[Korrespondent] 23:18 Poland, together with the EU, is ready to help Ukraine with the export of grain, the country's Foreign Ministry said: "Russia's decision to stop the Black Sea Grain Initiative is another proof that Moscow does not want to comply with any international agreements. Poland, together with its partners from the EU, is ready to continue to work to help Ukraine and those who need to transport the necessary goods."
23:09 Zelensky said in an evening video message that Russia is the only culprit that food will now rise in price from West Africa to East Asia: "Russia is the reason why people, in particular in Ethiopia, Yemen or Somalia, are left with a catastrophic food shortages... Vessels with agricultural products have to wait because Russia is blackmailing the world with hunger... What did the world hear? insects", now - "war grain" ... Killer wheat, from which Russian admirals are drowning. Well, what can I say? Really - sick people. But these sick people again put the world on the brink of a severe food crisis. "
Zelensky stressed that the Russian leadership is more interested in aggravating the food crisis than in fulfilling the signed documents, and the grain corridor is a very specific example: “There are now 218 evidence that Russia does not want any real agreements. 218 ships waiting to be able to transport food along export contracts or enter Ukrainian ports. Week after week, Russia slowed down the grain corridor, despite its own promises to partners, and now blocked it completely. Ukraine, for its part, will do everything to make the grain export initiative work further."
22:00 The Joint Coordination Center reported that Kyiv, Ankara and the UN agreed on the movement of 14 ships in the Black Sea on Monday, October 31, as part of the grain initiative. The center reported that Russia had been notified.
The SKC also said that on Sunday 6 ships left Ukrainian ports as part of a grain deal, but they have not yet entered the humanitarian corridor.
21:21 Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Alexei Danilov called "nonsense" Russia's statement that drones in Sevastopol were launched from a civilian vessel that was used as part of the grain agreement: "Nonsense, some kind of paranoid thing. Aggravation, probably, in the autumn among representatives of the Russian Federation. It's simply impossible. Those ships that go out with grain have nothing to do with the processes taking place in our country in the occupied part of it called Crimea. The fact that they constantly invent something is paranoid things, the farther, the more " .
Danilov also said that the suspension of Russia's participation in the grain agreement is blackmail on the eve of the G20 meeting: "You need to understand that this is the usual blackmail of the Russian Federation. The G20 meeting is to be held on November 15. Whether Russia as a country and the President of the Russian Federation will be present there is a big question ... In order to blackmail not only our country, but also the world, they imagined that they were leaving the so-called humanitarian corridor."
19:07 The Russians are preparing for the withdrawal of artillery units from the right-bank part of the Kherson region, with their subsequent possible transfer to other directions , the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in the evening report.
Meanwhile, the "authorities" of the Kherson region are trying to create conditions in the controlled territory unsuitable for the local population. So, in Nova Kakhovka, since October 29, access to the Internet has been disabled, residents are informed through loudspeakers about the need to leave the region within 48 hours due to the alleged threat of missile strikes from the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Medical staff of local hospitals and operational services of the city are subject to priority evacuation. In addition, the "authorities" issued a decree obliging entrepreneurs to sell all food products and close shops and markets from November 1.
19:02 The movement of 218 ships participating in the grain initiative is actually blocked due to the fact that the Ukrainian side, as of October 30, does not have permission from the Joint Coordination Center to pass through the safe corridor and conduct inspections, the Ministry of Infrastructure reported. Of these, 95 loaded vessels have already left Ukrainian ports and are awaiting inspection; 101 ships are awaiting inspection to enter Ukrainian ports; 22 loaded ships are waiting to leave Ukrainian ports.
18:55 The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced that it is negotiating with the Russian side on a grain agreement: "During these meetings, the parties are reminded of the importance of avoiding all sorts of provocations that will negatively affect the continuation of the mechanism."
18:53 Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said that Moscow will make a decision on the grain deal after all the circumstances of the attack on the ships of the Black Sea Fleet in the waters of Sevastopol are known. He recalled that Russia had convened a meeting of the UN Security Council, where this issue would be discussed.
