KOGUMA Security
Morning Briefing
Ukraine — Oleshky Evacuees Reach Ukrainian-Held Territory During Local Truce
Residents of Russian-occupied Oleshky crossed into Ukrainian-held territory on 31 October under a six-day local ceasefire. The evacuees travelled by bus through Crimea to the Russian town of Anapa, then flew to Belarus before entering Ukraine’s Chernihiv region. According to some residents, food deliveries to the town stopped in May. AP reported that about 2,000 remaining residents were offered the option of staying with replenished food and medical supplies.
Jordan–Syria Border — Jordanian Forces Report Armed Infiltration Attempt
Jordan’s armed forces said border guards engaged 14 armed people trying to enter from Syria on 30 October, causing numerous casualties, and that the rest fled back into Syria. The incident followed Jordanian air strikes in southern Syria on 26 October, which Amman said targeted militants linked to the 23 October attack on a church in Karak. Syria’s civil defence recovered seven bodies from the strikes, and the two countries’ foreign ministers agreed to form a security committee to examine their aftermath.
Sources: Reuters · AP · Al Jazeera
Middle East — AP Documents Damage to US Bases from Iranian Strikes
An Associated Press investigation published on 31 October identified more than 115 drone or missile strikes, claimed by Iran or Iranian-backed militias, that damaged or destroyed structures at 26 military bases and other sites with US equipment through August. Using satellite imagery and interviews with regional officials, AP found that Iran first struck radar and early-warning systems, then aircraft hangars, warehouses and troop housing. AP reported that Kuwait’s Ali Al Salem Air Base was struck at least 30 times.
Sources: AP
Myanmar — UN Investigator Reports Civilian Attacks and Increased Arms Purchases
Kelley Currie, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, said on 29 October that the military-backed government is intentionally attacking civilians to terrorise them, and that its increasing weapons purchases from China, Russia and elsewhere are fuelling the conflict. She said groups behind hate speech against minorities, including the Rohingya, were “becoming much more active online” ahead of an expected International Court of Justice ruling on genocide allegations. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners says at least 15,000 people remain imprisoned following the 2021 military takeover.
Sources: AP
Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo — US Sanctions Rwandan Defence Ministry over M23 Support
The US Treasury imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence and the Zigama Credit and Savings Society on 28 October over support for the M23 armed group in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Treasury said the Rwanda Defence Force, at the ministry’s direction, had deployed thousands of troops in North and South Kivu alongside M23 and supplied the group with equipment and training, while Zigama facilitated payments for military equipment and the movement of gold from M23-held territory. The sanctions block the designated entities’ property under US jurisdiction and generally prohibit US persons from dealing with them.
Sources: US Treasury