Ukrainian Foreign Minister Heads to Africa

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is seeking to increase trade and shore up political support with African nations with a diplomatic tour to 10 countries.

Kuleba is the first Ukrainian foreign minister to make a diplomatic trip to Africa. Kuleba began the tour in the west African nation of Senegal on Tuesday, meeting with Senegalese Economy Minister Oulimata Sarr.

"The key topic of the minister's negotiations will be the consolidation of political support for Ukraine from the countries of the Global South against the background of Russian aggression, in particular the latest attempt to annex Ukrainian territories," Ukraine's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin in June made several trips to African countries, including Senegal, where he discussed securing food supply lines that had been disrupted by the conflict.

The Ukrainian foreign ministry said other priorities will include food security and promoting Ukrainian IT products.

"I didn't come here to make friends with African countries against anyone," Kuleba said in a tweet Tuesday. "We want to make friends with African countries in favor of our nations, their security &prosperity, Ukrainian-African Renaissance will be based on the principle of mutual respect &benefit."

Troops Setting Up 'Border' in Annexed Region: Ukraine

Oleksandr Starukh, the Ukrainian-appointed head of the Zaporizhzhia region, says Russian forces are attempting to control who goes in and out of the area now that the Kremlin declared it is now part of Russia.

Starukh posted on Telegram Tuesday that the Russian military is already setting up a "state border" line around Zaporizhzhia, a district in southeast Ukraine that the Kremlin says it annexed following a highly criticized referendum. Starukh said Russia's newly imposed border comes with "their own rules for crossing it."

"As a result, they do not release our citizens, in particular men of military age," Starukh said in the post.

He said that only eight people managed to get past the cross point a day earlier, and that only one to two thousand people have been able to access the regional center each day.

"In fact, the transit is stopped," he added.

But Starukh said in the post that he expected the situation to be temporary and that Ukraine's armed forces will eventually liberate the region.

"We are one, and therefore unbreakable!" he said.

Iran Does Not Recognize Russia's Annexation Plan

The Iranian Foreign Ministry isn't embracing Moscow's claim that four Ukrainian provinces voted to join Russia, despite Iran being accused of providing drones to the Kremlin.

Nasser Kanaani, spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said in a vague statement regarding Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territory that Iran "emphasizes respecting the principle of territorial integrity of countries as a fundamental rule of international law and respecting the principles and goals of the United Nations Charter as well."

Russia's move to annex the four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine has been seen as illegitimate and a violation of international law.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that any provocative action that can disrupt peace, stability and tranquility should be avoided," he said in the statement, blaming the conflict on "provocative acts led by the United States."

Tehran and Moscow have maintained friendly relations during the conflict. But Iranian officials have denied providing drones to the Russian military, despite Ukrainian officials posting photos online showing evidence to the contrary.

In a separate statement issued Tuesday, Kanaani again denied the allegation.

Zelensky Says 'Dozens' of Villages Recently Reclaimed

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that "dozens" of villages have been reclaimed by Ukrainian troops in recent days.

Zelensky shared the "good news" during a Tuesday address to citizens of Ukraine.

Ukrainian military forces are "carrying out a pretty fast and powerful advance" in southern parts of Ukraine, Zelensky said. "Dozens of settlements have already been liberated from the Russian sham referendum this week alone," he added.

Citing military reports from the Kherson region, Zelensky listed some of the villages that Ukrainian troops have reclaimed: Lyubymivka, Khreshchenivka, Zolota Balka, Bilyaivka, Ukrainka, Velyka and Mala Oleksandrivka, and Davydiv Brid.

"And this is far from a complete list," he said.

Last month, Russia held referendums in occupied parts of Ukraine. Russian officials used the referendums, which Zelensky and several other world leaders called a "sham," to ask people in those territories to vote on whether they should be annexed by Russia.

Putin was reportedly expected to sign laws surrounding the annexation of four regions in Ukraine on Tuesday.

Ukrainian Police Find 'Mini Auschwitz' Torture Chamber

Ukrainian officials said Tuesday a torture chamber was found in a village within the Kharkiv region after forces reclaimed the area from Russia.

The head of the region's police investigative unit said in a post on Facebook that police assessed Piski-Radkivsky once troops reclaimed the village and were told by residents that one basement in the area "held prisoners - local residents, ATO officers and prisoners from the Armed Forces." Photos and a video showing the space officials identified as a torture chamber accompanied his post.

Ukraine's Ministry of Defense also shared photos from the alleged torture chamber. One showed a "gas mask that was put on the head of a victim who was covered with a smoldering rag and buried alive," the defense ministry said. The other showed a collection of gold teeth.

"A mini Auschwitz," the defense ministry said. "How many more will be found in occupied Ukraine?"

UN General Assembly Reportedly Plan to Discuss Annexation

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is reportedly planning to meet next week to discuss Russia's stated intention to annex parts of Ukraine.

Ukraine World was one of the publications reporting Tuesday on the anticipated meeting. A UN representative said the meeting will happen on October 10, according to Ukraine World.

Paulina Kubiak, a spokesperson for the UNGA, told reporters with Agence France Presse (AFP) that Ukraine and Albania requested the meeting. AFP reported that other sources said the UNGA member states will consider a resolution on Russia's annexation of four regions in Ukraine.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's plans to annex the Ukrainian territory.

Ukrainian Parliament Responds to Elon Musk

The Parliament of Ukraine responded to a peace plan Elon Musk proposed earlier this week on Twitter that has been praised by Russian officials and criticized by Ukrainian troops and politicians, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"The answer to @elonmusk's "peace plan" can now be seen on Kyiv's Mykhailivska Square," the parliament said in a Tuesday tweet. Accompanying the tweet was a photo of a Tesla surrounded by damaged military equipment while parked in Mykhailivska Square. The photo showed one tire had been removed and was sitting a few feet away from the vehicle. A message on the tire read, "Crimea."

The parliament added a description of the photo: "It's a Tesla installed among the destroyed russian military equipment, its tire dismantled, with 'Crimea' written on it." The post concluded with one hashtag in support of Ukraine and another in support of declaring Russia a terrorist state.

Ukraine Food Exports Grow in September

Over 6.9 million tons of agricultural products were exported from Ukraine last month, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure.

Most of the products were exported by boat through the ports of Odessa.

"We have always been an agrarian nation," Ukraine's Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said in a tweet. "But now we are forced to fight for bread not only for ourselves but also for the whole [world.]"

Exports have increased significantly since August. The Ministry of Infrastructure said the Black Sea grain initiative is the "driving force" behind export growth over the past month.

The grain initiative was an agreement to allows for significant volumes of commercial food exports from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea negotiated between Ukraine, Russia and the United Nations. This came as the Russian blockage of Ukrainian ports was causing global food insecurity and widespread hunger.

Kubrakov said the agreement helps stabilize global food markets to address the growing hunger crisis in countries in need.

Nuclear Plant Director Released After Detention

The director general of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the largest nuclear facility in Europe, was detained over the weekend, but has now been released.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed in a Tuesday news release that ZNPP's director general, Ihor Murashov, was returned to his family in territory Ukrainian forces control. The IAEA first learned of Murashov's detainment on October 1, after which IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi was "in continuous contact with all relevant authorities" to help arrange for his release.

"I have received confirmation that Mr Murashov has returned to his family safely," Grossi said in a Monday tweet.

Energoatom, the nuclear power company that oversees nuclear power plants in Ukraine, alleged over the weekend that Murashov was "kidnapped by the russian military on September 30, 2022" while traveling from the ZNPP to Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhya Oblast.

Murashov was returned on Monday, Energoatom said. The company attributed his release to "the wide-ranging coverage of the exceptional event and the extraordinary efforts of the IAEA Director General Raphael Grossi, who played a significant role in the deliverance of Ihor Murashov from russian captivity."

The IAEA raised nuclear safety concerns over the weekend after learning about Murashov's detention, saying he was responsible for overseeing safety and security at the ZNPP in his role as the plant's director general.

Though Murashov has returned to Ukraine, he will not resume his duties at the ZNPP, the IAEA said.

"It is not yet clear who will replace him in this role," the agency said.

Pentagon Says Winter Could Pose Challenges for Ukraine

The Pentagon said the capabilities the U.S. sent to Ukraine are tailored for Ukraine's immediate needs and will allow Ukrainian forces to continue their advance that has created a change in battlefield dynamics.

During a press briefing, Laura Cooper, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, said Ukraine is reclaiming territory and consolidating their gains.

She added that the U.S. will continue to provide Ukraine with weapons and equipment to meet their needs and build enduring, long-term strength.

As the seasons change, Cooper said weather will be a factor, as it is in any war. She said the U.S. anticipates changes as winter comes in Ukraine, noting "maneuvering will be more challenging" and put more of a challenge on the average fighter.

Cold weather gear, she said, will be important to provide Ukraine going forward.

When asked about reports of a Russian train carrying tactical nuclear weapons heading towards Ukraine, Cooper said she had nothing to corroborate that report.

