Diplomacy
WNBA superstar Brittney Griner’s appeal hearing will take place on October 25.
Sanctions
Russian birch wood may be entering the U.S. market by routing it through Vietnam for manufacture.
Consequences
Gazprom has shut off gas supplies to Italy, citing an administrative change in Austria. Denmark says that the Nord Stream 2 pipelines appears to have stopped leaking, while Sweden is sending a diving vessel to investigate the ruptures.
An investigation by the AP and PBS’ “Frontline” found that Russia has stolen at least $530 million in Ukrainian grain.
The Treasury and Justice Departments convened a meeting of the Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs (REPO) Task Force with Australia, Canada, the EU, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the UK to discuss ongoing efforts to enforce sanctions.
Ukraine Sitrep
Russia said it will “consult” with local populations to determine the exact borders of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions that it annexed.
Ukraine recaptured the town of Lyman, which was confirmed by Russia. Ukraine continues to advance in the region.
Ukraine is now offering the U.S. “full and ongoing visibility” into its list of Russian targets in hopes that the U.S. will provide Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which have a much longer range than HIMARS.