++ Ukraine News: Belarus Prepares for War

War in Ukraine: Tension in Belgorod

+++ 5.43 pm: Tense situation in Belgorod: At least eleven volunteers were killed and 15 wounded in fighting in Ukraine after an attack on a military base near the Russian border with Ukraine, according to reports from Moscow. On Sunday, authorities again reported attacks in the area — almost daily lately. Meanwhile, the first Russian soldiers arrived in Belarus on Saturday

+++ 4:28 pm: Despite Western support for Ukraine, Russia is sticking to its war aims. NATO is already “really” involved in the conflict, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in an interview with state television. However, this will not affect Russia’s goals – the “operation” will continue and be completed, Peskov stressed. Even if this is made more difficult by Western aid to Ukraine, Russia has enough power to continue the mission.

Ukraine war: Russia deportations continue

+++ 3:51 PM: Russia continues mass deportations of Ukrainians to occupied territories. Russian authorities have openly approved the adoption of children from Ukraine by Russian families in violation of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, according to an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Washington.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Shuznulin said on Friday (14 October) that “several thousand” children from Kherson province in south-eastern Ukraine “are already housed in retirement homes and children’s camps in other parts of Russia”. According to ISW, Russia is also likely to resettle Ukrainian cities with Russian citizens brought into the country. According to experts, such ethnic cleansing is not defined as a crime under international law.

Ukraine suffers heavy losses: Russia withdraws troops

+++ 2:07 pm: The Russian army has reportedly repulsed an advance by Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk, Cherson and Mykolaiv regions. This was reported by the Ministry of Defense in Moscow. The ministry said the Ukrainian armed forces suffered heavy losses. Russia continues its attacks with precision weapons against military targets and energy supplies in Ukraine. Three American M777 howitzers were destroyed in the Kharkiv region.

+++ 1.25 pm: Pro-Russian militias in the Luhansk region are evicting residents from their apartments and homes, Ukrainian civil servants reported on Facebook. The town of Rubischne is particularly affected. According to the General Staff Situation Report, residential quarters will be used for the accommodation of officers. The Ukrainian military leadership accused the Kremlin of violating international humanitarian law. Evidence for this approach has not yet been presented.

Ukraine War: Russia Attacks Schools in Zaporizhia

+++ 12.17 hrs: On Sunday night (October 16), Russian forces attacked two schools in the Polohi district of Zaporizhia province. According to Oleksandr Starukh, head of the military administration of Zaporizhia Oblast, two rockets hit a school in the village of Vozdvyshivka and almost completely destroyed it.

“Another missile hit a local park,” Staruk told Telegram. Nearby residential buildings were also damaged in the Russian attack. The other school that came under attack was in Dobropilja and was completely destroyed by rockets. There should be no injuries.

War in Ukraine: The situation around the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant continues to deteriorate

+++ 11.22 am: According to the head of Ukraine’s nuclear authorities, Petro Kodin, the situation at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant is getting worse. Among other things, the invaders damaged an administrative building, a training center and a block of a nuclear power plant, Kotin said. ZDF. They are said to store equipment and trucks, creating a major fire hazard. “Nobody knows what’s in these trucks.” There have been three reactor accidents already. “We’ve been in the immediate vicinity of this reactor accident three times,” insists Godin.

Also, nuclear power plant workers will be urged to sign employment contracts with Russia. “Employees have the option of signing this contract or being beaten or tortured.” About 100 people were arrested – what happened to the rest is unknown. People are prohibited from leaving the occupied area.

Ukraine on the move: Russia reports bombings in occupied Donetsk

Update from 10:12 am on Sunday, October 16: Russian media reported on explosions in Russian-occupied Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. State news agency reported RIA Novosti On Sunday (October 16) the building of the city administration was damaged “by the impact of Ukrainian troops”.

Tension in eastern Ukraine: Russia drops several grenades

Report from Sunday, October 16, 2022: KYIV – Russian forces dropped 40 bombs on the city of Nikopol in the Dnipropetrovsk region on Sunday night (October 16). Valentyn Reznichenko, head of the oblast’s military administration, said in a telegram that its impacts caused several fires, which the fire brigade was already able to put out.

A 47-year-old man was injured along with several damaged houses, cars, gas lines and power lines. According to Reznichenko, the Russian Armed Forces used several rocket launchers and heavy artillery units during the night.

At present there is a very tense situation in the East Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of a “very difficult situation” in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions during the night. Ukraine’s military has been struggling, especially in the area around the city of Pakmut, where Russian forces have repeatedly tried to capture the city. Nevertheless, the victory of the President of Ukraine is certain. “We keep our positions,” Zelenskyj said. (tt)