Russian lawmaker urges Zelensky to sign surrender as a birthday gift for Putin
On Putin's 74th birthday, State Duma member Andrei Krasov called on Ukraine's president to travel to Moscow and sign a surrender. The same day, EU member states agreed a new sanctions package targeting nearly 1,600 individuals and entities.
On 7 October, Russian President Vladimir Putin turned 74. State Duma Defence Committee member Andrei Krasov marked the occasion by publicly urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to give Putin a special present: an unconditional surrender. Speaking to the outlet "lenta.ru", the deputy said the Ukrainian leader should fly to Moscow to sign the document, and that it would be best to do so the same day.
Nuclear threats toward Europe
A few days earlier, Sergei Karaganov, a political scientist and foreign policy adviser to the Kremlin, threatened Europe with nuclear strikes and the destruction of several countries if it continues to support Ukraine. In an interview with "Rosbalt", he claimed that the United States began to step back already under Joe Biden, while Europeans did not, and said he hoped Russia would not have to punish them.
Losses and the strike on Pryluky
Ukraine's General Staff said 1,690 Russian troops were killed or wounded over the previous day. By its count, Russia's total personnel losses had reached 1,545,950 by Wednesday morning.
A Russian missile strike on Pryluky, in Ukraine's Chernihiv region, destroyed a five-storey residential building. Fourteen people were killed, including four children, and 50 more were injured. Rubble clearance continues, so the toll may rise.
New EU sanctions
On Putin's birthday, EU member states agreed a new large-scale sanctions package against nearly 1,600 individuals and entities over the war in Ukraine, diplomats said. Those on the blacklist are mainly linked to Russia's military and arms industry. EU foreign ministers are expected to formally adopt the measures at a meeting on Monday.
Agreement was also reached on sanctions against 77 people in connection with Russia's recent State Duma elections, which Brussels condemned as rigged. They include three members of election commissions.
