Russo-Ukrainian war, day 956: Ukraine receives first Dutch F-16s as Russia intensifies air attacks

As of 6 OCT 2024, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:

Military

Russian soldiers execute 3 surrendering Ukrainians, reports Azov Brigade. The incident reportedly took place near the town of New York in Donetsk Oblast, captured by Russians in August.

Russian aerial bombs strike Konstiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, killing 1 and injuring 2. Konstiantynivka faces mounting pressure as Russian forces intensify their Donbas offensive.

Son-in-law of slain Ukrainian language advocate and Russian critic Iryna Farion killed in combat. Ukrainian soldier Vasyl Osoba has died fighting Russians in Donetsk Oblast.

Russia bombards Ukraine with 800 guided bombs, 400 drones, 20 missiles last week. The assault peaked over the weekend with more than 5,000 attacks.

Russia launches more than 5,000 attacks on Ukraine in weekend assault. Odesa and Kyiv were among the targets.

North Korean officers killed in missile strike in Donetsk Oblast, Ukrainian intel sources say. The latest known recent missile strike in the region was on command posts/railway infrastructure in occupied Avdiivka.

Drone attack sparks fire at Moscow military school. A drone attack allegedly on Moscow’s Higher Combined Arms Command School caused a fire in southeastern Moscow.

NYT: Ukraine trades space for Russian losses in Donbas. Ukraine’s military strategy in Donbas involves a slow, controlled retreat from key towns, aiming to inflict maximum casualties on Russian forces while preserving its own troops. This approach seeks to exhaust Russia’s resources in a prolonged war of attrition.

Ukraine anticipates Russian breakthrough attempt near Zaporizhzhia’s Orikhiv and Robotyne. Russian troops prepare for a renewed offensive in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, focusing on Ukraine’s bridgehead near Orikhiv and Robotyne, the Ukrainian military says.

Russians launch over 90 aerial weapons at Ukraine, two missiles and 56 drones downed. At least four missiles and drones might have reached their targets, causing damage and injuries in Odesa.

Intelligence and technology

Ukraine receives initial batch of Dutch F-16s, more to follow in coming months. The Netherlands supplied the first F-16 fighters to Ukraine, Dutch Defense Minister Brekelmans announced during a surprise visit to Kharkiv.

Russia’s S-70 Okhotnik crash casts doubt on Russian claims of advanced drone capabilities. The loss of Russia’s S-70 heavy drone exposed significant technical limitations, operational challenges, and discrepancies between Russian claims and the UAV’s actual capabilities.

Ukraine MoD green-lights 900 weapons in 2024, including 600+ domestic items. This marks a significant increase from 2023 when 405 samples were codified, including 244 domestic.

International

Slovak Pro-Russain PM Fico vows to block Ukraine’s NATO membership. He pledges to block Ukraine’s NATO accession for as long as he’s in office, which is until at least 2027.

Dutch Defense Minister makes surprise visit to war-torn Kharkiv. Amidst constant Russian shelling, Ruben Brekelmans witnessed children attending classes in specially built underground schools.

New York City to host Ukrainian Cultural Festival this October. The festival will feature performances by the National Ballet of Ukraine, contemporary Ukrainian cinema, and literary readings by prominent Ukrainian authors.

Zelenskyy to pitch “Victory Plan” again at Ramstein meeting. President Zelenskyy’s recent US trip to present Ukraine’s “victory plan” failed to achieve concrete results, leaving Ukraine in an uncertain position regarding future support, WP says.

Political and legal developments

ISW: Kremlin plans to fund crypto-mobilization efforts through 2027. Russia plans to allocate almost $1 billion for military contract payments from 2025 to 2027, indicating a continued reliance on crypto-mobilization for Ukraine war manpower.

Ukrainian diplomat: Kerch Bridge must cease to exist for maritime freedom. Ukraine’s Anton Korynevych presents arguments for the demolition of the Kerch Bridge, citing violations of freedom of navigation, environmental impacts, and cultural heritage concerns.

New developments

Russian propaganda falsely claims Ukrainian involvement in terrorist training in Syria. Russian disinformation campaigns continue, now spreading false allegations that Ukrainian instructors are training terrorists in Syria.

Read our earlier daily review here.