Russian forces are using civilians in Kherson and other frontline cities as live targets to train drone operators, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on 15 November, referring to the systematic killings of Russia’s "human safari" terror tactic.

The attacks serve a dual purpose for Russia: terrorizing Ukrainian civilians who resist their forces while providing real-world training for drone operators, transforming Kherson and other cities into live-fire training grounds.

Russian "human safari" terror doubles as drone operator training

"They are essentially conducting a 'human safari' and training drone operators through the killing of Ukrainians on the streets, on the roads," Zelenskyy said in his evening address. "We need more protection and more of our own active operations."

The president singled out Russian units targeting Kherson, Nikopol, and other cities within easy reach of occupied territory. 

"They are tormenting our cities, tormenting our people," he said. "We are preparing special solutions that can strengthen our defenses, particularly in those regions and inflict greater losses on the occupier - especially on those Russian units" conducting the attacks.

Systematic attacks kill over 130 civilians in four months

Since summer 2024, Russian forces have conducted what Kherson residents call "human safari" - using small FPV drones equipped with cameras to track individual pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers, then drop explosives directly on them.

The UN confirmed in October 2025 that these attacks constitute crimes against humanity. Russian forces deliberately target civilians, ambulances, and first responders across over 300 kilometers of territory along the Dnipro River.

Kherson experiences thousands of drone strikes monthly, with Russian military social media channels openly posting videos of the attacks and referring to them as a "hunt."

Ukraine expands drone forces and evacuation systems

Zelenskyy announced expanded deployment of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, including the elite Magyar's Birds unit, with additional resources allocated to counter the threat.

Starting 1 December, Ukraine will launch an electronic points system for evacuating wounded soldiers using ground robotic complexes. "We are also fully ensuring direct financing for brigades for their needs - for drones, for procuring components," the president said.

The announcement came after Zelenskyy's recent visit to Kherson, where he met with military leaders and drone units to review defense measures for the city three years after its liberation from Russian occupation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on 9 November that Ukraine and EU partners are preparing the 20th sanctions package against Russia, expected within a month, as Moscow's oil revenues collapsed 27% year-on-year in October amid existing restrictions and falling crude prices.

The timing connects Ukraine's push for expanded sanctions with mounting evidence that economic pressure is beginning to crack Russia's war financing. Russia collected 888.6 billion rubles ($9.7 billion) in oil and gas taxes in October, down from the same month last year, according to Russia's Finance Ministry.

Ukraine's three-pronged sanctions proposal

Zelenskyy outlined specific targets for the 20th package in his evening address:

• Energy sector entities: Russian legal entities and individuals still profiting from energy resources despite existing restrictions
• Child abduction networks: Updated listings of Russians involved in forcibly deporting Ukrainian children to Russia
• Military supply chains: Companies and countries enabling Russia's weapons production through component exports

"Every Russian missile and every Russian drone contains specific components from other countries, specific countries – without them, there would simply be no Russian weapons," Zelenskyy said, directing Ukraine's Foreign Ministry to intensify work on cutting these supply lines.

Russian war chest shows cracks

The revenue collapse suggests sanctions are gaining traction. Russia's oil and gas revenues totaled 7.5 trillion rubles over the first 10 months of 2025, down 2 trillion from 9.54 trillion a year earlier. The decline accelerated from 14% in the first five months to 21% by October.

Multiple factors drove the drop: Russia's Urals crude averaged just $53.99 per barrel in October, below the government's $70 initial forecast and even its revised $56 target. Meanwhile, late October saw the US sanction Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia's two largest oil companies accounting for half of Russian crude exports—about 2.2 million barrels daily.

Around 70% of Russia's seaborne oil exports now face US restrictions. Analyst Vladimir Chernov of Freedom Finance Global estimates a 5-10% drop in Rosneft and Lukoil exports combined with wider discounts could cost Russia's state budget up to 120 billion rubles ($1.3 billion) monthly.

Moscow's budget scramble

Russia's Finance Ministry expects a 22% shortfall in hydrocarbon revenues for 2025, projecting just 8.6 trillion rubles against an initial 10.94 trillion target. The ministry sees no significant recovery through 2028, with oil and gas revenues projected at 8.9 trillion in 2026, 9 trillion in 2027, and 9.7 trillion in 2028—still 20%, 19%, and 13% below 2024 levels respectively.

To plug widening fiscal gaps expected to reach 5.7 trillion rubles this year and exceed 10 trillion over the next three years, Moscow plans sharp tax increases. Value-added tax rises to 22% starting next year, small business taxes jump significantly, and the Finance Ministry aims to raise 12 trillion rubles through new borrowing.

Ukraine tightens domestic enforcement

Ukraine also introduced new sanctions Saturday targeting Russian government officials, occupation administrators, propagandists, collaborators, and military-industrial complex workers. "Russia continues its war, and in response, there must be our strong pressure with partners – pressure that is truly tangible for Russia, that brings them losses and that is felt politically," Zelenskyy said.

The president emphasized that all Russian attempts to disrupt processes with the United States and Europe would receive sanctions responses, declaring: "Everything gets its own reaction, its own sanctions."

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Sanctions on Russia's energy sector: US & EU act

Ukraine’s President said halting Russian oil exports to Hungary is inevitable. Meanwhile, after Hungary had spent months insisting that Russian oil supplies were irreplaceable, Hungary's sole refiner now says it can receive 80% of crude from non-Russian sources.

Zelenskyy says Hungary will not receive Russian oil for long

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine will stop Russian oil from reaching Hungary, though it cannot happen immediately due to various dependencies. He spoke following a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Staff on 7 November, Liga reported.

“We can’t allow Russians to keep making money on energy,” Zelenskyy said. “Even where they twist our arms through various contracts or obligations, we’ll still find a way to make sure Russian oil disappears from Europe. [...] We won’t let the Russians sell oil there. It’s a matter of time. We can’t do it today because there are many different dependencies in this puzzle, but we’ll still complete the picture.”

He also commented on Hungary PM Viktor Orbán’s attempts to block Ukraine’s European Union accession.

“[Russians] couldn’t do it. If he thinks delaying it by six months will stop Ukraine, then no, it won’t,” the President said.

MOL says 80% of crude can come from non-Russian sources

Hungarian oil company Mol said on the same day it can meet about 80% of its supply needs using crude delivered through Croatia’s Adriatic pipeline. The statement appeared in the company’s earnings report, a few hours before Orbán’s scheduled meeting with Trump at the White House, where Hungary's leader aimed to secure an exemption from US sanctions on Russian oil, Bloomberg reported. 

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Sanction me softly: Trump, Orbán, and the oil that binds them

Mol operates refineries in Hungary and Slovakia. It stated that “should the crude flows via the Druzhba pipeline drop significantly, Mol can increase its utilization of the Adriatic pipeline and supply ca. 80% of its landlocked refineries’ intake, although entailing higher technical risks and logistics costs.”

Mol said it is “cautiously progressing” with upgrades at its refineries in Hungary and Slovakia to expand their ability to process non-Russian crude.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced today that Ukraine will begin mass production of a new drone model to replace Chinese-made DJI Mavic UAVs, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

"Next, Mavic. A very important issue.... We were looking for alternatives – alternatives have been found. There will be mass production of this alternative. Relevant financed contracts are now being prepared," Zelenskyy said during a briefing on 7 November.

DJI Mavic series drones, originally developed for civilian and commercial use, have become among the most widespread and critically important unmanned aircraft on the Ukrainian front. The drones are valued for their compact size, relative affordability, and high-quality imaging capabilities, particularly the Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Thermal models.

In the Ukrainian army, these drones primarily perform tactical reconnaissance functions at distances up to 15 km, adjust artillery fire, and after modification are used to drop small munitions on enemy positions, serving as the "eyes" of infantry and artillery units.

Zelenskyy also emphasized that evacuation drones must be included in the e-Points bonus system. "The main task is to preserve people's lives, this is a priority," the president said.

During the briefing, Zelenskyy discussed a report from Commander of Unmanned Systems Forces Robert Brovdi, who presented a program aimed at strengthening air defense over Kherson. According to the president, the program is ready and has received support. He instructed officials to develop similar programs for border cities and the most vulnerable communities.

Recently, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine plans to reach production of 500-800 interceptor drones per day in November.

Ukraine has been elected to the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the 2025-2029 term, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Friday.

Ukraine’s re-election comes amid ongoing Russian attacks on cultural and heritage sites across the country. UNESCO has documented extensive damage to Ukrainian monuments, museums, and religious sites since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.

“Today, Ukraine was elected to the UNESCO Executive Board for 2025-2029 with the highest number of votes. Together with Romania and Moldova, we outpaced Russia - for the second time in a row, Moscow lost the vote and will not join the Board,” Zelenskyy said.

He thanked member states for supporting Ukraine’s candidacy, saying the country would use the position “to restore life, protect our culture, heritage, and people,” and ensure that “all forms of Russian aggression - whether war or hybrid threats - receive an adequate response.”

Russia also failed to secure a seat in the previous election in 2023, when it lost its bid to remain on the Board for the first time since joining UNESCO in 1954 - a setback widely seen as reflecting its diplomatic isolation following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

UNESCO - the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - is a UN agency that promotes international cooperation in education, culture, science, and communication. It is best known for its World Heritage program and efforts to protect cultural heritage and freedom of expression worldwide.

The UNESCO Executive Board is one of the agency’s key governing bodies, overseeing its work in education, culture, and science policy. 

UNESCO has documented extensive damage to Ukrainian cultural heritage since 2022, including hundreds of monuments, museums, and religious sites hit by Russian attacks.

Traces of the Russians disappear in the dust of clearance operations in Kharkiv Oblast. Nearly sixty Russian saboteurs are still hiding within the city. Ukrainian forces are actively hunting them down, says Yurii Fedorenko, commander of Ukraine's 429th Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment Akhilles, per Suspilne. 

In September 2025, the Russian Defense Ministry publicly confirmed its plans to expand military operations deeper into Kharkiv Oblast following the potential capture of Kupiansk.

In a social media statement, it declared that its forces "intend to leverage the seizure of Kupiansk to attack further into eastern Kharkiv Oblast in several directions simultaneously."

When the fog sets in ... 

The Russians are using almost no armored vehicles, except during foggy conditions when Ukrainian drones are less effective.

“When fog falls and drones can’t operate properly, the occupiers try to move logistics equipment and manpower closer to the front line, sometimes in light armored vehicles,” Fedorenko says.

Continuous infantry "infiltration"

The main tactic of Russian forces remains constant fire pressure and continuous infantry infiltration. The Russians continue to storm Ukrainian lines, forming a “chain” and attempting to slip between defensive positions. Kupiansk, however, has now been largely cleared of infiltrators.

“In the right-bank part of Kupiansk and its northwestern outskirts, where the Russian had managed to penetrate earlier, their sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been eliminated,” Fedorenko adds.

