Ukraine Invasion - Part 62

[MagicFox]

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

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Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ Update: 42 killed after Russian attack on Komyshuvakha as search operation enters 3rd day.
More than 30 people may still be trapped under the rubble, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

⚡️Ukraine, partners coordinate peace efforts ahead of Abu Dhabi talks with Russia.
The European Commission hosted talks on Ukraine in Brussels on Nov. 4, bringing together representatives from the U.S., Ukraine, NATO, and several European countries to discuss efforts to end Russia's war.

⚡️'Security guarantees must be ironclad' — Zelensky speaks to Trump's envoys ahead of trilateral peace talks.
Zelensky said he "had a very detailed conversation" with Witkoff and Kushner that lasted an hour and a half. Among the primary topics were air defense munitions, the U.S.-Ukraine Drone Deal, and post-war security guarantees.

⚡️ PrivatBank secures major victory in $3 billion battle against former oligarch owners.
The U.K.'s Supreme Court rejected PrivatBank’s former owners’ final appeal in a $3 billion fraud case, in a major victory for the state-owned Ukrainian bank that clears the way to pursue recovery of the funds worldwide.

⚡️ Russian strikes cause Kyiv’s worst water outage of full-scale war.
"This is the most serious water outage in Kyiv since the war began. It is also expected that the situation will worsen in the winter," Mykhailo Yatsuk, director of the Institute of Water Problems and Land Reclamation, told the Kyiv Independent.

EU disburses over 4 billion euros in budget support to Ukraine.
The EU's Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis described the payment as "an investment in Ukraine’s recovery, security and prosperity, and in its future as a member of the European Union.

⚡️Russia has capacity to produce over 200 ballistic, cruise missiles per month, Ukraine's military intelligence says.
Of this estimated monthly capacity, up to 110 are ballistic missiles, according to HUR.
Russia is believed to have up to 700 ballistic missiles and several thousand cruise missiles of various types in its stockpile as of October. [for people who don't believe that Russia is capable of waging war beyond Ukraine]

⚡️ Zelensky lands in Spain to discuss air defense.

⚡️Russia arming drones with propaganda, cyber threats, Ukraine's drone commander warns.
Ukrainian soldiers on Nov. 4 shot down a Russian Shahed drone carrying an unusual payload: "a bundle of propaganda leaflets from the enemy," Unmanned Systems Forces Commander Robert "Madyar" Brovdi reported.

⚡️ Update: SBU dismisses top officials after anti-graft agencies probe possible role in high-profile case.

⚡️ Kyiv Independent hit by suspected Russian cyberattack
“This is the first time an attack like this has happened to us, and we are treating it very seriously,” said Olga Rudenko, the Kyiv Independent’s editor-in-chief.

⚡️Russian oil refinery in Ryazan reportedly targeted in drone attack.

⚡️Law enforcement detains 2 female suspects linked to clashes near Kyiv, media reports.
The suspects have been accused of obstructing lawful military activities, disclosing the location of military facilities without authorization, and spreading false information.

⚡️ Ukrainian, Azerbaijani ministers meet in Uzhhorod for energy talks.

Who is Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's ombudsman walking a fine line with Russia
For Ukraine's Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, the evacuation of civilians from Oleshky has been a significant humanitarian achievement.
Lubinets played a key role in evacuating residents from the Russian-occupied city in Kherson Oblast in late October, earning praise from people who had endured nearly five years of occupation.
However, images of Lubinets shaking hands and exchanging warm greetings with his Russian counterpart, Yana Lantratova, have also prompted some criticism in Ukraine.

⠀The Kremlin’s disinformation strategy goes far beyond fake accounts and misleading posts. It is building an infrastructure designed to amplify divisive messages, exploit existing political tensions, and influence public opinion.
⠀The Kyiv Independent’s Martin Fornusek spoke with James Pamment, director of Lund University’s Psychological Defense Research Institute, about how Russia’s influence operations work, who coordinates them, and how they are funded.

Russian strikes on Ukraine’s drug supply chain leave pharmacy shelves empty
For weeks, many Ukrainians living with chronic illnesses have been doing something they likely never imagined: asking strangers online to buy their medicine and mail it to them.
As Russia escalated its strikes on businesses in Ukraine, including pharmaceutical producers and distributors, Ukrainians with chronic illnesses took to social media to ask people in other cities less affected by the attacks to buy medicine that had run out at their local pharmacies.
One Threads user wrote: "Is there anyone in Odesa who can help? I need someone to pick up medicine from a pharmacy and send it via Nova Poshta. It’s the only pharmacy that has a critical medication for my mom."

⚡️Russian drone attacks injure 4 in Dnipropetrovsk and Kyiv oblasts, spark fires at infrastructure facilities.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦
@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social
⚡ RUSSIA’S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — NOV 5, 2026
■ 2nd-highest daily 🇷🇺 casualties of the war, the 5th day in a row above 2,000; highest 7-day total of the war
■ 12.9 🇷🇺 casualties per combat engagement, the most since Mar 3, 2025
■ Territory: 🇷🇺 gained 29 km² in the week to Nov 3, according to DeepState
■ Total 🇷🇺 unarmored vehicle losses pass 170,000
■ Overnight 🇷🇺 attacks: two Kh-35 missiles, neither intercepted, and 128 strike drones; 27 locations hit or affected by debris; at least 300 drones launched into 🇷🇺 and occupied 🇺🇦

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call with US presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
“We are preparing for a trilateral meeting at the team level involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia, which is expected to take place in less than a week,” he said.

The European Commission has presented its annual enlargement report, assessing the progress of 10 EU candidate countries. Ukraine is among the four countries that have made the most significant progress.
The report notes that some progress was achieved not because of the authorities’ actions, but in spite of them. Anticipating that a positive assessment could be misinterpreted by the Ukrainian government, the authors stressed that the EU remains fully aware of the severity of the challenges facing the country.
In its roadmaps, the European Commission refrained from setting timelines for the frontrunners to conclude accession negotiations, aiming to encourage faster reforms in Ukraine. At the same time, it said that if Ukraine accelerates its reform efforts, it could potentially complete accession negotiations by the end of 2028.

❗️China has confirmed it is in contact with the United States and Russia over a possible first trilateral meeting between Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, and Vladimir Putin, Bloomberg reports.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing is maintaining communication with Washington and Moscow about a potential meeting of the three leaders of the nuclear-armed powers. The talks could take place as early as two weeks from now at the APEC summit in Shenzhen.
Both Trump and Putin have previously expressed public interest in meeting with Xi.
Bloomberg notes that such a meeting could help Putin break out of the international isolation he has faced since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, while giving Xi Jinping an opportunity to act as a mediator between Putin and Trump.

