Ukraine-Russia war - live: Putin’s troops forced to regroup as they suffer heavy losses in east, says Kyiv

Vladimir Putin’s troops have been forced to regroup while suffering over 400 casualties a day in a drive to capture the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, Donetsk, Kyiv claimed.

“The enemy is trying to move forward and then we beat them back,” Oleksandr Shtupun, a spokesperson for Ukraine‘s southern groups of forces, said.

“So by no means can you speak of a fixed situation of some sort. Heavy fighting is continuing, though activity has subsided somewhat. The enemy is going through some kind of regrouping.”

Mr Shtupun said Russian forces had suffered over 400 casualties a day in its campaign which has relied on small assault groups of 30 to 40 men.

Meanwhile, North Korea has shipped over 1,000 containers of military equipment to Russia, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

It said Pyongyang was set to become one of Russia’s most significant foreign arms suppliers alongside Iran and Belarus.

On Wednesday, Vladimir Putin tested Russia’s ability to launch a massive retaliatory nuclear strike as he pulled the country out of an international test ban treaty.

Key Points

• North Korea on course to be ‘significant supplier’ of arms to Russia

• Russia tests its ability to deliver massive retaliatory nuclear strike

• Russian drone strike in Khmelnitskyi region was likely targeting nuclear power station

• Putin pushes more soldiers to frontline despite failing offensive

US says executing own soldiers is ‘barbaric'

04:00 , Sam Rkaina

The White House on Thursday said Russia is executing soldiers who have failed to follow orders and threatening entire units with death if they retreat from Ukrainian artillery fire.

It’s a development that U.S. national security officials believe reflects Russia’s morale problems 20 months into its grinding invasion of Ukraine, said White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

“It’s reprehensible to think about that you would execute your own soldiers because they didn’t want to follow orders and now threatening to execute entire units, it’s barbaric,” Kirby told reporters. “But I think it’s a symptom of how poorly Russia’s military leaders know they’re doing and how bad they have handled this from a military perspective.”

The White House has downgraded and released intelligence findings about Russian action over the course of the war. In the past, the administration has said it has acted to disclose the intelligence to highlight plans for Russian misinformation and other activity so allies remain clear-eyed about Moscow’s intent and Russia thinks twice before carrying out an operation.

This latest unveiling of intelligence about Russia’s struggles comes as President Joe Biden is pressing the Republican-controlled House to go along with providing more funding for Ukraine as Kyiv tries to repel Russia in a war that has no end in sight.

Israel-Hamas conflict won’t affect UK’s support for Ukraine, Sunak says

11:27 , Alexander Butler

Rishi Sunak has spoken to Volodymyr Zelensky, to reassure him the UK’s support for Ukraine will not change despite the Israel-Hamas war.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said the Prime Minister spoke to the Ukrainian President this morning “to reiterate the UK’s support for Ukraine.

“The Prime Minister underscored the UK’s long term and unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and reiterated that the conflict in the Middle East would not change that.”

Mr Sunak added that “the principle of a rules based order, in which people could live in peace and stability, needed to be protected both in Ukraine and the Middle East”.

Pro-Russian Ukrainian politician is shot and wounded

10:25 , Alexander Butler

Former Ukrainian lawmaker Oleg Tsaryov, a pro-Russian figure who was reported to have been lined up by Moscow to lead a puppet administration in Kyiv after Russia’s invasion, is in intensive care after being shot, a Russian official said.

The official, Vladimir Rogov, did not say where the shooting had taken place. “Oleg’s condition is very serious. He is currently in intensive care,” said Rogov, a senior Russian-installed official in southern Ukraine.

“Oleg was shot,” he added on Telegram, asking Orthodox Christian believers to pray for Tsaryov.

Previously Tsaryov had been a member of the Ukrainian parliament and then speaker of the parliament of “Novorossiya” an entity formed after Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine broke away in 2014 and began fighting Ukrainian forces.

Russian missile injures eight, Kyiv says

10:05 , Alexander Butler

A Russian missile hit a fire department building in the northern region of Kharkiv, injuring at least eight rescuers, Ukraine’s interior minister said.

The attack targeted the town of Izium, the minister, Ihor Klymenko, said in a post on the Telegram messaging app that was accompanied by images of the wrecked building and fire trucks.