According to the Ukrainian soldier, it took enormous effort for the Kyiv forces to achieve this, although some small reconnaissance and sabotage groups remain. 

Zelenskyy: "We will clear everything — dates already set"

On 3 November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to completely clear Kupiansk of Russian occupiers, according to UkrInform. 

“We will clear everything. The dates have already been set, but it’s too early to share details,” Zelenskyy said.

The situation in the Kupiansk direction remains difficult, but Ukrainian forces are holding back the occupiers and preventing them from reaching the city center.

On 3 November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that missile production is progressing well, with mass production of several systems expected to be completed by the end of the year. He also mentioned the deployment of new missile models and the expansion of production capacities, particularly for interceptor drones and maritime unmanned vehicles, UNIAN reports. 

Tools of response and strategic pressure

“We are deploying new missiles, including the ‘Flamingo,’” Zelenskyy said.

He did not specify quantities but has noted that the country expects mass production by year-end. He also emphasized the “Neptune” series, already in production and delivering strong results.

“We have standard and extended versions, both performing very well," he explained. 

According to Zelenskyy, these systems are effective against energy infrastructure strikes, targeting resources that fund the aggressor.

Scaling production: 600–800 interceptor drones Per Day

Ukraine is also accelerating production of interceptor UAVs, aiming to reach 600–800 units per day by the end of November, “if all goes according to plan.”

Zelenskyy acknowledged potential setbacks, such as attacks on factories or damage to workshops, but stressed that “so far we have not lost any type of long-range weapon.”

The industry is working alongside the military, with repair teams and logistics restoring production capacity even after strikes.

Berlin and Copenhagen as first hubs of weapon exports

Zelenskyy announced the creation of two European export hubs: “These are for weapons we can afford to sell. The first two will be Berlin and Copenhagen, decided at the company level, and operational this year.”

Revenue from exports will support domestic production of scarce systems. Ukraine also has a surplus of maritime drones and certain artillery systems available for export, provided that proper safety and regulatory oversight are in place.

The Ukrainian president proposed a fair financial mechanism: partners could fully fund the production of scarce weapons in Ukraine, with the resulting systems to be split equally, a method to rapidly mobilize both partner and Ukrainian industrial capacity.

The Danish government is contributing $1.4 mn to a new Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund, according to a statement from Denmark's EU Council Presidency.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, more than 500 cultural sites across the country have been destroyed in Russian attacks, UNESCO data shows.

"To help overcome this destruction, the Danish government is allocating $1.4 million (10 million Danish kroner) to support Ukraine's cultural heritage. The funding can be directed, for example, to the restoration of Ukrainian buildings, monuments and museums that have been destroyed by Russian bombs. The funds will be channeled through the new Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund," the statement reads.

The donation coincides with an informal ministerial meeting taking place in Denmark on 3 November, attended by culture ministers from European countries and representatives from Ukraine. The meeting aims to encourage other countries to follow Denmark's example.

"I am proud that Denmark is once again taking a leading role by contributing to the restoration of Ukraine's cultural heritage. Cultural heritage plays a vital role in shaping the national identity and self-awareness of the Ukrainian people," said Jakob Engel-Schmidt, Denmark's Minister of Culture.

The $1.4 mn grant will be financed through Denmark's development aid as part of its civilian support to Ukraine. The funds can only be disbursed after approval by the Danish parliament.

In October, the European Union announced the launch of three new projects worth a total of $7.1 million aimed at strengthening Ukraine's independent media sector. Previously, the EU allocated $7.5 million to support cultural projects in Ukraine.

Germany has provided Ukraine with additional US-made Patriot air defense systems, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday, hailing the move as a vital step in shielding Ukrainian cities from Russian missile and drone attacks.

In recent months, Russia has sharply intensified its aerial campaign against Ukraine, launching near-daily waves of missiles and drones targeting energy infrastructure, industrial facilities, and residential areas. The renewed strikes have aimed to cripple Ukraine’s power grid ahead of winter and exhaust its air defense resources.

“We have strengthened the ‘Patriot’ component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X, expressing gratitude to Germany and personally to Chancellor Friedrich Merz for “this joint step to protect human lives from Russian terror.”

Zelenskyy said the delivery followed weeks of preparation and coordination, calling it a significant implementation of earlier agreements between Kyiv and Berlin. “For some time, we have been preparing this reinforcement of our air defense, and now the agreements reached have been implemented,” he said.

The Patriot system is among the most advanced air defense platforms in Ukraine’s arsenal, capable of intercepting ballistic and cruise missiles. Germany has already supplied several Patriot batteries to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022, and has led European efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s protection against intensified Russian strikes.

In August 2025, Germany coordinated a multinational effort with Norway, Denmark, and Lithuania to finance two Patriot systems for Ukraine. 

Zelenskyy described Russian air assaults as President Vladimir Putin’s “main stake in this war,” saying Moscow uses terror to make up for its failures on the battlefield. 

“Every strengthening of our air defense literally brings us closer to the end of the war,” he said, adding that Ukraine’s growing capabilities would enhance not only national security but also the safety of its European partners.

“Our security is indivisible - which means our air defense must protect all of us,” the president said.

He also noted that talks on further joint steps are ongoing “both at the governmental level and directly with the manufacturers of the necessary systems,” hinting at additional air defense deliveries to come.

The Ukrainian skies are growing stronger. In the coming days, Kyiv will receive two MIM-104 Patriot launcher units from its European partners, according to the German Aid to Ukraine channel. 