Two tankers carrying Russian diesel fuel to the US have changed course, the Financial Times reports.
The vessels Talisman and Leruo are now heading toward Algeria and Brazil.
A third tanker, Agioi Fanendes, is still sailing toward the US but has signaled that it is awaiting further instructions on its destination.

Nearly 5,400 Russian companies were declared bankrupt in the first nine months of 2026, up 13.3% year on year, as falling consumer demand, high borrowing costs, and heavier taxes strained businesses, The Moscow Times reported on November 4.
Read more: https://united24media.com/world/russian-companies-are-going-bankrupt-faster-as-taxes-rise-and-demand-falls-24088

Switzerland has followed the European Union in removing Putin-linked oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions list, Corriere della Sera reports.
A document published by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and obtained exclusively by the newspaper confirms that both men were delisted on November 4, 2026.

Norway, Finland, and Poland are stepping up preparations for a potential Russian attack, strengthening their reserves, expanding shelter capacity, and introducing defense training in schools. Bild reports on the measures each country is taking.
🇳🇴 Norway is relying on its “Total Defense” strategy, which involves the entire population in national defense efforts.
– More than 40,000 reservists undergo annual military training. – Citizens are being urged to stockpile emergency supplies. – The country has approximately 19,000 bomb shelters, with capacity for half the population.
🇫🇮 Finland is expanding its defense preparations, training civilians in weapons handling and first aid.
– Around 45,000 reservists take part in annual exercises involving urban combat, drone operations, and medical assistance for the wounded. – The country has built approximately 50,000 shelters, with capacity for 4.8 million people.
🇵🇱 Poland is expanding civilian training programs focused on emergency evacuation and basic military skills.
– The “Train with the Army” program offers practical sessions with military personnel, teaching participants to handle weapons and grenades. – Schoolchildren learn first aid and survival skills, while shooting classes are introduced from the age of 14.

Two major sponsors of the 2027 Ice Hockey World Championship in Germany have threatened to withdraw their support if Russia is allowed to compete.
Czech automaker Škoda and German company Strauss have said they may review or terminate their partnerships over Russia’s potential return to the tournament.
Several national teams, including Sweden and Norway, have also announced they will refuse to play against the Russian team.
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) acknowledged that it had underestimated the consequences of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling. These could include visa complications, additional security costs, and forfeits resulting from match boycotts.
The German Ice Hockey Federation has also warned of serious political, economic, and security implications for the host country.

Search-and-rescue operations in Komyshuvakha have entered their fourth day following Russia’s massive aerial bombardment of a school and shelter. Emergency teams have pulled 42 bodies, while forensic experts rush DNA profiling to identify victims as up to 33 people remain trapped beneath the debris, according to the National Police. t.me/United24media/47747

Ukrainian energy company DTEK has released footage showing three thermal power plants heavily damaged by Russian attacks.
All three facilities ceased operations yesterday due to the extensive damage.

This is a FAB-3000, a Russian aerial bomb weighing three tonnes.
And this is what it did to a school in Komyshuvakha, Ukraine, where civilians were sheltering and receiving humanitarian aid.
At least 40 people have been killed, with up to 30 more feared trapped beneath the rubble.
Read more: https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/russia-strikes-school-used-for-humanitarian-aid-in-zaporizhzhia-region-killing-24-24019

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

NATO is crafting defense plans to launch deep strikes inside Russia if Moscow attacks alliance territory.
The strategy targets military bases and supply networks up to thousands of kilometers away to deter and halt aggression.

Russia had up to 700 ballistic missiles and several thousand cruise missiles of various types in reserve as of October 2026, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) says.
HUR estimates Russia’s stockpile includes:
▪️Around 115 Iskander-M missiles, with about 65 produced each month
▪️Up to 400 48N6 missiles for S-400 air-defense systems, with monthly output of around 40
▪️More than 600 Oniks anti-ship missiles; over 55 were produced in seven months
▪️More than 120 Zircon hypersonic missiles; over 30 were produced in 2026
▪️More than 450 Kalibr cruise missiles, with monthly production of about 29
Production of Kinzhal missiles has been temporarily suspended because of accuracy problems.
Meanwhile, Russia plans to produce more than 80 Kh-101 cruise missiles each month, HUR said.

Senate Democrats have asked Elon Musk to preserve documents concerning the slowdown of Starshield in Ukraine.
The move prepares for investigations when Democrats take control of Congress in January 2027.
Lawmakers are also seeking to retain records linked to Russian diesel transactions as they prepare closer scrutiny of the Trump administration.

ANALYSIS: Ukraine Loses Key Congressional Allies as Democrats Take Control
Ukraine is losing influential allies through electoral defeats and retirements as Democrats win control of Congress. The new majority creates opportunities for oversight and aid, but bipartisan cooperation remains important.

A Democratic-controlled Congress could push Trump to toughen sanctions on Russia, restore aid to Ukraine and block cuts to US forces in Europe, former Pentagon official Ian Brzezinski told TVP World.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Portuguese President António José Seguro in Madrid.

Ukraine aims to provisionally close seven EU accession chapters in the first half of 2027, following an assessment of its rule-of-law reforms. The government also wants to open its two remaining negotiating clusters before the end of 2026.
These milestones would advance Kyiv’s membership bid, although neither would guarantee an accession date.

Kyiv has fully restored water supplies after Russia’s latest attack on Ukraine’s energy grid.
Emergency power cuts have been lifted in most regions, with scheduled outages now in effect. Ukraine’s energy system remains under severe strain, particularly in Kyiv and the surrounding region.

Repeated Russian attacks and air raid alerts are delaying repairs to Ukraine’s damaged energy infrastructure, Zelensky says, as Kyiv faces prolonged blackouts.
He announced new energy aid packages and called for better coordination with companies involved in restoration work.

NABU recordings exposed criminal plots to attack journalist Denys Bihus and blogger Ihor Lachenkov over probes into the U420 retail chain.
The wiretaps come amid Operation Carthage, which triggered an escalating standoff between NABU and the SBU.

Ukraine’s anti-corruption bureau, NABU, has completed its pre-trial investigation into “Operation Midas,” a kickback scheme involving former ministers and state nuclear energy company Energoatom.
Investigators identified at least $124 million in illicit transfers between 2020 and 2025 and are still tracing and seeking to seize the funds.

Ukrainian drones set a major Russian oil refinery and a Wildberries logistics hub ablaze in a massive overnight raid on Ryazan.
The strikes damaged power lines, causing outages, and injured one person. Russian officials claimed nearly 100 aerial targets were intercepted or destroyed across Ryazan, Rostov and Voronezh regions

Ukraine will pay workers repairing energy, utility and railway infrastructure damaged by Russian strikes an extra Hr. 30,000 ($670) a month, Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi said.
Russia has launched 300–400 drones a day at critical infrastructure, with more than 2,000 strikes recorded since August.

Ukraine is using battlefield drones for far more than striking enemy targets.
From delivering supplies and defending key sites to evacuating wounded soldiers, drones are helping reduce the risk to Ukraine’s most valuable resource: its people.

Virginia Congressman Eugene Vindman pledged to hold Donald Trump accountable, calling the midterm results a historic rebuke.
The Ukrainian-born lawmaker vowed to lower consumer costs, demand executive transparency, and protect democratic norms.

Ukraine’s air defenses took down more than 8,000 Russian drones and missiles in October, the Defense Ministry says.
They also neutralized over 43,000 tactical UAVs. But ballistic missiles remain a major threat, with Kyiv warning it needs more air defense systems.

“Russia has never threatened anyone and does not threaten anyone, and secondly, we strive for cooperation,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a Kremlin awards ceremony attended by foreign guests, including Alexander von Bismarck, a pro-Kremlin German public figure and great-grandson of former German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck.
Meanwhile, during Putin’s more than 26 years in power, Russia has fought the Second Chechen War, waged war against Georgia, occupied Crimea and launched the war in eastern Ukraine, intervened militarily in Syria, and launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇺🇸Democrats, after winning the US elections, may restore aid to Ukraine, even despite a veto by President Donald Trump, Reuters reports.
Having gained control of both chambers of Congress, starting in January 2027, Democrats will be able to independently determine which bills to bring to a vote and when. According to Reuters, bipartisan support may be enough to pass a new aid package, even despite a possible Trump veto. This requires two-thirds of the votes in each chamber. [ @MissConductUS is this accurate?]
Additionally, Democrats may try to block Trump's decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel.
▪️In the US midterm elections on November 3, Democrats won a majority in both chambers of Congress — the Senate (at least 54 seats, with 51 needed) and the House of Representatives (228 seats, with 218 needed). The new Congress will begin work on January 3, 2027.

🇲🇪🇪🇺Montenegro may sign an EU accession treaty as early as June 2027. The European Commission believes the country has met all requirements and can complete negotiations by the end of 2026, a senior EU diplomat told Babel.
The country has opened all 33 negotiating chapters, 21 of which have already been provisionally closed. By the end of this week, three more chapters may receive preliminary approval. According to the European Commission's roadmap, the rest are planned to be closed in December, with work on the accession treaty completed in spring 2027. The estimated date for signing it is June 2027.
The diplomat who spoke with Babel called this timeline ambitious but realistic. At the same time, signing the treaty will not yet mean EU accession: it must be ratified by all 27 member states and by Montenegro itself. The European Commission will also monitor how the country fulfills its obligations right up until accession.

⚡️The European Archery Federation has lifted restrictions on athletes from Russia starting January 1, 2027.
At the same time, the return to competitions does not cancel the effect of relevant laws, host country requirements, visa restrictions, or orders from state authorities.

The Russian losses are incredible. Just what are they doing?!

Putin doesn't care...the bigger worry (to my mind) is ..

"..Russia has capacity to produce over 200 ballistic, cruise missiles per month, Ukraine's military intelligence says.
Of this estimated monthly capacity, up to 110 are ballistic missiles, according to HUR.
Russia is believed to have up to 700 ballistic missiles and several thousand cruise missiles of various types in its stockpile as of October. :

If they've really got and can sustain that sort of industrial capacity it should be a wake up call to those who think that the answer to increasing Defence spending is funding a few start up companies (local jobs for hard working etc) and incentivising research into electronics and AI....

It's been pull finger out and start producing ordnance in quantity for some time now.

According to Reuters, bipartisan support may be enough to pass a new aid package, even despite a possible Trump veto. This requires two-thirds of the votes in each chamber. [ is this accurate?]

The two-thirds majority part is certainly correct. Whether there would be enough votes is another question entirely. Many of the newly elected democrats are very far left and would oppose any military spending, even to support Ukraine.

Exactly correct, and this goes back to my earlier post about NATO's strategy of using long range missiles to blunt a Russian attack on Europe, but not having enough of them to do so.

Efforts are underway to design and build missiles that are substantially less expensive and faster to make by using more off-the-shelf parts. That's the only way to improve the magazine depth for these effectors in a reasonable period of time.

https://www.twz.com/air/usaf-widens-lower-cost-cruise-missile-effort-to-also-include-glide-bombs

While you still want very high-end missiles like Tomahawk, you also need other, lower-cost, more plentiful options for lower-value targets.

@notimagain If they've really got and can sustain that sort of industrial capacity it should be a wake up call to those who think that the answer to increasing Defence spending is funding a few start up companies (local jobs for hard working etc) and incentivising research into electronics and AI....

I don't (and havent for a very long time) had access to independent info but the public information releases for at least two years and possibly three or more have indicated that Russia is manufacturing and stockpiling very significant numbers of missiles.

Many of the newly elected democrats are very far left and would oppose any military spending, even to support Ukraine.

On the one hand, it’s good to see Trump and the MAGA crowd being checked in the disaster of his administration. On the other, I’m hoping the pendulum doesn’t swing too far in the other direction as some of those so-called ‘progressive’ left democrats come across just as authoritarian / militant in their own way. Hopefully cross party work is possible.

Some of the far left are terrifying

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-4-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. Russia’s long-range drone strike campaign against Ukrainian energy infrastructure on the night of November 3 to 4 heavily targeted central and western Ukraine and caused significant power outages across the country.
2. Russia’s Winter 2026-2027 strike campaign continues to damage critical infrastructure and the Ukrainian economy with precise and repeated strikes that cause significant damage.
3. Ukrainian forces continued their long-range strike campaign against Ozon marketplace warehouses in Russia on the night of November 3 to 4.
4. Russian forces recently advanced in northwestern Kostyantynivka.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-5-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. The Kremlin is weaponizing humanitarian crises Russia itself has created in order to court the Trump Administration.
2. The reported arrest of a prominent Russian milblogger for his coverage of the Oleshky ceasefire is likely part of long-standing Kremlin efforts to censor critical information space actors.
3. Russia appears to be struggling to export diesel to the United States under the October 9 US-Russia diesel fuel agreement.
4. The Russian military is continuing the process of forming new maneuver divisions as part of longstanding plans to transition towards a force structure based on divisions and mass.
5. Iran reportedly sought to acquire Russian military equipment in 2023 and 2024 that could support the regime’s counterinsurgency efforts.
6. Ukrainian forces continued their long-range strike campaign against Russian logistical, industrial, and oil infrastructure in Ryazan and Oryol oblasts.
7. Ukrainian forces recently advanced in western Zaporizhia Oblast.
8. Russian forces launched two Kh-35 anti-ship missiles and 128 drones against Ukraine overnight.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ Poland detains 6 suspects working for Russian intelligence, Polish official says.
The detainees include five Polish nationals aged between 25 and 52 and a 37-year-old Russian woman, according to Tomasz Siemoniak, Poland's minister-coordinator of special services .

⚡️ Water supply disruptions return in Kyiv, metro service temporarily suspended due to power fluctuations. [yesterday]

⚡️Trump meets Russian envoy in Washington ahead of Ukraine peace talks, claims 'big, beautiful agreement' coming.
U.S. President Donald Trump met with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev on Nov. 5 ahead of upcoming peace talks between Ukraine, Moscow, and Washington.

100 days in, what changed for Ukraine's soldiers under Commander-in-Chief Drapatyi?
Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi marked 100 days as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in late October, as Ukraine regains ground in the northern part of Donetsk Oblast and seeks to improve defensive positions before winter.
Drapatyi, one of Ukraine's most popular generals, was appointed in July with high expectations that he would deliver much-needed reforms to the armed forces.
He has focused on decentralized leadership, a manpower audit, and military reforms while Ukraine prepares for winter battles in Donetsk Oblast.

⚡️ Police, SBU identify 130 people potentially involved in clashes near National Guard facility in Kyiv Oblast.
Of the 130 people identified, 27 allegedly "took an active part in unlawful actions," while another 24 "acted aggressively, incited others, and deliberately provoked confrontations" with police and National Guard personnel, according to the National Police.

⚡️Ukraine needs to consolidate 'bipartisan support' in US following midterm elections, Zelensky says.
With Democrats set to control the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives come 2027, Zelensky said Ukraine now has "increased chances" of securing additional aid.

⚡️ Death toll from Russian strike on Komyshuvakha rises to 53 as search operation enters 5th day.
The strike was the deadliest Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia Oblast since the start of the full-scale invasion.

⚡️ Ukraine strikes 2 Russian ammunition depots, other military targets in occupied territories, General Staff says.
The ammunition depots were located near the town of Melitopol and the settlement of Khliborobne in the Russian-occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, according to the statement.

⚡️Canadian service member faces court-martial for sharing sensitive information with Ukraine.
Master Warrant Officer Matthew Robar of the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command is charged with passing operational information to Ukraine and will face a court-martial hearing in December.

⚡️Spain to provide Ukraine $490 million in military aid, Zelensky says.
Attending the 30th Ibero-American Summit, Zelensky said the funds will help bolster Ukrainian air defenses as Russian strikes pummel Ukrainian transportation and energy infrastructure.

⚡️ EU expands Ukraine sanctions push with new office and crypto task force.
The EU announced the launch of a task force dedicated to cryptocurrency sanctions, an area where it has been progressively rolling out more restrictions.

⚡️Ukrainian forces target oil refinery as explosions reported across southern Russia.

⚡️ Meloni warns of need for dedicated EU envoy to avoid 'condemning Europe to irrelevance' in peace talks.

⚡️ Fico downplays possible Slovak-hosted Ukraine peace talks during visit to Lviv.
Fico's latest comments seemingly downplay the suggestion made by his foreign minister, Juraj Blanar, who proposed Bratislava as a venue for preparatory peace talks after his visit to Moscow last week.

⚡️ Ukraine, Russia share stage at Melania Trump's event, only Kyiv calls for more Oleshky-style missions.

⚡️ EU's Costa backs Meloni's criticism of peace talks 'disarray,' plans to fix it.
"I take note of your request to discuss this matter further at the forthcoming informal European Council meeting in Dublin, and I will make time for this discussion," wrote European Council President Antonio Costa.

⚡️ Finland defense minister calls for burden sharing on defense and Ukraine, for the sake of European unity.

⚡️Ukrainian woman dies in illegal Russian detention in Crimea.
Oleksandra Kazarovytska, 44, had returned to occupied Sevastopol to help her parents sell their apartment, according to a statement from the Kharkiv language school, where she served as director of studies.
According to the statement, Kazarovytska was illegally detained by Russian occupation authorities when “correspondence with a volunteer from the very beginning of the full-scale invasion was found” on her phone.

⚡️ Ukraine's Kyivstar raises outlook as digital business surges despite ongoing war.
Kyivstar now expects its revenue to grow by 15%–17% this year, up from its original forecast of 14%–16%. Its revenue reached $349 million in the third quarter, up 17.5% from a year earlier, according to its quarterly financial results.

⚡️ Pro-Russian Latvian moves to Russia, gets forcibly conscripted into the Russian army.
While in pre-trial detention, Sergei Mulivanov signed a military contract and was subsequently sent to participate in the Russian invasion he had previously vocally supported.

⚡️ Senior Ukrainian law enforcement officials charged in sprawling scam call centers case.
According to Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies, the group was also involved in torture-for-hire, kidnappings, extortion of millions of dollars, and other crimes.

At Republican watch parties, some blame midterm failure on Trump’s unkept promises — including Ukraine
[...] As Republicans lost control of both the House and Senate on election night, attendees at a Washington watch party voiced frustration over failed promises, domestic disconnects, and the war in Ukraine.

⚡️ Russian attacks kill 1, injure 21 across Ukraine over past day as emergency power cuts hit 7 regions.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦
@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social

⚡ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — NOV 6, 2026
■ Reported 🇷🇺 casualties pass 1.6 million: the last 100,000 took 58 days (the 100,000 before: 73)
■ 2nd-highest daily casualties of the war, and the highest 7-day average so far
■ 2nd-highest daily 🇷🇺 unarmored vehicle losses and 3rd-highest land-based equipment losses; six air defence systems hit
■ Overnight 🇷🇺 attacks: 227 drones, 86% intercepted, no missiles; 22 locations hit or affected by debris
■ Combat engagements below the 7-day average; nine 🇺🇦 air and artillery strikes reported

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has arrived in Lviv for the fourth round of intergovernmental consultations between Ukraine and Slovakia.
The two sides discussed energy, defense cooperation, transport infrastructure, and European integration.
Following the talks, Slovakia will allocate €500,000 to Ukraine to purchase generators, which are expected to be delivered by the end of November. Slovakia will also provide three locomotives for Ukrainian Railways.

