Governor: 40 explosions reported in Chernihiv Oblast on July 5.

In this report, the Kyiv Independent travels to Odesa and the surrounding region to document how intensified Russian attacks are threatening the city, its ports, and Ukraine’s vital Black Sea trade route.

The sanctions target Artur Orlov, head of Russia's Movement of the First, a state-backed organization for children and young people, as well as five heads of its regional branches in occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts and Crimea.

Ukraine is testing five types of high-speed interceptor drones designed to shoot down the faster Russian weapons, according to Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Kyiv City Military Administration said on Oct. 2 that the Southern Bridge is closed in both directions.

"This is very timely support, which will help ensure Ukraine’s macro-financial stability and strengthen our defense capabilities," said President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukrainian drones previously struck the Samara station in April, causing a large fire and damaging five crude oil tanks, each with a capacity of 20,000 cubic meters, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine told the Kyiv Independent at the time.

By denying a confidentiality agreement on the transfer of North Korean POWs, Kyiv is "making the head of state of another country out to be a liar," South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said.

The bus was already operating on its route and carrying passengers when the attack occurred.

"I would like to thank all the experts - Hungarian and Ukrainian - for their constructive, forward-looking, and insightful work in the past weeks," said Hungary's Foreign Minister Anita Orban.

"Fayard’s service of the LNG fleet is a blemish on Danish support for Ukraine. We will continue to pressure Fayard to stop," said Jens Alstrup, chairman of the NGO Freedom for Ukraine.

Kyiv will provide Washington and Congress with details of companies and individuals supporting the Rassvet network, Ukraine’s acting ambassador to the U.S., Denys Sienik, said, Reuters reported on Sept. 30.

Kyiv has faced repeated Russian attacks in recent days. A large-scale Russian missile and drone attack beginning on Sept. 30 killed four people and injured at least eight, while also damaging residential and energy infrastructure in the capital.

The number includes 1,520 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

Putin repeatedly said in interviews in early March 2022 that conscripts were not being asked to participate in the invasion and would not be sent to fight. Only days later, Russia’s Defense Ministry to acknowledged that some conscripts had been deployed to Ukraine and captured.