European support: Germany, Denmark, Lithuania, and Norway

"Reminder: The in early August 2025 announced delivery of two MIM-104 Patriot fire units from Bundeswehr stocks to Ukraine, which have largely been financed by Denmark, Lithuania and Norway, is scheduled to be completed in the following days!” German Aid to Ukraine wrote on X.

A contract for 25 Patriot systems: a long queue 

In October, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine is preparing a contract to purchase 25 Patriot systems. Deliveries will take place gradually over several years, as the systems are produced.

“We ask our partners to give up their place in line so that the Patriots are delivered first to Ukraine, not to countries that are not at war,” the Ukrainian leader emphasized.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Air Forces spokesperson Yuri Ihnat said that Russia was modifying its missiles to evade Ukraine’s air defenses, including US-made Patriot systems. 

Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service has located the addresses of more than 300 Ukrainian children illegally taken to Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his evening address on Friday.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, thousands of Ukrainian children have been forcibly taken from their families to Russia or occupied territories, in what Kyiv and international observers classify as a war crime.

Zelenskyy said the list of names and verified addresses will be shared with international partners and world leaders assisting in the effort to return the children. 

The president described the initiative as part of “quiet diplomatic work” aimed at countering Moscow’s denial of responsibility for the deportations.

“We are giving our partners a list of children who must be returned,” Zelenskyy said. “To undermine any Russian attempts to pretend they don’t know about our children, we provide addresses.”

“The first such list - more than 300 names and addresses of abducted children - will be on the desks of all the leaders who are helping us,” he added.

Kyiv continues to compile additional lists as its intelligence and law enforcement agencies verify more cases.

The forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and occupied territories is one of the most severe allegations of war crimes leveled against Moscow since the start of its full-scale invasion in 2022.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in 2023 for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the country’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, over their alleged roles in the scheme.

Ukraine is working closely with European partners on the 20th EU sanctions package against Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on 31 October 2025. 

Kyiv has submitted proposals to ensure the package targets Russian energy companies, tankers, and military-industrial enterprises, reinforcing pressure on Moscow over its war in Ukraine.

In parallel, Ukraine enacted domestic sanctions on more than 50 individuals and companies supporting Russia’s war effort. The measures target pro-Russian propagandists, Russian, Chinese, and Iranian companies supplying Russia’s military-industrial complex, and their executives. 

While largely symbolic, these domestic sanctions are intended to synchronize Kyiv’s restrictions with international partners and signal a unified stance against Moscow.

“Since the beginning of the year, we have synchronized 11 sanction packages with our partners - six with the EU, and others with the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom,” Zelenskyy said. “Next month, we will complete the synchronization efforts. It is now very important for us to ensure coordination among the G7 countries.”

Ukraine’s coordination emphasizes reducing Russia’s oil revenues, limiting the shadow fleet, and countering propaganda, while ensuring sanctions enforcement is consistent across partner jurisdictions. 

Recent sanctions cut Russia off from major oil buyers as energy giant profits plunge

Recent coordinated sanctions are showing concrete impact on Russia's war economy. On 22-23 October, the US, UK, and EU imposed their largest sanctions package since 2022, targeting Rosneft and Lukoil - Russia's two largest oil companies that account for roughly half of the country's 10.6 million barrels per day output and nearly a third of federal tax revenue. 

Within hours of the announcement, Chinese state oil firms suspended seaborne Russian crude purchases while Indian refiners prepared to slash imports, isolating Moscow from buyers representing over 85% of its crude exports. Lukoil announced it would sell its international assets just days after the sanctions took effect. 

The EU's 19th package simultaneously banned Russian LNG imports by 2027 and froze 117 additional shadow fleet tankers.

Combined with Ukrainian drone strikes that have cut Russia's refining output by 500,000 barrels per day, refined fuel exports have plunged to their lowest level since early 2022, averaging just 1.89 million barrels per day in October, according to Bloomberg.

Russia fights against the light. On 30 October, Russian aviation dropped guided bombs on the Sloviansk Thermal Power Plant. Two people were killed, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

This is a deliberate attempt to paralyze the energy sector, leave civilians without electricity and heat, and create a humanitarian crisis. The terrorist attack also breaches international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions.

Using violence to intimidate civilians in order to force political or military decisions qualifies as terror and may constitute a war crime.

"This is pure terror"

The strike on the Sloviansk TPP is also a violation of international legislation because the facility is civilian, the attack caused deaths and injuries among civilians, and it created a threat to the population’s energy security.

“A few hours ago, there was a strike on the Sloviansk TPP — Russian bombs. Unfortunately, two people were killed. My condolences. There are injured,” said Zelenskyy.

Part of the Donbas fortress belt

Donbas is an industrial area in the east of Ukraine that includes two regions: Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. The Russians have been attempting to seize them for 12 years. 

Control over Sloviansk would enable Russian occupiers to strengthen their defenses and establish logistical routes for further operations in the Donbas, including those toward Kramatorsk.

Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, and Pokrovsk are part of the Donbas fortress belt. Together, these cities form Ukraine’s eastern stronghold. If it falls, the defensive ring could be flanked, leaving the heart of Donbas vulnerable. 

Ukraine counters terror with Norway, Germany, Netherlands

In his night address to the nation, Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia deliberately conducts terrorist attacks on civilian energy infrastructure, and the world must respond. 

"This is pure terror. Such Russian warfare requires an appropriate response from the world," he claimed. 

Zelenskyy reported that active negotiations are underway with partners to strengthen Ukraine’s energy sector, supply equipment, and compensate for losses.

