Victory Chronicles-DAY 1322

Ukraine’s 63rd Mechanized Brigade said on Oct. 7 that it captured a 22-year-old Indian citizen who had been sent to the front by Russia. The man, identified as Majoti Sahid Mohamed Hussein, told Ukrainian forces he was studying in Russia when he was sentenced to seven years in prison on drug charges. To avoid jail, he signed a contract with the Russian army, hoping to surrender at the first chance.

Hussein said he was promised freedom and pay of up to 1.5 million rubles ($16,000) after a year of service but never received any money. After 16 days of basic training, he was sent on an assault on Oct. 1 and given a rifle and little instruction.

He said he walked several kilometers before telling his commander he was sick and exhausted. The officer confiscated his radio and told others to let him go. Hussein then approached Ukrainian positions, laid down his weapon and surrendered, saying, “I don’t want to fight. I need help.”

He has since told interrogators he doesn’t want to return to Russia and hopes to either stay in Ukraine or return home to India.

Ukraine to receive over 150 ground robots from Estonian firm. Estonian robotics developer Milrem Robotics will deliver more than 150 THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles to Ukraine under a program financed and coordinated by the Netherlands, the company announced on Oct. 7.

The delivery will be carried out in partnership with Dutch defense manufacturer VDL Defentec, which is setting up a new assembly line at its plant in Born to handle large-scale production. The THeMIS platforms will be supplied by Milrem Robotics Netherlands, with training provided for Ukrainian operators and maintenance crews.

Milrem CEO Kuldar Väärsi said the project is designed to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capacity. “The THeMIS has already proven its value in combat, and this contribution will significantly enhance Ukraine’s capabilities,” he said.

The new systems will join 15 THeMIS units that are already operating in Ukraine since 2022. The tracked robots can transport supplies, evacuate wounded soldiers and support infantry operations,making them one of the first widely used battlefield robots of the war.

Ukrainian drone forces destroy rare Russian electronic warfare system in Luhansk region. Ukraine’s Drone Systems Forces said Oct. 6 that their units destroyed a rare Russian electronic warfare system known as the Zhitel in the Luhansk region. The R-330Zh “Zhitel” station is a high-value target designed to jam radio, GPS and satellite communications.

According to Ukraine’s military, only 23 of these systems have been visually confirmed eliminated since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. The latest strike was carried out by the 412th Nemesis Regiment in coordination with border guard aerial reconnaissance units.

The Zhitel system can disrupt ground radio signals up to 25 kilometers (15 miles) away and interfere with aircraft communications at distances of up to 50 kilometers (31 miles). Its destruction removes one of Russia’s few mobile assets capable of detecting and jamming Ukrainian drone and GPS operations.

Key Takeaways

1. Russia appears to be accelerating the informational and psychological condition setting phase — “Phase 0” — of its campaign to prepare for a possible NATO-Russia war in the future.
2. European officials continue to report drone sightings in European airspace.  
3. German officials attributed recent drone flights over the Munich Airport to Russia.
4. The Kremlin continues to deny responsibility for recent drone incursions into NATO airspace.
5. Russian forces conducted a fiber optic first-person view (FPV) drone strike for the first time against Kramatorsk on October 5 — furthering Russian efforts to disrupt Ukrainian logistics within and near the fortress belt in Donetsk Oblast.
6. Ukraine continues to conduct long-range drone strikes against Russian defense industrial enterprises and oil refineries.
7. Russian forces conducted a series of drone strikes against Ukraine on the night of October 5 to 6, striking a maternity hospital.
8. The Ukrainian military continues to transition to a corps structure.
9. Ukrainian forces advanced in northern Sumy Oblast, the Dobropillya tactical area, and near Lyman. Russian forces advanced in the Dobropillya tactical area and near Velykyi Burluk, Kupyansk, Siversk, and Pokrovsk.

• EU to curb Russian diplomats’ travel as suspected spy attacks mount
• Estonian foreign minister criticises Merkel’s comments on causes of Russian invasion
• Germany’s Merz: Putin waging hybrid war against Europe
• Zelenskyy’s strategic adviser: Over 85% of all targets on line of contact are hit by drones
• Russians report drone attack in Tyumen, 2,000 km from Ukraine
• Trump on supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine: Sort of made a decision
• IAEA reports explosions near Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant