Russia launched a large-scale missile attack on Kharkiv in Ukraine on October 12, killing three and injuring at least 11 people, including one rescue worker. The governor of the Kharkiv region stated that Russian forces had used 10 Banderol-type missiles. The attacks damaged several apartment buildings as well as several private homes. One of the houses caught fire and six vehicles also started burning. Read more here.
The French navy intercepted and boarded a tanker suspected of sailing under a false flag as part of Russia’s shadow fleet on October 12, announced France’s President Emmanuel Macron. The tanker DF Peak was suspected of transporting sanctioned Russian fuel and was stopped by the French navy 450 nautical miles (833 kilometers) south of the French territory of Réunion in the Indian Ocean.
“France is determined to fight the ghost fleet, wherever it is in the world,” Macron wrote on X. “This action, carried out in accordance with international maritime law, demonstrates our determination to uphold the rule of law and combat all illegal trade, wherever it occurs.” Read more here.
It would have been interesting to know if it was possibly diesel they were transporting..
Trump says Ukraine and Russia agree to start a ceasefire in the energy sector “because I said they agreed”
In a conversation with reporters on the White House lawn on October 12, US President Donald Trump again said that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to stop attacks on energy infrastructure, despite confusion surrounding the alleged ceasefire.
“They agreed,” Trump said after a reporter pointed out that neither Moscow nor Kiev had confirmed that they would refrain from attacks on energy facilities. “Do you know why? Because I said they agreed. That’s why. They agreed because I said they agreed. And that matter has to be resolved.” Read more here.
Trump simply lives in his own world where he seems to believe he is omnipotent.
The UK is now sanctioning Dutch businessman Alexander Tattersall and Redwing Metal, the Turkish company he is a co-owner of, following Kyiv Independent’s revelation that he supplied machinery from the EU to Russian missile and combat aircraft manufacturers. The sanctions came four months after the revelations. Tattersall and Redwing Metal were blacklisted as part of a package of 38 designations announced by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on October 8, targeting Russian oil companies, shadow fleet vessels, crypto exchanges, and suppliers of goods critical to Russia’s military.
UK sanctions freeze all assets held by the designated individuals and companies under UK jurisdiction and prohibit UK citizens and companies from trading with them.
Russian losses in Ukraine
Somewhat lower losses than we have become accustomed to recently, but that does not mean low losses. Had someone said early in the war, when 500 KWIA per day was considered sky-high losses, that we would see these levels, we probably would not have believed it.
- 1390 KWIA
- 2 Tanks
- 7 AFVs
- 51 Artillery systems
- 2 MLRS
- 1 Air defense system
- 1889 UAVs
- 15 UGVs
- 362 Vehicles and Fuel tanks
- 5 Special equipment
Ukrainian General Staff morning report
Operational information as of 08:00 on October 13, 2026, on the Russian invasion
Glory to Ukraine!
The 1693rd day of the Russian Federation’s full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine has begun.
During the past day, a total of 203 combat contacts were recorded.
Yesterday, the enemy carried out 90 airstrikes, during which 301 guided aerial bombs were dropped. In addition, the attackers used 9,516 kamikaze drones and conducted 2,619 shellings against communities and our troops’ positions, of which 31 were with rocket artillery.
Hostile shelling affected, among others, the communities of Pavlivka, Vilna Sloboda, Vasylivske, Zarichchia, Korenok, Korchakivka, Nova Sich, Khrapivshchyna, Sopych, Ulanove, Rohizne, Mala Rybytsia, Potapivka, and Iskryskivshchyna in the Sumy region, as well as Khrinivka in the Chernihiv region.
During the past day, the defense forces’ aviation, missile units, and artillery struck an area with a concentration of enemy personnel and a command post for unmanned aerial vehicles.
On the northern Slobozhansky and Kursk sectors, the attacker conducted 49 shellings against our troops’ positions and communities during the past day.
On the southern Slobozhansky sector, Ukrainian units repelled 20 enemy attacks. The attackers tried to advance in the areas around Starytsia, Izbytske, Vovchanski Khutory, and Zybyn, as well as in the direction of Zakharivka, Varvarivka, Radkivka, and Doroshivka.
On the Kupyansk sector, the enemy conducted no assault operations.
Attempts to break through our defense were repelled on the Lyman sector, where the occupiers conducted six attacks in the areas around Kolodiazi and Lyman.
On the Sloviansk and Kramatorsk sectors, the enemy conducted no assault operations.
On the Kostiantynivka sector, 15 attacks were recorded. The attackers conducted offensive operations in the areas around Kostiantynivka, Sofiivka, and Dovha Balka, as well as in the direction of Mykolaipillia.
On the Pokrovsk sector, the enemy conducted 29 attacks. The occupiers tried to advance in the direction of the communities of Hruzke, Toretske, Vilne, Kucheriv Yar, Dobropillia, Svitlé, Myrne, and Serhiivka, as well as in the area around Molodetske.
On the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy attacked once in the direction of Ternove.
On the Huljajpole sector, the enemy tried to advance 12 times in the areas around Rizdvianka and Ternove, as well as in the direction of Nove Zaporizhzhia, Kosivtseve, Hirke, Vozdvyzhivka, and Prydorozhnie.
On the Orikhiv and Prydniprovsk sectors, the occupiers conducted no assault operations.
On the Volyn and Polissya sectors, no signs have been detected that the enemy is forming offensive force groupings.