UK Rules Out Putin’s Participation in 2027 G20 Summit in Manchester
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said that Russian leader Vladimir Putin will not be invited to the G20 summit, scheduled to take place in Manchester in 2027. Due to sanctions, Russia will only be represented by lower-level officials.

Following his meeting with Melania Trump, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets announced a new mechanism to protect the rights of Ukrainians in temporarily occupied territories.
Lubinets said he would disclose details of the initiative at a later date.
The parties also discussed further humanitarian efforts to secure the return of Ukrainian citizens from Russia and temporarily occupied territories, as well as the outcomes of the humanitarian mission in Oleshky.
Lubinets emphasized that the Ukrainian delegation is continuing its work in Washington and expects concrete results from the scheduled negotiations.

Russia has begun sending abducted Ukrainian children to fight in its war against Ukraine, President Zelenskyy said at the 30th Ibero-American Summit in Madrid.
Russia has abducted more than 20,000 Ukrainian children, of whom Ukraine has managed to bring back 2,790. President Zelenskyy warned that some of those who grew up during the war are now being sent to the front.
He urged international partners to publicly condemn the abductions and help secure the children’s return.

Ukraine is seeking to acquire Taurus missiles to destroy Russian launch sites, as the U.S. is unable to provide anti-ballistic missiles for air defense, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with ZDF.

Rostov Region Governor Yury Slyusar has warned that all three Russian ports on the Sea of Azov are at risk of collapse due to Ukrainian drone attacks.
“Naturally, the ports are going through difficult times. Operations at all three of our ports—in Rostov-on-Don, Taganrog, and Azov—have effectively come to a halt. At the same time, loan obligations remain, as does the responsibility to pay the wages of 7,000 employees.
If we do not provide radical support to this sector now, we will lose it entirely,” he said in an interview with the Rossiya 24 television channel.
According to Slyusar, drone strikes have damaged quay walls, storage tanks, and other port infrastructure. The shutdown of these hubs and the collapse of shipping in the Azov-Black Sea basin have prompted the declaration of a regional state of emergency.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he considers it unlikely that there will be a clear winner in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Asked whether anyone would win the war, Rutte replied: “I don’t think that’s very likely. Such wars always end with a peace agreement, which often represents some kind of compromise.”

Russia’s Ministry of Defense and regional authorities are increasingly cutting or delaying military enlistment payments as budget deficits grow, according to the recent findings of the Institute for the Study of War.
ISW’s recent report also cites a Russian propagandist, who on November 3 that Russian regional authorities have also widely reduced or eliminated death benefits for families of deceased servicemembers throughout 2026.
The decision to scale back financial compensation reflects a deliberate effort to manage state resources for a prolonged war of attrition. By cutting social and military benefits, the Kremlin is optimizing expenditure to sustain long-term military operations and high casualties without depleting the federal budget.

Russian budget revenues from oil and gas have reached a 19-month high.
In October, Russia collected 971.2 billion rubles in oil and gas taxes, up 9.3% from the same month last year, The Moscow Times reports.
Urals crude sold for an average of $101.46 per barrel in October, its highest price since 2014.
At the same time, 415 billion rubles were returned to oil companies through subsidies for oil refineries. This year, Ukrainian drones have targeted Russian oil refineries more than 100 times.

A joint investigation by NEXTA Polska and DisInt. ai analyzed 5,168 Polish YouTube videos and over 436,000 comments from May to July 2026.
The study revealed that out of 58,550 comments addressing Ukrainian issues, 38% were posted by just 1,983 suspicious accounts—representing less than 2% of all commenters. Researchers identified clear signs of coordinated behavior, including rapid mass text duplication, cross-platform narrative alignment with Russian Telegram channels, and activity across international digital spaces.

Italian medical facilities are ready to provide treatment and rehabilitation to Ukrainians with severe burn injuries, with arrangements for transporting patients currently being finalized, according to the Embassy of Ukraine in Italy.
The regions of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna, along with hospitals in Milan, Naples, Genoa, Sassari, Cesena, and Parma, have confirmed they are ready to admit patients. [...]
Ukraine’s Ministry of Health is coordinating the practical arrangements for patient evacuations, taking into account individual needs and EU protocols.
Italy joined the MEDEVAC program, which facilitates the evacuation and treatment of wounded Ukrainians, at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

In the dead of night across Kyiv, as air raid sirens wail and Russian ballistic missiles fly toward the capital, a team of Gen-Z volunteers races toward the explosions. In this report, we embed with Med Crew 13—a youth volunteer rapid response medical unit operating under fire across Kyiv.
Facing the severe danger of secondary "double-tap" strikes—where Russian forces strike a target, wait for first responders to arrive, and strike again—these paramedics risk everything to extract civilian casualties and administer emergency trauma care.
Watch full report:

Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III described Russia’s war against Ukraine as a conflict between “brothers” taking place “along the western border” of the Russian Federation.

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) says a court ruling forcing it to reinstate Russian teams presents “significant practical and sporting challenges.”

Russia launches hundreds of those [Shahads] at Ukrainian cities every night.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Zelensky says Ukraine has not received $16 billion in US assistance agreed under previous arrangements.
“We are grateful for everything that has been given, but Ukraine should, at the very least, fight to secure these funds,” he said.

Around 90% of Ukrainian detainees in Russian courts face terrorism charges instead of being treated as POWs, a UN expert said.
Mariana Katzarova warned a "brutal machinery of torture operates with total impunity, with over 430 dead in captivity".

Aid delivered to Russian-occupied Oleshky is failing to reach many residents, with some receiving less than a week’s worth of food.
Local officials say others were left behind during the evacuation because of poor communication, mobility problems or fear of Russian “filtration.”

US presidential adviser Jared Kushner outlined five objectives for a new European security framework ahead of trilateral peace negotiations with Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi next week.
The proposal emphasizes crisis communications, military transparency, de-escalation and national sovereignty, while preserving NATO’s central role in European defense.

Ukrainian strikes knocked 15 of Russia’s 38 major oil refineries offline, cutting processing at hit sites by 55.4%, HUR reported.
Precision strikes caused over $23B in damage.

Russia is reportedly supplying Iran with 90 helicopter missile launchers used in Ukraine, internal leaked documents show.
The APU-L units arm Mi-28 helicopters, even as Donald Trump continues to downplay Moscow’s military support for Tehran.

Britain and France will lead 2,800 troops from 11 nations in Exercise Koalicja in Poland, drilling for post-war deployment to Ukraine.
The maneuvers test rapid transit, airspace defense, and maritime mine clearance under the Coalition of the Willing.

