Volodymyr Zelensky has said the military situation in Pokrovsk remains “difficult”, with the bad weather in the area favouring Russian forces.
Sharing an update from Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Ukrainian president said Kyiv’s “main focus right now is on the Pokrovsk direction and the Zaporizhzhia region, where the Russians are increasing the number and scale of assaults”.
Ukrainian forces face a difficult situation in Pokrovsk “in part because of weather conditions that favour the attacks”, he said.
Russia deployed about 150,000 troops to drive towards the city in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, Mr Syrskyi told the New York Post.
Kyiv’s military said on Tuesday morning that there were believed to be around 300 Russian troops inside the town, which Moscow has been trying to capture for more than a year.
“The situation in Kupyansk is somewhat easier – our forces have achieved results there, and this has been the pattern for the past few weeks,” Mr Zelensky added, referring to the northern city which Moscow on Wednesday claimed to have partial control over.
His comments came after Ukraine’s military struck Russia's Saratov oil refinery overnight, causing explosions and a large fire in the area around the site in the latest attack on Russian energy facilities.
Zelensky wants 25 Patriot air defense systems from America. Here’s how they could change the war
Inside Ukraine’s start-up weapons industry rising from the ashes
Satellite images show scale of destruction in Pokrovsk as Russia pushes to take key Ukrainian city
Ukraine claims soldiers from African countries are fighting for Russia’s ‘meat assaults’
Key Points
- Zelensky says Pokrovsk situation 'difficult' - with bad weather favouring Russian attacks
- Ukrainian military says around 300 Russian troops are in Pokrovsk
- Fire erupts at Russia's Saratov oil refinery after major Ukrainian strikes
- Zelensky visits frontline city of Kherson
- Russia says it foiled Ukrainian-British plot to steal a MiG-31 jet
- Russia sent 150,000 troops to Pokrovsk, says Ukraine's top military commander
Romania finds possible drone fragments after Russian strikes on Ukrainian ports
19:00 , Alex CroftPossible drone fragments were found inside Romania's southeastern border region following Russian strikes on Ukrainian ports overnight, the Romanian Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday.
Romanian radars detected groups of drones near the NATO country's airspace just after midnight, prompting the ministry to issue an alert to residents of the southeastern region.
Weather conditions did not allow for fighter jets to be deployed, the defense ministry said, but military teams were able to recover possible drone fragments some three miles inside Romania's border with Ukraine.
Watch: Huge explosion erupts at Russia's major oil port after direct Ukrainian strike
18:30 , Alex CroftThis is the moment a huge explosion erupted at a major oil port in Russia following a heavy Russian attack.
Russia’s port town of Tuapse on the Black Sea was rocked by explosions overnight going into Monday, amid reports by local Telegram channels that Ukraine sea drones had attacked the
Footage published by major Telegram channel Astra show explosions and a resulting fire near the town’s port, which is home to a major oil terminal and refinery, The Kyiv Independent reported.
Tuapse has been the target of Ukrainian strikes as recently as 2 November, with drone attacks forcing fuel exports from the port to be halted.
Ukraine military using video game-style reward system earning points killing Russians with drones
17:56 , Alex CroftUkraine’s military units are competing with each other by launching deadly drone attacks to earn points that can be used to buy more weapons.
Bryony Gooch has more below...
Ukraine military using video game-style reward system to earn new weapons with points
Russians roll into Pokrovsk 'Mad-Max style'
17:25 , Alex CroftRussia said its forces had pushed deeper into the eastern Ukrainian cities of Pokrovsk and Kupiansk on Tuesday, with one video showing Russian soldiers rolling into Pokrovsk on motorbikes and even on the roofs of battered cars and vans.
Moscow says taking Pokrovsk, dubbed "the gateway to Donetsk" by Russian media, would give it a platform to drive north towards the two biggest remaining Ukrainian-controlled cities in the Donetsk region - Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
Russia has been threatening Pokrovsk for more than a year, using a pincer movement to attempt to encircle it and threaten supply lines, rather than the deadly frontal assaults it employed to capture the city of Bakhmut in 2023.
Russian war bloggers published a video on Tuesday showing what they said were Russian forces entering Pokrovsk along a road enveloped in fog, in what some Telegram users said looked like scenes from the 1979 action film "Mad Max", which unfolds in a post-apocalyptic landscape.
