement.

“We again call on Russia to end this unprovoked aggression immediately and remove its troops from Ukraine,” he added.

11:50 a.m.: Germany says it will deliver the first of four IRIS-T SLM air defense systems to Ukraine "in the next few days," after Russian rockets pounded several cities across Ukraine, killing several civilians, RFE/RL reported.

“The renewed rocket fire on Kyiv and the many other cities makes it clear how important it is to deliver air defense systems to Ukraine quickly," German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht in a statement Monday, just hours after the attacks.

"Russia's missile and drone attacks primarily terrorize the civilian population. That is why we are now supporting them with anti-aircraft weapons in particular," she added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the strikes were retaliation for what he called Kyiv's “terrorist” actions, including an attack over the weekend on a key bridge between Russia and the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula.

Ukraine's National Police said that at least 10 people are dead and 60 wounded in the missile attacks.

11:01 a.m.:

10:11 a.m.: U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres is “deeply shocked” by Monday’s Russian attack on Ukrainian cities, according to his spokesperson.

“The Secretary-General is deeply shocked by today's large-scale missile attacks by the armed forces of the Russian Federation on cities across Ukraine that reportedly resulted in widespread damage to civilian areas and led to dozens of people being killed and injured. This constitutes another unacceptable escalation of the war and, as always, civilians are paying the highest price,” said Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General

9:43 a.m.: The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog Rafael Grossi on Tuesday in Russia.

Grossi heads the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which has for months been pushing Kyiv and Moscow to agree to a demilitarized zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine.

Putin will also meet the President of the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, the Kremlin said.

8:30 a.m.: Moldova said three cruise missiles fired by Russia at Ukraine had violated Moldovan air space on Monday, and that it was summoning the Russian ambassador to explain.

"Three cruise missiles launched on Ukraine this morning from Russian ships in the Black Sea crossed Moldova's airspace. I instructed that Russia's ambassador be summoned to provide an explanation," Moldovan Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu wrote on Twitter.

He said Moldova condemned in the "strongest possible terms" the violation of its airspace and also condemned "Russia's continued aggression against Ukraine."

7:50 a.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that he had held an "urgent call" with French President Emmanuel Macron after Russia's latest attacks on Ukraine.

"Also had an urgent call with @EmmanuelMacron. We discussed the strengthening of our air defense, the need for a tough European and international reaction, as well as increased pressure on the Russian Federation. France stands with Ukraine," Zelenskyy wrote on his Twitter account.

Deadly Russian missile strikes hit Ukraine’s capital Monday, part of a barrage of what the Ukrainian military said was 75 missiles launched at the country.

Kyiv police said most of the strikes hit the center of the city, killing at least five people and wounding 12 others. Missiles struck busy areas, including parks and tourist sites.

6:30 a.m.: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that he had agreed with Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the need for an urgent meeting of the Group of Seven (G-7) of the world's advanced economies over Russia's attacks on Ukraine on Monday.

"Agreed with Chancellor @OlafScholz of Germany holding presidency of G-7 on an urgent meeting of the Group," Zelenskyy said on Twitter.

"My speech is scheduled, in which I'll tell about the terrorist attacks by RF (Russia Federation). We also discussed the issue of increasing pressure on RF & aid in restoring damaged infrastructure."

6 a.m.: Ukrainian forces shot down at least 43 of the missiles fired at Ukraine by Russia on Monday morning, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said.

She told a briefing Russia had fired 83 missiles by 11.35 a.m. (0835 GMT).

General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, had earlier said on Twitter that Russia had fired 75 missiles at Ukraine and that 41 of them had been intercepted.

5:30 a.m.: Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said Belarus and Russia will deploy a joint military task force in response to what he called an aggravation of tension on the country's western borders, Reuters reported Monday, citing the state-run Belta news agency.

Lukashenko said the two countries would deploy a regional military group, and had started pulling forces together two days ago, apparently after the explosion on Russia's bridge to Crimea.

Russian forces used Belarus as a staging post for their February 24 invasion of Ukraine, sending troops and equipment into northern Ukraine from bases in Belarus.

5 a.m.: Britain's foreign minister James Cleverly called Russia's firing of missiles into civilian areas of Ukraine "unacceptable" on Monday.

"Russia’s firing of missiles into civilian areas of Ukraine is unacceptable," Cleverly said on Twitter.

"This is a demonstration of weakness by Putin, not strength."

4:30 a.m.: Some 952,000 people arrived in Germany from Ukraine in the February-August period of this year, the Federal Statistics Office said on Monday.

Most arrived in March (431,000) and April (198,000) — the first two months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the office added.

4 a.m.: Russia's Gazprombank has decided to cease operating in Switzerland after "a strategic review of various options," Reuters reported Monday, citing the privately-owned Russian bank.

The bank had been one of the last remaining channels for financing trade flows between Russia and Switzerland because other major Russian banks are subject to sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Zurich-based bank, which was mainly involved in trade and export finance, decided to discontinue its operations in Switzerland after launching a review of its business in July, including a possible sale.

