Russia “will likely attempt to blow up the dam” at Kakhovka to cover its retreat from western Kherson.
According to October 21 Russian offensive campaign assessment by the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian forces have started their withdrawal from the west of Kherson Oblast and they “will likely attempt” to blow up the dam at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) to “cover their withdrawal and to prevent Ukrainian forces from pursuing Russian forces deeper into Kherson Oblast.”
ISW says that Russian troops likely intend to continue their withdrawal in Kherson Oblast “over the next several weeks but may struggle to withdraw in good order if Ukrainian forces choose to attack.”
The Main Defence Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine reports that the Russian invaders mined the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station back in April and are now carrying out work on mining locks and supports.
According to the MID, the Russians expect the Ukrainian Defence Forces to quickly liberate the right-bank part of the Kherson region and are preparing a series of terrorist attacks on this territory. In particular, the dam of the Kakhov reservoir and the aggregates of the Kakhov hydroelectric power station were at risk of destruction.
"At the same time, the detonation of the dam was planned in advance - the main demining work was carried out back in April. During the current week, the locks and pillars of the Kakhova HPP were additionally mined. 2 military tented KamAZs without drivers are installed on the dam. Both cars are fully loaded with boxes of explosives," the intelligence clarifies.
The GUR is sure that "the terrorist state is deliberately preparing terrorist attacks that will lead to catastrophic consequences."
"If these plans are implemented, dozens of Ukrainian settlements, including Kherson, will be hit by the elements. In this case, the scale of the ecological disaster will go far beyond the borders of Ukraine and affect the entire Black Sea region," Ukrainian intelligence emphasized.
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Civilian Statistics as of 10.20
Confirmed victims among civilians: 6,306 dead (397 of which were children), and 9,602 injured (723 of which were children) as of 10.17.2022 — Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights;
Victims among the children: 429 dead and 817 injured — Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine;
6,657,918 individual refugees from Ukraine recorded across Europe (11,150,639 border crossings from Ukraine; 4,767,914 border crossings to Ukraine) as of 08.17.2022 — UNHCR;
6,645,000 IDP Population; 5,545,000 Returnees Population (as of 07.23.2022) — IOM;
2,663 educational institutions damaged, 326 of which were fully destroyed — Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine;
906 medical facilities damaged, 123 of which fully destroyed (as of 08.18.2022) — Viktor Liashko, Minister of Health of Ukraine;
More than 3,5 million people, or 8% of the country's population, were become homeless (as of 07.31.2022) — Center for countering disinformation at the National Security and Defenсe Council of Ukraine; About 120,000 private homes and more than 20,000 high-rise buildings damaged or destroyed (as of 06.30.2022) — Oleksii Chernyshov, Minister of Ministry of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine;
464 cultural heritage sites destroyed (as of 08.11.2022) — Ministry of Culture and Information Policy;
184,414 explosive objects and 1,047 kg of explosives neutralized since the beginning of Russia's large-scale military invasion — Ministry of State Emergency Service.
Podolyak on mining of Kakhovka HPP: Russia is preparing a man-made catastrophe
Russia is preparing a man-made catastrophe by flooding territory in southern Ukraine in order to stop a Ukrainian counteroffensive and block the retreat of Russian troops, as stated by Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the head of the Ukrainian President's Office.
The mining of the Kakhovka HPP was previously reported by President Zelenskyy in his address to the European Council.
"Russia is deliberately creating the ground for a large-scale disaster in southern Ukraine. We have information that Russian terrorists have mined the dam and aggregates of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant," Zelensky said.
"According to our information, Russia has already prepared everything to carry out this terrorist attack. Ukrainian staff was kicked out of Kakhovka station – there are only Russian citizens there. They fully control the station. We must act immediately to prevent Russia from carrying out this catastrophe. We need an international observation mission to Kakhovka HPP. It is necessary to return Ukrainian staff there and ensure immediate and professional demining of units and the dam," the President stressed.
Source: Ukrinform, government-owned media
Exhumation completed at the site of the largest mass grave in Lyman: 146 bodies were found
The police have completed the exhumation at the site of the largest mass grave in the liberated Lyman, Donetsk region, having removed the bodies of 111 civilians and 35 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine — reports the Donetsk Region Police Departament.
"The police completed investigation at the cemetery in Lyman, where two mass graves were discovered after the liberation from the Russian aggressor. Civilians were buried in one location, Ukrainian defenders — in the other. The killed were buried in trenches, some of the graves are unmarked. As a result of large-scale work, which lasted more than two weeks, investigators seized the bodies of 146 people," the statement reads.
According to the police, 25 mass graves have been discovered in Lyman, investigation teams are currently working there. In total, 58 of such burials have already been found in the liberated settlements of the region. The police receive new reports about buried people from residents every day. However, some of these graves are still not accessible due to active military operations.
Currently, 166 bodies have been exhumed in the liberated territories of northern Donetsk region, including five children. Among the exhumed civilians, 85 are men, 66 are women, 5 children, the sex of another 10 people has not been determined.