Specifically:

• Norway — agreements to support gas purchases.
• Germany, Italy, Netherlands — cooperation on electricity generation equipment.
• European Commission — expected support for energy resilience.
• G7 — Ukraine’s Energy Minister is holding negotiations with the energy ministers of the G7.

French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation has confirmed it is ready to deliver Rafale fighter jets if Kyiv requests them, Le Journal du Dimanche reports. This follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's mention that Kyiv is negotiating with France, Sweden, and the United States to acquire up to 250 modern fighter jets to replace Ukraine’s aging Soviet-era fleet.

Ukraine seeks 250 Western jets from three countries

Speaking on 27 October, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is engaged in three parallel negotiations to modernize its air force: “I’m holding three simultaneous talks with the Swedes, the French, and the Americans,” he told reporters. the Ukrainian President also noted that Ukraine’s air force modernization strategy centers on three core fighter platforms: the F‑16, the Gripen, and the Rafale. Ukraine aims to secure a total of 250 jets, potentially divided among the three suppliers.

France has already provided Ukraine with older-generation Mirage 2000 fighters, which are now flying under Ukrainian insignia.

Sweden’s Gripen emerges as front-runner

Despite Dassault’s readiness, Sweden appears to be leading the race. Kyiv and Stockholm have signed a preliminary agreement covering the delivery of 100 to 150 latest-generation Gripen jets. Financial Times reported that the Swedish manufacturer Saab is even considering setting up an assembly plant in Ukraine.

Kyiv has publicly highlighted the Gripen’s operational advantages. On 27 October, Zelenskyy emphasized that the aircraft requires a smaller technical crew for maintenance and that experienced pilots can be trained in just six months, compared to 18 months for the F-16. He also noted that the Gripen E/F can operate from roads or basic runways — a critical factor given Ukraine’s war conditions — and is compatible with most of Ukraine’s existing weapons.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Ukraine has evidence of Chinese involvement in Russia’s war effort, including the supply of machinery used in weapons production and the presence of Chinese mercenaries on the battlefield, Ukrinform reports.

Despite public commitments to neutrality, China maintains close economic and strategic ties with Russia, including trade, energy cooperation, and technology transfers. Analysts say Beijing has balanced its relationship with Moscow carefully, avoiding overt military involvement while providing support that can indirectly aid Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.

Speaking in Kyiv during a meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel, Zelenskyy said his message to China is simple: stop assisting Russia and pressure Moscow to end the war.

“I’ve had phone conversations with Xi Jinping, and he assured me that China would not sell weapons to the Russians. [However], we see that China has supplied the Russian Federation with machinery used for weapons [production], Zelenskyy said. 

“We also see that [China] is helping Moscow circumvent sanctions. And we’ve seen Chinese mercenaries fighting against Ukrainian troops,” he added.

Ukrainian intelligence has reported that China supplies components to 20 Russian weapons factories, provides satellite data for missile targeting, and has at least 155 nationals fighting in Russian units. 

Since 2022, China and Russia have deepened their strategic partnership, with bilateral trade hitting $237 billion in 2024. 

Ukraine is in talks with France on the possible supply of Rafale fighter jets, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on 28 October, Militarnyi reports. The French-made multirole Rafales could become a new component of Ukraine’s air fleet as the country transitions away from its aging Soviet aircraft during the Russian invasion.

Rafales at the core of new negotiations

Responding to an Ukrinform question, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is conducting “three parallel conversations regarding aircraft — with the Swedes, with the French, and with the Americans.” He reminded that the modernization plan for Ukraine’s air force is based on three key fighter platforms — F‑16, Gripen, and Rafale.

Militarnyi notes that back in 2021—a year before Russia's full-scale invasion—French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly planned to propose Rafale jets to Ukraine to replace the Soviet‑era MiG‑29s during his visit to Kyiv. No further details of that initiative were made public, but the topic has now returned to the agenda.

Rafale’s capabilities

The Rafale, produced by Dassault Aviation, is a 4++ generation multirole fighter able to perform all types of combat missions. One of its major advantages is the capacity to use the long‑range Meteor air‑to‑air missile developed by the MBDA consortium. 

Wider air‑fleet strategy

According to Ukrinform, Zelenskyy called the Swedish Gripen attractive for its lower maintenance costs, shorter pilot‑training period, and ability to operate from roads. He added that Ukraine and Sweden agreed to localize Gripen production, describing that step as “a historic agreement.”

Zelenskyy noted that the overall demand for new combat aircraft is around 250 planes, with 150 Gripen fighters already agreed in principle. The ongoing talks with France place Rafales alongside Gripens and F‑16s as one of three cornerstone aircraft in Ukraine’s future air‑power structure.

Ukraine is prepared to continue fighting Russia for another two to three years, but fears the war could last decades, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned in his interview for The Times.

He said he has "no doubt that Ukraine will survive as an independent state." However, Kyiv is concerned about how long the country can sustain the war, both in terms of human losses and economic strain.

"Now the main question is how many victims we will see. President Zelensky told me [on Thursday] that he hopes that the war will not last ten years, but that Ukraine is ready to fight for another two, three years," Tusk stated.

Ukraine’s right to strike Russia-linked targets across Europe

Tusk also emphasized that Ukraine has the right to target Russian-linked objectives anywhere in Europe. He noted that the full-scale war is crippling Russia’s economy, which faces “dramatic” challenges amid new US sanctions on Russian oil companies.