She said the U.S. has heard the "saber-rattling" from Russian President Vladimir Putin about the use of nuclear weapons but has "seen no sign" that would cause the U.S. to alter its posture.

Cooper said the U.S. is taking the threat of nuclear weapons seriously, but called Putin comments "irresponsible" rhetoric only.

When looking at how Russia is handling this war, Cooper said she is "appalled and horrified" at the state of Russian forces, including poor leadership quality and their brutal tactics.

Blinken Authorizes $625M Drawdown for Ukraine

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday announced the authorization of another U.S. military drawdown in support of Ukraine worth $625 million.

The new military drawdown is the 22nd the U.S. has authorized since August 2021, Blinken said in a U.S. Department of State news release. Several similar drawdowns have been announced in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine earlier this year.

The drawdown Blinken announced Tuesday includes "additional arms, munitions, and equipment," according to the state department.

"We will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and independence with extraordinary courage and boundless determination," Blinken said. "The capabilities we are delivering are carefully calibrated to make the most difference on the battlefield and strengthen Ukraine's hand at the negotiating table when the time is right."

Since the start of President Joe Biden's administration in early 2021, Blinken said the U.S. has set aside more than $17.5 billion to assist Ukraine militarily.

Before the latest drawdown was officially announced, former President Donald Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., criticized the idea of allocating additional money for Ukraine while people in Florida continue recovery efforts following the devastation caused last week by Hurricane Ian.

In a Tuesday morning tweet, Trump Jr. wrote, "How about we get every single Floridian back into their homes and back to normal before we send one more cent to the Ukraine?"

US Won't Recognize Annexation, Biden Tells Zelensky

President Joe Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday that the U.S. will not recognize parts of Ukraine that Russia is planning to annex as Russian territory, according to the White House.

Accompanied by Vice President Kamala Harris, Biden told Zelensky the U.S. "will continue supporting Ukraine" in its ongoing war with Russia "for as long as it takes." Biden voiced this support during a call between the two leaders on Tuesday, details of which the White House Press Office later shared with reporters.

Biden told Zelensky the U.S. "will never recognize Russia's purported annexation of Ukrainian territory." Russian President Vladimir Putin was expected to approve annexation plans later Tuesday.

Biden also reiterated the "continued readiness" of the U.S. to "impose severe costs on any individual, entity, or country that provides support to Russia's purported annexation."

Aside from annexation concerns, Biden and Zelensky discussed the U.S. Department of Defense's latest security assistance package for Ukraine announced on Tuesday and the "success" of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has enabled Ukraine to continue exporting grain to other nations as the war continues.

"In addition, President Biden noted the ongoing efforts of the United States to rally the world behind Ukraine's efforts to defend its freedom and democracy, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter," according to the White House.

Pentagon to Hold Press Briefing Soon

The U.S. Department of Defense will hold a briefing shortly.

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder will speak to reporters at 3 p.m. ET.

This comes as the United States announced an additional $625 million in security assistance to Ukraine, bringing the total U.S. military assistance to Ukraine to more than $17.5 billion since President Joe Biden took office.

The briefing will stream live on the Pentagon's website or watch below:

Ukrainian Solider Blasts Elon Musk's Peace Plan

Telsa CEO Elon Musk is facing backlash from Ukrainians amid his Twitter polls proposing his plan to ease tensions between Ukraine and Russia.

On Monday, Musk proposed a four-point plan for peace between Ukraine and Russia that included redoing the elections of the annexed regions of Ukraine under the supervision of the United Nations, formally making Crimea a part of Russia and having Ukraine remain neutral.

"This is highly likely to be the outcome in the end – just a question of how many die before then," he said in a tweet. "Also worth noting that a possible, albeit unlikely, outcome from this conflict is nuclear war."

The Ukrainian Parliament simply replied, "no."

A Ukrainian solider recorded a video message for Musk from the battlefield in the Donetsk region.

"You said Ukraine needs peace, it's true," he said. "But we didn't invade Russia. It's Russian who came here and began to kill us."

He added that Ukraine "has no choice" but to fight.

The soldier said Russia promised to protect the people of the Donbas, but instead has "destroyed everything" and "killed civilians people."

"When you talk about negotiations with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, you mean Ukrainian must agree with this genocide," the soldier said, adding that only the army will stop Putin.

Ukrainian Ambassador to Austria Olexander Scherba said this conflict is not about territory, but people.

