The Trump administration's push to reopen Lithuanian ports to Belarusian potash exports is being driven by U.S. envoy John Coale and does not reflect a broader policy shift in Washington, multiple U.S. and European officials told the Kyiv Independent. The initiative has little support within the administration, with U.S. officials describing it as Coale acting independently rather than advancing an agreed government policy. Lithuania, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, also has no plans to change

Key developments on Nov. 5: * Water supply disruptions return in Kyiv, metro service temporarily suspended due to power fluctuations * Death toll of Russian strike on Komyshuvakha rises to 43 as search continues * Russian strikes on Ukraine’s drug supply chain leave pharmacy shelves empty * Poland detains 6 suspects working for Russian intelligence, Polish official says * Ukrainian woman dies in illegal Russian detention in Crimea * Pro-Russian Latvian moves to Russia, gets forcibly consc

Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi marked 100 days as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in late October, as Ukraine regains ground in the northern part of Donetsk Oblast and seeks to improve defensive positions before winter. Drapatyi, one of Ukraine's most popular generals, was appointed in July with high expectations that he would deliver much-needed reforms to the armed forces. His promotion to commander-in-chief came after President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed his unpopular pr

While in pre-trial detention, Sergei Mulivanov signed a military contract and was subsequently sent to participate in the Russian invasion he had previously vocally supported.

"I am convinced that we all realize how, by giving the image of a Europe that is proceeding in disarray, we are doing nothing but serving the interests of those who want this war to continue. And I think it is unacceptable, given that human lives and the future of our security are at stake," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned.

The results of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections have brought the Democratic Party a largely anticipated, if nonetheless remarkable in scale, victory. Democrats have outperformed even the most optimistic expectations, dramatically shifting the balance of power in Washington in their favor. With the coalition that brought Donald Trump back to the White House two years ago now under strain, those following Washington's Ukraine policy may well be wondering: where does all this leave Kyiv? Given the

Kyivvodokanal, the municipal utility responsible for water supply and wastewater services in Kyiv and the surrounding region, said at around 1:30 p.m. local time that power outages at its facilities had disrupted water supplies across all districts of the capital.

"We would like you to keep going and find new missions and de-escalate as much as possible," David Arakhamia, the head of President Volodymyr Zelensky's parliamentary group, told the first lady. "Your mission is above politics."

Oleksandra Kazarovytska, who was 44 years old, had returned to occupied Sevastopol to help her parents sell their apartment, according to the statement of the Kharkiv language school where she served as director of studies.

According to Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies, the group was also involved in torture-for-hire, kidnappings, extortion of millions of dollars, and other crimes.

More than 30 people may still be trapped under the rubble, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Fico's latest comments seemingly downplay the suggestion made by his foreign minister, Juraj Blanar, who proposed Bratislava as a venue for preparatory peace talks after his visit to Moscow last week.

Of the 130 people identified, 27 allegedly "took an active part in unlawful actions," while another 24 "acted aggressively, incited others, and deliberately provoked confrontations" with police and National Guard personnel, according to the National Police.

With the final death toll yet to be officially established, the strike on the front-line village is already one of the deadliest single Russian attacks since the start of the full-scale invasion four and a half years ago.

WASHINGTON, United States — "It is a funeral," a conservative voter from South Carolina said, gesturing toward the crowd inside the Butterworth, a restaurant in the heart of Washington that has long been favored by members and supporters of the Republican Party. It is where Washington Republicans come to see one another — and to be seen. On election night, the restaurant had initially been bustling. More than 650 people had registered to attend, and a line of guests stretched out from the fron

When asked about the corruption allegations, David Arakhamia, head of President Volodymyr Zelensky's parliamentary faction, told the Kyiv Independent that he "hadn't had time to look into the matter."

"Our countries are united by a shared strategic vision for the region’s future — one in which reliable energy routes, modern infrastructure, a strong industrial sector, and successful businesses can be developed," Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

The detainees include five Polish nationals aged between 25 and 52 and a 37-year-old Russian woman, according to Tomasz Siemoniak, Poland's minister-coordinator of special services .

The EU's Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis described the payment as "an investment in Ukraine’s recovery, security and prosperity, and in its future as a member of the European Union."

Ukrainians last saw pharmacy shelves this empty in the first weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Beyond Kherson Oblast, Russian forces launched two guided missiles from the Black Sea and 128 long-range attack drones at Ukraine overnight on Nov. 5, including 65 jet-powered drones, the Air Force said.

The number includes 2,380 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

Ukraine's State Emergency Service confirmed at around 7 a.m. local time that logistics infrastructure had been targeted in Kyiv Oblast.

The Ryazan refinery, operated by Russia's state-controlled oil giant Rosneft, has an annual processing capacity of around 17 million metric tons of crude oil.

Ukrainian soldiers on Nov. 4 shot down a Russian Shahed drone carrying an unusual payload: "a bundle of propaganda leaflets from the enemy," Robert "Madyar" Brovdi reported.

Key developments on Nov. 4: * Russian strikes cause Kyiv's worst water outage of full-scale war * 'Insane attack' — Death toll from Russian strike on Komyshuvakha rises to 40 as search operation enters 3rd day * 'Security guarantees must be ironclad' — Zelensky speaks to Trump's envoys ahead of trilateral peace talks * Russia has capacity to produce over 200 ballistic, cruise missiles per month, Ukraine's military intelligence says * Russian attacks kill 6, injure 50 across Ukraine over pa

The U.K.'s Supreme Court rejected PrivatBank’s former owners’ final appeal in a $3 billion fraud case, in a major victory for the state-owned Ukrainian bank that clears the way to pursue recovery of the funds worldwide.

The European Commission hosted talks on Ukraine in Brussels on Nov. 4, bringing together representatives from the U.S., Ukraine, NATO, and several European countries to discuss efforts to end Russia's war.

Zelensky said he "had a very detailed conversation" with Witkoff and Kushner that lasted an hour and a half. Among the primary topics were air defense munitions, the U.S.-Ukraine Drone Deal, and post-war security guarantees.

Of this estimated monthly capacity, up to 110 are ballistic missiles, according to HUR.

"This is the most serious water outage in Kyiv since the war began. It is also expected that the situation will worsen in the winter," Mykhailo Yatsuk, director of the Institute of Water Problems and Land Reclamation, told the Kyiv Independent.

For Ukraine's Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, the evacuation of civilians from Oleshky has been a significant humanitarian achievement. Lubinets played a key role in evacuating residents from the Russian-occupied city in Kherson Oblast in late October, earning praise from people who had endured nearly five years of occupation. "Lubinets will now be a hero in Oleshky," Nina Hurova, who was evacuated with her family on Oct. 31, told the Kyiv Independent. The operation was made possible by a local ce