Russian attacks against Ukraine kill at least 9, injure 47 over past day
Russia launched at least 50 drones overnight, of which Ukrainian air defenses shot down 17 across various regions, Ukraine's Air Force said on Oct. 31.
The Kyiv Independent news desk
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US lawmakers call for Biden to allow Poland to down Russian missiles over Ukraine
The possibility of Warsaw downing Russian missiles heading toward Poland through Ukraine was laid out in June in a signed Polish-Ukrainian security agreement.
Ukraine charges Russian soldier exposed by Kyiv Independent for rape
The Kyiv Independent in June identified Mykola Senenko as raping a woman in Kherson Oblast in March 2022.
Russian court fines Google $2.5 trillion trillion trillion
Written in full $2.5 decillion is $2,500,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.
Time names Ukraine's online wedding service among best inventions of 2024
For more than two decades, Time editors have annually spotlighted the most influential new products and ideas in their Best Inventions issue.
Ukraine's UN envoy names North Korean generals sent to aid Russia's war
The top officers include two deputy chiefs of North Korean General Staff: Colonel General Kim Yong Bok, who oversees special forces, and Ri Chang Ho, who is in charge of the Reconnaissance Directorate, North Korea's spy agency, Kyslytsya said.
General Staff: Russia has lost 694,950 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,310 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Sanctioned LNG ships gather off Russian coast as buyers withdraw, Bloomberg reports
Tankers bearing sanctioned Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) have clustered off Russia's eastern coast following suspension of operations at the Arctic LNG 2 plant, indicating that Moscow is unable to find buyers for its product amid sanctions.
Ukraine war latest: North Korean soldiers reportedly 50 km from Ukraine's border
Key developments on Oct. 30: * North Korean soldiers 50 km from Ukraine's border, including special forces, FT reports * Ukraine should strike back if North Korean troops cross into its territory, Biden says * No confidentiality between partners — Zelensky calls out White House over Tomahawk missiles leak * Kremlin denies Russia-Ukraine talks on
Georgia's accession to EU has been suspended due to actions of Georgian government
The European Commission singled out the recent legislative amendments to the election process, frequent compromises on vote secrecy, procedural inconsistencies, intimidation, and pressure on voters that negatively impacted public trust in the process.
Next Ramstein meeting to take place in 'coming weeks,' Zelensky says
Prior to Volodymyr Zelensky's announcement, the White House said on Oct. 17 that the next meeting in the Ramstein format would take place in November virtually.
Russian bank offers preferential mortgages in occupied parts of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk oblasts
The Russian banking giant offers interest rates as low as 2%, according to Interfax, and plans to expand its offer to Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts as soon as "housing constructions" start there.
Kremlin denies Russia-Ukraine talks on halting energy strikes
The denial comes a day after the Financial Times reported that Ukraine and Russia are resuming discussions about halting the strikes on each other's energy infrastructure after the talks abruptly ended in August following Ukraine's Kursk incursion.
Slovak PM interviewed by top Russian propagandist
Talking to the propagandist sanctioned by Western countries, the prime minister of a NATO and EU member country discussed several topics, including the Nord Stream pipeline explosions and the supposed Western fatigue over the support of Ukraine.
North Korean soldiers 50 km from Ukraine's border, including special forces, FT reports
A few hundred of those are special forces, with the rest being regular troops, one source said.
Georgian prosecutors open investigation into election fraud allegations
The office summoned President Salome Zourabichvili for Oct. 31 as part of the investigation. The president refused to acknowledge the result, calling it a "Russian special operation" and urged voters to protest.
Death toll of Russia's Kryvyi Rih strike on Oct. 28 rises to 2
"Unfortunately, a 55-year-old man died at 8:50 a.m.," said Oleksandr Vilkul, the head of the city's military administration, on his Telegram channel on Oct. 30.
Russian hackers targeting US officials, Microsoft warns
Russian hacker group Midnight Blizzard has been sending out highly targeted phishing emails to U.S. individuals working in government, academia, defense, and non-governmental organizations, Microsoft warned on Oct. 29 in a blog post.
Ukraine should strike back if North Korean troops cross into its territory, Biden says
In a separate news briefing on Oct. 28, Pentagon spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder said a "relatively small number" of North Korean troops are already in Kursk Oblast.
General Staff: Russia has lost 693,640 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,560 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
US urging China to pressure withdrawal of North Korean troops from Ukraine’s front line, CNN reports.
United States National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has been urging China, which maintains relations with North Korea, to put pressure on Pyongyang to withdraw North Korean troops from Ukraine's front line, CNN reported on Oct. 29, citing a U.S. official.
Ukraine war latest: Russia claims capture of Selydove, Kyiv hasn't confirmed
Key developments on Oct. 29: * Russia claims capture of Selydove, Kyiv hasn't confirmed * Small number of North Korean troops already in Ukraine, CNN reports * Zelensky asked US for Tomahawk missiles in secret clause of victory plan, NYT reports * South Korean delegation to visit Ukraine to share information on North Korean
Small number of North Korean troops already in Ukraine, CNN reports
"It seems that a good many of them are already in action," one of the officials told CNN, referring to the North Koreans.
160,000 people planned to be drafted into Ukrainian forces, National Security and Defense Council head says
Some 160,000 people are planned to be drafted into Ukrainian forces, which will raise the manning of units to 85%, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Lytvynenko said on Oct. 29.
Norway announces $127 million compensation for Romanian Patriot sent to Ukraine
The funds allocated by Norway will be used to buy a new Patriot system for Romania to replace the one it handed over to Ukraine on Oct. 3.
Zelensky asked US for Tomahawk missiles as part of victory plan's secret part, NYT reports
According to the officials, Ukraine did not manage to convince Western diplomats why it needed Tomahawks. The number of Ukraine’s targets in Russia also allegedly far exceeds the stockpiles the U.S. could hand over without jeopardizing its interests in the Middle East and Asia.
Drone strike on Chechnya possibly launched from Dagestan, Ingushetia, source claims
One of the most likely versions explaining the incident links the attack to the deadly shooting in the Moscow office of the Russian online retailer Wildberries in September and a conflict between Kadyrov and lawmakers from the neighboring Caucasus republics, the source said.
Explosions reported in occupied Luhansk, Ukrainian official suggests ammunition depots hit
"Since morning, locals have been sharing the sights of ammunition detonation," Governor Artem Lysohor said, sharing footage recorded by civilians and bystanders on his Telegram channel.
Orban lauds Georgia's ruling party for not allowing country to become 'second Ukraine'
"I would like to congratulate you on the fact that... you have not allowed your country to be turned into a second Ukraine," Viktor Orban said at a press briefing with his Georgian counterpart, Irakli Kobakhidze.
Kyiv, Seoul to strengthen intelligence sharing, Zelensky says after call with South Korean president
During the phone call, the presidents agreed to "strengthen the sharing of intelligence and expertise and to intensify contacts on all levels, including on the highest level, to develop a response strategy and a list of countermeasures," the Ukrainian president said.
Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 8, injure 49 over past day
Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least eight people and injured at least 49 over the past day, including children, regional authorities reported on Oct. 29.
North Korean troops possibly heading to front lines, language barrier causing problems, says South Korea
The assessment comes shortly after NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed on Oct. 28 that North Korea had sent troops to Russia following a meeting with South Korean defense and intelligence officials.
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