Strike on the left bank logistics

A Ukrainian Barracuda naval drone has destroyed a Russian logistics site on the left bank of the Dnipro, Ukraine’s 40th Separate Coastal Defense Brigade said on Thursday, releasing video of the strike.

Ukraine has expanded its use of naval drones to hit Russian supply sites, boats, and staging areas on the Dnipro river’s occupied bank. These strikes are part of a broader effort to disrupt Russia’s ability to move troops and equipment across the waterway, a critical lifeline for its units holding territory in the south.

Stealth infiltration through wetlands

The unit said the drone traveled through the river’s wetlands before hitting a facility used by Russian forces to store equipment and boats. Footage shows the drone approaching the target moments before a large explosion, suggesting ammunition was kept inside.

Barracuda: Modular design and armament

The Barracuda is a modular, Ukrainian-developed multipurpose naval drone created by the brigade’s own specialists. It can be equipped with different weapons, including single-shot grenade launchers and naval mines, and has been shown in previous footage operating as a launch platform for FPV drones.

Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi said the platform may also be able to support resupply missions across the Dnipro’s island network, giving Ukrainian forces more flexibility in the contested river zone.

Russian forces have launched more than 112,000 Shahed drones since the start of the full-scale invasion, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, said on Friday.

Syrskyi said the drones have primarily targeted homes and civilian infrastructure, killing children and other civilians. 

Ukraine's Security Service previously documented nearly 50,000 Shahed launches between February 2022 and August 2025.

Iranian-designed attack drones built for long-range strikes

Shaheds are Iranian-designed kamikaze drones, and much larger than typical commercial or surveillance drones. Most variants, such as the Shahed-136, weigh around 200-450 kg and have a wingspan of roughly 2.5-3 meters. They are powered by small engines and can carry a warhead of roughly 40-50 kg, designed to explode on impact.

Unlike small reconnaissance drones, Shaheds are built for long-range attacks and can fly hundreds of kilometers to hit their targets, even reaching Ukrainian cities as far west as Lviv. 

Russia regularly uses them for terrorist attacks on civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities and apartment buildings, often in swarms to overwhelm air defenses and cause maximum casualties. Their size and payload make them far more destructive than common commercial drones.

Russian forces are making continued advances toward the town of Huliaipole in southeastern Ukraine, employing a new offensive template that combines prolonged air attacks, tactical strikes, infiltration missions, and concentrated small-unit assaults, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The situation remains serious as Russian troops attempt to isolate Huliaipole from the north while advancing from the northeast and east. 

Geolocated footage from November 20 suggests Russian forces have recently seized the village of Vesele east of Huliaipole. Russian military sources credited the 114th Motorized Rifle Regiment with the operation.

Fog and terrain help Russian units evade Ukrainian drone surveillance

ISW reports that Russian troops are exploiting fog, low-lying terrain, and foliage to avoid detection by Ukrainian drones. 

The tactic has also been used in recent operations near Velykomykhailivka, where Russian units reportedly moved under cover of fog to seize nearby settlements, including Hai. Analysts say the combination of environmental cover and coordinated small-unit attacks forms a core part of Russia’s current offensive approach.

Ukrainian forces remain engaged in the area, working to counter Russian advances while monitoring attempts to bypass drone surveillance. The ISW assessment indicates that Russia continues to rely on these methods to maintain momentum along this front.

All major Ukrainian thermal and hydroelectric power plants have been damaged in Russian attacks, Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said, severely limiting the country’s electricity production while demand remains unchanged. 

Russia regularly targets Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with both missiles and drones, stepping up attacks as winter approaches. These strikes mirror tactics used in previous years to disrupt civilian life and critical services, adding pressure to an already fragile network.

System strain forces focus on essential services

The ministry warned that the strikes have left the system under intense strain, with available capacity now focused entirely on keeping homes and essential services powered.

Officials stressed that all available domestic generation is now devoted to internal consumption, with no commercial exports occurring. 

Years-long Russian terror campaign targets civilian infrastructure

Russia has systematically targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022, with attacks intensifying each winter to maximize civilian suffering. 

By April 2024, Russian strikes had damaged 80% of Ukraine's thermal power plants and half of its hydroelectric facilities. The campaign escalated dramatically in 2025, with Moscow destroying over 50% of Ukraine's pre-war generating capacity - including roughly 70% of thermal generation - in the first half of the year alone. 

In October, Russian forces wiped out 60% of Ukraine's domestic gas production just weeks before the heating season, forcing Kyiv to divert $1.9 billion toward emergency imports. By early November, much of the country was facing 12-hour blackouts. 

The attacks follow a systematic pattern, with coordinated assaults using hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles targeting both generation sites and transmission networks to complicate restoration efforts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Ukrainians the country is entering “one of the hardest moments” of its modern history, urging unity as Kyiv prepares to respond to a draft US peace proposal that could reshape the course of the war.

The emerging American plan - still unofficial - outlines 28 steps toward ending the conflict, including major territorial concessions, limits on Ukraine’s military, and eased sanctions on Russia. Kyiv says any settlement must protect its sovereignty, while European allies insist Ukraine must be involved in shaping any deal.

President refuses to break oath amid mounting pressure

In his address, Zelenskyy warned that Ukraine may soon face a choice between “losing dignity” or risking the support of its most important partner. He stressed that he will not break the oath he took when assuming office and promised to defend “freedom” and “dignity” as core principles in any negotiations.

He said Ukraine will work “calmly” with the US and other partners to look for a constructive path forward. The president suggested Kyiv would present its own alternatives, saying he will fight to ensure that any agreement reflects the values Ukrainians have defended since the first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Unity call comes as domestic tensions rise

Zelenskyy also urged the public and political class to “get it together” and end domestic infighting, saying unity is essential at a moment when Russian forces continue to strike cities and pressure the front line.

He recalled how, in the early hours of the 2022 invasion, Kyiv faced ultimatums that it rejected - and insisted Ukraine would not betray itself now.

The president added that Ukrainians have endured almost four years of bombardment and loss, stressing that even the strongest nation has limits. “We may be steel, but even the strongest metal can break,” he said.

European allies signal resistance to forced concessions

Internationally, reports of the draft plan have drawn concern. EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels signaled they would not support a settlement based on forcing concessions from Ukraine. They also reiterated that any peace plan must involve Kyiv and align with international law.

Zelenskyy coordinates with Washington on revised framework

Zelenskyy’s remarks came as Ukrainian officials insist they are engaging with Washington in good faith. His government has already reviewed the US proposal and says work is under way to refine it into something Kyiv can accept.

Later on Friday, Zelenskyy said he held a nearly hour-long call with US Vice President JD Vance and US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll to discuss details of the American proposal. 

He said both sides aim to shape a “worthy and effective” path toward a lasting peace and will coordinate closely with European partners at the adviser level. Ukraine, he added, welcomes any realistic initiative that helps end the bloodshed. “Teams are ready to work 24/7,” he said.

British authorities say a billion-pound money-moving operation has been uncovered across 28 towns and cities in the country, with cash from UK drug and crime groups funneled into cryptocurrency used to support Russia’s military and evade sanctions.

Russia is under sweeping Western sanctions because of its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. These sanctions restrict its access to global finance, pushing Moscow to look for alternative channels to move money and secure resources. The UK case sheds light on one of those routes, showing how criminal cash flows can be repurposed to help a sanctioned state work around financial barriers.

Operation Destabilise nets 128 arrests, seizes £25 million

The National Crime Agency (NCA) said the network converted “dirty” money from drugs, firearms and immigration gangs into digital assets. Officers said the operation exposes how local criminal profits tie into wider geopolitical crises, including Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The scheme was uncovered through Operation Destabilise, which has now led to 128 arrests and the seizure of more than £25m in cash and digital holdings. 

The NCA said the group was so extensive it bought a 75% stake in a bank in Kyrgyzstan, which was later found to be handling payments for Promsvyazbank, a Russian state-owned institution serving the military sector.

Using intelligence from the investigation, UK officers and international partners have also frozen millions of dollars linked to the network worldwide.

How couriers kept the system running despite high risks

Couriers move large sums between criminal groups before the money is shifted online. The NCA warned that these runners play a central role in keeping the system alive, even though they are paid little and face long prison terms if caught.

Officials have launched a public campaign to target couriers, placing warnings in motorway service stations that arrests are only a matter of time.

The agency says its crackdown is already disrupting the network, with operators avoiding London and raising fees as the risks grow.

Blockchain analysis exposes crypto's transparency problem for criminals

Despite assumptions that cryptocurrencies conceal activity, the NCA says blockchain tracing has helped map the network’s movements. Chainalysis, a firm tracking crypto flows, said public blockchains make it possible to follow funds tied to sanctions evasion, cybercrime and drug trafficking.

Last year, a separate global operation disrupted two international laundering groups moving funds for Russian elites, cybercriminals and British drug networks. One alleged ringleader, Russian national Ekaterina Zhdanova, remains in custody in France.

Britain vows to pursue anyone helping hostile states

UK security minister Dan Jarvis said the case exposes methods Russia uses to sidestep sanctions and move money to support its war in Ukraine. He said authorities “will not tolerate” anyone aiding a hostile state and pledged to continue seizing assets and arresting those involved.

Police forces across the UK and Ireland continue to support the operation, which investigators say remains active as further suspects and financial channels are identified.

Ukrainian long-range drones struck two major Russian refineries in back-to-back nights this week, hitting the Ilsk plant in Krasnodar Krai on 19 November and the Ryazan facility a day later, according to the commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert “Madyar” Brovdi.

Ukraine has stepped up strikes on Russian refineries in recent months to hit both the fuel that powers Moscow’s military and the exports that help fund the war. Kyiv says that sustained pressure gradually erodes the Kremlin’s ability to sustain its military campaign, making diplomatic solutions more likely.

Ilsk and Ryazan handle combined 19 million tons annually

Brovdi said Ilsk processes more than 6mn tonnes of crude a year and is a key supplier for the south of the country, while Ryazan handled about 13mn tonnes last year, placing it among Russia’s highest-output plants. 

Both the Ilsk and Ryazan refineries have been struck multiple times in recent months, reflecting a sustained campaign by Ukrainian drones.

Ukrainian campaign creates fuel shortages, forces Moscow to divert defensive resources

He described the pair of strikes as part of a broader campaign targeting around 40 refineries across Russia. Nearly two dozen have suffered some level of damage over the past year, ranging from minor disruptions to extended shutdowns.

Reduced output has already caused shortages in some regions, while transport costs have risen as supplies are rerouted to plants farther from the front.

Russian forces attacked Dnipro with drones on the evening of November 19, causing explosions and a fire at a warehouse storing food for the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) intended for civilians near the front lines, Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne reported.

People in frontline areas depend on this food supply because regular supply chains break down under shelling and long-term disruption. Shops often remain closed, roads are unsafe, and families cannot count on steady access to essentials. Humanitarian aid fills the most basic gap, giving people enough to get through periods when local services fail or evacuation isn’t possible.

10,000 food packages destroyed as warehouse catches fire

Vladyslav Haivanenko, acting head of the regional military administration in Dnipro, reported that the warehouse sustained significant damage from a Russian Shahed drone strike, destroying at least 10,000 food packages.

Additional food supplies stored at the facility but not yet packed were also damaged. No casualties were reported.

The WFP confirmed the loss but said aid distribution for November will continue as planned, with other partner warehouses holding replacement supplies. 

“The WFP continues to assess the full extent of the damage. Attacks on civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international humanitarian law,” the organization said.

Broader attacks hit industrial sites and utilities across Ukraine

Haivanenko also noted damage across the city from the attacks, affecting industrial and utility sites. 

During the day, Russian forces targeted areas in Nikopol and Kryvyi Rih regions of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, hitting an industrial enterprise, three private homes, vehicles, a power line, and a rescue unit including a fire truck.

Russian forces continued drone and aerial attacks across multiple Ukrainian regions overnight into November 20, hitting energy infrastructure in four oblasts. 

These strikes triggered nationwide power restrictions while damaging civilian buildings and industrial sites across Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Donetsk oblasts. Ukrainian authorities reported fires at farms, damage to homes and utilities, and continued repair work at affected energy facilities.

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry says several domestic arms makers are preparing to launch mass production of new anti‑drone ammunition, aiming to give infantry a better chance of stopping Russian FPV and Mavic drones on the frontline.

Russia regularly attacks Ukraine using small, fast, and inexpensive drones, including FPV and consumer-grade models, to target troops, civilian areas, and critical infrastructure. These drones can fly low and maneuver quickly, making them difficult to intercept with traditional air defenses.

Defense Ministry clears multiple producers for serial output

The ministry has now codified the rounds from multiple producers, clearing the way for serial output. The anti‑drone rounds give frontline soldiers a portable, rapid‑response tool to engage these aerial threats wherever they appear.

“The anti‑drone rounds allow Ukrainian soldiers to more effectively counter enemy FPV and ‘Mavic’ drones,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal said. “Their special warhead significantly increases the chance of hitting a Russian drone.”

Fragmenting rounds fit standard rifles, boost hit probability

Militarnyi reports that the rounds are built in the 5.56×45 mm caliber already common across Ukraine’s assault rifles. Troops will be able to load them into standard magazines without any extra equipment.

Developers say the projectile splits into several fragments after firing, creating a denser pattern that can boost hit probability two‑ to three‑fold. The plan is reportedly for infantry units to carry a dedicated magazine with anti‑drone rounds that can be swapped in quickly whenever hostile drones appear.

Ukraine’s energy system is under sustained, precise attack, with Russian forces systematically targeting substations, power plants, and gas and coal facilities, according to a new analysis by Texty.org.ua. The research maps attacks over the past three months, highlighting a deliberate effort to disrupt the country’s energy production and distribution networks.

Russia has increased strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in recent months as winter approaches. By targeting critical points, Russia aims to create prolonged power outages, strain supply systems, and cause disruptions and chaos for both civilians and industry.

Strategic nodes targeted across border and frontline regions

Texty’s data shows that Russia’s campaign is no longer limited to opportunistic strikes. Instead, it is a strategic effort aimed at key nodes, including high-voltage substations in border and frontline regions, hydroelectric and thermal power plants, and maneuverable generation units that balance supply across the grid. 

Repeated attacks on cities such as Chernihiv, Sumy, and Nizhyn reveal an emphasis on isolating urban centers and destabilizing local electricity networks.

Drones hit substations, missiles destroy power plants

The report also documents a clear shift in tactics. Shahed drones are now used to hit smaller but critical substations, while ballistic missiles, including updated Iskander models, strike larger targets with increased accuracy. 

Cruise missiles remain in use but appear secondary to these new methods. Texty emphasizes that these attacks are planned, coordinated, and targeted - reflecting a systematic rather than random approach.

Coal fields and heating infrastructure hit ahead of winter

Coal and gas infrastructure has been similarly affected. Strategic mines such as Pavlohradvuhillya and gas fields in Poltava and Kharkiv regions have suffered repeated strikes, while critical facilities like the Orlivka compressor station were also hit, aiming to limit Ukraine’s ability to compensate for domestic production losses through imports.

Hydroelectric and thermal power plants have faced repeated attacks this autumn. Strikes on the Dnipro cascade, Trypilska TPP, and Zmiivska TPP demonstrate a deliberate focus on facilities that provide maneuverable generation and grid balancing - essential for coping with daily peaks in electricity demand. 

The attacks on these nodes are strategically timed ahead of the heating season, compounding the potential disruption.

Restored capacity remains at risk as attacks evolve

The research underscores that the campaign is ongoing and evolving. Ukrainian authorities continue to restore and manage supply, but attacks will likely persist, targeting key infrastructure and limiting the country’s energy maneuverability.

So far, Ukraine’s energy system has managed to stay partially functional despite repeated strikes. However, with winter still ahead, the most serious disruptions may still be coming.

Ukraine has taken a new step to broaden its air-defense network by allowing critical-infrastructure companies to join the national air-defense system under military control, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on Wednesday.

Russian forces have increased strikes on energy sites, transport links, and communications hubs in recent months, repeating the pressure tactics used in previous winters. The pace and scale of these attacks have stretched air-defense resources and pushed the government to look for new ways to protect key facilities.

Companies form air-defense groups under Air Force command

The government has approved an experimental framework that lets operators in energy, communications, transport, water supply and other key sectors form air-defense groups that plug directly into the command structure of the Air Force.

Shmyhal said the move gives businesses a way to support national defense at a time when Russian missile and drone attacks continue to hit strategic sites across the country. He stressed that all units will work strictly under military orders and inside a unified command system.

Under the rules, group leaders will use the military’s digital command platform, while companies may buy or receive air-defense equipment through channels approved by the Defense Ministry. Only vetted employees - including those cleared by the Security Service of Ukraine - will be allowed to serve in these units.

Private resources fill air-defense gaps at strategic sites

The plan aims to boost protection around vital facilities and better distribute the workload of Ukraine’s air-defense forces. It also opens the door for companies with the right resources to help close gaps in coverage.

According to Shmyhal, the arrangement is designed to improve reaction times, strengthen defenses around high-priority targets, and bring state and private efforts into one system focused on keeping people safe.

Russia has stepped up information and recruitment operations across the Baltic states, with Latvian and Estonian officials warning that Moscow is using low-income residents and, increasingly, young people to spread pro-Kremlin narratives. 

Russia has intensified online influence work across Europe since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leaning on informal networks, paid creators, and fringe activists to blur the line between propaganda and grassroots content. The Baltic states have become a key focus because of their Russian-speaking communities and their frontline role in NATO’s security posture.

A new investigation by Latvia’s De facto television program says Russian intelligence relies on messaging apps, cross-border travel, and online creators to seed content that aligns with Moscow’s goals.

Russia directs local creators to amplify Kremlin narratives across platforms

Recent arrests show how these networks operate. In early November, Estonian authorities detained videographer Oleg Besedin, accusing him of working with Russian handlers to shape influence campaigns. 

Prosecutors say he followed direct instructions on which themes to promote and which political lines to push. His videos have featured pro-Kremlin figures amplifying claims about discrimination against Russian speakers in Europe.

Officials say this pattern mirrors earlier cases in Latvia. Former Sputnik Lithuania editor Marat Kasem, who later admitted involvement in propaganda work, has described how Russian-linked channels rebuild their audiences when banned by Western platforms. He said creators with large followings act as “boosters” for smaller pro-Kremlin voices, helping them regain reach.

Content promotes narratives used to justify intervention

Another strand of Russia’s activity surfaced around an online conference hosted by the Moscow-based “Institute for CIS Countries,” where Latvian activist Aleksandrs Gaponenko was recorded suggesting that Russia should prepare ideological groundwork for a future “humanitarian intervention” in the Baltics. Latvian prosecutors say the content supported charges that he aided a foreign power in actions against Latvia.

Security agencies in Latvia and Estonia say these narratives feed a broader Russian effort to cast Baltic governments as hostile toward Russian speakers. Meetings held by the Institute for CIS Countries have echoed these themes, including criticism of Latvia’s language-proficiency rules for Russian citizens.

Cash and crypto payments target young people without steady income

Latvian officials say the reach of such messaging depends heavily on social media, especially Telegram and TikTok. Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis said authorities are working to limit financial flows that support these networks. According to the State Security Service, Russia uses state-backed foundations and informal payment routes, including cash and cryptocurrency, to keep pro-Kremlin activists operating in the region.

Investigators also report cases of Russian services issuing instructions through chains of Telegram channels to carry out small-scale actions inside Latvia, such as posting hostile leaflets or distributing texts designed to appear as though they were written by Ukrainians. 

Prosecutors say the typical recruits are young people or those without steady income, often motivated by small payments rather than ideology. These payments range from 15 to 500 euros, according to prosecutors.

Baltics brace for long-term information warfare as Moscow refines tactics

Since 2022, Latvia has opened 14 criminal cases under laws covering assistance to a foreign state in activities directed against the country. Most remain under investigation. 

Authorities across the region warn that Russia’s information operations are becoming more layered, more local, and more persistent, and that they will continue to target vulnerable groups as long as the campaigns yield influence.

Poland has confirmed that recent sabotage attempts on rail lines southeast of Warsaw are linked to Russian intelligence. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said two Ukrainian citizens working with Russian services tried to trigger train derailments on the Warsaw-Lublin route, a key corridor for moving Western weapons to Ukraine.

Poland faces "most serious security challenge" as Russia expands sabotage across Europe

Poland’s findings fit with wider warnings from Kyiv and its partners that Russia is stepping up efforts to disrupt European logistics networks that support Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion. 

Tusk told lawmakers the incidents mark one of Poland’s most serious security challenges since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

Both suspects entered Poland from Belarus earlier this year and later fled back across the Terespol border crossing. One had a previous conviction in Lviv, Ukraine, for sabotage. Their identities are known to investigators but have not been released.

Tusk: military-grade C4 used in one of the attacks

The incidents, near Puławy and Mika, were intended to cause derailments and disrupt supply routes vital to Kyiv. 

The first incident, near Puławy, involved a steel clamp attached to the tracks, designed to derail a train. A mobile phone and power bank were set up as a triggering device, but the attempt failed.

The second attack, on 15 November near Mika, involved a military-grade C4 charge detonated through a 300-meter electrical cable using an initiating device. The explosion damaged the floor of a freight wagon but did not derail the train. Another train passing later had to brake sharply near the site of the blast.

According to Tusk, the attacks were deliberate and intended to create serious disruption. He said that Moscow aims to spread panic, confusion, and anti-Ukrainian sentiment within Poland.

Security tightened on rail lines leading toward Ukraine

Following the incidents, Poland tightened security on rail lines linking Warsaw, Lublin, and Rzeszów, a key transit point for Western military shipments to Ukraine. Territorial defence forces now patrol around 120 km of track, supported by drones and a helicopter.

Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said teams are focusing on bridges, tunnels, switches, and traffic-control systems along the route. Units from the 2nd Lublin Territorial Defence Brigade, including its 25th light infantry battalion, are already deployed.

Tusk noted that Poland has detained 55 people in recent months in cases linked to Russian operations, underscoring Moscow’s ongoing efforts to create fear and instability in the country.

The confirmation of Russian-linked sabotage on rail lines used to supply Ukraine highlights the growing pressure on Europe’s logistics network as the war continues.

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."

Russia has already killed 2877 Kherson civilians in its drone safari. And the ticker is rising each day.

Each of the dots is a geoconfirmed, prooflinked case of deliberate Russian murder against old ladies, children, and first responders in Kherson https://t.co/vH43rDMjeV pic.twitter.com/XCpTWdUffz

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) October 25, 2025

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.

Ukraine's energy ministry reported that Russia fired more than 150 missiles and over 2,000 drones at the country's power system during October and early November.

Russia escalates freeze-out campaign as temperatures drop

As winter approaches, Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, mirroring tactics from previous years aimed at causing blackouts and disrupting daily life. The strikes focus on critical nodes in the grid, aiming to strain repair crews and threaten civilian safety.

The ministry said that Russia targeted power generation sites, transmission lines, distribution networks, and gas infrastructure.

Recent attacks force nationwide blackouts and kill energy workers

The October-November assault represents Russia's fourth consecutive winter targeting Ukraine's power system. 

Among the major strikes: on 8 November, Russian forces launched over 450 drones and 45 missiles, forcing all three Centrenergo thermal plants offline and leaving Kyiv residents without electricity for up to 12 hours. 

Strikes on 2 November plunged the entire Ukraine-controlled part of Donetsk Oblast into a full blackout, while other attacks have killed energy workers using double-strike tactics - hitting infrastructure sites, then attacking again as repair workers arrive.

Earlier strikes in October destroyed 60% of Ukraine's gas production capacity, forcing Ukraine to import gas at emergency winter prices and spend nearly €2 billion to maintain heating for 12 million Ukrainians.

Rolling blackouts persist despite heroic repair efforts

The ministry expressed gratitude to energy workers and highlighted newly installed anti-drone shelters at key facilities and international support in limiting damage.

Yet, Ukraine continues to experience severe rolling blackouts across the country. Some regions face power cuts for up to 12 hours daily as Russian strikes outpace repair work.

Energy workers operate around the clock under dangerous conditions, racing to prevent complete grid collapse. 

"Compared to the first attacks in 2022, we're now like ants: we run in, everyone takes their task," said Oleh, a master technician repairing transformer equipment, in a ministry video.

The workers' coordination has improved dramatically since 2022. But improved efficiency can't overcome the math: when Russia fires 2,000 drones and 150 missiles in six weeks, repair crews struggle to keep pace.

"It often happens: we just got home and immediately need to leave again to fix an emergency," added Ivan, head of the overhead line repair section at the facility featured in the video.

The accumulated experience from years of war allows crews to work faster, but the exhaustion is mounting, the blackouts continue, and winter has not even begun.

Ukraine pushes to expand its own interception capabilities

Ukraine has begun serial production of its new Octopus interceptor drone designed to take down Russia’s Shahed-type attack UAVs, Ukrainian Minister of Defense Denys Shmyhal announced on Friday. The technology has been handed to three manufacturers, with another eleven preparing production lines.

Shaheds are Iranian kamikaze drones regularly used by Russia to strike Ukrainian cities, industry, and energy facilities. They are often launched in large groups to strain air defenses and cause maximum damage. Ukraine has pushed to expand its own interception capabilities as these drones continue to hit civilian areas and critical infrastructure across the country.

Octopus system is confirmed in combat conditions

Shmyhal said Octopus is a Ukrainian-developed system created by the Armed Forces and confirmed in combat. It can operate at night, under electronic jamming, and at low altitude - conditions that often make Shahed attacks difficult to counter with standard air defense assets.

He said the launch of mass production will accelerate the deployment of interceptors “so they can begin protecting Ukraine’s skies as soon as possible.” 

He added that the Defense Ministry is continuing to cooperate with domestic drone manufacturers to move new designs quickly from innovation to regular frontline use.

Never miss a story.
Follow Euromaidan Press on Google News! Value this reporting? Support our work.
BECOME OUR PATRON!

Never miss a story.
Follow Euromaidan Press on Google News! Value this reporting? Support our work.
BECOME OUR PATRON!

Eight Baltic and Nordic countries announced a joint $500 million weapons and munitions military aid package for Ukraine on 13 November.

The package is designed to strengthen Ukraine’s defence capabilities ahead of winter, as Russia intensifies strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure. It will supply critical weapons and ammunition sourced from the United States through NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative.

Eight northern allies declare "Ukraine's security is directly connected to ours"

The countries involved - Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden - confirmed the package during the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Helsinki. 

In a joint statement, they reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine’s security, calling it “fundamental to European security” and emphasizing the need for long-term, coordinated military support.

The statement said the package is one of many ways the NB8 supports Ukraine’s ability to deter future Russian aggression. “We will not allow [Russia’s war of aggression] to succeed. Ukraine’s security is directly connected to ours,” the ministers said.

Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden announced today that they will fund a USD 500 million package of defence materiel for Ukraine sourced from the United States.

Press release: https://t.co/84hkJTowV4 pic.twitter.com/a13IdUfK9z

— Puolustusministeriö (@DefenceFinland) November 13, 2025

How NATO's PURL initiative pools allied funds for urgent Ukraine weapons deliveries

The Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) allows NATO allies to pool funds to purchase US-supplied weapons, munitions, and military equipment for Ukraine. 

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the announcement: “This equipment is extremely important as Ukraine enters the winter months, and deliveries through PURL are flowing into Ukraine. NATO Allies will continue to deliver essential equipment and supplies.”

The aid package will provide high-priority military equipment such as missiles, precision weapons, air defence systems, long-range artillery shells, HIMARS rockets, and guided aerial bombs. 

Norway’s Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik noted that PURL ensures Ukraine receives urgent equipment quickly, and Sweden highlighted the package’s contribution to strengthening Ukraine’s air-defence capabilities.

Norway leads with $200M, Lithuania commits funds through 2026

Norway is contributing the largest share at roughly NOK 2 billion (~$200 million), Sweden $60 million, Denmark around 400 million Danish kroner (~$53 million), and Lithuania $30 million.

Lithuania also earmarked funds for next year and stressed the importance of using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s defence spending.

