Daily overview — Summary report, October 5
A timelapse of the development of Ukraine's counter-offensive in Kherson Oblast over the past 5 days. pic.twitter.com/HBMjlrTK4F
— War Mapper (@War_Mapper) October 5, 2022
A map of the approximate situation on the ground in Ukraine as of 00:00 UTC 05/10/22. pic.twitter.com/3Dy5SKNW7y
— War Mapper (@War_Mapper) October 5, 2022
The General Staff’s operational update regarding the Russian invasion as of 06.00 am, October 5, 2022 is in the dropdown menu below


- in the Siversky direction - from artillery, in the areas of Pysarivka and Holyshivske settlements of the Sumy oblast;

- in the Slobozhansk direction - from tanks, mortars, artillery and MLRS, in the areas of the settlements of Hraniv, Ohirtseve, Hatyshche, Vovchansk and Bilyi Kolodyaz;
- in the Kramatorsk direction - from mortars, artillery and MLRS, in the areas of the settlements of Bilohorivka, Serebryanka and Spirne.
- In the direction of Bakhmut, Russian forces shelled the areas of Soledar, Bakhmut, Bakhmutske, Odradivka, Zaytseve, Opytne, Yakovlivka and Yuryivka.
- In the Avdiivka, Novopavlivsk, and Zaporizhzhia directions, the infrastructure of more than 24 settlements was damaged by enemy shelling from tanks, mortars, barrel and rocket artillery, including Avdiivka, Vodyane, Mariinka, Novopil, Olhivske, Pervomaiske.
- In the Pivdennyy Buh direction, the areas of Vyshchetarasivka, Dobra Nadiya, Illinka, Marhanets, Chervonohryhorivka, Nikopol, Pokrovske, Velyke Artakove, Andriyivka, Stepova Dolyna, Bezymenne, Myrne, Luch, Shyroke, Bilohirka and Lozove.

Military Updates
Ukrainian Armed Forces liberate two more villages in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukrainska Pravda reports. “The Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated the villages of Bohuslavka and Borivska Andriivka in Kharkiv Oblast from the Russian occupiers.”More settlements have been liberated in the Kherson region, the Ukrainian General Staff reports. “The settlements of Lyubimivka, Khreshchenivka, Zolota Balka, Bilyaivka, Ukrainka, Velyka Oleksandrivka, Mala Oleksandrivka and Davidiv Brid were liberated from the occupiers and stabilized. We continue...”. Russians destroy ammunition and bridges to slow down Ukraine Army’s attacks in southern districts, Ukrinform reports, citing Operational Command South. “In certain areas on the frontline, in response to the Ukrainian Army’s counteroffensive, Russian troops are regrouping, attempting to bring up reserves, and sometimes leaving positions to retreat to a safer distance. In addition, Russians were confirmed to have been destroying their own ammunition stocks and attempting to destroy bridges and crossings to slow down the Ukrainian Army’s attacks. On October 4, 2022, Russia’s Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters were shot down by the Ukrainian military in the Kherson region, near Kostromka and Bruskinske. Over the past day, Russian losses have been as follows: 31 Russian troops and over 40 military equipment units, including eight tanks, 26 armoured vehicles, and 2 howitzers. In addition, the Ukrainian anti-aircraft defence units destroyed three Russian Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the Beryslav district and the Mykolaiv district. In general, Ukrainian air forces have launched seven strikes on enemy positions over the past day. Ukraine’s missile and artillery units completed 290 fire missions.” Ukrainian troops liberate 1,534 settlements since the first phase of the invasion ended, Ukrinform reports, citing the Deputy Head of the President’s Office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko. "Wherever Russian forces have been driven out, de-occupation measures are underway. A total of 1,534 settlements have already been de-occupied. In the territory of Donetsk, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions, the operations of state authorities are being restored, he said. Tymoshenko added that 483 settlements have been liberated in the Kharkiv region, informing that the investigative units of the National Police are taking measures to register facts of war crimes committed there.”Reportedly, Russian army retreated 30 km in the occupied Kherson Oblast after the recent Ukrainian breakthrough along the Dnipro river in the south
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) October 4, 2022
That's according to Russian military bloggers as well as maps published by Russian Ministry of Defense https://t.co/ha3c5x7sT8 pic.twitter.com/m8msbMZar6
According to British Defence Intelligence, (last 48 hours):
- Ukraine continues to make progress in offensive operations along both the north-eastern and southern fronts. In the north-east, in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine has now consolidated a substantial area of territory east of the Oskil River. Ukrainian formations have advanced up to 20 km beyond the river into Russia’s defensive zone towards the supply node of the town of Svatove.