Zelensky said Ukraine could hold elections if the US brokers a winter ceasefire with Russia, allowing people to have electricity and water.
But he stressed that any vote must include Ukrainians abroad, those under Russian occupation and soldiers on the front line: “Holding elections while soldiers cannot vote is unfair.”

Ukraine is pushing to renew its Starshield agreement with the US government, despite unexplained speed restrictions imposed on the satellite network last month.
The current contract is due to expire in mid-2027.

Russian strikes threaten equipment critical to Ukraine's nuclear power plants, Volodymyr Zelensky warned.
He urged Spain and Latin American nations to urgently supply compatible transformers, power cables, and generators.

Trump confirmed he met Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev at the White House but skipped the Ukrainian delegation attending the same humanitarian event hosted by First Lady Melania Trump.
The US President said a deal to end Russia’s war on Ukraine was close and suggested it could grow into a wider agreement involving Europe.

EU diplomats reject resuming Russian gas purchases despite a reported US plan to restart transit via Ukraine.
Officials reiterated vows to eliminate Russian fossil fuel dependency, arguing ongoing strikes warrant tighter sanctions.

Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s grain export corridor is hitting micro and small farmers hardest, PrivatBank executives told Kyiv Post.
Many are using reserves to repay loans for now, but rising fuel costs and unsold harvests could leave them needing fresh financing for spring sowing. A second lost export season would hit especially hard, the bank warned.

Bomb hoaxes disrupted at least 30 flights across Europe on Thursday, following similar threats that affected seven flights and a cruise ship earlier this week.
Investigators have not identified those responsible, though experts say the incidents fit methods often associated with state-backed hybrid threats.

Russia’s war in Ukraine has fueled a boom in the country’s prosthetics industry, with firms linked to Putin’s inner circle and regional officials benefiting from growing demand among wounded soldiers, an investigation by Vot Tak found.
At least 106 prosthetics companies have opened since the full-scale invasion began, generating nearly €202 million in revenue in 2025.

Canada plans to spend at least $1.8 billion over five years on military drones and counter-drone systems under its proposed 2026 federal budget.
The investment follows an agreement with Ukraine to expand joint drone production, with Ottawa pledging to send one-third of Canadian-made drones to Kyiv.

Pro-war Russian blogger Vladimir Romanov went silent on Telegram amid rumors of detention.
His channel halted updates after he reported that most evacuees from occupied Oleshky chose to leave for Ukraine rather than Russia.

A major explosion hit a main gas pipeline in Russia’s Kemerovo region.
Preliminary reports indicate a depressurization of the pipeline. Regional Governor Ilya Seredyuk confirmed a fire at the site.
It is the second recorded major fire at a Russian main gas pipeline in the past month.Moldova plans to impose a 5-year travel ban on Transnistrian leader Vadim Krasnoselsky after he returns from Moscow.
The move follows Vladimir Putin awarding him the Order of Honor, which Chisinau condemned as a Russian provocation.

Russia is proposing to let airlines keep foreign-leased aircraft through 2028, extending wartime rules introduced after leasing companies demanded their jets back.
Russian carriers remain dependent on Western-built planes as domestic manufacturers work to produce replacements.

Japan has demanded Moscow reverse a decree placing four Japan Tobacco International factories under temporary Russian control.
Tokyo lodged a diplomatic protest over the effective seizure of Russia's top tobacco manufacturer.

Ukrainian drones struck the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region overnight, sparking a fire after a series of explosions.
The refinery can process 6.25 million tons of oil a year and produces diesel and gasoline components used to supply Russia’s occupation forces.

Central heating has begun in Kyiv, with nearly 45% of residential buildings connected ahead of full rollout by November 12.
However, fresh grid attacks and water cutoffs threaten stability as Russia aims to disrupt 90% of utilities this winter.

Ukraine has approved rules for State Emergency Service aircraft to transfer patients between hospitals and take them abroad for specialist care.
Crews will also be able to carry transplant teams and donor organs when the journey by road would take too long.

Ukrainian startup UADamage secured US backing from Pravo Ventures and Ondas Capital to accelerate its AI demining solutions.
The capital will help scale sensor tech to detect unexploded ordnance and assess damaged infrastructure internationally.

Investigators reportedly searched the home of Kyiv region police chief Andriy Rubel in a probe into scam call centers.
The raid is part of Operation Carthage, a wide investigation uncovering high-level protection schemes and plots against journalists.

Investigators reportedly searched the home of Kyiv region police chief Andriy Rubel in a probe into scam call centers.
The raid is part of Operation Carthage, a wide investigation uncovering high-level protection schemes and plots against journalists.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

Ukraine has not received $16 billion in US aid envisaged by previous agreements and decisions, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated.
"We need to raise the issue that, from past agreements and past decisions, $16 billion was halted, and $16 billion was not given. Be that as it may, we are grateful for everything that was given, but at a minimum Ukraine must fight for this money," he said.
These figures are partly confirmed by reports from the Pentagon Inspector General, who oversees US aid to Ukraine. In particular, under the USAI program, for which $33.51 billion has been allocated since February 2022, as of March 2026 Ukraine had received weapons and equipment worth $19.21 billion — 57% of the total sum.
In the next report, published in August, the figure had barely changed and stood at 57.3%. That is, according to the Pentagon report, by August Ukraine had not received $14.3 billion.
Additionally, about $1 billion in aid was not used in time. However, this does not mean the money was lost. It can no longer be used for new contracts but can be directed to pay for previously concluded ones or to increase funding for already approved procurements.

🇸🇰In a hotel in the Slovak city of Trenčín, two Ukrainian military personnel got into a fight. One of them died on the way to the hospital, Pluska reports.
According to journalists, the individuals are likely servicemen of the Ukrainian Air Force undergoing training in Slovakia. During the fight, one of them inflicted a knife wound on the other. Medics tried to resuscitate the victim but were unable to save him.
Both men are 53 years old. Slovak police detained the suspected attacker and are investigating the circumstances of the incident.

Overnight, the Russians launched 227 drones at Ukraine. Air defense neutralized 196 of them.
However, impacts were recorded in 14 locations, with debris falling in 8. In particular, the Kirovohrad region was hit overnight. Three people were injured there, and a private house was destroyed.
Late in the evening, the enemy dropped aerial bombs on Izium in the Kharkiv region. Two people were injured; houses and power grids were damaged — part of the city is without power.
Already in the morning, the Russian army struck Kamianske in the Dnipropetrovsk region. A woman was injured, and a sports complex was damaged.
A Russian drone also attacked the Poltava region in the morning — no casualties were reported there.

Since Nov, troop losses reported in the Kyiv Independent graphic has jumped from an average of 1,500 to over 2,000 a day.