Beyond weapons: Nordic-Baltic Eight expands brigade training in Poland

The NB8 meeting also addressed broader initiatives, including training Ukrainian brigades in collaboration with Baltic, Nordic, and Polish forces. Lithuania will contribute €12 million worth of equipment, ammunition, grenades, and a mobile training team to the OP-LEGIO Training Centre in Poland.

Ministers emphasized that Russia’s aggression poses a long-term threat to European security, the transatlantic community, and the rules-based international order. 

Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said maintaining support for Ukraine will remain central to the NB8’s agenda during Estonia’s presidency next year.

A 6,600 km strike to sever Russia's North Korean lifeline

Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) released a video showing what it says was a sabotage operation that disrupted freight traffic on the Trans-Siberian Railway in Russia’s Khabarovsk Krai.

The Trans-Siberian line moves military cargo across Russia, including weapons from abroad. HUR has carried out similar operations against rail lines, depots, and supply routes in recent months, aiming to slow Russian logistics far from the front.

According to HUR, an explosion hit the line near the village of Sosnovka, about 6,600km from Ukraine, on 13 November, halting cargo movement along a route used for transporting weapons and ammunition, including supplies from North Korea.

Sabotage proofs followed by a direct threat

HUR said the blast derailed a freight train and damaged the track. The agency described the operation as part of broader efforts to target Russian logistics.

The published video shows the placement of an explosive charge along the rail line and the controlled detonation.

HUR added that Russian security services failed to protect one of the country’s critical transport corridors and said such actions would continue.

Ukrainian forces launched a large drone strike on Russian positions in occupied Donetsk on Thursday evening, according to local Telegram channels.

Donetsk in eastern Ukraine has been under Russian occupation since 2014. The city hosts major industrial sites and remains one of the main rear areas supporting Russian forces in the east.

Residents reported the sound of dozens of drones around 8pm, followed by intense Russian anti-aircraft fire across several districts. 

Videos show gun and machine-gun fire directed at low-flying targets, which Ukrainian defense portal Militarnyi says suggests earlier strikes may have disabled some Russian missile and radar systems.

Donetsk-based sources report a drone attack on the occupied city.

Footage from the scene includes the sound of drone engines, Russian anti-aircraft fire, an apparent strike, and what may be a fire at the Donetsk Metallurgical Plant. The full outcome of the attack remains… pic.twitter.com/94CksVPsDt

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) November 13, 2025

Footage from the scene captures the sound of drone engines, bursts of anti-aircraft fire, and at least one blast. A major fire was later visible at the Donetsk Metallurgical Plant, with several thick columns of smoke rising from the area.

Parts of the city lost power during the attack, pointing to possible damage to energy infrastructure. Witnesses said the drones arrived in waves and circled over the city for an extended period.

Militarnyi reports, based on the released clips, that the strike appears to have involved FP-2 kamikaze drones produced in Ukraine. 

Ukraine unleashes the minigun on Shahed drones

Ukraine has started equipping its Mi-8 helicopters with American-made M134 Minigun systems to counter Russian Shahed kamikaze drones, according to footage published by the Instagram account aero.tim and reported by Militarnyi.

Russia launches swarms of Shahed kamikaze drones at Ukrainian cities every night, overwhelming air defenses with sheer numbers. These Iranian-designed attack drones are difficult targets for expensive surface-to-air missiles. Helicopter-mounted machine guns give Ukraine another option for intercepting drones without burning through costly missile stockpiles.

The video shows a Mi-8 door gunner firing several bursts at an incoming drone, which then veers off course and crashes. The modification gives the Soviet-designed helicopters a major boost in firepower against low-flying targets that have become a constant threat across Ukraine.

Why Ukraine is putting American miniguns on Soviet helicopters

According to Ukrainian defense portal Militarnyi, the M134 Minigun is a six-barrel, electrically driven machine gun chambered in 7.62×51 mm NATO. It can fire between 2,000 and 6,000 rounds per minute - about eight times faster than the standard PKT machine guns typically mounted on Mi-8s.

Often seen on US helicopters such as the Black Hawk and Huey, the Minigun can be mounted in fixed or swivel configurations, allowing gunners to cover a wide firing arc. Beyond defending against drones, the weapon is also effective for close air support and suppressing enemy firing positions.

The UK will ban its firms from providing shipping or insurance services for Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports starting in 2026, aiming to curb Moscow’s fossil fuel revenues that fund its war against Ukraine.

While Britain and the EU banned direct imports of Russian LNG years ago following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western companies have still been allowed to transport and insure Russian gas bound for other markets - a gap campaigners have fought for years to close.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the move at a G7 meeting in Canada, describing it as a coordinated effort with the EU, which plans to phase out Russian LNG imports under long-term contracts by early 2027. 

Britain banned direct imports in 2023, but its maritime and insurance sectors have continued to handle shipments from Russia’s Yamal terminal.

Campaigners welcome the move, urge faster action

A recent report by the Ukrainian group Razom We Stand identified Glasgow-based Seapeak Maritime as having facilitated about 4 million tons of Russian LNG in the first half of 2025 - nearly 40 percent of exports from Yamal. The group said the UK’s new measures mark a long-awaited success after more than three years of advocacy.

“The government’s move is a long-overdue and welcome step,” said Razom We Stand founder Svitlana Romanko. “But the UK must not slow-walk the phase-out, and Prime Minister Starmer should immediately cancel the indefensible energy contract with TotalEnergies - a firm still collaborating with Russia and helping raise billions for its war machine.”

Razom We Stand also urged London to align with upcoming G7 and EU sanctions and to consider secondary sanctions targeting Russian LNG exports and the shadow fleet that carries them.

Coordinated Pressure on Russia’s Energy Sector

Western allies have increasingly targeted Russia’s remaining energy revenues as oil price caps and pipeline gas embargoes lose impact. The G7 is discussing further restrictions on LNG transshipment and the use of Western shipping insurance - key pressure points in global trade. 

By joining these measures, the UK seeks to limit Russia’s ability to reroute gas through intermediary countries and close off financial channels that have helped sustain its war economy.

Cooper said the UK’s approach “shows unity with our partners in cutting off Russia’s access to the revenues it uses to wage this illegal war,” adding that London “will keep tightening sanctions until Putin ends his aggression.”

Denmark has announced its 28th military aid package for Ukraine worth 1.4 billion kroner (€188 million), reinforcing support through the so-called “Danish model” and NATO’s PURL initiative to strengthen Kyiv’s combat readiness against Russia.

The new package includes 100 million kroner for continued donations through the Danish model, 372 million for the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) which secures high-demand US weapons, and over 80 million for fuel deliveries coordinated through NATO’s Support and Procurement Agency.

“With this package, we’re ensuring Ukraine decisive battlefield capabilities in the coming months,” Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said. “There’s still a great need to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom - and for other countries to contribute, for example, through the Danish model.”

Under the Danish model, Copenhagen funds Ukraine’s own defense industry directly through the Ukrainian state, allowing faster procurement of locally made weapons and equipment. Denmark has already earmarked 2.6 billion kroner from its Ukraine Fund for this purpose in 2025, and a further 1 billion annually for 2026-2027.

The PURL initiative - jointly coordinated with allies such as Sweden, Norway, and the United States - enables NATO partners to finance and deliver high-priority weapon systems. In August, the mechanism was used to supply Patriot missiles to Ukraine.

Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the latest package aims to strengthen Ukraine’s hand both militarily and diplomatically.

“As long as Putin and Russia don’t want peace, we must ensure Ukraine is in the best possible position - on the battlefield and at the negotiating table,” he said. “This is about Ukraine’s defense, but also Europe’s continued security.”

So far, Denmark has committed about 70.8 billion kroner (€9.5 billion) in military aid to Ukraine from 2022 through 2028 via its Ukraine Fund, with 16.5 billion allocated for 2025 alone.

Ukraine will host an informal summit of EU ministers in Lviv on December 10-11 to review Kyiv’s progress toward EU membership, Politico reports. The meeting is intended to show political support for Ukraine while allies seek ways around Hungary’s veto, which has blocked the formal accession process.

Kyiv was granted EU candidate status in 2022 and has carried out broad economic, judicial, and anti-corruption reforms amid Russia’s ongoing invasion. 

However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán - widely regarded as Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest ally within the EU - has pledged to block accession until next year’s elections, preventing the opening of formal negotiating chapters. 

To get around the veto, EU officials are considering a “frontloading” plan, allowing Ukraine to start implementing reforms and aligning its laws with EU standards even before formal negotiations begin. This would let Kyiv advance its membership preparations so it can move quickly whenever the impasse may be lifted.

The invitation for the Lviv meeting was sent jointly by Denmark, holding the EU Council presidency, and Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka. 

Officials say the discussions will focus on reviewing reform progress, planning next steps, and reaffirming political support. Frontloading reforms also applies to neighboring Moldova, which faces a similar accession path.

Officials told Politico that frontloading will allow Kyiv to move quickly once Hungary lifts its veto, which may happen after the Hungarian parliamentary elections in early 2026.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the positive assessment of Ukraine’s reforms from Brussels, saying the country will become a full EU member “in a fair way when Ukraine is standing for itself and when the war is over.”

Ukrainian troops have pulled back from positions near five settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region as Russian forces intensified attacks, Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces said on 11 November.

Zaporizhzhia Oblast has been a contested frontline since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, with control of its towns and supply routes shifting multiple times. The region’s strategic location, linking southern Ukraine to the eastern front, has made it a frequent target for assaults, artillery barrages, and drone attacks.

