Ukraine updates in English

[US7IGN]

Last night there was another ballistic attack on Kyiv and again the change in weather and a sleepless night led to the fact that yesterday I felt very bad and even the maximum dose of medication could not cope with the high blood pressure. Today is better, but I've still been tired and worn out since the morning.

As a result of the russian attack on Kyiv on the night of September 24, the main production and logistics warehouse of the company "TK-Domashniy Tekstil" suffered significant damage. The company produces home textiles, knitted and special clothing, fabrics and fillers, as well as specialized textiles for firefighters, military personnel, State Emergency Service employees, or medical personnel, and was one of the largest Ukrainian manufacturers of textiles. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1481179-u-kievi-raketa-vluchila-u-virobnictvo-ta-logistichnii-sklad-tekstilnoyi-kompaniyi

A maternity hospital, residential buildings, and civilian infrastructure were also damaged during this attack. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cmqlwxdyg110o?xtor=AL-73-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Bukr%5D-%5Bheadline%5D-%5Bukrainian%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D

Some of the ballistic missiles were successfully intercepted, although the building shook from two nearby explosions.

On the morning of September 25, russia once again attacked Kyiv with jet-powered Shahed drones. According to Mayor Vitali Klitschko, a drone struck a high-rise residential building, hitting the 7th through 10th floors. A child was killed, and there are injuries. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cm4gjvvlwx3wo
https://ua.news/ua/war-vs-rf/pislia-nichnoyi-ataki-rf-na-kiyiv-ulamki-drona-vpali-na-bagatopoverkhivku

The data center of the telecom company Datagroup was also damaged. Company employees were unharmed, and client data was preserved. According to city authorities, five people were killed in the attack. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1481396-rosiiskii-udar-poshkodiv-datacentr-odnogo-z-naibilshih-operatoriv-ukrayini-e-zhertvi A friend of mine drove past the site just seconds before it happened and was not hurt. Internet speeds have indeed deteriorated. A number of Ukrainian TV channels have experienced signal issues due to the impact of russian strikes on data centers and provider infrastructure in Kyiv. Internet and hosting disruptions are being reported beyond the capital as well. https://sud.ua/uk/news/ukraine/373280-udary-po-data-tsentrakh-u-kyievi-telekanaly-vtratyly-syhnal-internet-pratsiuie-z-pereboiamy

McDonald's has officially confirmed that a warehouse belonging to one of the company's logistics partners was hit during a russian drone attack on the Kyiv region. https://kyiv.novyny.live/mcdonalds-pidtverdiv-urazhennia-svogo-skladu-na-kiyivshchini-346315.html

The Perm oil refinery, russia's seventh-largest oil processing plant by volume, stopped ​operations following a Ukrainian drone attack, ‌which caused a fire and damaged pipelines, storage and technological units, Reuters reports. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russias-perm-oil-refinery-halted-operations-after-friday-drone-attack-sources-2026-09-25/

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged views on major international and regional issues including the situation in the Middle East, the Ukraine crisis and the Korean Peninsula during talks at the White House on September 24, according to an official statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry following the meeting. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/xw/zyxw/202609/t20260925_12031181.html

It is unclear what lies behind this brief statement, but it is telling that China continues to refer to the war as the "Ukraine crisis."

President of South Korea Lee Jae Myung on Thursday expressed regret that Ukraine disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to South Korea, calling it a breach of a nondisclosure agreement that he said may lead to many problems. "It was appropriate in every aspect not to disclose, considering many problems it may cause when disclosed, and (we) had agreed to do so," Lee said in a post on his X account, a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York that Ukraine recently sent the two North Korean POWs to South Korea. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/20260925/lee-says-ukraine-breached-non-disclosure-agreement-on-2-nk-soldiers

The ethics of transferring citizens from one country to another also raise questions. Following this precedent, Europe could deport Ukrainians to russia.

European Union officials have told Ukraine they need to see progress on new legislation to curb the shadow economy, bolster tax revenue and move closer to EU law before they’ll dispense more funding. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had a tense meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky at the United Nations in New York. “More defence support is coming. And as reforms in the Rada progress, more budget support too,” von der Leyen said in a post on X following the meeting, referring to Ukraine’s parliament. “We have €37 billion still available in this calendar year.” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-22/eu-tells-ukraine-to-bolster-rule-of-law-before-it-gets-more-aid

It seems russia may once again be reaping the benefits of the old adage: "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."

An interesting piece of news somehow went unnoticed. On September 8, 2026, Palantir Technologies announced a major strategic partnership with Nebius Group (the Amsterdam-based AI cloud company previously known as Yandex N.V.). Yandex is a russian search engine equivalent to Google within the russian-language internet (Runet). https://nebius.com/newsroom/palantir-and-nebius-partner-to-deliver-a-complete-sovereign-ai-stack-to-palantir-customers
https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/palantir-nebius-partner-deliver-complete-105900700.html

So, we can consider this a hasty operation by russian special services to not even covertly penetrate the company of an American developer of software and AI systems, which are also used by the US and Ukrainian army.
 
