Ukraine Refutes Russian Claims of Capturing 92 Settlements Since September in Current Wars in the World
Ukraine's General Staff has refuted Russian claims of major territorial advances since early September, including the capture of multiple settlements and progress toward Zaporizhzhia, stating that Ukrainian forces have actually liberated more territory than Russia has captured in that period amid current wars in the world. [5]
Russian Claims of Advances Refuted
Ukraine's General Staff described Russian General Valery Gerasimov's briefing as based on lies, manipulation and exaggeration, specifically denying claims that Russia captured 92 settlements, over 1,800 square kilometres, Kostiantynivka, Dobropillia, Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka and other towns, or advanced to within 5 km of Zaporizhzhia. [5] The spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Andrii Kovaliov, stated that the Russian military leadership continues to create an illusion of major victories due to the lack of significant battlefield successes. [5] Kovaliov noted that Gerasimov claimed Russian forces had captured more than 1,800 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory and 92 settlements since 1 September. [5] The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has evidence that refutes the Russian command's false claims about the situation along the contact line. [5] As of 17 October, multiple claimed settlements including Kostiantynivka, Dobropillia, Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka, Novopavlivka, Novoandriivka and Velykomykhailivka remain under Ukrainian control, with fighting ongoing in some areas and a small Russian group reported in the southern outskirts of Mykolaivka. [5]
Ukrainian Territorial Gains Highlighted
Ukraine's General Staff stated that in fact, thanks to active operations by Ukraine's Defence Forces, more territory has been liberated since the beginning of autumn than the enemy has managed to capture. [5] This statement directly contrasts with Russian assertions of large-scale gains in the ongoing conflict. [5] The General Staff emphasised that claims about the capture of Dobropillia were false, adding that the city remains under Ukrainian control. [5] Kovaliov recalled that on 1 September, Putin claimed that Sviatohirsk had been captured when, in fact, it was and remains under the control of Ukraine's defence forces. [5] The spokesperson also described claims that Russian forces had captured Kostiantynivka and Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka and reached the outskirts of Kramatorsk as false. [5] As of the morning of 17 October, Ukraine's defence forces still have positions in Kostiantynivka, where fighting is ongoing. [5] Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka has also not been captured by the enemy, and claims that Russian forces have reached Kramatorsk do not reflect the actual situation on the battlefield. [5] Claims that Russian forces were advancing in the outskirts of Sloviansk and controlled more than 50% of Mykolaivka were also untrue, as a small enemy group infiltrated the southern outskirts of Mykolaivka and Ukraine's defence forces are conducting strike-and-search operations to eliminate it. [5] Claims about fighting for Orikhiv and the capture of Novopavlivka and Novoandriivka were addressed, with all three settlements remaining under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 17 October. [5] The claim that Russian forces had advanced to within 5 kilometres of the southern outskirts of Zaporizhzhia is also false, as the contact line has remained 22 kilometres from the regional capital for a considerable time. [5] Another fabrication cited is the claim that Velykomykhailivka in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast has been captured, as Velykomykhailivka remains under Ukrainian control and the contact line is 8 kilometres east of the settlement. [5]
Ukrainian forces report Russian execution of soldiers in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. — Source: ukrainskapravda
Power Outages in Occupied Luhansk
Russian-appointed head Leonid Pasichnyk reported large-scale emergency power outages in Luhansk and 23 occupied municipalities after what he claimed was a Ukrainian attack on energy infrastructure, with outages affecting districts in Luhansk city and the threat of further strikes remaining. [1] Pasichnyk claimed that Ukrainian forces had attacked the energy infrastructure of the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic". [1] Emergency power cuts were introduced across 23 so-called municipalities, including Luhansk. [1] In the city, outages were reported in the Leninskyi, Kamianobridskyi and Artemivskyi districts. [1] Pasichnyk noted that the threat of further attacks remains. [1]
Alleged Execution of Ukrainian POWs
Ukrainian forces target Yandex as cyber operations intensify in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. — Source: cnn
Ukrainian officials state that Russian troops from the 38th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade executed several Ukrainian prisoners of war on the Huliaipole front in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, with intercepted radio communications revealing orders to kill the unarmed wounded prisoners. [3] The war crime was recorded by Ukrainian military personnel a few days ago. [3] Ukrainian defence forces intercepted radio communications between Russian servicemen as the killings were taking place. [3] Maksym Kravchuk, spokesman for Operational Strategic Group Pivden, said the Russian troops received orders to "finish off the wounded f**ker" and "take them out immediately", and carried out the killings of the unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war without hesitation. [3] In the 38th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade, such orders are issued on the initiative of its commander, Colonel Valery Kazak. [3] The Ukrainian military emphasised that this is yet another piece of evidence for a future tribunal regarding the crimes committed by Russian troops. [3] The relevant materials have been handed over to law enforcement agencies. [3] Kravchuk added that the killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of international humanitarian law and called on the international community to respond, demand an investigation, and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. [3]
War Crimes Investigation Launched
A pre-trial investigation under Article 438.2 of Ukraine's Criminal Code has been opened into the alleged war crime, with materials including intercepted communications handed to prosecutors. [3] The Prosecutor General's Office said a pre-trial investigation has been launched into a war crime resulting in loss of life under Article 438.2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. [3] The investigation is being conducted under the procedural guidance of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Prosecutor's Office. [3] The investigators will work to establish all the circumstances of the crime, identify those directly responsible, and determine who may have ordered the killing of the prisoners of war. [3] Law enforcement officers are examining the materials provided by the Ukrainian military, including recordings of intercepted Russian military communications. [3]
Broader Context of Claims and Counter-claims
Ukraine's General Staff has pointed to previous instances where Russian leadership presented wishful thinking as reality, such as the claim regarding Sviatohirsk. [5] This pattern of assertions is set against reports from occupation authorities on emergency blackouts across Luhansk and 23 municipalities following an alleged Ukrainian strike on energy infrastructure. [1] The account of Russian troops executing prisoners on the Huliaipole front, including intercepted communications and the brigade involved, adds to the documented incidents. [3] The Prosecutor General's Office pre-trial investigation into the killings under Article 438.2 highlights the ongoing legal response. [3] Ukraine says Russia's claimed territorial advances are an illusion, reinforcing the rebuttals of specific gains in settlements and territory. [2]
What to watch next: Ukrainian forces continue strike-and-search operations in Mykolaivka while the contact line near Zaporizhzhia remains at 22 kilometres, with all referenced settlements staying under Ukrainian control as of 17 October.