Intense Russian artillery barrage forces tactical withdrawal

The withdrawal comes after several days of intense fighting in the Oleksandrivka and Huliaipole sectors, with Russian units carrying out over 400 artillery strikes daily, firing around 2,000 shells. 

Ukrainian defenses suffered repeated assaults and near-total destruction of fortifications, forcing troops to retreat to preserve personnel while continuing to repel enemy attempts to entrench.

Russia presses advantage, aims to encircle Huliaipole

Ukrainian units pulled back from Novouspenivske, Nove, Okhotnyche, Uspenivka, and Novomykolaivka. Russian forces are trying to move into these settlements, but Ukrainian troops continue to push back.

Heavy clashes are ongoing around Yablukove, Rivnopillia, and Solodke. Russian units from the east are pressing to encircle Huliaipole and cut key supply routes leading from Pokrovske in the north.

“The fighting goes on. Our assault units and other troops are battling hard for every inch of our land,” the Southern Defense Forces said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a working visit to Kherson on Tuesday, marking three years since Ukrainian forces retook the city from Russian occupation. The president met with local officials, military leaders, and units from Ukraine’s drone forces to review measures for defending the city, which remains under constant threat from Russian drone attacks.

Kherson sits on the west bank of the Dnipro River and was occupied by Russian forces from March to November 2022. Since its liberation, the city has faced frequent Russian strikes, particularly from small drones targeting infrastructure and hunting civilians in what officials describe as Russian “human safari” tactics.

Zelenskyy’s visit highlighted plans to bolster the city’s defenses, including expanding capabilities of drone units like the “Ptakhy Madyara” and improving protection of key roads, logistics hubs, and energy systems.

Strategically located near the Dnipro crossing to Russian-occupied territory, Kherson serves as a gateway to southern Ukraine and a critical hub for logistics and regional administration. Its proximity to Russian positions makes it a high-priority target for attacks, especially drone and artillery strikes.

Zelenskyy emphasized the need to prepare Kherson for the ongoing threat, noting that the city experiences thousands of drone strikes each month. He directed additional resources to frontline units and security services, ensuring that both military and civilian infrastructure are better protected against Russian aggression.

Beyond military measures, Zelenskyy reviewed requests from the Kherson regional administration for civilian needs, ranging from education and social programs to energy and equipment for public services.

The visit underscored Kyiv’s dual focus on reinforcing security while sustaining everyday life in a frontline city still within reach of Russian forces.

Plans to create a special tribunal to try crimes of aggression committed by Russia in Ukraine are facing financial hurdles, Euronews reports. European donors are concerned that the United States may continue to pull back support under the Trump administration, complicating efforts to cover the tribunal’s costs.

The tribunal, agreed bilaterally by the Council of Europe and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in June, is designed to prosecute Russia’s crimes of aggression - a gap left by the International Criminal Court, which cannot target the crime of waging war.

Funding from multiple partners is required for the tribunal to operate, but European countries are now weighing their contributions amid rising costs and reduced US engagement.

Holding Russia accountable - with limits

The tribunal was formally announced in Strasbourg in June 2025, with Zelenskyy noting that “every war criminal must know: justice will prevail - and that includes Russia.” 

While the court cannot prosecute sitting Russian leaders such as President Vladimir Putin or Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov due to immunity, it can try other senior Russian and Belarusian officials, potentially even in absentia.

The tribunal is seen as a key step in Ukraine’s broader strategy to secure legal accountability for Moscow’s invasion.

Europe scrambles to cover €75M tribunal costs as Trump pulls back

The Council of Europe initially proposed a budget of roughly €75 million per year for operational costs, with additional funding needed for premises and security. The Netherlands is set to host the tribunal. 

The EU is expected to contribute about €10 million annually, but it is unclear which G7 countries, including France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, will participate.

Sources told Euronews that discussions are ongoing, and fewer funds from Washington put the tribunal’s implementation at risk. To begin work, the tribunal must secure a minimum number of participating countries, usually 16, but in Ukraine’s case, experts say more influential and relevant states will need to join to lend credibility.

European governments are now facing difficult choices about which Ukraine-related projects to fund as military, humanitarian, and financial support falls increasingly on their shoulders.

A major fire broke out at the Orsk oil refinery in Russia’s Orenburg region after a reported drone strike overnight, more than 1,400 kilometers from the front line in Ukraine. The Ukrainian army confirmed that the facility was hit as part of efforts to disrupt Russia’s fuel supply for its army.

The strike marks one of Ukraine’s deepest attacks inside Russian territory, targeting energy infrastructure vital to Moscow’s war effort. Ukraine has intensified its drone campaign against refineries and fuel depots that supply Russia’s military and underpin its oil exports - a key source of revenue for the Kremlin. Kyiv says such strikes are meant to disrupt logistics, reduce Russia’s offensive potential, and pressure Moscow to end its invasion.

According to the General Staff, Ukrainian Defense Forces struck facilities at the Orsknefteorgsintez refinery in Orenburg Oblast on 11 November. 

The refinery reportedly produces over 30 types of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and lubricants, with an annual capacity of 6.6 million tons. It is involved in supplying Russia’s occupation forces, the statement said.

Explosions and a fire were recorded at the site, and one of the refinery’s primary oil distillation units was reportedly damaged.

The strike on Orsk followed confirmed hits on another refinery in Russia’s Saratov region earlier the same night.

Fire reported at the Orsk oil refinery in Russia

Reports claim it was caused by a drone attack. The facility is located in Orenburg Oblast next to Kazakhstan, more than 1400 km from the war zone in Ukraine.
Exilenova+ pic.twitter.com/bQvgfX04sy

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) November 11, 2025

Ukraine’s defense companies are turning to exports to fund production and expand their operations, Bloomberg reports. European militaries are keen to use Ukraine’s battle-tested drones to boost defenses against Russian airspace violations.

Producing drones outside Ukraine allows companies to access financing, accelerate innovation, and maintain steady supply for the front line. NATO allies benefit from proven, scalable systems while Ukraine channels revenue into domestic production of advanced drones, Bloomberg notes.

Ukraine now produces millions of drones annually, ranging from long-range strike models to small first-person view (FPV) units. Ukrainian firms continue to refine a wide range of drones, from inexpensive frontline FPV models to advanced long-range and surveillance units capable of operating deep inside Russian territory.

Moving production to safer ground

TSIR, Skyeton, and FlyWell are among the companies expanding production abroad to reduce the risk of Russian attacks, Bloomberg reports. Facilities in Finland, Slovakia, and Denmark aim to supply both Ukrainian forces and allied militaries. 

Skyeton’s Slovak plant attracted over €10 million in foreign investment, while FlyWell is seeking $50 million to expand European production and develop hydrogen-powered drones. Producing outside Ukraine also gives engineers more stable supply chains and opportunities to share expertise with NATO partners.

Battle-tested Ukrainian drones enter NATO plans

Countries including Denmark, Germany, the UK, and Finland are increasingly integrating Ukrainian drones into their defense planning. Beyond supplying their own militaries, these projects help train personnel to operate unmanned systems and develop doctrines for drone-based warfare. Ukraine’s experience producing hundreds of thousands of drones annually positions it as a key contributor to NATO’s capabilities in unmanned conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced plans to open arms sales offices in Berlin and Copenhagen this year to manage co-production and exports of weapons Ukraine can spare, generating funds for domestic production of critical military hardware.

The expansion reflects a shift from a domestic-focused defense industry toward international collaboration. Ukrainian engineers, seasoned by frontline experience, produce low-cost, effective systems at a pace unmatched by European counterparts, giving NATO partners scalable solutions while maintaining Ukraine’s wartime production capabilities.

Ukraine reinstated a full mechanism for exporting domestically-produced weapons this month, marking a strategic pivot for a defense industry that largely suspended arms exports after Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion. 

A Ukrainian renewable energy facility was struck by three drones overnight, Clear Energy’s founder Andriy Grinenko said on Sunday. 

The strike is part of a broader pattern of attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in recent weeks. Russian forces have increasingly targeted both conventional and renewable power facilities, aiming to disrupt civilian life, strain industrial capacity, and undermine Ukraine’s energy resilience ahead of winter.

Grinenko said the biomass power plant, established in 2016 by Clear Energy, has been a model for Ukraine’s green energy sector, showing how local renewable resources can support the country’s energy independence. No casualties were reported.

In the past few days, several regions have reported drone and missile strikes on power plants and electrical grids. A wave of attacks on November 8 prompted rolling blackouts across the country. 

A Ukrainian renewable energy facility was struck by three drones overnight, according to Clear Energy founder Andriy Grinenko.

The biomass power plant, established in 2016, has been a model for Ukraine's green energy sector, demonstrating how local renewable resources can… pic.twitter.com/HJcmCQOAxi

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) November 9, 2025

Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence (HUR) said members of the resistance movement inside Russia carried out new sabotage operations at the end of October and beginning of November, destroying four key logistical facilities used by the Russian military.

Ukraine’s military intelligence says sabotage acts on Russian soil have intensified, targeting transport and communication links that feed Moscow’s war effort. A growing number of resistance operations have hit railways, oil depots, and telecom infrastructure deep inside Russia in recent months, disrupting supply chains used by its forces in Ukraine.

According to HUR, resistance groups set fire to communication tower equipment in the city of Sterlitamak, Bashkortostan, and destroyed a railway relay cabinet near Vologda. 

Resistance movement destroyed 4 military logistics objects inside Russia in late October, burning equipment at 3 communication towers in Sterlitamak, Bashkortostan and railway relay infrastructure near Vologda.

