Putin Signs Annexation Into Law As Russia Loses Ground, Kremlin Sees No Contradiction

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law formalizing the annexation of the four Russian-occupied Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson region and Zaporizhzhia.

The final administrative step in a move that was globally decried following “sham” independence referendums in the regions, comes as Russia is facing significant battlefield losses in recent days — a seemingly blatant paradox which Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has brushed off: "There is no contradiction whatsoever. They will be with Russia forever and they will be returned."

Ukrainian troops continue to liberate territories of the Kharkiv, Kherson, and Luhansk regions. Over the past 24 hours, Kyiv’s forces advanced 20 kilometers into the Russian defense zone towards the supply hub of Svatove in Luhansk.

After the final liberation of the city of Lyman in the Luhansk region over the weekend, leader of Luhansk Regional Military Administration Sergiy Gaidai said the de-occupation of the entire area will now be moving even faster.

Ukrainian Advances On Le Monde’s Front Page

French daily Le Monde features “the Ukrainian forces’ progress on several fronts” on its front page, with a picture of a soldier in a trench near Mykolaiv.

Russia Turns To Drones For Attacks On Kyiv Region

Russia attacked the town of Bila Tserkva and the Kyiv Region with military drones. Six drones were shot down by Ukrainian air defense, and another six damaged infrastructure; the number of dead and wounded is still unknown.

"The threats are serious,” said Yiriy Ihnat, spokesman for the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, of the shift in Russia’s air tactics. “The civil-military administration has already reported on the consequences. We will use any forces and means available to us to protect our citizens and our Armed Forces and other defense forces."

One Million Russians Have Left The Country

Between 700,000 and one million people left Russia after the announcement of mobilization, according to Forbes Russia, citing sources in the Kremlin. Most of them are men, but many have crossed borders with their wives and kids.

More than 200,000 people have left for Kazakhstan alone. Demographers noted that in January-June 2022, the Russian population decreased by almost 481,000 people — which is 56% more than the decline in the first half of 2021.

In the meantime, according Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the mobilization is estimated to have drafted 200,000 recruits.

Ukraine Foreign Minister On Africa Tour, Pledges More Grain Exports To Continent

As part of his first African tour from Oct. 3-12, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba pledged to continue sending as much grain exports to Africa as possible, despite the ongoing war.

“We will do our best until the last breath to continue exporting Ukrainian grain to Africa and the world for food security,” Kuleba said at a joint press briefing with his Senegalese counterpart, Aissata Tall Sall.

Many countries depend heavily on grain imports from both Ukraine and Russia, and many Western leaders have accused the Kremlin of using food and energy supplies as a weapon. Despite Africa remaining relatively neutral on Ukraine, Kuleba says he wants to deepen his country’s ties to Africa.

Report: Chechen Men Ordered To Beat Their Wives For Opposing Mobilization

Russian independent newspaper Verstkareports that women in Chechnya who had protested against mobilization were subject to beatings by their own husbands, commanded to do so by local authorities.

Citing Chechen opposition activist Ibrahim Yangulbayev, Verstka says that security forces who detained more than 100 women at the protest took them to prison and also summoned their male relatives there. They forced them to beat their wives or sisters, warning they would be dealt with more severely otherwise.

Ukraine To Join Bid To Co-Host 2030 Soccer World Cup Alongside Spain And Por­tu­gal

In a move promoted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine has announced it will join Spain’s and Portugal’s bid to co-host the 2030 World Cup. Spain and Portugal, which had already announced two years ago that they would make a joint proposal to host the event in eight years, confirm that they will add Ukraine to host one of the groups of matches.

Ukraine’s national soccer team is currently playing its home matches in Poland, but is confident that any security concerns will not be resolved in the future. The Spain-Portugal-Ukraine bid will face off against other partnerships, including a collaboration between Egypt, Greece and Saudi Arabia, and a South American proposal from Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile.