Ukraine Invasion - Part 62

[MagicFox]

Thanks as always to everybody consistently posting and keeping us all up to date 🇺🇦

**
Agreed thread guidance:

A. The agreed purpose of the thread is for the sharing of information and commentary on current events

B. If you post a link please tell us where it leads/give a precis of the content

C. Discussion and debate is welcome, but please keep it respectful

D. Please keep on topic

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-25-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. Ukrainian forces are making slow but tactically significant gains in the Oleksandrivka direction that may later threaten Russian logistics and efforts in the Oleksandrivka and Hulyaipole directions over the long term.
2. Ukraine had a slightly lower but still relatively high interception rate of Russian jet-powered drones during the Starshield restrictions in mid-October 2026, but will need innovative jet-powered interceptors to work to sustain and improve these interception rates over the long term.
3. Russian forces recently advanced in the Novopavlivka direction.
4. Ukrainian forces conducted a series of long-range strikes against industrial facilities in Russia. Russian forces conducted several high-casualty strikes on October 24 and 25, including in western Ukraine.

Kyiv Independent:

⚡️Ukraine strikes Russian titanium plant more than 1,400 kilometers from border, monitoring channel claims.

Perm Krai Governor Dmitry Makhonin said at around 11 a.m. local time that 11 drones had been downed during a Ukrainian attack on the region.

⚡️Moscow ready to resume trilateral talks with Ukraine, US after Nov. 4, Kremlin aide says.

"The next deadline is now Nov. 4, our major holiday. After that, we will be ready to resume negotiations," Yuri Ushakov said.

⚡️ News from occupied Ukraine: Former Oleshky resident warns people 'won't survive this winter'

This weekly update from the Kyiv Independent aims to shed light on the situation facing Ukrainians living under Russian occupation and the ever-tightening control of information imposed by the Kremlin.

⚡️In less than 24 hours, Russia hits 4 hypermarkets belonging to one of Ukraine's largest retail chains.

Russian attacks damaged or destroyed facilities in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Vinnytsia, and Poltava on Oct. 24-25, according to a statement.

⚡️'Putin's paranoia' — New air defenses appear around Russian president's Valdai residence, analysis shows.

The defensive perimeter extends to the Khotilovo military base, which serves as an alternate landing site, and a secret biological laboratory on Lisiy Island, according to RFE/RL.

⚡️Moscow to host 2030 International Weightlifting Championships following lifting of Olympic suspensions.

The International Weightlifting Federation will be the first Olympic organization to hold a competition in Russia since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

⚡️Zelensky details expectations for upcoming trilateral peace talks with Russia, US.

Before a meeting between Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, and Donald Trump can take place, technical talks among the three countries' negotiating teams must be held first, said Zelensky.

⚡️Russian-friendly Vucic concedes defeat to student protest movement in Serbian election.

Former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat in parliamentary elections on Oct. 25 to the student-led protest movement that has gripped the nation for months.

⚡️Bolsonaro refuses to concede as would-be Ukraine peace mediator Lula wins Brazil election.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won reelection on Oct. 25, securing a fourth, nonconsecutive term in office, as his opponent, right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, refused to concede defeat and vowed to challenge the election results.

⚡️Drone reportedly strikes business center in Russia's Voronezh as fires break out across city.

A drone reportedly struck a business center in the Russian city of Voronezh early on Oct. 26, as explosions and fires were reported across the city amid an ongoing drone attack, independent Russian media outlet ASTRA reported.

⚡️ These are the indicative estimates of Russia’s combat losses as of Oct. 26, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Live:Ukraine

The Russians attacked an Epicentr store in Poltava, causing a fire; a woman was injured. Information on the extent of the damage is being clarified, the regional military administration reported.

In the Zhytomyr region, a residential building and an outpatient clinic were hit. No casualties were reported.

In the Dnipropetrovsk region, three people were killed and 15 injured. Since evening, the Russians have attacked three districts of the region more than 20 times.

In Zaporizhzhia, three people were injured in an FPV drone strike near a bus stop.

⚡️ The Defense Forces struck the Energiya plant in Yelets, Lipetsk region, with cruise missiles.

According to monitoring channels, the plant produces batteries and accumulators for Russian military equipment. A fire broke out on the plant's territory after the strike.

The Main Intelligence Directorate notes that the plant's products are used in Iskander-M ballistic missiles, Iskander-K cruise missiles, Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, as well as in missiles of the Pantsir anti-aircraft missile and gun system.

⚡️In the Black Sea, 570 vessels have been attacked since the beginning of the year, killing at least 40 sailors. This makes the route more dangerous for commercial shipping than routes in the Persian Gulf, the FT reports.

In the Strait of Hormuz area, the deaths of 24 sailors were confirmed in 2026. The intensity of attacks in the Black Sea increased significantly this summer. Between July and September, about 387 vessels were attacked there.

The intensified attacks also affected the operations of shipping companies. In particular, fewer than 10 vessels passed through the ports of Greater Odesa in September, compared to approximately 400 in July.

Insurance has also become more expensive. At times, the cost of war risk coverage in the Black Sea can reach 15% of a vessel's hull value.

⚡️ In just this week, Russia launched about 1,600 guided aerial bombs at Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported.

Also during the week, the Russians attacked Ukraine with 48 missiles and 2,300 drones.

In particular, today in Kharkiv's Novobavarskyi district, a 14-year-old boy was injured in a Russian strike on the city.

In the Sumy region, one person was injured during the day in a Russian attack on a private house and agricultural machinery.

In Kherson, a 67-year-old man was killed when a drone struck a minibus in the Central district, and a 64-year-old woman was injured during another attack in the Dniprovskyi district.

In Vinnytsia, the clearing of rubble at a residential building damaged by the morning Russian attack has been completed. Seven people were injured.

⚡️ Another 16 air defense towers have been built around Putin's residence in Valdai, Radio Liberty journalists and OSINT analyst jembobineuse have found.

The new air defense ring passes through the Khotilovo military base, which Putin regularly uses. It is 50 km from the residence.

In total, there are now over 50 air defense positions around Valdai — nearly half the number built in Moscow and the Moscow region after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

At the same time, fewer than 100,000 people live in Valdai, the Valdai district, and within a 50 km radius of the residence, whereas the population of Moscow and the Moscow region exceeds 20 million.

▪️At the end of December, Russia claimed that Ukraine had attacked Putin's residence with drones. President Volodymyr Zelensky refuted this. Later, the WSJ, citing sources, reported that US intelligence had found no evidence of the attack.

⚡️ Overnight, the Chernihiv region came under Russian attack — two people were injured. An hangar and a granary building were damaged.

The Russians struck Izium in the Kharkiv region with aerial bombs. Three people were injured, and part of the city was left without power.

In Zaporizhzhia, private houses were hit, with four people reported injured.

In Kamianets-Podilskyi, Khmelnytskyi region, an energy facility was damaged yesterday. Emergency power outages were introduced there.

🇭🇺🇺🇸The administration of Donald Trump is promoting former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for the post of UN Secretary-General, the WSJ reports, citing sources.

American officials have already approached Orbán with this proposal. According to journalists, he showed interest but has not yet made a final decision. The US believes that China and Russia may also support this idea, and the former Hungarian prime minister would become a joint candidate from three permanent members of the UN Security Council.

According to an estimate by a US State Department representative, Orbán's candidacy could be supported by at least eight of the 15 Security Council members. He also believes that support could increase to as many as 10 Security Council members.

An informal vote is scheduled in the UN Security Council on October 28 to assess support for candidates. However, as the WSJ writes, it is currently unknown whether Orbán's candidacy will be included in that vote.

United 24 Media:

🔹 ❤️‍🩹 National Guard troops deliver baby food and toys to temporarily Russian-occupied Oleshky by drone.

Soldiers from the 11th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine used drones to deliver 15 packages weighing more than 600 kg in total to families with children in the temporarily Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, in the Kherson region. Interior Minister Ivan Vyhivskyi announced the delivery.

The shipment included breakfast cereals, milk, educational games and toys. Some of the children still living in the besieged town were born after Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

⚡ The Kremlin says significant results should not be expected from negotiations between Ukraine, Russia and the United States.

Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, said the upcoming trilateral meeting would serve only as an initial stage in the negotiation process.

“The meeting between Russia, the United States and Ukraine, planned for the near future, will be preliminary. There should be no high expectations for it. The parties still need to put in effort to reach a peace agreement regarding Ukraine,” he said.

⚡️ The Black Sea has become the “most dangerous route” for commercial shipping, the Financial Times reports.

Since the beginning of the year, more than 570 vessels have been attacked in the region, and at least 40 sailors have been killed.

The Black Sea has surpassed the Persian Gulf in the number of attacks. In the Gulf, 24 sailor deaths have been confirmed amid the conflict involving Israel, the United States and Iran.

Over the past 45 days, Russia has been responsible for approximately 90% of the attacks on vessels in the Black Sea.

❗️Ukraine will demand that Russia halt strikes on energy infrastructure and shipping during negotiations in November, Presiedent Zelenskyy said.

According to him, Kyiv also intends to push for the safe export of grain and an all-for-all exchange of prisoners of war. The main objective is to arrange a trilateral meeting between Zelenskyy, Trump and Putin to discuss a comprehensive ceasefire.

He noted that the United States had confirmed Russia’s readiness to negotiate. The venue for the meeting has not yet been determined.

Zelenskyy also said that, as of Saturday, full Starlink and Starshield functionality had been restored in Ukraine, along with access to U.S. intelligence. The only unresolved issue is the supply of air defense systems.

🇩🇪 Germany is investigating whether Russia is using organized crime groups to carry out sabotage in Europe, WELT reports.

Moscow may be employing the Turkish-Kurdish group known as the “Daltons” to carry out acts of sabotage. Potential incidents include the arson attack on a Starlink facility in Poland on September 23.

Two Turkish nationals linked to the group were recently detained in Germany.

The gang’s alleged leader, Beratcan Gökdemir, is suspected of running the organization from Moscow under the supervision of Russian intelligence services.

🇲🇩🇺🇦 Moldovan Prime Minister Tofan has arrived in Kyiv for a working visit, accompanied by the ministers of infrastructure, defense, and energy.

The Moldovan government said the visit includes scheduled talks with Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk.

The parties will discuss the development of bilateral relations, economic and trade cooperation, regional security, and European integration.

Tofan and Koretskyi will also attend the Kyiv International Economic Forum and meet with business representatives to discuss expanding the economic partnership between Ukraine and Moldova.

Putin intends to use negotiations on Ukraine to push for NATO’s return to its 1997 borders, The Telegraph reports.

Russia will attempt to leverage a new round of talks on Ukraine to secure concessions that would weaken NATO’s defenses, the British newspaper reports, citing diplomatic sources.

Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, previously said that European nations should participate in the negotiations, given their support for Kyiv and the potential importance of Europe’s position. According to The Telegraph’s sources, Moscow seeks to involve European countries in the process to force discussions on NATO expansion, which Putin describes as the “root cause” of the war.

Putin may demand that the Alliance reduce its military presence in Europe to 1997 levels, before former Eastern Bloc nations began joining NATO, The Telegraph notes. This could entail the withdrawal of Alliance forces from Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland, all of which border Russia.

The newspaper reports that U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, conveyed a proposal to discuss the broader context of post-war security in Europe to Putin during a three-hour meeting in St. Petersburg last week.

The resumption of talks was also facilitated by Washington’s willingness to discuss Russian demands and a decision to temporarily lift restrictions on Russian diesel fuel exports.

European and Ukrainian officials are prepared to discuss post-war security mechanisms. However, according to a European diplomat cited by the newspaper, Europe’s position on Moscow’s demands has not changed since January 2022. At the time, NATO agreed to discuss Russia’s concerns but rejected Moscow’s demand to withdraw troops and weaponry from Eastern European countries.

🔸 Russian forces attacked the City Mall shopping center in Zaporizhzhia.

During the night of October 26, Russian troops struck the city, injuring four people and damaging residential buildings, a hotel, buses, and outbuildings. Three vehicles caught fire.

In the morning, Russian forces continued their assault on the city. One of the strikes hit the shopping center, which was closed at the time. The impact sparked a fire. According to preliminary information, no casualties were reported in the morning attack.

Kyiv Post:

⚡️ The Kremlin would back an EU diplomatic envoy for peace talks if the negotiator demonstrates genuine intent, Dmitry Peskov said.

Peskov accused Brussels of lacking the resolve to appoint a representative to engage Moscow.

⚡️ Preparations have begun for a trilateral summit between Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and Xi Jinping, the Kremlin announced.

Yuri Ushakov said talks are planned for the Shenzhen APEC summit, adding Putin’s Miami G20 trip hinges on the China meeting.

⚡️ Russia fired roughly 1,600 glide bombs, 2,300 strike drones, and 48 missiles at Ukraine over the past week, Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Stressing that Moscow answers diplomacy with terror, he urged allies to unblock agreed Patriot interceptor deliveries.

⚡️ Zelensky says Ukraine wants to maintain an 800,000-strong army and will not accept neutrality or limits on its military.

He also outlined possible steps toward peace, including an energy truce, prisoner exchanges and a humanitarian mission in Russian-occupied Oleshky.

Not sure which thread to put this on

'Sources from three countries confirm Trump has advocated Viktor Orbán for the role of UN Secretary-General. Russia and China are believed to be supportive, based on prior conversations with Washington, and the plan would be for Mr Orbán to be their joint candidate.'

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/viktor-orban-u-n-secretary-general-china-russia-us-d968fcaf

Orban?!

ORBAN!?

For fucks sake ..... facepalm

Horrible. And probably going to happen, too.

Time for someone with a crossbow....

Hungarian horse archers are renowned for their skill. Can even get moving targets:

McConnell voted against convicting Trump following his second impeachment. He also played a pivotal role in stuffing the Supreme Court with friendly judges. He's got blood on his hands.

You think it might happen?

In a world where the US elected Trump, anything can happen but dear God I hope this doesnt.

There is just no hope left, if he does.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ US holding up air defense missiles for Ukraine for nearly a month, Zelensky says.
A senior Ukrainian official previously told the Kyiv Independent that the batch awaiting U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's approval was "significant."

⚡️ Exclusive: Russia significantly expands glide-bomb production, research shows.
"Russia is building the military-industrial capacity to continue waging wars even after the war in Ukraine ends. These are not the actions of a country preparing for lasting peace," Oleksandr Danylyuk, chairman of the Center for Defense Reforms and former chief adviser to Ukraine’s defense minister, told the Kyiv Independent.