Following the “Coalition of the Willing” meeting, European leaders expressed hope that a decision on giving Ukraine access to frozen Russian assets could be reached by Christmas.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper called for urgent action: “We have to go after Russia's money." According to the official, now that sanctions are working and it’s time to increase economic pressure to push Russian President Vladimir Putin toward negotiations.

Russia is willing to fight, the West still unprepared

Tusk highlighted that internal instability makes Putin even more aggressive, while the Trump administration’s tough stance on Moscow has yet to provide a clear picture.

He said that "the Russians are in really deep trouble" economically. 

“Does it mean we can say we are winning? Not at all. They have one big advantage against the West, and Europe especially: they are ready to fight … in wartime, this is absolutely the crucial question,” he emphasized.

Putin’s threat to NATO and European capitals is real 

Tusk warned that a Kremlin attack on a NATO country would also put the UK at risk. He expressed shock at the British public’s apparent indifference to national security, referencing a reported arson attack on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s home, likely orchestrated by Russian intelligence.

He added that Russia’s deployment of new “Oreshnik” hypersonic missiles in Belarus or Kaliningrad would allow Moscow to strike any European capital, including London, with a range of up to 3,200 km.

“We are talking about the end of the era of illusions in Europe — too late, I’m afraid. Too late to be well prepared for all the threats, but not too late to survive,” Tusk added.

US President Donald Trump said on 25 October that Russia's war on Ukraine remains deadlocked due to “a lot of hatred" between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders and a lack of progress in talks. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One during a refueling stop in Qatar en route to Malaysia, Trump said he would not agree to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin again unless a concrete peace agreement was likely.

Trump: “I’m not going to be wasting my time”

Trump made it clear that future engagement with Putin would only happen if a settlement to end the war was realistically achievable.

“You have to know that we’re going to make a deal. I’m not going to be wasting my time,” Trump told reporters, according to RFE/RL.

He added that although he had “always had a great relationship with Vladimir Putin,” the recent contacts have been "very disappointing."

“Every time I speak with Vladimir, I have good conversations, and then they don’t go anywhere,” Trump said.

According to Forbes, Trump said earlier he had canceled the previously planned meeting with Putin in Budapest because “it just didn’t feel right.” He added, “It didn’t feel like we were going to get to the place we have to get.”

Trump noted that he expected the Ukraine war to be resolved faster than the Israel-Hamas conflict.

“I thought this would have gotten done before peace in the Middle East,” he said, according to The Hill.

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He then contrasted the lack of progress in Ukraine with his success mediating between Armenia and Azerbaijan, claiming his role in the conflict resolution between the two Caucasus countries.

“We have Azerbaijan, Armenia — that was very tough. In fact, Putin told me on the phone he said, ‘Boy, that was amazing’ because everybody tried to get that done and they couldn’t. I got it done,” Trump said.

Despite his earlier optimism, Trump said that entrenched hostility is preventing progress in Ukraine.

“There’s a lot of hatred between the two,” he said, referring to Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “I could say almost any one of the deals that I’ve already done I thought would have been more difficult than Russia and Ukraine, but it didn’t work out that way.”

He also suggested that international pressure on Russia should increase.

“You probably saw today, China is cutting back substantially on the purchase of Russian oil and India is cutting back completely. And we’ve done sanctions,” Trump said, referring to new American sanctions against Russia's top oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil.

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He added that he would urge Chinese President Xi Jinping to keep limiting Russian oil imports when they meet later during his trip to South Korea.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged European leaders at a "coalition of the willing" summit in London on 24 October 2025 to send more long-range missiles to Ukraine, as the White House's first major sanctions against Russia's energy sector this year signal a strategic shift in Western pressure on Moscow.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in London for the summit. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Netherlands' Dick Schoof also attended, with other leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron joining virtually. The summit comes shortly after US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, following the collapse of planned Trump-Putin talks.

Why long-range missiles in focus now

Starmer's push for long-range weapons represents a strategic shift from defensive operations to actively degrading Russia's deep logistics network. "I think there's further we can do on capability, particularly... long-range capability," Starmer told Zelenskyy at Downing Street before the summit.

The timing reflects Ukraine's growing momentum in striking strategic Russian targets. On 21 October, Ukrainian forces used British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles in a combined strike on the Bryansk Chemical Plant, a facility producing ammunition and serving as a frontline artillery repair hub for Russian troops, according to Euromaidan Press.

While Russia continues devastating strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure—destroying approximately 60% of the country's natural gas production and forcing nationwide blackouts, according to Institute for the Study of War assessments—Starmer cited a recent Russian strike on a nursery as proof Putin lacks seriousness about peace.

"The only person involved in this conflict who does not want to stop the war is President Putin," he said during his speech.

UK's pioneering role on long-range weapons

Britain became the first Western country to provide long-range cruise missiles in May 2023 by sending Ukraine its Storm Shadow system, which can strike targets over 500 kilometers away. The UK subsequently lobbied intensively—particularly targeting Washington—to lift restrictions on using these weapons inside Russia.

Storm Shadow missiles have proven their strategic value, playing a critical role in destroying multiple vessels of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and forcing the remainder to withdraw from the northwestern Black Sea, according to Euromaidan Press. France restarted production of the SCALP variant at MBDA's UK Stevenage facility in 2025 after a 15-year pause.

However, Storm Shadow strikes deep inside Russia require US approval due to classified American cartography data used in the missile's guidance system, Defense Express has noted. Without access to this data, the missiles would be limited to GPS navigation, potentially making them vulnerable to Russian electronic warfare.