18:44 Baykar announced that it plans to equip the Bayraktar TB2 and Akınc drones with air-to-air missiles to combat kamikaze drones and aircraft.
18:17 Zelensky said that he had held a regular meeting of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief: "We discussed the operational situation at the front. We heard information about the possible future actions of the aggressor. We dwelled in detail on the issue of providing our army with ammunition and repairing military equipment. In conclusion, we analyzed in detail what has already been done to protect infrastructure and energy facilities steps".
18:12 Canada has prepared a new support package for Ukraine, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. According to him, in particular, it is planned to issue Ukraine's Sovereignty Bonds; a new package of sanctions against individuals and legal entities of the Russian Federation, including the energy complex; delivery of 39 ACSV armored combat support vehicles to the Armed Forces of Ukraine; providing $55 million to the Red Cross to help Ukrainians; allocation of 15 million dollars for the organization of demining in Ukraine.
18:05 Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko commented on Lavrov's statement about Russia's alleged readiness to discuss realistic proposals on Ukraine with the West: "The only realistic proposal should be Russia's immediate cessation of the war against Ukraine and the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory beyond the borders as of 1991. Anyone who really wants to negotiate does not destroy the country's energy system so that its population freezes over in winter, does not engage in mass executions of civilians, does not shell residential areas, does not announce the mobilization of an additional 300,000 military personnel, does not block the supply of grain, does not put forward ultimatums.
According to Nikolenko, Lavrov's statement is nothing more than another smoke screen to buy time against the background of the defeats of the Russian army: "As long as Russia continues to commit crimes in Ukraine, the answer should be one - on the battlefield."
17:23 The courage of the Ukrainian people in the fight against the Russian aggressor was awarded the Oxi Courage Award, which Zelensky received. The award ceremony was held at the Institute for Peace (USIP). The award was presented by National Security Adviser to the President of the United States Jacob Sullivan, and was received by Ukraine's Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova.
16:11 There are about 4,300 Russian servicemen on the territory of Belarus, Kirill Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, said in an interview with The War Zone: “Cutting off supply lines from the west is a strategic goal of the enemy. military activity in Belarus, now the presence of the Russian military there is not so large, there are only about 4300 troops there.This grouping is very limited in heavy weapons systems, and the majority - about 80% - are mobilized personnel.So I can say that at the current stage there is no threat of invasion from Belarus."
At the same time, Budanov stressed that the situation could change very quickly when Russia loses Kherson: "After leaving Kherson, this combat-ready group will be partially redeployed to the Zaporozhye direction, but some of them may move to Belarus and create a threat there."
15:56 The free world must unite to protect shipping with a military escort, said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis. According to him, negotiations with Russia do not work, Putin violates agreements and blackmails everyone. Therefore, if the Kremlin continues to jeopardize grain exports from Ukraine, civilized countries should give a decent response, Landsbergis is convinced.
15:40 Prigozhin appealed to the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation with a request to check the activities of YouTube. According to him, after the start of the "special operation" on the video hosting, an "information war against Russia" began.
15:28 Weapons from Ukraine could illegally get into criminal groups in Finland, Christer Ahlgren, senior commissioner of the country's National Bureau of Investigation, said in an interview with Yle. According to him, isolated cases were also recorded when weapons provided to Ukraine were found in Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands.
The data obtained relates to small arms. Algren did not disclose more detailed information, as the data is still being supplemented and refined. "Ukraine is given a lot of weapons, and that's good. But we will have to deal with these weapons for decades and pay the price for it," he summed up and recalled that many previous wars in Europe were accompanied by the problem of weapons getting into criminal organizations.
15:05 The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stated that the naval drones that attacked Sevastopol were moving along the security zone of the grain corridor, then changed the route in the direction of the Russian ship base in Sevastopol. The coordinates of the movement of one of the marine drones allegedly indicate the starting point in the sea area of ​​​​the security zone of the grain corridor in the Black Sea. "This may indicate a preliminary launch of this device from aboard one of the civilian ships chartered by Kyiv or its Western patrons for the export of agricultural products," the Russian Defense Ministry said.
