Russian invasion

World response
Zelensky thanks Merz for new Patriot systems

Ukraine has received several US-made Patriot air defense systems. This is stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyj according to the AP and thanks German Chancellor Friedrich Merz who delivered them.

The Patriot system is the most effective weapon against Russia's missiles and is being put into use immediately. Germany has given Ukraine several of its own systems after a promise from the US to prioritize Germany in new deliveries.

Britain has recently sent Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, sources tell Bloomberg. The decision came after Donald Trump ruled out sending Tomahawk missiles.

Swedish reactions
Ukrainians are trained for combat – at a secret Swedish location

Swedish instructors are training Ukrainian sailors in combat boat 90 at a secret location along the coast of Sweden, reports TT. The plan has been underway for a long time but has not been made public until now. However, large parts of the operation are still classified.

Some Ukrainian participants have little or no experience with the sea, which makes the training valuable.

“Some have at most driven a tractor on the family farm,” says a soldier who was already serving in the Ukrainian navy when he was asked to be sent to Sweden for the training.

The combat boat 90 can go very shallow, which is well suited to the delta along the Black Sea coast and in the Sea of ​​Azov. 

The fighting
Russia continued to advance in Ukraine in October

Russia made further advances in eastern Ukraine in October, according to AFP's analysis of data from the ISW think tank.

During the month, Russian forces captured 461 square kilometers of land. This is in line with the average monthly figure this year, with the exception of an increase in July when 634 square kilometers were captured.

Donetsk is the focus of the offensive. Russia controls 81 percent of the region, and Ukraine is currently fighting to maintain control of the strategically important transport hub of Pokrovsk.