- It is highly likely that Ukraine can now strike the key Svatove-Kremina road with most of its artillery systems, further straining Russia’s ability to resupply its units in the east.
- Politically, Russian leaders will highly likely be concerned that leading Ukrainian units are now approaching the borders of Luhansk Oblast, which Russia claimed to have formally annexed last Friday.
- On 30 September 2022 Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order for the routine autumn conscription cycle, which aims to train 120,000 conscripts. These conscripts are legally not permitted to be deployed outside of Russia. This is separate from those individuals being mobilised as part of the 21 September 2022 partial mobilisation order.
- The conscription cycle will begin on 01 November 2022, a month later than usual. The late start to the cycle is an indication of growing pressures on Russia's ability to train and equip a large number of new conscripted personnel.
- The challenges of accommodating, training, equipping and deploying mobilised and conscripted personnel are significant. Deficiencies within the Russian administrative and logistical systems will continue to undermine these efforts.
Losses of the Russian army
As of Wednesday 5 October, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the war to the present day:- Personnel – more than 61000 (+200),
- Tanks – 2435 (+11),
- Armoured combat vehicles – 5038 (+20),
- Artillery systems – 1414 (+7),
- Multiple rocket launchers –MLRS - 341 (+1),
- Air defence means – 177 (+0),
- Aircraft - 266 (+0),
- Helicopters - 232 (+4),
- Automotive technology and fuel tanks – 3841 (+18),
- Vessels/boats - 15 (+0),
- UAV operational and tactical level – 1032 (+4),
- Special equipment – 132 (+1),
- Mobile SRBM system – 4 (+0),
- Cruise missiles – 246 (+0)
These are the indicative estimates of Russia’s combat losses as of Oct. 5, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/424TZLsJGC
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) October 5, 2022
Humanitarian
https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1577390382358347781 OHCHR recorded 1,222 civilian casualties in Ukraine for the period of September 1 to 30. 299 were killed (including 12 children) and 923 injured (including 59 children).One more Russian torture chamber was found in Pisky Radivski village in Kharkiv Oblast
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) October 4, 2022
A box with ripped out dentures, wires & ropes, a dildo, and a letter with an interview from one of the prisoners was found, head of Kharkiv Police Serhiy Bolvinov said https://t.co/P7BdrgvXFI pic.twitter.com/d39J33qzoa
Environmental
Sweden sends diving vessel to probe leaking Nord Stream pipelines, Reuters reports. “Sweden sent a diving vessel on Monday to the site of Russian gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea that ruptured last week following blasts in the area, to probe an incident that has added new tension to Europe's energy crisis. Europe is investigating what caused three pipelines in the Nord Stream network to burst in an act of suspected sabotage near Swedish and Danish waters that Moscow quickly sought to pin on the West, suggesting the United States stood to gain. Sweden's prosecution authority said in a press release that it had designated the area as a crime scene. A spokesman for the Swedish coast guard confirmed in an email that there was now an exclusion zone of five nautical miles around the leaks. Several European Union states have triggered emergency plans that may lead to rationing as they race to find alternative supplies, while Britain now faces a "significant risk" of gas shortages this winter, the regulator said. […] Jolted by the Nord Stream ruptures, European countries have started strengthening security and surveillance around critical infrastructure that could be vulnerable to attack. Norway, Europe's main gas supplier and a major oil exporter, said it had deployed soldiers to guard major onshore oil and gas processing plants. Italy has strengthened surveillance and controls on underwater energy and telecommunications cables, a source