Total Russian attacker losses during the past day amounted to 1,390 personnel. In addition, two tanks, seven armored fighting vehicles, 51 artillery systems, two rocket artillery systems, one air defense system, 15 ground-based missile systems, 1,889 unmanned aerial vehicles, 362 vehicles, and five units of special equipment were neutralized.
Join the defense forces! Together we will prevail! Glory to Ukraine!
Comment:
83 localized attacks out of a total of 203 leaves 120 unlocalized, making the ratio 120 / 83 ≈ 1.45.
Don't forget to donate, Ukraine's cause is ours! Support Ukraine!
** Situation on the Slovyansk & Kramatorsk directions, Donetsk Oblast: Over the last two weeks, Ukrainian forces continued their counterattacks east of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, making significant progress in multiple different areas.
They also managed to clear the forests between Pyskunivka and Kryva Luka from earlier Russian infiltrators and established control over the forests southeast of Pyskunivka.
Russian forces are attempting to clear the positions in northern Kryva Luka previously entered by Ukrainian soldiers who crossed the Siverskyi Donets River. Despite this, some isolated Russian DRG infiltrations into the vicinity of Mykolaivka continue.
To the southeast, Russian forces recaptured some positions in the treelines east of Rai-Oleksandrivka previously infiltrated by Ukrainian soldiers, and expanded their zone of control in the eastern part of the town and in the treelines to the north.
Fighting is now ongoing for the central streets of Rai-Oleksandrivka, where a large grey-zone remains with each side holding mixed and overlapping positions.
To the southwest, Ukrainian forces cleared the large grey-zone between the villages of Vasylivka Putosh, Zapovidne, Orikhuvatka, and Yurkivka, before re-establishing control over Zapovidne and advancing further east to the Siverskyi-Donets Canal.
Ukrainian infiltrators are now attempting to cross the canal along the highway towards Dibrova and Minkivka, while simultaneously trying to recapture Yurkivka where a grey-zone remains.
To the south, the Ukrainians cleared the large grey-zone in the fields near Pershomarivka and Vasyutynske, recapturing the latter, and re-entering the villages of Malynivka and Tykhonivka.
At the same time, a larger scale operation is underway further south, where, after regaining control over the large grey-zone west of Novomarkove, Ukrainian forces recaptured the strongpoints northwest of the village, which they are now using to accumulate and cross the Siverskyi-Donets Canal.
After crossing this canal, Ukrainian forces are entering Minkivka and the adjacent strongpoints, where several footholds have been established, and are now attempting to advance further east.
Some forward Ukrainian infiltrators even managed to carry out a deep infiltration for roughly 12 km northeast through Holubivka towards the outskirts of Nykyforivka.
Meanwhile, Russian forces improved their positions slightly through the treelines northwest of Markove and continued attacking in the area of Fedorivka. + ~86.10 km² in favour of Ukraine. + ~8.15 km² in favour of Russia **
https://bsky.app/profile/slavaukraini033.bsky.social/post/3mxqceu5dgc2a
Off-Topic, Sweden’s government formation
“On Tuesday, the Social Democrats’ party leader Magdalena Andersson will meet with the Speaker Andreas Norlén to update him on the progress of forming a new government. There are two possible outcomes of the meeting, reports SVT Nyheter.
One is that the S-leader will be given more time to find a government basis. This could, for example, involve her requesting it herself or the Speaker considering it necessary.
The other option is to proceed to a prime minister vote as soon as possible. Several media outlets report that a first vote could take place as early as the end of the week.
– We are approaching a prime minister vote, the only question is when it will happen, says the channel’s political reporter Julia Lindvall.”
https://omni.se/andersson-ger-besked-till-talmannen-det-hander-nu/a/8GOrvW
“Political scientist: Magdalena Andersson neither seen, heard, nor succeeds in forming a government
The decline in trust for Magdalena Andersson is mainly due to two things: that she has kept a low profile after the election and that there is no new government in place. This says the Social Democrat-affiliated political scientist Ulf Bjereld to SvD.
– She has not been seen or heard much, nor said anything remarkable.
In Novus’s latest poll, 35 percent stated that they had a lot or quite a lot of trust in Andersson, a decrease of eleven percentage points compared to the previous poll.
Today, Andersson will inform Speaker Andreas Norlén about the progress of forming a government. There may be a first prime minister vote at the end of the week.”
https://omni.se/expert-magdalena-andersson-varken-syns-hors-eller-lyckas-bilda-regering/a/ylxQ2a
** Russian Missile Strike Destroys Kharkiv Apartment Entrance, Killing 3 and Injuring 15
In brief: Russian missile strikes killed three people and injured 15 in Kharkiv on Oct. 12, destroying an entrance section of a four-story apartment building. Rescuers pulled four people to safety, while a rescue worker was injured and search-and-rescue operations continued. **
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/86860
** Putin Opens Borders to Vietnamese Travelers for 30 Days as Moscow Expands Ties
Russian leader Vladimir Putin signed an executive decree on October 12 authorizing visa-free entry into Russia for citizens of Vietnam for stays lasting up to 30 days.
This policy will remain effective for a total duration of 1 year. The decree was formally posted to the official online registry of legislative documents in Russia. **
https://united24media.com/world/putin-opens-borders-to-vietnamese-travelers-for-30-days-as-moscow-expands-ties-23371