The video showed Russian forces on motorcycles and in an odd assortment of cars and other vehicles. Many vehicles, missing doors and windows, were shown driving along a road strewn with debris as soldiers looked on. Some Russian soldiers sat on the roof of a battered vehicle. A drone was seen beside the road.
Why is bad weather affecting Ukraine's defense of Pokrovsk?
16:52 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky has said that weather conditions are favouring Russian forces in their quest to seize Pokrovsk, which looks increasingly imminent.
But why is that the case?
Although the Ukrainian president didn’t go into more detail in his post on social media, it is likely to be a reference to the difficulties of operating drones in rain, wind and fog.
Drone warfare has transformed the way the Russia-Ukraine war has been carried out, and has been a lynchpin to Ukraine’s fierce defense of its frontline.
Calm and clear days, with little or no wind, are the most favourable conditions for a drone pilot, ensuring GPS stability and strong satellite connection.
Conditions have been chilly around Pokrovsk, with night time temperatures dropping low into the single digits. There have been some showers, with more expected overnight on Tuesday, according to Accuweather.
This makes defending Pokrovsk, which relies heavily on drones for surveillance and precision strikes, all the more difficult under some already-tough conditions.
Zelensky says Pokrovsk situation 'difficult' - with bad weather favouring Russian attacks
15:48 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky has share a military update from commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi Russia’s assaults on Pokrovsk and in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The situation remains “difficult” in Pokrovsk, he said, adding that it is “in part because of weather conditions that favour the attacks”.
The Ukrainian president added: “The situation in Kupyansk is somewhat easier – our forces have achieved results there, and this has been the pattern for the past few weeks.”
Ukrainian defensive forces are also focussed on the Zaporizhzhia region, where trhe Russians have been increasing the “number and scale of assaults”, he added.
Recap: Kremlin denies order to begin nuclear testing
15:16 , Alex CroftRussian president Vladimir Putin gave no order to begin preparations for nuclear weapons testing, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
"The president gave no instructions to begin preparations," Peskov told state owned VGTRK.
"First of all, we must understand whether we should do it. This must be a serious, well-founded and thought-out decision. So our specialists will work on that.”
Watch: Moment 11-year-old girl bravely confronts Putin after uncle injured in war
14:55 , Alex CroftUkraine's special forces say they hit Russian oil depot in occupied Crimea
14:36 , Alex CroftUkraine’s special forces have struck a Russian oil depot in occupied Crimea, officials have said.
"The Hvardiyska oil depot is an important element of the fuel logistics system of the occupying authorities in Crimea," the special forces stated on Telegram.
"It is important for supplying military facilities and transport of the enemy army."
The Independent could not independently verify the report.
Analysis | Russia stands to gain very little from the bloody battle for Pokrovsk
14:15 , Alex CroftNot a word of what the Russian defence ministry says is credible. Its claims that Russian troops have surrounded Ukrainian forces in Pokrovsk, Kostyantynivka and Kupiansk, in eastern Ukraine, are agitprop.
But Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement from the front line that his country’s fighters are “under pressure” is something of an understatement.
Ukraine's top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, told the New York Post that Russia was concentrating some 150,000 troops on a drive to capture the town, which is much prized by Russia.
Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Russian troops may have already successfully infiltrated the three tactically important towns.
Our world affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:
Russia stands to gain very little from the bloody battle for Pokrovsk
Russia claims control over village in Zaporizhzhia region
13:53 , Alex CroftRussia’s defence ministry has claimed that its forces have captured the village of Novouspenivske in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region.
The Independent cannot independently verify the report, but authoritative Ukrainian battlefield map DeepState indicates that Russian troops have surrounded the village.
We’ll bring you more detail as we get it.
Watch: Zelensky says corruption must be punished as $100 million energy scandal hits Ukraine
13:31 , Alex CroftRussian defences destroy 37 Ukrainian drones, says Moscow
13:11 , Alex CroftRussia's air defence units destroyed 37 Ukrainian drones overnight over seven Russian regions and the Crimean Peninsula, RIA news agency reported on Tuesday, citing daily data from the Russian defence ministry.
Moscow does not usually release the full number of drones fired by Ukraine in its overnight attacks.
Russia claims full control over eastern part of Kupiansk city in Kharkiv region
12:52 , Alex CroftRussian forces have taken full control of the eastern part of the city of Kupiansk in Ukraine's Kharkiv region and are actively advancing inside the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, Russia's Defence Ministry said on Tuesday.
The ministry also reported that its troops had taken control of the settlement of Novouspenivske in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region.
The Independent could not independently confirm the battlefield reports.
In Focus | Inside Ukraine’s start-up weapons industry rising from the ashes
12:29 , Alex CroftOur world affairs editor Sam Kiley visited Kyiv recently, where he delved into the world of Ukraine’s start-up weapons industry which has become crucial to its war effort against Russia.
Naive, self-sabotaging and riddled with Moscow’s agents, Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons and an arms industry that produced a third of the Soviet Union’s supply, trusted the West and the Kremlin to protect it, and was left fighting for its life, he reports.
Now, 30 years on, the start-up nation redefining how war is fought has been forced into a bodge-and-make-do world of arms production, fusing old technology with IT know-how to break the bonds its allies tied to make Kyiv fight one-handed.
Read more here:
Inside Ukraine’s start-up weapons industry rising from the ashes
Zelensky visits hospital 'under constant threat' in Kherson
12:15 , Alex CroftWe earlier brought you the news that Volodymyr Zelensky has visited Kherson, a frontline city in southern Ukraine just a matter of kilometres away from Russian positions.
He has shared images of a visit to a hospital in the city which he says is “operating under constant threat, in a shelling zone”.
The Ukrainian president added: “Every day, they save people injured in Russian drone and artillery attacks. To ensure that medical staff can work safely, the intensive care unit is located underground.
“I thank the doctors and everyone who saves Ukrainian men and women even in such difficult circumstances.”
One of Kherson’s hospitals that is operating under constant threat, in a shelling zone. I spoke with the doctors and patients of the facility. Every day, they save people injured in Russian drone and artillery attacks. To ensure that medical staff can work safely, the intensive… pic.twitter.com/ndT7zUPayk
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 11, 2025
Ukraine opens major graft investigation into power sector
11:59 , Alex CroftUkraine's nuclear energy company said Tuesday its operations are unaffected by a major graft investigation into the country's power sector that is centering on alleged kickbacks worth some $100 million.
Energoatom, a state-owned enterprise which generates more than a half of Ukraine's energy supply, said in a statement that the probe by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau has not disrupted production or operational safety.
Its assurances came a day after the agency revealed some details of a 15-month investigation into suspected corruption in the energy sector, including at Energoatom.
Large amounts of Ukrainian and foreign funds have flowed into the energy sector as infrastructure is repeatedly repaired following relentless Russian aerial attacks. Ukraine's Energy Ministry said Tuesday that Russia attacked energy infrastructure in the Kharkiv, Odesa and Donetsk regions overnight and that scheduled power outages were in place in most regions of Ukraine.
Zelensky visits frontline city of Kherson
11:25 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky has visited the frontline southern city of Kherson.
The city is just a few kilometres from Russian positions across the Dnipro river, and is under constant bombardment by bombs and drones.
The Ukrainian president posted a photograph of himself at the entrance to the city, with a large ornamental sign bearing Kherson's name behind him.
He also posted a video of him giving a speech to commemorate the third anniversary of Russia’s withdrawal from Kherson in 2022, more than eight months after Russian troops invaded the region.
"We are preparing decisions which should strengthen Kherson," he said in the speech.
Mapped: How far have Russian forces infiltrated Pokrovsk?
11:00 , Alex CroftFire erupts at Russia's Saratov oil refinery after major Ukrainian strikes
10:39 , Alex CroftUkraine's military said on Tuesday it struck Russia's Saratov oil refinery overnight, causing explosions and a large fire in the area around the site.
A series of explosions rocked the Russian city of Saratov and Engels early on Tuesday
"On the night of 10-11 November, units of Ukraine's defence forces struck the Saratov Oil Refinery in Russia's Saratov Oblast [region],” Ukraine’s General Staff wrote on Facebook.
“A series of explosions was recorded, followed by a large fire in the target area. The results of the strikes are being confirmed."
The General Staff said the Saratov refinery produces more than 20 types of petroleum products, supplying the needs of the Russian forces.
Kyiv’s forces also hit a "Sea Oil Terminal" in Russian-occupied Crimea and a warehouse in occupied Donetsk.
Ukrainian military says around 300 Russian troops are in Pokrovsk
10:09 , Alex CroftUkraine's military said on Tuesday about 300 Russian soldiers were inside the embattled town of Pokrovsk, and that Moscow had intensified efforts to get more troops in over the past few days, using dense fog for cover.
"Their goal remains unchanged - to reach the northern borders of Pokrovsk and then attempt to encircle the agglomeration," Ukraine's 7th paratrooper corps said on Facebook.
Fierce battles around Pokrovsk, once a key Ukrainian road and rail hub but now a ruined town, have been raging for months as Moscow grinds forward slowly in eastern Ukraine.
Watch: Huge explosion erupts at Russia's major oil port after direct Ukrainian strike
09:34 , Alex CroftThis is the moment a huge explosion erupted at a major oil port in Russia following a heavy Russian attack.
Russia’s port town of Tuapse on the Black Sea was rocked by explosions overnight going into Monday, amid reports by local Telegram channels that Ukraine sea drones had attacked the
Footage published by major Telegram channel Astra show explosions and a resulting fire near the town’s port, which is home to a major oil terminal and refinery, The Kyiv Independent reported.
Tuapse has been the target of Ukrainian strikes as recently as 2 November, with drone attacks forcing fuel exports from the port to be halted.
Russia says it foiled Ukrainian-British plot to steal MiG-31 jet
09:33 , Alex CroftRussia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said it had foiled a plot by Ukrainian and British spies to tempt Russian pilots to steal a MiG-31 jet armed with a Kinzhal hypersonic missile for $3 million, state media reported on Tuesday.
The RIA news agency cited the FSB as saying that the hijacked jet was to be flown toward a NATO air base in the Romanian city of Constanta, where it could have been shot down by air defences.
The FSB, the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, said Ukraine and Britain had planned a large-scale "provocation" using the hijacked aircraft, and that Ukrainian military intelligence had sought to recruit Russian pilots for $3 million to steal the fighter.
Full report here:
Russia says it foiled Ukrainian-British plot to steal MiG-31 jet
Ukraine 'strikes Saratov oil refinery'
08:53 , James ReynoldsUkraine’s military said on Tuesday that it had hit Russia’s Saratov oil refinery.
Local governor Roman Busargin said that drones had damaged civilian infrastructure but did not confirm whether the refinery had been hit.
The refinery in Saratov is a major producer of petroleum products, essential for Putin’s war effort.
Romania finds possible drone fragments after Russian strikes on Ukrainian ports
08:23 , James ReynoldsPossible drone fragments were found inside Romania's southeastern border region following Russian strikes on Ukrainian ports overnight, the Romanian Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday.
Romanian radars detected groups of drones near the NATO country's airspace just after midnight, prompting the ministry to issue an alert to residents of the southeastern region.
Weather conditions did not allow for fighter jets to be deployed, the defense ministry said, but military teams were able to recover possible drone fragments some three miles inside Romania's border with Ukraine.
Firefighters work at the site of the Russian drone strike in Odesa
07:22 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Russian drone attack damages energy infrastructure
07:21 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA Russian drone attack on Ukraine's southern Odesa region damaged energy and transport infrastructure, injuring one person and sparking fires at multiple energy facilities, the regional governor has said.
The attack injured one person, sparked fires at various energy facilities and damaged a depot of the state-owned Ukrainian Railways.
"Critical infrastructure in the region is operating on generators, and emergency centres have been opened," Governor Oleh Kiper said.
Romania says possible Russian drone fragments found
06:45 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRomania found possible drone fragments 5km inside its border after a Russian overnight attack on Ukrainian Danube river ports, its defence ministry said.
Weather conditions did not allow the Nato state to scramble fighter jets and the population in the area was alerted to take cover, the ministry added.
Romania, which shares a 650km border with Ukraine, has had Russian drone fragments fall onto its territory repeatedly and airspace breaches
Russian forces push south of the Ukrainian city of Kupiansk - report
06:26 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussian forces have pushed deep into the Ukrainian city of Kupiansk, pushing south to capture a series of train stations, according to a Russian commander quoted by the defence ministry.
Russian forces in the Kharkiv region are now attacking Kupiansk Vuzlovyi.
Watch: Zelensky says corruption must be punished as $100m energy scandal hits Ukraine
06:04 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussia says it foiled Ukrainian-British plot to steal a MiG-31 jet
05:53 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said it had foiled a plot by Ukrainian and British spies to tempt Russian pilots to steal a MiG-31 jet armed with a Kinzhal hypersonic missile for $3m (£2.2m), state media reported this morning.
The RIA news agency cited the FSB as saying that the hijacked jet was to be flown toward a Nato air base in the Romanian city of Constanta, where it could have been shot down by air defences, the agency reported.
The FSB, the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, said Ukraine and Britain had planned a large-scale "provocation" using the hijacked aircraft, and that Ukrainian military intelligence had sought to recruit Russian pilots for $3m (£2.2m) to steal the fighter.
"The measures taken have thwarted the Ukrainian and British intelligence services' plans for a large-scale provocation," RIA cited the FSB as saying.
State TV showed pictures of messages and recordings of a man who they said was working for Ukrainian and British intelligence and had offered $3m (£2.2m) to a Russian pilot to fly a MiG to Europe and that the pilot had also been offered citizenship.
UK military to help Belgium combat suspected Russian drone flights
05:45 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe UK is sending military support, including RAF specialists, to Belgium after suspected Russian drone incursions on its airspace, the new chief of Britain’s armed forces has announced.
In a decision made alongside defence secretary John Healey, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the chief of defence staff, said the personnel and equipment are now on the way after his Belgian counterpart asked for help earlier this week.
Belgium’s main airport at Zaventem closed temporarily on Thursday night after drones were spotted nearby and also at military bases, with around 3,000 Brussels Airlines passengers affected as dozens of flights were cancelled or diverted.
More here.
UK military to help Belgium combat suspected Russian drone flights
Russia says it foiled Ukrainian-British plot to hijack jet
05:06 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said it had foiled a Ukrainian-British plot to hijack a MiG-31 jet armed with a Kinzhal hypersonic missile, RIA news agency reported this morning.
The FSB claimed that the hijacked jet was to be flown toward a Nato air base in the Romanian city of Constanta, where it could have been shot down by air defences.
Russia sent 150,000 troops to Pokrovsk, says Ukraine's top military commander
04:58 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUkraine's top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, told the New York Post that Russia was concentrating some 150,000 troops on a drive to capture Pokrovsk, with mechanised groups and marine brigades part of the push.
He added that Ukrainian forces were using built-up urban areas to limit the progress of Russian troops and were also confronting Russian sabotage units.
"There are ongoing battles and fights raging on. There are fast manoeuvres carried out by the enemy all the time," he added.
Ukraine launches corruption investigation into energy sector
03:53 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUkraine's anti-corruption agencies have launched a "large-scale operation" into the country's energy sector to uncover graft involving a "high-level criminal organisation", according to reports.
The National Anti-Corruption Agency (NABU) said that along with the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), it conducted a “large-scale operation” to expose the alleged corruption.
The agency added that the investigation involved 15 months of work and 1,000 hours of audio recordings.“The activities of a high-level criminal organization have been documented,” the statement said, adding that the scheme was organised to influence “strategic state-sector enterprises".
NABU claimed that those involved in the scheme sought to obtain illegal benefits to the tune of up to 15 per cent of a state contract value.
Zelensky wants 25 Patriot air defense systems from America. Here’s how they could change the war
03:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarPresident Volodymyr Zelensky wants to order 25 Patriot air defence systems from the United States, as the nation faces relentless Russian aerial attacks, causing widespread blackouts on the brink of winter.
Acknowledging the high cost and lengthy manufacturing time, Mr Zelensky suggested European countries could donate their Patriots and await replacements, stressing, "we would not like to wait."
The missile and drone strikes on the power grid coincide with Ukraine’s efforts to repel a Russian push towards the eastern stronghold of Pokrovsk.
Zelensky wants Patriot systems. Here’s how they could change the war
Ukraine's commander-in-chief denies Russia's control over Pokrovsk
03:21 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has denied reports of Russia's progress in Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, where troops from Kyiv and Moscow have been engaged in one of the fiercest frontline battles.
"They continue to show this area on their maps as if it’s under their control," Oleksandr Syrsky said.
"This perception — that the enemy has got practically everything and they’re about to finish it — is not true."
His statement comes after Russian media reports claimed that Moscow’s troops have overtaken the city of Pokrovsk.
Russia says Ukraine attack damaged civilian infrastructure
03:12 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUkrainian overnight drone attack damaged civilian infrastructure in the Saratov region, the governor of the western Russian region said this morning.
"All emergency services were deployed to the scene," governor Roman Basurgin said on Telegram.
Ukraine military using video game-style reward system earning points killing Russians with drones
03:00 , Joe MiddletonUkraine’s military units are competing with each other by launching deadly drone attacks to earn points that can be used to buy more weapons.
Bryony Gooch has more below...
Ukraine military using video game-style reward system to earn new weapons with points
Recap: Kremlin denies order to begin nuclear testing
02:00 , Joe MiddletonRussian president Vladimir Putin gave no order to begin preparations for nuclear weapons testing, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
"The president gave no instructions to begin preparations," Peskov told state owned VGTRK.
"First of all, we must understand whether we should do it. This must be a serious, well-founded and thought-out decision. So our specialists will work on that.”
Recap: Ukraine's special forces say they hit Russian oil depot in occupied Crimea
00:05 , Joe MiddletonUkraine’s special forces have struck a Russian oil depot in occupied Crimea, officials have said.
"The Hvardiyska oil depot is an important element of the fuel logistics system of the occupying authorities in Crimea," the special forces stated on Telegram.
"It is important for supplying military facilities and transport of the enemy army."
The Independent could not independently verify the report.
Watch: How Ukraine and Russia are playing out a deadly cat and mouse drone war from underground bunkers
Monday 10 November 2025 22:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkraine military using video game-style reward system earning points killing Russians with drones
Monday 10 November 2025 21:34 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkraine’s military units are competing with each other by launching deadly drone attacks to earn points that can be used to buy more weapons.
Bryony Gooch has more below...
Ukraine military using video game-style reward system to earn new weapons with points
Watch: Zelensky vows to increase support for frontline after visiting Ukrainian troops
Monday 10 November 2025 21:01 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussian soldier jailed for life after killing POW in landmark Ukraine war ruling
Monday 10 November 2025 20:32 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkraine has sentenced a Russian soldier to life in prison for killing a Ukrainian prisoner of war in a landmark first ruling for the country.
Dmitry Kurashov, 27, was found guilty of fatally shooting Vitalii Hodniuk, a 41-year-old veteran Ukrainian soldier who surrendered when his dugout was captured by Russian forces in January 2024.
Kurashov told Reuters that he did not plan to appeal the decision after the sentencing was handed down at the court in the city of Zaporizhzhia.
Maira Butt has the full story below...
Russian soldier jailed for life after killing POW in landmark Ukraine war ruling
Recap: Kremlin denies order to begin nuclear testing
Monday 10 November 2025 20:02 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussian president Vladimir Putin gave no order to begin preparations for nuclear weapons testing, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
"The president gave no instructions to begin preparations," Peskov told state owned VGTRK.
"First of all, we must understand whether we should do it. This must be a serious, well-founded and thought-out decision. So our specialists will work on that.”
Putin’s war forces drinkers to pick up a bottle of Russian wine as prices skyrocket
Monday 10 November 2025 19:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussia's supermarket shelves, once dominated by French Burgundy and Italian Barolo wines, are now abundantly stocked with domestic vintages, as Western sanctions linked to the Ukraine war push consumers towards local vineyards.
These sanctions, imposed after President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine in early 2022, have reshaped consumer habits, driving up foreign wine prices and narrowing brand availability of imports.
As a result, Russian wine sales have surged, now comprising around 60 per cent of the market, up from 25 per cent ten years ago.
You can read more below...
Putin’s war forces drinkers to pick up a bottle of Russian wine as prices skyrocket
Satellite images show scale of destruction in Pokrovsk
Monday 10 November 2025 19:01 , Nicole Wootton-CaneNew satellite images show how Pokrovsk, a key strategic city in Ukraine currently witnessing the fiercest fighting in the war with Russia, has been largely reduced to ruins.
UK military to help Belgium combat suspected Russian drone flights
Monday 10 November 2025 18:32 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe UK is sending military support, including RAF specialists, to Belgium after suspected Russian drone incursions on its airspace, the new chief of Britain’s armed forces has announced.
In a decision made alongside defence secretary John Healey, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the chief of defence staff, said the personnel and equipment are now on the way after his Belgian counterpart asked for help earlier this week.
Tara Cobham has more below...