told Reuters. Focus has also turned to the security of other gas supply lines. Eni, the biggest importer of Russian gas in Italy, at the weekend said Russia had halted all gas flows through the Tarvisio entry point, though its chief executive on Monday blamed the halt on short-term technical issues.” Energoatom looks into restarting reactors at Russian-held nuclear plant, Ukrinform reports. “Ukrainian state-run nuclear operator Energoatom is considering a move to restart two power units at Europe’s largest Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. The last operating reactor at the plant was shut down on September 11, Energoatom President Petro Kotin told the Associated Press. The reactors could be restarted to ensure the NPP safety as the cold weather is about to set in. If you have low temperature, you will just freeze everything inside. The safety equipment will be damaged, he said in his office at the company’s Kyiv headquarters. So you need heating and the only heating is going to come from the working reactor, Kotin said in an interview. He added that the operator may approve the decision to restart the reactors as early as this Wednesday.”Legal
Zelenskyy considers Putin's orders to be null and void, Ukrainska Pravda reports, citing an order issued by Zelenskyy on 4 October. "The Russian President’s Orders No. 147 of 17 March 2014, No. 71 of 21 February 2022, No. 72 of 21 February 2022 and No. 685 of 29 September 2022 as well as any other decisions, acts and agreements introduced, published and signed based on and/or relating to the implementation of the aforementioned orders of the President of the Russian Federation must be recognized as null and void, i.e. having no legal effect. Therefore, any decisions on the implementation of these orders will also be considered null and void. The decree emphasises that the territory of Ukraine is integral and inviolable within its internationally recognised state borders, and that the sovereignty of Ukraine extends to its entire territory.” 418 children were killed, 787 children injured, 7,992 deported by foe forces, and 236 reported missing - the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine reports as of October 5. 2,562 educational establishments are damaged as a result of shelling and bombings, 295 of them are destroyed fully. As of October 4, 37,988 crimes of aggression and war crimes and 16,887 crimes against national security were registered.Ukraine officially rules out negotiations with Russia
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) October 4, 2022
President Zelenskyy put into effect an NSDC decision stating that negotiations with Putin are impossible and instructing the Cabinet and Rada to take measures to boost defensehttps://t.co/26zwvFSCyS
Support
The new US defence aid package for Ukraine includes 4 HIMARS, 16 155mm howitzers, Ukrinform reports. “The US Department of Defense has published a detailed list of weapons and equipment that will be delivered to Ukraine as part of a new $625 million security assistance package. This authorization is the Biden Administration's twenty-second drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. The package includes four High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and associated ammunition, 16 155mm howitzers, 75,000 155mm artillery rounds, 500 precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds, 1,000 155mm rounds of Remote Anti-Armor Mine (RAAM) systems, 16 105mm howitzers, 30,000 120mm mortar rounds, 200 MaxxPro mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles, 200,000 rounds of small arms ammunition, obstacle emplacement equipment, and Claymore anti-personnel munitions. On October 4, the US government announced the allocation of an additional $625 million in security assistance to Ukraine. In total, the United States has allocated more than $17.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine this year, including $16.8 billion since the beginning of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine.”"I thank the President of the US and the American people for their continued defense and financial support.
