It is day 608 of the war in Ukraine.
The US Institute for the Study of War estimates that Russia’s production of artillery shells and ammunition imports from North Korea will likely allow Russian forces to maintain the intensity of artillery fire in Ukraine next year.
Former US President Donald Trump announced that Russia stole the blueprints for a US “super-super missile” during Barack Obama’s administration.
The Russian-appointed governor of Sevastopol in the annexed Crimea reported an attack by “Ukrainian underwater forces” on the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
Novaya-Europe’s news roundup catches you up on the key developments overnight.
ISW: Russia is able to maintain the intensity of artillery fire in Ukraine
Domestic production of artillery shells, supplemented by increased ammunition imports from North Korea, will likely allow Russian forces to maintain sufficient rates of artillery fire in Ukraine next year, albeit at relatively lower levels than in 2022, according to the U.S. Institute for the Interior Study of War (ISW) reported in its daily bulletin on Monday.
The head of Estonian military intelligence, Ants Kiviselg, said on October 20 that Russia still had around 4 million artillery shells left that it could use in “low-intensity” warfare for another year, the ISW reported. According to Kiviselg, there were reports that North Korea shipped up to 1,000 ammunition containers, each containing 300 to 500 pieces of artillery ammunition, to Russia.
The ISW predicted that despite the general decrease in shelling intensity, Russia would likely be able to maintain a sufficient rate of fire in the medium term. “Russian forces are unlikely to face widespread shortages that would chronically undermine their defensive operations, and the decline in rate of fire will not necessarily give Ukrainian forces an advantage,” the ISW report said.
Trump says Russia stole blueprints for a “super-duper” US missile
Former US President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday that Russia had stolen the blueprints for a “super-duper” US missile.
“You know that Russia stole a super-super missile that flies super fast. They stole during Barack Obama’s administration [2009–2017]. They stole secret drawings and built it,” Trump said during a speech in New Hampshire.
Trump also said the United States must develop an air defense system equivalent to Israel’s Iron Dome to deter possible missile attacks from China, Iran and Russia.
In his speech, Trump also incorrectly referred to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as “the leader of Turkey.” “He is probably one of the strongest leaders in the world,” Trump said.
The Russian-appointed governor of Sevastopol reports a “possible underwater attack” on the fleet
The Russian Black Sea Fleet is repelling “a possible underwater sabotage attack,” Mikhail Razvozhaev, the Russian-appointed governor of the Crimean port city of Sevastopol, reported early Tuesday. It was not clear whether Razvozhaev was reporting a drill or an actual attack.
Source : novayagazeta.eu