Victory Chronicles-DAY 1317

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Oct. 2 that 185 Ukrainian troops and 20 civilians have been freed from Russian captivity in the latest prisoner exchange. The group included soldiers from the armed forces, National Guard and border service, as well as civilians who had been detained since the early months of the full-scale war.

Among those returning home are defenders of Mariupol and the Azovstal steel plant, who were captured during Russia’s brutal siege in 2022. Some National Guard members who had been taken while guarding the Chornobyl nuclear plant were also released. The youngest freed was 26, the oldest 59.

Zelenskyy promised that each person will receive medical checks, psychological support and financial aid.

Ukraine plans to expand drone forces to 5 percent of defense troops. Ukraine’s commander of unmanned systems, Robert Brovdi, known by his call sign “Madyar,” said Oct. 2 that the newly formed Drone Systems Forces will recruit more personnel to make up 5 percent of the country’s overall defense troops. Currently, the unit represents about 2 percent.

Recruitment is scheduled to begin Oct. 17–18 and will focus on volunteers, including members of other military formations willing to transfer.

Russian strikes hit Ukraine’s rail system, injure train driver. Russian forces attacked Ukraine’s railway infrastructure overnight Oct. 2, damaging facilities in several regions, officials said. A strike on a depot in the southern port city of Odesa injured a train driver with shrapnel and sparked a fire that emergency crews later extinguished. Another person was injured when debris hit single-family homes, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported.

Vice Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said the attacks also hit border communities in northern Ukraine, including the city of Konotop. Trains were temporarily halted at safe distances but resumed service by morning after power lines were restored, though some routes from Chernihiv and Sumy ran with delays.

Ukrainian drones repel Russian assault in northern sector. Ukraine’s military said Oct. 1 that its SIGNUM drone battalion stopped a Russian nighttime assault in the Siversk sector of the front. According to the unit, armored personnel carriers known as MT-LBs were among the first targets eliminated after the drones were launched to intercept the attack.

Troops on the ground called in support over radio, and within minutes operators had drones airborne. Video released by the unit shows precise strikes hitting Russian vehicles, halting their advance. With support from neighboring brigades, Ukrainian forces said they repelled the assault and forced the attackers to retreat.

Key Takeaways

• The Kremlin continues the parallel use of nuclear threats and economic incentives to pressure the United States into normalizing US-Russian relations while explicitly rejecting Russian-Ukrainian negotiations.
• Russian shadow fleet oil tankers may be connected to the recent incursions of unidentified drones operating in NATO airspace.
• The Russian command may be redeploying elements of the 98th Airborne (VDV) Division from the Kramatorsk direction to the Kherson direction.
• Gasoline shortages continue in Russia and occupied Ukraine due to repeated Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries.
• The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has been disconnected from the Ukrainian power grid for over a week as Russia sets conditions to imminently transfer the plant to the Russian power grid.
• The European Commission (EC) announced a $4.7 billion aid package for Ukraine using funds from frozen Russian assets.
• Russian forces recently advanced in the Dobropillya tactical area and near Velykomykhailivka and in eastern Zaporizhia Oblast.

• G7 vows to increase pressure on Russian oil buyers
• WSJ: US will provide Ukraine with intelligence for missile strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure
• France detains two crew members of Russian-linked shadow fleet tanker
• Zelenskyy confirms he asked Trump for long-range missiles
• FT: Russia modified its missiles to evade Ukrainian air defence
• Macron supports downing unidentified drones