Overview

• Russia’s defense ministry said an assault unit captured Ukrainian fighters without firing and seized documents that it says enabled the full liberation of a settlement.
• Russian FPV operators were reported to have destroyed a U.S.-made M109 Paladin and an M198 howitzer, hit a UAV antenna relay, and disabled a drone command post in Zaporizhzhia.
• The ministry also released claims of neutralizing a Ukrainian drone team near Krasnoarmeysk and destroying a pontoon crossing in Kharkiv region, while Russian sources reported new blasts in Sumy.
• Russian diplomat Rodion Miroshnik reported 21 civilian deaths and 86 wounded over the week and said air defenses downed 251 Ukrainian drones over 16 Russian regions, with more frequent combined strikes using drones and HIMARS.
• Trump confirmed a Washington meeting with Zelensky around October 17 and publicly discussed possible Tomahawk cruise missile supplies, prompting debate over U.S. strategy and escalation risks.