2023-10-18 07:13:35
► The mayor of Avdiïvka expects “an escalation” of the Russian offensive
The Russian army is preparing a « escalade » of its offensive against the town of Avdiïvka, in eastern Ukraine, its mayor said on Wednesday October 18, a week after the start of Moscow’s assault on this industrial city located on the front line since 2014 .
Vitali Barabach indicated that if the situation was ” calmer “ In recent days, Russian forces are preparing a new attack after being stopped by the Ukrainians. “This is not the end of this story which began on October 10 (…) the (Ukrainian) resistance has currently stabilized the situation, but we are seeing things and it is not over”he said. “In the days to come, we expect an escalation”he added.
Since 2014, separatist forces led by Moscow have tried in vain to conquer Avdiïvka and maintain control. Some 1,600 civilians live in the town, which had a population of 30,000 before the February 2014 invasion, according to municipal authorities.
► Putin hails the “success” of the “new Silk Roads” forum
Russian President Vladimir Putin greeted Wednesday October 18 in Beijing the ” success “ of China in its vast infrastructure, trade and finance project known as the “new silk roads”, according to the state agency Tass.
“Given the global dimensions of the initiative that the Chinese leader launched a decade ago, frankly, one could hardly have expected it to work. (More) our Chinese friends succeed. We are happy to see this great success, because it means a lot to many of us,” declared Vladimir Putin, a distinguished guest whose first visit to a major world power since the invasion of Ukraine.
► Two dead in Russian strikes on the city of Zaporizhia
Russian missile strikes on the town of Zaporizhia, in southeastern Ukraine, left two people dead and three injured, local authorities reported on Wednesday. Russia shot “six missiles on the town of Zaporizhia”, wrote the governor of the region Yuriï Malachko.
“Two people were killed and three injured by the impact”, said the police, specifying that one of the missiles had hit a building. According to emergency services, it is a residential building of which a section of floors 3 to 5 was destroyed.
► The Russian ambassador denounces the American delivery of long-range missiles to Ukraine
Washington’s decision to supply Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missiles is “a serious mistake”Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said on Wednesday.
“The White House’s decision to send long-range missiles to the Ukrainians is a serious mistake. The consequences of this measure, which was deliberately hidden from the public, will be most serious”Anatoly Antonov said in a statement.
► Biden will ask Congress for an envelope of 100 billion
US President Joe Biden will ask Congress for a joint envelope of $100 billion for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the migration crisis on the border between the United States and Mexico.
The request, which has not yet been made public by the White House, comes while the institution is still paralyzed by the absence of a “speaker” at the perch of the House of Representatives.
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