Ukraine-Russia war – live: Top commander’s aide ‘killed in front of son after birthday gift exploded’

Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhnyi has revealed that his assistant and close friend has been killed in an explosion apparently caused by a birthday present.

The country’s interior minister claimed that Major Hennady Chastyakov died in a blast caused by Western grenades gifted to him by a colleague, and that an investigation was under way. His 13-year-old son was also reported to be seriously injured.

It came as Ukraine mourned the loss of 19 soldiers killed in a Russian strike at an awards ceremony in the Zaporizhzhia region last week. Volodymyr Zelensky has ordered an investigation into the “avoidable tragedy”.

Meanwhile, the country’s deputy foreign minister condemned what he said was an attack on Odesa’s National Art Museum. At least five people were injured and the walls of the museum – a Unesco World Heritage site – were damaged when it was attacked by drone, Ukraine officials said.

Earlier, Reuters reported that Russia’s Vladimir Putin has decided to run for president again next year. But the Kremlin has denied the report, saying Mr Putin had not decided on his future and no announcement had been made.

Key Points

• Probe as Ukraine commander’s aide ‘killed by birthday present'

• Investigation into deadly Russian missile strike that killed 19

• 19 killed during Ukrainian military awards ceremony

• Vladimir Putin ‘to run for Russian president again next year’

• Ukraine president invites Donald Trump to Kyiv

• Volodymyr Zelensky denies war has reached stalemate

Wagner mercenaries training in Chechnya, Kadyrov claims

03:44 , Reuters

A large group of Russia’s former Wagner mercenaries has started training with special forces from the southern Russian region of Chechnya, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said on Monday.

Wagner played a prominent role in some of the fiercest fighting of Russia’s war in Ukraine, but its future was thrown into question when its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash in August, two months after leading a brief mutiny against the Russian defence establishment.

Kadyrov said in a message on Telegram that a big group of ex-Wagner fighters was undergoing intensive training with his own Akhmat special forces.

“I am glad that today the ranks of the famous (Akhmat) unit have been joined by fighters who have excellent combat experience and have proven themselves as brave and efficient warriors,” he said.

“I am confident that in the upcoming battles they will fully live up to their reputation.”

He published a video, accompanied by stirring music, showing soldiers in combat training, including some wearing Wagner insignia on their uniforms and masks over their faces. Kadyrov said the drills included shooting, field medicine and training for snipers, machine gunners, sappers and artillerymen.

Zelensky says Ukraine has ‘eliminated’ another Russian warship

02:40 , Andy Gregory

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky says his troops have “eliminated” a Russian warship housed in a shipyard at the Crimean city of Kerch.

“I thank everyone who ensured the successful targeting of the Russian warship at the Kerch shipyard. This is significant – another source of Russian terror against Ukraine has been eliminated,” the Ukrainian president said in his nightly address.

It follows an admission by Russia’s defence ministry that Ukraine had targeted the shipyard with 15 cruise missiles on Saturday, 13 of which were shot down in an attack which damaged a ship.

Western officials ‘quietly talking to Kyiv about outline of peace negotiations'

01:33 , Andy Gregory

US and European officials have been quietly talking to Kyiv about what possible peace negotiations to end the war with Russia might look like, NBC reports, citing one current and one former US official familiar with the discussions.

Some of the talks, which the officials described as delicate, took place last month during a meeting of the the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Brussels, which brought together representatives from more than 50 nations, NBC reported.

Satellite image ‘shows strike on Russian warship'

00:30 , Andy Gregory

Satellite imagery shared by an analsyst at the American Enterprise Institute think-tank appears to show the damage from a Ukrainian strike on a Russian warship in the Crimean port city of Kerch.

Ukraine expected to ‘take major step towards EU membership talks'

Monday 6 November 2023 23:33 , Andy Gregory

The European Union executive is expected to recommend on Wednesday that the bloc opens membership negotiations with Kyiv once it meets outstanding conditions, two EU officials have told Reuters.

The Commission will assess Ukraine across seven reform areas in a report that will inform a key decision in December at a summit of the EU’s national leaders on whether to start formal membership negotiations with Kyiv.

Both EU officials said the recommendations meant formal negotiations with Kyiv – and fellow EU candidate Moldova – could start next year.

The Commission’s report, which will also cover progress towards membership by other EU hopefuls, was still to be finalised before official publication, the sources added.

In Kyiv, a senior government official also said Ukraine expected the European Commission to deliver a “positive” appraisal of its membership bid.

Footage shows Bucha 18 months on from Russian occupation

Monday 6 November 2023 22:39 , Andy Gregory

A Ukrainian journalist has shared footage showing a view of the streets of Bucha some 18 months on from Russia’s withdrawal from the town of Bucha, in the Kyiv region.

The first clip shows houses destroyed, and debris and wreckage littering the streets.

The more recent clip shows a car driving through unmarked roads and passing by perfectly intact buildings:

Ukraine interior minister says investigation under way into fatal explosion

Monday 6 November 2023 22:04 , Andy Gregory

Ukraine’s interior minister has urged people not to spread “unofficial information” about the explosion which killed a Ukrainian Major acting as an assistant to the Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny.

The Ukrainska Pravda outlet cited a security source as saying that Major Hennady Chastyakov’s wife said her husband had been killed in a blast caused by a gift bag with a bottle of alcohol and gift glasses in the form of grenades.

But interior minister Ihor Klymenko later said the gifts were “Western grenades” that he was showing to his son. “The son first took the munition in his hand and began to twist the ring,” Mr Klymenko said. “Then, the serviceman took the grenade from the child and pulled the ring, causing a tragic explosion.”

Mr Klymenko said the colleague who presented the gift had been identified and two more grenades of this type were found in his office as an investigation got under way. He said he had issued the explanation so as not to “spread unofficial information.”

Mr Zaluzhny had earlier expressed condolences to Chastyakov’s family, saying “an unknown explosive device went off in one of his presents”.

Ukraine commander’s aide ‘killed by explosive hidden in grenade-shaped birthday present'

Monday 6 November 2023 21:43 , Andy Gregory

Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief has revealed that his assistant, a major in rank, was killed when a booby-trapped birthday present he had been given exploded.

“My assistant and close friend, Major Hennady Chastyakov, was killed in tragic circumstances on his birthday in a family setting,” General Valery Zaluzhnyi wrote on the Telegram messaging app. “An unknown explosive device went off in one of his presents.”

The Ukrainska Pravda outlet said a security source was told by Chastyakov’s wife that the gift was a bottle of liquor in the form of a grenade that he had brought home. It exploded when he opened it, and Chastyakov’s 13-year-old son suffered serious injuries.

The source told Ukrainska Pravda that Chastyakov, 39, was a graduate of a military academy and fully trained in handling grenades.

Last week, Zaluzhni wrote an essay in the Economist magazine saying the war had entered a new phase of attrition that was to Russia’s advantage and calling for more sophisticated technology for Ukraine’s military. President Volodymyr Zelensky had denied any suggestion that the war has entered a stalemate.

Putin going to have to choose between Israel and Iran, analyst says

Monday 6 November 2023 21:02 , Andy Gregory

Vladimir Putin is soon going to have to choose between maintaining Russia’s relationships with either Israel or Iran, with the Russian president needing Tehran’s support “in order to sustain his war in Ukraine”, an analyst has suggested.

Kimberly Kagan, president for the US-based Institute for the Study of War think-tank, told PBS: “The Israeli government has always hoped that Russia would provide some check on Iranian behaviour in Syria. We at ISW have assessed that that check has not been effective.

“Be that as it may, it has been Israeli policy to tolerate Russia’s presence inside of Syria. I don’t think that this myth is going to last very long. I think Putin is going to have to make a choice soon between whether he will maintain his relationship with Iran or whether he will maintain his relationship with Israel.

“Putin needs Iran in order to sustain his war in Ukraine, so Putin is going to end up facing a tough choice.

“I think he’s going to try to delay that choice for as long as he can, but since his war in Ukraine is so important to him and the survival of his regime, he is going to have to optimise his alliance relationship to be able to continue to sustain that war.

“I think the Israelis are going to find that Putin is not a helpful or a friendly actor.”

Ukraine elections ‘not appropriate’ during wartime, says Zelensky

Monday 6 November 2023 20:19 , Andy Gregory

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed it is irresponsible to engage in talk of holding an election in Ukraine in wartime.

Mr Zelensky said it was critical to concentrate on the military challenges facing Ukraine as it tries to expel Russian forces occupying nearly a fifth of its territory.

“We all understand that now, in wartime, when there are many challenges, it is utterly irresponsible to engage in topics related to an election in such a frivolous manner,” he said in his nightly video address.

“We need to recognise that this is a time for defence, a time for battle, upon which the fate of the state and its people depend ... I believe that elections are not appropriate at this time.”

While Ukraine’s martial law enacted after Russia’s invasion prohibits elections, Kyiv has faced calls from some allies to hold a vote – with parliamentary elections having been due for October and a presidential vote in March 2024.

Mr Zelensky was said last week to be mulling the pros and cons of holding elections while war rages, with concerns over how it would be possible to ensure a fair and accurate vote extended safely to all eligible citizens.

ICYMI: Denmark’s PM on why it’s vital the West keeps supporting Ukraine

Monday 6 November 2023 19:43 , Andy Gregory

“I don’t see us returning to the world we knew before the war in Ukraine ends, if at all. This is not a parenthesis in history; it is very much the new reality we all live in now,” says Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen.

We are on board her Challenger plane, returning to Copenhagen from a recent summit in Sweden.

The situation in Israel and Gaza and the threat a regional war would pose to European security was the centre of discussion – but the primary purpose of the summit was how to deal with the fragility of European infrastructure and Russia‘s continuing aggression towards its European neighbours.

Jakob Illeborg has the full exclusive report here:

‘Time to stand up’: Denmark’s PM on why it is vital the West keeps supporting Ukraine

Watch: Russia tests intercontinental ballistic missiles from new submarine

Monday 6 November 2023 19:01 , Andy Gregory

Ukraine ready for ‘constructive dialogue’ on Polish lorry protests

Monday 6 November 2023 18:19 , Andy Gregory

Ukraine is ready for “constructive dialogue” with Poland to resolve the situation of Polish lorry drivers blocking crossings at the Ukraine-Poland border over their loss of business, Kyiv’s deputy prime minister has said.

“Our official position is that blocking the border harms the interests and economies of both countries. It also affects the functioning of the Solidarity Lines which are intended to export Ukrainian agricultural products,” Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Twitter/X.

US official ‘convinced’ of progress on Sweden’s Nato bid after Turkey visit

Monday 6 November 2023 17:49 , Andy Gregory

US secretary of state Antony Blinken has said he is convinced there will be progress on Sweden’s Nato membership bid, after talks with his Turkish counterpart in Ankara.

After delaying for months, president Tayyip Erdogan submitted the bill ratifying Sweden’s Nato membership to Turkey’s parliament on Monday. But it must be approved by the parliament’s foreign affairs committee before a vote by the full general assembly, and then signed into law by Mr Erdogan.

“I’m convinced that we’ll see forward movement on that,” Mr Blinken told reporters while leaving Ankara, after being asked whether Turkey had given any assurances that it will back Sweden’s Nato membership.

Mr Blinken said that the US was very encouraged by the fact that mr Erdogan submitted the ratification protocol to parliament, adding that there was “a shared commitment” by Ankara and Washington to make sure that Sweden joins the alliance, adding: “I would expect that we’ll see that come to fruition.”

The Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs committee chair said last week that they would not expedite ratifying Sweden’s Nato membership, but Mr Erdogan said at the weekend that he would try to facilitate it.

US-backed broadcaster says Russia has taken journalist ‘hostage'

Monday 6 November 2023 17:21 , Andy Gregory

The Washington-funded Radio Free Europe broadcaster fears Russia has taken one of its journalists “hostage” for a potential prisoner swap with the United States, the broadcaster’s acting president has said.

Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist, has been in custody since 18 October, having earlier been briefly detained in June while trying to leave Russia following a visit to her mother. She has pleaded not guilty to the charge of failing to register as a “foreign agent” – which Moscow has designated Radio Free Europe.

Kurmasheva, 47, is the second US journalist to be held in Russia since the start of the Ukraine war.

“My view is when she entered the country last May they saw her as a potential hostage and they wanted to watch and wait and listen and learn,” RFE’s acting president Jeffrey Gedmin told Reuters on Friday.

“And then suddenly, they escalated, they arrested, and they published a very vivid video of her in handcuffs being carted off. They published the photo page of her passport, and they published the address of her mother. It was a quick acceleration, very brazen, very aggressive,” he said.

Polish truckers block roads to Ukraine border in row over loss of businesses

Monday 6 November 2023 16:55 , Andy Gregory

Polish lorry drivers have blocked roads to three border crossings with Ukraine, to protest perceived government inaction over a loss of business to foreign competitors since Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Truckers from Ukraine have been exempt from seeking permits to cross the Polish border since Russia’s invasion, and firms from Russia and Belarus have been setting up Polish entities, hauliers say.

Their demands include reimposing restrictions on the number of Ukraine-registered trucks entering Poland, and a ban on transport companies with capital from outside the European Union, among others.

The truckers have compared their situation to Polish farmers, who won concessions from the government after complaining about a flood of cheap Ukrainian grain imports.

The protesters said they were letting through one truck per hour but exempting some shipments from their blockade, including equipment for Ukraine’s army, humanitarian aide, volatile substances and livestock transports.

“The blocking of the roads to the border crossings between Poland and Ukraine ... is a painful stab in the back of Ukraine, which is suffering Russian aggression,” Ukraine’s ambassador in Warsaw, Vasyl Zvarych, wrote on Twitter/X.

Ukraine expects ‘positive’ EU report on membership bid this week - minister

Monday 6 November 2023 16:30 , Matt Mathers

A senior Ukrainian government minister said on Monday that Kyiv expected the European Union to provide a "positive" appraisal of its progress on the path towards membership in a report this week and that it had carried out all the necessary reforms.

Deputy prime minister Olha Stefanishyna made the comments in an interview with Reuters before the EU commission publishes a report on Wednesday that Kyiv hopes will recommend bloc members decide in December to open formal accession talks with Ukraine.

Ukraine military chiefs criticised for holding awards ceremony

Monday 6 November 2023 15:35 , Matt Mathers

Ukraine military chiefs are coming under fire for their handling of an awards ceremony where a Russian strike killed 19 soldiers.

Serhiy Sternenko, a well known army volunteer, warned there was likely to be more fatalities without “systemic changes”.

“There have already been many similar incidents, unfortunately,” he told the BBC. “Without systemic changes, there will be more such incidents”.

Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister ‘outraged’ at museum strike

Monday 6 November 2023 14:37 , Matt Mathers

Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister has said he is “outraged” at a Russian strike on Odesa’s National Art Museum.

At least five people were injured and the walls of the museum - a UNESCO world heritage site - damaged when it was attacked by done.

“The deliberate destruction of cultural sites is a crime against heritage,” Emine Dzheppar wrote on X. “We demand a strong international response and immediate @UNESCO action.”

Russian economy at risk of ‘overheating'

Monday 6 November 2023 14:00 , Matt Mathers

Russia’s economy is at risk of “overheating” partly due to Vladimir Putin’s splurging on the invasion of Ukraine, Britain’s Ministry of Defence has said.

Inflation rose to 6 per cent in Russia in September 2023, up from 5.3 per cent in August 2023.

The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) responded by increasing interest rates by another 2 percentage points to 15 per cent.

“It is highly likely the CBR will maintain high interest rates through 2024,” the MoD said in its latest war updates.

“This is highly likely to increase borrowing costs for Russian consumers and is likely to also impact the Russian government’s debt servicing costs.”

“Due to increasing demand, partially due to large increases in defence spending, along with continued pressures of a tightening labour market, the Russian economy is likely at risk of overheating.”

Slovak PM Fico: no obstacles to private weapons exports

Monday 6 November 2023 13:31 , Matt Mathers

Slovakia’s new prime minister Robert Fico, who has pledged to halt the country’s military aid for neighbouring Ukraine, said on Monday he had no intention of preventing private defence companies’ exports.

NATO member Slovakia is home to makers of artillery ammunition as well as heavy military vehicles such as howitzers, some of which have been shipped to Ukraine.

Fico ran a campaign ahead of a Sept 30 election, which his party won, criticising western support for Ukraine, sanctions on Russia, and US foreign policies.

Fico reiterated on Monday the country would halt any shipments from army storage to help Ukraine fight Russian aggression, but made clear private business was not to be affected.

"We have communicated very clearly and I want to communicate - we are talking about weapons, about ammunition from Slovak army storage, about state material," Fico said after an inaugural meeting with defence minister Robert Kalinak.

"When some company wants to make weapons and send them somewhere, nobody is going to obstruct that."

ICYMI: Zelensky says Israel-Gaza war is ‘taking away focus’ from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Monday 6 November 2023 13:00 , Matt Mathers

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has admitted that the war in Israel and Gaza is “taking away the focus” from Russia’s full-scale invasion as he denied suggestions that the conflict in eastern Europe had reached a stalemate.

Speaking at a briefing in Kyiv on Saturday alongside European commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Mr Zelensky said Russia wanted the focus on Ukraine to be “weakened” but added that “everything is [still] in our power”.

Zelensky says Israel-Gaza war is ‘taking away focus’ from Ukraine

Ukraine opens criminal investigation into deadly Russian missile strike on award ceremony

Monday 6 November 2023 12:19 , Matt Mathers

Ukraine has opened a criminal investigation into a deadly Russian missile strike that killed multiple Ukrainian soldiers at an award ceremony last week.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday said the strike took place on the soldiers of the 128th Separate Mountain Infantry Brigade in the Zaporizhzhia region, without providing much details about what had happened.

Full report:

Ukraine opens criminal investigation into deadly Russian missile strike

19 killed at 128th Separate Mountain-Assault Brigade of Zakarpattia

Monday 6 November 2023 11:32 , Matt Mathers

Ukraine confirmed that 19 service members were killed by a Russian missile strike in Zaporizhzhia during a military awards ceremony in what president Volodymyr Zelensky lamented was a "tragedy that could have been avoided".

Defence minister Rustem Umerov has ordered an investigation into why the 128th Separate Mountain-Assault Brigade of Zakarpattia participated in the crowded event on Friday honouring troops for Rocket Forces and Artillery Day so close to front lines.

IMF mission starts second review of Ukraine programme

Monday 6 November 2023 11:28 , Matt Mathers

An International Monetary Fund monitoring mission started work on Monday to review an ongoing multibillion dollar programme for Ukraine, as Kyiv seeks over $41 billion in international aid to cover its budget gap next year.

The IMF mission started policy talks with the Ukrainian officials on the $15.6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) loan, the Fund said in a statement. The programme is part of a $115 billion global package to support the economy as Ukraine battles Russia’s invasion.

"We are committed to a constructive analysis of the completed work and fruitful discussion on the next steps. The review will not be easy, but Ukraine’s team has been working smoothly and effectively for over 20 months of the large-scale war," said Ukraine’s central bank governor Andriy Pyshnyi.

"We clearly understand the critical need to maintain IMF’s support not only for further budget needs financing, but for the country’s development and its European future."

Independent launches new WhatsApp channel

Monday 6 November 2023 11:25 , Matt Mathers

The Independent has launched a brand new WhatsApp Channel, bringing you the latest breaking news, Premium news analysis from our award-winning journalists and an evening news briefing with the day’s top headlines.

Sign up and get the latest on the Russia-Ukraine war and more by pressing this invite link.

Zelensky invites Trump to Ukraine

Monday 6 November 2023 10:31 , Matt Mathers

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky called on the US to provide more funding to help his forces counter Russia, and invited former U.S. President Donald Trump to fly in to see the scale of the conflict for himself.

Zelenskiy said American soldiers could eventually be pulled into a greater European conflict with Russia if Washington did not step up support.

"If Russia will kill all of us, they will attack NATO countries and you will send your sons and daughters [to fight]," Zelenskiy said according to a transcript of an interview with NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ airing on Sunday.

Inviting Trump to Ukraine, he said: “[He] an come here, I will need ... 24 minutes to explain to president Trump that he can’t manage this war," Zelensky said in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday.  "He can’t bring peace because of Putin."

Full report: Russian drone attack damages 124-year-old art gallery in Odesa

Monday 6 November 2023 10:30 , Matt Mathers

As we reported earlier, a Russian drone attack on a 124-year-old art gallery in Odessa has injured at least five people.

The drones strikes reportedly also damaged port infrastructure, including warehouses and loading equipment, before Ukraine downed 15 Russian drones over the city, authorities said.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar has the full report:

Russian drone attack damages 124-year-old art gallery in Odesa

Breaking: Putin to run for president again in 2024

Monday 6 November 2023 10:04 , Matt Mathers

Russian president Vladimir Putin will run for president again in 2024, Reuters reports, citing six sources.

But the Kremlin denied the report, saying Putin had not made any decisions about his future.

“The president has not made any statements”, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday. “And the campaign has not been officially announced yet”.

Russia test launches intercontinental ballistic missile from new nuclear submarine

Monday 6 November 2023 09:40 , Matt Mathers

Russia on Sunday claimed it successfully test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile designed to carry nuclear warheads from its nuclear-powered submarine Imperator Alexander III.

The test comes amid soaring tensions between Russia and the West over Vladimir Putin’s 20-month-long invasion of Ukraine.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports:

Russia test launches intercontinental ballistic missile from new nuclear submarine

Ukraine grain exports fall by a third

Monday 6 November 2023 09:17 , Matt Mathers

Ukraine’s grain exports have fallen by a third compared to last year, new data published today shows.

Figures published by the country’s agriculture ministry said grain exports have fallen to 9.8 million metric tons so far in the 2023/24 July-June.

This was down from 14.3 million in the same period last year.

Zelensky sends condolences to ‘fallen heroes’ killed in 128th Mountain Assault Brigade

Monday 6 November 2023 08:19 , Matt Mathers

Volodymyr Zelensky has sent condolences to the loved ones of the “fallen heroes” killed in a Russian strike on Ukraine’s 128th Mountain Assault Brigade.

He described the attack as a “tragedy that could have been avoided” and an investigation has been launched to understand the full circumstances of the event.

“Defense Minister Umerov informed me on all actions taken to determine full details of what happened and who issued which orders,” he wrote on X.

“A criminal investigation into the tragedy has also begun.   Our main goal is to reveal the complete truth about what happened and to avoid such tragedies from happening again.

“Every serviceman in the combat zone, in the area reachable by enemy air reconnaissance and fire, understands how to act in the open air and how to maintain security.”

ICYMI: Zelensky says Israel-Gaza war is ‘taking away focus’ from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Monday 6 November 2023 07:30 , Matt Mathers

President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, with the pair discussing the war and Ukraine’s accession to the bloc.

At a press conference after the meeting, Zelenksy said the war between Hamas and Israel is “taking away the focus” from his country’s battle with Russia.

He denied the war had reached a stalemate heading into the winter and insisted “everything is [still] in our power”.

Tom Watling has more:

Zelensky says Israel-Gaza war is ‘taking away focus’ from Ukraine

Ukraine opens criminal investigation into deadly Russian missile strike

Monday 6 November 2023 07:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Ukraine has opened a criminal investigation into a deadly Russian missile strike that killed multiple Ukrainian soldiers at an award ceremony last week.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday said the strike took place on the soldiers of the 128th Separate Mountain Infantry Brigade in the Zaporizhzhia region, without providing much details about what had happened.

“It is a tragedy that could have been avoided,” Mr Zelensky said in his televised speech.

More here.

Ukraine opens criminal investigation into deadly Russian missile strike

Night attack on Odesa injures 5 - Kyiv Independent

Monday 6 November 2023 07:00 , Tom Watling

Russian forces attacked Odesa on Sunday night, injuring five residents, a local official has said.

Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram that give victims had been hospitalised with shrapnel wounds as a result of the attacks.

Numerous explosions were heard in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa on Sunday evening as Russia launched a wave of attacks in southern Ukraine, Ukrainian media Suspilne reported.

Russia test launches intercontinental ballistic missile from new nuclear submarine

Monday 6 November 2023 06:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Russia on Sunday claimed it successfully test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile designed to carry nuclear warheads from its nuclear-powered submarine Imperator Alexander III.

The test comes amid soaring tensions between Russia and the West over Vladimir Putin’s 20-month-long invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow passed a law last week withdrawing its ratification of the global treaty banning nuclear weapons deal – a move severely criticised by Washington.

“Firing a ballistic missile is the final element of state tests, after which a decision will be made to accept the cruiser into the navy,” the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.

More here.

Russia test launches intercontinental ballistic missile from new nuclear submarine

Russian drone attacks damages 124-year-old art gallery

Monday 6 November 2023 06:25 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Russian drone attacks on Odesa late on Sunday evening left at least five people injured, set trucks with grain on fire and damaged one of the city’s principal art galleries, Ukrainian officials in the Black Sea port said.

“On 6 November, the Odesa National Art Museum turns 124 years old,” Oleh Kiper, governor of the Odesa region, of which the Odesa city is the administrative centre, said on the Telegram messaging app.

“On the eve of 6 November, the Russians ‘congratulated’ our architectural monument with a missile that hit nearby.”

The walls of the building were damaged, some windows and glass were broken, he said.

The Odesa National Art Museum, in one of the oldest palaces of Odesa, housed more than 10,000 pieces of art before the war, including paintings by some of the best-known Russian and Ukrainian artists of the late 19th and early 20th century.

Zelensky says Israel-Gaza war is ‘taking away focus’ from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Monday 6 November 2023 06:00 , Tom Watling

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has admitted that the war in Israel and Gaza is “taking away the focus” from Russia’s full-scale invasion as he denied suggestions that the conflict in eastern Europe had reached a stalemate.

Speaking at a briefing in Kyiv on Saturday alongside European commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Mr Zelensky said Russia wanted the focus on Ukraine to be “weakened” but added that “everything is [still] in our power”.

Mr Zelensky has offered to visit Israel, though he has admitted it is “difficult” because it depends on “what’s happening on the battlefield” in Ukraine, which he said remains “hot”.

Russia has historically supported Hamas, who carried out the 7 October attack on Israeli settlements around the Gaza Strip, but there is no evidence to suggest they were involved in, or aware of, the incursion.

Zelensky says Israel-Gaza war is ‘taking away focus’ from Ukraine

Russia opens a vast national exposition as presidential election approaches

Monday 6 November 2023 05:00 , Tom Watling

With pointed disdain for the West, Russia on Saturday unveiled a sprawling exposition highlighting the nation’s accomplishments, which will run through the months leading to the presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is widely expected to seek a new term.

Putin issued a decree in March to hold the exposition and some observers have seen it as aimed at creating an ideological framework for his reelection. News reports had suggested he might use the opening to announce his candidacy for the March election, but his spokesman later said he would not attend the event.

Putin has led Russia as president or prime minister since 2000, and reelection would extend his term until 2030.

Russia opens a vast national exposition as presidential election approaches

House speaker lays out conditions for Republicans to support Ukraine aid

Monday 6 November 2023 04:00 , Tom Watling

House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Republicans would only support aid to Ukraine if it also came with measure to further secure the US-Mexico border.

