Despite the recent failure of Kyiv's early warning system and threats to halt U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine, Washington made no such decision, Ukrainian and American sources told the Kyiv Independent. Five Russian S-400 missiles struck the Ukrainian capital shortly after 10 p.m. local time on Oct. 12, causing "massive explosions," Kyiv Independent journalists reported. Air raid sirens and mobile alerts sounded only after the attack. The attack came as Washington had threatened to susp

Ukraine's Education and Science Minister Andrii Butenko said that a fire broke out in a building of Rivne State Humanitarian University as a result of the Russian drone strike.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev called the attacks "absolutely unacceptable" and said Bulgaria had informed its permanent representatives to NATO and the European Union.

The tanker DF Peak, previously named Kaliningrad, has falsely sailed under the flag of Benin and is sanctioned by the U.S, EU, Switzerland, Canada, and Japan.

The Iskander-M is one of Russia's principal ballistic weapons. Since the beginning of 2026, Moscow has launched more than 500 ballistic missiles against Ukraine.

"Ukraine has not carried out strikes on Russian oil refineries or the energy sector in general for the two days since the American president announced an energy ceasefire. But Russia did not heed," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

U.S. President Donald Trump had a busy weekend, undermining sanctions on Russia, blaming Ukraine for the war Russia started — again — and insisting that Russian refineries become drone-free zones. "We said you could do whatever you want to Russia, don't hit the refineries, because that's a world problem that's caused," Trump said on Oct. 10. "And (President Volodymyr Zelensky) wants to make problems for the world, he wants to make problems for our farmers, our ranchers, with diesel fuel. ... W

Kyiv Independent staff reported powerful blasts in central Kyiv, with air raid sirens and mobile notifications sounding only afterward.

Spain's European Affairs Minister Fernando Sampedro told the Kyiv Independent that "we really hope that in the case of Ukraine and Moldova we will be able to open all clusters as soon as possible."

Overnight on Oct. 13, Russian forces launched five ballistic missiles, 108 Shahed-type attack drones, including 74 jet-powered versions, as well as Gerbera and Parodiya decoy drones, and nine Banderol missiles, Ukraine's Air Force said.

A State Emergency Service rescuer was also injured while responding to the attack and was hospitalized, RBC-Ukraine reported, citing the emergency service. His condition was not immediately confirmed.

The number includes 1,390 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

The U.S. president's comments came after he unilaterally announced an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine on Oct. 11, causing confusion in Kyiv. According to a senior Ukrainian official, Ukraine had no prior information about an energy ceasefire.

The U.K. has sanctioned Alexander Tattersall, a Dutch national, and Redwing Metal, the Turkish company he co-owns, nearly four months after a Kyiv Independent investigation revealed the firm had funneled EU-made industrial machinery to Russian metallurgical plants that supply the country's missile and fighter jet manufacturers. Tattersall and Redwing Metal were blacklisted as part of a package of 38 designations announced by the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Oct. 8

Tkach is known in Ukraine for his investigations of high-level corruption. He alleged that the arrest could have been retaliation from subjects of his investigations, who could have manipulated Austrian authorities by filing a fake report.

Key developments on Oct. 12: * Russian drone attacks throughout the day strike Kyiv apartment block, kills two people, injures 14 * Russia strikes Roshen confectionery factory in Vinnytsia * New interceptor drone destroys two Russian Geran-5 drones in first week, Fedorov says * SBU detains 19-year-old suspected of plotting bomb attack on bus full of soldiers * Fire Point trolls Russia's Yandex after drone attack on data center * Russia-led military bloc launches joint military drills in B

The vote paves the way for the EU to formally open two more accession clusters with Ukraine and Moldova at a meeting in Luxembourg on Oct. 13.

If passed, the bill could help alleviate bottlenecks the State Property Fund has repeatedly faced when trying to sell state-owned assets and help shore up funds for the state budget.

The Kyiv Independent has learned that the Trump administration threatened senior Ukrainian military and government officials in a push to protect Russian oil refineries. Two Ukrainian officials said their U.S. counterparts had made clear that Washington would hold Kyiv responsible if Russian energy infrastructure were struck during the recently announced ceasefire. "They called all the top military officials with threats," one Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent. "They're telling ever

"The corporation's enterprises produce confectionery products and do not manufacture drones or other products for military purposes. The production complex in Vinnytsia is a civilian facility," the company said.

Ukraine will halt its strikes against Russian refineries only if Moscow ceases its attacks against the Ukrainian power grid, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 12, signaling that a refinery-only truce makes little sense for a country with a single, badly damaged refinery.

The release from custody of Iryna Mudra, a former deputy head of the President’s Office, last week followed an unusual development. While Ukrainians had been previously accustomed to corruption suspects easily escaping justice, now the trend was the opposite. Mudra had the money to pay the bail but banks refused to process payments for posting it, fearing that they could be accused of taking part in money laundering. Furthermore, decreasing political protection for corruption suspects may moti

"We are taking this matter very seriously," National Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said at a press briefing on Oct. 11.

The successful test comes as Ukrainian cities are under repeated assault from Russia's new generation of jet-powered drones.

The SBU said it had foiled a series of alleged terrorist plots prepared by Russian intelligence services in Rivne this year. Previous alleged plots targeted a park area and administrative buildings in the city center.

"I'm in shock... I don't know how to carry on. We're all exhausted," Kyiv resident Yuliia Sheremet told the Kyiv Independent as the Russian strike on Ukraine's capital injured her father and severely damaged her house.

The incident follows a series of reported drone strikes on Russian data centers that have disrupted Yandex services.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Oct. 12 reiterated his readiness to adhere to the energy truce — provided that Russia follows suit.

"Europe can no longer stay immobilized on Russia's immobilized assets. The leverage is not in holding the money, but in using it for defense," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.

The drills involve more than 1,500 military personnel, over 300 pieces of military equipment, and around 80 drones, according to the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

"The Kremlin must see that continued aggression will deepen its isolation. I ask you to take these proposals forward as an urgent priority," writes Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen in a letter seen by the Kyiv Independent.

Overnight on Oct. 12, Russian forces launched 121 Shahed-type attack drones, including 76 jet-powered versions, as well as Gerbera and Parodiya decoy drones, Ukraine's Air Force said.