New air defense aid accelerated

Separately from the long-range weapons push, Starmer announced Britain will accelerate delivery of 140 Lightweight Multirole Missiles to Ukraine this winter, ahead of the original schedule. This forms part of a £1.6 billion deal for over 5,000 such missiles, supporting hundreds of jobs at Thales in Belfast.

The summit also pressed allies to "finish the job on Russian sovereign assets" to unlock billions for Ukraine's defense. The day before, EU leaders tasked the European Commission to develop options for funding Ukraine for two more years, leaving the door open for a €140 billion "reparations loan" backed by frozen Russian assets—though Belgium, where most frozen assets are held, has raised legal objections.

Read also:

• US, EU sanction Russian energy; Putin downplays hit, Trump says "We'll see"
• Storm Shadows strike major Russian munitions plant in growing strategic campaign

Russia is preparing a humanitarian disaster in Ukraine this winter, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned. His statements came during a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London ahead of a joint conference with leaders of the Coalition of the Willing, UNIAN reports. 

Starmer noted that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin shows no willingness to participate in peace efforts and continues attacks that harm civilians, including children, as per the Independent. 

“I agree with you that Putin does not show any desire to end the war, and once again has taken steps that will lead us to a humanitarian disaster.

This is what he intends to organize this winter, targeting energy, gas, and water supply,” Zelenskyy emphasized.

Winter under attack

Zelenskyy thanked the UK for its support and confirmed that Ukraine is not alone. The Coalition of the Willing will discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, enhanced air defense, and energy assistance.

Europe and NATO strengthen Ukraine’s defense

Earlier, Zelenskyy reported that some European countries possess long-range weapons, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, and Ukraine is already negotiating their delivery. The UK has previously provided Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that Ukraine plans to use part of the funds it hopes to receive under an EU “reparations loan” backed by frozen Russian assets to produce long‑range weapons with ranges from 150 km to 3,000 km, speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the European Council summit in Brussels. 

The comments come as EU leaders discuss a plan to unlock hundreds of billions of euros in Russian central‑bank assets held in the West and channel part of the proceeds as a long‑term, interest‑free “reparations loan” to Ukraine. 

“Today, we already have a clear use for Ukrainian long-range capabilities. And we will employ Ukrainian production for ranges from 150 km to 3,000 km - these are our latest capabilities,” Zelensky said.

He said the main issue now is securing additional funding to enable mass production of these long-range systems, which Ukraine already possesses.

Zelenskyy framed the proposal as both a defensive necessity and a step toward greater European industrial cooperation, saying part of the funds could also support European partners’ production. 

He reiterated Kyiv’s broader push at the summit for accelerated delivery of long‑range systems from allies and for a swift EU decision on the reparations loan. 

Frozen Russian assets and the EU reparations loan debate

Western nations froze roughly €300 billion in Russian central bank reserves in April 2022, including €183 billion held at Brussels-based Euroclear. 

To date, only profits from these assets have been sent to Ukraine via the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) program, with €4 billion delivered in October 2025 as part of a broader G7 commitment of up to $50 billion in loans. 

The European Commission’s proposal to convert the underlying fund into a long-term, interest-free “reparations loan” has faced pushback, particularly from Belgium, which seeks legally binding guarantees that other EU members will share litigation risks.

Ukraine moves toward domestic long-range weapons production

Zelenskyy's announcement reflects Ukraine's pivot toward self-reliance in long-range strike capabilities as Western allies continue restricting Ukrainian use of their weapons systems against targets deep inside Russia. 

Ukraine has already developed multiple domestic long-range systems including the 3,000-kilometer Flamingo missile and the 1,000-kilometer Long Neptune.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected claims that Ukraine has used US long-range missiles to hit deep within the Russian territory. The statement came after a Wall Street Journal report alleged that the US lifted restrictions on Ukraine’s use of certain Western weapons for strikes on Russia.

Ukrainian President denies using US weapons for strikes inside Russia

Speaking from the sidelines of the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels on 23 October, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has never launched American long-range weapons at targets deep inside Russia. During a briefing in Brussels, he responded to a journalist’s question about the WSJ article that claimed the US administration had removed limits on using Western missiles against Russia, citing an attack on Russia’s Bryansk Oblast.

“I don’t know who wrote what,” Zelenskyy said. “We never used American weapons for long-range strikes on very important targets in Russia. That’s important.”

He clarified that Ukraine did use various long-range systems, but only in areas of active combat or against Russian forces preparing to launch operations.

Now, President Zelenskyy also stressed that equating attacks on occupied Ukrainian territory with strikes on Russia was incorrect.

“Crimea and the East are Ukraine, and we cannot talk about using any weapon, not even domestically produced ones, against Crimea as if it were Russian territory,” he said. “No, it’s temporarily occupied territory.”

Ukraine turns to its own long-range weapons

Zelenskyy said Ukraine now uses domestically produced long-range systems. These include capabilities ranging from 150 kilometers to 3,000 kilometers. According to him, the key challenge is not technology, but scaling up production.

“The issue is how to get additional funding to mass-produce the long-range capabilities we have,” he explained.

He also referenced Russia’s frozen assets, stating that it was important for Ukraine to access some of those funds to support its weapons manufacturing, as well as European and other allied defense industries.

Spain and Finland have joined NATO’s PURL (Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List) program to fund the delivery of US-made weapons to Ukraine. The announcements followed meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Spain confirms entry into NATO’s joint arms initiative after call with Zelenskyy

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez confirmed that Spain has joined the PURL initiative, El País reports. Speaking to reporters on 23 October ahead of the European Council meeting in Brussels, Sánchez said he had informed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Spain’s decision during a recent phone call.

