Victorious news of 604th day of war: Ukrainian offensive in Kherson region, Mi-8 helicopters from Croatia

Croatia hands over Mi-8 helicopters to Ukraine

During a meeting between Croatian Defense Minister Mario Banozic and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the leaders announced that Croatia had transferred its Mi-8 helicopters to Ukraine

This is stated in the transcript of the US Defense Department.

"We appreciate Croatia's steadfast commitment to help Ukraine, and we can see that in your numerous military equipment donations, including all of your Mi-8 helicopters and the forward deployment of your forces to NATO battle groups in Poland, Lithuania and Hungary, and your donations to humanitarian assistance," Austin said.

Drohobych salt may be included in the list of intangible cultural heritage of Ukraine

This was reported by the Drohobych City Council, according to Espreso. 

The corresponding letter, along with the registration card, photographs, and letters of consent from the holders of the intangible heritage, was sent to the Department of Culture of the Lviv Regional State Administration. After processing, the received materials will be transferred to the Ministry of Culture, which has an appropriate expert council.

"Drohobych Saltworks is famous for the fact that it has managed to preserve its unique salt extraction technology, which makes it crystal clear and healthy, free of impurities. And during the full-scale war, when salt production plants suffered from enemy shelling, Drohobych Saltworks remained one of the country's strategically important enterprises. And thanks to its venerable age and unique production, Drohobych Saltworks is one of the city's important tourist magnets," the Drohobych City Council said.

At night in Melitopol, guerrillas blow up a car with looters

On the night of October 20, several powerful explosions occurred on the outskirts of the temporarily occupied Melitopol near the Russian military base.

Melitopol mayor Ivan Fedorov reported the information.

"It was a restless night for the occupiers of Melitopol. After midnight, several explosions were heard outside the city," the statement reads.

He noted that the most powerful explosions were heard near a Russian military base at the seized airfield. According to Fedorov, residents also heard the hum of equipment. 

Later, the mayor reported the liquidation of an enemy vehicle of the occupation looters.

"They regularly tracked and looted empty apartments in the city. At the same time, our resistance forces were tracking the occupiers. Almost two years of occupation, but the enemy is still uneasy even during the curfew at night," Fedorov writes.

14 historical artifacts stolen by Russia returned to Ukraine

On Friday, October 20, 14 cultural property stolen by Russia from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine were unpacked at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve.

This was reported by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy.

It is noted that they tried to smuggle them into the United States. The artifacts were handed over by the American side to the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States, then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered them to Ukraine and handed them over to the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.

"Ukrainian cultural heritage is suffering in the war.  This is not only architecture, but also a huge number of archaeological sites, especially in the south and east of Ukraine. Many of these sites are being looted by the occupying Russian forces during the construction of their fortifications in the temporarily occupied territories," the statement says. 

Germany has provided a new aid package to Ukraine

This is reported on the German government's official website. 

The package includes three Gepard anti-aircraft systems capable of countering the threat from helicopters and airplanes at low and ultra-low altitudes. They can operate day and night in all weather conditions and in the face of intense enemy electronic warfare.

The package also includes 20 RQ-35 Heidrun unmanned reconnaissance systems, 20 Vector light reconnaissance UAVs, a Biber bridge paver, 3 HX81 tractors and 3 semi-trailers, 13 border guard vehicles, and 3,872 DM125 artillery smoke shells.

The Ukrainian offensive on Dnipro's left bank in the Kherson region is large-scale

The Institute for the Study of War believes that the Ukrainian offensive on the left bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region appears to be larger than previous raids. Geolocation footage shows that the Ukrainian Armed Forces maintain a presence along the Dnipro shoreline and near the Antonivka bridge.

This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

On Thursday, October 19, a well-known Russian propagandist claimed that two Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Ukrainian Marine Corps Brigade had crossed the Dnipro River, defeated Russian troops in the area and gained a foothold in the village of Krynky.

He also claimed that Russian infantry counterattacked and pushed Ukrainian forces back to the outskirts of the village, but noted that the Defense Forces still controlled some houses in Krynky and were waiting for reinforcements in the area.

Another Russian blogger claimed that Ukrainian troops used more manpower in the Krynky attacks than in previous attacks. Several Russian sources, including the head of the Kherson Regional Occupation Administration, Vladimir Saldo, claimed that Russian troops had successfully pushed Ukrainian forces from the Poima-Pishchanivka-Pidstepne area to positions along the Dnipro river bank and near the Antonivka bridge, and that Ukrainian troops were trying to rest and regroup under constant air strikes and shelling by the occupying troops. 

Ukrainian aviation launches 7 strikes against the Russian forces

The Ukrainian Armed Forces' General Staff reported this. 

Over the day, the Defense Forces' aviation launched 7 strikes on the invading Russian troops' military positions and another 4 on enemy anti-aircraft missile systems.

Missile troops hit a control center, a munitions depot, 3 manpower concentration areas, and an electronic warfare station.