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vehicles, 82 satellite communication terminals, and 50 drone detection systems. A €1B winter package of assistance is also being prepared, including the Patriot and IRIS-T missile defence systems. Also, the US has promised Ukraine several batches of Switchblade 600 kamikaze drones.
Son, widow of fallen soldier killed in Russia's attack on Kharkiv Oblast village. Russian troops launched a missile attack on a grocery store and a café in the village of Hroza in Kharkiv Oblast on Oct. 5, where a funeral reception was being held on the occasion of the reburial of a Ukrainian soldier, said Dmytro Chubenko, a spokesman for the regional prosecutor's office.
Due to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian federation, an estimated 174,000km2, or roughly 30% of the country's territory, is potentially contaminated by explosive ordnance (EO) and requires assessment and removal of any landmines. Demining activities are among the most critical needs for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine, as EO contamination not only endangers the lives and well-being of Ukrainian citizens but also significantly hampers economic activities. The clearance of agricultural land deserves particular attention due to its potential to enhance Ukraine's economic stability and food security.
Russia's damage to Ukrainian environment amounts to nearly $60 billion. The total environmental damage caused by the Russian invasion amounts to more than 55.6 billion euros ($58.9 billion), Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said in a speech on Oct. 20, citing figures from the Environmental Protection Ministry.
● Weapons
Ukraine still does not produce enough ammunition, but drone production has increased to tens of thousands per month. The Ukrainian defence-industrial complex has significantly increased ammunition production. Still, Ukraine remains reliant on the supply of projectiles from its partners, as stated at the NATO Industrial Forum in Stockholm by Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin. In his opinion, no matter how much Ukraine increases local production, it will still primarily rely on supplies from the West. At the same time, by the end of 2023, Ukraine will be producing tens of thousands of drones per month. "This industry is growing in our country even faster than ammunition and military weapons," Kamyshin stated. Moreover, the Armed Forces recently handed over a batch of Shark drones worth ₴8.5M, produced by the Ukrainian company Ukrspecsystems. Kamyshin also assured observers that the first products from Western defence companies that opened offices in Ukraine will be ready in 2024.
Ukraine has spent over $27 billion on defence this year. Ukraine has spent over Hr 1 trillion ($27.4 billion) on defence in the first nine months of 2023, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Oct. 20.
Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Patrick Ryder stated that Ukraine and Israel need 155 mm artillery shells. The brigadier general is confident that the US and its allies will be able to satisfy the needs of both states. Ryder remindedobservers that the US and its partners are increasing the production of projectiles of this caliber. In particular, the US plans to produce up to 80,000 rounds of ammunition per month by 2025, but the initial goal is 100,000 shells monthly. However, the Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kamyshin, believes that global weapon production
22 UKRAINE Country Report November 2023 www.intellinews.com