“This is a proposal that NATO launched a few weeks ago,” Sánchez said. “We are fulfilling our obligations and commitments,” he added, describing Spain as “a reliable partner” of the Alliance.

According to Euractiv, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles had earlier discussed Spain’s possible contribution to PURL with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on 21 October.

Aside from joining PURL, Spain also supplies Ukraine with domestically produced military equipment worth $1 billion annually, El País notes.

Finland pledges €100 million to US arms funding scheme

President Zelenskyy confirmed in Brussels that both Finland and Spain had joined the PURL program, Liga reports. Speaking at a press briefing, Zelenskyy thanked both countries for joining the initiative.

PURL expands as European allies fill Ukraine’s supply gap

The PURL initiative was launched by the United States and NATO in July. The program allows NATO member states to fund the procurement of US-made weapons for Ukraine from American stockpiles. The initiative aligns with a list of priority needs defined by Ukraine and approved jointly with NATO and the US.

Between August and October, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden jointly financed four packages worth around $2 billion. These included Patriot air defense missiles and HIMARS long-range rocket systems. Estonia, Belgium, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Latvia have pledged further contributions but have not yet formed complete packages.

On 15 October, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that more than half of the alliance’s 32 members had already joined the initiative. Then on 22 October, Rutte confirmed that weapons worth several billion dollars, funded by European NATO allies, had already been delivered to Ukraine under PURL.

European Union foreign ministers sharply criticized plans for Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Budapest despite an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, exposing deep divisions as Hungary prepares to welcome the war crimes suspect for talks with US President Donald Trump.

The controversy centers on Budapest—the same city where Ukraine surrendered its nuclear arsenal in 1994 for security assurances Moscow now violates. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned against "another Budapest scenario" but would attend if included in talks with Trump and Putin. The planned summit follows August's Alaska meeting between Trump and Putin that produced no breakthrough, while Hungary's defiance of the ICC undermines European credibility on international law.

EU foreign ministers split into opposite camps on Putin's visit to Budapest

As they gathered on Monday for a meeting in Luxembourg, foreign affairs ministers of the European Union balanced between backing Trump's diplomatic efforts and upholding the International Criminal Court (ICC), which seeks Putin for the deportation and transfer of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children. However, some ministers voiced sharp criticism of Putin's anticipated Budapest visit.

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said at a press briefing on 20 October that “…is not nice. To see that really a person, with an arrest warrant put by the ICC, is coming to a European country." She questioned whether the Budapest summit would yield results, noting that "Russia only understands strength and only negotiates when it is really put to negotiate."

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys, speaking to the press ahead of an EU foreign ministers' meeting in Luxembourg, stated that a "clear message" must be sent regarding Europe's stance on Russia. He declared, “We have to hold the principles of Europe that we all agree. And the only place for Putin in Europe that's in The Hague, in front of the tribunal, not in any of our capitals."

While calling it “useful” for Americans to be able to speak with Russians, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot emphasized that Vladimir Putin's presence on EU territory has a specific purpose. “But this presence of Vladimir Putin on European Union soil only makes sense if it allows for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire,” he said, according to Euractiv.

Other Western European ministers adopted more accommodating positions.

When Euractiv asked if Hungary was setting the EU’s agenda, Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen replied that Budapest is “just a venue for a meeting.”

According to Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister David van Weel, there are some reservations among European leaders about the location of the meeting. “On the other hand, the most important thing is that we have a negotiating table, that we get the parties around the table,” Weel said.

Germany’s Europe Minister, Gunther Krichbaum, commented, “It’s good that such a meeting is happening,” but also warned about the danger of excluding Ukraine from any potential agreement, according to Euractiv.

Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares encouraged Europeans to focus on what they can do to support Ukraine rather than "asking what others will do," Euronews reports.

The split reflects broader tensions over Hungary's democratic trajectory. In September 2022, the European Parliament declared Hungary "can no longer be considered a full democracy" in a 433-123 vote, characterizing it as an "electoral autocracy."

Hungary vows to ensure Putin's safe passage despite ICC obligations

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced, "We are a sovereign country. We will respectfully welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin, receive him as a guest and provide conditions for his negotiations with the American president."

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán posted on X, “The planned meeting between the American and Russian presidents is great news for the peace-loving people of the world. We are ready!”

Hungary announced its intention to withdraw from the ICC in April 2025 when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also under an ICC arrest warrant, visited Budapest. The Hungarian parliament approved the withdrawal in May, but it remains technically bound by the Rome Statute until June 2026.

An ICC spokesperson told Euronews that "a withdrawal does not impact ongoing proceedings or any matter which was already under consideration by the Court prior to the date on which the withdrawal became effective."

History haunts: Where Ukraine gave up nukes for broken Russian promises

The choice of Budapest carries bitter historical irony for Ukraine. The 1994 Budapest Memorandum, signed in the Hungarian capital, saw Ukraine surrender the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal in exchange for security assurances from Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom—promises Moscow now violates through its war of aggression.

Zelenskyy told reporters on 20 October he wants to avoid "another Budapest scenario," referencing the failed security guarantees. He also said that Ukraine would agree to a meeting in Budapest provided that it would take place in a trilateral format or in a "shuttle diplomacy" format, when Trump meets separately with him and Putin.

However, Zelenskyy expressed skepticism about Orbán's role, doubting the Hungarian leader's ability to "provide a balanced contribution."

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