The US Army has awarded a Palantir Technologies subsidiary a $48.1 million contract to develop software for ammunition accounting and management. As Defense News reports, the new system is intended to consolidate nine separate legacy platforms. https://ua.news/en/world/armiia-ssha-uklala-z-palantir-kontrakt-na-48-1-mln-dlia-obliku-boiepripasiv-defense-news

Ukraine is transferring its entire trove of unique battlefield data to the American technology company Palantir free of charge. Currently, all Ukrainian military information-sharing systems are connected to Palantir’s cloud storage. Ukrainian company Fire Point compared the transfer of data to Palantir to the abandonment of nuclear weapons in 1995. https://24tv.ua/peredacha-danih-palantir-fire-point-porivnyali-tse-vidmovoyu_n3149737

President Donald Trump this week again encouraged Volodymyr Zelensky to travel to Moscow to meet with Vladimir Putin, despite repeated past refusals, as the US looks to reignite Ukraine-russia peace talks. Zelensky declined the appeal made in his meeting with the US leader at the United Nations, and people familiar with the Ukrainian president’s position said Trump raising the issue upset him. When asked by reporters when he would visit Moscow, Zelensky replied: “On a missile,” followed by an expletive. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-25/trump-asked-zelenskyy-to-meet-putin-in-moscow-for-peace-talks

The world's highest-paid comedian continues to crack witty jokes. However, many Ukrainians no longer respond to his humor as positively as they did in 2019.

[US7IGN]

While in one country SpaceX’s Starship, the most powerful rocket ever made, launched from Starbase, Texas, earlier, and the ship portion of the launch system reached orbit, in another country, rockets also fly in the sky, but their target is not in orbit, but on the ground.

russia is continuously attacking Kyiv with jet-powered drones. Earlier today, a drone struck the building of the National Academy of Sciences, followed by a strike on the Dobrobut hospital in the city center. The Darnitsa pharmaceutical plant on the Left Bank was also targeted again. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cr89jz57z1j5o

A drone struck a business center in downtown Dnipro, while a logistics company facility was hit elsewhere in the region. In total, at least four people were killed and at least 15 others were injured in the two attacks. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1481619-rosija-vdarila-po-biznes-centru-u-dnipri-ta-logistichnii-kompaniyi-u-sinelnikovomu-e-zhertvi

Yesterday, just like every other day, people in Kyiv are dying and various structures are being destroyed. https://24tv.ua/rosiyani-vdarili-po-rinku-stolichniy-kiyevi_n3150007
https://unn.ua/news/vorozha-ataka-na-kyiv-zabrala-zhyttia-cholovika-na-sto-spalakhnula-pozhezha
https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cm2dwwjgy59ro

In Zhytomyr, a russian drone destroyed the warehouse and production facilities of a major ice cream manufacturing company. https://shtab.info/news/u-zhytomyri-rosijskyj-dron-zrujnuvav-sklad-kompaniyi-rud/

russia launched over 2,730 jet-powered drones in September, of which more than 1,500 were shot down, Zelensky stated. https://vechirniy.kyiv.ua/news/133166/

russian attacks on Ukrainian businesses are increasingly leading to job losses: the Epicenter chain of construction supermarkets laid off 7,000 employees in a month, the large retailer Fozzy Group is reducing office teams, and one of the largest steel mills, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, is suspending operations. https://focus.ua/uk/eksklyuzivy/769262-zvilnennya-v-ukrajini-pislya-udariv-z-boku-rf-shcho-bude-z-rinkom-praci-fokus?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=kurs_com_ua&utm_campaign=you_can_get_more

Ahead of the 2026–2027 winter season, certain categories of citizens are advised to arrange alternative accommodation in advance due to the threat of widespread power outages, stated Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi. According to him, people with limited mobility and residents of upper floors in high-rise buildings would face a difficult situation without electricity; therefore, they should secure a safe place beforehand rather than placing an additional burden on rescue workers who are dealing with the aftermath of enemy attacks. https://censor.net/ua/n4025539

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine plans to cover approximately $7 billion of the Ministry of Defence's additional funding needs through the end of 2026 using domestic sources, specifically defence funding reserves and potential expenditure optimization within the defence agency. The government intends to secure the remainder of the total $27 billion in additional funding through cooperation with international partners. https://borgexpert.com/news/uriad-pokryie-7-mlrd-iz-27-mlrd-dodatkovykh-potreb-minoborony-za-rakhunok-vnutrishnikh-resursiv
https://sud.ua/uk/news/ukraine/373372-ukraini-brakuie-27-mlrd-na-viiskovi-potreby-serhii-koretskyi-nazvav-mozhlyvi-dzherela

Kyiv may need more Western aid, but its claim of a looming $27 billion budget shortfall doesn't add up – and politics might explain why. https://www.euractiv.com/news/is-ukraine-really-running-out-of-money/

The South Korean presidential administration demanded official explanations and an apology from Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of disclosing information regarding the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul and subsequently denying the existence of an agreement to keep the move confidential. The South Korean presidential administration has demanded official explanations and an apology from Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of disclosing information regarding the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul and subsequently denying the existence of a confidentiality agreement concerning the move. Seoul warned that the incident has undermined trust between the two governments and could damage bilateral relations. Such cheap populism not only jeopardizes arms supplies from Korea, but also calls into question Kyiv as a whole as a reliable partner for all other countries.
https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/ck9qrze94ye1o
https://www.dw.com/uk/seul-vimagae-vid-kieva-vibacen-za-rozkritta-informacii-pro-polonenih/a-79454607

On September 26, 2026, the Ilya Oil Refinery and the Azov Optical-Mechanical Plant, which produces parts for the Oreshnik and other missiles, were hit in russia. https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-ato/4168239-genstab-pidtverdiv-urazenna-ilskogo-npz-u-krasnodarskomu-krai.html
https://www.unian.ua/war/ataka-na-azovskiy-optiko-mehanichniy-zavod-pokazali-suputnikovi-znimki-13511784.html

[US7IGN]

For the second night in a row, russia massively attacked Kyiv and the region not only with drones, but also with missiles. Three people died in the capital, and three more, including a child, died in the Kyiv region. Attacks involving jet-powered drones have continued throughout the day. The primary targets of this strike were the energy infrastructure of the capital and the Kyiv region. Emergency power outages have been implemented in Kyiv, according to the operator DTEK. The Ministry of Energy reported "numerous attacks" on the energy infrastructure of Kyiv and the Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Zhytomyr regions. Consequently, emergency power outages were implemented in these regions. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cm62ep411nzpo

The warheads of two intercepted ballistic missiles did not explode and simply fell near houses. https://www.obozrevatel.com/ukr/section-zhizn-stolitsyi/news-u-kyyevi-zneshkodyly-boyovi-chastyny-dvokh-balistychnykh-raket-vaha-kozhnoho-zaryadu-blyzko-piv-tonny-foto-ta-video-29-09-2026.html
https://thepublic.info/news/rosiia-vnoci-atakuvala-kiyiv-raketami-ta-dronami-u-tryox-raionax-stalisia-pozezi

Infrastructure in the Odesa region was hit. https://hromadske.radio/news/2026/09/29/unochi-ta-zranku-odesa-zaznala-rosiyskoho-udaru-po-infrastrukturi-ie-pozhezha-i-postrazhdali

In addition to a shortage of interceptor missiles for Patriot systems and Ukrainian F-16 fighter jets, more than half of the latter are currently out of service due to maintenance delays in Belgium, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing a Western source. According to the source, at current rates of operation and maintenance, Ukraine could exhaust the service life of its remaining available F-16s by the end of 2026. The Ukrainian Air Force declined to comment on this information. https://www.wsj.com/opinion/ukraine-f-16-maintenance-delays-russia-sabena-engineering-85ca626a

The exhaustion of service life (or perhaps even sabotage) is also reducing the size of russia's aircraft fleet. A russian Tu-95 strategic bomber crashed, resulting in the deaths of six pilots and crew members. It is precisely these types of aircraft that are used to launch cruise missiles at Ukraine. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cwp803ymy7jno

russia plans to spend 17.1 trillion roubles ($202.58 billion) on defence in 2027, around 27% more than the ​13.5 trillion roubles originally budgeted and the highest figure since the ‌start of the war in Ukraine in 2022, Reuters reports. Total defence spending will amount to 50 trillion roubles in the next three years. In 2026 the government planned to spend ​12.1 trillion roubles on defence but the actual amount is classified ⁠and will not be disclosed. Some military spending can also be accounted ​for in other parts of the budget. https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-raises-2027-military-spending-by-27-budget-documents-show-2026-09-28/

I barely slept last night, not only because of the explosions, but also because of the monitor that measured my blood pressure every half hour. I finally made it to the hospital and underwent a comprehensive medical check-up. I will have the results in a couple of days.

In the morning, the smog from the fires looked like thick fog, but the sky cleared up by midday. https://vechirniy.kyiv.ua/news/133319/
Municipal electric transport has stopped and water pressure has dropped in some districts of Kyiv. I still have both electricity and water, which I’m very happy about. I even went to the farmers' market today and bought some vegetables and apples. I also bought a large mushroom, which I fried in a cream sauce.

