Ukraine Invasion - Part 62

[MagicFox]

Thanks as always to everybody consistently posting and keeping us all up to date 🇺🇦

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Ronald Reagan must be doing somersaults in his grave at the thought of a Republican President doing Russia's bidding.

Anthony Scaramucci has neatly summarised everything Trump has done for Russia.
http://youtube.com/post/UgkxNF5WzyYOJ0D6O0pS4UrkegOInTUG7LYd

In terms of his motivations, one school of thought is that this is revenge on Zelensky for not fabricating dirt on Hunter Biden for Trump, the revelation of what had been going on lead to Trump's first impeachment.

The other school of thought is that after US banks refused to have anything to do with Trump (multiple bankrupt that he was), Russian banks bailed him out.

Trump calling Putin a humanitarian is some kind of sick fucking joke.

Trumps America has a canker at it's core, and the poison is spreading.

I’ll be gutted if the voters don’t strongly signal their unhappiness with Trump’s administration and the GOP in the midterms.

But it is also crazy that the Democrats cannot seem to coalesce around a strong leader or coherent set of policies. Instead they seem to range from verging on strongly socialist all along to socially conservative.

Thanks for the analysis @MissConductUS although what a holy mess. Makes me shudder to think we could be in the same boat if Farage got in, albeit with less geopolitical consequences.

The Witkoff humanitarian comment was disgusting, especially in the face of further strikes on Kyiv tonight.

Also seeing posts online about people casting votes in the US and the machines are reverting them to red votes, but not sure how reliable the sources are.

You’re quite welcome, @dibly. I’m happy to contribute what I can on these threads.

Witkoff has exactly the same blinders and biases as Trump. Rubio is the only person in the administration who can see past his nose.

The reports about voting machines flipping votes on Reddit are almost certainly rubbish. If not, there will be real evidence in a day or two.

Thank you @blueshoesthat would be great.

The reports about voting machines flipping votes on Reddit are almost certainly rubbish. If not, there will be real evidence in a day or two.

Interesting.

Sorry I can't remember where I read this – possibly on this thread! But it bears repeating none the less.

The article I read pointed out that the introduction of doubt into people's minds about the reliability of vote-counting is itself a big win for the Trump administration.

The doubt could be about the machines, about the electoral officers, about unqualified voters, whatever. The point is that the existence of such doubt makes those voters whose choice didn't win, much more likely to reject the election results. It even induces paralysing self-doubt into the conscientious among voters whose choice did win.

Well I say it's a big win for the Trump administration. The real winner here is Putin and his ongoing project to degrade the liberal democracies.

The problem with looking at it this way is that it flips Trump's usual narrative. He's always alleged that he was cheated out of winning by fraudulent voting machines or ineligible voters. Spreading rumors that his political opponents were cheated out of votes would undermine the legitimacy of any Republicans who won.

The thing is that it's endlessly undermining faith in the integrity of the democratic process at all.

I think that's true, but in this case, it's unlikely that Trump or the Republicans are spreading the rumors.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ Russia hits gas production facility in Kharkiv Oblast, critical infrastructure in Dnipro, leaving 30,000 consumers without power.
Acting Naftogaz CEO Serhii Fedorenko said that Russia had struck the company's facilities more than 400 times since the beginning of 2026 — twice as often as during the same period last year.

⚡️German military classifies threat of Russian sabotage as 'significant' for first time, German media reports.
Reviewing internal documents from Germany's armed forces, German media reports that this is the military's second-highest threat classification.

⚡️Ukraine to gain access to NATO procurement system for weapons, ammunition, Financial Times says.
The arrangement might allow Ukraine to use NATO's existing procurement system and supplier network rather than negotiating each purchase independently.

⚡️Ukrainian military intelligence reveals new Russian cruise missile 'Filin'
Some parts of the missile are apparently 3-D printed, HUR said, while the electronic component stands out for the increased share of Chinese components.

⚡️Denmark guarantees $113 million loan for Ukrainian defense company Fire Point.
The loan is backed by the Danish state as Russia’s war against Ukraine prevents the company from borrowing on ordinary terms in Denmark. The funding will be channeled through Denmark’s Export and Investment Fund (EIFO).

⚡️Shares in one of Ukraine's biggest farm companies fall to a two-year low.
Trading in the company's stock was suspended on the Warsaw Stock Exchange on Oct. 20 after the price dropped 19.14% in a single day.

The net gun built for civilians in Ukraine’s kill zone
As the danger spreads into roads and neighborhoods behind the front, the appearance of the net gun shows just how the threats usually associated with battlefields are becoming a part of everyday civilian life in Ukraine.
At a training with the Ukrainian National Guard’s Omega unit, engineers from the defense tech company BlueBird Tech describe how to use their net gun, named Chipa, to entangle an approaching drone’s propellers.

⚡️Ukrainian troops infiltrate Russian rear through gas pipelines near Kupiansk, Khartiia says.
The operation, code-named "Veles," was carried out by the National Guard's 2nd Khartiia Corps together with other Ukrainian units, according to the corps.

⚡️Ukrainian forces reportedly strike Moscow Oblast weapons plant.
Ukrainian forces struck a weapons plant in Serpukhov, Moscow Oblast, overnight on Oct. 22, monitoring channels reported.

⚡️Explosion, fires reported amid overnight Ukrainian drone attack on Lipetsk, Russia.

New Poland-Ukraine dispute looms as local authorities move to honor UPA military leader
Warsaw has denounced a decision by the Lviv Oblast Council declaring 2027 the year of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and its commander, Roman Shukhevych, signaling a fresh rift in Ukrainian-Polish ties just days after leaders reported improved relations.

⚡️Update: Ukraine's central bank chief confirms anti-corruption searches as he denies wrongdoing
Andrii Pyshnyi, head of the National Bank of Ukraine, said the investigation was unrelated to the central bank or his work as its chief.

Stay or flee? Kyiv mothers torn on how to keep children safe as Russian attacks step up
Spending nights on cold metro floors while their children sleep, mothers in Kyiv are confronting the same question they faced at the start of the full-scale invasion: stay or flee.
With daily air raid alerts stretching for hours and children spending full days in kindergarten bomb shelters, parents are making the agonizing decision to move to western cities like Lviv and Lutsk, where safety, too, remains fragile.

Can the U.S. secure a lasting peace deal for Ukraine? As pressure to make a peace deal with Russia mounts on Kyiv, we sat down with Meaghan Mobbs, president of the R.T. Weatherman Foundation and daughter of former U.S. special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg. She argues that peace built on surrender would only give Russia time to prepare for another war.
The Kyiv Independent’s Tim Zadorozhnyy speaks with Mobbs about the strained U.S.-Ukraine relations, U.S. President Donald Trump’s diesel deal with Russia, and pressure on Kyiv to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries.

⚡️ Russian ballistic missile attack on Kyiv damages ambulances, kills 1, injures 22.
Among the 22 people who were injured are four children, one of whom has been hospitalized, the State Emergency Service reported.

⚡️Russian attacks kill at least 9, injure 57 across Ukraine as Kyiv hit by mass missile, drone attack.
Russian forces launched a mass combined attack overnight with Iskander-M, S-400, Zircon, and Onyx missiles, as well as 210 drones of various types, including 110 jet-powered drones, the Air Force reported.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦
@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social

⚡ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — OCT 22, 2026
■ Territory: 🇺🇦 made a net gain of 51.8 km² in the week to Oct 19, according to DeepState, the most since mid-August
■ Most casualties of the war in a single day, and the highest 7-day average to date
■ Land-based equipment above average despite fewer combat engagements
■ Overnight 🇷🇺 attacks: Iskander-M, S-400, Zircon and Oniks missiles launched, none intercepted, but improved drone interception rate; 40 locations hit or affected by debris
■ Most 🇷🇺 drones used at the front since Sep 26 and drone losses above average; three 🇺🇦 air and artillery strikes reported; 7-day strike ratio 61.5x in 🇷🇺's favour

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

A settlement to the war in Ukraine was the main topic of discussion between Putin and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. Witkoff briefed Putin on the talks held in Oslo, highlighting new approaches from the EU and Kyiv, although he said there were not many, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
▪️ The talks lasted more than three hours and were described as thorough and candid.
▪️ Putin expressed his appreciation for the U.S. administration’s mediation efforts, particularly those of President Donald Trump.
▪️ Trilateral negotiations were derailed by the “Kyiv regime” during the State Duma elections, Ushakov said. The situation has now been reassessed in light of signals received from the U.S. side.
▪️ Witkoff indicated that Trump would be pleased with the outcome.
▪️ Putin and Witkoff discussed the possibility of a trilateral meeting involving Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in China. Beijing is preparing for such a meeting, which could be added to the agenda if circumstances permit.
▪️ Putin asked Witkoff to convey his gratitude to Melania Trump for her humanitarian mediation efforts.
▪️ The two sides discussed implementing agreements on Russian diesel supplies to the U.S. and global markets.
▪️ Putin expressed Russia’s interest in restoring economic cooperation with the U.S., saying large-scale joint projects offered significant potential.
▪️ Russia reiterated its readiness to help resolve the crisis in Iran.

