Illia Novikov

Laura Loomer, a prominent Trump ally and former critic of Ukraine, says she was misled by Russian propaganda after visiting war-damaged areas and meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials. She now urges conservatives to scrutinize online influencers and take Russian disinformation and foreign influence operations more seriously. Ukrainian leaders hope her visit will improve Ukraine’s standing with the Trump administration as Trump and Zelenskyy prepare to meet, while Loomer’s history of conspiracy theories, false claims, and bigoted remarks has prompted skepticism about her reversal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine and Raytheon are discussing joint production of Patriot interceptors after Donald Trump pledged to grant Ukraine a production license. Ukraine urgently seeks more Patriot systems to defend against Russian ballistic missiles, though experts warn that establishing domestic production could take years. The report also describes Ukraine's expanding long-range drone campaign against Russian targets, including Wildberries logistics facilities, while Russia reports shooting down hundreds of Ukrainian drones. U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to end the war have so far produced no results.

Residents of Kyiv’s Lukianivka neighborhood continue to live, work and create despite frequent Russian missile strikes targeting a nearby weapons plant and damaging the metro station, market and homes. Businesses have reopened beside ruins, displaced residents remain because rents are affordable and no part of Kyiv is considered entirely safe, while the Mala Opera has moved performances underground. The neighborhood’s history, including its market, factories and Ukraine’s first McDonald’s, reinforces residents’ determination to rebuild and preserve a sense of normal life during the war.

Russian overnight strikes killed at least four civilians and wounded more than 20 across Ukraine, including in Odesa, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv. The attacks came amid political turmoil following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's dismissal of popular defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov and a broader government reshuffle. Zelenskyy attributed Fedorov's departure to a breakdown in relations with armed forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi and proposed security-service chief Yevhen Khmara as his replacement, though legal requirements and Parliament's summer recess could delay the appointment. The shake-up prompted protests, while Russia and Ukraine continued to report opposing claims about overnight drone and missile attacks.

Ukraine says its air defenses intercepted five Russian ballistic missiles during overnight attacks, although additional missiles and drones struck Kyiv, causing fires at two warehouses and damaging a school. The attacks were described by Russia as targeting Ukrainian military manufacturing facilities, while Ukrainian strikes continued against Russian oil infrastructure, including a refinery in the Krasnodar region. Kyiv is seeking stronger defenses before winter through a coalition with nine other countries to develop a lower-cost ballistic-missile system, while a U.S. license could eventually allow domestic production of Patriot systems. Patriot supplies remain limited and Ukrainian-made systems are unlikely to be deployable for several years.

Donald Trump has pledged to let Ukraine produce Patriot air-defense systems, but the scope of any U.S. license remains unclear and could initially cover only assembly or selected components rather than complete batteries. Ukrainian officials and experts estimate that pilot production would take at least 18 to 24 months and full manufacturing could take years, particularly because Washington may withhold sensitive technologies such as advanced radar seekers. Licensed production in Japan and planned German manufacturing show that the arrangement is feasible but slow. Russian attacks would also make Ukrainian facilities vulnerable, meaning the initiative would be a long-term effort to strengthen Ukraine’s defense industry and reduce reliance on strained allied stockpiles, not an immediate solution to its air-defense shortages.

Ukraine says it may take a year or more to produce Patriot interceptor missiles because subcontracted components have lengthy production cycles, despite a US decision to license domestic manufacturing of the systems. The announcement followed Donald Trump’s meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky at a NATO summit and drew an ambivalent response from the Kremlin. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones struck Russian oil facilities and set two tankers ablaze in the Sea of Azov, while both sides reported extensive overnight drone and missile activity.

Ukraine’s Stoned Climbers festival, held in the Zhytomyr region, combines rock climbing, camping and live music while offering relief from the pressures of war. Inspired by Yosemite’s climbing counterculture, the volunteer-run event has grown from about 150 visitors in 2023 to more than 500, many of them beginners. Air-raid alerts and the presence of soldiers underscored the wartime setting, while festival profits supported fundraising for Ukraine’s Azov Brigade. Organizers and participants say the inclusive climbing community helps people manage stress, build new traditions and maintain a sense of normality despite continuing restrictions and conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces struck Russia’s Ufa oil refinery for the second time in a week, along with a missile-components plant in the Penza region. Russia reported intercepting 179 Ukrainian drones but did not confirm the refinery strikes, which could not be independently verified. Ukraine’s sustained attacks on Russian energy infrastructure have contributed to fuel rationing and are described by Ukrainian and Western officials as disrupting Russian military supply lines. Sweden agreed to provide Gripen fighter jets, while Ukraine also sought progress toward NATO and EU membership during Zelenskyy’s visit to Ireland. Russian attacks killed three Ukrainian civilians and injured others in Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia is concentrating hundreds of air-defense launchers around Moscow, Valdai and the Kerch Bridge to protect key targets from Ukraine’s increasingly capable long-range drone campaign, potentially leaving other regions exposed. He argues that continued foreign support could force Moscow toward peace, while Donald Trump publicly praised him. Belarus appears to have disabled signal repeaters that Ukraine says helped guide Russian drone attacks, though Kyiv remains wary and is reinforcing its northern border. Russia continued striking Ukrainian targets, including gas stations in Sumy and Zaporizhzhia, while reporting hundreds of downed Ukrainian drones and temporary airport restrictions.

Ukrainian forces reportedly struck the Orenburg Gas Processing Plant, a major facility more than 1,200 kilometers behind the front line, setting the complex on fire. The attack also targeted two Russian military satellite communications centers near Moscow and in the Vladimir region. Ukraine has intensified long-range strikes against Russian energy and military infrastructure while targeting Crimea’s power grid, military bases and supply routes. Russian officials reported intercepting hundreds of Ukrainian drones, while Ukraine reported a separate wave of Russian attacks. The claims could not be independently verified, and the strikes’ broader aim is to weaken Russian military logistics and increase pressure on Vladimir Putin to end the war.

Ukraine says its forces used drones to damage a railway bridge over the North Crimean Canal and strike energy and fuel infrastructure across Crimea, aiming to isolate the Russian-held peninsula and disrupt supplies to Russian forces in southern Ukraine. Ukrainian officials said the attacks caused damage and power outages, although the claims could not be independently verified and local authorities attributed outages to technical problems. The strikes are presented as boosting Ukrainian morale and damaging Russian logistics and war-related energy revenues. Ukraine also reiterated that it is open to direct talks based on the U.N. Charter but demanded Russia withdraw from occupied territory. Russia's foreign minister said Moscow would ensure Belarus's security after Kyiv accused Belarus-based relay stations of supporting Russian drone attacks.

Ukraine carried out long-range missile and drone strikes against Russian military and energy infrastructure, including a reported drone-antenna factory in Cheboksary, a refinery in the Samara region and oil facilities in Vladimir. Russian officials reported widespread Ukrainian drone activity and damage, while Ukrainian authorities said Russian attacks killed and injured civilians in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and Odesa. The escalating strikes are intended to raise the costs of the war for Moscow and challenge President Vladimir Putin’s claims of Russian progress.

Russian forces removed thousands of artworks and museum objects from Ukrainian institutions, particularly from the Kherson Art Museum, as they retreated to occupied Crimea. A digital archive created by museum director Alina Dotsenko provides unusually strong evidence for tracing nearly 10,000 missing works, while other Ukrainian museums lack inventories and documentation. Prosecutors are investigating cultural crimes through museum records, open-source intelligence and cooperation with Interpol, but officials say the true scale of losses is far larger: more than 2.1 million museum objects remain in occupied territories and over 35,000 items from retaken areas are confirmed looted. Russia has incorporated occupied Ukrainian museums into its national catalog, complicating restitution, while a Polish extradition ruling involving alleged illegal excavations in Crimea offers a possible route to accountability.

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger drew backlash after describing Ukraine's advanced drone development as akin to playing with Lego and suggesting that Ukrainian housewives build drone components with 3D printers. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and adviser Alexander Kamyshin defended Ukraine's defense industry and highlighted women's major role in wartime manufacturing and national security. Ukraine has become a leading producer of inexpensive, battle-tested drone interceptors, while Rheinmetall later issued a statement expressing respect for the Ukrainian people and their innovation.

Russia launched nearly 400 long-range drones, 23 cruise missiles and seven ballistic missiles at Ukraine, killing four people and injuring at least 27 across at least 10 locations. Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported 619 Russian attacks along the front line in four days, while the Institute for the Study of War assessed that Russia’s anticipated spring-summer offensive may have begun. Ukraine has reinforced defensive positions and is leveraging its advanced drone technology while seeking Patriot air defense missiles from the United States and Gulf partners. Russia controls about 20% of Ukraine but has made only incremental territorial gains despite repeated seasonal escalations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the U.S. decision to grant a 30-day waiver on Russian oil sanctions, arguing that it could provide Moscow with roughly $10 billion to fund the war and strengthen Russia’s military position. French President Emmanuel Macron said broader sanctions remain in place, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the waiver the wrong signal and questioned whether a supply shortage justified it. The waiver is intended to release Russian oil cargoes stranded at sea and ease shortages linked to disruptions from the Iran war, as higher oil prices benefit Russia’s economy. U.S.-mediated Russia-Ukraine peace talks remain paused but could resume. Zelenskyy also offered Ukraine’s drone-defense expertise to the United States and Gulf partners, saying Kyiv has received requests from several countries and is awaiting U.S. approval for a battle-tested drone-production agreement.

A planned new round of U.S.-brokered Russia-Ukraine talks has been postponed because of the war involving Iran and Israel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The United States and Middle Eastern partners are seeking Ukraine’s expertise in countering Iran’s Shahed drones, but Zelenskyy said Kyiv will provide assistance only if it does not weaken Ukraine’s defenses and supports diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s invasion. Ukraine has also made localized gains along the front, recovering more territory than it lost during the cited two-week period, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

Russia-Ukraine talks expected later this week may move from Abu Dhabi to Switzerland or Turkey because of hostilities linked to the escalating Middle East conflict. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said U.S. and European deliveries of air defense weapons, including Patriot systems, have not yet changed, although prolonged fighting in the Middle East could reduce future supplies. He said Russia’s winter campaign against Ukraine’s power grid caused extensive damage but failed to knock out the system, while new attacks are targeting water and other infrastructure. The United Kingdom plans to bring Ukrainian drone experts to help Gulf states counter Iranian drones, though Zelenskyy said Ukraine has not received a direct request.

Russia launched 420 drones and 39 missiles, including 11 ballistic missiles, against Ukrainian infrastructure and residential areas in eight regions, injuring dozens of people. The attack came as U.S. and Ukrainian envoys prepared for Geneva talks on ending the war, with territorial claims, postwar recovery, a possible trilateral meeting with Russia and a prisoner exchange on the agenda. Ukraine said its air defenses intercepted most of the missiles and urged allies to provide additional military support, while officials accused Vladimir Putin of using negotiations to avoid further sanctions and continue the invasion.

More than a dozen senior European officials visited Kyiv on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion to demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine had defended its independence and that Vladimir Putin had failed to achieve his objectives, while peace negotiations remain stalled over the Donbas and postwar security guarantees. European leaders view Ukraine’s security as integral to their own and want a greater role in U.S.-brokered talks. The conflict continues to depend on foreign military and financial assistance, with NATO countries supporting Ukraine and North Korea, Iran and China aiding Russia in different ways. Casualties on both sides could approach two million, and rebuilding Ukraine is estimated to cost nearly $588 billion over the next decade.

At Kyiv’s National Academic Molodyy Theatre, wounded Ukrainian veterans and drama students perform Olha Semioshkina’s adaptation of Ivan Kotliarevskyi’s Ukrainian version of Virgil’s Aeneid. The production parallels Aeneas’s search for a homeland with veterans’ experiences of combat injuries, displacement and rehabilitation. Its final act gives performers space to recount their own wartime experiences, while theater serves as both creative expression and psychological and physical rehabilitation. Despite a blackout during the premiere, the cast completed the show to a standing ovation, underscoring the performers’ determination to keep living and creating amid Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych returned to Kyiv after being disqualified from the Milan Cortina Olympics for refusing to remove a helmet honoring more than 20 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed since Russia’s invasion. The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected his appeal, while IOC President Kirsty Coventry defended the decision under rules limiting athlete expression during competition. Heraskevych questioned the consistency of those rules, citing Russian flags displayed at Olympic venues and on another athlete’s helmet, and plans to use the international attention to raise money for the families of the fallen. Despite losing a likely medal opportunity, he said he does not regret his decision.

Ukrainian and Russian delegations held a second consecutive day of U.S.-brokered talks in Geneva, working through political and military issues but reporting no breakthrough. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said Washington’s peace efforts had produced meaningful progress, while fighting continued along the front and Russian missile and drone attacks caused deaths and injuries in Ukraine. The two sides remain divided: Ukraine rejects surrendering territory and seeks a ceasefire and leader-level meeting, while Russia demands a comprehensive agreement, Ukrainian neutrality, military restrictions and the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from occupied regions.

A Ukrainian delegation is traveling to Geneva for U.S.-brokered talks with Russia, but little progress is expected because the sides remain divided over territory and other core demands. Fighting continues along the front, with Russian airstrikes on Ukraine and large-scale Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian targets. Russia is sending a delegation led by Vladimir Medinsky, while Ukraine’s team will be led by Rustem Umerov. Separate U.S.-Russian discussions are expected to address economic cooperation, but any potential compromise would require approval from the countries’ leaders.