Due to constant shelling, educational institutions switched to remote learning. https://www.slovoidilo.ua/2026/09/29/novyna/suspilstvo/knu-shevchenka-perexodyt-dystanczijne-navchannya-cherez-bezpekovu-sytuacziyu-vidomo

Some schools equipped with shelters continue classes there. The quality of such education leaves much to be desired. I remember suggesting to friends in 2022 that they send their wives and children abroad along with mine, but no one wanted to. Now they envy my children's success, even though it came at the cost of tremendous effort and living apart all these years. Everything comes at a price, but some decisions have strategic consequences, and we have no regrets.

[US7IGN]

russia is constantly attacking the capital with jet drones with short breaks of half an hour to an hour. And in addition to the usual destruction, for the first time they struck a 750 kV power line and a bridge across the Dnipro. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cmx2z27x352xo
It seems that the russians decided not to wait for the cold weather to destroy the power system and cut off the left bank from the right. https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/09/29/putins-new-bombardment-of-kyiv-has-a-terrible-logic

This will mean that the supply of absolutely everything to the left bank and, accordingly, the front may be reduced to pontoon crossings and by air with a corresponding reduction in volumes. It also means the distinction between missiles and drones is becoming increasingly blurred. And although some consider the "yellow" air alert level when the threat is only from drones to be an element of "normalization" of war, in reality the danger is the same. Indeed, banks and government agencies suspend operations regardless of the alert level.

After the elections, putin shows no sign of stopping the war as russia doubles down on Ukraine. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqx2ze420kpyo

I wonder if he will carry out the mobilization that everyone has been talking about for so long?

[US7IGN]

On the evening of October 2, a russian drone again struck the Southern Bridge in Kyiv. This time, it struck the cables that support the bridge. Over the past two days, one of the capital's main bridges has been hit by drone attacks four times. The bridge was closed following earlier strikes, and "yellow-level" air raid alerts have been sounding in Kyiv with brief intervals. Traffic between the capital's left and right banks has been effectively paralyzed throughout the day, as access has been restricted not only on the South Bridge but also on the Paton and Metro bridges. This has resulted in massive traffic jams and long queues at transit stops across Kyiv, forcing people to cross the bridges on foot throughout the day. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cw7vp53r61qlo
https://socportal.info/ua/news/rosiiski-udari-po-mostakh-u-kievi-spoluchennya-mizh-pravim-i-livim-beregom-stolitci-znachno-pogirshilosya/
https://t.me/kyiv_golovne/97568

In reality, the complete destruction of bridges is not strictly necessary, as they are closed off during an attack. Following an attack, bridges remain closed for inspection and damage control, causing a rapid buildup of passenger cars, buses, and trucks on both sides. This creates large, stationary convoys that can themselves become the next target. For a city split in two by a river, the disruption of logistics is a matter of great significance. Also, everything is supplied from Western Ukraine to Eastern Ukraine through these bridges, including fuel and weapons.

In Kyiv, the dline.ua data center was destroyed by a russian strike, becoming at least the third data center to cease operations in recent days. https://www.slovoidilo.ua/2026/10/02/novyna/suspilstvo/rosiyany-zrujnuvaly-shhe-odyn-data-centr-kyyevi

Kharkiv is suffering from, among other things, aerial bombs. The number of people injured in guided aerial bomb strikes today has risen to 36. https://www.slovoidilo.ua/2026/10/02/novyna/suspilstvo/aviaudar-po-xarkovu-kilkist-postrazhdalyx-prodovzhuye-zrostaty

russia is preparing up to 1,000 missiles, drones, and aerial bombs to strike Ukraine's energy infrastructure this winter. Specific plans target Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa. This was reported by The New York Times, citing an intercepted russian document that Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal showed to European partners in Paris. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/02/world/europe/russia-ukraine-winter.html

The European Union has rejected for now Ukraine’s entreaties to speed up loan payouts to cover an unexpected shortfall in military financing for this year, according to Bloomberg. The EU pushed back against some of the Ukrainian figures and said that front-loading loan payments now would only create a new problem for 2027. According to the statement, the €45 billion from the loan earmarked for 2027 would be allocated “swiftly” but not before the start of next year, while work will begin on “identifying additional budgetary and defense needs.” Separately, Zelensky said in a post on X social media platform that Ukraine and its partners will now “coordinate this work and align our actions every month, ensuring continuous coordination.” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-10-01/eu-shuts-door-to-early-loan-payout-for-kyiv-and-demands-reform

Meanwhile, MPs are in no rush to consider the bills linked by the EU to the provision of funding, and the next plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada will not take place until October 12. https://censor.net/ua/n4026175

Ukraine has declined the offer of Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopters from Australia, which had proposed transferring them for free as part of a military aid package, according to Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia. The decision is attributed to the high cost of maintaining the aircraft. https://defence-ua.com/news/ukrajina_vidmovilasja_vid_udarnih_vertolotiv_eurocopter_tiger_z_avstraliji_de_jih_spisujut_na_korist_ah_64e_apache-24370.html