14:17 US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken urged Russia to resume participation in the grain initiative and comply with the agreements. According to him, the failure to implement the agreement will directly affect low- and middle-income countries and world food prices, as well as exacerbate humanitarian crises and the situation in the field of food security.
13:41 Ukraine was forced to suspend the export of grain from seaports, Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov said: "The IKARIA ANGEL ship with 40,000 tons of wheat was supposed to leave the Ukrainian port today. This product was intended for Ethiopians who are on the verge of starvation. But from - due to the blocking of the grain corridor by Russia, export is impossible.
13:06 The Financial Times published an investigation in which, using the example of one ship, it showed how the Russians trade in stolen Ukrainian grain from the Zaporozhye region. First, they load grain in Berdyansk, then ship it to the port of Kavkaz in the Kerch Strait. They forge documents there, changing the origin of the grain, in order to later sell it to other countries. The Kremlin carries out its deals with buyers in Russia, Syria, Turkey and Iran.
12:39 The Russians blew up a bridge across the Red River near Krasnorechensky, Lugansk region, because they are afraid of a Ukrainian offensive, said the head of the OVA, Sergei Gaidai. According to him, the Russian command set the task of its troops to stop the advance of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Meanwhile, the invaders systematically attack Belogorovka. After heavy shelling, they send fighters to the platoon for reconnaissance. "Traditionally, no one returns. The orcs constantly lose cannon fodder, which they throw into settlements to determine the direction of fire and the presence of Ukrainian defenders," Gaidai said.
He also said that fierce fighting continues in the Svatovsky direction, and yesterday the Russians blew up another bridge near Kremennaya. "The weather is getting better, which means that our defenders' business will go faster," Gaidai predicts.
11:38 Lavrov said that Moscow is ready to talk with the West to reduce tensions, but only if there are "realistic proposals based on equal approaches."
11:03 Peskov said that the desire of the United States to listen to the concerns of the Russian Federation, including those related to security, could become a platform for a conversation between Putin and Biden.
11:00 Italy delivered modern self-propelled guns and howitzers to Ukraine, writes La Repubblica. According to the publication, we are talking about the M109L self-propelled artillery mount, as well as the PzH 2000 howitzer, which Kyiv received as part of the fifth military aid package from Rome. Among the heavy weapons included in the previous support packages are M113 armored personnel carriers, six PzH 2000 heavy howitzers, and two MLRS multiple rocket launchers. PzH howitzers, according to media reports, will be sent to the Bakhmut area. The specific contents of the packages remain classified.
10:57 Rescuers are clearing the rubble of a partially destroyed building on the territory of the Svyatogorsk Lavra, the State Emergency Service reported. During the analysis of the blockage, the body of one deceased was found. In total, since the beginning of work, the bodies of two dead have been found here.
10:46 Borrell urged Russia to reconsider its decision to withdraw from the grain initiative: "Russia's decision to suspend participation in the grain deal threatens the main export route of much-needed grain and fertilizer to overcome the global food crisis caused by its war against Ukraine."
09:52 In Energodar, as a result of morning Russian shelling of the industrial zone, most of the city was left without electricity. Previously, they hit one of the substations, Mayor Dmitry Orlov said.
09:15 At least three ships of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation were hit by drones on October 29, including the flagship Admiral Makarov, according to a group of volunteers GeoConfirmed. The investigators came to this conclusion based on the analysis of photos and videos, in particular, footage from unmanned surface vehicles that were in the harbor and the sea near Sevastopol.
09:09 The General Staff announced the approximate losses of the enemy on the morning of October 30. During the day, Ukrainian forces eliminated almost a thousand invaders. The enemy suffered the greatest losses in the Donetsk and Liman directions.