Artist Iryna Prots praised Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych for refusing to replace a helmet she painted with portraits of more than 20 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed since Russia’s full-scale invasion. The International Olympic Committee deemed the helmet a prohibited political message, and Heraskevych was barred after insisting on wearing it. Prots described the artwork as a memorial and an act of resistance, arguing that the athletes’ stories should remain visible while the war continues and international sporting events celebrate peace.

Russia launched 219 drones, 24 ballistic missiles and a guided aircraft missile at Ukrainian cities including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Odesa, causing injuries, residential damage, fires and widespread heating outages. The attacks came as uncertainty grew over another round of U.S.-brokered Russia-Ukraine talks, potentially in Miami or Abu Dhabi. Ukraine says it is ready to attend, while Russia has provided limited confirmation. Major obstacles remain, including control of occupied territory, Russia’s territorial demands, Ukraine’s requests for security guarantees and reconstruction support, and the unresolved proposal for an energy ceasefire.

A Russian drone strike destroyed a family home in Bohodukhiv in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, killing a father and three young children and seriously injuring their 35-week pregnant mother. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack and called for stronger international pressure on Russia and firm security guarantees for Ukraine. The report also notes that US military aid to Kyiv fell last year while European support increased, amid continued overnight drone activity by both sides.

A Russian Geran-2 drone destroyed a home in Bohodukhiv, Kharkiv region, killing a 34-year-old father and his three young children and seriously injuring their 35-week pregnant mother. Ukrainian officials condemned the strike, declared three days of mourning and called for stronger international pressure, security guarantees and improved air defenses. The report places the attack within a broader escalation in civilian casualties, Russian aerial bombardments and international efforts to support Ukraine and prosecute alleged war crimes. It also notes Ukraine’s manpower and air-defense shortages, reduced US military aid, increased European support, and continued drone attacks by both sides.

U.S.-brokered trilateral talks between Russia and Ukraine are scheduled to resume Wednesday and Thursday in Abu Dhabi after a brief postponement. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said negotiations remain difficult, with Russia’s territorial demands—particularly its insistence on retaining occupied Ukrainian land—among the main obstacles. The talks will take place amid ongoing Russian missile and drone attacks that have killed civilians and damaged Ukraine’s power infrastructure. Ukraine is also registering Starlink terminals and seeking SpaceX’s help to prevent Russia from using the service to guide drones.

Ukraine’s energy minister Denys Shmyhal said Russia carried out 612 attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure during the past year, with intensified bombardments leaving hundreds of thousands without heat or electricity during severe winter weather. Ukraine has introduced emergency measures, prioritized hospitals, schools and other critical facilities, and urged businesses to reduce nonessential power use. State companies were told to import electricity covering at least half of their consumption. The United Kingdom announced an additional £20 million for energy-infrastructure repairs, while humanitarian officials warned that extreme cold and prolonged outages are worsening conditions for millions affected by the war.

Around 350 young Ukrainian cross-country skiers and biathletes continue training at the damaged Sports Ski Base of the Olympic Reserve near Chernihiv despite air-raid sirens, drones, unexploded ordnance and destroyed facilities. The center produced Valentyna Tserbe-Nesina, Ukraine’s first Olympic medalist as an independent country, and now supports athletes such as former territorial-defense soldier Khrystyna Dmytrenko. With Russian athletes allowed to compete under strict neutral conditions and Russia’s bid to restore its biathletes still pending, Ukrainians view continued training and Olympic participation as an act of defiance and evidence of national resilience.

Ukraine’s new defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, told parliament that the military faces roughly 200,000 desertions, around 2 million draft dodgers, excessive bureaucracy, outdated Soviet-style management and a 300 billion hryvnia funding shortfall. He said the country’s defense sector has nevertheless expanded sharply since Russia’s full-scale invasion, with hundreds of drone and electronic-warfare companies, private missile producers and ground-robotics manufacturers now operating. The European Union plans to direct most of a major new loan program toward supporting Ukraine’s military and economy as diplomatic efforts seek a potential peace settlement.

Russia launched nearly 300 drones and 25 missiles at eight Ukrainian regions, targeting energy infrastructure amid freezing temperatures and disrupting power for several hundred thousand households in the Kyiv region. Four people were killed at a mail depot in Kharkiv, while others were wounded in Kharkiv and Odesa, where a hospital, kindergarten, educational facility and homes were damaged. The strikes drew U.S. condemnation at the UN as a dangerous escalation during efforts to advance peace talks. Ukraine is seeking faster delivery of Western air-defense systems, while Russia reported intercepting Ukrainian drones over its territory.

Russian drone strikes temporarily cut power across Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region and left more than 600,000 households without electricity in Dnipropetrovsk. Emergency crews restored service in Zaporizhzhia, while outages continued elsewhere. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks on energy infrastructure and urged stronger international pressure on Moscow. The strikes came as Ukraine, the United States and European countries discussed a possible peace settlement, postwar reconstruction and a U.S. security-guarantees agreement, while Russia showed no public willingness to compromise.

Volodymyr Zelensky replaced Security Service of Ukraine chief Vasyl Maliuk with Ievhen Khmara as acting head ahead of Paris talks involving roughly 30 countries. The discussions are expected to focus on security guarantees for Ukraine, including whether foreign troops could help enforce a future ceasefire, an idea Russia rejects for NATO forces. The reshuffle also includes the appointment of military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov as Zelensky’s chief of staff, reflecting a focus on defense and negotiations. Fighting continued, with Russian strikes killing one person in Kyiv and damaging Ukrainian energy infrastructure, while Ukrainian drone attacks caused disruptions and damage in western Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has replaced the head of Ukraine’s Security Service and appointed a new chief of staff ahead of Paris talks with roughly 30 countries in the “Coalition of the Willing.” The discussions are expected to address possible troop deployments and the mandate of a force monitoring any ceasefire, as Russia’s war against Ukraine approaches its fourth anniversary. Fighting and reciprocal drone attacks continue to cause casualties and damage infrastructure and industrial sites.

Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, as his new chief of staff, replacing Andrii Yermak after Yermak’s resignation following an anti-corruption raid. Budanov is a prominent intelligence officer credited with operations against Russian military targets and has reportedly survived assassination attempts. His appointment places a security and foreign-policy specialist at the center of Ukraine’s government as Kyiv pursues peace negotiations with the United States and Russia, although his precise role in the process remains unclear.

Russian officials say a Ukrainian drone strike on a café and hotel in Khorly, in Russian-occupied Kherson, killed 24 people and wounded at least 50, though the claim has not been independently verified and Kyiv has not commented. The allegation comes amid a broader escalation in disputed claims, including Moscow’s assertion that Ukraine targeted one of Vladimir Putin’s residences, which Kyiv calls a fabrication intended to undermine peace negotiations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says a peace deal is largely prepared but that unresolved issues, particularly territory, remain decisive. US, European and Ukrainian officials continue discussing security guarantees and deconfliction mechanisms, while Russia separately conducted waves of drone attacks on civilian infrastructure in the Odesa region.

Russian drones damaged four apartment buildings and two DTEK energy facilities in Odesa, injuring six people, including three children. The strikes are part of an intensified campaign against Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure that has contributed to rising civilian casualties. The attack occurred amid renewed diplomatic efforts involving Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Russia and Ukraine exchanged competing claims about overnight drone attacks, including an alleged Ukrainian strike on Vladimir Putin’s residence, but those reports could not be independently verified.

Ukraine and the United States remain divided over several elements of a proposed 20-point framework to end Russia’s war. The unresolved issues include the scope and enforcement of security guarantees for Ukraine, the status of territories claimed or occupied by Russia, and the future governance and operation of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Ukraine opposes recognizing Russian control of occupied territory, rejects ceding land it controls, and calls for the plant’s demilitarization and full access for Ukrainian staff. Russia and the United States are continuing contacts, while further talks and separate discussions on Ukraine’s economic recovery are planned.

Russia launched 635 drones and 38 missiles at Ukraine in an overnight and daytime assault that killed at least three people, including a four-year-old child, and damaged homes and infrastructure across 13 regions. Ukrainian authorities said air defenses intercepted most of the incoming weapons, but the attack caused widespread power outages in freezing conditions and marked the ninth major assault on Ukraine's energy system this year. DTEK reported severe damage to its thermal power facilities, while Odesa officials reported damage to port, transport, industrial and residential sites, including more than 120 homes and a merchant ship. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the strike evidence that Vladimir Putin remained committed to the war despite U.S.-led peace efforts, whose progress remains uncertain amid conflicting demands from Moscow and Kyiv.

Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said Russia would approve a ceasefire only after Ukrainian forces withdraw from the front line and suggested that Russian police and National Guard units could remain in Donbas after a peace settlement. He insisted that Moscow considers the region Russian territory, a position Ukraine is likely to reject because its constitution prohibits surrendering land. U.S.-led negotiations remain stalled over territorial control as Donald Trump presses for a rapid agreement. Meanwhile, Ukraine reported recapturing positions near Kupiansk, striking two Russian-linked vessels in the Caspian Sea, and expanding its long-range capabilities. Cross-border drone attacks caused casualties and infrastructure damage in both countries, including deaths and power outages in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used WhatsApp audio messages to answer reporters while flying between London and Brussels during an intensive European tour. He reiterated that Ukraine cannot legally or morally surrender territory, as negotiations over ending the war increasingly consider the possibility of territorial concessions in exchange for security guarantees. Zelenskyy met leaders in Britain, Germany, France and Italy, as well as NATO and European Union officials and Pope Leo XIV, while uncertainty over the Trump administration's commitment to European security complicated the diplomatic landscape. The unusual mid-flight media exchange underscored Zelenskyy's broader strategy of maintaining constant public communication during the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected pressure to surrender territory to Russia as he met European leaders and Pope Leo XIV to strengthen support for Kyiv. A U.S. peace proposal reportedly calls for Ukraine to cede control of much of the Donbas, a condition opposed by Ukraine and its European allies. Donald Trump expressed frustration with Zelenskyy, while Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz backed Ukraine and emphasized the need for a just ceasefire supported by credible security guarantees. Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine exchanged drone strikes, with attacks damaging infrastructure, residential buildings and an LPG facility.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz at Downing Street to strengthen Ukraine’s position in US-led peace negotiations. The leaders called for a just and lasting ceasefire, robust security guarantees and continued support for Ukraine, including air defence, long-term funding and reconstruction. They agreed to integrate European contributions into the US plan and coordinate closely with Kyiv, amid Donald Trump’s criticism of Zelenskyy and limited public detail about the proposal.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meeting Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz in London as European allies seek to strengthen Ukraine’s position in U.S.-backed peace negotiations. Discussions are focused on security guarantees, air defense and long-term funding, while Ukraine and its European partners reject a proposal that would require Kyiv to surrender control of parts of the Donbas. Donald Trump criticized Zelenskyy and urged territorial concessions. The talks come amid concern over a new U.S. national security strategy that favors improved relations with Russia and questions NATO’s expansion. Fighting continues, with Russian strikes killing at least four people in Ukraine and both sides reporting drone activity.

A Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region destroyed a house and killed a 12-year-old boy, while two women were injured. Ukraine reported that Russia launched 137 drones overnight. Ukrainian forces separately targeted Russia’s Temryuk port and reportedly an oil refinery in Syzran, with Russian authorities saying 85 drones were intercepted. The attacks occurred amid confidential US-led peace efforts involving Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Ukrainian representatives, following talks with Vladimir Putin. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European allies accused Putin of using delay tactics, while Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said European demands were unacceptable to Moscow.

Five hours of talks in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner produced no breakthrough, with territorial control remaining the central obstacle. Ukrainian and European officials accused Putin of using the process to delay peace while continuing military pressure. NATO allies pledged to maintain support for Ukraine, and Canada, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands announced additional purchases of U.S. weapons for Kyiv. Fighting continued, with Russian drone strikes killing two people in Ukraine and both sides reporting large overnight drone attacks.

Vladimir Putin says U.S. proposals associated with Donald Trump could serve as a basis for serious negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Russia is demanding Ukrainian withdrawal from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia, as well as a pledge that Ukraine will not join NATO or host Western troops. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is due to visit Moscow after talks involving U.S., Russian and Ukrainian representatives, while Volodymyr Zelensky has described the peace plan as workable despite unresolved issues.

Russia confirmed that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Moscow to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said Russia has not received a formal U.S. peace proposal, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly viewed a revised plan as workable and hopes to meet Donald Trump. European leaders stressed that any agreement requires Ukrainian and European approval, security guarantees for Ukraine, and no restrictions on its military or NATO aspirations.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Moscow as diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war intensify, though Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov says Russia has not yet received or discussed a detailed U.S. peace proposal. Ukraine has cautiously described the emerging plan as potentially workable, while President Donald Trump defended Witkoff’s role in negotiating with both sides. Fighting continues, including a Russian drone attack on Zaporizhzhia that injured at least 19 people. European leaders support ending the war but insist that Ukraine and Europe must approve any settlement, with security guarantees, no restrictions on Ukraine’s armed forces, and no bar to NATO membership.

Ukraine has asked Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican to formalize a mediation channel for negotiating the return of Ukrainian children and civilians taken to Russia or Russian-controlled areas. Kyiv says the informal mission led by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi lacked a mechanism requiring Russian responses. Ukraine records 19,546 children as deported or forcibly transferred, while 1,247 have reportedly been returned. The International Criminal Court has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of personal responsibility for child abductions and issued an arrest warrant.