Systematic sabotage operations deep in Russian territory continue… pic.twitter.com/k4tDSTWle2

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) November 9, 2025

The agency said the attacks disrupted key links in Russia’s transport and communication infrastructure that support its war effort in Ukraine.

“The systematic disabling of such facilities significantly complicates the military logistics of the Russian occupation army,” HUR stated.

The intelligence service said acts of resistance continue across Russia, targeting supply routes and other infrastructure used to sustain Moscow’s invasion.

Yurii Fedorenko, commander of Ukraine’s 429th separate unmanned systems regiment “Achilles,” said Russia’s Rubicon center for unmanned systems can quickly scale from a company to a battalion thanks to manpower and financial resources Ukraine cannot match. He spoke to LIGA.net about the growing challenge.

Russia's "Rubicon" center creates a scalable advantage in drone warfare

Drone warfare has become one of the defining features of the war, with Russia investing heavily in organised, well-funded units that can quickly expand and adapt on the battlefield. These efforts have turned unmanned systems into a key part of Moscow’s military strategy, giving it an advantage in scale and coordination that Ukraine often struggles to match.

Fedorenko described Rubicon as a direct response to Ukraine’s “Line of Drones” - a nationwide project that coordinates Ukrainian drone units for reconnaissance, targeting, and operational support on the frontlines - with Moscow standardizing training, tasking, and logistics across its units. 

The structure allows Russia to rapidly expand personnel, provide the best equipment, and focus on narrow operational functions, unlike infantry or assault units that spread resources across multiple tasks.

State-backed recruitment and priority funding fuel Russian efforts

He noted that Russia recruits heavily through incentives and youth program linked to United Russia - Russia’s ruling political party - training thousands of 16-17-year-olds as future drone pilots who will be mobilized at 18. 

Fedorenko emphasized that Rubicon units have priority in receiving resources, including advanced technology and funding for research, development, and innovation centers.

A stark contrast: Ukraine's resource-constrained, colunteer-based model

According to Fedorenko, Ukraine cannot match these scales of expansion and funding, relying instead on teaching, equipping, and persuading volunteers to join, a slower and more resource-constrained process.

Follow Euromaidan Press on Google News! YOUR SUPPORT = OUR VOICE

Former NATO secretary‑general Jens Stoltenberg described a “painful moment” in February 2022 when he turned down Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s request to impose a no‑fly zone over the country, according to his memoirs, reported by The Times.

In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with forces advancing rapidly toward Kyiv and other major cities. The Ukrainian military was under heavy pressure, and the capital faced an imminent threat of occupation. NATO faced a choice: support Ukraine directly and risk provoking a wider war, or limit its involvement to avoid direct confrontation with Russia.

Stoltenberg said Zelenskyy called from a Kyiv bunker as Russian forces approached, asking NATO to block Russian aircraft, drones, and helicopters. Zelenskyy acknowledged that NATO would not send ground troops, saying he accepted the decision even though he disagreed.

Zelenskyy pointed out that NATO had previously implemented a no‑fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s to prevent attacks by the invading Serbian armed forces and asked for similar protection over Ukraine.

Stoltenberg told him that enforcing a no‑fly zone would require neutralizing Russian air‑defense systems in Belarus and Russia, and that any engagement with Russian aircraft could trigger a full-scale war between NATO and Moscow.

He said the moment was “extremely painful” because he feared the call might be Zelenskyy’s last. Stoltenberg emphasized that, despite the refusal, the decision not to deploy NATO ground troops or enforce a no‑fly zone was correct under the circumstances.

He also noted that Western military support to Ukraine was often “too little and too late,” suggesting that if Kyiv had received sufficient backing earlier, Russia might have reconsidered a full-scale invasion, judging it too risky.

Agents of the Ukrainian partisan movement ATESH carried out a successful sabotage operation on a railway near Simferopol, Crimea, temporarily halting train traffic and disrupting Russian supply routes to the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia fronts, the group said on Sunday.

The ATESH movement operates as part of a wider network of Ukrainian partisans active in Russian-occupied territories. These underground groups carry out sabotage and intelligence gathering targeting supply lines, military bases, and occupation authorities, particularly in Crimea, where they aim to undermine Russia’s control and disrupt its military logistics.

According to ATESH, the attack targeted a key logistical artery used by Russian occupation forces to transport ammunition, fuel, and military equipment. The movement said the operation caused a direct interruption in deliveries to frontline units.

“The ATESH movement continues to systematically destroy the enemy’s transport infrastructure. Even deep in the rear in Crimea, the occupiers cannot feel safe,” the group stated on Telegram.

Crimea, illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, has seen a surge in partisan and drone activity aimed at weakening the peninsula’s role as a military hub for the invasion of Ukraine.

https://youtu.be/0GvGuKivEE4

Britain is deploying military personnel and equipment to Belgium after a series of drone incursions disrupted air traffic and raised fears of Russian hybrid operations, the BBC reported on Sunday.

A growing number of unexplained drone incursions across Europe in recent months has alarmed governments and aviation authorities. Sightings in Belgium, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark have disrupted flights and raised fears of Russian hybrid activity aimed at testing air defenses and spreading uncertainty. 

UK Chief of Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton said the move followed a request from his Belgian counterpart earlier in the week. He called it “plausible” that the drones were ordered by Moscow, though no evidence has been confirmed. 

Belgium’s main airport, Zaventem, was briefly closed on Thursday after drones were spotted nearby, while others were seen over a military base.

Defence Secretary John Healey said the deployment showed the importance of allied coordination “to defend, deter and protect our critical infrastructure and airspace.” 

Members of the Royal Air Force’s 2 Force Protection Wing, previously used in anti-drone operations during the 2024 Paris Olympics, are expected to take part. Germany has also pledged support with anti-drone measures.

The incidents forced Brussels Airlines to cancel or divert dozens of flights, affecting some 3,000 passengers.

Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken acknowledged there was no proof of Russian involvement but said the threat had grown into a “serious” regional issue affecting both civilian and military infrastructure.

While Moscow denies involvement, European officials say the incidents fit a broader pattern of covert pressure tactics linked to the war in Ukraine.

The Russian military has shifted tactics in its energy attacks, now hitting both power generation sites and transmission networks at once, Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy said on Sunday.

Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure to pressure civilians and disrupt the economy. With winter approaching, such attacks are intensifying again, aiming to undermine public morale and strain Ukraine’s air defense resources as demand for electricity rises.

First Deputy Energy Minister Artem Nekrasov said during a TV appearance that this new approach makes it harder to quickly restore electricity supply and maintain stable operation of the system. 

“The enemy has changed its tactics and is trying to strike simultaneously at power generation facilities as well as transmission and distribution systems,” he said, according to Ukrinform.

Power supplies are gradually stabilizing, Nekrasov said, but full recovery will take time. 

After Russian attacks on November 8, most regions introduced hourly outages and capacity limits for businesses and industry. Kharkiv, Sumy, and Poltava oblasts face the most severe restrictions, with up to three stages of blackouts, while other regions, including Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Mykolaiv, experience shorter rolling cuts.

The November 8 assault saw Russia firing over 450 drones and 45 missiles, including Iskander and Kinzhal systems, at nine regions. 

All three Centrenergo thermal plants went offline, leaving much of the country without power for hours, while Naftogaz reported it was the ninth targeted attack on civilian gas infrastructure since October.

Pressure is building in Norway to use its vast sovereign wealth fund to help move forward the European Union’s stalled €140 billion loan for Ukraine - a proposal now gaining traction as part of efforts to overcome Belgium’s objections to using frozen Russian assets.

The EU’s proposed reparations loan would tap into about €190-210 billion in frozen Russian state assets held in Europe to use as collateral to finance Ukraine’s recovery and budget needs. Legal and political disputes, led by Belgium, where most assets are held by the clearing house Euroclear, have delayed the plan.

The idea of Norway stepping in to guarantee part of the loan has revived debate over the country’s wartime windfall. After overtaking Russia as Europe’s main gas supplier, Norway earned roughly €109 billion in extra revenues from surging prices in 2022-2023, prompting accusations it had become a “war profiteer.”

Several Norwegian parties, including those aligned with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre’s governing bloc, have urged Oslo to help “break the impasse.” Opposition politicians argue that Norway’s €1.8 trillion fund gives it the financial strength and moral duty to act. 

“Norway has the means to guarantee a loan that would help Ukraine defend itself,” said Guri Melby, leader of the opposition Liberal Party. Greens leader Arild Hermstad added that Norway’s profit from the war made such support “a moral obligation.”

The proposal, first floated by two Norwegian economists in Denmark’s Politiken and endorsed by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen as “a great idea,” has since entered mainstream discussion in Oslo. 

Støre has ordered a “full review” of possible involvement, while Norway’s finance ministry said it is “closely monitoring the situation and continuing dialogue with the EU.”

Norway has already committed 275 billion kroner (€27 billion) in civil and military aid to Ukraine through 2030. While officials stress there are no current plans for Oslo to act as a single guarantor, the debate underscores how Europe’s wealthiest energy producer is being drawn deeper into discussions on how to fund Ukraine’s war effort.

EU leaders are expected to revisit the issue in the coming months as Brussels looks for ways to meet Kyiv’s €55 billion funding needs for the next two years without adding pressure to national budgets.

The European Commission has introduced stricter visa regulations for Russian citizens, ending the issuance of multiple-entry Schengen visas except in limited humanitarian cases.

According to the Commission, the decision responds to growing concerns over public security and the misuse of visas, citing cases of sabotage, espionage, and weaponized migration by Russian actors in Europe.

