ATACMS' first strike on Russian positions, theft of chevrons from Juice's grave: highlights of October 17

The first use of ATACMS

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the Ukrainian military had used American ATACMS missiles.

"Today I am especially grateful to the United States. Our agreements with President Biden are being implemented. They are being implemented very accurately - the ATACMS have proven themselves," President Zelenskyy said.

During the night of October 17, the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked helicopters and equipment of the Russian occupation forces at airfields near occupied Luhansk and Berdyansk. The Wall Street Journal wrote that Ukrainian troops could have used ATACMS for the first time.

The military noted that during this operation, called DRAGONFLY, they managed to destroy the following:

• nine helicopters of various modifications;
• special equipment that was at the airfields;
• an air defense launcher;
• an ammunition depot.

The runways of the airfields were also damaged.

According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the ammunition depot in Berdyansk detonated until 4 a.m., and the detonation in Luhansk lasted until 11 a.m. Enemy losses in manpower amounted to dozens of dead and wounded.

Chevrons stolen again on Juice's grave

Unidentified persons stole the chevrons on the grave of Andriy Pilshchikov, pilot of the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade (call sign Juice) for the second time, his girlfriend Melanie Podolyak said on October 16.

On October 17, the Kyiv police reported that during the monitoring of online resources, they found a publication about the theft of items from the grave of a Ukrainian defender at one of the capital's cemeteries.

Investigators opened criminal proceedings over the desecration of the soldier's grave under Part 1 of Article 297 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Law enforcement officers are identifying the perpetrators.

Rada adopts law on PEP

MPs passed the bill on strengthening financial monitoring of PEPs (politically exposed persons). Now, instead of three years after leaving office, top officials will actually have PEP status for life.

The law provides for stricter supervision of the wealth of Ukrainian PEPs and increased liability of primary financial monitoring entities, such as banks, for unjustified refusal to provide financial services to users.

PEPs are politically exposed persons, who are individuals with important public functions, which makes them at a higher risk of potential involvement in bribery, money laundering, corruption, illicit enrichment through their positions, etc.

Return of Ukrainian children

Ukraine returned three children to the government-controlled territory. They were in the temporarily occupied part of Kherson Oblast.

When the Russians entered Kherson, the parents of 10-year-old Oleksandr, 8-year-old Daryna, and 6-year-old Yakiv decided to send the children to their grandmother's village, hoping for greater safety.

MP Dubnevych was put on wanted list

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine has put on the wanted list the current MP, member of the For Future parliamentary group Yaroslav Dubnevych.

The agency noted that he is wanted because he is suspected of organizing the seizure of natural gas worth more than UAH 2.1 billion ($58 million) and legalizing the proceeds of crime.

However, on the day he was put on the wanted list, Dubnevych remotely joined a court hearing in another case - the embezzlement of UAH 93 million ($2.6 million) from the state rail transport company Ukrzaliznytsia.

According to the Anti-Corruption Action Center, Dubnevych said he was currently in a hospital in Ukraine. The prosecutor had no reports that the lawmaker had crossed the border. The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office told hromadske that the MP's whereabouts are unknown.

Other news

• The number of dead Ukrainian citizens in Israel has increased to 13, said First Lady Olena Zelenska.
• The explosion of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant caused Ukraine $14 billion in losses, according to a report by the Ukrainian government and the UN.
• The Defense Ministry has simplified the process of writing off drones for the military. The process will now take two weeks instead of two months.
• US President Joe Biden is traveling to Israel amid escalation in the Gaza Strip.