"It's not just about territory, Elon! It's about people! It's about genocide of Ukrainian language, culture! What is peace for you is a destroyed, cripple[d] life for them," he tweeted.

Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States, said "even the best of us can fall victim to misinformation" before explaining the history of Ukraine and Crimea.

"How about I give you an exclusive briefing on true history of Crimea and [Ukraine]?" she said in a tweet. "We can discuss how Ukraine and Crimean Tatars fought together against the Russians long before 1783 and why we like Starlinks today."

Musk also ran another poll on his Twitter for his 107.8 million followers that asked: "The will of the people who live in the Donbas & Crimea should decide whether they're part of Russia or Ukraine," with the options of yes or no.

The Ukrainian Parliament replied again, saying "Crimea is Ukraine. Donetsk is Ukraine. Luhansk is Ukraine."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a Twitter poll of his own, asking "Which [Elon Musk] do you like more? One who supports Ukraine or One who supports Russia."

Musk replied to Zelensky that he still supports Ukraine.

"I still very much support Ukraine, but am convinced that massive escalation of the war will cause great harm to Ukraine and possibly the world," he tweeted.

He also wrote that doesn't care about being popular, he cares that "millions of people may die needlessly for an essentially identical outcome."

"Russia is doing partial mobilization," he tweeted. "They go to full war mobilization if Crimea is at risk. Death on both sides will be devastating."

Meanwhile, Musk was praised by Russian officials who said his ideas "deserve attention."

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Musk is "still trying to look for ways to achieve peace."

"As for holding referendums, residents have already expressed their opinion," he told Russian state media. "And there can be nothing else here... but, I repeat once again, the fact itself is very positive."

Russian Rapper Dies by Suicide to Avoid Draft, Reports

A Russian rapper reportedly died by suicide due to fears that he would be drafted to fight in Russia's ongoing war with Ukraine.

The body of Ivan Vitalievich Petunin, also known by his stage name Walkie, was reportedly found in Krasnodar, Russia on September 30, according to The Daily Mail. The paper reported that Petunin was suspected to have died by suicide.

A video posted on Telegram that was shared online by TMZ appeared to show Petunin saying he did not support the war and was "not ready to kill for any ideals."

Reporting by The Daily Mail and TMZ was subsequently cited in an article by Consequence of Sound that noted Petunin's reported death came shortly after the release of his latest album.

Nine days before Petunin's death was reported, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists would contribute to the ongoing war effort. Petunin once served in Russia's army, according to The Daily Mail.

U.S. to Announce $625M Security Package to Ukraine

The United States is set to announce another security assistance package to Ukraine.

The $625 million package will include our High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers, munitions, howitzers, mines and mine-resistant vehicles, senior U.S. officials told Reuters.

This package falls under a Presidential Drawdown Authority and will be pulled from U.S. stocks.

Last week, the U.S. announced a $1.1 billion Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) package to underscore the "U.S. commitment to continuing to support Ukraine over the long term."

The latest security assistance package is expected to be announced later today.

Ukraine Liberates Villages in Kherson Region

Ukrainian troops have liberated some villages from Russian occupation in the Kherson region this week, Ukrainian defense officials said.

Ukraine's Ministry of Defense said Tuesday the Ukrainian flag "flies again" over Davydiv Brid. A leader with Kherson's regional council posted a video on Telegram that said Velyka Oleksandrivka has also been reclaimed by Ukrainian forces, according to CNN.

"The Ukrainian marines are confidently advancing towards the Black Sea," Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on Twitter.

On Monday, the defense ministry shared another video of a solider raising the Ukrainian flag at a building in Zolota Balka, also located in the Kherson region. Accompanying the video was a message that said Russian forces "control less territories in Ukraine each day."

A similar video showing a solider raising a Ukrainian flag was shared from Myrolyubivka, defense officials said.

Brittney Griner's Appeal Date Set for Next Week

A court date has been set for American basketball player Brittney Griner's appeal against her Russian prison sentence.

A Russian court set October 25 as the date for Griner to appeal her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession.

Griner was convicted on August 4 after police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport.

The WNBA all-star and Olympic gold medalist admitted to having the canisters in her luggage. She said she had no criminal intent and forgot it was in her bag while she was packing in a rush.

The U.S. State Department said Griner has been "wrongfully detained" by Russia to "advance its own agenda, using individuals as political pawns."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said bringing Griner home remains and "absolute priority" of his and the department's.

Over 200K Russians Recently Entered Kazakhstan

More than 200,000 Russians have traveled into Kazakhstan from Russia since September 21, according to Kazakhstan Minister of Internal Affairs Marat Akhmetzhanov.

