Key developments on Oct. 17: * Zelensky says he told Trump that either Ukraine will join NATO or pursue nuclear weapons * Zelensky walks back earlier comments on Ukraine's possible plan to obtain nuclear weapons * 'First step to World War' — North Korea preparing 10,000 soldiers to join Russia's war, Zelensky confirms
Key developments on Oct. 16: * US announces $425 million in security aid for Ukraine, Zelensky says package includes long-range weapons * Zelensky unveils Ukraine's victory plan, says it's doable but 'depends on our partners' * Australia to give Ukraine almost 50 US-made Abrams tanks * Ukraine reportedly reclaims territory in north of Kharkiv
Key developments on Oct. 15: * North Korea has sent 10,000 soldiers to Russia, Western source says * Russia may resume strikes on Ukraine's energy sector in autumn, winter, official warns * 'No intact buildings left' in Toretsk, accelerating Russian advance, military says * US lawmakers pressuring Zelensky to lower mobilization age, Presidential
Key developments on Oct. 14: * Russian Tu-134 transport aircraft set ablaze over 1,000 km from Ukraine, military intelligence claims * Russia claims capture of Zaporizhzhia Oblast village, Kyiv says 'situation dynamic' * Over 110,000 residents of Kursk Oblast evacuated, Russia's chief ombudsman claims * First Ukrainian troops crossed into Kursk Oblast
Key developments on Oct. 13: * Ukraine is holding front line in Kursk Oblast despite Russian attacks, Zelensky says * Prosecutors open investigation into alleged killing of 9 POWs by Russians in Kursk Oblast * Russia's illegal use of Starlink terminals hastened fall of Vuhledar, WP reports * Zelensky: Russia has used around 900
Key developments on Oct. 11: * Russia launched new push in Kursk Oblast, Kyiv claims attack 'thwarted' * Ukraine holds 40-50% of Toretsk, official says * Scholz unveils $1.5 billion allied aid package, delivers IRIS-T air defense system * Ukraine sets up supervisory boards for lethal and non-lethal procurement agencies Russian forces launched
Key developments on Oct. 10: * Ukraine confirms strike on Russian airbase in North Caucasus housing Su-34, Su-27 jets * Zelensky presents victory plan to Starmer, meets NATO Secretary General Rutte * Kyiv confirms death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna held in Russian captivity * Oil depot in occupied Crimea's Feodosia burning for 4th
Key developments on Oct. 9: * Russian weapons depot storing North Korean shells, missiles set ablaze after drone attack, Ukraine's military reports * Ramstein-format meeting postponed after Biden cancels foreign visits * Battlefield situation calls for decisive action to end war in 2025, Zelensky says * Two more IRIS-T anti-aircraft systems arrive in Ukraine
Key developments on Oct. 8: * 'Fights taking place at every building entrance' as Russia enters eastern Toretsk, military says * France to deliver first Mirage 2000 jets to Ukraine in early 2025 * Russian forces outnumbered Ukrainians tenfold in battle for Vuhledar, commander says * North Korea likely sending soldiers to Ukraine to
Key developments on Oct. 7: * Russian Baltic Sea Fleet vessel out of action after Ukraine's sabotage, intelligence says * Ukraine's 3rd Brigade frees captured soldiers in Kharkiv Oblast skirmish * Oil depot on fire in Crimea's Feodosia following Ukrainian attack * Russian airstrike against Kherson injures 20, including children * Kyiv's air defense intercepts
Key developments on Oct. 6: * Ukraine braces for Russian push near Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia Oblast in coming days * Kyiv shows destruction of Russian Osa anti-aircraft system with FPV drone * NATO considering 'concrete steps' on Ukraine's accession at Ramstein summit, WP reports * Lithuania confiscates military goods from Kaliningrad-Moscow trains, gives them
The Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur explains the top stories of the week, from the fall of Vuhledar to the rising Russian casualties. Also, how might the conflict in the Middle East impact the war in Ukraine?