A Russian overnight barrage of missiles and drones killed 10 people and injured dozens across Ukraine, including at least 37 people—12 of them children—in strikes on two nine-storey apartment blocks in Ternopil. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss a possible peace settlement and pressure on Russia, including new US sanctions targeting Russia's oil industry. Russia separately claimed that Ukraine launched four ATACMS missiles at Voronezh; Moscow said they were intercepted but caused damage to an orphanage and a gerontology centre.

A Russian overnight barrage involving hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles killed 10 people and injured at least 37 in Ternopil, with additional casualties and damage reported in Kharkiv and other Ukrainian regions. Ukraine said residential buildings and civilian infrastructure were hit, while Russia claimed Ukraine had launched four ATACMS missiles at Voronezh, damaging facilities but causing no deaths. The attacks occurred as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Turkey for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on securing a just peace and increasing pressure on Vladimir Putin. Russian oil sanctions prepared by the United States were also expected to take effect, while Romania and Poland mobilized aircraft and temporarily restricted some aviation operations after a drone entered Romanian airspace.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy plans to visit Turkey after meetings in Spain and France to revive negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s war. Previous talks in Istanbul produced only a prisoner exchange, while U.S.-led peace efforts have stalled. Zelenskyy is also seeking military support, including a potential purchase of up to 100 French Rafale jets. Meanwhile, Ukrainian attacks damaged energy facilities in Russian-occupied Donetsk, while Russian missile and drone strikes killed and wounded civilians and damaged buildings, railway infrastructure and a public broadcaster’s offices in Kharkiv and Dnipro.

A drone struck and set fire to the Turkish-flagged tanker MT Orinda while it was unloading liquefied petroleum gas at Ukraine’s Izmail port in the Odesa region. All 16 crew members evacuated safely, but the attack damaged port and energy infrastructure, civilian vessels and caused one injury. The strike came a day after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an agreement to import U.S. liquefied natural gas through Greece to Odesa from January, as Ukraine seeks to secure energy supplies ahead of winter. Russian attacks elsewhere in Ukraine killed at least five people and injured 13, while Ukraine reported launching strikes against Russian infrastructure and Russia said it intercepted Ukrainian drones.

Ukraine’s justice and energy ministers have resigned and officials at the state-owned nuclear company Energoatom have been dismissed amid an alleged $100 million kickback scheme. The investigation has produced five detentions and implicated seven additional people, including Tymur Mindich, a co-owner of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s media company. The scandal is increasing scrutiny of senior officials and previous efforts to restrict anti-corruption watchdogs, although the European Union says it will maintain financial support, including a €6 billion loan. Separately, military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi visited troops in Pokrovsk, where Ukrainian forces are battling Russian troops and attempting to prevent encirclement.

Ukraine’s military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi visited troops defending Pokrovsk in Donetsk, where Ukrainian forces are fighting Russian troops and trying to preserve supply and evacuation routes. At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faced a widening corruption scandal involving alleged $100 million kickbacks in the energy sector, leading to ministerial resignations and the dismissal of senior Energoatom officials. Investigators have detained five people and identified others, including Zelenskyy associate Tymur Mindich as the suspected mastermind. The scandal has renewed concerns about political oversight of corruption and Ukraine’s previous attempts to restrict anti-corruption bodies. Despite the turmoil, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged a €6 billion loan and further EU financial support, while calling for continued pressure on Russia to negotiate.

Russian forces captured three settlements in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region after using dense fog to infiltrate Ukrainian positions, while the heaviest fighting remained around Pokrovsk in Donetsk. Combat has also intensified near Kupiansk and Lyman, and Russia now occupies roughly one-fifth of Ukraine. U.S. sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil are intended to pressure Vladimir Putin toward a ceasefire, although peace efforts have stalled. Russia’s advances remain incremental and costly because its forces are stretched across multiple offensives, while Ukraine continues long-range drone attacks on military-related targets inside Russia. Kyiv is also contending with a corruption investigation involving suspended Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko.

Ukraine’s state-owned nuclear energy company Energoatom says its electricity production and safety remain unaffected by a 15-month anti-corruption investigation into alleged kickbacks of roughly $100 million in the energy sector. Investigators allege that suppliers were forced to pay bribes of 10% to 15% of contract values and that senior officials influenced staffing, procurement and financial decisions. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the probe amid domestic and European pressure to strengthen anti-corruption institutions, which are considered important to Ukraine’s EU membership prospects. The report also covers overnight Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and unverified Russian claims that the FSB stopped a Ukrainian attempt to hijack a fighter jet.

