Trump and Putin’s secret phone calls | Ukraine This Week

7:44 PM

Russia's illegal use of Starlink terminals hastened fall of Vuhledar, WP reports.

"They just overpowered us," an officer in the 72nd Mechanized Brigade, one of the units defending Vuhledar, told The Washington Post. The officer said Russia's access to Starlink was a key factor in the loss of the city.

6:19 PM

Defense minister confirms more weapons pledges, arms production after foreign visit.

The U.K. pledged to provide additional long-range weapons, artillery systems, and robotic systems, while French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the possibility of opening a training center for drone operators in France, according to the announcement.

6:09 PM

Media: Biden to visit Germany on Oct 18, Ramstein summit remains postponed.

Biden was supposed to convene a leader-level meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany on Oct. 12, where President Volodymyr Zelensky was expected to present his victory plan. However, he put off his visit in order to oversee the emergency response to Hurricane Milton.

5:09 PM

Video

Trump and Putin’s secret phone calls | Ukraine This Week.

The Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur explains the top stories of the week, from the postponement of the Ramstein summit to the two-month anniversary of Ukraine’s surprise incursion into Kursk Oblast.

4:59 PM

Zelensky: Russia has used around 900 aerial bombs against Ukraine this week.

Russia also launched more than 40 missiles and 400 combat drones of various types, Zelensky said in a video address posted on Telegram.

3:30 PM

Prosecutors open investigation into alleged killing of 9 POWs by Russians in Kursk Oblast.

"The killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and an international crime. A criminal case has been opened over the violation of the laws and customs of war combined with premeditated murder," Kostin posted on X.

2:11 PM

Ukraine is holding front line in Kursk Oblast despite Russian attacks, Zelensky says.

"There were attempts by Russia to push back our positions. But we are holding the defined lines," he said.

1:04 PM

Russian troops reportedly shoot 9 Ukrainian POWs in Kursk Oblast.

The shootings are said to have occurred on Oct. 10, Deepstate reported, citing sources in Ukraine's First Tank Brigade.

11:33 AM

Russian MiG-31 fighter jets likely left Belarus, monitoring group says.

The two MiG-31K jets landed in Belarus on Oct. 9 and 10, a year and a half after their last appearance in Belarus.

10:33 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 668,930 troops since Feb 24, 2022.

Russia has lost 668,930 troops since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Oct. 13.

10:26 AM

Air Force: Ukraine downs 31 drones overnight.

Russia also attacked Ukraine with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and two Kh-59 cruise missiles, the Air Force said. The missiles targeted Chernihiv, Sumy, Poltava, and Odesa oblasts.

3:54 AM

Mediazona confirms identities of nearly 73,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine.

Through open-source research, Mediazona, a Russian independent media outlet, together with BBC Russia, confirmed the names of 72,899 Russian soldiers who had been killed since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion.

2:10 AM

Zelensky to publicly unveil 'victory plan' in coming days, Podolyak says.

President Volodymyr Zelensky will publicly unveil his "victory plan" to Ukrainians in "a matter of days," Presidential Office advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on Oct. 12.

12:54 AM

Ukraine, France working to establish joint defense production, Zelensky says.

Ukraine is working with France to establish new joint defense production facilities, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on Oct. 12.

11:52 PM

Kyiv Independent's 'He Came Back' documentary wins Best Film award at Prague film festival.

The Kyiv Independent's investigative documentary "He Came Back," which uncovers sexual crimes committed during the Russian occupation of Kyiv and Kherson oblasts in early 2022, won the Best Film award at the Press Play Prague film festival on Oct. 12.

9:52 PM

Iran delivers satellites to Russia for rocket launch, media reports.

Iran has delivered two domestically manufactured satellites to Russia for an upcoming launch, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Oct. 12. This marks the latest instance of space collaboration between the two nations, both of which are under U.S. sanctions.

7:10 PM

Serbia makes deal with Gazprom for extra 400 million cubic meters of gas this winter.

Dusan Bajatovic, CEO of the Serbian state-owned company Srbijagas, came to an agreement with Alexey Miller, CEO of Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom, and expects Russian gas supplies to reach 400 million cubic meters this winter.

6:24 PM

Russia

Russia may have moved MiG-31 jets to Belarus to evade Ukrainian strikes

12:32 PM

Oil depot burning in occupied Luhansk Oblast after Ukrainian strike, General Staff says.

Ukrainian troops in cooperation with the intelligence service (HUR) struck a depot containing oil and petroleum products used by the Russian military near the town of Rovenky, Luhansk Oblast.

11:41 AM

Russian attacks kill 3, injure at least 14 people in Ukraine over past day.

Russia carried out mass attacks across Ukraine’s southern and eastern regions killing at least three civilians and wounding 14 in the last 24 hours, Ukrainian officials reported on Oct. 12.

9:17 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 667,630 troops since Feb 24, 2022.

Russia has lost 667,630 troops since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Oct. 12.

6:09 AM

Poland’s 2025 EU presidency to focus on Ukraine’s integration and EU expansion, Duda says.

Polish President Andrzej Duda announced that a key priority of Poland's EU presidency in early 2025 will be the European integration of Ukraine and maintaining an "open door to Europe" policy for new members.

5:02 AM

EU officials considering reform to bypass Hungary’s blockade on Ukraine defense funds.

A proposed reform of the European Peace Facility (EPF) would make financial contributions voluntary, aiming to bypass Hungary's veto on military aid to Ukraine, which has caused a 6.5 billion euro ($7 billion) backlog.

1:10 AM

NATO to rethink alliance's relationship with Russia for first time in decades.

"It's time to now craft a new strategy in terms of (the allies') specific positions," a senior U.S. official said. Defense ministers from NATO member nations will convene in Brussels Oct. 17-18 to discuss the matter.

12:06 AM

House Speaker has no 'appetite' for more US support for Ukraine.

"I don't have an appetite for further Ukraine funding, and I hope it's not necessary," U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Oct. 11.