Announced on 7 November, the new policy means that Russians will now have to apply for a new visa for each trip to the EU. The European Commission said the measure aims to ensure more frequent and thorough security screenings in light of heightened risks linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Under the updated rules, multiple-entry visas will only be granted in exceptional circumstances - such as to independent journalists, human rights defenders, members of civil society organizations, or other vulnerable individuals, along with their immediate family members.

The move is the latest in a series of EU measures restricting travel for Russian citizens since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Many member states, including Estonia, Latvia, Finland, and Poland, had already unilaterally tightened visa access or closed their borders to most Russian visitors.

European officials say the new bloc-wide restrictions are intended to prevent security threats while keeping channels open for those fleeing repression.

Ukraine is reinstating a full mechanism for exporting domestically-produced weapons under the oversight of the National Security and Defence Council (NSDC), officials announced, according to Ukrainian defense portal Militarnyi.

The move marks a key step in formalising Ukraine’s fast-growing defence industry. By reopening arms exports, Kyiv aims to attract new revenue and investment to fund its own military needs, sustain production, and deepen cooperation with partners, while keeping front-line supply the top priority.

Ukraine largely suspended arms exports after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, redirecting all production to front-line needs. The renewed system reopens that channel under stricter oversight and updated procedures, prioritising trusted partners.

According to NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov and presidential strategic adviser Oleksandr Kamyshin, the renewed export procedure will apply primarily to countries that have signed bilateral security agreements with Ukraine. The announcement was made during a meeting with journalists, Ukrainian defense portal Militarnyi reports.

Under the renewed system, Ukrainian defence companies with surplus production capacity will be able to apply for export licences through the State Service for Export Control. Approval will depend on confirmation that the equipment is not needed by the military.

Private producers will have flexibility in how they export - either via state intermediaries, private firms, or independently if authorised. The NSDC will maintain a list of approved partner countries, ensuring exports remain within trusted networks and under strict post-export monitoring.

“Such an approach provides a double level of control - technical and security,” the officials said.

They also underlined that exports will not come at the expense of the Armed Forces. “If the military urgently needs this weapon, the export licence can be suspended or cancelled,” the officials added.

Ukraine and Sweden have agreed to begin localizing the production of Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets on Ukrainian territory, with plans to establish significant domestic manufacturing by 2033, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on 7 November, as reported by Ukrainian national broadcaster Suspilne.

This marks a major step in Ukraine’s long-term strategy to rebuild and modernize its defense industry through Western technology partnerships. By producing advanced fighter jets domestically, Kyiv secures greater self-sufficiency in arms manufacturing, strengthens its air force against continued Russian attacks, and integrates more deeply into Europe’s defense ecosystem.

According to Shmyhal, the two countries finalized the details with Sweden’s Ministry of Defence on 6 November, including provisions for the supply of up to 150 Gripen E-class fighters. A memorandum of intent was signed between a Ukrainian defense enterprise and Saab, the Swedish aerospace manufacturer, to set up future production inside Ukraine.

“From 2033, Gripen production will be significantly localized in Ukraine, from large-unit assembly to the manufacturing of individual components,” Shmyhal said.

First jets arrive next year, domestic production follows

Ukraine expects to receive its first Gripen fighter jets from Sweden as early as next year, with initial batches likely to include older C and D models, before the full-scale production of the advanced Gripen E variant begins later in the decade.

Ukrainian defense portal Militarnyi notes that the localization project would be Ukraine’s first large-scale fighter-aircraft production effort, encompassing everything from assembly to parts manufacturing. Saab is also reportedly exploring options for a parallel production line in Canada due to growing international demand.

Deal builds on Ukraine's largest-ever combat aviation agreement

The agreement follows the 22 October 2025 letter of intent signed by Zelenskyy and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson for the purchase of 100 to 150 Gripen E fighters - Ukraine’s largest-ever combat aviation deal. 

Kristersson described it as a long-term partnership to build a “serious air force” capable of defending Ukrainian skies against Russian attacks.

The Gripen E is a 4++-generation multirole fighter capable of speeds up to Mach 2, equipped with advanced radar, AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, and precision strike capability.

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.

Ukraine has imposed new sanctions on Russian companies involved in Arctic resource extraction - a lucrative sector that Kyiv says helps finance Moscow’s war against Ukraine. 

The sanctions target a sector that has remained less affected by previous sanctions packages, even as Arctic extraction projects generate critical revenues for the Kremlin and accelerate fossil fuel development in one of the planet's most climate-sensitive regions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the measures on Thursday, describing Arctic extraction as one of Russia’s most profitable ventures that generates tens of billions of dollars annually. He said the new sanctions aim to cut off that revenue stream, following earlier efforts to target Russia’s tanker fleet and oil sector.

“Any way to limit Russia’s income is effective resistance to the war,” Zelenskyy said in his evening address. He noted that the sanctions apply to Russian entities working on Arctic extraction projects and that Ukraine expects partners to extend similar restrictions. “We already know that this step will be continued by our partners,” he added.

Arctic fossil fuels: funding Russia's war, wrecking the planet

Oleh Savytskyi, a climate expert and campaign manager with Ukrainian NGO Razom We Stand, wrote on Facebook that Ukraine’s decision “speaks louder than promises to cut emissions by 2050.” 

He called on the EU, the UK, and other “self-declared climate leaders” to “take immediate action the world needs most today - to stop Russia’s Arctic fossil fuel expansion projects and start cleaning up the mess caused by decades of Kremlin’s imperial plunder in this most fragile region of the planet.”

Ukraine aligns with EU's 19th sanctions package

Separately, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has synchronized its sanctions regime with the European Union’s 19th package against Russia, which focuses on restricting the export of electronic components and curbing Russian energy revenues. 

While Ukraine’s own sanctions against Russia are largely symbolic, as the vast majority of economic cooperation was severed after the 2022 full-scale invasion, Ukraine often leads the charge on sanctions packages that international allies may later choose to adopt themselves.

Bulgaria is preparing legislation that could allow the government to take control of Russian oil company Lukoil’s assets in the country, according to Bulgarian news outlet Capital. The move comes as new US sanctions against Moscow’s oil sector force Lukoil to exit international markets and sell its overseas holdings.

US sanctions announced in October targeted Russia’s top oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, intending to cut Moscow’s wartime energy revenue. The measures ban Western firms from trading, shipping, or insuring their oil, forcing Lukoil to scale back abroad and prompting countries like Bulgaria to reassess its assets under growing restrictions.

Under the proposed bill, a state-appointed manager could assume full control of Lukoil’s Bulgarian refinery and fuel operations, with the power to sell the company’s assets and deposit proceeds into a government account. The draft law has not yet been submitted to parliament but would effectively suspend the Russian company’s management and ownership rights.

The measure follows Lukoil’s plan to sell its international assets, including its Bulgarian refinery, to Swiss-based trader Gunvor, pending US approval. The company announced its global withdrawal after Washington imposed sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil in October, barring Western firms from handling Russian oil from November 21.

Lukoil’s Burgas refinery, the largest in the Balkans, has been a key supplier of fuel to Bulgaria and neighboring countries. US sanctions have raised questions over the refinery’s future operations and energy security in the region.

The draft law reflects growing pressure on European governments to comply with US sanctions and cut Russian energy influence. Bulgaria, which had already limited Lukoil’s exports earlier this year, is now weighing whether to nationalize its operations as part of that broader effort.

Russian officials are using deported Ukrainian children as a political tool, framing limited returns as signs of goodwill toward the United States, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The Kremlin is presenting these cases as evidence of cooperation with Washington even as it continues large-scale deportations in violation of international law.

Ukraine and international investigators have documented at least 19,500 cases of children forcibly taken from occupied Ukrainian territories to Russia - an act recognized as a war crime under international law.

ISW reports that Russian Direct Investment Fund head Kirill Dmitriev and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova have both used the issue publicly. Dmitriev, sanctioned by the US in 2022, responded to First Lady Melania Trump’s announcement of the return of seven Ukrainian children with handshake and flag emojis, suggesting that Moscow views the matter as leverage for restoring ties.

The institute says the Kremlin is advancing two overlapping narratives. The first downplays the scale of deportations by claiming Russia took only “hundreds” of children for humanitarian reasons. The second portrays the issue as an area of cooperation with the US, implying that further returns could follow improved relations.

Russian data contradict these claims. Official reports show children from occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions have been placed in Russian families or institutions across at least 20 regions since 2022. Ukraine has confirmed 19,500 deported children, while Russia’s own commissioner for children’s rights has acknowledged receiving more than 700,000 minors “from Ukraine.”

ISW says Russia is using the return of a few children to obscure the broader campaign of forced deportations and adoptions. The institute notes that these actions constitute war crimes under international law and that Moscow has not documented the identities of the children it has taken.

A Ukrainian drone strike has forced Russia’s Volgograd oil refinery to suspend operations after a fire broke out at the facility, sources told Reuters on Thursday. The Lukoil-operated plant, one of Russia’s largest, reportedly suffered damage to key processing units in the strike earlier reported by the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

The attack is part of Ukraine’s ongoing campaign to disrupt Russia’s oil refining capacity - a strategy aimed at undermining the Kremlin’s ability to fuel its military and generate export revenue. Since late 2023, Kyiv has intensified long-range drone operations deep inside Russian territory, targeting refineries, depots, and fuel pipelines that sustain Moscow’s war effort.

According to three sources cited by Reuters, the Volgograd refinery halted work after its CDU-5 primary processing unit and hydrocracker were damaged. The CDU-5, with a daily capacity of 66,700 barrels, represents around a fifth of the refinery’s output.

