Ukrainian journalist held in Russian captivity died

Ukraine confirms the death of Viktoria Roshchyna who had been held in Russian captivity.

Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who had been held captive by Russian authorities, has died, according to Petro Yatsenko, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. Yatsenko announced on national television on Oct. 10, adding that the exact circumstances of her death are still being investigated.

Roshchyna disappeared in August 2023 while reporting in Russian-occupied territory. In April of the following year, her father received a letter from Russia's Defense Ministry confirming that she was being detained.

According to Andrii Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's military intelligence agency, Roshchyna had been slated to be part of an upcoming prisoner exchange.

Throughout Russia's full-scale invasion, Roshchyna had reported for several prominent Ukrainian news outlets, including Hromadske, Ukrainska Pravda, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).

In March 2022, Roshchyna was detained for 10 days by Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officers while leaving Berdiansk, near Mariupol. As a condition for her release, she was coerced into recording a video in which she claimed Russian forces had saved her life.

Second Russian Kinzhal missile carrier arrives in Belarus in 2 days

A second Russian MiG-31K jet, capable of carrying Kinzhal missiles, landed at Belarus' Machulishchy airport on Oct. 10, according to the Belarusian Hajun monitoring group.

This follows the arrival of the first Russian MiG-31K at the Machulishchy airfield on Oct. 9, marking the first time since April 2023 that these aircraft have been spotted in Belarus. In April, three MiG-31Ks had left the country and had not returned until now.

Both jets were observed moving south at around 3:10 p.m. local time. It remains unclear whether they were being repositioned or involved in military maneuvers at the time of publication.

Although Belarus has not directly participated in the war, it has allowed Russia to use its territory as a staging ground for operations against Ukraine. Moscow stationed several MiG-31K aircraft in Belarus following the start of its full-scale invasion in 2022, using its airfields to launch missile strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

Russia regularly deploys MiG-31K jets from its airfields to carry out missile strikes on Ukraine. The Kinzhal missile, which is air-launched, is particularly difficult to intercept and has an operational range of approximately 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles), putting all of Ukraine at risk when launched from Russian airspace.

In January, Ukraine's Air Force reported that air defenses had intercepted 25 out of 63 Kinzhal missiles since the full-scale invasion began.

Russia was supplied with equipment for military needs by German companies until end of 2023

In 2023, despite sanctions, German companies may have made over 300 shipments to Russia, which could have been used in the production of vehicle parts or ammunition.

An investigation by the German television company SWR uncovered Russian customs documents showing that by the end of December 2023, more than 300 deliveries from German manufacturers had reached Russia. The majority of these shipments consisted of large industrial machines or CNC (computer numerical control) machines. These machines can perform automated tasks such as cutting steel, bending sheet metal, and welding metal components.

Olena Yurchenko, an adviser to Ukraine's Economic Security Council, noted that 80% of CNC machines in Russia are used for military production, and Germany is a leading supplier, accounting for up to 30% of such machines in Russia.

Through video and photographic evidence, SWR journalists identified Russian companies, including Parsec, Kamaz, NIR, and Industrial Solutions, which provide the Russian military with engines and parts for aircraft and missiles. All of these companies reportedly use German-made equipment, which continued to be imported in 2023, according to customs records. The report suggests that Russia may continue receiving these machines in 2024.

SWR also identified more than 30 German manufacturers whose machines were exported to Russia last year, many of which are based in Baden-Württemberg, a key engineering region. These companies include Walter Maschinenbau, Vollmer, Fein GmbH, and Heller, among others.

In about two-thirds of the cases, the machines were routed through Türkiye. Some Turkish intermediaries have direct ties to Russia, while Russian entrepreneurs established others. When contacted, the German manufacturers attributed these violations to intermediaries, claiming they were unaware that the sanctions regime had been breached.

Experts believe that stricter sanctions and better enforcement controls are necessary to prevent illegal exports. While manufacturers may not always know where their products ultimately end up, experts argue they have the means to find out and take appropriate action if they choose to.

Russia deceives young women from Africa, Latin America, and Asia into assembling Shahed drones

Russia is recruiting young women aged 18-22 from African, Asian, and Latin American countries to assemble combat drones, luring them with promises of education or jobs in Europe.

According to the Associated Press, the women were enticed through social media advertisements, which offered free flights, financial support, and internships in Europe, provided they passed a Russian language proficiency test. However, upon arriving in Tatarstan, Russia, they discovered that their actual task was assembling Shahed drones, used in the war against Ukraine.

Some of the women have complained about the harsh conditions, citing long working hours, low wages, and strict oversight. Additionally, they are exposed to harmful chemicals that cause skin irritation.

Reports suggest that the Kremlin is ramping up efforts to recruit women from African and Asian nations to fill a labor shortage created by the war. Currently, around 200 African women are working in drone production in Tatarstan, alongside Russian vocational school students, typically aged 16-18.

Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih in the morning damaged five-storey building 

A five-story residential building in Kryvyi Rih was damaged following a Russian drone strike on the morning of 10 October.

Serhii Lysak, Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, initially reported that the attack damaged the building, with further details to be confirmed. Later, he revealed that the building's roof had been damaged and a stairwell in one entrance had been destroyed. A total of six people were rescued from the affected part of the building.

The strike also hit a gas pipeline, causing a fire in the city. Yevhen Sytnychenko, head of the Kryvyi Rih District Administration, later confirmed that an 82-year-old woman had been injured and was in satisfactory condition after being hospitalized. Lysak added that a 62-year-old man had also been injured, received medical care, and is being monitored on an outpatient basis.

In total, seven people, including a child, were rescued from the damaged building, and 26 residents were evacuated. Additionally, two gas pipelines in the city were damaged.