⚡️ Norway, Finland call Putin ahead of potential Abu Dhabi peace talks.
"The outcome of this war will have a direct impact on our and the broader European security. Ending the war requires direct discussions," said Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

⚡️NATO Brigade in Latvia launches 'most extensive' deployment exercises, Latvian army says.
The Resolute Reforger 2026 exercises, scheduled from Oct. 26 to Nov. 2, will involve about 3,000 soldiers and 1,000 units of equipment, moving on roads and railways, according to the Latvian army.

⚡️Most Ukrainians see anti-corruption progress despite scandals, poll finds.
While 55% pointed to genuine efforts to tackle corruption, 41% said Ukraine was "hopelessly corrupt," a poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) found.

⚡️Local ceasefire in besieged Oleshky begins, Ukrainian, Russian officials say.
A ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to enter the Russian occupied city began as Russian forces launched ballistic missiles at other parts of Ukraine.

⚡️New report tracks how Russia helps China build better drones.
The investigation found that Russian designs for rocket-launched drones likely helped shape weapons China unveiled in 2025 and that Russian wind tunnels kept testing aircraft models for China's top arms maker after the invasion of Ukraine.

⚡️ Ukraine proposes new pathway to attract foreign workers to address labor shortages.
The draft resolution, published by the Economy Ministry, would establish an annual list of in-demand professions and standardize the assessment of foreign applicants’ qualifications.

⚡️Update: Kyiv, Chisinau sign military-technical cooperation deal as Moldovan PM visits Kyiv.
"The agreement opens the way for an exchange of experience," Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi said.

⚡️Volunteer urges residents to leave Oleshky in evacuation, as town may face greater destruction.
«The worst thing would be if the whole world came to believe that everyone had been evacuated from Oleshky, whilst (people) were still there. And (they) would simply be forgotten,» evacuation volunteer Kseniia Arkhipova said.

⚡️Ukraine adopts EU-linked law giving veterans priority in government hiring.
The law fulfills Ukraine's commitments under the Ukraine Facility, an EU financial assistance program launched in 2024, and unlocks 137 million euros ($153 million) in budget funding, Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi said.

⚡️Russia's assault on Ukraine's energy grid is a war crime, UN says.
Russia’s attacks on energy infrastructure, which weaponize winter to inflict suffering, amount to war crimes, a UN inquiry has found.

⚡️Russian sabotage network behind Romanian arson attack, officials say.
The attack is "part of a larger campaign of sabotage operations attributed to the Russian Federation in Europe," according to the Romanian Intelligence Service.

⚡️ Ukrainian strike reportedly damages chemical plant in Russia's Voronezh.

⚡️ Update: Zelensky says Serbia faces ‘new chapter’ after Vucic concedes election defeat.
“We are ready to continue expanding our cooperation,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

⚡️Ukraine reportedly strikes Russian ammunition depot in occupied Luhansk Oblast.

⚡️Ukrainian forces evacuate 2 severely wounded soldiers from battlefield using drone, video shows.
The two soldiers, 25-year-old Yevhen, call sign "Izium," and 24-year-old Artem, call sign "Kolobok," had suffered severe limb injuries and were stranded in a contested area about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Russian border.

⚡️Death toll from Russian attack on park in Kharkiv Oblast on Oct. 19 rises to 6 after child dies in hospital.
Artem Koval suffered severe injuries in the drone strike and was taken to hospital. Despite a week of efforts to save him, doctors were unable to overcome his life-threatening injuries, the Vodolaha Village Council said.

Update: Paramedics caught under fire, university campus struck as Russian ballistic missile attack kills 1, injures 10 in Kyiv.
"Russian ballistic missiles struck the grounds of a university in Kyiv and the area around it — effectively the campus, Kyoto Park, the area near a metro station, and residential buildings," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

⚡️ Update: Russian ballistic missiles hit Kyiv university, major bridge, medical centers, — 1 dead, 15 injured.
Russia launched two waves of ballistic missiles at the capital overnight, targeting a major bridge, metro stations, and other civilian infrastructure.

⚡️Russian attacks across Ukraine kill four, injure 55 over past day, as Kyiv comes under ballistic missile assault.
Russian attacks hit Kyiv's Southern Bridge, disrupting metro services, as well as a university campus, an administrative building, and medical centers.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦
@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social
⚡ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — OCT 27, 2026
■ Fewest casualties since Oct 12, despite more combat engagements; land-based equipment losses the lowest since Oct 15
■ Overnight 🇷🇺 attacks: most strike drones since Oct 16; two missiles intercepted and improved drone interception rate; 41 locations hit or affected by debris
■ Over the last 30 days, Russian strikes outnumbered Ukrainian ones 24 to 1, the highest ratio since late April
■ 🇷🇺 drones used at the front and drone losses about average; three 🇺🇦 air and artillery strikes reported; at least 350 drones launched into 🇷🇺 and occupied 🇺🇦

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

Professor Jovo Bakić, a representative of the “Student List,” which won Serbia’s parliamentary elections, said the country’s new government would not impose sanctions on Russia.
He added that Serbia respects Russia “as an important partner” and would therefore maintain its current policy toward Moscow.

🤨 The Pentagon is preparing U.S. bases to operate autonomously for 90 days in the event of a large-scale war, Fox News reports.
The FORTRESS program, developed at the initiative of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, involves connecting U.S. military bases to independent power sources, securing stockpiles of fuel, water, and ammunition, and equipping civilian manufacturing plants with the necessary equipment to rapidly switch to wartime production.
The report notes that these measures are specifically designed for a potential large-scale conflict that could disrupt power grids and supply chains worldwide.

⚡️ President Zelenskyy held talks with the leaders of Finland and Norway following their call with Putin.
President Zelenskyy discussed their conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, as well as upcoming talks in Oslo involving representatives from the U.S., Europe, and NATO, with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre

🤬 Russia could launch up to 300 ballistic missiles per month against Ukraine if the current intensity of attacks continues, says Ihnat.
“What could help in such a scenario? A preemptive response—that is, symmetrical actions. We need to strike their launch systems, as well as the facilities that manufacture the missiles and their components. Most importantly, we must continue working with our partners to maintain sanctions pressure,” said Yurii Ihnat, head of the Communications Directorate of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
He added that Russia’s stockpiles are not inexhaustible, making it difficult to sustain this level of attack intensity over an extended period.

❗️The Russian Navy has not ventured out to sea for five months, instead launching Kalibr missiles from the port of Novorossiysk, Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said.
According to Pletenchuk, Russian forces are likely afraid of losing their ships and have therefore opted to launch missiles from their own base, despite the risks this poses.
“It is better to launch missiles from one’s own harbor—even if a detonation there would be absolutely catastrophic. So, yes, they’ve decided to stay at home,” the spokesperson said.

I spoke with Estonia’s newly elected president, Ülle Madise, and congratulated her on assuming office. I am grateful for the clear and timely signals that Estonia’s support for Ukraine across all areas will continue, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) has identified 30 units of foreign technological equipment used by Russian manufacturers to produce ballistic missiles and their components.
Among the equipment listed on the agency’s War & Sanctions portal is a GX-650 five-axis machining center made by Chinese company Hyper Machine Tool and used by the Votkinsk Plant to manufacture Iskander-M and Kinzhal missiles.
The report also identifies Chinese Shtral turning and milling centers used to produce electronic units for Iskander missiles, as well as measuring equipment made by German company Rohde & Schwarz, which is used to manufacture altimeters for Zircon missiles.
The HUR emphasized that Russia’s military-industrial complex remains dependent on foreign technologies and cannot fully replace them with domestic alternatives.

Ukraine will boycott the World Weightlifting Championships scheduled to take place in Moscow, Minister of Youth and Sports Matvii Bidnyi told Suspilne Studio.

Russia is recruiting increasing numbers of Africans to fight in its war against Ukraine amid a shortage of soldiers, Bloomberg reports.
Russian recruitment efforts have surged in Burundi and Zimbabwe, according to Bloomberg, citing Ukrainian intelligence. Data shows that 699 people were recruited from Burundi in 2026, up sharply from 30 throughout 2025. The number recruited from Zimbabwe rose to 530, compared with 65 in 2025.
Recruitment has also increased in Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
According to the report, some African governments have already expressed concern about these recruitment tactics. Individuals are lured to Russia with false promises of civilian employment, only to potentially end up on the battlefield.
In total, intelligence services have identified 45,959 foreign nationals from 151 countries who have signed contracts with the Russian military. This figure includes 5,451 citizens of African countries.

Russian forces attacked a minibus in Kherson with an FPV drone, killing one person and injuring six others, the National Police reported.
Over the past 24 hours, Russian troops also shelled settlements in the Kherson region with artillery, mortars, and multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS), and carried out drone attacks. Three private homes, a shop, a combine harvester, and a gas pipeline were damaged.

Ukrainian rescuer Oleksandr Baran from Kyiv set a world record at the 35th World Firefighter Challenge Championship in Las Vegas, completing an obstacle course in full firefighting gear in 1 minute and 15.76 seconds.

🥇 Ukrainian cheerleaders have won the European Championship duet title for the fourth consecutive time.
Anastasiia-Anna Maloshenko and Yelyzaveta Tymofieieva won gold in the Performance Cheer Pom discipline (senior division). The athletes have claimed the European title every year since 2023.
In total, the Ukrainian national team won seven medals at the European Championship in Crete: three gold, one silver, and three bronze.

❗️Russian forces have attacked Kyiv with ballistic missiles. Students have been killed in a dormitory at the State University of Trade and Economics in Kyiv. A metro station building, a medical facility, a university building, and other civilian infrastructure have also been damaged. A rescue operation is underway.

❗️A 46-year-old woman has been killed and 14 people injured in a Russian attack on Kyiv.
Since yesterday evening, Russian forces have targeted the capital with ballistic missiles. Law enforcement authorities have reported damage in six districts of the city.
In the Desnianskyi district, a 46-year-old woman was killed in the strike. Another 13 people, aged 19 to 59, were injured, including two members of an emergency medical team.
A 22-year-old man was also injured in the Obolonskyi district.
Investigators, explosives experts, and other specialized services are currently working at the impact sites.

During the night, Kyiv emergency responders rescued a small dog from the rubble. Frightened and injured, the dog survived, but his owner sadly perished, the State Emergency Service (SES) reported.
After providing first aid, firefighters, working alongside the police, took the dog to the nearest veterinary clinic.
Later, another dog was found near a fence. The injured animal lay quietly, waiting faithfully for his owner—but, sadly, his owner never returned. https://t.me/United24media/47409

Russia launched 16 ballistic missiles and more than 280 drones at Ukraine overnight, President Zelenskyy said.
He reported that Russia has intensified its strikes on Ukrainian logistics and infrastructure. The Southern Bridge in Kyiv was among the facilities hit.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Ukraine is drafting a new mobilization model to replace street conscription with a more predictable system, Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi said.
The plan, which the government hopes to agree on with businesses by Dec. 1, would link full workforce deferments to some employees volunteering for military service and help enable troop rotations.

Russia says upcoming US-brokered peace talks will NOT slow its war against Ukraine but signals openness to local humanitarian truces.
The Kremlin’s stance comes as a ceasefire is planned for Russian-occupied Oleshky to allow aid deliveries and civilian evacuations.

Ukraine has asked the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Poland to provide 10% of their existing Patriot and IRIS-T interceptor stocks in exchange for future deliveries.
Kyiv also seeks MANPADS and funding to double drone production by 2027 as Russia prepares intensified strike

Moscow will restrict mobile internet for three days during Putin’s summits, citing security concerns.
The shutdown comes amid intensified Ukrainian drone attacks on the Moscow region and follows weeks-long outages in the capital earlier this year.

Russia may demand that NATO roll back its military presence in Europe to 1997 levels as part of renewed Ukraine peace talks, The Telegraph reports.
The move could mean withdrawing allied forces from Poland, the Baltic states and Finland. No such demand has been officially confirmed.

Proceedings resumed in the Nord Stream sabotage trial in Hamburg, where prosecutors opposed a defence request to suspend the case.
They argued that Ukrainian military secrecy requirements would not prevent Serhii Kuznetsov from receiving a fair trial. The court had not issued a ruling at the time of writing.

A 52-year-old production designer charged with treason in Russia has died after being transferred from pretrial detention to a Moscow hospital.
Aleksandr Kondratov is the third political prisoner reported dead in Russia this month — and at least the 11th this year among people prosecuted in politically motivated cases, rights group First Department says.

Ukraine could have sustained its Patriot air defense systems for several more years with the missiles expended in the Middle East, Air Force official Ihnat said.
He attributed Ukraine’s more efficient use of interceptors to combat experience and flexible tactics.
The move could mean withdrawing allied forces from Poland, the Baltic states and Finland. No such demand has been officially confirmed.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has called on Trump to use the CIA and US military to “get rid of” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In a post on MaxMessenger, Medvedev urged Washington to take action against Zelensky, citing a series of accusations against the Ukrainian leader.

Russia has struck Epicentr K, one of Ukraine’s largest civilian home-improvement retail and logistics chains, in nine cities over the past several days.
Its stores and warehouses were damaged in Dubno, Kharkiv, Kovel, Kyiv, Pervomaisk, Poltava, Uman, Vinnytsia and Zaporizhzhia.

Norwegian MP Peter Frølich and the Free Ukraine organization got thermal-camera drones to Ukraine despite a 1950s law that barred their shipment. After customs stopped the drones, Frølich warned the government that delays could cost Ukrainian troops their lives.
The organization eventually delivered the drones. Norway’s government pledged to fast-track the issue, then changed the rules to let civilians legally send non-military drones to Ukraine. Frølich says he has no regrets about breaking the law.

Ukraine’s air defenses shot down or neutralized two ballistic missiles and 255 Russian drones during an overnight attack primarily targeting Kyiv, the Air Force said.
Impacts were recorded at 25 locations.

Remembering Adnan Kivan: a Legacy With a Future
A personal tribute to the late owner of Kyiv Post, who transformed the publication into Ukraine’s genuine “global voice.”

After a week fighting for his life, 12-year-old Artem Koval has died in hospital. He was critically injured in a Russian drone strike on a crowded park in Nova Vodolaha, Kharkiv region.
His eight-year-old sister, Arina, was killed in the attack, along with five other civilians, including a one-year-old girl in her stroller.

Lyman, Donetsk Region. October 2026.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

In Bulgaria, Iliana Yotova, currently acting president, and former Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov have advanced to the second round of the presidential election. The first supports dialogue with Russia, while the second holds a pro-Ukrainian position.
After counting 99% of the votes, Yotova secured 34.7% and Gyurov 31.9%. The second round will take place on November 1.
As AP writes, Yotova, who previously served as Bulgaria's vice president, advocates an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and does not directly criticize Russia. She also does not support military aid to Ukraine. Yotova will likely support Bulgaria's European course but at the same time advocate improving relations with Russia and lifting sanctions on it.
Gyurov, by contrast, has a clear pro-Western position. In March 2026, as prime minister, he signed a security agreement between Bulgaria and Ukraine during a visit to Kyiv. Gyurov has also frequently expressed support for Ukraine.
▪️Bulgaria's previous president was Rumen Radev. He announced his resignation on January 19. Radev questioned Ukraine's territorial integrity and blocked the transfer of military equipment to it. He is currently Bulgaria's prime minister.

The opposition "Student List" has won the parliamentary elections in Serbia. Its representatives have already stated that they want to stop arms exports that reach Ukraine.
This concerns, in particular, arms exports to Western intermediaries who transfer weapons to Ukraine. The party also does not plan to join EU sanctions against Russia, Reuters writes.
The student movement received 52.65% of the vote. At the same time, "United Serbia" of former President Aleksandar Vučić received 39.22%.
Ivica Dačić's "Stability Factor" received 2.17% of the vote. The remaining forces received less than 1%. The commission has so far processed data from 8,135 of 8,392 polling stations.
▪️On the evening of October 25, Vučić conceded defeat. After that, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Belgrade and other Serbian cities to celebrate the student movement's victory.

Overnight, Russia attacked Ukraine with Iskander-M / S-400 ballistic missiles and 280 drones, including 69 jet-powered.
Air defense neutralized two ballistic missiles and 255 UAVs, including 56 jet-powered. However, Russian targets were hit in 25 locations, with debris falling in 16 others.
🔴The main target of the attack was Kyiv. The number of injured there has risen to 15.
🔴In the Dnipropetrovsk region, Russia injured three people, attacking five districts more than 40 times. In Dnipro, infrastructure was damaged; in the Synelnykove district, houses and cars. The Nikopol area and Pavlohrad district were also hit.
🔴Russia attacked Zaporizhzhia, injuring a 17-year-old boy. The strike hit a car carrying five people.
🔴In the Chernihiv region, Russian attacks injured five people, including a 12-year-old child. Residential buildings caught fire in three communities, and in Semenivka drones struck a cultural center.

https://bsky.app/profile/onestpress.onestnetwork.com/post/3myua2wj6v22k

PM of Norway & President of Finland spoke with Putin. Then they called Zelenskyy, who shared:

I am grateful for detailed briefing and for support of our diplomacy and peace efforts. Alex & Jonas made it clear to Russian leader that real de-escalatory steps are needed reg our energy & infrastructure

Stubb: “The discussion was frank and substantive. We are neighbouring countries to Russia. The outcome of this war will have a direct impact on our and the broader European security. Ending the war requires direct discussions.”

So far no reports of the ceasefire being breached. Long may this last!

It's been expanded to include evacuation routes which the russians are supposedly de-mining, but the evacuation routes only leave towards Russia or Russian-occupied territories.

Ceasefire extended across Ukraine's Kherson region, officials say
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6lye1w9p2l8o

ISW has been intermittently offline. Statement on ISW Website Service said this is following today’s warnings from US cyber authorities about critical PHP vulnerabilities,

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-26-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his willingness for a complete or partial ceasefire, including moratoriums on strikes against energy infrastructure or the Black Sea, but the Kremlin continues to reject a ceasefire.
2. The Kremlin’s current negotiating position on the war in Ukraine continues to include Moscow’s longstanding demand from before the full-scale invasion that NATO change its charter and roll back its membership to NATO’s former 1997 borders.
3. Ukraine’s long-range strike campaign is forcing Russia to relocate its data infrastructure and augment protection measures for data centers.
4. Russia launched one Kh-31P anti-radiation missile, three Kh-59 or Kh-69 cruise missiles, and 140 drones (including 70 jet-powered ones) against Ukraine overnight on October 25 to 26.
5. Ukrainian forces continued their long-range strike campaign against Russian industrial facilities and logistics infrastructure overnight on October 25 and 26.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-27-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. Russian President Vladimir Putin used his October 27 call with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store to reiterate Moscow’s longstanding demands in Ukraine and rearticulate Moscow’s claims that NATO expansion is among the “root causes” of the war. Putin also stated that “root causes” must be resolved as preconditions for any future peace negotiations.
2. Russia and Ukraine began observing a limited ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky, Kherson Oblast, on October 27 to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries and evacuate civilians from the settlement. Both sides are reportedly abiding by the ceasefire terms as of this writing.
3. It remains unclear how the Russian authorities will treat Ukrainians evacuated from Oleshky and whether Russian occupation authorities will provide the residents a legitimate and duress-free choice to return to Ukrainian government-controlled Ukraine.
4. The Russian 26th Tank Regiment (47th Tank Division, 1st Guards Tank Army [GTA], Moscow Military District) operating in the Kupyansk direction is reportedly planning to disband several platoons to create an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) company.
5. Neither Russian nor Ukrainian forces advanced on October 27.
6. Russian forces launched an unspecified number of Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles and 280 drones against Ukraine overnight.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️Trump reportedly considering lifting sanctions against Russia's investment fund.
U.S. President Donald Trump is considering lifting sanctions against Russia's government investment fund, the New York Times reported Oct. 27, citing an unnamed U.S. official.

⚡️ Russia wants a deal with NATO to reshape Europe's security order, Zelensky says.
The Kremlin is repackaging these demands as "security guarantees" for itself amid ongoing negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, Zelensky told journalists at a press briefing.

⚡️Ukrainian postal service forms private air defense force, shoots down Russian drones.
Ukrainian postal and courier company Nova Poshta has started its own private air defense force and shot down Russian attack drones targeting their facilities, Vyacheslav Klymov, co-owner of the Nova group of companies, revealed at the Kyiv International Economic Forum on Oct. 26.

⚡️Oleshky ceasefire 'expanded within Kherson Oblast,' Melania Trump says
A ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to enter the Russian occupied city began as Russian forces launched ballistic missiles at other parts of Ukraine.

Russia's return to global sports gathers momentum as EU mulls response
The EU is working on how to stop Russia from laundering its reputation through international sporting events, but as it talks, Moscow creates new facts on the ground.
"Sports and culture must not become vehicles for whitewashing Russian aggression," the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas told journalists on Oct. 13.
But since then, there have been at least two instances in which Russia has been able to advance its sports agenda.

⚡️Ukraine's 'Veles' pipeline operation near Kupiansk 'eliminates' over 100 Russian troops, Zelensky says.
The operation, code-named "Veles," involved an underground advance of more than 15 kilometers (9 miles), according to Zelensky.

⚡️ Update: Denmark slams Norway-Finland call with Putin.
«I actually don’t know what the two countries think can be achieved with this. I think we should stand together and speak with one voice,» Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said.

⚡️Putin lectured Nordic leaders on Russian history during latest call, FT reports.
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a lengthy lecture on medieval Slavic history to the leaders of Norway and Finland during an Oct. 27 phone call, offering little mention of an immediate ceasefire despite renewed diplomatic efforts to end Moscow's war in Ukraine, the Financial Times (FT) reported

⚡️Fires burn in Russian city of Lipetsk after reported Ukrainian attack.
Explosions sounded and fires burned in the Russian city of Lipetsk late on Oct. 27 following an attack by Ukrainian forces, monitoring channel Exilenova Plus reported.

⚡️Kyiv approves alternative Dnipro crossings after Russian strikes on bridges.
Kyiv’s Southern Bridge was struck by at least one Russian ballistic missile on the morning of Oct. 27, leaving a large hole in the structure and closing the bridge to both road and rail traffic.

⚡️Ukraine intercepting more Russian Geran-4 jet-powered drones, General Staff says.
Fighter jets, including F-16s, Mirage aircraft, and MiG-29s, play a significant role in intercepting Russian jet-powered drones, according to the General Staff.

How free is Ukraine's press in wartime?
In recent years, a series of major corruption scandals has erupted, prompting independent journalists to step up their scrutiny of the government and bringing criticism of the authorities back into the public sphere.
Journalist Inna Vedernikova said, despite the invasion, "it quickly became clear that a journalist's role — asking direct questions and pointing out problems — had not gone away."
As independent media resumed their investigations, those under scrutiny began to retaliate.
Journalists and editors report facing an environment of growing pressure — ranging from unprecedented court bans on pre-publication reports and SLAPP lawsuits to physical threats and closed-door policies by top officials.
"An environment is gradually taking shape in which it is becoming increasingly difficult for journalists to do their jobs," Vedernikova told the Kyiv Independent.

⚡️Blackout in Konotop enters fourth day with no end in sight.
The Ukrainian city of Konotop, in Sumy Oblast, is suffering its fourth consecutive day without power, following a massive Russian attack on Oct. 24, Konotop Mayor Artem Semenikhin said in a statement on Oct. 27. There are currently "no forecasts" for the return of the city's electricity supply, Semenikhin said.

Kyiv's housing market feels the chill as residents escape ahead of winter
As temperatures fall in Kyiv, so do rent prices, with residents leaving the capital to escape Russian bombardment and the prospect of a winter without heating and electricity.

⚡️ 302,000 Russian soldiers killed or wounded by Ukrainian drones since January, Defense Ministry says.
The highest number of casualties Ukrainian drones inflicted on the Russian military was recorded in March, with almost 34,000 soldiers killed or irrecoverably wounded.

⚡️On holiday celebrating Ukrainian language, Russia strikes publisher's warehouse in Kharkiv.
Planned book releases from Ukrainian publishing house and bookstore chain KSD, scheduled to begin in November, have been delayed after Russia struck the company's warehouse in Kharkiv, the publisher reported on Oct. 27.
The announcement coincides with the Day of Ukrainian Writing and Language, a national holiday celebrating the Ukrainian language and the country's literary heritage.

⚡️Russia launched over 100 ballistic missiles against Kyiv in past two weeks.
Russia launched over 100 ballistic missiles against Kyiv and the surrounding region since Oct. 14, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on Oct. 27, as Moscow's relentless assault on the Ukrainian capital continues.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦
@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social
⚡ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — OCT 28, 2026
■ October casualties so far: 47,480, already the highest month of 2026 and the 3rd-highest of the war
■ Quiet night: fewest 🇷🇺 strike drones since mid-September, no missiles and a decent drone interception rate; 10 locations hit or affected by debris, the fewest since Oct 4
■ Casualties and land-based equipment losses below average
■ Over the last 30 days, Russian strikes outnumbered Ukrainian ones 25 to 1, the highest ratio since mid-April
■ 🇷🇺 drones used at the front slightly below average and drone losses below average; one 🇺🇦 air and artillery strike reported

losses

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

⚡️ 30 hours of ceasefire in Oleshky without any incidents. We continue our work, Ukraine’s Ombudsman Lubinets says.

❗️Ukraine’s Defense Forces have liberated more than 1,000 square kilometers in two operations this year, President Zelenskyy said.
“In effect, this is our third significant operation this year. The first, conducted by the Air Assault Forces, was substantial: more than 800 square kilometers were liberated. The second was Operation Vivaldi in the Donetsk region, carried out in areas where the Russians had high ambitions, extensive plans, and launched numerous assaults. Our troops liberated more than 200 square kilometers.
“The third operation is Veles, carried out by the Khartia Brigade. It strengthens our positions and demonstrates to the Russians that even near Kupiansk, they are failing to achieve the results set for them by their political leadership,” the president said.

🛰️ Ukraine has launched its first satellite as part of an effort to build its own communications network, Militarnyi reports.
On October 1, Ukrainian company HIMERA, in collaboration with Danish firm GomSpace, placed a test satellite, OBRIA NANO, into orbit. The satellite is intended to help establish an independent Ukrainian satellite communications network and is currently undergoing technical testing.
Ukraine plans to deploy its own satellite constellation in the future, providing coverage across the country and complementing existing European satellite networks.
The next phase involves localizing the production of both satellites and ground terminals in Ukraine.

The US will establish its first European maintenance center for PAC-3 Patriot missiles in Poland, the Pentagon has announced.
The center will be developed in collaboration with Lockheed Martin and European allies. It will handle the maintenance and repair of missiles used in US Patriot air defense systems.
Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden will be responsible for integrating critical supply chains.
The Pentagon expects the center to reduce repair turnaround times, improve the combat readiness of Patriot systems, and enable capabilities to be scaled up more rapidly in the event of a crisis. The project is also intended to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank.

German special forces are preparing “very concretely” for a potential war with Russia, Bild reports, citing Andreas Kühne, commander of the Special Forces Command (KSK).
Previously, special forces units planned operations lasting approximately three days. They are now preparing for long-term field operations with no set time limit, training to counter tanks, artillery, drones, and electronic warfare systems, as well as to operate in extreme cold.
The KSK has about 1,500 personnel, one-third of whom are special operators. In the event of war, they are tasked with carrying out missions even before the German tank brigade stationed in Lithuania deploys.
According to Kühne, the troops can depart from Stuttgart, in southwestern Germany, within four hours, fully equipped with everything they need.
Kühne noted that Germany has already demonstrated the capabilities of its special forces during exercises in the Baltic states. He believes Moscow must understand the cost of an attack on NATO—a cost so high that it would make Russia think twice before launching an assault.

Russia has fallen out of the top three thermal coal exporters, slipping to fourth place. In the first nine months of 2026, its shipments declined by 18.6% to 42.5 million tonnes, according to the newspaper Kommersant, citing data from analytics firm BigMint.
Meanwhile, South Africa increased its exports by 8% to 52.1 million tonnes, taking third place. Indonesia remains the leading exporter, with 240.3 million tonnes, followed by Australia with 151.2 million tonnes. Russia’s share of the global market has fallen from 8.4% to 7.1%.
The sharpest declines were recorded in shipments to Türkiye, which fell 32% to 15.7 million tonnes, and China, which dropped 26% to 15.1 million tonnes. Conversely, exports to India rose by 63% to 9.6 million tonnes.
Analysts attribute the downturn to weakening demand, competition from Mongolia, and rising transportation costs.
BigMint’s statistics do not cover all Russian coal exports. According to analysts at Kpler, seaborne shipments of Russian coal across all grades actually grew by 7.25% over the same period, reaching 135.86 million tonnes. The discrepancy stems from differences in calculation methodologies and the specific product categories included.
Amid these export challenges, Russia’s coal industry is incurring significant losses. According to Rosstat, losses from January to July 2026 totaled 178.2 billion rubles (€1.9 billion), with 64.5% of enterprises operating at a loss. In the Kuzbass region, 20 of 93 mines and open-pit operations were inactive as of August, while the industry’s workforce shrank from 103,000 to 97,300 over the course of the year.
According to a forecast by Russia’s Ministry of Energy, total losses in the coal industry could reach 300–310 billion rubles (€3.3–3.4 billion) in 2026.

For the first time in nearly five years of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Kherson has become noticeably quieter, Suspilne reports.
Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets confirmed that Ukraine and Russia have been observing a ceasefire since last night in areas related to the humanitarian mission in Oleshky.

Norway is allocating $54 million to support Ukraine’s energy sector. A memorandum on strengthening the energy partnership with Norway has been signed, announced Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal.
“During a meeting with Norway’s Minister of Energy, Terje Aasland, we discussed the key areas of cooperation outlined in the document:
▪️ Restoration and development of generation capacity, particularly in hydropower;
▪️ Development of decentralized generation and energy storage systems;
▪️ Improving the reliability of electricity supply, as well as the resilience and flexibility of the energy system;
▪️ Cooperation in the gas sector.

“The myth that Russia always wins has been successfully imposed on the West. But history suggests otherwise,” says Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski.
Sikorski pointed out that Russia has by no means always emerged victorious from its wars:
“They lost the Crimean War. They lost the war against Japan. They withdrew from the First World War with their tails between their legs. They lost their invasion of Poland. They lost in Afghanistan. And they lost the Cold War.”

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

A Russian special forces commander has complained that NATO-made drones are being tested on the front line against Moscow’s troops.
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry partially confirmed the claim in July.

Putin told Finnish and Norwegian leaders in a call that Russia would not abandon its goal of seizing the entire Donbas, Reuters reported, citing a source close to the Kremlin.
The European leaders said any peace settlement must be just

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre told Vladimir Putin that Volodymyr Zelensky wants to speak with him, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said.
Putin said Zelensky would be guaranteed all necessary conditions, including security, if he traveled to Moscow, Ushakov added.

Zelensky says Ukraine’s frontline position is its strongest in a long time, citing the National Guard’s Khartiia Corps’ underground operation near Kupiansk as one of the country’s three landmark operations this year.
He added that stronger air defense would also strengthen Ukraine’s position in diplomacy.

German defence technology company Helsing has unveiled Contra, an AI-enhanced air defence system designed to intercept Russia’s jet-powered drones and cruise missiles.
The company also introduced two low-cost, high-speed missile interceptors as European states seek cheaper ways to counter Russia’s expanding drone threat.

Ukraine struck Russia’s largest steel plant and a chemical factory overnight, triggering fires at the Novolipetsk Steel Plant and the Azot plant in Tula region.
Moscow claimed its air defenses intercepted or destroyed 531 Ukrainian drones. Kyiv has not commented on the reported strikes.

Russian businesses are pushing back against a new 30% tax on mining profits, warning that higher taxes could drive away investment and capital, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service.
The business lobby wants a temporary increase in corporate tax instead — plus bigger investment deductions and tax breaks for companies protecting facilities from drone attacks.
The warning comes as investment in Russia fell 4.6% in the first half of 2026. Moscow needs more revenue, but squeezing businesses could leave less money for modernization — and less tax income down the road.

Putin-linked boxing chief Umar Kremlev hunted with Donald Trump Jr. in Mongolia after funding the US president’s son’s wedding, the Financial Times reported.
The trips have raised questions about the relationship between Trump Jr. and a businessman with close ties to the Kremlin.

Kyiv plans to spend Hr.1 billion ($22 million) on new water crossings over the Dnipro River and access roads, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
The announcement comes after a Russian ballistic missile attack damaged the South Bridge and metro infrastructure overnight on Oct. 27.

Ukraine’s Ratel Robotics is developing interceptor drones launched from unmanned ground vehicle, starting with multi-rotor models before moving to fixed-wing designs.
The company has invested about $200,000 in its aerial division, while fixed-wing development could cost millions.

‘Trump Is Cooked’: How Trump’s Russia Policy Is Splintering Republicans Ahead of the Midterms
In this video, we break down the shifting MAGA momentum, the political fallout of the Russia-Ukraine policy pivot, what it all means for the upcoming midterms.
https://www.kyivpost.com/videos/88329

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

Donald Trump has announced a meeting with Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky "very soon."
The US president did not specify when or where it would take place but said he expects significant progress in relations between Ukraine and Russia.

🇷🇸The "Student List" in Serbia did not state that it wants to stop arms exports to countries that supply them to Ukraine.
This claim was circulated by Reuters on October 26. The material has now been corrected, noting that representatives of the political force did not say whether the future government would stop arms exports.
At the same time, the news item retained the information that the student alliance does not plan to join EU sanctions against Russia. The political force also noted that the country's energy dependence on Russia is not a geopolitical alliance but an acute economic dependency.

🇷🇺Russia earned a record $2.76 billion from seaborne oil exports in a week, Bloomberg reports.
This is the highest figure since the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine. In a week, Russia's revenue grew by approximately $430 million.
During this period, 37 tankers loaded 26.93 million barrels of Russian crude oil. A week earlier, 31 tankers transported 21.87 million barrels.
At the same time, in the four weeks to October 25, the average volume of seaborne exports of Russian oil fell to 3.55 million barrels per day — the lowest in five weeks.

South Korea has recalled eight diplomats from Ukraine over a misunderstanding regarding the disclosure of information about the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war.
"Eight have already been withdrawn," South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said, adding that this was inevitable given Ukraine's inability to properly resolve the issue.
At the same time, Cho Hyun stated that he continues to communicate with the Ukrainian foreign minister to settle the dispute. The necessary embassy staff remain in Ukraine.

In Kharkiv, five people were injured in a Russian UAV attack. Among the injured is a 4-year-old child.
In the city's Osnovianskyi district, an apartment building and a private house were on fire.
In Zaporizhzhia, an FPV drone attempted to attack a bus. It became entangled in an anti-drone net and detonated. No casualties were reported.

Overnight, Russia attacked Ukraine with an Iskander-M / S-400 ballistic missile and 88 drones, including 38 jet-powered.
Air defense neutralized 71 UAVs, including 31 jet-powered. In eight locations, the Russians struck their targets, and debris fell in two others.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, Russia attacked four districts more than 10 times with drones, artillery, an aerial bomb, and a missile. It damaged infrastructure, a private house, and a dormitory.

This is what the Pivdennyi Bridge looks like after the Russian attack on Kyiv, — Ukrinform. https://t.me/liveukraine_media/44396

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️Zelensky expects trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi by Nov. 10, but no firm date set.

