Euromaidan Press Contributor

North Korea has deployed between 8,000-12,000 troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine in exchange for $200 million, rice supplies and space technology. Meanwhile, the UN chief expressed concern over this escalation despite meeting with Putin in Russia at the recent BRICS summit. Pro-European candidate Maia Sandu secured re-election as Moldova's president thanks to strong diaspora support, despite trailing domestically by 2.4%. While Ukraine could face up to 20 hours without electricity daily this winter due to Russian attacks on power infrastructure, Germany pledged $217 million in humanitarian winter aid to help cope with energy shortages.

Apart from the $400 million of a new military aid, the US has also pledged $800 million for Ukrainian drone production. Amid news about North Korean troops deployment to Ukraine by Russia, South Korea is considering sending military personnel to Ukraine. The Russian forces also continue a trend of increasing executions of unarmed Ukrainian soldiers by killing two Ukrainians at close range in Donetsk Oblast.

French Foreign Minister expressed his support for Zelenskyy’s victory plan during his visit to Kyiv, while Scholz, Biden, Starmer, and Macron met in Berlin to discuss Ukrainian demands in Zelenskyy's plan, presented earlier this week. Diplomat sources claim that Biden may reconsider his position on Ukraine's NATO membership, but it depends on the outcome of upcoming US elections.

Slovakia will provide emergency power to Ukraine amid blackouts caused by Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, however Ukraine will not renew its gas transit agreement with Russia despite Slovakia’s dependence on it. This week, Russia has already struck civilian ships carrying grain two times in Odesa port, threatening global food security.

Russian forces struck the hospital in Sumy twice, killing one police colonel after first responders came to help people. While on the diplomatic front, Ukrainian President Zelensky’s spokesperson claimed that American officials showed “great interest” in Ukraine’s victory plan.

Ukrainian President will present a new "victory plan" to US President Joe Biden, warning of a protracted conflict if it's not supported. Meanwhile, a Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia injured 16 civilians, including a 15-year-old, with strikes damaging residential buildings, educational institutions, and public infrastructure.

Babbel continues providing free language courses to Ukrainians, with 750,000 users learning English, German, and Polish since 2022.

The new offensive in Kursk Oblast targets Russian logistics and advances towards the Glushkovo district center. While Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has highlighted a stark imbalance in artillery capabilities, with only 4 out of 14 planned brigades fully equipped due to the slow pace of Western aid. He also reported that Russian drone attacks on Ukraine have intensified, with over 640 Shahed-type drones launched at the country in September alone.

Ukraine deployed F-16 fighter jets in combat for the first time, losing one aircraft and a pilot during what it described as the the largest Russian air assault since the full-scale war began, while Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urged NATO allies to lift restrictions on long-range strikes into Russia with western-provided weapons, noting the hollowness of Russian “red lines” amid Kursk operation. 

Ukrainian forces destroyed a key bridge over the Seim River in Russia's Kursk Oblast, isolating more than 28 settlements and complicating Russian logistics. While Canada permitted Ukraine to deploy Canadian-made military equipment within Russian borders, the US maintained restrictions on Ukraine's long-range strikes inside Russia despite the recent success in the Kursk operation, fearing potential escalation.

Russia declared “counter-terrorist operation” in Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk oblasts bordering Ukraine, while the US is seeking to understand the goals and strategy behind Ukraine's bold move.

Ukraine is grateful for every piece of equipment, but for any kind of breakthrough, more weapons are needed, says Volodymyr Dacenko

Germany must shun "management" and embrace "leadership" to tackle Russian threat and avoid West's fragmentation, urged former Ukrainian Foreign Minister and Ambassador to Germany Pavlo Klimkin.

Ukrainian chroniclers race to record Russian war crimes while bombs still fall. Doing so ensures evil won't walk free and darkness doesn't later distort reality.