Key developments on Oct. 4: * Oil depots on fire in Russia's Voronezh Oblast, Perm Krai * Russian forces less than 7 km away from Pokrovsk, authorities say * At least 177 Ukrainian POWs have died in Russian captivity, Kyiv says * EU readies to sanction Iran over missile shipments to Russia, Bloomberg reports
Key developments on Oct. 3: * Ukrainian drones strike Russian airfield in Voronezh Oblast, SBU source says * Zelensky calls for jointly intercepting Russian missiles during NATO chief Rutte's visit to Kyiv * Russia attacking Kursk Oblast settlements with no Ukrainian troops present, Kyiv's military claims * Ukraine receives Patriot air defense system from
Key developments on Oct. 2: * Ukrainian forces withdraw from Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast * Ukraine aims to boost ballistic missiles, long-range arms production in 2025, Umerov says * 1.5 million Ukrainian children at risk of being deported to Russia, ombudsman says * 589 civilians killed in Ukraine in summer 2024 by Russia's
Key developments on Oct. 1: * Russian forces enter Vuhledar, situation 'extremely difficult,' governor says * Russia attempts to capture new positions in Zaporizhzhia sector, preparing small-scale assaults, military says * Ukraine doesn't need US permission to strike back at Russia with homemade weapons, State Department says * Russian forces execute 16 Ukrainian
Key developments on Sept. 30: * Russia aims to draft 133,000 Russians during new round of fall conscription * Russia intensifies attacks on recaptured Vovchansk plant, uses 'maximum range of weapons,' military says * Commander of Ukraine's 72nd Brigade transferred amid battle for Vuhledar * Some details of Ukraine's victory plan will
Key developments on Sept. 29: * Zelensky says Putin 'afraid' to use nuclear weapons because he 'loves his life' * Russia's attack on Zaporizhzhia destroys apartment building, injures 16 * Ukraine strikes Russian military arsenal storing missiles and drones in Volgograd Oblast * Russia claims 125 Ukrainian drones intercepted across 7 regions President Volodymyr
Key developments on Sept. 27: * Trump meets with Zelensky, says his views on ending the war 'as soon as possible' have not changed * Crimean bridge defenses being bolstered by underwater drone traps, according to reports * US intelligence warns of risks in permitting Ukraine's long-range strikes, NYT reports * Ombudsman denies reports
Key developments on Sept. 26: * US announces nearly $8 billion military aid package for Ukraine * Germany approves additional $447 million for military aid to Ukraine * Ukraine's 72nd Brigade releases video from Vuhledar, denies claims about withdrawal * 3 energy infrastructure facilities struck in overnight Russian strikes, Ukrainian PM says * Ukraine considers
Key developments on Sept. 25: * Russia preparing to attack 3 nuclear plants in Ukraine, Zelensky tells UN * No Russian troops on Vuhledar outskirts, governor claims * Around 20 Russian soldiers captured during operation to recapture Vovchansk aggregate plant, military intelligence claims * Ukraine has 'extensive' 3-year plan for drone, ground robotics production,
Key developments on Sept. 24: * Ukraine regains control of Vovchansk aggregate plant, military intelligence says * Russia attacks Kharkiv's densely populated districts, killing 3, injuring 34 * Russia to maintain record high defense spending in 2025, Bloomberg reports * Around 60% of foreign parts in Russian weapons come via China, Ukraine says * 'Temporary'
Key developments on Sept. 23: * Ukraine hits over 200 military targets in Russia using drones within a year, Umerov says * Next few months will be 'decisive,' Zelensky says during speech in US, urges allies to act faster * Ukrainian forces break through another section of Russian border, 95th Brigade claims
Key developments on Sept. 21-22: * Ukraine awaits Mirage 2000 jets, in talks about Gripen, Eurofighter Typhoon, defense minister says * Ukraine confirms overnight strikes on Russian arms depots * Iran provided no launchers with missile deliveries to Russia, Reuters reports * Russia preparing strikes against Ukrainian nuclear facilities ahead of winter, foreign minister
Key developments on Sept. 20: * Russian commanders warned of plans for Ukraine's Kursk incursion months in advance, seized documents show * Ghanaian men lured to fight for Russia appeal for help from inside occupied Ukraine * First group of Ukrainian pilots complete French jet training * Ukraine's strike on Russian arms depot destroyed
Key developments on Sept. 19: * Russian attack on retirement home in Sumy kills at least 1, injures 14 * Russia redeploys 40,000 troops to Kursk Oblast as Kyiv's incursion continues, Zelensky says * European Parliament backs Ukrainian strikes inside Russia, Taurus missiles delivery * Russia mining dams in Belgorod Oblast, Ukraine's military
Key developments on Sept. 18: * Russian weapons depot ‘wiped off the face of the earth’ by Ukrainian drone attack, SBU source claims * Russia's Kursk counteroffensive halted, Kyiv claims * Ukraine's French Mirage jets will be able to hit ground targets, media reports * WSJ estimates of Ukraine's casualties 'exaggerated,' lawmaker believes
Key developments on Sept. 17: * Around 1 million killed, wounded in Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine, WSJ reports * Ukraine destroys Russian ammunition depots near occupied Mariupol, Navy says * None of Ukraine's plans to end the war envisages ceasefire, ceding territory, Podolyak says * Russia reportedly executes POW with sword, Kyiv appeals
* Putin signs decree increasing number of military personnel, staff to 2.38 million * Ukraine's Victory Plan 90% complete, Zelensky says * Zelensky signs law establishing Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces * Ukraine to receive another batch of Danish F-16s this year, minister says * Latvia to supply Ukraine with British-made CVR(T) armored vehicles
Key developments on Sept. 14, 15: * 103 Ukrainian POWs returned from Russian captivity, including 23 Azov fighters * At least 1 killed, 42 injured in Russian strike on apartment building in Kharkiv * Western aid not enough to equip 'even 4 out of 14' underarmed brigades needed on the front, Zelensky says
Key developments on Sept. 13: * 49 Ukrainians released from Russian captivity * Finland announces $130 million aid package for Ukraine * Russia's 'rapid' offensive in Kursk Oblast hasn't yet achieved 'serious' success, Zelensky says * Russia buys Western aircraft parts via intermediaries despite sanctions * ATACMS 'pointless' without ability to strike inside Russia, Zelensky
Key developments on Sept. 12: * Russia claims to have recaptured 10 settlements in Kursk Oblast amid ongoing counterattack * Russia pushing toward Kurakhove in Donetsk Oblast from several vectors * Ukraine downs Russian Su-30 aircraft above Black Sea, military intelligence claims * Zelensky urges the West to allow long-range strikes without distance limits
