Victory Chronicles-DAY 1328

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and the Special Operations Forces said on Oct. 13 said that their drones hit Russian military targets on the Crimean Peninsula, including the Feodosia marine oil terminal and at least two high-voltage substations. An SBU official who spoke to Kyiv-basedUkrainska Pravda said drones struck at least five storage tanks at the terminal, triggering a large fire.

The official said the 220-kilovolt (kV) “Kafa” substation, part of the power link that feeds Crimea from Russia, suffered damage to transformers, a closed distribution unit and control rooms, prompting voltage fluctuations. A series of explosions was also reported at the 330-kV Simferopol substation. Emergency crews were working on the sites.

EU to provide Ukraine with additional $108 million in winter aid. The European Union will allocate an extra 100 million euros (about $108 million) to help Ukraine prepare for the winter, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said during a visit to Kyiv on Oct. 12.

Speaking at a news conference alongside Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Kallas said the funds will go toward power generators, shelters, and cold-weather equipment to help Ukrainians cope with expected Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.

Russian drone strike sparks massive fire in Odesa region, one injured. A large fire broke out in warehouse facilities in Ukraine’s Black Sea port Odesa region, following a Russian drone attack overnight, injuring one civilian, according to regional officials and the State Emergency Service (SES). Oleh Kiper, head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, said Russian forces “again attacked civilian infrastructure in Odesa region.” 

Despite the active work of air defense units, several drones hit their targets, igniting a blaze over an area of more than 5,000 square meters. According to the SES, the fire engulfed warehouses containing textiles, clothing, packaging materials, and sewing equipment, and also destroyed a car.

Firefighters encountered difficulty to contain the huge fireand a shortage of on-site water supply sources. Emergency crews organized a continuous water supply from nearby facilities.

Ukrainian forces liberate Mali Shcherbaky in Zaporizhzhia region. Ukrainian Defense Forces have liberated the settlement of Mali Shcherbaky in the soutern region of Zaporizhzhia, the military reported on Oct. 12.

Troops of the Aidar 24th Separate Assault Battalion, together with comrades from the 33rd Separate Assault Regiment, raised the Ukrainian flag over the village, which is now fully under Ukraine’s control. The military said success was achieved thanks to “clear coordination, determination and teamwork” among units on the ground. 

Key Takeaways

1. Estonian authorities temporarily closed a section of road passing through Russian territory near the Russia-Estonia border on Oct. 10 after Estonian border guards observed a small group of heavily armed Russian military personnel without insignia in the area.
2. U.S.intelligence sharing with Ukraine has reportedly been crucial in increasing the efficacy of Ukraine’s long-range drone strike campaign targeting the Russian energy sector in recent months.
3. The Kremlin is attempting to stabilize its domestic gasoline market to offset the consequences of Ukraine’s long-strike campaign against refineries.
4. U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed possible U.S. sales of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine in an Oct. 12 call, as the Kremlin continues its reflexive control campaign to deter the U.S. from sending Ukraine Tomahawks.
5. Russia’s effort to generate increased military recruitment through high financial incentives is reportedly losing momentum, indicating that Russia’s main method for recruiting volunteers for its war may be hitting diminishing returns.
6. Ukrainian forces advanced in western Zaporizhia Oblast and near Kupyansk and Siversk. Russian forces advanced in eastern Zaporizhia Oblast and near Pokrovsk.

• Former Russian president rudely warns Trump of “nuclear response” to Tomahawks in Ukraine
• Survey shows 60 percent of Ukrainians trust Zelenskyy
• GUR: Russian manufacturer of components for X-101 missiles still not under sanctions
• Ukraine’s anti-disinformation center: Tomahawk missiles successfully hit Russian air defence in Syria in 2017-2018
• Bloomberg: Putin directs hundreds of billions in subsidies to oil refineries after Ukrainian attacks
• Macron: Russia will have to pay for refusing to negotiate
• Trump threatens to provide Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles unless Putin stops war