The newly elected speaker spoke in his first press conference in his new role and said that a package to support Ukraine would come “in short order” after the House of Representatives first passed an aid package to assist Israel.

“You’ve heard me say that we want to pair border security with Ukraine because I think we’d get bipartisan agreement on those matters,” he told reporters. “We have obligations and we have things that we can and should do around the world, but we have to take care of our own house first. And as long as the border’s wide open, we’re opening ourselves up for a great threat.”

House speaker lays out conditions for Republicans to support Ukraine aid

Zelensky invited Donald Trump to visit Ukraine

Monday 6 November 2023 03:00 , Tom Watling

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky invited former US president Donald Trump to fly in to see the scale of the conflict for himself.

Mr Trump, who is seeking reelection in 2024 and is the leading candidate for his party's presidential nomination, has been sharply critical of US support for Kyiv and has said he could end the war in 24 hours if reelected.

“If he can come here, I will need ... 24 minutes to explain to President Trump that he can't manage this war,” Mr Zelensky said. “He can’t bring peace because of Putin.”

Ukraine plans massive winter drone campaign to ‘devastate’ bogged-down Russian invaders

Monday 6 November 2023 02:00 , Tom Watling

Exclusive: The second winter of the conflict is almost here and Ukraine’s forces are marching into more grinding warfare. But faced with freezing temperatures, Kyiv and its expert drone pilots still hope to bring home a lot to celebrate, a senior general tells Arpan Rai

Ukraine plans massive winter drone campaign to ‘devastate’ bogged-down Russians

Satellite imagery shows destruction to Russian vessel in Crimea

Monday 6 November 2023 01:00 , Tom Watling

Satellite imagery has shown destruction to a Russian military vessel in a port on the eastern coastline of Crimea.

Latest maps on the frontline in Ukraine

Monday 6 November 2023 00:00 , Tom Watling

Below are the latest maps detailing movement on the Ukrainian frontline.

Russia says it test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile from a new nuclear submarine

Sunday 5 November 2023 23:00 , Tom Watling

The Russian military on Sunday reported a successful test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile designed to carry nuclear warheads from a new nuclear submarine.

The report comes as tensions are soaring between Russia and the West over the fighting in Ukraine. Adding to those tensions, President Vladimir Putin last week signed a bill revoking Russia’s ratification of a global nuclear test ban in a move that Moscow said was needed to establish parity with the United States.

Russia says it test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile from a new nuclear submarine

Explosions reported in southern Ukraine

Sunday 5 November 2023 22:11 , Tom Watling

Explosions are heard in Kherson, Sospilny correspondents report.

Ukrainian war veterans with amputated limbs find freedom in the practice of jiu-jitsu

Sunday 5 November 2023 21:40 , Tom Watling

Nervous ahead of their first jiu-jitsu championship, the war veterans gathered in a group to share jokes and help each other tie the belts of their kimonos. Many of them had suffered severe battlefield injuries requiring amputations.

Now they were assembled to perform in the “para jiu jitsu” category at the Ukrainian national competition before hundreds of spectators on amphitheater-style benches in one of Kyiv’s sports complexes.

More than 20,000 people in Ukraine have lost limbs because of injuries since the start of Russia’s brutal war there, many of them soldiers. A handful of them have dealt with their psychological trauma by practicing a form of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

“This gives us freedom. We don’t feel like we’re lacking anything,” said Artem Kuzmich, who started practicing jiu-jitsu classes after losing a leg on the battlefield in 2019.

You can read the full story below.

Ukrainian war veterans with amputated limbs find freedom in the practice of jiu-jitsu

Moldova holds local elections amid Russian meddling allegations

Sunday 5 November 2023 21:10 , Tom Watling

Moldovans elected mayors of villages, towns and cities on Sunday after pro-European President Maia Sandu accused Moscow of meddling in the votes in Ukraine’s western neighbour and a pro-Russian party was barred from the race.

This is the last national vote before presidential elections in November 2024, as the ex-Soviet state tries to advance its bid to join the European Union and leave Russia’s orbit.

Ms Sandu has denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and accused Moscow of plotting to oust her in a coup.

This week, she accused Russia of "buying" voters by funnelling $5 million over two months to “criminal groups” led by fugitive businessman Ilan Shor.

Trump’s shadow looms large over Congress battle that could define Ukraine war

Sunday 5 November 2023 20:30 , Tom Watling

The timing could not be worse. Just as Ukraine is fighting to repel one of the fiercest Russian onslaughts since the war began, so fears emerge that US support to Kyiv could be severely undermined by Republicans loyal to the former president, says Askold Krushelnycky

Trump’s shadow looms large over Congress battle that could define Ukraine war

Huge explosion recorded in southern Ukraine, reports suggest

Sunday 5 November 2023 20:00 , Tom Watling

Footage has purported to show an explosion at a munitions dump outside of the occupied Ukrainian port city of Mariupol.

Ukraine damages Russian cruiser 'Askold' in Crimea

Sunday 5 November 2023 19:30 , Tom Watling

Satellite images have shown that Ukraine’s attacks on Crimea on Saturday damaged the Russian cruise missile carrier “Askold”.

You can see that it’s still afloat, but the upper part of the ship is significantly damaged,” Navy Captain Andrii Ryzhenko told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s investigative program Schemes.

According to RFE/RL, the Askold ship can carry up to eight Kalibr missiles, which Russian forces use to attack infrastructure across Ukraine.

Near Donetsk front line, Ukraine artillery crew face intensifying fire

Sunday 5 November 2023 18:48 , Tom Watling

In Ukraine‘s war-ravaged Donetsk region, soldiers dug in near the front line described how Russian artillery had intensified significantly in recent weeks, but said it remains below peaks seen a year ago as both sides struggle to advance.

With the sound of outgoing and incoming artillery crashing in the distance around him, one of three artillerymen operating a Hiatsynt howitzer, 22-year-old Vitaliy, said he had felt the increase after coming back from leave last month.

“Probably about a month ago, that’s when you started feeling it everywhere,” Vitaliy said.

Zelensky says Israel-Gaza war is ‘taking away focus’ from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Sunday 5 November 2023 18:15 , Tom Watling

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has admitted that the war in Israel and Gaza is “taking away the focus” from Russia’s full-scale invasion as he denied suggestions that the conflict in eastern Europe had reached a stalemate.

Speaking at a briefing in Kyiv on Saturday alongside European commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Mr Zelensky said Russia wanted the focus on Ukraine to be “weakened” but added that “everything is [still] in our power”.

Mr Zelensky has offered to visit Israel, though he has admitted that it is “difficult” because it depends on “what’s happening on the battlefield” in Ukraine, which he said remains “hot”.

You can read the full report below.

Zelensky says Israel-Gaza war is ‘taking away focus’ from Ukraine

Russia tests fires ballistic missile from new nuclear submarine

Sunday 5 November 2023 17:43 , Tom Watling

The Russian military has reported a successful test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile designed to carry nuclear warheads from a new nuclear submarine.

The report comes with tensions soaring between Russia and the West over the fighting in Ukraine. Adding to those tensions, President Vladimir Putin last week signed a bill revoking Russia’s ratification of a global nuclear test ban in a move that Moscow said was needed to establish parity with the US.

The Defence Ministry said in a statement that the Imperator Alexander III strategic missile cruiser fired the Bulava missile from an underwater position in Russia’s northern White Sea, and hit a target in the far-eastern region of Kamchatka.

It was not immediately clear from the statement when the launch was carried out.

The Imperator Alexander III is one of the new Borei-class nuclear submarines which carry 16 Bulava missiles each and are intended to serve as the core naval component of the nation’s nuclear forces in the coming decades.

According to the Defence Ministry, launching a ballistic missile is the final test for the vessel, after which a decision should be made on its induction into the fleet.

The Russian navy has three Borei-class submarines in service, one more is finishing tests and three others are under construction, the ministry said.

British citizens trapped in Gaza ‘face leaving without family members’

Sunday 5 November 2023 17:03 , Matt Mathers

British citizens trapped in Gaza are facing the “excruciating” prospect of leaving without their family members after the Foreign Office left those without UK passports off the safe passage list, a group representing them has said.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has begun putting names of British citizens on to the list of those allowed to leave Gaza via the Rafah crossing to Egypt.

Full report:

British citizens trapped in Gaza ‘face leaving without family members’

Russia prioritising safety of equipment over soldiers with ‘cannon fodder assaults' - Ukraine

Sunday 5 November 2023 16:20 , Matt Mathers

Russian forces in the Tavria area are prioritising the safety of military equipment over soldiers by using “cannon fodder assaults”, a Ukrainian colonel has said.

“Over the past day, the enemy launched eight airstrikes and 26 artillery barrages in the Tavria direction, Oleksandr Shtupun, told local media.

“There were also 42 combat clashes, most of which occurred near Marinka. It is worth noting that the enemy pursues the tactics of ‘cannon fodder assaults’ and keeps its equipment safe.

“Around 120,000 Russian forces have been killed, and 180,000 injured, in the war so far, according to US estimates.”

Zelensky pushes US for more aid, invites Trump to Ukraine

Sunday 5 November 2023 15:39 , Matt Mathers

Volodymyr Zelensky called on the US  to provide more funding to help his forces counter Russia, and invited former president Donald Trump to fly in to see the scale of the conflict for himself.

Zelensky said American soldiers could eventually be pulled into a greater European conflict with Russia if Washington did not step up support.

"If Russia will kill all of us, they will attack NATO countries and you will send your sons and daughters [to fight]," Zelensky said according to a transcript of an interview with NBC’s ‘Meet the Press‘ airing on Sunday.

Russia cruise missile carrier ‘Askold’ damaged in strikes but still afloat

Sunday 5 November 2023 14:34 , Matt Mathers

Ukraine attacks in Russian-occupied Crimea damaged the Russian cruise missile carrier Askold, Ukraine has said.

Navy captain Andrii Ryzhenko told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s investigative program Schemes that the ship was still afloat but damaged.

“You can see that it’s still afloat, but the upper part of the ship is significantly damaged,” he said.

Russia reports successful test fire of intercontinental ballistic missile

Sunday 5 November 2023 12:41 , Matt Mathers

The Russian military has reported a successful test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile designed to carry nuclear warheads from a new nuclear submarine.

Sunday’s report came as tensions soar between Russia and the West over the fighting in Ukraine.

Adding to those tensions, President Vladimir Putin last week signed a Bill revoking Russia’s ratification of a global nuclear test ban in a move that Moscow said is needed to establish parity with the United States.

The Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement that the Imperator Alexander III strategic missile cruiser fired the Bulava missile from an underwater position in Russia’s northern White Sea, and hit a target in the far-eastern region of Kamchatka.

It was not immediately clear from the statement when the test launch occurred.

200 Russian armoured vehicles wiped out in Donbas town

Sunday 5 November 2023 12:00 , Matt Mathers

About 200 Russian armoured vehicles have been wiped out by Ukraine during battles in a Donbas town, Britain’s Ministry of Defence has said.

The MoD said the vehicles had been destroyed over the past three weeks in the town of Avdiivka.

