Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he could not confirm the participation of DPRK troops in the war in Ukraine. South Korea will provide an update on this issue next week.

Over the last day, 166 combat engagements took place, most of them in the Pokrovske and Kurakhove sectors. The enemy carried out 104 air strikes and over 4,500 attacks, and Ukrainian forces repelled numerous attacks in various parts of the frontline.

Dry weather is expected in Ukraine on October 23 with temperatures of 2-7° at night and 11-16° during the day. Southwest wind with a shift to northwest, 5-10 m/s. In Kyiv, the temperature will be 5-7° at night and 12-14° during the day.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has updated data on enemy losses. Over the past 24 hours, the Russian army lost 1460 soldiers, 30 armored combat vehicles and 9 tanks. The total losses of Russian troops reached 683,040.

The Minister of Health of Ukraine announced the dismissal of the heads of the MSEC and related institutions due to improper performance of duties. A new draft law on medical and social expertise is being developed.

At the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia will try to use the opportunity to create mechanisms to strengthen its military operations in Ukraine.

The DPRK leader inspected strategic missile bases and called for readiness to retaliate. The visit took place on the eve of the US presidential election, which may be an attempt to draw attention to Pyongyang's military power.

German manufacturer Rheinmetall will build a plant in the UK to produce artillery barrels and tanks from 2027. This is part of a new defense agreement between Germany and Britain to strengthen military cooperation.

The graduation ceremony of the third group of pilots of the Ukrainian Air Force took place in Cranwell. Ambassador Valeriy Zaluzhny thanked the UK for its support and called the pilots' training an advantage over the enemy.

The Ukrainian president said that ending attacks on energy facilities could open the way for negotiations. Zelenskyy also emphasized the importance of security guarantees, including NATO, in conversations with Western partners.

Andriy Yermak stated that Ukraine is ready to discuss adjustments to the peace formula. The condition is the preservation of the country's territorial integrity and full sovereignty.

António Guterres made an unannounced visit to Kazan at the beginning of the BRICS summit.

Estonia has fired an employee of the embassy in Turkey for her research on Kremlin narratives about Ukraine. The article calls the Revolution of Dignity a “coup d'etat” and the 2014 Russian invasion a “separation of republics.

Russian troops fired 46 times at the border areas of Sumy region. 112 explosions were recorded, and private houses and non-residential premises in several communities were damaged.

The head of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine said that the first North Korean troops could appear in the Kursk area tomorrow. They will help defend the Kursk region from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but their number and equipment are still unknown.

Russia is actively decommissioning BRDM-2 armored vehicles for use in Ukraine. They can be used as mobile firepower due to the lack of other armored personnel carriers lost in the war.

The Biden administration plans to impose sanctions on intermediaries supplying Russia with critical materials for the military. The new restrictions will be announced next week.

Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Zhovkva met with representatives of the Greek Foreign Ministry. They discussed preparations for the Peace Summit, the restoration of Ukraine and the implementation of the bilateral security agreement.

The SBI will investigate cases of unjustified disability of officials. They will check the decisions of the MSEC to establish disability, and criminal proceedings under various articles are possible.

The head of the Servant of the People party, Olena Shulyak, denied the information about meetings at the Presidential Office regarding the elections. She emphasized that only “short-sighted people” can discuss elections now.

Prime Minister Shmyhal announced the dismissal of the leadership of the MSEC and the relevant department of the Ministry of Health. By the end of the year, the MSEC will be liquidated, a new European model will be introduced, and unreasonable decisions on disability will be reviewed.

North Korea has sent fighter pilots to vladivostok to potentially help russia in its war with Ukraine. This may be due to the lack of russian pilots and the supply of aircraft to the DPRK.

The deputy head of the OP said that the issue of publishing the names of people who had illegally received disabilities belonged to law enforcement agencies. They have received the appropriate tasks and are ready for inspections.

Deputy Head of the Prosecutor General's Office Iryna Vereshchuk announced that officials will be checked immediately for false disability diagnoses. The government has a month to amend the legislation on the MSEC.

Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk denied information about possible family ties to Tetyana Krupa, the detained head of the Khmelnytsky MSEC.

Supernova Airlines has been authorized to operate charter flights to the EU, but not regular international flights from Ukraine. The skies over Ukraine remain closed due to the security situation.

President Zelenskyy called for personal responsibility and personnel decisions due to the violations at the MSEC. He emphasized the importance of digitalizing the disability determination process and a full audit of officials' pensions.

The leaders of Russia and China held frank and constructive talks on Ukraine and the international situation. Putin plans to meet with the leaders of India, China, Turkey and Iran at the BRICS summit.

President Zelenskyy called the reports of the Ministers of Health and Social Policy on the violations of the MSEC unconvincing. He calls for the liquidation of the MSEC by the end of 2024 and the digitalization of the examination process.

The government is to draft a bill to revise the calculation of pension payments to government officials. The NSDC decision enacted by President Zelenskyy is aimed at ensuring fairness in this area.