Akhmetzhanov provided reporters with an update on the numbers of Russians traveling through Kazakhstan on Tuesday, according to Kazakh media outlets. Many Russians who entered Kazakhstan in the last two weeks have already left, he said, estimating the number of Russian departures to be about 147,000.

The daily numbers of comings and goings suggest large fluctuations, with Akhmetzhanov saying that about 7,800 people entered Kazakhstan from Russia and another 10,500 people left on Tuesday alone. There have been times in the last two weeks when about 30,000 Russians traveled into Kazakhstan in a single day, he said.

Overall, Akhmetzhanov said the number of Russians entering Kazakhstan doubled or tripled since September 21, when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists amid Russia's ongoing war with Ukraine. Putin's announcement sparked protests in Russia and led to a spike in Russian citizens traveling out of the country, as neighboring nations like Finland reported an increase in traffic along its border with Russia.

Ukraine Declares Negotiations with Russia 'Impossible'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky formally agreed that negotiations with Russia are "impossible."

This comes after the Kremlin annexed four Ukrainian regions after a "sham" referendum last week.

Zelensky signed off in agreement with the the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) decision "regarding the actions of Ukraine in response to the Russian Federation's attempt to annex the territories of our state, with the aim of guaranteeing the security of the Euro-Atlantic space, Ukraine and restoring its territorial integrity."

The National Security and Defense Council noted the "impossibility" of negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said last month that Ukraine has "never been against negotiations with Russia on contributions and reparations."

But the longer the Kremlin delays them, "the worse are the conditions and the larger the sums."

As Russia continues to escalate tension, the NSDC also said Ukraine should "ensure the strengthening of Ukraine's defense capabilities by increasing the supply of military and technical assistance." It also recommended the Ukrainian parliament issue sanctions and other responses to Russia's escalation.

"Mobilization acts as a mechanism of Russia's destabilization," Danilov said in a tweet. "Putin is between the hammer and two anvils: strikes by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, protests in the Russian Federation, and pressure from the West."

He added that Ukraine "will never surrender" to Russia.

More Than 15k Casualties Reported in Ukraine

More than 15,000 casualties have been reported in Ukraine since Russia began its invasion on February 24.

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported 6,114 Ukrainian killed and 9,132 injured as of October 2, 2022.

Those killed include 2,380 men, 1,633 women, 162 girls, and 193 boys and 35 children and 1,711 adults whose sex is yet unknown.

Among the injured, 1,912 are men, 1,382 are women, 196 are girls and 268 are boys. There are also 226 injured children and 5,148 injured adults whose sex is still unknown.

In the month of September alone, there were 299 people killed and 923 people injured, OHCHR reported.

A majority of the casualties, about 8,500, occurred in both the Ukrainian and Russian-controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects, including shelling from heavy artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, missiles and air strikes, OHCHR said.

OHCHR also said it believes the actual figures are "considerably higher, as the receipt of information from some locations where intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed and many reports are still pending corroboration."

This includes areas like Mariupol and Izium, "where there are allegations of numerous civilian casualties," OHCHR said.

Russia to Begin 'Routine Autumn Conscription'

Russia will soon begin its "routine autumn conscription cycle," training tens of thousands of conscripts in the country, the U.K. Ministry of Defence said Tuesday. However, those conscripts are not permitted to be deployed outside of Russia, and are separate from Russian President Vladimir Putin's mobilization announced in late September.

"On 30 September 2022 Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order for the routine autumn conscription cycle, which aims to train 120,000 conscripts," the latest British intelligence says.

"The conscription cycle will begin on 01 November 2022, a month later than usual. The late start to the cycle is an indication of growing pressures on Russia's ability to train and equip a large number of new conscripted personnel. The challenges of accommodating, training, equipping and deploying mobilised and conscripted personnel are significant. Deficiencies within the Russian administrative and logistical systems will continue to undermine these efforts."

Putin Expected to Sign Annexation Plan Today

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to sign off on the annexation of four Ukrainian regions today, according to the Kremlin.

"Most likely, the laws will be signed today," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday.

This comes after Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, unanimously approved the accession of the Ukrainian territories into Russia, according to Russian state media.

Those regions include the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics and the Kherson and Zaporozhzhia regions.

This move has been widely condemned by the West as a violation of international law.

The United States Treasury Department has already issued sanctions on Russian military officials, financial leaders and 278 members of Russia's legislature for "enabling Russia's sham referenda and attempt tp annex sovereign Ukrainian territory."