Well, Ukraine presumably has far more important expenses than maintaining helicopters capable of shooting down the drones that are destroying the country's remaining industrial facilities and logistics infrastructure.

russia's persistent campaign of air strikes against Ukrainian metallurgical plants started in August. By now, all of them have been hit, some several times. This is a key sector of the Ukrainian economy, and naturally an attractive target for russia. Before the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, metallurgy and mining accounted for roughly 10% of Ukraine's GDP and a third of its exports. It provided employment for more than half a million people, and every 13th job in Ukraine was linked to the industry one way or another. Because of the recent russian attacks, it has all but ground to a halt and its contribution to Ukraine's GDP now "is probably close to zero", writes BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjkg7k6z9296o

Almost 7 million Ukrainians are outside the labor market, while three out of four Ukrainian companies report a shortage of workers, according to Oleksandr Kravchenko, Ukraine’s Minister of Economy and Environment. https://me.gov.ua/News/Detail/9f25d5f4-862f-419d-ba50-826330c2ea6d

This is hardly surprising, given the exclusion of almost all men aged 18 to 60 from that market.

Meanwhile, media reports that another former comedian, 35-year-old Oleksiy Reva, who since 2022 has made a rapid career in the army and became a major, has been appointed Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine for Digitalization. https://subota.online/kolyshnij-aktor-komik-i-stsenaryst-oleksij-reva-stav-zastupnykom-ministra-oborony-z-tsyfrovizatsii/

[US7IGN]

This morning a russian strike has hit a second major bridge in Kyiv. ussia said its drones had hit the two bridges used to transfer Ukrainian troops and military cargo. Moscow again urged foreign citizens, including diplomats, to leave Kyiv. The russian strikes have severed road, rail and trolleybus links across the wide river. The ongoing drone threat means restrictions on other routes, bringing traffic jams to the city's roads for a second day - though Friday's gridlock has not been repeated to the same level. Many of the city's residents, which number about three million, rely on the metro to travel across the city every day. The fear is this new russian tactic will result in sustained attacks which could effectively cut the city in two. russian drones are unlikely to bring down the bridges, but repeated attacks will force their closure and risk weakening their structure, making them unusable. More powerful weapons could collapse the bridges, some of which are reported to be in poor condition after years carrying heavier traffic than they were designed for. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c83vqxzdg1yko

[US7IGN]

Drone attacks are continuing daily, and today a drone struck the Pivnichnyi Bridge again, leaving a large hole through which the river is visible. The introduction of a "yellow" air raid alert level has done nothing to reduce the danger posed by drones, yet it appears that bridges will now be closed regardless of the alert level. Getting from one bank to the other is becoming increasingly difficult.

The latest attack came as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made a surprise visit to Kyiv in a show of support against Russia's continuing full-scale invasion. russia's military said it would be intensifying strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions. It earlier said it had hit the two bridges used to transfer Ukrainian troops. Merz reaffirmed his country's support for Ukraine, writing on X: "Ukraine is facing decisive weeks. That is why I travelled to Kyiv today with the message: You can rely on us. "Germany's security also depends on the outcome of this war. That is why we are helping out of our own self-interest as well." Zelensky later said that a new aid package worth more than €1.3bn (£1.1bn; $1.5bn) had been agreed with Germany. "These are weapons that will help [us] right now, as well as support for our energy sector ahead of winter," he said.https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/ck1l344l545mo
https://24tv.ua/geopolitics/fridrih-merts-kiyevi-135-milyarda-yevro-dopomogi-ugoda-pro-virobnitstvo_n3154168

Meanwhile, in the central city of Dnipro, six people were injured after a communications facility was struck. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cqz0v44prj25o

[N0TZU]

Reportedly Trump has Kushner and Witkoff working proposed by Putin to remove sanctions on some Lukoil assets and then allow a sale to investors that would also involve the US taking a share (and Trump of family too…?). Apparently the goal for Trump is have more oil on the market to reduce prices from his war on Iran, and obviously Putin badly needs cash.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6127449-trump-russia-ukraine-oil-deal-lukoil/

[US7IGN]

Reportedly Trump has Kushner and Witkoff working proposed by Putin to remove sanctions on some Lukoil assets and then allow a sale to investors that would also involve the US taking a share (and Trump of family too…?). Apparently the goal for Trump is have more oil on the market to reduce prices from his war on Iran, and obviously Putin badly needs cash.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6127449-trump-russia-ukraine-oil-deal-lukoil/

The US has withdrawn all of its bombers from RAF Fairford, the UK military base at the centre of an incident being investigated by counter terror police. A statement from a US department official confirmed on Sunday it had removed its bombers - thought to be about a dozen B-1s - from the base back to their home stations in America.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cmwyve191dlko

[N0TZU]

The US has withdrawn all of its bombers from RAF Fairford, the UK military base at the centre of an incident being investigated by counter terror police. A statement from a US department official confirmed on Sunday it had removed its bombers - thought to be about a dozen B-1s - from the base back to their home stations in America.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cmwyve191dlko

Reports say this is likely because of additional serious threats against RAF Fairford reported, but it could also be related to the negotiations about buying part of Lukoil.

Drones launched from a location nearby could destroy parked aircraft at Fairford just as Ukraine has done in Russia. It could also happen within the United States. There are no effective drone counter measures publicly known to protect military bases on US soil. The only defense at the moment seems to be intelligence discovering the operation and it being disrupted before drones can be launched.

[US7IGN]

It was surprisingly quiet in Kyiv today, but in Kharkiv, three people were killed in an attack by three KABs and a drone, warehouses are on fire, and residential buildings are damaged. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c60qkzv82n9ko

russian forces have begun using upgraded Geran-4 drones this fall, featuring new navigation technology and a warhead designed to target bridges and overhead power lines, according to Ukraine's Defense Intelligence. To more effectively strike bridge structures and the supports of overhead power lines, russian forces have begun using a new KRSN warhead. It is a shaped-charge cutting payload that severs the target with a focused jet. The Chinese Telefly turbojet engine has been replaced with a russian-made localized counterpart produced in Alabuga. https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/russia-modifies-geran-4-drones-to-strike-1791186359.html

Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken about strengthening air defenses over Kyiv and the rest of Ukraine. According to him, more than 12 "Turrets" (an autonomous and remotely controlled system with anti-aircraft machine guns for shooting down drones) have already been installed in the capital to counter russian jet drones. Authorities are also warning Kyiv residents to stay away from windows while these systems are in operation. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c6z0v43dgezko

From time to time, bullets from air defense systems used to hit windows and cars parked on the streets, but now there will be a lot more of them. Consequently, Ukrainians face a real risk of death not only from russian drones and missiles but also from their own air-defense fire. I don't know how people in Kyiv should live and work, given that the yellow alert level means the threat of a drone attack and does not oblige them to hide in shelters, and that being in a shelter is considered absenteeism and grounds for dismissal.

Over the past ten days, the Unmanned Systems Forces have attacked 44 energy facilities in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, according to Robert Brovdi ("Madyar"), commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. https://hromadske.ua/viyna/271990-za-10-dniv-sbs-urazyly-44-enerhovuzly-na-tymchasovo-okupovanykh-terytoriiakh-madiar

This is a dubious achievement, considering that Ukrainians in the occupied territories are already suffering at the hands of the russians, and their own army is making their lives even worse. It is difficult to remain a patriot in such conditions and not listen to russian propaganda.

Recently, MP Oleksiy Honcharenko made a series of high-profile statements calling for the start of negotiations with russia. People's Deputy from the Servant of the People party, Danylo Hetmantsev, also spoke about peace, but with an economic overtone, speaking about the difficult economic outlook for Ukraine. He noted that "the majority of people support negotiations and peace on difficult terms, provided those terms ensure an end to the war once and for all..."

They were joined by Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov, who criticized the so-called "war party" and stated that the desire for peace requires no justification.

Zelensky urged MPs not to sow panic by calling for negotiations. https://tsn.ua/politika/zelenskyy-zorstko-vidpoviv-nardepam-iaki-zaklykaiut-do-perehovoriv-z-rf-3181142.html

russian strikes on Ukraine's railway infrastructure have led to an acute shortage of locomotives needed to transport grain and iron ore. Ukraine has nearly exhausted its train reserves and is negotiating with European partners for the supply of additional rolling stock, the Financial Times reports, citing Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy Taras Vysotsky. https://www.ft.com/content/cc96ac01-7929-4954-97a3-7b30e00ef324?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Ukraine has requested an increase in the volume of agricultural product transit through Europe, but Poland and Romania have stated that they cannot and will not do anything more to assist Ukraine with grain transportation, Politico reports. "The interests of our own farmers remain the priority," said Romanian Agriculture Minister Barna Tánczos. https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-neighbors-shun-kyivs-plea-to-free-trapped-grain/

Meanwhile, between September 28 and October 2, the National Bank of Ukraine sold $1.31269 billion on the foreign exchange market and did not purchase any foreign currency. Over the entire 12-week period of this series, the National Bank sold a total of approximately $14.05 billion. Since the beginning of 2026, the NBU has sold $38.77 billion on the foreign exchange market, while purchasing only $2.3 million. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1482648-nbu-12-i-tizhden-pospil-prodav-ponad-1-mlrd-dolariv-na-valjutnomu-rinku#google_vignette

Some even rejoice at the news that russian lab worker dies of suspected plague as 200 enter medical observation and expect the decline and destruction of russia because of this. https://www.nbcnews.com/world/europe/russia-plague-suspected-lab-worker-dies-200-medical-observation-rcna601559

Drones of the Security Service of Ukraine attacked the Khanskaya military airfield in the Republic of Adygea in russia and hit two combat aircraft - Su-35 and Su-34, as well as an ammunition depot. https://ua.news/ua/war-vs-rf/sbu-vdarila-po-aerodromu-v-adigeyi-ta-urazila-dva-vinishchuvachi

The US has withdrawn all of its bombers from RAF Fairford, the UK military base at the centre of an incident being investigated by counter-terror police. A statement from a Pentagon official confirmed on Sunday it had removed its bombers - thought to be about a dozen B-1s - from the base back to their home stations in America. US media reported a new threat led to the bombers being removed, which follows a major incident on 27 September when police were alerted to three "suspicious vehicles" near the airbase. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cmwyve191dlko

The assumption that the US was scared of terrorists, even as an excuse, looks bad, but the fact of the matter suggests that something has seriously changed in US-UK relations. For the UK, this is a serious challenge given previous provocations and threats from russia.

[US7IGN]

Overnight into October 7, russia launched a massive, combined attack on Ukraine. The strikes were carried out in waves using ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as attack drones.

A total of 24 fatalities have been reported across Kyiv, Pryluky, Kremenchuk, and Oleksandriia.
https://uatv.ua/uk/dvi-lyudyny-zagynuly-postrazhdaly-ponad-30-mistyan-u-kremenchutsi-prodovzhuyut-likvidatsiyu-naslidkiv-rosijskogo-udaru-foto/

The highest death toll is in Pryluky, in the Chernihiv region, where a missile struck a multi-story residential building, effectively destroying it. At least 18 people were killed, including four children, and 55 were injured, including 7 children. Debris clearance operations are still underway.
https://hromadske.ua/viyna/272140-udar-po-prylukakh-kilkist-zahyblykh-zrosla-do-16-postrazdalykh-55
https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cvglw43gj2nro

During a nighttime attack on Kyiv, russian forces destroyed the central warehouse of the "ATL Auto Service" chain, which handled large volumes of oils and batteries. https://www.unian.ua/economics/other/atl-avtoservis-potrapiv-pid-udar-rosiji-z-polic-mozhut-zniknuti-olivi-i-akumulyatori-13521339.html?utm_source=ukrnet_news

The "Omega Telecom" data center in Kyiv is also ceasing operations. https://apostrophe.ua/society/u-kijevi-pripinjaje-robotu-odin-z-data-tsentriv-podrobitsi.html

A missile strike damaged the production and warehouse facilities, equipment, and utility systems of the Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill. Production has been halted, but no employees were injured. It is Ukraine's largest manufacturer of toilet paper, napkins, packaging, and other paper products. https://unn.ua/news/kyivskyi-kartonno-paperovyi-kombinat-pislia-vorozhoi-raketnoi-ataky-zupynyv-vyrobnytstvo

I must say that I have adapted quite well by now; although I still wake up at night due to explosions, I don't feel as bad the next day as I used to.

A man was killed during evening shelling of the capital. In Kyiv, russian attacks have halted electric transport on the Right Bank and shut down the funicular, while water supply disruptions have also occurred. Emergency power outages are in effect across the energy system.
https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c574px9gkdmpo

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that 650 Ukrainian drones attacked the russian capital and the Moscow region between Monday evening and Tuesday morning. At least one person was killed and six were injured, local authorities said, as cited by Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-drones-kill-two-moscow-region-injure-nine-more-governor-says-2026-10-06/

Last night, the russians attacked Ukraine with 137 drones of various types. A bridge in Zaporizhzhia was targeted. https://babel.ua/news/130733-rosiyani-vnochi-atakuvali-ukrajinu-137-dronami-riznih-tipiv-pid-udarom-buv-mist-u-zaporizhzhi

[US7IGN]

The competition over who can destroy more is ongoing, and it looks like russia is winning decisively.

At least 30 people have been killed in a russian glide bomb attack on two civilian buses in the eastern front line city of Kramatorsk, rescue officials say. Kramatorsk and neighbouring Slovyansk are part of a so-called fortress belt that Moscow is trying to seize as part of russian President Vladimir putin's claim to the entire Ukrainian industrial region of Donbas. This is a very bad sign, indicating that the city has effectively become a combat zone. Typically, electricity and other utility infrastructure disappear after this, and the city becomes uninhabitable.

The russians also attacked a large warehouse complex belonging to the major grocery chain ATB in the Kyiv region. https://life.kyiv.ua/news/rosiiany-atakuvaly-sklady-atb-u-buchanskomu-rajoni-shcho-vidomo

Yesterday, the russians struck the Borshchahivka Chemical-Pharmaceutical Plant in Kyiv, one of Ukraine's largest manufacturers of medicinal products. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1483118-rosija-atakuvala-odin-iz-naibilshih-farmacevtichnih-zavodiv-ukrayini

So, today I bought a month's supply of medication.