❗️If Ukraine surrenders Sloviansk and Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region, Russia will have a path to Pavlohrad and Dnipro, President Zelenskyy said.
“If we hand over these cities of ours to them, the risk is enormous. If Putin decides to push further, he could seize a vast number of our cities. The risk is real. There are no guarantees,” Zelenskyy noted.

“Energy sanctions against Russia will remain in place until the war ends,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
Addressing the European Parliament, von der Leyen stressed that Russia is not a reliable energy supplier and is prepared to use energy dependence as a tool for blackmail at any moment.
“This is a lesson that Europe will certainly not forget,” she added.

The “new approaches” to resolving the “Ukrainian crisis” signaled by U.S. officials in Oslo do not satisfy Russia, Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said in an interview with propagandist Pavel Zarubin.

Russia has turned its Shahed drone manufacturing plant in Tatarstan into a fortress, establishing 33 air defense positions around the Alabuga site, Radio Svoboda reports.
Satellite imagery from Oct. 21 shows that, since spring, concrete towers, launch pads for Pantsir and Tor air defense systems, and platforms equipped with anti-aircraft machine guns have been installed around the special economic zone.
Structures are also being prepared above production buildings to support anti-drone netting designed to protect the facility from Ukrainian strikes.
Alabuga is a key hub for Russia’s production of Geran attack drones, which are based on Iran’s Shahed design. Russia extensively uses these drones to attack Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure.
In September, OSINT analysts also identified signs of construction of underground production facilities covering approximately 42,000 square meters within the complex.

A British-made system in the ranks of Ukraine’s Armed Forces 😎
Troops from the 1030th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment have shared photos of the RapidRanger air defense system. Although the unit received the systems only recently, they are already delivering strong results.
The system has been praised for its capabilities both by the 3rd Corps on the front line and during operations to protect assets in the rear. The technical specifications of its Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) allow troops to engage drones, including jet-powered models, at altitudes of up to 7 km.

🇪🇺🇫🇷 Europe is investigating possible Russian influence on unrest in France, the Financial Times reports.
According to the publication, pro-Russian and far-right social media accounts actively circulated videos of violence and false narratives in an apparent attempt to exacerbate social tensions.
However, experts and European intelligence services stress that the protests stemmed from genuine domestic grievances, with Russian information campaigns primarily seeking to amplify their impact.
The report says French authorities have tasked intelligence services with determining whether Russian agents played a more direct role in fueling the unrest. So far, there is no direct evidence of such interference.

❗️Russia attacked an Epicentr hypermarket in Uman, destroying the store, but causing no casualties, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported.

Ukraine’s youth karate team set a national record at the World Championships, winning eight medals: one gold, three silver, and four bronze. The result secured Ukraine eighth place in the overall medal standings among 114 participating countries.

The bodies of 252 deceased individuals have been returned to Ukraine. Russia claims they are all Ukrainian military personnel.
Specialists will conduct the necessary examinations to establish their identities. During previous repatriations, Russia has repeatedly included the bodies of its own fallen soldiers among those returned to Ukraine.

❗️Russian forces struck a market in Lozova, Kharkiv region, killing two people and injuring 11 others, according to preliminary reports from the Regional Military Administration.

Since this evening, Russia has launched three waves of ballistic missile strikes against Kyiv, firing a total of 21 missiles, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Trump claimed Russia is steadily advancing in Ukraine, has virtually unlimited manpower, the US has provided Ukraine with $350 billion in aid, and that Javelin missiles supplied during his first term were decisive in saving Kyiv in 2022.

Trump’s special envoy Witkoff confirmed direct US Treasury talks with Putin envoy Kirill Dmitriev on economic cooperation alongside Ukraine peace negotiations.
Putin outlined Russian diesel shipments to the US and offered fertilizer exports.

The Kremlin confirmed talks with Washington over sanctioned Russian oil giant Lukoil’s $22 billion in foreign assets.
The US Treasury has extended authorization for negotiations over their sale until Nov. 21.

Ukraine may have between 300 and 500 Russians working as intelligence sources for Kyiv, according to a man who coordinates surveillance operations for Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR).
HUR confirmed he cooperates with the agency, though the BBC could not independently verify the estimate.