"The decision is the result of an in-depth strategy analysis and is being taken in close consultation with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority," Gazprombank's board chairman, Ivan Dun, said in a statement.

3:30 a.m.: Explosions hit Ukraine’s capital Monday, leaving an unclear number of casualties and shaking the relative calm that has existed in Kyiv despite Russia’s ongoing invasion of the country.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov blamed what he called “terrorist’s missiles” in reference to Russia and said Ukraine’s “courage will never be destroyed.”

“The only thing they will demolish irreversibly is the future of Russia, a future of a globally despised rogue terrorist state,” he tweeted.

3:05 a.m.: A loud explosion was heard on Monday morning in Russia's Belgorod region, close to the border with Ukraine, a witness told a Reuters journalist.

The witness reported a loud bang and windows shaking.

The cause of the blast was unclear.

2:55 a.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy said there were dead and wounded in blasts that rocked cities across Ukraine on Monday and accused Russia of trying to wipe his country "off the face of the earth."

"They are trying to destroy us and wipe us off the face of the earth...destroy our people who are sleeping at home in (the city of) Zaporizhzhia. Kill people who go to work in Dnipro and Kyiv," Zelenskiyy said on the Telegram messaging app.

"The air raid sirens do not subside throughout Ukraine. There are missiles hitting. Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded."

Several explosions rocked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and the cities of Lviv, Ternopil and Dnipro on Monday, after Russia accused Ukraine of orchestrating a powerful blast that damaged a key bridge linking Russia and Crimea.

Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne quoted emergency services as saying there were dead and wounded in Kyiv but gave no further details of casualties.

A Reuters witness saw a huge carter at one of the city center's intersections and nearby cars completely wrecked, blackened and pitted with shrapnel. Explosions were also reported in Lviv, Ternopil and Zhytomyr in Ukraine's west, and in Dnipro in central Ukraine.

Russia abandoned an early advance on Kyiv in the face of fierce resistance bolstered by Western arms. Since then, Moscow and its proxies have focused on the south and Donbas, an eastern territory made up of Luhansk and its neighbor Donetsk, deploying overwhelming artillery in some of the heaviest ground fighting in Europe since World War II.

2:30 a.m.:

2 a.m.: Russian troops are coming closer to the strategically important eastern town of Bakhmut, having advanced up to 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) towards the town over the last week, a British intelligence update said on Monday.

"Russia continues to give high priority to its own offensive operations in the central Donbas sector, especially near the town of Bakhmut," the U.K. Ministry of Defense tweeted in a regular bulletin.

In a video address on Saturday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Ukrainian troops were involved in very tough fighting near Bakhmut.

Bakhmut sits on a main road leading to the cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, both situated in the industrial Donbas region, which Moscow has yet to fully capture.

1:45 a.m.: Two explosions rocked Kyiv early Monday following months of relative calm in the Ukrainian capital, The Associated Press and Reuters reported.

The explosions were heard by AP journalists and appeared to be the result of missiles strikes.

Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitchko reported explosions in the city’s central Shevchenko district. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

"Several explosions in the Shevchenskivskyi district — in the center of the capital," Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging app. "Details later."

1:30 a.m.: Oleksandr Starukh, the governor of the broader Zaporizhzhia region said early on Monday that an overnight shelling of the city of Zaporizhzhia destroyed a multi-story apartment building causing injuries, Reuters reported.

"As a result of a missile attack in the center of Zaporizhzhia, a multi-story residential building was destroyed again," Starukh said on the Telegram messaging app. "There are injured."

An early Sunday strike on the city killed at least 13 people and injured 87 others, including 10 children.

1 a.m.: India does not want to say in advance how it will vote at the United Nations General Assembly on a likely draft resolution condemning Russia's proclaimed annexation of parts of Ukraine, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said on Monday.

"As a matter of prudence and policy, we don't predict our votes in advance," Jaishankar said during a joint media briefing along with Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Canberra.

The General Assembly is due to vote on the draft resolution on Tuesday or Wednesday, Reuters reported citing diplomats.

Russia had vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution introduced by the United States and Albania late last month condemning the proclaimed annexation, with China, Gabon, India and Brazil abstaining.

12:30 a.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin will chair a meeting with his Security Council on Monday, two days after a huge blast ripped through Russia's Crimea bridge, the Kremlin told local news agencies, Agence France-Presse reported.

"Tomorrow the president has a planned meeting with the permanent members of the Security Council," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

12:05 a.m.: Chicago wheat futures jumped more than 1% on Monday, underpinned by concerns over the Russia-Ukraine war slowing grain shipments from the Black Sea region, Reuters reported.

Corn rose for a second session as lower production in Europe supported prices while soybeans gained 1.8%.

"Ukraine's exports continue to be a focus for market chatter," said Tobin Gorey, director of agricultural strategy at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. "Whether the current export corridor will remain open beyond late November is still a focus issue."

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine are supporting wheat prices as the market is waiting to see how the Kremlin responds to the blast that hit Russia's only bridge to Crimea.

Some information in this report came from Reuters, The Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse.

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