This was “likely due to a combination of relative effectiveness of Ukraine’s modern hand-held anti-armour weapons, mines, uncrewed aerial vehicle-dropped munitions, and precision artillery systems.”

Musk-endorsed X war account spreading ‘pro-Russian propaganda’

Sunday 5 November 2023 11:44 , Matt Mathers

An anonymous X/Twitter account that was boosted by Elon Musk was set up by a 24-year-old US military veteran who used it to spread “pro-Russian propaganda”, according to a private Ukrainian intelligence firm.

The @sentdefender account gained hundreds of thousands of followers after being endorsed by Mr Musk on 8 October for its coverage of the Israeli-Hamas war, and puts out dozens of daily posts on the widening Middle East conflict and the war in Ukraine.

Bevan Hurley reports:

Musk-endorsed X war account spreading ‘pro-Russian propaganda’

ICYMI: Ukraine plans massive winter drone campaign to ‘devastate’ bogged-down Russian invaders

Sunday 5 November 2023 11:04 , Matt Mathers

Exclusive: The second winter of the conflict is almost here and Ukraine’s forces are marching into more grinding warfare. But faced with freezing temperatures, Kyiv and its expert drone pilots still hope to bring home a lot to celebrate, a senior general tells Arpan Rai

Read the full report here:

Ukraine plans massive winter drone campaign to ‘devastate’ bogged-down Russians

Russia’s defences suffering from ‘poor enforcement’

Sunday 5 November 2023 09:58 , Matt Mathers

Russia is struggling to maintain basic levels of administration in its defensive positions along the frontline, Britain’s Ministry of Defence has said.

The MoD said “open-source evidence suggests a generally very poor level on enforcement of basic field administration amongst Russian forces.”

It added: “This is likely partially caused by a deficit in motivated junior commanders as well as variable logistical support.”

Ukraine strike damages Russian ship in Crimea - Kremlin

Sunday 5 November 2023 09:21 , Matt Mathers

The Russian military said a Ukrainian missile strike on a shipyard in annexed Crimea damaged a Russian ship.

The Russian Defence Ministry said late on Saturday that Ukrainian forces fired 15 cruise missiles at the Zaliv shipyard in Kerch, a city in the east of the Crimean Peninsula.

Air defences shot down 13 missiles but others hit the shipyard and damaged a vessel, a statement from the ministry said.

The ministry did not give details about the ship or the extent of the damage.

The report could not immediately be independently verified.

Zelensky: ‘Everything is in our power'

Sunday 5 November 2023 08:47 , Matt Mathers

The war between Israel and Hamas is “taking away the focus” from the conflict in Ukraine, president Volodymyr Zelensky warned as he denied the fighting had reached a stalemate.

Mr Zelensky said that Russia wanted focus on the war to be “weakened” but insisted that winning was still within Ukraine’s power amid its counteroffensive in the south.

“Everyone is getting tired and there are different opinions,” Mr Zelensky said in a press conference following talks with EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. “But this is not a stalemate.”

Ukraine orders investigation into Russian attack on assault brigade

Sunday 5 November 2023 08:20 , Matt Mathers

Ukraine’s defence minister ordered on Saturday an investigation into an alleged Russian ballistic missile attack on Ukrainian assault brigade, after reports that more than 20 soldiers were killed during an awards ceremony.

"My condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers from the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade," Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said in a social media statement, adding that he had ordered a "full investigation."

In a separate statement on the Telegram messaging app, Ukraine’s Armed Forces said that Russia attacked the Zaporizhzhia region with the Iskander ballistic missile.

"Servicemen were killed, and local residents were also injured," the military said.

It was not clear how many soldiers died.

Focus from war in Ukraine fading, Zelensky says

Sunday 5 November 2023 07:06 , Maroosha Muzaffar

The Israel-Hamas war is “taking away the focus” from the conflict in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky said yesterday.

Speaking at a briefing in Kyiv with visiting European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Mr Zelensky said: “It’s clear that the war in the Middle East is taking away the focus” from Ukraine.

He added that Russia wanted the world’s attention on Vladimir Putin’s invasion in Ukraine to be “weakened”, but added that “everything is in our powers”.

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni tells pranksters posing as diplomats of ‘fatigue’ on all sides over Ukraine war

Sunday 5 November 2023 07:00 , Tom Watling

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni told Russian pranksters posing as African diplomats that there is “a lot of fatigue” over the war in Ukraine.

In a 13-minute recording released by pranksters “Vova and Lexus”, Ms Meloni claimed that Kyiv’s counteroffensive “didn’t change the destiny of the conflict” and that the time is approaching when Europe will “need a way out”.

The Italian PM believed she was speaking to senior African Union officials in the call on 18 September, a day before the United Nations General Assembly in New York, but her office later admitted that she “had been deceived”.

Italy PM Giorgia Meloni tells pranksters of ‘fatigue’ on all sides over Ukraine war

House speaker lays out conditions for Republicans to support Ukraine aid

Sunday 5 November 2023 06:00 , Tom Watling

Mike Johnson says that Ukraine aid must be coupled with security for the US-Mexico border.

You can read the full report below.

House speaker lays out conditions for Republicans to support Ukraine aid

Trump’s shadow looms large over Congress battle that could define Ukraine war

Sunday 5 November 2023 05:00 , Tom Watling

The timing could not be worse. Just as Ukraine is fighting to repel one of the fiercest Russian onslaughts since the war began, so fears emerge that US support to Kyiv could be severely undermined by Republicans loyal to the former president, says Askold Krushelnycky

Trump’s shadow looms large over Congress battle that could define Ukraine war