“The building itself and 13 pieces of equipment were also damaged,” he added, but did not say what type of missile had been used.

Five of six drones were destroyed in two waves of Shahed drone attacks that Russia launched overnight on the southern regions of Mykolaiv and Kherson, said Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for the southern military command.

Ukraine attempted to attack Kursk nuclear plant with drones, Russia claims

09:24 , Alexander Butler

Russia said it had thwarted a Ukrainian drone attack near a nuclear plant in the country’s south, where two news outlets said an explosion had damaged the facade of a warehouse storing nuclear waste.

Air defences foiled “an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack” when they intercepted a drone near the settlement of Kurchatov in the southern region of Kursk, Russia’s defence ministry said.

Kurchatov is the location of the Kursk nuclear power station, which said in a separate statement that an attempt to attack it with not one but three drones had been thwarted.

It said there were no casualties or damage, and that radiation levels were normal and the plant was operating as usual.

Russia likely to attack Ukrainian energy infrastructure over winter long range munitions

08:39 , Alexander Butler

Russia will “likely use” its airforce’s long range aviation fleet of heavy bombers to strike Ukrainian energy infrastructure over winter, the UK’s Ministry of Defence said.

“The Russian airforce’s long range aviation fleet (LRA) of heavy bombers has not conducted air launched cruise missile strikes into Ukraine for over a month, one of the longest gaps in such strikes since the conflict began.

“Russia will likely use any recently produced inventory LRA munitions to strike Ukrainian energy infrastructure over the winter.

“Russia will highly likely continue to supplement any such campaign with Iranian-designed one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicle attacks,” it said.

EU strategy on Ukraine has failed, Orban says

07:51 , Alexander Butler

The European Union’s Ukraine strategy has “failed” and Ukraine will not win on the front line, Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orban said.

Mr Orban said he saw no reason for Hungary, which shares a border with Ukraine, sending any taxpayers’ money to the EU budget for financial support for Ukraine.

It comes after the new Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico said his country would no longer be providing military aid to Ukraine, but it would continue to send humanitarian assistance.

German prosecutors receive evidence of Russian war crimes

07:20 , Alexander Butler

A non-governmental organisation founded by Amal and George Clooney handed over dossiers of evidence regarding Russia’s alleged war crimes in Ukraine to German federal prosecutors on Thursday.

At least three cases were filed by the Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ) which called on the German prosecutors to investigate Russia’s actions since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

“The organisation submitted detailed dossiers against the perpetrators and is representing 16 survivors and families of victims,” CFJ said in a statement. One of the cases was filed jointly with CFJ’s partner, the Ukrainian NGO Truth Hounds.

German prosecutors receive evidence regarding ‘Russian war crimes in Ukraine’

Moscow succession: What would happen if Putin dies?

06:00 , Sam Rkaina

Thyroid cancer, Parkinson’s disease, leprosy or declining in the aftermath of a stroke - just a few of the many unproven ailments rumoured to have afflicted the Russian leader in recent years.

Just this week, the Kremlin were forced to deny rumours that Vladimir Putin had suffered a cardiac arrest in his bedroom, months after they were forced to deny that he had soiled himself.

Since gripping the reins of power in 1999, Putin has established himself as one of the most infamous politicians in modern history, with a vicelike grip over Russia.

His current term is set to expire next year, yet under sweeping changes to the constitution that were introduced in 2020, he could rule Russia until 2036.

Click here for the full story.

‘If Western weapons to Ukraine stop, Ukraine would have a week to live'

05:00 , Sam Rkaina

Kirby pointed to the information as he renewed a plea for Congress to pass a nearly $106 billion supplemental funding request that Biden unveiled last week. The funding request includes more than $61 billion for Ukraine.

“President Putin is not giving up on his aspirations to take all of Ukraine and as long as Russia continues its brutal assault we have to continue to support the Ukrainian people and their self defence, because his intentions are clear,” Kirby said.

Putin “basically said that if Western weapons to Ukraine stop, Ukraine would have a week to live. So to ensure that we can continue to do that it’s critical that Congress step up and pass the supplemental requests that the president put forward last week.”

Kirby did not provide any details on how many Russian troops have been executed for failing to follow orders or any specific examples of units threatened with execution for retreating from Ukrainian fire.

The Wagner Group military contractor was reported to have had a practice of executing those who fled. The contract soldiers were pulled out of Ukraine after their leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, mounted an armed rebellion in June.

There also have been reports, including from the British Defence Ministry, that the regular Russian military has deployed “barrier troops” that threaten to shoot any deserters.

“They are in such desperate need to make some kind of progress, particularly in the Donbas, the Donetsk areas, that they are literally throwing young men into the fight who haven’t been properly trained, haven’t been properly equipped, and certainly are not being properly led,” Kirby said.

700,000 tons of grain have left Ukraine via new route since August

03:00 , Sam Rkaina

Ukraine launched a “humanitarian corridor” for ships bound for African and Asian markets in August to try to circumvent a de facto blockade in the Black Sea after Russia quit the deal that had guaranteed Kyiv’s seaborne exports during the war.

Later, a senior agricultural official said the route - which runs along Ukraine‘s southwest Black Sea coast, into Romanian territorial waters and onwards to Turkey, would also be used for grain shipments.

About 700,000 tons of grain have left Ukrainian ports via the new route since it began operating in August. Ukraine shipped up to six million tons of grain a month from its Black Sea ports before Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Kubrakov said 23 ships were loading in the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi.

“A total of 51 vessels used the entrance corridor. 33 vessels exported more than 1.3 million tons of Ukrainian agricultural products and other cargo,” he said.

Wheat futures pressured by hopes Ukraine would expand grain exports

02:00 , Sam Rkaina

Wheat futures had been pressured this week by hopes that Ukraine would expand grain exports, as well as rain relief in dry crop belts worldwide.

Barva Invest, which specialises in Ukraine‘s agriculture sector, said a de facto suspension had already been in place for two days at the behest of Kyiv’s military, which had cited a threat from increased Russian air force activity.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that he had ordered Russian warplanes armed with Kinzhal missiles to patrol the Black Sea.

British maritime security company Ambrey said in a report that the Ukrainian Seaport Authority issued a communique late on Wednesday, saying: “There would be no vessel movement along the corridor for entry and exit on 26th of October, 2023.”

The suspension was prompted by Russian Air Force operations in the region, it said.

“On October 25th, Ambrey informed its clients that the Russian Air Force had dropped at least four objects, likely acoustic and/or magnetic sea mines, into the Ukrainian grain corridor transit area near Snake Island, Ukraine,” it said.

Ukraine says its Black Sea grain corridor is working

01:00 , Sam Rkaina

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov denied on Thursday reports by Ukrainian and British firms that the new Black Sea export corridor had been suspended.

“The information regarding the cancellation or unscheduled stoppage of the temporary #Ukrainian_corridor for the movement of civilian vessels from and to the ports of the Big Odesa (region) is false,” Kubrakov said on X, formerly Twitter.

“All available routes established by the Ukrainian Navy are valid and being used by civilian vessels.”

The Kyiv-based Barva Invest consultancy, British security firm Ambrey and a specialised outlet, Ukrainian Ports, reported that Ukraine had suspended use of the corridor due to a possible threat from Russian warplanes and sea mines.

Ukraine has been using the corridor to try to revive its seaborne exports without Russian approval, defying threats from Moscow which quit a U.N.-brokered deal in July that had allowed some food exports to flow despite the war.

“We would like to inform you of a temporary suspension of vessel traffic to and from (the ports). The current ban is in force on Oct. 26, but it is possible that it will be extended,” the consultancy said on the Telegram messaging app.

Chicago wheat futures, a global price benchmark, turned higher on the news to recover from an earlier two-week low. They later traded up about 1%.

Sanctioned Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman loses High Court battle over upkeep of mansion

Thursday 26 October 2023 23:59 , Sam Rkaina

Sanctioned Russian-Israeli billionaire Mikhail Fridman has lost a High Court challenge that would have allowed him extra funds to pay for the upkeep of his mansion.

The Ukrainian-born businessman took legal action after the Treasury’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (Ofsi) denied permission for £30,000 monthly payments to cover the running costs of Athlone House, a multimillion-pound Victorian property in Highgate, north London.

Mr Fridman’s lawyers argued the decisions were unlawful, saying the 168-year-old property that he bought in 2016, and houses a £44 million art collection, faces “risks of neglect”.

