Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence has revealed in an interview with Reuters that North Korea has launched a mass production of small, short-range First Person View (FPV) as well as larger medium-range battlefield attack drones.
Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday condemned a “wicked” Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv that left five people dead in the Ukrainian capital.
A pregnant woman was among at least 34 people injured as Russia struck Ukraine with at least 430 drones and 18 missiles overnight, according to Ukrainian officials.
The Ukrainian president said the attack was “deliberately calculated” to cause “maximum harm to people and civilian infrastructure”. Strikes also hit Kharkiv and Odesa regions, he said.
The attack on the capital was ongoing, officials said, urging residents to remain in shelter until an air raid alert could be lifted. City authorities also warned of power and water outages.
The attack came as European Union officials warned this week that Ukraine must continue to crack down on corruption following a major graft scandal that has put top nuclear energy officials under scrutiny.
Shocking video shows Kyiv’s night sky light up during ‘massive’ coordinated strike by Russia
Putin preparing to unleash ‘big war’ on Europe in next five years, says Zelensky
Ukraine’s justice and energy ministers resign amid $100m corruption scandal
The tech companies racing to arm Europe against rising drone warfare threat
Key Points
- At least four killed in Russian strikes on Kyiv
- Ukraine strikes Russia with Flamingo cruise missiles
- Russia unleashes massive combined attack on Kyiv
- Ukrainian drones damage ship, dwellings, oil depot in Russia's Novorossiysk
- Which are the districts in Kyiv affected from the Russian strike?
- Moscow claims control over two Ukrainian settlements
Body recovered of man killed by Ukrainian drone strike: reports
17:00 , Olivia IrelandRussia says it retrieved the body of a man killed by a Ukrainian drone attack on the southwestern town of Yasnye Zori near the border.
The drone strike from earlier this week hit a car in the town, injuring a man who later died at the scene, Russia’s TASS news agency reports.
Rescuers uncovered the body on Friday.
"Contempt for humanity": German Minister slams Russia's attacks on Ukraine
16:30 , Olivia IrelandGerman Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has described Russia’s attacks as a “contempt for humanity” in violating international law.
Pistorius’ comments come hours after Russia struck apartment block across Kyiv, killing several people and injuring dozens.
Pistorius said at a meeting with European counterparts Russia President Vladimir Putin was aiming to capitalise on the upcoming winter.
“It is very evident and clear that Putin aims to make winter as unbearable as possible for Ukraine, to destroy morale and break the resistance of the Ukrainian people. He is not succeeding in this,” he said.
Ukrainians in Europe could be forced back home to be sent to the front, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova claims.
Speaking at her weekly briefing, Zakharova repeated Moscow’s claim it advocates for a peaceful settlement.
Zakharova also raised concerns about the US’ “military methods” in the Caribbean Sea and said the dialogue with Washington was “not going as fast as we would like”.
Russian oil refinery halts operations after drone attacks
15:28 , Olivia IrelandThe Saratov oil refinery on Russia’s Volga river has stopped operations following Ukraine’s drone attack, two sources told Reuters.
The oil refining reportedly stopped on November 11 and according to the sources the plant could be halted until the end of the month.
The plant was hit on Tuesday, Ukraine confirmed, as it said the attacks caused explosions and a large fire in the area.
The plant was also hit earlier today.
North Korea has launched its own mass production of tactical attack drones: Deputy head of Ukraine's military intelligence
14:53 , Olivia IrelandMajor General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence has revealed in an interview with Reuters that North Korea has launched a mass production of small, short-range First Person View (FPV) as well as larger medium-range battlefield attack drones.
In an interview on Friday, Skibitskyi said thousands of North Korean troops had fought alongside Russian forces in Russia’s Kurks region in the last year and the investment in drones was a development.
"They are learning, they are studying their experience (in this war) in order to expand production in their own territory," he said.
Watch: Ukraine fires long-range missiles at Russian oil facilities in fresh wave of strikes
14:30 , Daniel KeaneInside Ukraine’s start-up weapons industry rising from the ashes
14:02 , Daniel KeaneAs Europe and the US ponder over what arms to send to help the war against Russia, Ukraine is forging ahead with homegrown missiles and drones made from carbon printers and lawnmower engines. World affairs editor Sam Kiley reports from Kyiv.
Inside Ukraine’s start-up weapons industry rising from the ashes
Russia still open to Trump summit despite continued strikes on Ukraine
13:30 , James ReynoldsRussia said on Friday it remains open to the idea of a summit with the United States in Budapest if it is properly prepared and based on agreements reached at the previous meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said contacts between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio would continue if needed.
The two sides announced the planned summit last month but Trump cancelled it soon afterwards, saying he did not want it to be a waste of time.
Germany moves to provide Ukraine with additional $3bn
13:00 , James ReynoldsGermany’s governing parties rallied to provide Ukraine with an additional $3bn in funding during lengthy talks on a draft 2026 budget.
Coalition lawmakers had agreed by Friday morning to raise aid to Ukraine to $11.5bn to be spent on military equipment, including Patriot air defence systems, according to German media reports.
Germany is the largest donor of aid to Ukraine after the United States in raw terms.
Kyiv death toll rises to five after Russian strikes
12:37 , James ReynoldsThe death toll in Kyiv rose to five on Friday after Russia launched a major missile and drone barrage overnight.
A pregnant woman was among at least 34 people injured.
Emergency crews responded to multiple strikes during the night, said Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration.
Russia used at least 430 drones and 18 missiles in the attack that left gaping holes in some city buildings, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Ukraine strikes Russian oil terminal in Black Sea
11:55 , James ReynoldsUkraine struck an oil terminal in Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, a key outlet for Russian commodity shipments, a Ukrainian security service official said on Friday.
"Every oil refinery or oil terminal that is hit means millions of dollars less for the Kremlin's war machine," the official said. "We will continue to deprive the aggressor of resources until it loses the ability to wage this war."
Two industry sources told Reuters earlier that the port of Novorossiysk had halted oil exports on Friday after a Ukrainian drone attack, and that oil pipeline monopoly Transneft had suspended crude supplies to the outlet.
Ukraine faces its harshest winter of the war, warns Red Cross
11:45 , James ReynoldsThe coming winter may prove to be the hardest in years for people across Ukraine, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) warned on Friday.
Millions of people face dire conditions through the colder months, with livelihoods destroyed, prices soaring and savings depleted.
“Almost four years of conflict have eroded people’s resources. Many families are entering this winter with no financial buffer – seven out of ten people said they don’t have any savings left,” said Jaime Wah, Deputy Head of Delegation for IFRC in Ukraine.
The IFRC Network and the Ukrainian Red Cross have launched a 38 million Swiss franc winterisation plan that aims to reach nearly half a million people, they said. Red Cross teams are also mobilising to reach vulnerable households across frontlines and affected regions, distributing essentials.
North Korean troops are clearing mines in Kursk, Russia says
11:16 , James ReynoldsNorth Korean troops who helped Russia repel a major Ukrainian incursion into its western Kursk region are now playing an important role in clearing the area of mines, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Friday.
Under a mutual defence pact between the two countries, North Korea last year sent some 14,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russia in Kursk, and more than 6,000 were killed, according to South Korean, Ukrainian and Western sources.
Ukrainian forces smashed across the border in August 2024 and held on to substantial pockets of territory for months. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in April that Russia had finally pushed them out, with help from the North Koreans.
The significant North Korean role in Russia's de-mining operations highlights the desire on both sides to further develop their military ties, which North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said last month would "advance non-stop".
Britain to help fund reconstruction of Ukraine
10:45 , James ReynoldsThe United Kingdom will provide funding for three major reconstruction projects in Ukraine, including two hospitals and an extensive roading project, the Foreign Office announced on Thursday.
Some £5.2 million has been set aside to support critical national infrastructure as part of the UK-Ukraine Strategic Dialogue.
British and Ukrainian school children will also participate in the 100 Year Partnership schools programme, delivered through the British Council. Earlier this year, 50 schools in the UK matched with 50 schools in Ukraine on a year-long reading project.
New funding will support another 30 schools across both the UK and Ukraine.
“Ukraine’s security is our security,” said Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. “Through our 100 Year Partnership, we commit to stand with Ukraine not just today or tomorrow, but for many decades and generations to come, deepening our economic, security and cultural ties.”
Macron to host Zelensky in Paris
10:19 , James ReynoldsFrance will host Ukraine’s president in Paris on November 17 in a show of support for Kyiv, president Emmanuel Macron’s office said on Friday.
Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit will be his ninth trip to France since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022.
The latest summit will look to build on the momentum in terms of helping Ukraine following a meeting of Ukraine's Coalition of the Willing allies last month, added Macron's Elysee office.
Russia claims control of two more settlements in eastern Ukraine
10:00 , Daniel KeaneRussian troops have taken control of two more settlements in eastern Ukraine, the Russian Defence Ministry has claimed.
The two villages are Rih in the Donetsk region and Orestopil in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
The Independent could not independently verify the battlefield reports.
Pictured: Civilians walk by destroyed buildings in Kyiv after Russian strike
09:41 , Daniel Keane
Ukraine used 'Long Neptune' missile on targets in Russia
09:21 , Daniel KeaneUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that his troops used "Long Neptune" cruise missiles on targets in Russia overnight.
"Overnight our warriors successfully used 'Long Neptunes' against designated targets on Russian territory - and this is our entirely just response to Russia's ongoing terror," Zelenskiy wrote on X.
"Ukrainian missiles are delivering increasingly significant and precise results virtually every month."
Rosatom chief to meet with head of UN nuclear watchdog
08:35 , James ReynoldsThe head of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom is holding talks with the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, Russia's RIA state news agency reported on Friday.
Alexei Likhachev was said to be meeting Rafael Grossi in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
The two officials have in the past discussed nuclear safety issues, including those around the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeast Ukraine.
Soldier fighting for Russia detained while trying to enter EU 'under the guise of a refugee' - SBU
08:10 , James ReynoldsA Russian UAV operator was detained on the Lithuanian border while trying to enter the European Union posing as a Ukrainian refugee, Ukrainian intelligence reported on Thursday.
The suspect, originally from Sumy in Ukraine, had reportedly moved to Crimea after the annexation and obtained a Russian passport. Joining the Russian army, he was given a role working with unmanned systems on the southern front, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said.
The SBU said that the soldier “assessed the risks” and chose to flee from his station towards the EU. He planned to use his Ukrainian passport to obtain refugee status, they said.
“Lithuanian colleagues exposed the militant on the border of the Baltic state and handed him over to the Ukrainian side for justice,” they report.
Three killed in Russian strikes on Kyiv
07:43 , James ReynoldsAt least three people were killed in Russia’s overnight attacks on Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said on Friday.
Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said Russia carried out “massive” strikes on the Ukrainian capital, which left at least 26 people injured.
Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the city’s military administration, said residential buildings came under fire in “practically every district”.
Russia launched 430 drones overnight, Zelensky says
07:19 , James ReynoldsVolodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that Russia had launched around 430 drones and 18 missiles in overnight attacks.
"This was a deliberately calculated attack aimed at causing maximum harm to people and civilian infrastructure," the Ukrainian president wrote on X.
"Ukraine is responding to these strikes with long-range strength, and the world must stop these attacks on life with sanctions."
Russia downs 216 Ukrainian drones overnight, Defence Ministry says
06:21 , Namita SinghRussian air defence forces shot down or intercepted 216 Ukrainian drones overnight, the Defence Ministry said.
The ministry said it had brought down 66 drones over Russia's southern Krasnodar region, where officials earlier said an oil depot and port had been targeted.
The governor of Russia's Saratov region said that drone attacks had damaged civilian infrastructure, while the head of the Volgograd region said that air defences had repelled an overnight drone attack on energy infrastructure.
Russia claims it thwarted a Ukrainian plot to kill a top government official
05:48 , Namita SinghRussia's FSB security service said that it had thwarted a Ukrainian plot to assassinate an unnamed top Russian government official and accused Kyiv of planning similar attacks in other parts of the country.
The FSB said in a statement that the Ukrainian plot had aimed to kill the official when they visited their relatives' graves at a Moscow cemetery.
Reuters could not independently verify the FSB's assertion, but Ukraine has targeted Russian military and other officials inside Russia since Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.
Pictures: Russia carries 'massive' strikes on Kyiv
05:44 , Namita Singh
Putin preparing to unleash ‘big war’ on Europe in next five years, says Zelensky
05:38 , Namita SinghRussia is preparing for a “big war” in Europe as soon as 2029, Volodymyr Zelensky warned in an urgent message to Ukraine’s allies.
Posting on X, the Ukrainian president called for the international community to double-down on sanctions on the Russian economy and weapons to “decrease their capabilities”.
He wrote: “Given the situation on the battlefield, we don’t see Russia wanting to stop.
“The problem is that when we look at the Russian military industry, we see that they are increasing their production. In our assessment, they want to continue this war.”
Report:
Putin preparing to unleash ‘big war’ on Europe in next five years, says Zelensky
One person killed in Russian strike on Ukraine
05:07 , Namita SinghAt least one person killed and 15 were injured in Russian airstrike on Kyiv, reported AFP citing Ukrainian emergency services.
“More than 40 people have been rescued” as several district across the city were attacked.
A pregnant woman was among those hospitalised along with a man who is in a critical condition.
Air defences in action in 'massive' Russian attack on Kyiv, mayor says
04:40 , Namita SinghRussian forces launched a "massive" drone and missile attack on Kyiv early this morning, officials said, striking buildings and triggering explosions and fires.
"Air defences are in action in Kyiv," Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram.
"The enemy is staging a massive attack on the capital. Remain in shelters."
Klitschko said falling debris had struck a five-storey apartment building in Dniprovskyi district on the east side of the Dnipro River and a high-rise dwelling was on fire in Podil district on the opposite bank.
A fire broke out on the roof of an apartment building in another district and debris landed on a school in the east of the city.
Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said both drones and missiles had been deployed on the capital.
Tkachenko and Klitschko called for emergency crews to be dispatched to several city neighbourhoods.
Ukraine's air force reported that Russian missiles were targeting Kyiv and several other regions.
Ukrainian drone attack damages apartment buildings, oil depot, Russian officials say
04:18 , Namita SinghA Ukrainian drone attack early this morning damaged three apartment buildings, an oil depot and coastline structures in the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, officials said.
The operational headquarters of Krasnodar region, writing on Telegram, said drone fragments hit three apartments, smashing windows but causing no injuries.
It said the attack also damaged an oil depot in a trans-shipment complex as well as coastal structures, without providing any further details.
Ukraine strikes Russia with Flamingo cruise missiles
04:07 , Namita SinghUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky met soldiers in a bunker on Thursday, spoke with military commanders and laid flowers for deceased soldiers on his trip.
He said he discussed decisions needed to strengthen Ukrainian defences, including staffing and equipment.
The visit comes as Zelensky and his government are trying to extinguish the fallout from a corruption scandal in the energy sector, which has maddened Ukrainians facing widespread blackouts due to Russia's bombing of power stations.
Ukraine has tried to increase the pain on Russia in recent months, using drones to target its oil infrastructure far behind the battle lines to try to create shortages and diminish Russian revenue streams.
The military said it hit an oil terminal in occupied Crimea, an oil depot in the occupied Zaporizhzhia region and other military targets overnight. It said it used weapons including the Flamingo, a new Ukrainian-made ground-launched cruise missile it says has a range of thousands of kilometres.
At the height of the strikes between August and October, attacks and planned maintenance took 20 per cent of Russia's refinery capacity offline, Reuters reported earlier, citing calculations based on information from three Russian industry sources.
Which are the districts in Kyiv affected from the Russian strike?
04:01 , Namita SinghIn the Kyiv region, Russian strikes damaged critical infrastructure and private homes, injuring at least one civilian, regional head Mykola Kalashnyk said.
Fires broke out in private houses in the capital's suburbs.
In the Darnytskyi district, debris landed in the yard of a residential building and on the grounds of an educational facility. A car caught fire after being hit by falling fragments.
In the Dniprovskyi district, debris damaged three apartment buildings, a private household and caused a fire in an open area.
In the Podilskyi district, five residential buildings and a nonresidential structure were damaged.
In the Shevchenkivskyi district, falling debris sparked a fire in an open area near a medical facility and inside a nonresidential building.
In the Holosiivskyi district, debris ignited a fire at a medical facility and damaged another nonresidential building.
In the Desnianskyi district, fires were recorded in two residential buildings.
In the Solomianskyi district, a fire broke out on the roof of a residential building.
In the Sviatoshynskyi district, debris caused a fire in a private home.
Ukrainian drones damage ship, dwellings, oil depot in Russia's Novorossiysk
03:42 , Namita SinghA Ukrainian drone attack early this morning damaged a ship in port, apartment buildings and an oil depot in the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, injuring three crew members of the vessel, Russian officials said.
The operational headquarters of the Krasnodar region said on Telegram that the three injured crew members were being treated in hospital.
It said drone fragments hit at least four apartments, smashing windows but causing no injuries.
The attack also triggered a fire at an oil depot in a transshipment complex, which was brought under control by emergency crews.
The operational headquarters said coastal structures were also damaged, but provided no further details.
Russia unleashes massive combined attack on Kyiv
03:36 , Namita SinghRussia unleashed a massive combined attack on Kyiv early this morning, sparking fires and scattering debris across many districts of the capital, mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
At least 11 people were injured as emergency crews responded to multiple strikes, he said in a statement.
Five people were hospitalised, including one man in critical condition and a pregnant woman, after a series of powerful explosions sounded in the city and air defenses were activated.
The attack on the capital was ongoing, officials said, urging residents to remain in shelters until the air raid alert is lifted. City authorities warned that power and water outages are possible.
Zelensky discusses Ukraine energy scandal with German chancellor
03:00 , Alex CroftGerman chancellor Friedrich Merz and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky have discussed an energy scandal that has engulfed the latter's government on the phone, the German government said in a statement on Thursday.
Mr Zelensky pledged complete transparency, long-term support for independent anti-corruption authorities and further swift measures to regain the trust of the Ukrainian people, European partners and international donors, the statement said.
"The chancellor emphasized the German government's expectation that Ukraine would vigorously pursue the fight against corruption and further reforms, particularly in the area of the rule of law," it added.
Watch: Russian troops roll into Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in 'Mad Max-style'
02:00 , Alex CroftMoscow claims control over two Ukrainian settlements
01:02 , Alex CroftRussia's Defence Ministry said on Thursday that its forces had captured two Ukrainian settlements in northeastern and central Ukraine.
The towns named were Synelnykove in the Kharkiv region and Danylivka in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
The Independent could not independently verify the battlefield report, but authoritative Ukrainian battlefield map DeepState shows Russian forces on the outskirts of Synelnykove.
Ukraine will have to negotiate 'sooner or later', says Kremlin
00:01 , Alex CroftThe Kremlin has said Ukraine will have to negotiate with Russia "sooner or later" and predicted that Kyiv's negotiating position would get worse by the day.
Moscow, whose forces are trying to take control of the city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, has accused Ukrainian officials of refusing to engage in peace talks. Kyiv says Moscow's terms to end the war are unacceptable and tantamount to asking it to surrender.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday that Russia remained open to a political and diplomatic settlement and wanted peace.
But in the absence of such an opportunity, he said Russia would continue fighting in order to protect its own security for the benefit of future generations.
"The Ukrainian side should know that sooner or later it will have to negotiate, but from a much worse position. The position of the Kyiv regime will deteriorate day by day," Peskov said.
EU must listen to Belgian concerns on Russian frozen assets, Dutch Minister says
Thursday 13 November 2025 23:01 , Alex CroftThe European Union needs to listen to Belgium's concerns over using Russian frozen assets to help Ukraine, Dutch finance minister Eelco Heinen told reporters on Thursday ahead of a meeting with his EU counterparts in Brussels.
The European proposal to use Russian frozen assets to help Ukraine is being held up due to concerns from Belgium, where most of the assets are parked.
Belgium has demanded financial guarantees from EU capitals against the loan, but the European Commission’s top brass failing to convince the Belgian leadership to get on board with the plan last Friday, Politico reported.
Reparation loan using frozen Russian assets best way to finance Ukraine - EU chief
Thursday 13 November 2025 22:00 , Alex CroftA reparations loan based on immobilised Russian assets is the most effective option to fund Ukraine’s financing needs, EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has said.
EU member states have two other options, including using "headroom" in its budget to raise capital, or for an agreement among member states to raise capital by themselves, she said in a speech in European Parliament.
"Option three is to have a reparations loan based on immobilised Russian assets. We give a loan to Ukraine, that Ukraine pays back if Russia pays reparations," she said.
"This is the most effective way to sustain Ukraine's defence and its economy."
Lavrov hopes Washington will not do anything escalate war
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:02 , Alex CroftRussian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview published late on Wednesday that he hoped Washington would take no actions liable to escalate the Ukraine conflict.
Lavrov said US president Donald Trump had long advocated dialogue with Russia, had sought to fully understand the Russian position on Ukraine and "demonstrated a commitment to finding a sustainable peaceful solution".
Lavrov said Trump had acknowledged that one of the reasons behind Russia's actions was the enlargement of the Nato alliance and the deployment of its infrastructure close to its border.
Europe, he said, was "sabotaging all peacemaking efforts and are rejecting direct contacts with Moscow. They introduce new sanctions which boomerang on their economies even further. They're openly preparing for a new major European war against Russia."
Lavrov's comments were originally part of an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera. Tass said the Italian daily had declined to publish the interview.
Russia makes gains in southern Ukraine as it expands front-line attacks
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:02 , Alex CroftThe Russian army overran three settlements in the southern Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, Kyiv’s top military commander said Wednesday, as Moscow’s forces expand their efforts to capture more Ukrainian territory.
Dense fog enabled Russian troops to infiltrate Ukrainian positions in Zaporizhzhia, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi wrote on the messaging app Telegram, adding that Ukrainian units are locked in “grueling battles” to repel the Russian thrust.
He noted, however, that the fiercest battles are still in the besieged Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, in the eastern Donetsk region, where close to half of all front-line clashes took place over the previous 24 hours.
Russia makes gains in southern Ukraine as it expands front-line attacks
Kenya says over 200 of its nationals are fighting for Russia in Ukraine war
Thursday 13 November 2025 19:00 , Alex CroftKenya said on Wednesday over 200 of its citizens are fighting for Russia in Moscow's war in Ukraine, and that recruiting agencies are still actively working to lure more Kenyans into the conflict, Reuters reports.
Ukraine last week said that more than 1,400 citizens from three dozen African countries are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine with some recruited through deception.
Russia was enticing Africans to sign contracts that Ukraine's foreign minister, Andriy Sybiha described as "equivalent to ... a death sentence", and urged African governments to caution their citizens.
"Recruitment exercises in Russia have reportedly expanded to include African nationals, including Kenyans," Kenya's ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement.
Major Russia port operator says system targeted by foreign hackers
Thursday 13 November 2025 18:00 , Alex CroftRussia's Port Alliance group, which operates a network of sea cargo terminals, said on Thursday that foreign hackers had targeted its systems over three days in a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack and an attempted hack.
It said in a statement that critical elements of its digital infrastructure had been targeted with the aim of disrupting export shipments of coal and mineral fertilisers at its sea terminals in the Baltic, Black Sea, Far East and Arctic regions.
The attack was successfully repelled and operations remained unaffected, Port Alliance said.
Denial of service is among the web's most basic form of attack and it works by simply overwhelming targeted servers with a firehose of bogus requests for data, making it impossible for legitimate web traffic to get through.
Russian authorities and state companies have regularly reported attempted DDoS and hacking attacks from abroad since Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in 2022.
Ukraine and some Western countries have in turn accused Russia of launching cyberattacks.
Port Alliance group operates cargo terminals at five Russian ports.
IMF to start mission to Ukraine soon
Thursday 13 November 2025 17:31 , Alex CroftThe International Monetary Fund will start a staff mission to Ukraine soon to discuss its financing needs and a potential new lending program, spokesperson Julie Kozack said on Thursday, underscoring the need for continued anti-corruption efforts in the war-torn country.
Ukrainian prime minister Yuliia Svyrydenko on Thursday announced an audit of all state-owned companies, including in the energy sector, following an alleged $100 million corruption scandal that has led to the suspension of two cabinet ministers.
Anti-corruption authorities said this week they had detained five people and identified two others still at large, suspected of involvement in the alleged plot to control procurement at nuclear agency Energoatom and other state enterprises.
Ms Kozack told reporters at a regular briefing that the IMF staff mission would center on policies to safeguard Ukraine's macroeconomic stability and ensure its debt sustainability, with a focus on reforms to promote domestic revenue mobilization and to strengthen governance and combat corruption.
"We've been saying for some time that Ukraine needs a robust anti-corruption architecture to level the playing field, safeguard public resources, improve the business climate and attract investment," Ms Kozack said, calling efforts to fight corruption a central requirement for Ukraine's donors.
Inside Ukraine’s start-up weapons industry rising from the ashes
Thursday 13 November 2025 17:01 , Alex CroftAfter nearly four years of bitter war, Ukraine’s defence industry has more understanding than most of the demands of the modern battlefield.
The latest innovation is a cruise missile with a range of 3,000km and a payload of over a tonne, used in strikes deep into Russian territory.
Where weapons from allies come with conditions, Kyiv can fire the FP-5 Flamingo missile at any target it wants.
With arms supplies from the West so uncertain, Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine now makes about 60 per cent of its own weapons.
World affairs editor Sam Kiley reports from Kyiv:
Inside Ukraine’s start-up weapons industry rising from the ashes
Eastern Ukraine is a 'major challenge' - Zelensky
Thursday 13 November 2025 16:30 , Alex CroftUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has given an update on the frontline situation in Ukraine, as he visits the region of Zaporizhzhia just kilometres from Russian positions.
“Eastern Ukraine is, without a doubt, a major challenge,” he said in an update on X.
“And here, on the Orikhiv direction, it has always been intense. I thank all the soldiers, officers, and sergeants for defending this sector – the entire Zaporizhzhia region, and the city of Zaporizhzhia, which is so important.”
During my working visit to the Zaporizhzhia region, I held a security briefing with the military command. The main focus was on the operational situation in the South, the tasks for brigades and regiments, along with military and personnel measures to stabilize the situation in… pic.twitter.com/BAxWjjRI02
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 13, 2025
Kyiv to audit state companies after graft scandal, says PM
Thursday 13 November 2025 16:01 , Alex CroftUkrainian prime minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said on Thursday that her government would carry out an audit of all state-owned companies, including energy ones, following a major corruption scandal that has led to the suspension of two cabinet ministers.
"We are preparing a comprehensive solution for all state-owned companies, including energy companies. We are conducting an audit and have instructed the supervisory boards to check the status of work, especially in the area of procurement," she said in a video published on the Telegram app.
Kyiv fires long-range Flamingo missiles in attack on Russian oil facilities
Thursday 13 November 2025 15:43 , Alex CroftUkrainian forces fired domestically-produced missiles, including the Flamingo, in a wave of attacks on Russian targets overnight, the military has said.
This includes an attack on the Morskoy Neftyanoy Terminal oil storage facility in occupied Crimea.
A helicopter parking site and other military facilities, including the Kirovske airfield, were also struck.
“Last night, several long-range strike systems were launched, including the domestically developed Flamingo, Bars and Lyutyi,” the Ukrainian army’s general staff said in a social media update.
"Units from the Ukrainian defence forces struck several dozen targets in Russia and the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine on the night of 12-13 November as part of efforts to reduce the military, economic and offensive capabilities of Russia, the aggressor state,” the Ukrainian army’s general staff said.
Another oil depot near Berdyansk in the Zaporizhzhia region was hit, as were several targets inside Russia.
The scale of the damage is still being assessed, the military added.
Lavrov hopes Washington will take no steps to escalate Ukraine war
Thursday 13 November 2025 14:31 , Alex CroftRussian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has said he hoped Washington would take no actions liable to escalate the Ukraine conflict.
Lavrov said US president Donald Trump had long advocated dialogue with Russia, had sought to fully understand the Russian position on Ukraine and "demonstrated a commitment to finding a sustainable peaceful solution".
"We are counting on common sense and that the maintaining of that position will prevail in Washington and that they will refrain from actions that could escalate the conflict to a new level," Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russian state news agency TASS.
The Russian minister did not acknowledge Moscow’s role in increasingly attacking Ukraine in its winter offensive.
Lavrov's comments were originally part of an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera. Tass said the Italian daily had declined to publish the interview.
Lavrov said Trump had acknowledged that one of the reasons behind Russia's actions was enlargement of the Nato alliance and the deployment of its infrastructure close to its border.
"In essence, that is what Russian president Vladimir Putin and Russia have been warning about for the last 20 years," Lavrov was quoted as saying.
Bulletin | Zelensky fires ministers as outrage grows over Ukraine energy corruption scandal
Thursday 13 November 2025 14:00 , Alex CroftRead our Bulletin on Volodymyr Zelensky’s corruption scandal, bringing you all you need to know in just five bullet points...
Zelenskyy fires ministers as outrage grows over corruption scandal
Watch: Russia ‘human’ robot falls on stage during debut
Thursday 13 November 2025 13:28 , Alex CroftBulgarian parliament overrules presidential attempt to takeover sanctioned oil refinery
Thursday 13 November 2025 12:57 , Alex CroftThe Bulgarian parliament has overruled a presidential veto on legislation allowing the government to take control of Lukoil's oil refinery and sell it to shield the asset from looming US sanctions.
The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and Britain imposed sanctions last month on Lukoil and Rosneft, Russia's two biggest oil companies, escalating pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine and threatening their operations across Europe.
Lawmakers approved changes last week giving a government-appointed commercial manager powers to oversee the continued operation of Lukoil's refinery in Bulgaria beyond November 21, when the U.S. sanctions are due to take effect, and to sell the company if needed.
President Rumen Radev vetoed the bill on Wednesday, warning it lacked safeguards against future financial claims against the state.
Parliament rejected his objections by 128 votes to 59 on Thursday, the Bulgarian news agency BTA reported.
