Ukraine's victory plan includes more Storm Shadow, ATACMS missiles

Ukraine’s victory plan includes a request for more ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles and permission to use them against military targets inside Russia, presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak told The Wall Street Journal on Oct. 14.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has pitched a five-step plan to Western leaders, positioning it as the path to a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, in hopes of rallying international support.

The plan outlines military, economic, political, and diplomatic measures to pressure Russia into ending the war. Podolyak emphasized that permission to strike deep into Russian territory could increase domestic pressure on the Kremlin, weaken Russian military capacity, and force President Vladimir Putin to rethink his strategy.

Although Ukraine has received several long-range missile systems, including U.S.-made ATACMS, French SCALP, and British Storm Shadow, Kyiv is currently prohibited from using them on Russian soil.

Podolyak warned that without additional aid, the conflict could drag on for years, threatening the global standing of the West. He added that if Ukraine is forced to negotiate from a weak position, it will embolden Putin to pursue full control of the country.

While the general outline of Ukraine's victory plan has been shared, the full details remain undisclosed. Podolyak said on national television on Oct. 12 that the complete plan will be published in the coming days.

Zelensky has called for "decisive action" from Ukraine’s partners to end the war by next year, as concerns grow over the future of U.S. support following the November presidential election.

There is rising anxiety that Donald Trump’s return to the White House could lead to a reduction or withdrawal of U.S. aid, with increased pressure on Ukraine to make painful concessions.

Evacuation from Kupiansk district of Kharkiv Oblast intensifies due to increased Russian attacks

According to Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, via Telegram, evacuation efforts have intensified in the Kupiansk district of Kharkiv Oblast due to the growing frequency and severity of Russian strikes.

Syniehubov reported that over 4,000 residents remain in the Kupiansk hromada, most elderly.

“Everyone must understand the importance of relocating to safer areas," Syniehubov emphasized. "We have arranged temporary shelter, hot meals, food and hygiene kits, and warm clothing for evacuees. Each person will receive the necessary support."

Russian commanders encourage executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have reported an increase in the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs), which Russian commanders appear to condone or encourage.

Recently, Russian forces executed nine Ukrainian POWs in Kursk Oblast, reflecting a growing pattern of such war crimes. According to the Ukrainian project DeepState Map, these executions took place on October 10 near the village of Zeleny Shlyakh. Ukrainian drone operators, unexpectedly encountering Russian troops, surrendered due to ammunition shortages and were taken as POWs. Evidence suggests that the captives were disarmed, lined up, stripped, and shot, indicating a premeditated act.

Ukrainian Human Rights Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets condemned the killings as a grave violation of the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of POWs. He also informed the United Nations (UN) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the incident.

ISW noted an alarming trend of Russian forces executing Ukrainian POWs across multiple fronts, with commanders seemingly approving or directly ordering such actions. Footage and reports of similar abuses continue to emerge, revealing widespread mistreatment of POWs.

Russian military bloggers have not only justified but celebrated these executions, framing them as deserved or routine acts of war. This attitude, common among the ultranationalist community, has promoted and normalized brutality since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion.