Ukraine war latest: Kyiv struck over 50 Russian strategic targets in autumn 2025, satellite images show
Hello, this is Tania Myronyshena reporting from Kyiv on day 1,380 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Today's top story so far:
Ukraine's Armed Forces struck more than 50 fuel and military-industrial infrastructure sites in Russia over the course of this autumn, marking an unprecedented rate of successful attacks, according to Ukraine's General Staff and experts cited by Schemes, an investigative project by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Using satellite imagery from Planet Labs, journalists compiled an interactive map detailing the scope of Ukrainian strikes on Russian strategic facilities, including oil refineries, gas processing plants, fuel terminals, and military-industrial sites.
Damage was confirmed at 13 locations. Military and economic analysts told Schemes that these attacks have already forced Russia to increase spending on facility protection and have led to fuel shortages in some regions.
Read the full article on the Radio Liberty website.
New satellite images show damage at major Russian oil refinery after Ukrainian drone strike
Last updated 8:07 p.m. Kyiv time.
New satellite imagery has confirmed damage to Russia's Afipsky oil refinery following a Ukrainian drone attack overnight on November 30.
The aftermath of the strike, including visible structural damage, was published by OSINT analyst Brady Africk on X.
Located in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, the Afipsky refinery is one of the country's key oil processing facilities, with an annual capacity of over 6 million tons. It produces gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel, much of it used by the Russian military.
This strike is part of Ukraine's ongoing campaign targeting Russian energy and military infrastructure deep behind the front lines.
7 Ukrainian children abducted to Russia returned in initiative backed by Melania Trump
Last updated 8 p.m. Kyiv time.
Seven more children previously taken to Russia have been returned to their families in Ukraine, U.S. first lady Melania Trump said in a Dec. 4 statement.
According to her office, six boys and one girl were repatriated as part of a broader initiative aimed at returning Ukrainian children taken to Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion.
"My dedication to guaranteeing the safe return of children to their families in this region is unwavering," she said.
Melania Trump has made the issue of abducted Ukrainian children a central focus of her humanitarian agenda.
In August, the U.S. first lady sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin addressing the issue of Ukrainian children taken to Russia. The letter was delivered by Donald Trump during a meeting with Putin in Alaska on August 15.
Russian strikes on Kherson heating plant leave over 40,000 residents in the cold
Last updated 4:12 p.m. Kyiv time.
40,500 residents of Kherson are without heating after the city's central heating plant was taken out of action by repeated Russian strikes, Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Dec. 4
The closure came after several days of sustained attacks by drones and artillery, targeting the halls and equipment of the plant, according to Prokudin. A total of 470 buildings are affected by the outage, he said.
The attack represents just the latest episode in Russia's targeted campaign against Ukrainian central heating infrastructure, a relatively new feature of the larger destruction of energy generation and distribution in the country that has escalated as the winter weather approaches.
Ukraine holds northern Pokrovsk, prevents Russian attempts to bypass city, Syrskyi says
Last updated 3:12 p.m. Kyiv time.
Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Dec. 4 that Ukrainian units continue to hold the northern part of Pokrovsk, despite intense fighting.
"The battle continues. Ukrainian units are holding the northern part of Pokrovsk. In the area of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, we are actively blocking the enemy's attempts to amass assault infantry groups and advance around these settlements. Within the cities themselves, our troops continue to hold designated positions," Syrskyi said in a post on Facebook.
According to the report, Syrskyi held operational meetings with commanders of operational groupings, corps, brigades, and battalions. They discussed coordinated deployment, rotation of assault-reconnaissance units, and enhanced logistical routes, medical evacuation, counter-battery actions, and anti-drone measures.
"We are continuing an extremely difficult phase of the defense of the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad urban area," Syrskyi said.
Ukraine’s General Staff refutes Russian claims about Dobropillia capture
Last updated 2:46 p.m. Kyiv time.
Ukraine's General Staff has refuted Russian claims about the supposed capture of the village of Dobropillia in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
"These claims are false and do not reflect the actual situation on the ground," the General Staff wrote on Telegram on Dec. 4.
According to the report, a Russian sabotage and reconnaissance group briefly infiltrated the outskirts of the village, using poor weather conditions as cover. The group was eliminated, and Dobropillia remains fully under Ukraine's control, the General Staff claimed.
"During counter-sabotage operations, three enemy soldiers were eliminated on the approach to the village. Two more — likely those suicide operatives tasked with displaying Russian flags in the allegedly ‘captured’ settlement — were taken out shortly afterward," the General Staff said.
Draft officer fatally stabbed in Lviv during papers check
Last updated 2:11 p.m. Kyiv time.
A draft officer in the western city of Lviv died in hospital after a fatal knife attack during a regular document check, Ukraine's Western Operational command reported on Dec. 4.
The incident occurred on the previous evening, after the officer, Yurii Bondarenko, requested to check the attacker's papers on the streets of central Lviv.
According to the military, the man refused to present his documents, acted aggressively, and eventually stabbed Bondarenko in the groin, causing a critical bleed.
The assailant also struck Bondarenko's fellow draft officer on the head, sprayed two others with pepper spray and fled the scene.
Despite the efforts of doctors to save him, Bondarenko — who had previously served on the front line — died of critical blood loss.
At least 5 killed, 36 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day
At least 5 people have been killed and 36 others injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day, local authorities reported on Dec. 3.
Russia launched 138 drones and two ballistic missiles at Ukraine overnight, the Air Force reported. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted or suppressed 114 drones. Twenty-four drones made it through, striking 14 locations.
In Kherson Oblast, Russian attacks killed three people, including one child, and injured seven others over the past day, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Throughout the night, Russian forces launched drones, airstrikes, and artillery attacks on 21 settlements. The attacks targeted critical and social infrastructure, as well as residential neighborhoods. Four private homes were damaged, along with an administrative building and a civilian vehicle.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Russian attacks injured seven people, Governor Vladyslav Haivanenko reported.
In Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks killed two people and injured thirteen others, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin. Over the past day, Russian forces shelled settlements in Donetsk Oblast 22 times. A total of 147 people, including 22 children, were evacuated from the front line.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a Russian strike injured one person, the local military administration reported.
In Kharkiv Oblast, a 63-year-old man suffered injuries as a result of the Russian attack, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.
In Odesa Oblast, seven people were injured after a Russian drone strike targeted civilian and energy infrastructure, Governor Oleh Kiper reported. Two people were rescued from blocked apartments, and 33 others, including six children, received psychological support. Among the injured was an energy worker who was hospitalized in serious condition.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,177,370 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
Russia has lost around 1,177,370 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Dec. 4.
The number includes 1,140 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
According to the report, Russia has also lost 11,396 tanks, 23,685 armored fighting vehicles, 68,813 vehicles and fuel tanks, 34,809 artillery systems, 1,556 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,253 air defense systems, 430 airplanes, 347 helicopters, 86,476 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.