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) October 4, 2022
I was pleased to hear the words of President Biden that our military and people inspire the whole world," Zelenskyy also said following a phone call with Biden today. https://t.co/rXr3vAYDTn
Finland preparing a new military aid package for Ukraine, Ukrinform reports, citing Yle. “Finland is completing preparations for sending the ninth batch of military aid to Ukraine, [Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen said during a speech before the parliament]. It is unlikely to be the last. We must be ready to support Ukraine for a long time, Kaikkonen said.” Ukraine to receive almost $530M from World Bank, Ukrinform reports. “Ukraine will receive $529.9 million from the World Bank in additional funding for urgent needs. A corresponding agreement was signed by Minister of Finance of Ukraine Serhiy Marchenko and World Bank Regional Country Director for Eastern Europe (Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine) Arup Banerji, the Ministry's press service reports. It is noted that a $529.9 million loan will be provided on preferential terms under the guarantees of Great Britain and Denmark: the loan repayment period is 19 years with a five-year grace period. The interest rate is 0.25% per annum (charged on the unused part of the loan).”US new military package to include 4 HIMARS
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) October 4, 2022
the new package of US military aid to Ukraine will be valued at $625 million. In addition to HIMARS, it will also include ammunition, mines, and anti-mine vehicles.https://t.co/4CvJDEejPp
Ukraine is currently negotiating the supply of long-range missiles
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) October 4, 2022
They will be used on occupied territories to liberate them faster, Ukraine's ambassador to the US said, adding that Ukraine is grateful to American partners for aid they already provided. pic.twitter.com/HclJW3W7Us
New Developments
Ukraine's reconstruction costs now exceed its pre-war economy 1.5 times - World Bank
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) October 4, 2022
As well, Ukraine’s economy is now projected to contract by 35% this year, hit by destruction of productive capacity, damage to agricultural land, and reduced labor supplyhttps://t.co/CGjbAkZzsY
- President enacts NSDC decision on the impossibility of talks with Putin, Ukrinform reports, citing presidential decree, 679/2022. “President Zelensky has enacted a decision of the National Security and Defense Council "Regarding Ukraine's actions in response to the Russian Federation's attempt to annex the territories of our state, with the aim of guaranteeing the security of the Euro-Atlantic area, Ukraine and restoring its territorial integrity." The NSDC decision envisages the impossibility of holding negotiations with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. It also provides for the approval of a joint appeal of the President of Ukraine, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Ukraine to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. In addition, the Cabinet of Ministers has been charged with preparing proposals for a multi-level security guarantee system.”
- Kremlin prepared to wait for a new president of Ukraine to negotiate, Ukrainska Pravda reports, citing RIA Novosti. “Dmitry Peskov, the Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, said that negotiations with Ukraine would have to wait for a change in the stance taken by the current President of the country, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, or for his successor.”
- S. military aid to Ukraine boosts the risk of clash -Russian envoy, Reuters reports. “Washington's decision to send more military aid to Ukraine poses a threat to Moscow's interests and increases the risk of a military clash between Russia and the West, said Anatoly Antonov, Russia's ambassador to the United States. We perceive this as an immediate threat to the strategic interests of our country, Antonov said on the Telegram messaging app on Wednesday.”
- Lukashenko de Facto Acknowledges Belarus's Participation in Russia's War, European Pravda As for our participation in the special military operation in Ukraine - we participate there. We do not hide it. But we do not kill anyone. We do not send our troops anywhere. We do not violate our obligations, the Belarusian state news agencyBelTA quotes Lukashenko. He insists that Belarus's participation aims at preventing the spread of the conflict to his territory and preventing an attack on Belarus under the guise of a special military operation by Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. This is our participation in this military operation, there was no other way, and there will be no other way," Lukashenko said.”
- Russia’s Federation Council unanimously approves annexation of occupied territories of Ukraine, Ukrinform “Members of Russia’s Federation Council have ratified documents on Russia's "annexation" of the occupied territories of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Kherson regions of Ukraine. It is noted that Russian senators approved all four documents unanimously. In addition, the Russian Federation Council separately adopted federal constitutional laws on the accession of four new entities to the Russian Federation."
- Borders of annexed Ukrainian territories depend on the "will of local population" – Kremlin, Ukrainska Pravda reports, citing TASS. “Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, said that the borders of occupied Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts have not yet been defined and will depend on the will of the population; however, there will be no new sham referendums there.”
- Germany hadn’t listened too carefully to partners’ assessment of Russia, Baerbock admits, Ukrinform “We will achieve security only without, not with, Vladimir Putin's Russia. This was an important shift in German politics, [the German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock], said. She admitted that Germany had previously not listened very carefully to the correct assessment by many partners regarding Russia. Now that we have changed course, everything has become crystal clear for the government, the media, and for the people... We can only succeed together with all our friends in Europe, especially now that Germany is playing in a joint team. We must stick together and prevent a split imposed from the outside in this situation... right now Russia is using its next instrument of hybrid war – the division of Europe. Therefore, it is very important to send a clear signal that Putin will not succeed, Baerbock emphasized.”
- On the war.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of partial mobilization is having more significant short-term impacts on the Russian domestic context than on the war in Ukraine, catalyzing fractures in the information space that confuse and undermine Putin’s narratives.
- Ukrainian forces continued to make substantial gains in northern Kherson Oblast on October 4, beginning to collapse the sparsely-manned Russian lines in that area.