UK military to help Belgium combat suspected Russian drone flights
Recap: Kremlin denies rumours Lavrov sidelined by Putin over failed Trump summit
Monday 10 November 2025 18:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Kremlin has moved to dismiss mounting speculation that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has fallen out of favour with President Vladimir Putin.
The rumours emerged after efforts to arrange a summit between the Russian leader and Donald Trump were reportedly put on hold last month.
But when questioned on Friday about Mr Lavrov's standing with the president, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov firmly rejected the notion.
You can read more below...
Watch: Inside Ukraine’s start-up weapons industry rising from the ashes
Monday 10 November 2025 17:31 , Nicole Wootton-CaneFears Pokrovsk will fall ‘within weeks’ as Ukraine sends in its elite units
Monday 10 November 2025 17:02 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe battle for Pokrovsk in Ukraine's Donetsk region has reached a pivotal stage, with Russian and Ukrainian forces locked in intense combat, even vying for control of individual residential buildings, according to soldiers and analysts.
Experts suggest that Russian troops, having exploited gaps in Ukrainian defences to enter Pokrovsk last month, are now positioned to fully capture the city within weeks or months.
You can read more about the battle for Pokrovsk and what it means below...
Fears Pokrovsk will fall ‘within weeks’ as Ukraine sends in its elite units
Ukraine claims soldiers from African countries are fighting for Russia’s ‘meat assaults’
Monday 10 November 2025 16:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneMore than 1,400 citizens from 36 African nations are reportedly fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, Kyiv's foreign minister said on Friday.
Ukrainian officials claim Russia is actively seeking to augment its invading army by recruiting individuals from various countries, often employing deceptive tactics.
Andriy Sybiha warned that Russia is luring Africans into contracts he described as "equivalent to ... a death sentence," urging African governments to issue warnings to their populations.
You can read more below...
Ukraine claims soldiers from African countries are fighting Russia’s ‘meat assaults’
Zelensky wants Patriot air defence systems from America. Here’s how they could change the war
Monday 10 November 2025 16:01 , Nicole Wootton-CanePresident Volodymyr Zelensky wants to order 25 Patriot air defence systems from the United States as the nation faces relentless Russian aerial attacks causing widespread blackouts on the brink of winter.
But how could Patriot defence systems change the war - if at all?
You can read more below...
Zelensky wants Patriot systems. Here’s how they could change the war
Ukraine's special forces say they hit Russian oil depot in occupied Crimea
Monday 10 November 2025 15:32 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkraine’s special forces have struck a Russian oil depot in occupied Crimea, officials have said.
"The Hvardiyska oil depot is an important element of the fuel logistics system of the occupying authorities in Crimea," the special forces stated on Telegram.
"It is important for supplying military facilities and transport of the enemy army."
The Independent could not independently verify the report.
Watch: Moment 11-year-old girl bravely confronts Putin after uncle injured in war
Monday 10 November 2025 15:01 , Nicole Wootton-CanePutin expected to visit India by year's end
Monday 10 November 2025 14:31 , James ReynoldsThe Kremlin said on Monday it was "actively preparing" for President Vladimir Putin to visit India before the end of the year and hoped it would be a substantive trip.
Teenage musician detained after performing anti-Kremlin songs, supporters say
Monday 10 November 2025 14:01 , James ReynoldsPolice in St. Petersburg have detained Diana Loginova, a teenage street musician already jailed twice for short stints after performing anti-Kremlin songs, as she left prison, state media and her supporters said on Monday.
Loginova, 18, a vocalist in the Stoptime group, was first arrested with other band members last month and jailed for 13 days for a public order offence after her performance of a banned track, the "Swan Lake Cooperative", by exiled anti-Kremlin Russian rapper Noize MC, went viral on social media.
The Swan Lake track got her into trouble because the famous ballet by Piotr Tchaikovsky is seen as a symbol of political change by some in Russia who remember it was shown on state TV after the death of Soviet leaders and during a 1991 coup against Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet president.
Progress on ending war in Ukraine 'stalled', says Kremlin
Monday 10 November 2025 13:32 , James ReynoldsThe Kremlin said on Monday it wanted the Ukraine war to end as soon as possible but that the situation was stalled.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was responding to remarks on Friday by U.S. President Donald Trump, who spoke about ending the war in the "not-too-distant future".
Kremlin continues to deny rift between Putin and foreign minister
Monday 10 November 2025 13:00 , James ReynoldsThe Kremlin said on Monday that Sergei Lavrov was working actively as Russia's foreign minister and suggested that people ignore Western media speculation that he may have fallen out of favour with President Vladimir Putin.
Lavrov, 75, a veteran Soviet-era diplomat known for his robust negotiating style, was absent from a big Kremlin meeting last week that he would typically attend, and Putin chose someone else to attend a G20 summit in South Africa later this month, a role that Lavrov has filled in the past.
Russia could open a second front in Europe before war ends, Zelensky assesses
Monday 10 November 2025 12:32 , James ReynoldsVolodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia could open a second front in Europe before ending the war in Ukriane.
Asked by The Guardian whether Russia could attack somewhere else in Europe, the Ukrainian president said: “I believe so. He can do that.
“We must forget about the general European scepticism that Putin first wants to occupy Ukraine and then may go somewhere else. He can do both at the same time.”
Kazakh president to visit Russia this week
Monday 10 November 2025 12:06 , James ReynoldsThe president of Kazakhstan is expected to visit Russia this week to discuss bilateral relations, the Kremlin press service reported today.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will be in Russia on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the strategic partnership with Russia, “as well as key topics on the regional and global agenda”.
Trade between Russia and Kazakhstan has increased since the invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine launches corruption probe into energy sector
Monday 10 November 2025 11:29 , James ReynoldsUkraine's anti-corruption bureau said on Monday that it was conducting a large-scale operation to uncover corruption in the country's energy sector.
"The activities of a high-level criminal organisation have been documented," the bureau said about the investigation which involves 1,000 hours of audio recordings and took 15 months of work.
"Its members have built a large-scale corruption scheme to influence strategic enterprises in the public sector, in particular JSC 'Energoatom'," according to the post on the Telegram messaging app.
'Weakness does not produce dialogue with Russia,' says Zelensky
Monday 10 November 2025 11:04 , James ReynoldsVolodymyr Zelensky on Monday urged European strength against Russian belligerence in a post on X.
The Ukrainian president wrote that European assume that any response to Russia will be an “escalation”.
“I believe the opposite,” he said. “Russia does not like weakness. Any intellectual responses – precisely the kind Europe finds – read as weakness to Russia.”
Zelensky urged that “weakness does not produce dialogue with Russia” as questions linger over how to bring Moscow to the negotiating table.
“To the Russians, it is simply weakness – and that means they can impose their narratives.”
It is not Europe that is at war with Russia; it is Russia that is at war with Ukraine – and potentially with many in Europe. We understand what they are capable of and what they might do, but Europe fears the word “escalation.” And Europeans always assume that, because they are…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 10, 2025
UK military to help Belgium combat suspected Russian drone flights
Monday 10 November 2025 10:31 , James ReynoldsThe UK is sending military support, including RAF specialists, to Belgium after suspected Russian drone incursions on its airspace, the new chief of Britain’s armed forces has announced.
In a decision made alongside defence secretary John Healey, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the chief of defence staff, said the personnel and equipment are now on the way after his Belgian counterpart asked for help earlier this week.
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UK military to help Belgium combat suspected Russian drone flights
Ukrainian strikes disrupt power and heating to 2 major cities in Russia
Monday 10 November 2025 10:01 , James ReynoldsNighttime Ukrainian strikes disrupted power and heating to two major Russian cities near the Ukrainian border, local Russian officials reported Sunday.
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Ukrainian strikes disrupt power and heating to 2 major cities in Russia
In pictures: Children play games in an underground bunker in Kherson
Monday 10 November 2025 09:31 , James Reynolds
Recap: Key developments over the weekend
Monday 10 November 2025 08:54 , James Reynolds- Kyiv faced 12 hours of blackouts after a major Russian attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure;
- Russian advances around Pokrovsk, a key transport hub in Donetsk, slowed. But analysts expect movements to pick up as Moscow rushes reinforcements to the area;
- Ukraine continued to strike deep into Russia, targeting the energy sector, analysts said;
- Europe continued to report aerial incursions causing disruptions at airports. Vilnius airport, in Lithuania, was shut overnight on Saturday into Sunday;
- The ongoing US government shutdown is affecting American weapons exports to European NATO allies and Ukraine, Axios reported on Sunday;
- Veteran Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said he was ready to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in person to discuss the war amid rumours of a rift between Lavrov and Putin - denied by the Kremlin.