Ukraine is seeking 25 additional US-made Patriot air-defense systems as Russia intensifies missile and drone attacks, particularly against energy infrastructure ahead of winter. Russian strikes on local substations are reportedly overwhelming Ukraine’s already stretched defenses. NATO is coordinating weapons packages, but the Trump administration is not supplying arms, in contrast with the Biden administration. Fighting is also expected to intensify around Pokrovsk in eastern Donetsk, where Russia has assembled approximately 170,000 troops.

President Volodymyr Zelensky wants Ukraine to obtain 25 additional Patriot air defense systems from the United States, while urging European countries to transfer existing systems and wait for replacements. Ukraine’s defenses remain overstretched as Russia launches large-scale drone and missile attacks against energy infrastructure, contributing to blackouts and threatening winter heating and water supplies. European allies and Canada are financing US weapons deliveries, but the Trump administration is not directly providing arms. Fighting is also intensifying around Pokrovsk in eastern Donetsk, where Ukraine says Russia has massed 170,000 troops.

Ukraine has received additional US-made Patriot air defense systems, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanking Germany and Chancellor Friedrich Merz while calling for more systems to protect cities and critical infrastructure. Germany previously committed to sending two systems after receiving assurances that the United States would replenish its stocks. The deliveries come as Russia continues large-scale overnight missile and drone attacks, including strikes that killed a man and injured family members in Sumy, wounded civilians in Dnipro, and damaged energy infrastructure in Mykolaiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia has massed about 170,000 troops in the Donetsk region for an assault on Pokrovsk, where Russian units have entered but are not yet in full control. Ukraine’s Security Service claims that more than 160 strikes on Russian oil facilities this year have disrupted refining capacity and domestic fuel supplies, although those figures could not be independently verified. Russian drone attacks injured civilians in Sumy and damaged energy infrastructure near Odesa, while the United Nations reported a 30% rise in Ukrainian civilian casualties compared with 2024 and warned that winter attacks on energy systems could trigger a major humanitarian crisis. Peace efforts have stalled as the war continues with no near-term end in sight.

Ukraine says Russia has deployed approximately 170,000 troops in Donetsk in an effort to capture Pokrovsk, where fighting remains difficult but Ukrainian forces reject claims that the city is encircled. Ukraine’s Security Service reports more than 160 strikes on Russian oil facilities, allegedly reducing domestic oil-product output and refinery capacity, as well as destroying numerous Pantsir systems and an Oreshnik missile. The United Nations says civilian casualties have risen by 30 percent this year and warns that Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure could pose a severe threat before winter.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Russian forces had encircled Ukrainian troops in Pokrovsk and Kupiansk and offered safe corridors for surrender negotiations and media access. Ukrainian officials rejected the claims, saying Kupiansk was not surrounded and that Pokrovsk remained difficult but under control. Independent assessments indicated Russian advances near Pokrovsk but no confirmed control of the city or imminent collapse of Ukrainian defenses. Fighting, drone and artillery strikes, and attacks on infrastructure continued, while Russia and Ukraine exchanged long-range strikes and the United States pursued efforts to negotiate an end to the war.

Russia carried out a heavy bombardment of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure using hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, causing power cuts in eight regions, including Kyiv, and disrupting natural-gas extraction. Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of targeting emergency responders and plans to ask Donald Trump for additional air-defence systems and long-range missiles. The strikes are intensifying as winter approaches, while the United States remains cautious about supplying longer-range weapons and Ukraine develops its domestic arms industry with US cooperation.

Russia launched more than 300 drones and 37 missiles at Ukrainian energy infrastructure, causing blackouts in eight regions, disrupting Kyiv’s power supply and damaging natural-gas facilities. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy planned to ask Donald Trump for additional air-defense systems, long-range missiles, tougher sanctions on Moscow and cooperation on drone production during a White House meeting. The United States is weighing the escalation risks of supplying weapons such as Tomahawks, while Trump has signaled growing frustration with Vladimir Putin and possible pressure on Russia. Ukraine is also expanding its domestic defense industry through an aviation-technology agreement with Bell Textron and discussions with Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.

A Ukrainian delegation led by Andrii Yermak and Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko met with Lockheed Martin and Raytheon ahead of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s talks with Donald Trump. Kyiv is seeking Tomahawk cruise missiles, additional air defenses and cooperation on drone production, while Washington remains concerned that supplying long-range missiles could escalate tensions with Russia. Trump has warned that he may approve Tomahawk deliveries to pressure Vladimir Putin, prompting strong concern from Moscow. The delegation also advanced a US-Ukraine Reinvestment Fund covering critical minerals, energy and infrastructure. Meanwhile, both sides continued attacks on energy assets, with Ukraine striking an oil terminal in Russian-occupied Feodosia and Russia hitting a Naftogaz thermal power plant and other Ukrainian energy facilities.