Moscow's strikes on Ukraine's key infrastructure, particularly on its energy grid, are causing power outages already and are even affecting the water supply. Local water authorities in the capital warned today that pressure was dropping across the city's right bank due to power cuts. Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal reported a strike on a key energy facility supplying electricity to Kyiv. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1483244-shmigal-povidomiv-pro-ataku-na-vazhlivii-energoob039ekt-stolici

Kyiv's metro network, which millions of residents rely on, today briefly halted all its train traffic due to a voltage drop from "external power centres". Trains later started moving again - but at greater intervals, local officials said. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c875pwq134l3o
https://glavred.net/ukraine/v-kieve-ostanovili-dvizhenie-na-vseh-treh-liniyah-metro-pervye-detali-10802612.html

I haven't used the metro in a long time, but I saw that surface-level public electric transport had come to a standstill. It is worth noting that the metro didn't shut down completely even during last year's worst blackouts. But the weather is still warm right no. What will happen when it gets cold?

They say there are fewer people and cars in Kyiv, but I live in a poor neighborhood and don't notice any changes. That’s probably because these people have nowhere else to go.

Overnight into October 8, reports emerged from russia regarding attacks on industrial facilities in the Ryazan region and Bashkortostan. A fire broke out at the "Sasta" machine-tool plant in the city of Sasovo; the facility supplies equipment to the russian military-industrial complex.

Following this, Yandex reported service disruptions on its Yandex Cloud platform. Meanwhile, a suspected fire was recorded in Bashkortostan near the large "Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat" oil refining complex. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1483102-u-rosiyi-atakuvali-zavod-dlja-vpk-z-data-centrom-jandeks-ta-raion-npz

One of russia's key oil refineries, located in Omsk, also came under drone attack. https://focus.ua/uk/voennye-novosti/770537-omskiy-npz-droni-atakuvali-klyuchoviy-zavod-rosiji

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky refuted claims by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding an alleged deadlock in diplomatic negotiations to end the war. Zelensky emphasized that the situation is not one of diplomatic impasse, but rather a lack of genuine willingness among partners to exert strong pressure on russia. https://24tv.ua/grafik-vidklyuchennya-svitla-kiyiv-grupa-za-adresoyu-de-koli_n2579920/amp

[US7IGN]

One person was killed in Ivano-Frankivsk as a result of russian shelling overnight from October 8 to 9. Three people were wounded in attacks in the Kyiv region. Emergency power outages are in effect on the right bank of Kyiv and across the region. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c6je59qgkqvyo

Kyiv Mayor Klitschko advised Kyiv residents who have relatives or friends outside the capital to consider temporarily relocating if possible. He anticipates further problems with energy, water, and sewage services. He noted that even thorough preparation does not guarantee protection if air defenses fail to repel the attack. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20261008-kyiv-entering-survival-mode-amid-russian-strikes-surge-mayor-tells-afp

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the Kyiv city authorities had failed to take the necessary steps regarding resilience plans. https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-regions/4172680-zelenskij-zaaviv-pro-majze-povne-nevikonanna-kievom-planiv-stijkosti.html

So, Ukrainians are to blame for not wanting to fight, local authorities are to blame for failing to protect and restore the energy infrastructure, and Western partners are to blame for not pressuring russia or providing enough money and weapons. It's good that Ukraine is at least lucky enough to have the best president!

The unofficial visit of Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, to Bulgaria sparked sharp political reactions in the Bulgarian parliament. Representatives of several political parties stated that they had received no official information regarding the Ukrainian official's arrival and demanded that the government explain the purpose of his visit. https://ua.news/ua/world/u-parlamenti-bolgariyi-spalakhnuv-skandal-cherez-neofitsiinii-vizit-budanova-do-krayini

South Korea is recalling its ambassador from Ukraine amid a diplomatic dispute over disclosure of N.K. POW transfer, the country's Foreign Ministry said, according to Yonhap News. https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20261008008300315

Counterattacks by the Defense Forces in the Sloviansk and Kramatorsk directions could trigger a "cascading" effect and have serious consequences for russia's attempts to capture the "fortress belt," according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War. https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-8-2026/

In plain language, this means that neither side holds the advantage, while cities continue to be destroyed in the fighting. Given the fate of other cities, nothing but ruins remains after such battles; perhaps, in this case, it would be simpler to negotiate handing them over to russia. The situation in Kyiv is also rapidly deteriorating.

[N0TZU]

Just a terrible situation.

And now it has been made worse:

Incredibly the president of the United States Donald Trump has made a deal with dictator Putin to buy Russian diesel fuel for the express reason of lowering prices here. This is a naked attempt to improve the currently dismal Republican prospects in the upcoming midterm election on November 3.

I cannot adequately describe my feelings about this in civil language.