The refinery processed 13.7 million metric tons of crude in 2024, about 5% of Russia’s total refining capacity.

Russian officials said Ukraine launched at least 75 drones overnight on Thursday, triggering explosions and fires in several regions.

The Volgograd refinery attack follows a series of high-impact strikes that have temporarily shut down or disrupted operations at major facilities across Russia. 

The Ukrainian Army's General Staff confirmed the attack on the Volgograd refinery

The military said that explosions and fire were reported at the facility, processing 15.7 million tons of oil annually, or about 5.6%.
Exilenova+ pic.twitter.com/IcYdF8XOyJ

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) November 6, 2025

Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) said the anti-Kremlin partisan movement Freedom of Russia has carried out a series of sabotage attacks on Russian railway infrastructure, destroying dozens of locomotives used to transport military supplies to the front.

"Freedom of Russia Legion" claims responsibility for sabotage

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, partisan movements have emerged both in occupied Ukrainian territories and within Russia itself, targeting military infrastructure and supply routes. Among them, the Freedom of Russia Legion - a group of anti-Kremlin fighters composed of Russian citizens opposing Vladimir Putin’s regime - has become one of the most visible. 

According to a statement published by HUR on Thursday, the Freedom of Russia movement conducted coordinated operations targeting the logistics network of the Russian army. Using improvised incendiary devices, the partisans reportedly set fire to control and power systems of multiple locomotives across Russian territory.

Attacks aim to disrupt critical military supply lines to the front

“These locomotives were used by the occupiers to deliver weapons, ammunition, and equipment for the war against Ukraine,” HUR said. The agency added that the attacks “significantly slowed the movement of enemy resources and disrupted the stability of supply lines to Russian units at the front.”

In a separate statement on Tuesday, Freedom of Russia said its “resistance had delivered a series of powerful blows to Putin’s army logistics,” claiming that the operation destroyed “dozens of locomotives transporting weapons, ammunition, and equipment to the front.” The group said the damaged systems “burned out completely, making the trains impossible to repair.”

A closer look at the Ukrainian-coordinated anti-Kremlin movement

HUR described Freedom of Russia as one of the most active and effective resistance movements operating inside Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Operating in coordination with Ukraine’s defense intelligence, the group has claimed responsibility for numerous acts of sabotage since the start of the full-scale war, including cross-border raids, railway disruptions, and attacks on military facilities aimed at undermining Moscow’s war effort from within.

Follow Euromaidan Press on Google News! YOUR SUPPORT = OUR VOICE

Polish prosecutors have charged a Russian couple, Igor and Irina Rogov, with spying for Moscow after they were granted asylum in Poland as political refugees.

The case comes amid longstanding warnings from Polish security services about the risk of Russian agents entering the country under the guise of political refugees.

According to Wirtualna Polska, the pair are accused of passing information to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) that could have harmed Polish state interests. 

After more than a year of investigation by Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW), the couple will face trial on 8 December. If convicted, they face between eight years and life in prison.

Igor Rogov, a 29-year-old IT student from Saratov, arrived in Poland in 2022 under a government program for Russian dissidents after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He received a state stipend, housing and social support, and portrayed himself as an anti-Putin activist. 

Investigators say he later confessed to maintaining contact with an FSB officer and transmitting encrypted reports about Polish officials, university staff and NGOs supporting Russian exiles.

His wife, Irina, initially defended him publicly but later told acquaintances that he had long cooperated with Russian intelligence, prompting ABW to confront the couple’s conflicting statements. She also allegedly delivered a parcel containing a USB drive with encrypted data to Russia on her husband’s behalf.

The investigation also linked Igor to a separate incident in 2024, when a courier parcel addressed to him was found to contain bomb components. Prosecutors accuse him of endangering public safety, though he claims he was unaware of the package’s contents.

Poland at the center of Moscow’s growing spy war in Europe

The case reflects a broader pattern of Russian intelligence operations across Europe. Poland has become a major target, with authorities busting multiple spy rings since 2022, including a six-person network that planted hidden cameras on railway routes near the Rzeszów airport - the main logistics gateway for Western weapons to Ukraine. 

Russia has escalated espionage and sabotage operations beyond Ukraine's borders, recruiting agents through various methods including Telegram channels promising "quick earnings," and even targeting teenagers. 

These operations span from arson attacks on military facilities to surveillance of critical infrastructure, with Russian intelligence increasingly using local proxies and refugees as cover. 

Polish security services have repeatedly warned about infiltration risks, even as the country continues supporting Russian dissidents fleeing Putin's regime.

Germany will increase its aid to Ukraine by an additional €3 billion next year, the German Finance Ministry confirmed Tuesday, Reuters reported, reinforcing Berlin’s role as Europe’s largest supporter of Kyiv’s defense effort.

The additional funds will raise Germany’s total planned support for Ukraine next year to about €11.5 billion.

The aid will cover artillery, drones, armored vehicles, and the replacement of two Patriot air-defense systems, according to a ministry spokesperson.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz supports the increase, which is expected to be approved in the coming weeks, a government source told Reuters.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Germany has provided roughly €40 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, second only to the United States.

“We will continue our support for as long as necessary to defend against Russia’s war of aggression,” the spokesperson said.

South Korea’s intelligence service has reported that around 5,000 North Korean construction troops have been dispatched to Russia since September, to assist with “infrastructure reconstruction,” according to a lawmaker briefed on the findings, AFP reports.

The deployment marks a deepening of military and economic ties between Moscow and Pyongyang, which have strengthened since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. North Korea has already supplied Russia with artillery shells, missiles, and other munitions in defiance of UN sanctions, helping sustain the Kremlin’s war effort.

According to lawmaker Lee Seong-Kweun, the troops have been moving to Russia in phases and are expected to be deployed on reconstruction projects. He said the intelligence service had detected “continued signs of training and personnel selection” for additional deployments.

South Korea estimates that around 10,000 North Korean personnel are currently deployed near the Russia-Ukraine border. At least 600 North Korean soldiers have died in the war with Ukraine and thousands more have been injured, according to South Korean intelligence.

The report also said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has grown more confident since aligning closely with Moscow and Beijing. Pyongyang has strengthened ties with Russia, and Kim’s foreign minister Choe Son Hui recently met with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss deeper cooperation.

A UN sanctions monitoring group recently reported that North Korea plans to send 40,000 labourers to Russia, including IT workers, despite a ban on overseas work under international sanctions.

Belgium’s armed forces have been ordered to shoot down unidentified drones flying over military installations after a series of incursions above sensitive sites, Belgian Chief of Defense Frederik Vansina said on Monday, as reported by Belgian media.

There is growing concern across Europe over unidentified drones near sensitive military sites, a phenomenon that has triggered security alerts from Scandinavia to Central Europe in recent months. While Belgium has now authorized direct engagement, most NATO countries have so far avoided shoot-down orders, citing the risks of misidentification, civilian harm, and escalation or diplomatic fallout.

The order follows three consecutive nights of drone sightings in Belgium, including four seen Sunday above the Kleine-Brogel air base near Peer, a NATO-linked facility. That same evening, police received reports of about a dozen drones over the Mechelen-Zuid industrial zone.

Vansina confirmed that the Belgian army’s anti-drone program is being accelerated and that a new protection plan will soon be presented to the Council of Ministers. Belgium currently has limited capacity to counter unmanned aerial vehicles, relying mainly on detection tools, jammers, and portable drone guns.

“If more drones appear above army bases, the order has been given to shoot them down,” Vansina said during a naval ceremony in Zeebrugge. 

He stressed, however, that any interception must be carried out “without causing collateral damage,” a challenge given the drones’ small size and the fact that they often fly at night.

The Kleine-Brogel air base has issued safety instructions for nearby residents, urging them to report suspicious aerial activity to police and, if possible, to capture photos or video.

Local and federal police have attempted to track the drones from the ground and air, including by helicopter, but so far have been unable to locate their operators.

The repeated incursions have heightened concern across Belgium, which, like other NATO members, has seen a rise in unidentified drone activity near critical and military infrastructure in recent months.

Ukraine plans to begin mass production of its new Flamingo and Ruta missiles by the end of this year, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on 3 November, as reported by Ukrainian media, saying the country is making “very good” progress in developing its own long-range strike capabilities.

In recent months, Kyiv has accelerated domestic weapons production to strengthen its defenses and reduce dependence on foreign supplies amid ongoing Russian attacks. Ukraine’s push to build homegrown missiles marks a major step toward achieving self-sufficiency in long-range precision warfare, a domain once dominated by imported systems.

Speaking at a press briefing, Zelenskyy said the new weapons are already being used by Ukraine’s Defense Forces, but declined to specify numbers. “We expect mass production by the end of this year,” he said

He added that Ukraine’s Neptune anti-ship missile is already in serial production, with an extended-range cruise missile version - the “long Neptune” - also in service.

The Flamingo is a long-range Ukrainian cruise missile designed for deep-strike missions. Ukrainian officials say it delivers heavy strike power and long reach, giving Kyiv a strategic-capability previously dependent on foreign supplies.

The Ruta is a shorter-range jet-powered cruise missile or high-end loitering drone developed with technology from the Netherlands-based start-up Destinus. It is intended for tactical precision strikes and greater operational flexibility.

Zelenskyy said the deployment of these systems shows that Ukraine is “doing very well” in domestic missile production despite wartime constraints. “Every new missile we build strengthens our independence,” he noted.

The move underscores Ukraine’s determination to expand its domestic defense industry while maintaining pressure on Russian military targets far behind the front lines.