"The trend this year continues," Zelensky said, "Since the start of fall, our warriors have liberated more territory than the Russians have managed to capture. The same was true at other points this year."

"The 'warning' about a ballistic threat came through only after the strike had already happened," a senior Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent. "They're up to something again."

Trump appointee Scott Bessent insisted that no sanctions against Russia had been lifted — they had merely been waived.

"His country is in shambles, a large portion of his land is lost, his oceans and seas are gone, and his male population is low, wounded, and/or dead."

"We are very thankful for this... Now it works," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

A flying object, likely a drone, entered Lithuanian airspace and exploded on Oct. 18, sending residents to shelters and damaging a civilian vehicle, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said.

How are Ukraine’s drones disrupting Russian supply lines — and can Ukraine hold on to its advantage? Flying far behind enemy lines, “middle-strike” drones hunt the fuel, ammunition, and reinforcements Russia needs to sustain its assaults. Starlink has helped make this campaign possible, but dependence on Elon Musk’s satellite network leaves Ukraine vulnerable to restrictions on its use. The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell embeds with Ukraine’s 422nd Unmanned Systems Regiment on the southern

According to the president, the U.S. and Ukraine are in "constant communication" and are preparing their "next steps in diplomacy."

This weekly update from the Kyiv Independent aims to shed light on the situation facing Ukrainians living under Russian occupation and the ever-tightening control of information imposed by the Kremlin. Key news as of Oct. 17: * Eleven Ukrainians, including 96-year-old woman, return from Russian-occupied territories, ombudsman says * Russia sends terrorism case against 6 teenagers in occupied Luhansk Oblast to court * Ukrainian troops struck Russian drone sites, ammunition depots in occupied

Key developments on Oct. 17-18 * Massive Ukrainian drone attack hits oil facility, bridge, and data center in St. Petersburg * US resumes intel sharing on Russian missile launches with Ukraine, Zelensky says * Ukraine hits Russian drone manufacturing plant in Rostov Oblast * 'Planned operation' — Zelensky confirms Ukraine's Starlink access not fully restored * Russia launches 'one of its largest attacks' on Ukraine's energy grid Ukrainian forces struck an oil terminal, a data center, and

St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov confirmed the attack, reporting fires at the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal, the Ruchyi oil depot, and industrial warehouses in the Kolpinsky District.

The attackers attempted to set fire to satellite antennas and a control unit, Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius said.

Russian strikes hit 20 locations, while falling debris was reported at four other sites.

"Tens of thousands of families are without power," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

"If it just passes through the country, then obviously there is no obstacle to it," Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said.

The number includes 2,090 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

"I think the President wants to take the 60-day period of time to sort of analyze what imposing both sanctions and tariffs will mean to the global economy and even to the U.S. economy," said Rubio.

The Lutsk facility in northwestern Ukraine, which manufactures wiring systems for BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Skoda vehicles, was attacked by Russian drones on Oct. 16.

The two drones were jet-powered, belonging to the Geran-family of attack drones frequently used by Russia to attack targets in Ukraine, according to Romania's Defense Ministry. The Ministry did not specify which nation the drones belonged to.

Ukraine's State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andrii Demchenko has separately reported that equipment based in Belarus helps relay or amplify signals for Russian Shahed and Geran drones heading toward western Ukraine and Poland's border region.

Among the drones it produces are the Sarych, which uses video and thermal imaging equipment for surveillance, and the Klin, a loitering munition designed to strike targets, according to Ukraine's military intelligence agency.

The Russian soldiers are believed to belong to the 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, which is operating in the area. Kravchuk alleged that orders of this nature within the brigade are issued at the initiative of its commander, Colonel Valery Kazak.

Local residents gathered on Oct. 17 in front of the city council to demand that Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko step down from the post he has occupied for over 12 years. "Kyiv without Klitschko," hundreds of protesters chanted as they took to the streets in central Kyiv, according to Kyiv Independent reporters on the ground. The rally lasted over two hours. Kyiv's failure to prepare for the coming winter amid Russian attacks on critical infrastructure, coupled with broader mismanagement, were the

"Today, this is fully under Europe's control. That means (Russian assets) are safe for now," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Ukraine has secured contracts and assurances from partners on additional supplies of F-16 ammunition, Zelensky noted, adding that the current deliveries were at a "satisfactory level."

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on oct. 17 U.S. President Donald Trump was "wrong" to further "block" sanctions against Russia, while expressing hope that he would do "everything possible" to stop the full-scale war.

Zelensky called the restrictions a "planned operation" targeting Ukraine, noting that Starlink speed limits remain in effect in Ukraine but not in EU countries.

Since President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the resumption of strikes on Oct. 15, Kyiv has not reported any new attacks on Russian oil refineries or confirmed reports of such strikes.

Ukrainian forces downed 289 out of the 332 drones, including jet-powered attack drones, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Russian drones and ballistic missiles of the Iskander-M or the North Korean KN-23 model struck 22 different locations, and debris fell in three areas.

U.S. President Donald Trump issued a broad waiver of sanctions under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act on Oct. 16.

Zelensky asked EU leaders for an additional 70 billion euros to help cover Ukraine's defense and "resilience" needs in 2027, as Kyiv grapples with a budget shortfall amid escalating Russian attacks.

"Republicans and Democrats passed this law in Lindsey Graham's name to squeeze Russia's war revenues. Trump has now hollowed it out before its main sanctions could bite," said Alexander Kirk, a sanctions campaigner at Urgewald.