Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Donetsk region in the east remained the “epicenter” of the war, adding that every day hundreds of Russians are murdered.
Russia and the United States are reportedly considering having strategic nuclear weapons discussions for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Since Vladimir Putin’s forces invaded Ukraine eight months ago, strategic stability talks between the two nations have been stalled, even though the New Start deal on nuclear armaments reduction remains in existence.
Now, the Russian newspaper Kommersant reports that the discussions may be held in the Middle East, noting that Moscow no longer considers Switzerland, the traditional venue, to be impartial since Switzerland slapped sanctions against Russia over Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has accused Russia of plundering and occupying abandoned homes in the southern city of Kherson with troops dressed in civilian attire in preparation for a street battle.
According to the Ukrainian military, Russian forces masquerading as citizens occupy civilian buildings and fortify their positions inside in preparation for street combat.
Monday’s statement stated that Russian forces were “engaged in looting and stealing from people and infrastructure sites, and are transporting equipment, food, and cars back to the Russian Federation.”
In recent days, Russia has ordered the evacuation of inhabitants from Kherson in anticipation of a Ukrainian offensive to recover the city.
According to both sides, the city, which has a population of approximately 300,000, has been cold and dark for the previous 48 hours due to a power and water outage in the surrounding area.
Russian officials accused “sabotage” by the Ukrainians of the power outages, while Ukrainian officials claimed the Russians had destroyed 1.5 kilometers of power lines.
About 100 crippled children were relocated from a medical center in Dnipriany, Kherson region, to the Moscow region, according to Ukraine’s military.
Patients from an aged care facility in Kakhovka are also being relocated as Russian forces take control of these facilities, according to the report.
In the neighborhood of the recently freed settlement of Nova Kamyanka in the Kherson region, Ukrainian forces recorded four Russian airstrikes.
Since the beginning of October, the capture of Kherson has been the primary objective of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the south, which has accelerated.
Other significant events:
• Ukraine has received its initial shipment of NASAMS and Apside air defense systems, according to the country’s defense minister.
• North Korea denies having arms deals with Russia after the United States claimed it seemed to be delivering artillery shells to the Kremlin.
The Interfax news agency claimed that Putin stated that 50,000 Russian soldiers who were mobilized as part of his mobilization effort were now fighting alongside Ukrainian combat formations.
• The Russian Ministry of Defense took the unusual step of rejecting accusations that a naval infantry unit suffered catastrophic losses in personnel and equipment during a fruitless operation in eastern Ukraine.
Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Donetsk region in the east remained the “epicenter” of the war, asserting that hundreds of Russians are dying daily.
Bakhmut and Avdiivka in the Donetsk region are reportedly seeing the most intense fighting.
Mr. Zelenskyy stressed in his Monday night statement that Russia should be compelled to engage in “real” peace talks.
In recent months, Russia has suffered huge reverses in the east and south, and it has lost all the territory it took in northern Ukraine in the weeks following its invasion in February.
President Putin has responded by mobilizing tens of thousands of reservists and declaring the annexation of occupied territory.