⚡️ Russia says 'battlefield situation' will determine when Ukraine peace talks begin.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov also ruled out European participation in the upcoming Abu Dhabi meeting.

⚡️ Breaking: Russia strikes train at Dnipro station with jet-powered drone, at least 13 dead.
Despite the air raid alert and announcements of a heightened threat, people remained on the platform, Ukrainian railways added.

⚡️ Russia's fuel shortages ease as Ukraine faces Trump pressure to halt refinery strikes.
Free fuel sales resumed in 15 Russian regions in October, Russian state-aligned newspaper Izvestia reported on Oct. 29.

⚡️Lavrov to travel to US for G20 meeting amid warming Washington-Moscow ties.
The Russian delegation will use the two-day meeting, held from Oct. 30 to Oct. 31, to "promote Russian ideas, aimed at strengthening the foundations of a multipolar world," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

⚡️Putin calls Musk 'genius' as Ukraine recovers from Starshield throttling.
"I want to point out that Elon Musk is a genius, a real genius," Putin said, praising the billionaire's vast satellite network as Russia scrambles to develop its own answer to Starlink.

⚡️ Ceasefire in Oleshky enters 30th hour as Russian strikes kill 2, injure 17 elsewhere in Ukraine over past day.
Russian forces launched an Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missile and 88 Shahed-type drones at Ukraine, including 38 jet-powered drones, overnight on Oct. 28.

Exclusive: Putin 'wanted very much' for Melania Trump to broker Oleshky ceasefire, first lady adviser says
Russian President Vladimir Putin "wanted very much" for U.S. First Lady Melania Trump to mediate the ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in Kherson Oblast, Marc Beckman, her exclusive senior adviser, told the Kyiv Independent on Oct. 28.
"President Putin wanted very much for her to participate and also wrote a formal letter explaining that she… would be recognized as the exclusive intermediary from Russia," Beckman said.

⚡️ Ukraine’s parliament approves 2027 state budget in first reading.
With security and defense allocations accounting for around two-thirds of planned expenditure and a projected deficit of nearly Hr 1.7 trillion ($37 billion), the budget highlights the challenge of funding the war while maintaining economic stability and meeting social commitments.

⚡️UK budgets over $13 billion support for Ukraine in 2027.
"Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine poses a serious threat to U.K. prosperity and security," reads a social media post from the U.K.'s finance ministry explaining the new support to Ukraine.

⚡️Russia restarts grain shipments through Sea of Azov, media reports.
Russian grain shipments through the Sea of Azov have resumed after a halt of more than three months that followed a Ukrainian drone campaign, according to media reports published on Oct. 28.

⚡️Ex-Unmanned Systems Forces commander Sukharevskyi to lead Ukraine's Marines, media reports.
Sukharevskyi will replace Major General Dmytro Deliatytskyi in the job, sources confirmed independently to Ukrainska Pravda and Interfax-Ukraine.

⚡️Pentagon watchdog rejects bipartisan plea to investigate Starlink disruption, AP reports.
The Pentagon’s watchdog has refused a bipartisan request by U.S. lawmakers to investigate recent Starlink and Starshield service disruptions to Ukraine, the Associated Press (AP) reported on Oct. 28.

⚡️ Zelensky lands in Netherlands to discuss air defense, economic partnership.

⚡️Netherlands announces 500 million euro military aid package for Ukraine.
The announcement comes on the back of a Dutch ministerial visit to Kyiv, where 1.2 billion euros in non-military aid was pledged.

⚡️ Netherlands confirms $1.3 billion in non-military aid for Ukraine through 2029.
"Support for recovery and reconstruction can't wait for a ceasefire. Ukraine needs our help right now: military support, but also social and economic assistance," Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma said during his visit to Kyiv.

⚡️Moscow comes under drone fire overnight, grounding flights at major airports.
According to the mayor, nearly 60 drones were shot down over Moscow Oblast over a 90-minute period. Flights were restricted at three of the region's four main airports.

⚡️Russia building new drone launch site near Millerovo airfield in Rostov Oblast, HUR says.
HUR estimated that once construction is complete, the site could accommodate up to 100 drone launches per day.

⚡️Estonia to build 150 bunkers along Russian border.
Estonia is planning to build approximately 150 bunkers on the country's border with Russia as part of its efforts to strengthen its defensive readiness, Estonian Defense Minister Martin Herem told reporters on Oct. 28.

⚡️ Ukraine paused attacks on oil refineries for 3 days as Russia continued strikes on energy infrastructure, Zelensky says.
During those days, Ukrainian forces acted «a little more cautiously,» but were not ordered to refrain from responding to Russian strikes, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

⚡️ Zelensky tasks PM with assembling Kyiv winter preparations team, says Klitschko 'can't do it alone.'

⚡️ Nearly 50 companies involved in producing Russia's Starlink alternative, 23 not under international sanctions, HUR says.
Rassvet's planned coverage is expected to focus primarily on Ukraine and Europe, HUR said, warning that the system could also support Russian hybrid operations against other countries.

⚡️'Reverse course while there's still time' — US senator tells ships carrying Russian diesel to turn around.

⚡️ Ukraine's fugitive ex-prosecutor general alleges conspiracy, anti-graft agencies hit back.
The former prosecutor general broke a month-long silence after fleeing Ukraine to Austria amid a corruption scandal involving senior officials from the Prosecutor General's Office.

⚡️Ukraine's military reveals what Russia's war has cost Moscow — in dollars, arms, and lives.
With the money spent on the war, Russia could have built 1,000 new schools and 200 hospitals, and granted 1 million rubles to every child born since the start of the full-scale invasion.

⚡️ 80% of Ukrainians back strikes on Russian refineries even if US cuts support, poll shows.

⚡️Canadian volunteer killed by Russian drone while rescuing animals in Donetsk Oblast.
Jesse Adams, founder of the Canadian organization RainCoast Dog Rescue Society, was killed by a Russian FPV drone while evacuating animals from front-line Kramatorsk.

⚡️ 2 Russian army deserters arrested while heading for Kyiv

Reporter's notebook: Visiting a POW camp is the best possible antidote to sympathy for Russian soldiers
Once our eyes adjusted to the aggressive glare of the freshly painted white walls around the yard, we began to make out figures, dozens of them dressed in navy blue, clinging to the inner walls of this surreal space.
⠀It was a scorching June day in western Ukraine, and we had just been released, like kids in a petting zoo, into a courtyard full of prisoners of war from the Russian military.
⠀Standing opposite a man who, in some ways, is the living embodiment of all the suffering and death brought to your home and the people living in it, and trying to have a normal, civilised conversation is especially strange.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦
@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social
⚡ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — OCT 29, 2026
■ Record month in terms of casualties (previous record in Dec 2024); yesterday's casualties and land-based equipment losses below average
■ Russia gained 16 km² net in the week to Oct 26, after losing 52 km² net the week before, according to DeepState
■ One 🇷🇺 aircraft hit, the first since Oct 15
■ 2nd quiet night in a row: fewest 🇷🇺 strike drones over two nights since early Sep, no missiles and a good drone interception rate; 12 locations hit or affected by debris
■ Over the last 30 days, Russian strikes outnumbered Ukrainian ones 27 to 1, the highest ratio since mid-April