European leaders are weighing who should negotiate with Vladimir Putin as fears grow that the US could sideline Europe in an Ukraine peace deal.
The Kremlin’s suggestion of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has sparked backlash, exposing divisions over who should represent Europe in potential talks.

EXCLUSIVE: Ukraine is racing to secure nearly $50 billion as intelligence warns Russia can sustain full-scale war through 2028.
A last-minute parliament vote on IMF reforms eased donor concerns in Bangkok, but closing budget gaps remains critical.

Putin said Russia’s first diesel tanker under its agreement with Witkoff and Trump would depart in two to three days, revising an earlier announcement of an Oct. 22 departure.
The cargo will carry 40,000 metric tons (about 44,100 US tons), approximately 13% of the initial volume announced by Donald Trump. Moscow says further shipments will follow.

More than 600 Ukrainian drones targeted the Moscow region overnight, with 163 shot down on approach to the capital, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin claims.
Two people were injured in the Troitsky administrative district. Astra reported that the 75th Arsenal, a Russian Defense Ministry facility in Serpukhov that produces and repairs weapons, was also targeted.
Drone attacks were also reported in Lipetsk, Voronezh and Tula regions, damaging homes, a clinic and other civilian infrastructure.

Moldova may move Ukrainian border checkpoints onto its territory to mitigate Russian strike risks, officials said Wednesday.
Interior Minister Daniela Misail-Nikitin confirmed joint border controls are planned on Moldovan soil after pulling back staff.

European officials and diplomats believe Trump’s personal animosity toward Zelensky is influencing Washington’s approach to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
They fear the US is putting more pressure on Kyiv than on Moscow while showing little public criticism of Putin.

Finland is preparing to rebuild its stockpile of anti-personnel landmines to defend its border with Russia after formally withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention.
Helsinki cited the growing threat from Moscow as the reason for leaving the global landmine ban treaty.

Under drone fire and surrounded by landmines, Khartiia Brigade soldiers risked their lives to evacuate two wounded comrades.
In exclusive Kyiv Post interviews, combat medic Osa and commander Kamaro recount the harrowing minefield rescue.
https://www.kyivpost.com/videos/87756

Ukraine’s Khartiia Corps says Operation Veles used underground infrastructure to strike behind Russian lines and disrupt a threat to Kupiansk.
The corps reported taking more than 30 Russian prisoners and called the manoeuvre the world’s first full-scale underground counteroffensive.
“We studied their experience, outplayed them on their own ground, and turned that threat into an advantage for our counteroffensive.”

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she believes Vladimir Putin may hold compromising material on President Donald Trump, possibly photographs or videos.
Speaking on journalist Kara Swisher’s podcast, Clinton said she still believes such material may exist, but offered no evidence.
She also repeated her description of Trump as Putin’s “willing puppet,” saying he helps the Russian leader.
Separately, Clinton said the full release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein could shock even Trump’s supporters. She did not specify which documents she meant or provide evidence for her claims.

Russia’s overnight attack killed four civilians and injured at least 14 others in the Donetsk, Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions, including two boys aged 10 and 13.
Drone strikes also damaged civilian vehicles and buildings in Kharkiv and Sumy, while a warehouse fire broke out in the Kirovohrad region.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

❗️Starlink's operation at the front is still restricted, but the US has promised to work on it, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Fox News.
"Regarding Starlink and Starshield: they are still restricted, but the Secretary of State told me that he will work with his team to unblock this issue," he noted.
The president separately noted that the US has resumed providing intelligence to Ukraine, including information about Russian ballistic missile launches.

Volodymyr Zelensky is ready to agree to freezing the front line "as it is now." He said this in an interview with Fox News.
The host asked Zelensky whether he would agree to a peace deal that freezes everything "as it is now" — on the condition that Ukraine retains 75% or more of its territory.

[more info]
Ukrainian forces conducted an underground counteroffensive operation "Veles" in the Kupiansk direction and advanced over 15 km into the Russian rear.
After the Defense Forces nearly halted the enemy's advance in the Kharkiv direction, the Russians decided to move through gas pipelines into the rear of Ukrainian forces near Kupiansk. So the Defense Forces decided to use the underground routes themselves.
In parallel with the underground advance, fighting on the surface and drone attacks continued. During the operation, over 30 Russian military personnel were captured, and more than 100 were killed and wounded. The operation was commanded by the 2nd Corps of the National Guard "Khartiia."

