Russia counterattacks in Kursk Oblast | Ukraine This Week

3:00 AM

Three Shahed drones cross into Belarus while Lukashenko midair in helicopter.

Three Shahed drones flew into Belarusian airspace on Oct. 3 as Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko was traveling by helicopter over the country, according to the monitoring group Belaruski Hajun.

1:53 AM

Moldova uncovers $15 million Russian-backed plot to influence upcoming elections with bribes and disinformation.

Moldovan authorities have revealed a scheme led by a pro-Russian oligarch aimed at influencing upcoming elections by paying ordinary citizens to vote against closer ties with the West.

11:34 PM

Ukrainian Reuters cameraman injured in Kramatorsk attack regains consciousness after coma, begins speaking.

Reuters camera operator Ivan Lubysh-Kirdey, who was severely injured during a Russian strike on a hotel in Kramatorsk on Aug. 24, has regained consciousness and started speaking, according to his wife, Mariia Semenchenko.

10:06 PM

Ukrainian Legion launches first volunteer recruitment center in Poland.

During the first days of the recruitment center's opening in Lublin, 138 applications for interviews were received through the website and another 58 through consular offices, according to the Defense Ministry.

9:44 PM

Middle East

We asked experts what the Middle East escalation could mean for Ukraine

9:39 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine strikes Russian airfield in Voronezh Oblast with drones, SBU source says

9:24 PM

Slovak PM wants to 'restore relations' with Russia after war ends.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said he plans to resume "economic and standard relations" with Russia after the end of Moscow's war against Ukraine, the RTVS broadcaster reported on Oct. 3.

8:42 PM

Ukraine receives over one-third of pledged shells from Czech initiative, ambassador says.

Ukraine has received more than one-third of the expected 500,000 rounds of 155-mm shells to be delivered under the Czech initiative by the end of the year, Ukraine's Ambassador to Czechia Vasyl Zvarych said in an interview with CTK news agency published on Oct. 3.

8:36 PM

Opinion

Opinion: Silent victims of sexual violence, Ukraine’s male POWs deserve real support

8:13 PM

Saudi Arabia's planned oil production hike threatens Russia's war economy, Politico reports.

Russia is greatly reliant on oil and gas exports, which have represented almost one-third of the country's total federal revenue in 2023 and 42% in 2022. Fossil fuel profits thus play a key role in funding Russia's expensive war machine in Ukraine.

8:12 PM

Opinion

Opinion: Why Russia's memory policy in occupied territories leaves some Ukrainian monuments standing

7:35 PM

Gazprom becomes Russia's least profitable company in 2023, Forbes reports.

In the meantime, Gazprom's net cash flow from operating activities increased by 5% to $242 billion in 2023.

7:05 PM

Ukraine denies Russian claims about attempted attack on Kursk nuclear plant.

Kursk Oblast Governor Alexei Smirnov claimed that a Ukrainian drone was neutralized by electronic warfare means near Kurchatov. Its fall allegedly caused explosions at an outbuilding not related to the nuclear plant.

6:07 PM

Russia attacking Kursk Oblast settlements with no Ukrainian troops present, Kyiv's military claims.

"The local population doesn't understand why they are being hit (by Russian forces) because the (Ukrainian) military is not even nearby," Vadym Mysnyk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military's Operational Tactical Group Siversk, said.

5:56 PM

Part of Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast to lack water supply for 'indefinite period.'

"Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, Kostiantynivka, and nearby settlements where roughly 260,000 people live will have problems with water supply due to heavy Russian attacks," Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

5:28 PM

War analysis

Russian losses in Ukraine mount in September, 2nd-deadliest month since start of full-scale invasion

5:14 PM

'Lives are more important than buildings' — Zelensky defends Vuhledar withdrawal.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 3 that the decision of the Ukrainian military to withdraw from the front-line town of Vuhledar was "absolutely correct" as it helped save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.

4:46 PM

Russia strikes Chernihiv Oblast, killing 3, injuring 4, including children.

Russian forces attacked the Koriukivka district in Chernihiv Oblast on Oct. 3, hitting a car that was carrying liquefied gas, Governor Viacheslav Chaus said.

4:01 PM

Ukraine receives Patriot air defense system from Romania.

Ukraine received a Patriot air defense system from Bucharest, a Romanian Defense Ministry spokesperson Constantin Spinu confirmed.

2:14 PM

Switzerland to pledge $1.7 billion for reconstruction projects in Ukraine.

Switzerland is planning to allocate 1.5 billion Swiss francs ($1.7 billion) for reconstruction projects in Ukraine over the next four years, Swiss Ambassador to Ukraine and Moldova Felix Baumann said.

2:01 PM

Zelensky calls for jointly intercepting Russian missiles during NATO chief Rutte's visit to Kyiv.

Newly appointed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv on Oct. 3 for a surprise visit, NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said.

12:33 PM

Ukrainian drones strike Russian airfield in Voronezh Oblast, SBU source says.

According to the source, Russian warehouses containing guided aerial bombs, hangars with Su-35 and Su-34 aircraft, and aviation fuel storage facilities were targeted.

11:53 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 2, injure 41 over past day.

Russian attacks against Ukraine killed two people and injured 41 others over the past day, regional authorities said on Oct. 3.

11:01 AM

Ukraine Business Roundup — Ukraine launches e-residency for foreigners

10:51 AM

Ukrainian plans to search for Volyn massacre remains a 'step in the right direction,' Polish foreign ministry says.

The Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance's (UINR) announcement that it plans to search for the remains of victims of the Volyn massacre is a "step in the right direction," the Polish Foreign Ministry said on Oct. 3.