Rewritten Ukraine War Updates and Related Security Developments

Ukrainian authorities said this Tuesday that the Wagner Group has begun recruiting prisoners from Russian penitentiaries who suffer from serious infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C.

Ukraine’s defense intelligence service notes that this well-known private security outfit, active in various global conflicts and especially present in Africa, is reportedly implementing this practice.

According to the reports, Wagner forces are made to wear bright bracelets to distinguish fighters with these illnesses from those who are not infected, as cited by Ukrinform.

The situation in Zaporizhia

At least five people were injured in an explosion on Tuesday in Zaporizhia, in the Russian-controlled city of Melitopol, near the ZaTV network headquarters. Local authorities confirmed the injuries, noting that the victims included workers and other civilians, with no soldiers reported in the area. Sources indicate the blast was localized and did not target a military position. The incident underscores ongoing tensions in the region and the fragile security environment amid the broader conflict. (attribution: Ukrinform)

energy crisis

The European Union hopes that Russian President Vladimir Putin will respond to the recent dip in gas prices, which have fallen below 100 euros per megawatt hour for the first time in months. The energy move is seen as a potential political signal, with Czech minister Jozsef Síkela, who currently presides over the European Council, noting that August prices breaking the 100-euro threshold sends a positive message about market dynamics and the broader energy picture. (attribution: European Council statement)

Reconstruction of Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized Germany’s pivotal role in shaping a reconstruction framework for Ukraine, aligned with the country’s path toward EU membership. Speaking at the opening of an international conference on Ukraine’s reconstruction, Scholz underscored that the effort goes beyond a donors’ gathering and represents a deeper, strategic process essential to Ukraine’s future. (attribution: Berlin conference organizers)

Reconstruction of Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the need for coordinated international financial effort for rebuilding amid the war, urging the use of frozen Russian assets to support reconstruction. He called for a platform to centralize financial coordination, arguing that allies should advance in unison to strengthen the overall effort. (attribution: Kyiv press briefing)

10:11

Macron’s request

French President Emmanuel Macron urged Pope Francis to engage Vladimir Putin, Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill, and US President Joe Biden in support of a peace process in Ukraine. In an interview with Le Point after a two-day visit to Italy and the Vatican, Macron reflected on his meeting with the pope, discussing the war in Ukraine and broader regional concerns including the Caucasus, the Middle East and Africa. (attribution: Le Point interview)

10:00

Chechen leader speaks

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov criticized what he called a weak response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory. In a Telegram post, he argued that the war is now being fought on Russian soil and warned that the authorities should not be complacent. He noted his own concern about the current strategic situation. (attribution: Kadyrov Telegram)

9:25

annexed lands

A faction within Russia’s Liberal Democratic Party is preparing a Duma proposal to abolish prison sentences for Ukrainian crimes carried out in territories annexed by Moscow. The move, reported by TASS, would pave the way for releasing prisoners from Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions whose offenses are not indictable under Russian law. (attribution: TASS report)

9:10

Trip of the President of Germany

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in Kyiv for his first visit since the war began, to express solidarity with the Ukrainian people and assess the situation on the ground. He described Russia’s aggression as brutal and illegal and emphasized the importance of standing with Ukraine during this period of intensified airstrikes. (attribution: German Presidency statement)

8:03

Coordination Council

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a new coordination council established to address the needs of the armed forces during the ongoing military operation in Ukraine. The decree creating the council, signed on October 21, was aimed at strengthening cooperation among federal and regional bodies to meet military requirements. (attribution: Kremlin decree summary)

7:54

Russian Justice examines American Brittney Griner’s appeal

The Moscow District Court considered the appeal of US basketball player Brittney Griner, who received a nine-year sentence for drug possession and trafficking. The hearing reviewed the sentence issued by a Khimki court, with the judge finding Griner guilty of the charges under articles 228 and 229.1 of the Russian penal code. (attribution: Moscow District Court)

1:47

Ukraine suffered 85 attacks on 51 electrical installations in October alone

Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin reported that since the start of the war on February 24, Russia has conducted 85 strikes against Ukrainian electrical infrastructure, with 51 of them occurring in October. Kostin described this as a tactic to disrupt daily life as winter approaches, highlighting the deliberate aim to deprive civilians of water, electricity and heating. (attribution: Prosecutor General’s Office)

1:45

Zelensky says Russia will “never again” become a country of influence in the world

President Zelensky declared that Russia will never again dictate terms to any country, arguing that Moscow has lost standing on the world stage. He framed Russia’s current state as a lost potential and called for unity among free nations to respond to the aggression. (attribution: Kyiv address)

24 10 2022 23:22

IAEA to send inspector to Ukraine after Russian ‘dirty bomb’ accusations

The International Atomic Energy Agency announced plans to dispatch inspectors to two Ukrainian nuclear facilities at Kyiv’s request, in response to Russian allegations about a possible “dirty bomb.” The UN nuclear agency stated it stands ready to visit the sites in the coming days. (attribution: IAEA)

24 10 2022 22:57

Zelensky: “Ukraine broke the world’s second army”

Eight months into the war, Zelensky claimed that Ukraine defeated what he called the world’s second strongest army, asserting that Russia has become a “beggar” while Ukraine’s strength and resolve have grown. He reiterated that Russia’s potential is squandered, and the world stands with Ukraine. (attribution: Zelensky address)

24 10 2022 20:44

NATO denies Russia’s dirty bomb accusations

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg rejected Russian suspicions about Ukraine using a dirty bomb, calling the claim absurd and unsupported by international consensus. He warned against a pattern of similar tactics used by Russia to shift blame to others, emphasizing Kyiv’s commitment to defending its territory. (attribution: NATO)

24 10 2022 19:54

Ukraine and the West join forces against Russia’s “dirty war”

Ukraine and Western partners coordinated to push back against Russia’s diplomatic campaign surrounding the alleged use of a dirty bomb. Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s Presidential Administration, characterized Moscow’s approach as dirty blackmail, while Russian ministers engaged in calls with Western officials amid concerns about possible nuclear moves. (attribution: Kyiv press office)

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At least a hundred prisoners with any of these diseases were taken from a correctional colony in the town of Metalostroy in Saint Petersburg. Ukraine confirmed confirmed cases among enemy fighters infected with hepatitis C or HIV. The authorities said anger was rising among those forced to serve alongside the infected, noting that Russian doctors were often reluctant to tend to wounded patients with hepatitis or HIV. A few days earlier, Kyiv had reported that around 8,000 Wagner fighters participated in the operation, and that since midsummer Russia had sent about 15,130 prisoners to fight in Ukraine. (attribution: Kyiv intelligence and press updates)