The police noted that the most difficult thing ahead is to establish the identity and cause of death of each victim. According to preliminary data, people died from mine-blast and shrapnel wounds as a result of Russian shelling, as well as from natural causes. There are bodies with signs of violence. The number of people executed by Russian soldiers will be made public after all examinations are completed.
Source: Donetsk Region Police Department
A married couple was found murdered in Kherson region after liberation: Russian military is responsible for the crime
The bodies of a married couple were found after the de-occupation of one of the settlements of Beryslav district of the Kherson region — Russian military, who lived next door to the victims, are responsible for their deaths — the Kherson Region Prosecutor's Office reports.
"While working on the de-occupied territory... in one of the settlements of Beryslav district, the bodies of the apartment's owners with signs of violence were found," the report reads.
According to preliminary data, the woman died from blunt trauma to the head, and the man — from a gunshot wound to the chest. Russian soldiers, who lived next door to the victims during the occupation of the settlement, are responsible for the death of the local couple — the Region Prosecutor's Office informs.
The bodies of the victims were sent for forensic medical examination.
It is noted that prosecutors continue to collect evidence of the presence of the Russian military in Kherson region and their war crimes.
Source: Kherson Region Prosecutor’s Office
Another Russian torture chamber found in Kherson region
An occupants' torture chamber was found in Bilyayivka, Kherson region. Russians kept local residents and residents of surrounding villages there.
This was stated by Oleksandr Levechko, Head of the Novooleksandrivska community of Kherson region, for Radio Liberty. According to him, no other torture chambers were found in the community.
"Garbage, dirt, everything was scattered and ruined, the room was without windows, there was only one door. A criminal investigation has also been started against the torture chamber in Bilyayivka, the SSU is conducting criminal proceedings," the official said.
He added that during the occupation, the Russians made door-to-door visits, checked phones and appliances, and used physical force. In Bilyayivka and other settlements, the occupants also abducted people.
In the village of Havrylivka in mid-April, Russians killed a boy and then told the residents that it was done by a "sniper of the Armed Forces of Ukraine". The occupants abducted and intimidated the child's father.
Source: Head of Novooleksandrivska community of Kherson region for Radio Liberty
Russia struck the Chernihiv region
Today, on October 20th, Russian occupation troops once again shelled the border settlements of Chernihiv region — reported the Operational Command "North".
According to the military command, during 1.40-2.30 p.m., the observers reported 16 hits, presumably from an 82 mm mortar, in the area of the settlement of Kostobobriv.
The OC "North" added that there were no losses among personnel and equipment.
There was no information about casualties among the civilians or damage to civilian infrastructure.
Source: Operational Command “North”
Russian army struck at the enterprise and infrastructure in Dnipropetrovsk region
On the night of October 20th, explosions were heard in Dnipropetrovsk region. The Russians struck at an industrial enterprise and energy infrastructure facility in Kryvyi Rih district — stated Valentyn Reznichenko, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration.
"There are serious destructions. All emergency services are working at the site. Preliminary, people were not injured," — he wrote.
According to Valentyn Reznichenko, the rest of the districts had no emergencies during night and are currently peaceful.
Source: Head of Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration
Bodies of 12 civilians killed by Russian military during occupation were found in Donetsk region
On October 19th, law enforcement officers found the bodies of civilians killed by the enemy's servicemen during the occupation in Donetsk region — stated Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration.
"Russia is killing civilians! Russians killed 1 civilian in Zarichne, Donetsk region yesterday. In addition, law enforcement officers found the bodies of 12 civilians killed by Russians during the occupation: 8 — in Lyman, 2 — in Novoselivka and 2 — in Sosnovne. Five more people were wounded yesterday," he said.
Source: Head of Donetsk Regional Military Administration
Russian army strikes educational institution with kamikaze drones in Mykolaiv
On the night of October 20th, Russian occupation forces attacked Mykolaiv with Shahed-136 kamikaze drones. Four drones hit one of the educational institutions of the city — according to the head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration Vitaliy Kim.
"Another drone fell on a gated private territory. It also caused two fires in open areas, which were promptly extinguished," he said.
According to Vitaliy Kim, in Mykolaiv district the enemy struck with mortars in the direction of Ochakiv port, its water area and along the recommended sea routes. In Bashtanka district shelling of the territory and adjacent settlements of Berezneguvata community continues.
Source: Head of Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration
Russian army destroyed a school of social rehabilitation with S-300 missiles in Zaporizhzhya region
Today, in the morning of October 20th, the enemy attacked the village of Komyshuvakha, Zaporizhzhia region. The occupants used S-300 missiles — reported by the head of Zaporizhzhya Regional Military Administration Oleksandr Starukh.
"As a result of the strike, a two-storey apartment building was damaged. There are no casualties. In addition, the local school of social rehabilitation was destroyed," he wrote.
Source: Head of Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration
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