An update on Russo-Ukrainian war

It is nine months into the Russo-Ukrainian war, and Russia is reported to be drafting 120,000 additional troops. 

Ukraine has made multiple positive military advances in the past two months on Russian troops. Russian airstrikes on civilian dwellings have followed them. After positive Ukrainian military action, Russia is reinforcing its military troops. 

On Oct. 17, Russia once again struck the capital city of Kyiv. Simultaneously, Russian troops moved into Belarus. 

Not only are their troops increasing in numbers, but according to The Washington Post, Putin may be transitioning to nuclear weapons. 

U.S. Defense Attorney Lloyd Austin stated, “We’re going to continue to communicate that any type of use of a weapon of that sort, or even the talk of the use of a weapon of that sort, is dangerous and irresponsible.” 

    According to the White House, North Korea has supplied Russia covertly with artillery shells. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby has stated that these shells traveled through the Middle East and Northern Africa to be as discreet as possible in their aid of Russia. 

“It is not an insignificant number of shells,” Kirby said, “but we don’t believe they are in such a quantity that would change the momentum of the war.”

    Additionally, Iran is reportedly sending roughly 1,000 additional weapons to Russia.

Ukrainian air-force spokesman Yurii Ihnat stated in Ukrainian media that “it is theoretically possible to shoot them down but very difficult with the means we have at our disposal.” He continued, “We have air defense, not missile defense.”

    On Nov. 2, Russia reportedly re-entered its Black Sea grain deal after suspending it due to a Ukrainian drone attack. According to PBS, their re-entering of the agreement is conditional on Ukraine agreeing to “not attack the safe shipping harbor.”.    

    Ukraine’s president stated that due to a “massive attack” targeting energy sources, power outages have been a regular occurrence across Ukraine. 

This was predicted by Asbury campus guest Maia Mikhaluk previously in the semester. She stated that Ukrainian citizens have been preparing for “a hard winter.” Mikhaluk noted that the energy crisis would become more pressing and challenging for citizens as the temperature decreases. 

    In a statement, President Zelenskiy said, “These are vile strikes on critical objects… The world can and must stop this terror.”