Ukraine recognizes Chechnya, 108 women freed from Russian captivity, story of Kharkiv TDF
Your slice of the top headlines in Ukraine. Daily. Wednesday, October 19th, 2022.
• Ukraine has recognized the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.
This represents the first time the Republic, which was defeated by Russia in the Second Chechen War, has been officially recognized by a nation-state. Ukraine has designated the territory of Chechnya as occupied by Russia, and has classified Russian repression of Chechens as genocide.Oleksiy Danilov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, tweeted that “Free Ichkeria will start the process of decolonization of the Russian Federation and the destruction of the sub-empire.”
According to presidential chief-of-staff Andriy Yermak, this complement includes both soldiers and civilians, including defenders of the Azovstal steelworks. Some of the women freed were captured by Russian occupation forces in occupied territory prior to the full-scale invasion. NV collated their return in this photo report.
• A Russian attack on a power station in Kyiv kills one worker.
Seven others were injured, reports power company DTEK Energy. The attacks represent Russia’s continuing efforts to damage and degrade Ukraine’s power infrastructure prior to the onset of winter. Infrastructure in numerous cities has been impacted by these attacks, with Dnipro being especially affected, said presidential deputy chief-of-staff Kyrylo Tymoshenko.
• According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia’s destroyed 30% of Ukraine’s power stations in the past week.
• The EU is providing Ukraine with an additional €500 million for its military.
The EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, stated that the funds are further proof of the EU’s continuing commitment to Ukrainian security. €490 million of these funds are allocated for military weapons, while €10 million are earmarked for other equipment and supplies. Additionally, some amount of these funds will be used on the maintenance and repair of already donated Western weapons.
• In addition to these funds, Italy announced that it will be sending a fifth military assistance package in the near future.
The Bank states that this is due to Belarus’ non-payment for more than six months, which total over $68 million. Belarus’ outstanding principal is $967 million. The Bank cancelled all of its Belarusian programs in March, and has not approved new lending to the dictatorship since May 2020.
• The day’s long-read: Kharkiv territorial defense fighters tell the story of the liberation of Kharkiv Oblast
NV spoke to a unit of territorial defense mortarmen who have been operating in Kharkiv Oblast since the start of the full-scale war, learning about their stories and their lives before and during the war.
• Don’t miss: Complex government reshuffle discussed by Zelenskyy administration
NV digs into rumors of high-level personnel shifts at Bankova and the government, to see whether there’s any truth to the gossip.
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