❗️Russia may have been collecting Moldovans' personal data through a taxi app. Moldova has launched an investigation, Radio Free Europe reports.
The suspicions arose after a journalistic investigation found that Yandex may not have been paying taxes in Moldova. Journalists also found that Yandex Go may have been transferring user data to servers in Russia rather than storing it in the Netherlands, as the company had previously assured.
Yandex controls about 60% of Moldova's taxi market. The authorities first requested driver data back in 2022. There were four requests, and all were rejected.
Journalists also found that around $7.8 million in revenue from Yandex Go may have passed through banks in Dubai and Kazakhstan without paying taxes in Moldova.
Now the Moldovan authorities are demanding disclosure of the ultimate owners of Yandex's local business and are checking where the company transfers user data. They have been given 20 days. If the authorities see a security threat, they may seize the company's assets or suspend the app's operations.
A similar story already occurred in the Netherlands. In May, the Dutch authorities fined MLU BV, a company from the Yandex group, $112 million. It stored data on clients and drivers from Norway and Finland on servers in Russia — including scans of driver's licenses, home addresses and contacts, account numbers, precise geolocation, trip history, photographs, chat contents, and social security codes.

🇧🇬Bulgaria will no longer fund lethal weapons for Ukraine, local media Novinite reports.
Going forward, the country will direct funds only to non-lethal aid.
Bulgaria will also insist that its funding be directed primarily to regions of Ukraine where the ethnic Bulgarian community lives.
The government explained the decision by a desire to end hostilities near Bulgarian borders.
▪️This year, Bulgaria's contribution to the European Peace Facility amounts to slightly more than €9 million.

Overnight, Russia attacked Ukraine with Iskander-M, S-400, Tsirkon, and Onyx missiles, as well as 210 drones, including 110 jet-powered.
Air defense neutralized 181 UAVs, including 87 jet-powered. However, the Russians struck 32 locations, with debris falling in eight others. The main target was Kyiv.

Dead, injured children, and strikes on civilian facilities — Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine overnight. Key points on the aftermath:
🔴In Kyiv, a Russian attack killed one person, and the number of injured has risen to 22, including seven children. Ballistic missiles struck six districts of the capital — damaging buildings, medical facilities, transport infrastructure, a monastery, and a restaurant.
🔴In the Kharkiv region, the Russians killed a 42-year-old woman in Lymanivka and injured four others, including two children. In Izium, a UAV injured three people, while in Kharkiv, drones damaged buildings, a store, and an office, and one person was injured there as well.
🔴In Sumy, an FPV drone injured a person by striking a car.
🔴In the Poltava region, drones struck a television and radio company in Kremenchuk and an energy infrastructure facility in the district.
🔴In the Vinnytsia region, Russia damaged industrial facilities, energy infrastructure, and private houses.

Sorry if already covered but thought interesting https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/19/lavrov-backs-iran-hours-after-trump-says-russia-doing-very-little-to-help-tehran

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-20-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. Ukrainian forces continue facing in-motion speed restrictions to SpaceX’s low-earth orbit satellite communication technology (Starlink and Starshield) that limits Ukraine’s ability to counter Russian piston engine-driven and jet-powered strike drones.
2. Ukrainian forces continue publishing further details about Ukraine’s Operation Vivaldi – a counteroffensive operation that fundamentally disrupted the Russian campaign for Donetsk Oblast by defeating the northern pincer that the Russian military intended to use to encircle the Fortress Belt from the north.
3. Senior Kremlin officials reaffirmed Russian support for Iran and explicitly defined the United States as Russia’s long-term adversary, despite the recent unilateral US concession to Moscow – offering Russia a diesel export waiver.
4. Former Commander of the Ukrainian 60th Ingulets Separate Mechanized Brigade Major Dmytro Rohozyuk became the acting commander of Ukraine’s 3rd Army Corps (AC) while Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi continues to command Ukraine’s Center Group of Forces (GoF) in Donetsk’s Fortress Belt.
5. Russia launched 165 drones against Ukraine overnight.
6. Ukrainian forces advanced east of Sumy City, and Russian forces advanced south of Orikhiv.

Trump is a very vain man and easy to manipulate through flattery. Witkoff assumes that Putin must be the same. Unsurprisingly the ex-KGB agent is smarter than Witkoff and just views him (and Trump) as weak.

The reports about voting machines flipping votes on Reddit are almost certainly rubbish.

Most likely explanation (from a local) seems to be that the touchscreens used in certain polling stations are a bit shit, and that if you've got long nails you've got to press very carefully.

I'm more appalled by that attack ad in Ohio. Have the GOP no shame? Not that it's beyond them to take the side of a rapist, but...