The peace plan being pushed by Donald Trump's administration would force Ukraine to give up some of its arms and lease key territories to Russia, it has been reported.
The deal would require Kyiv to cede control of the eastern Donbas region while legally retaining ownership of it, in exchange for an undisclosed rental fee from Moscow, officials familiar with the deal told the Telegraph.
It is one of a number of concessions reportedly demanded from Ukraine, including that it give up long-range missiles and slash its military personnel by half.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian military officials say their efforts to hold on to the strategic city of Pokrovsk are being complicated by Russian soldiers disguising themselves as civilians.
“They have been changing clothes for a long time and receive instructions to do so," the commander of the 68th Jaeger Brigade, codenamed "Liutyi," told Suspilne. Combatants passing themselves off as civilians in order to ambush the enemy is known as perfidy and considered a war crime.
Trump administration ‘secretly working’ on 28-point peace plan with Russia to end Ukraine war
Putin passes new law to force reservists to guard oil sites from Ukrainian drone strikes
Revealed: The Russian commander wanted by Ukraine over Bucha massacres
Russia’s Yantar ‘spy’ ship: Why it is lurking near UK waters – and the risks it poses
Key Points
- Trump pushing cash-for-land deal on Ukraine in new peace plan – report
- Putin's troops using war crime tactic to fight in Pokrovsk, says Ukraine
- Russian spy ship directed lasers at UK military pilots, Defence Secretary says
- Poland will respond to railway sabotage, minister says
- Spy ship shows Russia presents 'genuine and immediate threat' to UK
What is Russia's Yantar ship doing near UK waters?
07:04 , Arpan RaiWhen Russia's Yantar vessel last approached British waters in January, defence secretary John Healey said the ship was used for mapping the UK’s critical infrastructure.
On Wednesday, he echoed those comments.“It is part of a Russian fleet designed to put and hold our undersea infrastructure and those of our allies at risk,” he said.
“It isn’t just a naval operation. It’s part of a Russian programme driven by what they call the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research, or GUGI, and this is designed to have capabilities which can undertake surveillance in peacetime and sabotage in conflict.”
The UK and Nato allies are increasingly concerned about the risk Moscow poses to offshore cables, pipelines and other infrastructure critical to internet connectivity.
Putin's troops using war crime tactic to fight in Pokrovsk, says Ukraine
06:58 , Arpan RaiRussian forces fighting in Pokrovsk are disguising themselves by dressing up as civilians, military officials said, adding that this complicates Ukraine’s defence efforts.
Military personnel deliberately passing as civilians to deceive the enemy is classified as a war crime, and even changing into the uniforms of Ukrainian forces or other Ukrainian security services violates the laws and customs of war.
"It is more like sabotage and reconnaissance work. They do not follow any standard procedures, but their movements still complicate our logistics routes," the commander of the 68th Jaeger Brigade, codenamed "Liutyi," told Suspilne yesterday.
“The most difficult thing is that they disguise themselves as civilians. They have been changing clothes for a long time and receive instructions to do so," he said.
"Sometimes we identify the enemy only after the start of the firefight, because civilians will not open fire on our units,” he said.
Ex-MI6 chief says navy could fire 'warning shot' or 'cut off' Russian spy ship
06:56 , Arpan RaiSir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6, has said that Navy may be forced to "fire a warning shot" or "cut off" a Russian spy ship that was found lurking off northern Scotland.
The spy ship directed lasers at RAF pilots who were surveilling its activities, defence secretary John Healey said yesterday.
Royal Navy frigates and RAF P-8 planes had been deployed to monitor the Yantar vessel, which is designed for gathering intelligence, when the Russians directed the lasers at the planes.
Defence secretary John Healey said Britain “is ready” to respond, with “military options” drawn up if the ship heads south, in a warning to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Sir Dearlove said he believes the Navy frigate "would be very aggressive" if the Yantar "came in too close"."Maybe they would fire a warning shot, or maybe cut it off in such a way as to get it to change course," he told Sky News.
The former MI6 boss said the ship was clearly "part of Russia's underwater warfare capability".
“I think it can launch submersibles from under its keel. And they're probably recceing undersea connections into the UK," he told Sky News, adding that Britain has a lot of strategic links, including data links, electricity and gas links.
Trump pushing cash-for-land deal on Ukraine in new peace plan – report
06:29 , Arpan RaiThe US officials working on a new peace plan could force Ukraine to lease a part of its territory to Russia, people aware of the situation said.
The deal would ask Kyiv to cede control of the eastern Donbas region, while retaining legal ownership of the territory, officials familiar with the deal told The Telegraph.
Russia would pay an undisclosed rental fee for the region, they said. Russian will be the official state language and the Russian orthodox church would be given official status in the occupied territories.
The deal will also slash the size of Ukraine’s military in half and ban them from possessing long-range missiles, the report added.
The deployment of foreign troops will also be blocked under this deal, US military assistance will also cease and foreign diplomatic aircraft will be prevented from landing in the country.
Trump told Putin he will 'settle your freaking war'
06:28 , Arpan RaiDonald Trump has said he told Russian president Vladimir Putin he would settle the war in Ukraine, as he renews efforts to push both sides into agreeing a peace deal.
Speaking at the end of US-Saudi investment forum at Washington’s Kennedy Centre, Trump said that he recently made a backchannel outreach to Putin.
He said that he told Putin: “Let me settle your freaking war.”
Russia’s Yantar ‘spy’ ship: Why it is lurking near UK waters – and the risks it poses
06:13 , Arpan RaiA Russian “spy ship” is lurking near British waters where it directed lasers at UK military pilots who were surveilling its activities, the defence secretary has said.
Royal Navy frigates and RAF P-8 planes had been deployed to monitor the Yantar vessel, which is designed for gathering intelligence, when the Russians directed the lasers at the planes.
Yantar is a special-purpose vessel built by the Russian Navy’s secretive Main Directorate of Underwater Research (GUGI), an element of Russia’s armed forces – although it reports directly to the Ministry of Defence.
Its objective, according to the Council on Geostrategy, a non-profit think tank based in Westminster, London, is to operate submarines that can gather intelligence on the deep sea, allowing possible sabotage of underwater cables.
Read more about what is the Yantar vessel doing near British territory:
What is the Russian spy ship lurking near British waters - and is the UK vulnerable?
Trump administration ‘secretly working’ on 28-point peace plan with Russia to end Ukraine war
05:59 , Arpan RaiWashington has been secretly forming a plan with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, according to a report.
The new 28-point plan would consist of “security guarantees, security in Europe, and future US relations with Russia and Ukraine”, Axios reported, citing sources.
It comes amid a fresh attempt by the US to force through a peace between Moscow and Kyiv after several diplomatic overtures faltered in recent months.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is said to have discussed the plan with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev and Volodymyr Zelensky’s security adviser Rustem Umerov, according to officials from Washington and Kyiv.
Watch: Aftermath of deadly Russian strike on Ukrainian city of Ternopil
05:54 , Arpan RaiInside Putin’s plan to crush Ukraine this winter – and why it might work
05:50 , Arpan RaiCold and darkness are the cruel weapons of Russia’s energy terror campaign aimed at crushing Ukraine this winter. The Kremlin has been attempting to systematically destroy Ukraine’s electricity, heating and transport systems for three years now – so far, without success.
But this winter could be the one when Ukraine’s air defences are finally overwhelmed. Russia’s attack strategies have been honed to a peak of destructiveness, with a raft of devastating new tactics aimed at making whole cities and regions uninhabitable.
First, and most spectacularly, Russian forces are becoming increasingly adept at evading air defences by sending ballistic and cruise missiles and drones in unprecedentedly large swarms.
Last week, for instance, Kyiv was kept under unrelenting bombardment for over five hours, with 430 drones and nearly 20 missiles hitting electrical grids, railway sidings and gas-fired power stations, as well as smashing into apartment buildings. At least eight civilians were killed.
Owen Matthews reports on Putin’s plan to deliver his fatal blow:
Inside Putin’s plan to crush Ukraine this winter – and why it might work
Kremlin refuses to budge on peace deal
05:33 , Arpan RaiEfforts to revive peace negotiations appear to be gaining momentum although Moscow has shown no sign of changing its terms for ending the war.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has long demanded Kyiv renounce plans to join the US-led Nato military alliance and withdraw its troops from four provinces Moscow claims as part of Russia.
Moscow has given no indication that it has dropped any of those demands and Ukraine says it will not accept them.
Russian forces control about 19 per cent of Ukrainian territory and are grinding forwards, while carrying out frequent attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure as winter approaches.
Turkey, a Nato member that has remained close to both Kyiv and Moscow, hosted an initial round of peace talks in the early weeks of the war in 2022, the only such talks until this year when Trump launched a new bid to end the fighting.
Zelensky says Trump has 'sufficient strength' to end Ukraine war
05:06 , Arpan RaiUkraine president Volodymyr Zelensky has called for effective US leadership to help bring the war in his country to an end.
Zelensky said only the United States and US president Donald Trump "have sufficient strength for the war to finally come to an end."
Zelensky, who was holding talks in Turkey yesterday with president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is due to meet US army officials in Kyiv today.
"The main thing for stopping the bloodshed and achieving lasting peace is that we work in coordination with all our partners and that American leadership remains effective, strong," Zelensky wrote after meeting Erdogan in Ankara.
The Ukrainian president also said Erdogan had proposed different formats for talks "and it is important for us that Turkey is ready to provide the necessary platform”.
Russian commander who ordered civilian killings in Bucha identified
04:56 , Arpan RaiUkraine said it had identified a Russian commander as a suspect in some of the killings in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha in 2022, calling it a vital step towards establishing the chain of command behind the mass executions of civilians there.
The Russian commander was named in another part of the same statement by international law foundation Global Rights Compliance, which said it was citing details of the notice.
"The evidence shows that Yurii Vladimirovich Kim is suspected of being criminally responsible for 17 killings and four instances of ill-treatment purposely committed by forces under his command in Bucha," Global Rights Compliance said.
The foundation cited the Ukrainian notice of suspicion as saying that Kim was commander of a platoon in the 76th Air Assault Division of the Russian military. Ukrainian prosecutors did not respond to a request for comment on details of the case.
Kim was not in Ukrainian custody, said Jeremy Pizzi, legal advisor at Global Rights Compliance.
Russian forces left bodies lying in the streets when they fled Bucha after occupying the town for a month at the start of the all-out invasion of Ukraine.
More than 450 bodies were recovered from mass graves in Bucha town and hundreds of people were killed in the wider area, according to Ukrainian officials.
UK looking at ‘military options’ if Russian spy ship comes closer to Britain
04:32 , Arpan RaiThe UK is exploring military options if a Russian spy ship sails closer to British shores after its crew used a laser to target RAF pilots monitoring its progress.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the UK was ready to respond if the ship heads south from its current position north of Scotland.
The frigate HMS Somerset and RAF P-8 Poseidon aircraft have been keeping watch on the Yantar, which is designed for gathering intelligence and mapping crucial undersea cables, after it entered wider UK waters this month.
Mr Healey said the frigate and planes had been deployed to “track this vessel’s every move, during which the Yantar directed lasers at our pilots”.
“That Russian action is deeply dangerous.”
UK looking at ‘military options’ if Russian spy ship comes closer to Britain
Army secretary set to meet with Zelensky to help with Ukraine peace talks
04:25 , Arpan RaiSeveral high-ranking Army officials, including army secretary Dan Driscoll, are in Ukraine to help with peace talks, US officials said.
Driscoll had been planning a trip to Ukraine for some time to discuss the country's drone warfare innovations and tactics, but last week president Donald Trump decided to identify him as a kind of "special representative" to kick-start peace negotiations and conduct a fact-finding mission, one of the officials said.
That official confirmed Driscoll is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky this week as well as top Ukrainian government, military and defence industry officials.
Driscoll is accompanied by Army Chief of Staff General Randy George, the service's most senior officer; General Chris Donahue, US Army Europe and Africa commanding general; and Sgt Major Michael Weimer, the Army's top enlisted official, an Army official said.
Poland detains several people in connection with explosion on railway used to supply aid to Ukraine
04:09 , Arpan RaiPoland has detained several people linked with an explosion on a railway track used to transport weapons to Ukraine, Polish authorities have said.
An explosion damaged a railway track near Mika village in Poland on Sunday, which prime minister Donald Tusk described as an “unprecedented act of sabotage”.
The damaged section of track is part of a crucial route used for delivering aid and weapons to Ukraine, located approximately 80 miles from the Polish-Ukrainian border.
Several arrests made in connection with explosion on Polish railway
Watch: Defence secretary’s three-word warning to Putin after lasers directed at RAF pilots
03:44 , Arpan RaiRussian spy ship directed lasers at UK military pilots, Defence Secretary says
03:42 , Arpan RaiThe Russian spy ship Yantar is operating on the edge of UK waters and has directed lasers at pilots of surveillance aircraft monitoring its activities, the defence secretary said.
John Healey said Britain “is ready” to respond, with “military options” drawn up if the ship heads south, in a warning to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The vessel, designed for gathering intelligence and mapping crucial undersea cables, is loitering off the northern coast of Scotland, having entered wider UK waters over the last few weeks.
Healey told a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday: “We deployed a Royal Navy frigate and RAF P-8 planes to monitor and track this vessel’s every move, during which the Yantar directed lasers at our pilots.
“That Russian action is deeply dangerous. This is the second time this year that this ship, the Yantar, has deployed to UK waters,” he said.
Russian spy ship directed lasers at UK military pilots, Defence Secretary says
Putin's troops using war crime tactic to fight in Pokrovsk, says Ukraine
03:20 , Arpan RaiRussian forces fighting in Pokrovsk are disguising themselves by dressing up as civilians, military officials said, adding that this complicates Ukraine’s defence efforts.
Military personnel deliberately passing as civilians to deceive the enemy is classified as a war crime, and even changing into the uniforms of Ukrainian forces or other Ukrainian security services violates the laws and customs of war.
"It is more like sabotage and reconnaissance work. They do not follow any standard procedures, but their movements still complicate our logistics routes," the commander of the 68th Jaeger Brigade, codenamed "Liutyi," told Suspilne yesterday.
“The most difficult thing is that they disguise themselves as civilians. They have been changing clothes for a long time and receive instructions to do so," he said.
"Sometimes we identify the enemy only after the start of the firefight, because civilians will not open fire on our units,” he said.
External power line to Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant restored, says Russian management
03:00 , Alex CroftOne of the external power lines to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine was restored on Wednesday, the Russian-installed management said in a statement.
The nuclear plant, Europe's largest, has been under Russian control since March 2022, when Russian forces overran much of southeastern Ukraine. It is not currently producing electricity but relies on external power to keep the nuclear material cool and avoid the risk of a meltdown.
The Dniprovska power line was returned to operation after being disconnected earlier this month by the plant's protective systems, the statement said.
The plant remains near the frontlines of the war, and Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of shelling it on a number of occasions.
It was without external power supply for 30 days through late September and most of October, relying on diesel generators.
Trump pushing cash-for-land deal on Ukraine in new peace plan – report
02:55 , Arpan RaiThe US officials working on a new peace plan could force Ukraine to lease a part of its territory to Russia, people aware of the situation said.
The deal would ask Kyiv to cede control of the eastern Donbas region, while retaining legal ownership of the territory, officials familiar with the deal told The Telegraph.
Russia would pay an undisclosed rental fee for the region, they said. Russian will be the official state language and the Russian orthodox church would be given official status in the occupied territories.
The deal will also slash the size of Ukraine’s military in half and ban them from possessing long-range missiles, the report added.
The deployment of foreign troops will also be blocked under this deal, US military assistance will also cease and foreign diplomatic aircraft will be prevented from landing in the country.
Poland to withdraw consent for Russian consulate in Poland
02:00 , Alex CroftEarlier, we reported that Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Wednesday the country will respond to last weekend's railway sabotage, not only by diplomatic means.
He has since said that he would withdraw consent for the functioning of Russia's last operating consulate in Poland, in Gdansk, in response to last weekend's railway sabotage.
An explosion damaged a Polish railway track near Mika village on Monday, a route crucial for delivering aid to Ukraine, with Warsaw saying it was the work of a “foreign state”.
Slovakia wants Nato to boost air defences on country's eastern flank
01:02 , Alex CroftSlovakia wants Nato to boost air defences in the country, on its eastern flank, Slovak prime minister Robert Fico said after a meeting with the military alliance's chief.
