Basic military training term extended, agreement on immediate strengthening of air defense: October 19 highlights

In Ukraine, the term of basic military training will be extended

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced changes in the organization of training and the quality of training of service members in training centers. The General Staff approved the basic military training program with a training period of one and a half months instead of the current 30 days.

The number of recruits decreased by 40%

Currently, the average number of simultaneous training of recruits in training centers is approximately 20,000 people. A few months ago, this number reached almost 35,000.

At the same time, the Ministry of Defense said that 12% of those who join the army do so voluntarily thanks to the new conscription system.

Ukraine and Germany concluded an agreement on the immediate strengthening of air defense

Ukraine signed an agreement with Germany regarding immediate actions to strengthen the air defense system. Belgium, Norway, the Netherlands and Denmark will also join the project.

France supports Zelenskyy's victory plan

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot made his first visit to Kyiv in this position. In the Ukrainian capital, he announced that Paris supports the victory plan of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in particular, is open to the idea of inviting Ukraine to NATO.

In Odesa Oblast, a student beat another at night, shouting homophobic phrases

A fight broke out between students of an educational institution in Odesa Oblast, the video of which was made public online. It shows a boy hitting another boy, shouting homophobic slurs and accusing him of defamation.

The incident is being investigated as an intentional minor bodily injury (Part 1 of Article 125 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

Ukraine will be invited to NATO within the borders of 1991

The admission of Ukraine to NATO without the temporarily occupied territories was never discussed. The country will be invited to the Alliance only within the borders of 1991, said the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and the Minister of Justice Olga Stefanishyna.

Massive air attack on Ukraine

On the night of October 19, Russian troops attacked Ukraine with 98 drones, including the Shahed type, and 6 Kh-59/69 guided air missiles. More than 40 drones and 4 missiles were shot down.

People were wounded in Kyiv, Cherkasy Oblast and Sumy Oblast. Two people also died.

Pochayiv mayor will be checked by law enforcement officers because of his position regarding the UOC MP in the Pochaiv Lavra

The Ternopil Oblast Military Administration appealed to the law enforcement officers with a demand to check the activities of Pochayiv Mayor Vasyl Boyko. Earlier, he filed an appeal against the court decision, which returned the buildings of the Pochayiv Lavra monastery to the state.

Other news

• Le Monde: The US has no principled objections to Ukraine's invitation to NATO.
• The Netherlands will buy reconnaissance drones for Ukraine for more than €40 million.
• The son of the head of Khmelnytskyi Oblast medical commission began to dispose of his business after his dismissal — NGL.media.
• Criminal cases can be opened for the distribution of distorted information about the mobilization, according to the Ground Forces.
• Viktor Stelmakh (Saba), one of the creators of the Shershni Dovbusha drone unit, died at the front.
• Biden said that there is currently no consensus on allowing Ukraine to fire Western missiles at the Russian Federation.