Nearly 50 Civilians Killed in Russian Attacks Across Ukraine
Civilian Toll from Latest Russian Attacks
Nearly 50 civilians were killed, including six children, and 170 others injured in a recent wave of Russian attacks on cities including Pryluky, Kremenchuk, Kyiv and Kramatorsk, according to Ukrainian authorities and the UN. [1] In Pryluky, a Russian missile struck an apartment block on 7 October, killing 22 people including five children. [3] Strikes on Kramatorsk hit public buses, killing at least 12 and injuring a dozen more. [1] Attacks also damaged homes, public transport, and energy infrastructure, affecting electricity supplies in several regions. [1] The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, denounced this latest wave of attacks, stressing that the increasing harm to civilians must end. [1] The cities of Pryluky in Chernihiv, Kremenchuk in Poltava, and Kyiv were among the hardest-hit locations. [1] In the Donetsk region, the city of Kramatorsk also came under heavy attack this morning, with strikes hitting public buses. [1] Electricity supplies in several regions were also affected. [1]
Humanitarian Response Efforts
Humanitarian partners, including with the support of UN agencies, provided psychological aid, shelter support, cash, food and hygiene supplies. [1] Today, an inter-agency convoy organized by OCHA delivered nearly two metric tonnes of food, medicines and hygiene supplies to residents of the front-line city of Beryslav, in the Kherson region, where humanitarian access remains limited. [1] The Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, denounced this latest wave of attacks, stressing that the increasing harm to civilians must end. [1] Nearly 50 civilians were killed, including six children, and 170 others injured in just over a day between yesterday and this morning, according to the authorities. [1] The cities of Pryluky in Chernihiv, Kremenchuk in Poltava, and Kyiv were among the hardest-hit locations. [1]
Rubio warns of dangerous stalemate in Ukraine war as Russian attacks kill nearly 50 civilians. — Source: newsmax
US Assessment of Strategic Stalemate
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that Russia's war in Ukraine is at a dangerous stalemate, and the United States will keep working toward a settlement to end the conflict. [2] Rubio believes that ending the Russia-Ukraine war through diplomatic negotiations is currently proving elusive. [5] He acknowledged that diplomatic efforts are failing because Russia is demanding full control of the Donbas and Ukraine refuses to accept it. [5] Rubio stressed that the US remains willing to play a constructive role to make a diplomatic solution happen. [5] He also expressed concern over a possible escalation of the war, noting that just yesterday some ships were attacked in the Black Sea through a coordinated drone attack. [5] Rubio added that there are clear indications Russia plans to exploit the coming winter to destroy Ukraine's power grid and force Kyiv to capitulate. [5] Rubio also mentioned that Ukraine, for its part, has enhanced its ability to conduct long-range strikes deep into Russian territory. [5]
Zelenskyy's Rebuttal and Call for Air Superiority
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statement that the war cannot be ended diplomatically because the situation has reached a stalemate, and called on the US to help Ukraine gain air superiority and increase pressure on Russia. [3] Zelenskyy added that getting out of the corner is not difficult and that this requires increasing economic pressure on Russia, giving Ukraine access to Starlink over Russian territory and not negotiating with Russia on future projects. [3] He recalled that the US had already done this when it attacked Iran, when Israel had complete control of the skies over Iran. [3] Zelenskyy stated that when you need it, it works like that, and just control the skies to protect yourself, noting the US has this capability and for them it costs nothing to help Ukraine. [3] He said to give it to us, help us protect our skies and dominate the skies, and then Putin will sit down at the negotiating table because he will lose everything in three or two months. [3] Zelenskyy was speaking to journalists in Pryluky, where a Russian missile struck an apartment block on 7 October, killing 22 people, including five children. [3]
Zelenskyy responds to Rubio on negotiating with Russia amid civilian attacks in Ukraine. — Source: ukrainskapravda
Ukrainian Public Opinion on the Conflict
A survey conducted 3-5 October found 62% of Ukrainians believe neither side is currently winning the war, while 57% support seeking a compromise through negotiations and 56% would accept territorial concessions if accompanied by security guarantees. [4] A majority of Ukrainians (62%) believe that neither Ukraine nor Russia is currently winning the war, while 26% say Ukraine has the upper hand and 6% say Russia does. [4] The survey also found that 57% of respondents support a cessation of hostilities and seeking a compromise through negotiations. [4] Meanwhile, 13% favour continuing the fighting until the lines of control as of 23 February 2022 are restored. [4] Another 21% support continuing the fighting until the territories of Donbas and Crimea are liberated. [4] A total of 57% of respondents see seeking a compromise with the involvement of other countries in the negotiations as a realistic way to end the war, while another 26% favour direct negotiations. [4] Some 35% of respondents oppose territorial concessions in exchange for long-term peace. [4] Meanwhile, 56% would accept such concessions if they were accompanied by security guarantees from the US and European partners, including funding for Ukrainian forces and weapons. [4] Another 3% would accept concessions without any preconditions, while 6% were undecided. [4] If territorial concessions become a condition for peace, 68% of respondents believe the final decision should be made by the people in a nationwide referendum. [4] Some 17% believe it should be made by the president, while 9% say the Verkhovna Rada should decide. [4] The survey was conducted on 3-5 October using computer-assisted telephone interviews among 1,000 Ukrainians aged 18 and over. [4]
Broader Context and Risks
Rubio believes that Russia's war against Ukraine has reached a strategic stalemate that can only be broken through negotiations or further escalation. [5] He acknowledged that diplomatic efforts are failing because Russia is demanding full control of the Donbas and Ukraine refuses to accept it. [5] Rubio expressed concern over a possible escalation of the war, noting attacks on ships in the Black Sea through a coordinated drone attack and the risk that a sabotage operation in a neighbouring country can spiral out of control. [5] Rubio added that there are clear indications Russia plans to exploit the coming winter to destroy Ukraine's power grid and force Kyiv to capitulate. [5] Rubio also mentioned that Ukraine, for its part, has enhanced its ability to conduct long-range strikes deep into Russian territory. [5] The whole world is going about this thing like something that could escalate and perhaps become a broader conflict. [5]
What to watch next: Rubio stressed that the US remains willing to play a constructive role to make a diplomatic solution happen while expressing concern over possible Black Sea escalation and Russian winter plans targeting Ukraine's power grid.
