Exclusives
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“Now it’s your turn”: US envoys planned to show Moscow a refinery pause and a diesel deal, then ask for something back, a source tells Reuters. Ukraine’s part of that exchange was to stop striking Russia’s oil plants, a request Kushner repeated at the Miami meeting. |
Military
Ukrainian scouts used a captured Russian soldier’s radio to gather intelligence for four days. Recon soldiers shared stories about their daily lives with ArmyInform.
No contact with command, a comrade maimed by a mine. A former TV director fought—and halted the Russians. He saved three soldiers in six months, ArmyInform says. One wounded comrade he could only hear on the radio.
Ukraine says it hit 12 Russian refineries in September. No refinery strikes reported since Trump’s “energy ceasefire”. Zelenskyy said Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities continued after Trump’s announcement, while Moscow had yet to confirm a ceasefire.
The night Trump announced a diesel deal with Putin, drones knocked out more than half the tanks at a Russian fuel-export terminal. The Rostov-on-Don site, which loads oil products onto river and sea tankers, burned for two days and was still smoking on the third.
“We don’t need to hit the entire plant”—Ukraine’s drones go for refinery parts sanctions make hard to repair. Of 54 strikes The Washington Post examined, more than half appear to have damaged the units that start turning crude into fuel.
Intelligence and technology
Ukraine’s swimming robot can tow 10 tons, its maker says. Hook up a gun, and the shells ride aboard. It has already swum across the Desna River, its team says, and Ukraine’s Defense Ministry cleared it for use in 2025.
Russian ballistic missiles hit Kyiv before sirens, gap that lands hard amid fears that Washington could cut data that warns of launches. The alert came late because Ukrainian radar detected the missiles only during the attack, with no advance data on launches, the Air Force says.
Kinzhal is 90% identical to Iskander-M: Ukraine’s intelligence identifies 58 companies in production chain. Russia is developing a modified version of the Kinzhal missile, equipped with a warhead that strikes targets with fragments and a blast wave.
Built by Ukraine’s ex-defense minister and unit that wrecked $12 billion of Russian gear, new interceptor downs two jet drones over Kyiv. Mykhailo Fedorov and Lasar’s Group commander Pavlo Yelizarov developed the drone in a month, Fedorov says.
Russia is building satellite network that could put all of Europe in reach, defense executive warns. Oleksandr Danyliuk, head of the European defense-tech firm Destinus, called Russia’s Rassvet system an extraordinary threat, first to Ukraine and then to Europe.
International
Ukraine wins seat on UN Human Rights Council, vows to seek accountability for Russian abuses. Elected with 162 votes, Ukraine says it will focus on documenting violations, protecting prisoners of war and unlawfully detained civilians, and returning children taken by Russia.
Finland calls for EU tourist visa ban on Russians until Moscow ends war against Ukraine as bloc weighs tougher restrictions. As suspected Russian sabotage and other hybrid operations spread across Europe, EU officials are weighing tighter restrictions on Russian travel, diplomats, and former combatants to reduce security risks.
Germany works to organize a Coalition of the Willing meeting as Russia strikes Ukraine’s energy sector. Ukraine and Germany have also agreed to hold a meeting of national security advisers in the E3 format.
France seizes Russian shadow fleet tanker in Indian Ocean, vows to combat illicit oil trade “wherever it may be in the world”. The French Navy intercepted the DF Peak in the Indian Ocean over suspicions it was sailing under a false flag. Russia relies on shadow fleet tankers to keep oil revenues flowing despite Western sanctions.
Germany detains two Turkish nationals suspected of torching a Polish Starlink station that helps route internet to Ukraine. Polish radio reports that two more people who may be tied to the arson are in German custody.
Russia’s sabotage of Europe should bring Ukraine more weapons through US purchase scheme, with clear statement of where its red lines lie, NATO’s top European commander says. The PURL program lets allies fund US-made weapons for Ukraine and drew nearly $5.5 billion in pledges before May.
EU blacklists 1,569 Russian arms suppliers and their bosses in its biggest sanctions round ever, as Trump eases up on Moscow. Most of the listed firms feed the supply chain behind the ballistic missiles Russia fires at Ukrainian cities, and EU ministers vowed to keep up the pressure despite the US-Russia fuel arrangement.
Humanitarian and social impact
Russia used civilians as human shields, then shelled them near Kupiansk, Ukraine’s Khartiia says. Aerial reconnaissance footage recorded casualties among a group that included two women and a child, according to Khartiia. The Ukrainian corps says Russian media could use the incident to accuse Kyiv of attacking civilians.
Russian strike collapses a Kharkiv apartment stairwell and kills three, days after the US waived sanctions on Russia’s diesel. Rescuers dug through the night to reach the people buried in the four-story building, while the White House still wants Kyiv to stop striking Russian refineries.
Ukraine’s largest steelworks begins cold shutdown after extensive damage from Russian strikes, saying safe operation is impossible while war continues. The plant will spend two months shutting down safely before mothballing its industrial assets, with any restart dependent on conditions after the war.
Political and legal developments
Energy truce with strings attached: Kyiv reportedly told to spare Russian refineries or lose US intelligence and arms. EU loans ease Ukraine’s budget, yet satellite data, Patriot interceptors, and US-made weapons still hinge on Washington, giving US President Donald Trump room to squeeze Kyiv.
US continues sharing intelligence with Ukraine, Trump says amid Russia deal backlash. Questions remain over missed warning for latest attack. Ukraine received no advance warning before Russia launched five ballistic missiles and more than 100 drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, raising questions about how intelligence support was functioning.
Frozen assets, embargoes, entry bans: Ukraine names the pressure it wants the EU to put on Moscow. Kyiv says it is ready for energy, food-security, and full ceasefires—and that Moscow has to be forced to agree.
“Zelenskyy is helping Democrats”: Trump’s MAGA base accuses Ukraine of trying to swing US midterms, says journalist in US. The narrative runs across all levels of the US information space, from anonymous accounts to national television.
Bipartisan US senators say Trump’s Russian diesel deal conflicts with 2022 ban, as he presses Kyiv to spare Russian refineries. The administration says the deal will lower fuel prices, but lawmakers warn it could help finance Russia’s war against Ukraine.
For years, Hungary tied Ukraine’s whole EU course to ethnic Hungarians’ language rights. Kyiv has now passed the schooling law meant to lift the block. Hungary had blocked four stages of Ukraine’s membership process over the matter.
Zelenskyy says Ukraine could hold elections if Russia agrees to 60-day ceasefire. Moscow counters with truce lasting only voting day. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov says Ukraine needs the 60 days not to hold elections but to heal its wounds and keep fighting.
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