That is simply staggering.

What could be the reason. Operation Vivaldi and other Ukraine counteroffensives? Splash before the US mid-terms? Or just the new norm.

Some very intensive fighting in both directions we are not talking about much. I'm not gong to.

Drones and more drones.

Lower calibre troops. This is the difficult bit. There are more less prepped, age and physical fitness outlier, lower motivation, forcibly motivated troops filling places. There's a manpower crisis with increased absences and many units are seriously understrength.

The Starlink interruption did not just affect long range strikes and city defences. It impacted reconnaissance and resupply at and around the front. Front line coordination and communications was impacted.

There has been an artillery shell shortage. Alongside this some of the munitions that have been rounded up from a range of sources has not been as reliable as one would expect.

@MMBaranova that sounds grim. It does feel like there are heavy battles going on that are not being reported on. Are you describing the situation for Ukraine and/or Russia?

Both sides have been trying to take / hold different ground with what I see as particular ferocity and desperation as we head to the end of the year. My post was replying to your comment on why there might be increased Ukrainian military losses. Those are all things I have noticed being discussed that might lead to increased losses, if they are in fact significantly higher (I don't know, I haven't looked closely).

The messages I get from relatives, especially in Dnipro, is that national resolve is holding but frayed. There have been more Russian missile and drone strikes close to their homes but thankfully no more deaths. Lots of alerts.

@MMBaranova the Russian strike on civilians at the train station in Dnipro is just horrific and since then, so much more senseless cruelty including the strike on the distribution centre, hospice and hospital in* *Zaporizhzhia. I am sure there are others, every single one a war crime.

It is dismaying to read. I cannot fathom living through it day by day. I don't know how your friends and relatives in Ukraine are even keeping it together. Thank you for your insight on the ground. It cannot be easy.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️Umerov to lead Ukraine delegation in Abu Dhabi peace talks despite media confusion, top official confirms.
The talks in Abu Dhabi are expected to take place in a trilateral format, with Ukrainian, Russian, and U.S. officials in attendance.
Previously, outlets reported that Kyrylo Budonov, Zelensky's chief of staff, would lead the delegation.

⚡️ Ukraine's ground drones complete over 30,000 missions in record month for robot warfare.
The October mission count, which includes logistics and evacuation missions, is over four times higher than the 7,511 missions recorded in January 2026.

⚡️Russia preparing major attack against Ukraine's bridges, critical infrastructure, Zelensky warns.
"We currently have intelligence indicating that a new attack is being prepared against our energy infrastructure, our bridges across the Dnipro River, and civilian infrastructure."

Turkey complains Russian gas too expensive in possible discount bid
Turkey plans to wind down its reliance on Russian gas, but for cost reasons rather than geopolitical concerns, the country's Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Nov. 5, according to media reports.
However, "this could also be a bargaining message to Moscow: offer a better price or lose more market share," Isaac Levi, an energy policy analyst with the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), told the Kyiv Independent.

⚡️ Ukraine adopts unified rules for identifying dead civilians and soldiers.
All interagency regional teams will now follow the same rules for examinations, forensic medical studies, collection of biological samples, and documentation, Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi said.

⚡️Suspects in high-profile case discussed acid attack on Ukraine's top investigative journalist.
Two suspects can be heard discussing physically assaulting Denys Bihus or dousing him with acid, in an attempt to intimidate the founder of Bihus.info, an outlet known for investigating high-level corruption, according to NABU tapes.

⚡️Russian ballistic missiles slam Kyiv after Zelensky warns of mass attack.

⚡️Musk reposts tweet calling Starlink service for Ukraine 'mistake.'
"In hindsight, it was a mistake for SpaceX to send (Ukraine) thousands of free Starlink dishes and millions of dollars a month in free service at the beginning of the war," the post reads.

⚡️Update: Russian ballistic missiles slam Ukraine's capital as Kyiv's Northern Bridge damaged, 5 people injured, including child, after Zelensky's warning.
Among the five injured in the city is a 14-year-old girl, and another two people have been hospitalized, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

⚡️ Ukraine returns 13 children from Russian occupation, NGO says.
The operation comes amid Russia's ongoing efforts to indoctrinate and militarize Ukrainian children living under occupation. The organization Save Ukraine says it has helped rescue more than 1,800 children from Russia and Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.

⚡️Ukraine strikes Saratov Oil Refinery in mass attack on several regions, reports say.
Ukraine struck various sites in the Russian regions of Oryol, Saratov, and Rostov, hitting an oil refinery among several targets overnight on Nov. 7, monitoring channels reported.

⚡️ Finland to tighten restrictions on Russian athletes after Moscow's expected return to world ice hockey.
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said the amendments to the current rules are being prepared "on a tight schedule," following a meeting between the Finnish government and President Alexander Stubb.

⚡️ Military intelligence identifies Russian soldiers involved in deadly Komyshuvakha aid center strike.
Four Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers were involved in the operation, according to Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR).

⚡️ Police searches at energy company deepen Zelensky-Klitschko tensions over Kyiv's winter preparations.
Kyiv’s city-run heating company, Kyivteploenergo, accused the police of pressuring the company and seizing important documents pertaining to the capital’s energy resilience plan on Nov. 6.

⚡️ Ukraine strikes Russian missile launchers, air defense systems in Bryansk Oblast, General Staff says.
The Iskander-M is one of Russia's principal ballistic weapons. Since the beginning of 2026, Moscow has launched more than 500 ballistic missiles against Ukraine.

⚡️ Update: Top Zelensky ally denies corruption allegations after court orders probe.
“I’ve never been involved (in the alleged vote-buying), and I believe no such thing happened,” David Arakhamia told reporters at a meeting in Washington on Nov. 6, which the Kyiv Independent attended.
Arakhamia, head of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s parliamentary faction, said that he sees the allegations against him a “campaign” intended to push him out of the peace negotiations.

⚡️ Ukraine anti-trust regulator clears Uber’s takeover bid for food delivery Glovo service.
The approval allows Uber to gain indirect control of Delivery Hero through its subsidiary, Uber International Technologies II Corporation, bringing Glovo's Ukrainian operations under Uber's control.