Ofsi said it refused spending requests that would enable Mr Fridman to enjoy his pre-sanctions “lifestyle” and that it rejected payments to Athlone House Limited (AHL), a company maintaining the property, because its sole director, Nigina Zairova, is also subject to sanctions.

Click here for the full story.

Ukraine awaits brutal winter with world attention focused on Middle East

Thursday 26 October 2023 23:00 , Sam Rkaina

With the world’s attention fixed on the Middle East, officials in Ukraine say they are facing a new threat: crude Russian drones that appear to be launched with the sole intention of exhausting Ukrainian rockets fired to shoot them down.

According to Ukrainian national television, the small drones carry reflectors to ensure they are detected, sometimes taking pictures to identify the sites of anti-aircraft radars and missile systems. Built from cheap components readily available online, each drone is estimated to cost around $1,500, less than each of the sometimes multiple rockets fired to bring them down.

Russian television pundits have reacted to the unexpected Oct. 7 Hamas assault against Israel with barely concealed glee, predicting conflict in the Middle East will dramatically reduce Western support for Kyiv.

Many Ukrainian commentators offer the same analysis, worrying in particular that outrage at mounting Palestinian casualties in Gaza and at the Hamas attacks will devastate already fragile support for Ukraine among poorer “Global South” nations and divert military aid the Kyiv government badly needs.

Earlier this month, Russia announced its defence spending for 2024 would be almost $110 billion, three times the level before its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and almost 30% of government spending.

Ukraine intends to spend around $40 billion on defence next year, roughly half the government budget and 20% of the country’s entire economic output but it is also counting on tens of billions more in foreign military aid, as long as Western donors are still willing to provide it.

Russia scrambles fighter jet to escort Norwegian patrol plane over Barents Sea

Thursday 26 October 2023 22:00 , Sam Rkaina

Russia sent up a MIG-31 fighter jet on Thursday to escort a Norwegian Poseidon patrol plane over the Barents Sea, state news agency RIA quoted the Russian defence ministry as saying.

There was no violation of the air border by the Norwegian patrol plane, the ministry said.

It was the latest of a series of recent incidents in which Russia sent fighter planes to intercept US, Norwegian or British military aircraft that it says came close to entering Russian airspace.

The incidents come at a time of high tension between Russia and NATO, which is arming Ukraine to defend against Russia’s invasion.

Russia recruits prisoners for Ukraine war as Putin replicates Wagner

Thursday 26 October 2023 21:00 , Sam Rkaina

Russia has taken the wheel from Wagner as the Kremlin has recruited up to 100,000 prisoners to fight in Ukraine.

The practice was a trademark move of the late mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, who filled his group’s ranks with convicted criminals.

The army unit, commonly known as Storm-Z, is reportedly seen as a disposable force in Vladimir Putin’s “special military operation”.

It comes as the Russian prison population has dropped from an estimated 420,000 to around 266,000, according to deputy minister Vsevolod Vukolov, who disclosed the figures earlier this month.

Russian state-controlled media reported that Storm-Z squads exist, that they took part in intense battles and some of their members received medals for bravery, but it has not disclosed how they are formed, or the losses they take.

While the Russian defence ministry has never acknowledged creating Storm-Z units, the first reports of their existence emerged in April when the Institute for the Study of War cited what it said appeared to be a leaked Russian military report on the formation of the squads.

A Russia without Putin? Be careful what you wish for...

Thursday 26 October 2023 20:10 , Mary Dejevsky

As if there were not enough uncertainty in the world at the moment, the week opened with new speculation about the health of Vladimir Putin.

The Russian president, who recently turned 71, was said to have suffered a stroke at his residence outside Moscow and to be in intensive care or, at the very least, under the beady eye of his doctors.

Such rumours, it should be said, come around periodically, and in recent months and years, Putin has been reported as suffering from a whole range of chronic or terminal illnesses, from Parkinson’s disease to various types of cancer. As in this case, reports may be adorned with graphic accounts of the supposed emergency – a fall, spilt food, or convulsions.

Click here for the full view.

US claims Russia is executing soldiers who do not follow orders

Thursday 26 October 2023 19:18 , Sam Rkaina

The United States has information that the Russian military is executing soldiers who do not follow orders related to the war with Ukraine, the White House said on Thursday.

“We have information that the Russian military has been actually executing soldiers who refuse to follow orders,” White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters.

“We also have information that Russian commanders are threatening to execute entire units if they seek to retreat from Ukrainian artillery fire.

Tanaiste Martin says he was not blindsided by Ukrainian refugees plan

Thursday 26 October 2023 18:20 , Sam Rkaina

Government figures have claimed that reports of a row in the Irish cabinet are “exaggerated” but admitted that the country’s system to house Ukrainian refugees needed to change.

The three coalition leaders have said that Ireland’s offering to people fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine would need reassessment as tens of thousands more arrivals are expected next year.

At Cabinet this week, a proposal was discussed that would place a three-month limit on the period the state would be obliged to provide accommodation for Ukrainian refugees.

In response to a question about whether he was blindsided on Tuesday by the proposal, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said that discussions had been held at Cabinet previously and informally between ministers.

“No, in fairness, there’s been ongoing discussion about this, before the Cabinet meeting, and there will be further discussions about this,” Mr Martin said.

“I mean, issues get discussed and teased out at Cabinet, and at Cabinet subcommittee level, and informally between ministers.

“So I think it’s a bit exaggerated to say there was a row.”

US announces additional $150 million for Ukraine

Thursday 26 October 2023 17:49 , Sam Rkaina

The United States on Thursday announced additional security assistance for Ukraine amid the Russian invasion valued at $150 million, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the Pentagon has said.

The latest U.S. assistance includes additional munitions for national advanced surface-to-air missile systems, stinger anti- aircraft missiles, and additional ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, the Pentagon said in a statement.

The assistance also included Javelin anti-armor systems, over two million rounds of small arms ammunition and cold weather gear.

Ukrainian holds ‘productive’ talks with France

Thursday 26 October 2023 16:30 , Alexander Butler

Ukraine has held “productive” talks with France’s armed forces minister, Ukrainian defence minister Rustem Umerov said.

“Held productive talks with Minister of the Armed Forces of France. Discussed the priority need: artillery and air defense systems.

“We must be fully prepared for this winter to protect our people, cities and infrastructure. Grateful to Minister Lecornu for his readiness to support us,” Mr Rumerov said.

Sixteen-year-old boy killed by Russian shelling, Ukraine says

Thursday 26 October 2023 15:42 , Alexander Butler

A 16-year-old boy has been killed in the Russian shelling of Pozhnia, Ukraine, according to the country’s interior minister.

The boy was on the porch of his house at the time of the shelling that damaged several homes, according to minister Ihor Klymenko.

“This is another attack on civilians. And Russia will definitely bear responsibility for it,” Mr Klymenko said on Telegram.

Over 500 Ukrainian children have been killed and 1,139 wounded since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, according to the government’s database.

Russia recruiting Cuban mercenaries, reports suggest

Thursday 26 October 2023 13:54 , Alexander Butler

Russia is “massively” recruiting Cuban mercenaries to fight in its war against Ukraine, according to Kyiv’s special forces.

The Cuban fighters are reported to be fighting around Bakhmut and Kupiansk and are scattered among existing Russian units.

Ukraine’s National Resistance Center, which was set up by the country’s special forces, said a cyber group hacked the emails of a Russian military official and discovered almost 200 Cubans had been recruited.

I’m proud of my relationship with Putin - Hungary’s Orban

Thursday 26 October 2023 13:30 , Matt Mathers

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday that he was "proud" of his contacts with Russian president Vladimir Putin, whom he met in China this month despite European Union efforts to isolate Moscow for waging a war against Ukraine.

Orban spoke on arriving to a summit of the EU’s 27 national leaders in Brussels. He drew criticism for his talks with Putin, which had been organised with great pomp.

"We would like to do everything to have peace. Therefore we keep open all the communication lines to the Russians, otherwise there will be no chance for peace. This is a strategy, we are proud of it," Orban told reporters.

"We are the only ones to speak on behalf and in favour of peace, which would be in the interest of everybody in Europe."

Russia scrambles fighter jet to escort Norwegian patrol plane over Barents Sea - RIA

Thursday 26 October 2023 13:11 , Matt Mathers

Russia sent up a MIG-31 fighter jet on Thursday to escort a Norwegian Poseidon patrol plane over the Barents Sea, state news agency RIA quoted the Russian defence ministry as saying.

There was no violation of the air border by the Norwegian patrol plane, the ministry said.

It was the latest of a series of recent incidents in which Russia sent fighter planes to intercept US, Norwegian or British military aircraft that it says came close to entering Russian airspace.

The incidents come at a time of high tension between Russia and NATO, which is arming Ukraine to defend against Russia’s invasion.

Slovakia halts military aid to Ukraine

Thursday 26 October 2023 11:50 , Alexander Butler

Slovakia’s new populist prime minister Robert Fico has said he is ending military aid to Ukraine.

Mr Fico said he would “no longer supply weapons to Ukraine” but would continue to send humanitarian aid.

“I will support zero military aid to Ukraine … An immediate halt to military operations is the best solution we have for Ukraine. The EU should change from an arms supplier to a peacemaker,” he said.

Russia to build ties with North Korea in all areas, Kremlin says

Thursday 26 October 2023 10:38 , Alexander Butler

Russia will build ties with North Korea in all areas, the Kremlin said.

It comes after the UK Ministry of Defence said North Korea is on course to become one of Russia’s “most significant foreign arms suppliers” alongside Iran and Belarus.

The MoD added it was “almost certain” that recent North Korean munitions shipments had now reached depots in western Russia.

North Korea on course to be ‘significant supplier’ of arms to Russia, MoD says

Thursday 26 October 2023 09:37 , Alexander Butler

North Korea is on course to become one of Russia’s “most significant foreign arms suppliers” alongside Iran and Belarus, the UK Ministry of Defence said.

The MoD added it was “almost certain” that recent North Korean munitions shipments had now reached depots in western Russia.

“If North Korea sustains the recent scale and pace of military-related shipments (more than 1,000 containers over the last several weeks), it will be on course to become one of Russia’s most significant foreign arms suppliers, alongside Iran and Belarus,” it said on X, formerly Twitter.

Hungary says it won’t support EU budget proposal over Ukraine funds

Thursday 26 October 2023 09:00 , Alexander Butler

Hungary cannot support the European Union’s proposed modification of the EU budget, Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s chief of staff has said.

He said that giving funds to Ukraine from the budget for four years was unacceptable. Mr Orban is widely considered one of Vladimir Putin’s only allies in the EU.

On Wednesday, Slovakia’s president on Wednesday appointed a new coalition government led by pro-Russian leader Robert Fico, in a move widely seen to weaken the EU’s unified approach to Russia.

‘Anger’ at supply of North Korean weapons to Putin

Thursday 26 October 2023 07:39 , Alexander Butler

South Korea, Japan and the US have strongly condemned the supply of arms and military equipment by North Korea to Russia, saying they have confirmed “several” deliveries.

“The Republic of Korea, United States, and Japan strongly condemn the provision of military equipment and munitions by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the Russian Federation for use against the government and people of Ukraine,” the statement issued by foreign ministers of the three countries said.

“Such weapons deliveries, several of which we now confirm have been completed, will significantly increase the human toll of Russia’s war of aggression.”

Study finds ‘deepfakes’ from Ukraine undermining trust in conflict footage

Thursday 26 October 2023 07:09 , Maira Butt

Researchers at University College Cork (UCC) have conducted a study which is the first of its kind to find evidence of online conspiracy theories which incorporate deepfakes. ‘Deepfakes’ are artificially manipulated audio-visual material.

The Russia-Ukraine war presented as the first real-life example of deepfakes being used in warfare.

The researchers highlight examples of deepfake videos during this war including the use of video game footage as evidence of the urban myth fighter pilot “The Ghost of Kyiv”, and a deepfake of Russian president Vladimir Putin, showing the Russian president announcing peace with Ukraine.

The study found deepfakes often undermined users’ trust in the footage they were receiving from the conflict to the point where they lost trust in any footage viewed.

As well as the threat coming from the fake content itself, researchers found genuine media contact was being labelled as deepfakes.

(PA)

Russian troop losses at an all-time high according to report

Thursday 26 October 2023 06:09 , Maira Butt

The Kyiv Post has reported that Russian troop losses are at an all-time high according to a new report on Wednesday.

Neither Russia nor Ukraine publishes full information on casualties and deaths following military actions.

The publication reported: “Ragnar Gudmundsson, an Iceland-based analyst tracking losses of personnel and equipment on both sides of the Russo-Ukraine War since the early days of Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion, in a Wednesday situation update reported Russian service personnel dead hit a probable wartime record of more than 1,400 killed in combat in a single day on 20th October, and have averaged 900 men a day killed in combat from 10-20 October, a time window coinciding almost exactly with the launch of major Russian army attacks in the Avdiivka sector.”

US elects House Speaker sceptical of Ukraine support

Thursday 26 October 2023 05:09 , Maira Butt

Mike Johnson, a staunch conservative from Louisiana has been unanimously elected House speaker with broad GOP support on Wednesday. The more conservative but lesser known congressman who has backing from Donald Trump, initially supported Ukraine, sharing his support on X, formerly known as Twitter.

However, in May last year he was one of only 57 members of the House to vote against $40 billion of aid to Ukraine.

He released a statement saying: “‘We should not be sending another $40 billion abroad when our own border is in chaos, American mothers are struggling to find baby formula, gas prices are at record highs, and American families are struggling to make ends meet, without sufficient oversight over where the money will go.”

Since the statement, he has consistently voted against aid to Ukraine.

Russian strike on Kherson Oblast town kills child

Thursday 26 October 2023 04:09 , Maira Butt

Ukrainian Governor Oleksandr Prokudin has reported that a Russian stirke on Kherson Oblast’s town of Beryslav on Wednesday killed a 13 year old boy.

On his Telegram channel he wrote: “In the evening, the occupiers opened fire against a residential building in the city, as a result of the strike, a 13-year-old boy died.”

Governor Prokudin did not provide further details on potential damage caused by the attack or on the weaponry used by Russian forces.

Ukraine’s SSO reports $25 million damage to Russian equipment

Thursday 26 October 2023 03:09 , Maira Butt

The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SSO) report they have inflicted over $25 million damage to Russian equipment in one week. In a message on their Telegram channel, they reported the destruction of heavy equipment including the Zoopark-1 surveillance and fire control radar complex, a prized possession for Russians.

Other equipment included a critical battlefield artillery fire coordination complex that directed Russian artillery and taregetd locations of Ukrainian surface-to-surface and surface-to-air fire.

Kyiv confirms creation of battalion of Russians who want to fight against Putin

Thursday 26 October 2023 02:09 , Maira Butt

A spokesperson from Ukrainian intelligence told Bloomberg that a “Siberian battalion” was being made up of entirely Russian citizens in support of Ukraine.

The group is made up of dozens of Russians and ethnic minorities from Russia who travelled through third countries to join the Ukrainian army.

Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) said Yusov said it was only the beginning and Ukraine would continue to recruit Russian citizens to similar battalions.

Welsh Parliament recognises Holodomor as genocide against Ukrainian people

Thursday 26 October 2023 01:09 , Maira Butt

On Wednesday the Welsh parliament recognised the 1932-1933 famine as a genocide against the Ukrainian people under Stalin and the Soviet government.

The Embassy of Ukraine said on X, formerly known as Twitter: “We are grateful to the Senedd for recognizing the 1932–1933 Holodomor in Ukraine as genocide committed against Ukrainians. It’s a significant milestone in restoring historical justice and raising awareness about the millions of innocent victims”

The University of Minnesota says between 3.5 million and 7 million Ukrainians died during the genocide.

Qatar calls out ‘double standard’ in international community on Ukraine versus Gaza

Thursday 26 October 2023 00:03 , Maira Butt

Speaking in Doha to Sky News, the Foreign Minister of Qatar, Abdulrahman al-Thani, questioned why the cutting off of food and water in Ukraine was seen as a war crime but not in Gaza.

“The children being killed in this war is exceeding the number killed in the other war between Ukraine and Russia, and yet we haven’t seen the same reaction.”

Russia shoots down two Ukraine missiles provided by US

Wednesday 25 October 2023 23:14 , Maira Butt

Russian military have reported they shot down two US-made missiles in a “special military operation. The ATACMS long-range missiles were given to Ukraine by the US with Russia stating it was the first downing of its kind.

Reuters were unable to confirm the incident and there has been no response from Kyiv or Washington. Last week, Ukraine reported success using the missiles inflicting heavy damage on two Russian airfields.

President Vladmir Putin said that the US was making a mistake by entering deeper into their conflict with Ukraine and said that the ATACMS missiles would not change the battlefield situation.

Zelensky: Russian drone strike in Khmelnitskyi region was likely targeting nuclear power station

Wednesday 25 October 2023 22:00 , Maira Butt

A Russian drone strike that hit near a nuclear power station in Khmelnitskyi on Wednesday was likely targeting the station according to Ukraine’s President Zelensky.

In his nightly address, he said the action was evidence stricter sanctions were needed against Russia.

Zelensky said every Russian strike, "especially those daring enough to target nuclear power stations and other critical facilities, serves as an argument that pressure on the terrorist state is insufficient."

Russian missiles produced using imported components from EU countries

Wednesday 25 October 2023 21:05 , Maira Butt

A report by Russian investigative news outlet, The Insider, has revealed that Russian Kh-47M2 Khinzal missiles are being produced using components imported from all across the EU.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion most of Russia’s defence productions has fallen under sanctions. However, company records show that equipment is still being imported via intermediaries in Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, and the U.K.

A single Khinzal missile costs the Russian state $10 million according to the publication.

Taioseach of Ireland denies claims of a Cabinet row over Ukrainian refugees

Wednesday 25 October 2023 20:02 , Maira Butt

Leo Varadakar, the Taioseach of Ireland, has downplayed claims of a Cabinet row over the accomodation of refugees.

The Irish Government is looking at moving from the current open-ended arrangements for Ukrainian refugees amid concerns the state will have no accommodation left for new Ukrainian arrivals next year.

When pressed to confirm the tensions, Varadkar said that “the rows in Government are much exaggerated”, but the wider issue was a “serious one”.

Mr Varadkar said he was very “proud” of Ireland’s efforts to house around 100,000 Ukrainians since the war broke out, with 20,000 international protection applicants arriving from elsewhere in the world during the same period.

Powerful explosions near Ukraine nuclear power plants

Wednesday 25 October 2023 19:06 , Maira Butt

Powerful blasts near the area of Ukraine‘s Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant damaged windows at the site overnight, but did not affect the plant’s operations or its connection to the grid, the UN nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday.

The explosions temporarily cut power to some off-site radiation monitoring stations, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) added.

Officials say twenty people were wounded in the attacks.

Russian Defence Minister discusses test strikes with President Putin on state TV

Wednesday 25 October 2023 18:18 , Maira Butt

Russia has rehearsed the delivery of a retaliatory nuclear strike according to a Kremlin statement on Wednesday.

State TV showed Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and President Putin discussing the test strikes.

“Practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles took place during the training,” the statement said. The statement also said a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile had been fired from a test site in Russia’s far east, that a nuclear-powered submarine had launched a ballistic missile from the Barents Sea, and that Tu-95MS long-range bombers had test-fired air-launched cruise missiles.

The country recently revoked its ratification of a landmark nuclear testing treaty, bringing it in line with the US’s position in what some have called a stand-off with the West during its war with Ukraine.

Russia tests its ability to deliver massive retaliatory nuclear strike

Wednesday 25 October 2023 17:30 , Maira Butt

Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on state TV on Wednesday that the country had tested its ability to deliver a massive retaliatory nuclear strike. The Minister confirmed that the country had begun training for the possible event.

President Zelensky thanks Australia for new military aid package

Wednesday 25 October 2023 16:33 , Maira Butt

Australia’s Ministry of Defence announced a new military aid package on Wednesday. The shipment is worth approximately $20 million AUD and includes de-mining equipment, portable x-ray machines, a 3D metal printer, and counter-drone systems.

President Zelensky said on X, formerly known as Twitter: “I am grateful to @AlboMP for Australia’s new package of military aid. Antidrone weaponry, demining equipment, and other assistance are of utmost importance for our warriors and all of our people. We greatly appreciate Australia’s resolute support in Ukraine’s fight for freedom.”

The Australian Ministry of Defence confirmed this took the country’s overall assistance to Ukraine past $910 million.