- Ukrainian forces continued to make gains in eastern Kharkiv Oblast west of Svatove on October 4, pushing past the Oskil River and increasingly threatening Russian positions in Luhansk Oblast.
- Russian forces continued to conduct artillery, air, and missile strikes west of Hulyiapole and in Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv Oblasts on October 4.
- Russian forces continued ground attacks in Donetsk Oblast on October 4.
- The Kremlin effectively ordered local Russian administrations and non-Ministry of Defense institutions to fund a significant part of the mobilization effort from local budgets.
- Consequences and what to do?
- Nuclear blackmail is very much in line with its Hybrid War strategy aimed at manipulating populations and decisions- and policymakers. Installing fear, the threats trigger inaction and the calls for diplomatic solutions at the cost of the victim of Russia’s aggressions. It must be recognised for what it is: A Russian assault against our collective cognitive space.
- President Putin is rational. All of his actions so far – including the “strategic blunder” to invade Ukraine in the first place can be explained within the framework of the Hybrid War strategy. According to Andrei V Kozyrev, former Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, his actions are from a Russian perspective rational. Horrific, but not irrational. Having painted himself into a corner of his own making does not make him less rational. Desperate? Yes. Irrational? No.
- A Russian defeat in Ukraine does not trigger a response according to the State Policy of the Russian Federation on Nuclear Deterrence. Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory is a part of its efforts to utilise a “fait accompli” strategy it has found effective. Its declarations, however, do not turn parts of Ukraine, into Russia.
- Due to the risks and wider ramifications, the use of nuclear arms will always be a last resort. Before we chose to lend the nuclear blackmail any credibility, Russia must have been seen exploring all other options. Despite suffering defeats on the battlefield, this does not mean Russia is losing the war. The West is still seen as the weak link and might still lose its new-found resolve. It is, after all, not providing Ukraine with the support it needs to win. Russia will not conclude before winter has had time to affect the European “protest potential”. Additionally, the maritime embargo is still effective and undermining Ukraine’s economic viability. Most importantly, it has still more military options available. Belarus has still not been forced into action. Russia has yet to declare war and full mobilisation. The partial mobilisation has not yet had any effect as an effective force generation takes months to achieve.
- Nuclear deterrence and the threat of mutual destruction are a part of a two-sided strategy. While Russia is threatening to use nuclear arms, it also knows that its use will trigger a military response. Putin does not know how the West would respond if it chose to use nuclear arms in Ukraine. He has, however, been told in no uncertain terms that a response would be forthcoming. According to Ben Hodges, “the Kremlin knows it would be impossible for the US to not respond if it uses a tactical nuke or chemical weapon in Ukraine. China, North Korea and Iran are watching. Pentagon will have provided a list of options to the President. Most are likely non-nuclear. All would be devastating for Russia.”
- Having been sanctioned and isolated by the West, Russia has turned to Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS). Since the use of nuclear arms will have a tremendous impact on global security and stability, it is hard to believe that Russia would proceed without consultation with China as a minimum. It is even harder to imagine China sanctioning even a tactical nuclear strike. Russia has lost the West and cannot run the risk of losing BRICS as well.
- Nations do not wage war for war's sake but in pursuance of policy in which a better state of peace is the main objective. Hence, it is essential to conduct war with constant regard to the peace one desire. A nuclear attack is in direct conflict with its long-term strategy. Facing huge demographic challenges, Russia needs Ukraine and Belarus to become a “Great Power”. It needs Ukraine’s defence industry. It needs a self-sustained Ukraine. It needs a well-functioning agricultural industry. It needs access to its huge mineral resources. It needs to secure a well-functioning country. The use of nuclear arms would, therefore, be extremely counterproductive.
- Equally important, Russia needs Western trade. A conventional victory in Ukraine would over time possibly be accepted as a “fait accompli” by the West. A nuclear attack would render this option impossible for decades to come.
- Lastly, even if Russia chose to ignore all of the above, the use of tactical nuclear weapons defies its purpose unless it can explore the “military advantage” created by its blast. Russia lacks the capability to operate in the area devastated by its blast and push fresh forces through the gap in the frontline.