⚡️ Russian attacks kill 2, injure 37 across Ukraine over past day, hit substations connecting nuclear power plants to Kyiv.
Zelensky said on Nov. 7 that substations were damaged in Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Kharkiv, and Dnipro oblasts.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦
@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social
⚡ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — NOV 7, 2026
■ 🎯 Ukrainian Neptune missiles struck the Proton-Electrotex defence plant in Oryol
■ 4th-highest daily 🇷🇺 casualties of the war; highest 7-day total of the war
■ Overnight 🇷🇺 attacks: 172 strike drones (80% jet-powered) and ballistic missiles; 87% of the drones and 4 missiles shot down, 34 locations hit or affected by debris
■ Over the last 30 days, Russian strikes outnumbered Ukrainian ones 37 to 1, the highest ratio of the war, and the last 7 days are higher still (41 to 1)

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

❗️Russian forces have damaged Kyiv’s Northern Bridge.
Traffic across the bridge has been suspended in both directions, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported. [...] According to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, the road surface, overhead trolleybus lines, and power lines were affected. The blast wave also damaged trucks parked nearby.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine has shared proposals with the United States on concrete outcomes for the upcoming trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi.
“We must ensure the trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi yields concrete results. We have shared our proposals regarding tangible potential outcomes with the American side,” he said during a meeting with partners from the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8).
Zelenskyy thanked the leaders of Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Norway, and Sweden for their support and said they shared a common understanding of fundamental issues.

Russia has attacked power grids transmitting electricity from nuclear power plants to Kyiv and central Ukraine.
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ministry of Energy, Russian strikes damaged substations and grid infrastructure used to deliver electricity from the Rivne and Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plants to consumers.
The damage affected power transmission infrastructure, not the nuclear power plants themselves.
Further power supply restrictions are possible, particularly in Kyiv and the Kyiv region. Electricity has already been restored to some consumers, but repair work is ongoing.
The timeline for fully restoring the damaged power grids remains unknown.

The European Commission will establish a dedicated sanctions office to coordinate EU efforts to impose economic restrictions on Russia, Commission spokesperson Siobhán McGarry announced.
The new body will oversee the entire sanctions policy cycle, from developing and implementing restrictions to monitoring compliance and countering sanctions evasion.
The Commission said the office aims to increase pressure on Russia and give EU member states faster access to guidance, data sharing, and analysis.
The EU has so far adopted 21 sanctions packages against Russia and is working on a 22nd. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had previously supported the proposal to establish the office.

Norway will provide Ukraine with 500 million kroner (approximately $53 million) through the World Bank, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.
The funds will support public services and help ensure the payment of salaries, pensions, and social assistance in the civilian sector in early 2027.

The German Ministry of Defence has announced that Christian Freuding, currently the Inspector of the Army, will become Inspector General of the Bundeswehr in February 2027. He previously headed the Ministry’s Special Staff for Ukraine.
Freuding will succeed General Carsten Breuer, who was selected in September to become Chair of the NATO Military Committee. The Inspector General is the Bundeswehr’s highest-ranking military officer. [...]
According to Pistorius, while leading the Special Staff for Ukraine, Freuding studied the rapid technological developments in Russia’s war against Ukraine and drew conclusions about the German Armed Forces’ defensive capabilities.
An Army intelligence officer by training, Freuding holds a degree in political science. During his military career, he has held several command positions, including company, battalion, and brigade commander. He has also served in missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR) and Afghanistan (ISAF).
In 2022, following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Freuding took charge of the Special Staff for Ukraine at the German Ministry of Defence, coordinating military support for Ukraine.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said Ukraine currently has the advantage on the battlefield and stressed that no post-war settlement can be discussed without the participation of the Ukrainian authorities.

The German federal government has effectively ruled out hosting next May’s World Ice Hockey Championship if the Russian national team is allowed to participate, DW reports.

In Vladimir Putin’s Russia, even decades of loyalty may not guarantee political survival. Who are the figures in his inner circle, and how does their growing influence put their positions at risk?
Read in our editorial: https://united24media.com/world/what-happens-when-putins-inner-circle-becomes-too-powerful-24108

Russian forces have shown footage for the first time of a Mi-28MN helicopter launching Banderol small cruise missiles. https://t.me/United24media/47811

Ukraine’s top-ranked tennis player, Elina Svitolina, has refused to stand beside Russian and Belarusian competitors, prompting organizers to cancel the traditional group photoshoot at this year’s WTA Finals.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

President Volodymyr Zelensky is preparing personnel changes within Ukraine's military leadership alongside Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi.
The move comes as Kyiv seeks to enter a diplomatic track ahead of upcoming talks in Abu Dhabi.

Russia brought over 1,000 troops into occupied Kherson region by exploiting the Oleshky humanitarian truce, Ukrainian marines said.
Forces reoccupied forward lines and allegedly stockpiled ammunition inside a local hospital to deter strikes.

Ukraine is exporting electricity to Europe despite severe Kyiv blackouts due to damaged high-voltage lines, an expert said.
Power plants generate enough electricity, but damaged networks block transmission to the capital, Oleksandr Kharchenko said.

Presidential Office Head Kyrylo Budanov acknowledged violating Ukraine's state language law and will pay a statutory fine, officials said.
The decision follows an incident outside a National Guard facility where Budanov publicly spoke Russian.

A wave of false bomb threats targeting European media and flights prompted fighter jet scrambles and evacuations, officials said.
Spanish FM José Manuel Albares condemned the hoaxes demanding an end to Ukraine aid as 'hybrid aggression.'

Donald Trump Jr. met Russian businessman Umar Kremlev in Kazakhstan to discuss business deals, an IStories probe reported.
A spokesperson denied commercial ties, stating the two are personal friends with no joint ventures planned.

Russian forces struck an oil and gas facility belonging to Naftogaz three times overnight in central Ukraine, sparking a major blaze.
Company officials confirmed equipment damage, adding that prompt evacuations prevented staff casualties.

Law enforcement searched residences linked to utility Kyivteploenergo in a probe into suspected budget embezzlement.
City officials warned the actions could hamper backup energy projects, though prosecutors insist heating will not be affected.

Kyiv delivered nearly 2,700 drones and 12 ground robotic platforms to the 5th Separate Assault Brigade, Mayor Klitschko said.
The aid follows an extra $22M city budget allocation, bringing Kyiv's total military support for 2026 to $132M.

The death toll from a Russian airstrike on a civilian shelter in Komyshuvakha rose to 55, Ukraine's emergency service said.
Military intelligence identified the Russian commander and six Su-34 pilots who carried out the deadly FAB-3000 bomb attack.

A 75-year-old man died after a Russian drone destroyed a home in Kyiv region's Bohdanivka, regional authorities reported.
Rescuers pulled the victim from the rubble alongside his injured wife, but he later succumbed to his wounds, officials said.

Russia fired 36 ballistic missiles and 172 drones at Kyiv overnight, wounding nine civilians, Volodymyr Zelensky announced.
Targeting substations tied to nuclear plants ahead of peace talks, the strikes spurred fresh calls for US bipartisan backing.