- personnel - about 71,200 (+950) people liquidated,
- tanks - 2672 (+13),
- armored combat vehicles - 5453 (+52),
- artillery systems - 1724 (+16),
- MLRS - 383 (+3),
- air defense systems - 197 (+2),
- aircraft - 274 (+1),
- helicopters - 252 (+0),
- UAV operational-tactical level - 1412 (+6),
- cruise missiles - 352 (+1),
- ships/boats - 16 (+0),
- automotive equipment and tankers - 4120 (+13),
- special equipment - 154 (+2).
09:02 Russia can receive microchips for military purposes from washing machines and refrigerators purchased through third countries, writes Bloomberg. According to the agency, neighboring countries of the Russian Federation suddenly began to supply large volumes of household appliances from Europe: washing machines, refrigerators and even electric breast pumps. European officials are concerned about this phenomenon, because they believe that Russia can obtain microchips from this technology, which it needs for military purposes.
08:46 In the Donetsk region over the past day, as a result of Russian shelling, five civilians were killed - in Antonovka, Pervomaisky, Druzhba, Kleschievka and Elizavetovka. In addition, law enforcement officers found the bodies of five civilians who died during the occupation - two in Korovy Yar, two in Svyatogorsk and one in Liman. Eight more people were injured yesterday, Pavel Kirilenko, head of the OVA, said.
08:03 During the day, units of the Defense Forces repelled the attacks of the invaders in the areas of the settlements of Yakovlevka, Bakhmut, Bakhmutskoye, Aleksandropol, Kamenka, Avdeevka, Pervomayskoye, Krasnogorovka, Maryinka, Novomikhailovka of the Donetsk region, the General Staff said in the morning report .
According to the General Staff, in Kherson, in the process of "evacuation", prisoners were taken out of correctional colony No. 90. The territory of the correctional facility is used by the enemy to accommodate personnel and military equipment. In settlements near Kherson, the enemy is preparing for defense. About a hundred Russian guards arrived from Grozny to the village of Kalanchak.
07:10 The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) notes that Russia is intensifying efforts to forcibly evict the inhabitants of the Kherson region and settle them with their soldiers. Some of the soldiers, according to analysts, are dressed in civilian clothes, which violates the laws of war. Such tactics, in their opinion, can be used by the Russian Federation to depopulate the regions of the Kherson region, populate them with civilian soldiers and create conditions for accusing Ukraine of striking civilian targets.
04:24 The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believes that Ukraine probably attacked the Grigorovich-class frigate of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation near Sevastopol. At the same time, the Russians did not admit any damage to the Grigorovich-class frigate, just as the Russian Ministry of Defense denied any damage to the cruiser Moskva.
Ukraine did not claim responsibility for this attack. According to ISW analysts, if Kyiv ordered this attack, it would be a proportionate, even restrained, response to Russia's massive campaign of strategic bombing of civilian targets across Ukraine over the past few weeks.
02:22 The first step towards negotiations with the Russian Federation should be the withdrawal of the occupying troops from the territory of Ukraine, Zelensky said during a conversation with representatives of the faculty of Yale University. According to him, further conversation will also depend on how the Russians leave the country: “If the invaders leave after they are pushed back by our defenders, this is one format of dialogue. And if the invaders themselves leave our lands, there will be a smoother transition from war to diplomacy".
00:51 Thanks to Western supplies and its own drones, Ukraine now has an artillery advantage over Russian forces in the south, writes The New York Times, citing Ukrainian commanders and military analysts. According to the publication, Ukraine now has an advantage in both firing range and precision-guided missiles and artillery shells, which Russia largely lacks.
The growing advantage of Ukraine in artillery made possible slow progress in the south towards Kherson. So, if in the summer in the Donetsk region, Russia fired about ten artillery shells for every Ukrainian shell, now in the Kherson region, Ukrainian commanders say that the sides fire about the same number of shells, but Ukrainian strikes not only have a greater range, but are also more accurate thanks to satellite guidance of rockets and artillery shells