On 18 October, Volodymyr Zelensky announced that 108 Ukrainian women (including 97 serving in the army) and 37 evacuees from Azovstal had been released in a prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia. The exchange marked a significant step towards de-escalating the conflict, achieved after long negotiations between the two sides. According to Reuters, the women that had been released included both medical personnel and soldiers captured during the Azovstal siege in Mariupol.

International organizations, such as the Red Cross, monitored the prisoner exchange to ensure compliance with human rights standards and the safety of those released. The exchange, one of the largest to date, was seen as a gesture of goodwill that could pave the way for further peace negotiations, as reported by the BBC.

On 19 October, Russian President, Vladimir Putin, signed a decree introducing “full” martial law in the annexed regions of Ukraine: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, effective 20 October 2022. The decree also established a “medium level of response” in Crimea and Sevastopol, as well as in other regions bordering Ukraine (Krasnodar Krai, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, and Rostov oblasts).

The introduction of martial law allowed Russia to impose additional restrictions on citizens, including coerced deportations and forced labour. According to Reuters, the move was aimed at strengthening control over the annexed territories and mobilizing more military and civilian resources. The BBC noted that martial law gave Russian authorities broad powers to impose various restrictions, which could significantly affect everyday lives of residents in the regions where it had been introduced.

The New York Times emphasized that the introduction of martial law was an unprecedented step that might lead to an escalation of tensions in the region. The UN and other international organizations expressed concern that the move could exacerbate the humanitarian crisis and lead to further human rights violations.

Al Jazeera reported that the Ukrainian authorities criticized the decision as illegal and as a further intensification of Russia’s occupation policies. According to analysts, the imposition of martial law could undermine diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, pushing both sides toward further confrontation.

The New York Times reported that Russia had transferred between 1,200 and 1,600 soldiers, as well as S-300 anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems from Syria to Ukraine. In addition, several Russian commanders were redeployed from Syria to Ukraine. This redeployment was aimed at strengthening Russia’s military presence in the face of difficulties it was facing in Ukraine, especially in the Donbas region.

The President of Ukraine stated that Ukraine had not orchestrated the attack on the Crimean Bridge. He also warned that Russian forces had mined the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, intending to detonate it to obstruct Ukraine’s efforts to reclaim Kherson.

The White House confirmed the presence of Iranian military advisers in Crimea, where a “relatively small group” was assisting Russian forces with airstrikes in Ukraine. These Iranian advisers were involved in operating drones and unmanned systems used in attacks on civilian targets and infrastructure in Ukraine.

The Council of the European Union imposed sanctions on three Iranian individuals and one entity for actions undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. These measures were enacted in response to their involvement in the development and supply of unmanned aerial vehicles used by Russia in its war against Ukraine.

The sanctions include an asset freeze and prohibit EU individuals and companies from providing financial resources to those on the sanctions list. Additionally, the sanctioned individuals are subject to a travel ban, barring them from entering or transiting through EU Member States.

On 21 October, the European Union leaders convened to address the EU’s response to Russia’s escalating aggression and emphasized the need for increased support for Ukraine. They strongly condemned Russia’s missile and drone strikes targeting civilians, civilian infrastructure and facilities in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine. EU leaders called for strict adherence to international humanitarian law to protect civilian lives. 

An additional €500 million in funding was allocated under the European Peace Facility, raising the EU’s total military assistance to Ukraine to €3.1 billion.

The global food crisis was also discussed, with the EU attributing it to Russia’s actions. The EU accused Russia of weaponizing food in its war against Ukraine and of exacerbating the food crisis in this way. The leaders supported the UN Secretary-General’s call to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which is crucial for maintaining Ukrainian grain exports.

Photo: Logo of the International Red Cross.