Monday October 13. Russian war against Ukraine: news and information from Ukraine

Shipments from Ukraine. Day 1,329.

In the early hours of October 10, Russia launched its third large-scale airstrike on Ukraine this month, using 465 drones and 32 missiles mainly targeting the country’s energy infrastructure.

Ukraine intercepted 420 projectiles, including 15 missiles, while another four missiles failed to reach their intended targets. This was the second direct hit on Ukraine’s power grid in October, leaving a trail of disruption similar to the first large-scale bombing carried out exactly three years ago.

Blackouts were particularly widespread after this attack. Nine regions, including Kharkiv, Sumy and Poltava, experienced partial power outages; The Ukrainian capital Kiev, meanwhile, suffered the heaviest disruptions. Ukrainian energy companies reported damage to multiple facilities, including two thermal power plants, two thermal power plants and four hydroelectric power plants.

Over time, Russia’s large-scale attacks have evolved: these attacks now take place mainly under cover of night and rely heavily on drones, while initial attacks were carried out exclusively with missiles. This shift in Moscow’s tactics has prompted Ukraine to adjust its defense strategy. Instead of using chronically scarce air defense missiles against relatively cheap Russian drones, Ukraine is now deploying its own cheap “interceptor drones” to avoid depleting its already strained air defense system.

In an interview with Fox News on October 12, President Zelenskyy said that these interceptors are currently operating at an interception rate of 68%. “These drones are the most cost-effective way to neutralize Iranian-designed drones [now Russian-produced] “Shaheds,” he added.

Zelensky too said that the main obstacle to scaling up production comes down to scarce financial resources: private producers do not have sufficient financing to expand production. He estimated the cost of a single interceptor drone at $3,000-$5,000. In turn, estimates for the Russian Shahed drone are: range from $20,000-70,000 per unit, although it is difficult to determine the exact cost as it varies depending on the size of the batch produced.

At the same time, in the aftermath of the October 10 attack, President Zelenskyy expressed frustration over the protection of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Without revealing specific details, he said these facilities are being defended on multiple levels, citing three levels of protection. He added that adverse weather conditions this time “reduced our interceptions by about 20-30%.” Zelenskyy described the Russian attack as ‘powerful, but not deadly’ noted that Moscow has deployed more than 3,100 drones and nearly 100 missiles against Ukraine since October 5.

In addition, Ukrainian officials reported that 25 people were killed and about 85 others injured in Russian attacks between October 10 and 13. Eastern Donetsk oblast, or region, reported the highest toll, with 11 noncombatants killed and 24 others injured. Southeastern Zaporizhia in the oblast, six civilians were killed and 22 injured, followed by the central Dnipropetrovsk with four dead and eleven injured. Southern Cherson province recorded three deaths and 20 injuries while northeast Kharkov oblast reported one death and twelve injuries.

Delegation from Ukraine to the US

President Volodymyr Zelensky Will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday, October 17. The visit was confirmed by several officials, including Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, Olga Stefanishyna, who took up her post in late August. Zelenskyy’s arrival concludes a trip to Washington this week by a delegation of senior Ukrainian officials, led by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who has already left for the US.

The talks come as President Trump has indicated that his administration is considering the transfer of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, calling such a move “another step of aggression” in the war against the Kremlin. During his speech on Air Force One on October 13, Trump added: “Maybe not, but we can do it. I think it’s appropriate to bring this up.” He also told reporters that he and Zelenskyy spoke by phone this weekend about the possibility of Ukraine obtaining Tomahawk missiles. Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy spoke twice, on October 11 and 12, and also discussed Ukrainian air defense and energy security in the wake of the recent Russian attacks.

The proposed delivery of Tomahawk missiles represents a potential escalation of US support for Ukraine. It would allow Kiev to reach Moscow with particularly destructive weapons. Kremlin officials watch with concern. In particular, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that such a transfer would mark a “qualitatively new phase of escalation, including in Russia-US relations.” Dmitry Medvedev, former president of Russia, also warned that the move “could end badly for everyone, and first of all for Trump himself.”

By danylo nosov, Karina L. Tahiliani