"During the joint discussion, he also asked the Secretary General to strengthen the air defence of Slovakia," the Slovak government office said in a statement after the meeting on Tuesday evening, without providing more details.
Slovakia has sought to bolster its air defence capabilities in recent years, including acquiring defence systems from Israel and buying new F-16 fighter jets.
It was among the EU states on the eastern flank that agreed in September on the need for a "drone wall" with advanced detection.
But Slovakia has opposed the European Union's policy towards helping Ukraine's defence against Russia's 2022 invasion, and Mr Fico reiterated in his meeting with Mr Rutte that the government would not directly supply lethal weapons to Kyiv, with the exception of allowing commercial contracts.
Watch: US medic on Ukraine’s frontline says Nato not ready for war with Russia
00:00 , Alex CroftFrom blowing up tankers in Europe to drone sightings in Belgium: How Putin is pushing Nato to a cliff edge
Wednesday 19 November 2025 23:01 , Alex CroftEuropean allies have been shaken by provocations on Nato’s eastern frontier in recent months, accusing Russia of making brazen incursions onto foreign soil to test the bloc’s responses and undermine collective resolve.
Russia has long been accused of interfering in European affairs. But the issue was thrust back into focus in September, when nearly two dozen drones crossed over into Poland amid a large-scale Russian drone attack on Ukraine. Days later, jets violated Estonia’s airspace as Russia concluded major drills in Belarus.
Subsequent activity near the border has forced Europeans to close airports and borders, causing major disruption and exposing vulnerability. Businesses have responded with a wave of military and civilian innovations to safeguard the continent against the threats of modern warfare.
Our foreign affairs reporter James Reynolds writes...
Blowing up tankers and drone incursions: How Putin is pushing Nato to a cliff edge
Zelensky chief of staff says Kyiv in constant contact with US
Wednesday 19 November 2025 22:02 , Alex CroftWe’ve been reporting that the US is renewing its push to achieve a peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv.
Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, has now said he has been in constant contact with US administration representatives and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff as they work on reaching just and stable peace.
"All scheduled meetings are taking place according to plan and in a businesslike atmosphere," Mr Yermak wrote about his visit to Turkey as a part of the Ukrainian delegation which aims to revive talks with Russia on ending the war.
Poland will respond to railway sabotage, minister says
Wednesday 19 November 2025 21:01 , Alex CroftPolish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Wednesday that Poland will respond to last weekend's railway sabotage, not only by diplomatic means.
He added that he will inform about Poland's response "in the next few days".
An explosion damaged a Polish railway track near Mika village, a route crucial for delivering aid to Ukraine, with Warsaw saying it was the work of a “foreign state”.
Polish authorities have since said that two Ukrainian nationals collaborating with Russian intelligence were responsible for an explosion on the railway track used to transport weapons to Ukraine.
Large-scale fire breaks out in Lviv after Russian strikes
Wednesday 19 November 2025 20:00 , Alex CroftA large-scale fire has broken out in Lviv following a Russian strike early on Wednesday morning, amid its huge air attack on western Ukraine.
An energy facility, woodworking business, and warehouse have all been damaged
“There is a big fire in Lviv. It will take several hours to put out the fire. Close your windows as the air may be polluted,” city authorities warned,” said Ihor Zinkevych, a member of Lviv City Council.
Maksym Kozytskyi, the head of the region’s military administration, said that “emergency power outages have been introduced in the Lviv region”.
He added: “This is a forced step due to the fact that the enemy attacked a number of energy facilities throughout the country.
“If the system cannot be stabilized quickly, unfortunately, hourly outage schedules will have to be applied.”
Watch: Defence secretary issues a stark warning to Putin after Russian spy ship directs lasers at RAF pilots
Wednesday 19 November 2025 19:01 , Alex CroftSpy ship shows Russia presents 'genuine and immediate threat' to UK
Wednesday 19 November 2025 18:27 , Holly EvansA senior MP said “more assertive retaliation” could be required following reports of a Russian spy ship near UK waters.
Matt Western, chairman of Parliament’s Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, said: “Today’s news demonstrates once again that Russia presents a genuine and immediate threat to the UK’s security.
“Earlier this year, my committee highlighted the vulnerability of Britain’s underwater infrastructure and concluded that the UK needed to be more muscular in tackling Russian aggression.
“I welcome the seriousness with which the defence secretary is treating this issue, but there is more we can do. More assertive retaliation may be required.”
In Focus | Inside Putin’s plan to crush Ukraine this winter – and why it might work
Wednesday 19 November 2025 18:25 , Alex CroftCold and darkness are the cruel weapons of Russia’s energy terror campaign aimed at crushing Ukraine this winter. The Kremlin has been attempting to systematically destroy Ukraine’s electricity, heating and transport systems for three years now – so far, without success. But this winter could be the one when Ukraine’s air defences are finally overwhelmed. Russia’s attack strategies have been honed to a peak of destructiveness, with a raft of devastating new tactics aimed at making whole cities and regions uninhabitable.
First, and most spectacularly, Russian forces are becoming increasingly adept at evading air defences by sending ballistic and cruise missiles and drones in unprecedentedly large swarms. Last week, for instance, Kyiv was kept under unrelenting bombardment for over five hours, with 430 drones and nearly 20 missiles hitting electrical grids, railway sidings and gas-fired power stations, as well as smashing into apartment buildings. At least eight civilians were killed.
Inside Putin’s plan to crush Ukraine this winter – and why it might work
Russian embassy accuses UK government of being 'Russophobic'
Wednesday 19 November 2025 18:06 , Holly EvansThe Russian embassy in the UK has accused the British Government of being “Russophobic” and “whipping up militaristic hysteria” after Defence Secretary John Healey accused a Russian ship of targeting RAF pilots with a laser.
Mr Healey said frigate HMS Somerset and RAF P-8 Poseidon aircraft have been keeping watch on the Yantar, which is designed for gathering intelligence and mapping crucial undersea cables, after it entered wider UK waters this month.
According to a translation, a statement from the Russian embassy said: “We have taken note of yet another provocative statement by British Defence Secretary John Healy. This time, the reason was the activities of the Russian oceanographic research vessel Yantar in international waters.
“The endless accusations and suspicions of the British leadership cause only a smile. Our country’s actions do not affect the interests of the United Kingdom and are not aimed at undermining its security. We are not interested in British underwater communications.
“However, London, with its Russophobic course and whipping up militaristic hysteria, contributes to the further degradation of European security, creating the prerequisites for new dangerous situations.
“We call on the British side to refrain from destructive steps that exacerbate the crisis on the European continent.”
Russian escalation 'will not deter' UK from supporting Ukraine, Cooper says
Wednesday 19 November 2025 17:59 , Holly EvansForeign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the UK would be “vigilant and determined” in its response to Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
At a press conference in Berlin with counterpart Johann Wadephul she said: “Russia has failed in its military objectives over the course of this year, so as a result what we have seen them try to do is to seek continually to escalate.
“We can see the approach they are taking, we have no illusions about what they are doing. We see what Putin is doing and we understand and we will continue to be vigilant and determined in our response.
“Just as we have been about incursions into Nato airspace, just as we are being now in terms of identifying the Russian spy ship in UK waters and just as we have continued to be in response to sabotage threats that we have seen across many different European countries as well.
“It will not deter us from supporting Ukraine, quite the opposite, because we know Ukraine’s security is our security.”
Three injured as Russia targets energy infrastructure in western Ivano-Frankivsk region
Wednesday 19 November 2025 17:51 , Alex CroftEarlier, we brought you the news that Russia had launched a huge overnight missile attack on Ukraine overnight.
Local authorities have reported that two children were among three people who were injured in a combined Russian strike targeting energy infrastructure in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.
"A difficult night for Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. The Russians have once again struck our oblast using different types of weapons,” said Svitlana Onyshchuk, the head of the region’s military administration.
“Energy infrastructure facilities were targeted. Early reports indicate that three people have been injured in the Ivano-Frankivsk district, including two children."
One house was damaged and those injured are receiving medical treatment, Ms Onyshchuk said.
One of Russia's largest oil refineries suspended
Wednesday 19 November 2025 17:19 , Alex CroftOne of Russia’s largest oil refineries suspended crude processing after a Ukrainian drone attack.
Three industry sources told Reuters on November 15 Rosneft’s Ryazan oil refinery operations were suspended.
"The plant is expected to remain idle until the end of the month. No [oil product[ loadings are planned before December 1," one of the sources said.
Ryazan Governor Pavel Malkov said on his Telegram channel on Saturday morning that "debris from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) caused a fire at one of the industry facilities".
He did not specify the name of the facility.
Prisoner swap between Russia and US could be conducted - ICYMI
Wednesday 19 November 2025 16:47 , Alex CroftAs we reported earlier, another prisoner swap could be conducted between Russia and the US.
Vladimir Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev told US outlet Axios there was discussions underway.
"I met some US officials and members of the Trump team on some issues that are humanitarian in nature, such as possible exchanges of prisoners that the US side has been working on," Axios quoted Dmitriev as saying.
Axios also received confirmation from the US there was discussions.
Trump administration ‘secretly working with Russia to form new Ukraine peace plan’
Wednesday 19 November 2025 16:15 , Alex CroftWashington has been secretly forming a plan with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, according to a report.
The new 28-point plan would consist of “security guarantees, security in Europe, and future US relations with Russia and Ukraine”, Axios reported, citing sources.
It comes amid a fresh attempt by the US to force through a peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv after several diplomatic overtures faltered in recent months.
Mr Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is said to have discussed the plan with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev and Volodymyr Zelensky’s security adviser Rustem Umerov, according to officials from Washington and Kyiv.
Read the full report:
Trump administration ‘secretly working with Russia to form new Ukraine peace plan’
In pictures: Western Ukraine rocked by Russian missile strike
Wednesday 19 November 2025 15:42 , Alex Croft
Zelensky prepares for Turkey talks amid new peace drive
Wednesday 19 November 2025 15:11 , Alex CroftUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is set to hold talks in Turkey on Wednesday and meet US Army officials in Kyiv on Thursday in a new drive to revive peace negotiations with Russia.
No face-to-face talks have taken place between Kyiv and Moscow since a meeting in Istanbul in July and Russian forces have pressed on with Moscow's nearly four-year-old war in Ukraine, killing 19 people in strikes overnight.
Efforts to revive peace negotiations appear to be gaining momentum although Moscow has shown no sign of changing its terms for ending the war. It played down a media report that the United States was working on a 28-point peace plan.
Announcing plans to visit Turkey, the Ukrainian president said on Tuesday he was preparing to "reinvigorate negotiations" and would discuss with Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan how to bring a "just peace" to Ukraine.
"Doing everything possible to bring the end of the war closer is Ukraine's top priority," he said of the meetings in Turkey.
Ukraine's parliament sacks two ministers amid corruption probe
Wednesday 19 November 2025 14:39 , Alex CroftUkraine's parliament voted on Wednesday to dismiss the energy and justice ministers after a major corruption investigation into the energy sector sparked the country's biggest wartime political crisis.
The probe into an alleged $100 million scheme to control contracting at the state nuclear agency has stirred public anger at Ukraine's leadership as it struggles to fend off Russian forces.
Justice minister German Galushchenko, who served as energy minister from 2021 until 2025, and current energy minister Svitlana Hrynchuk had both resigned earlier under pressure from president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Both cabinet ministers deny any wrongdoing in the scandal.
Opposition forces have called for tougher measures after news of the probe rattled Kyiv's political class, including a total government overhaul and the dismissal of Mr Zelensky's powerful chief of staff.
Anti-corruption authorities have said their investigation, whose chief suspect is Mr Zelensky's former business partner, includes other state agencies.
Germany urges partners to help Ukraine amid 'unabated' Russian attacks
Wednesday 19 November 2025 14:10 , Alex CroftThe situation in Ukraine is very tense due to Russia's ongoing attacks, and Kyiv urgently needs help with its defence from partners, a German government spokesperson said on Wednesday.
"Russia's unabated attacks are putting Ukraine under immense pressure, and all the more reason for Ukraine's supporters to assist the country in its defence," said the government spokesperson at a regular government news conference in Berlin.
Russia air attack death toll increases to 19
Wednesday 19 November 2025 13:56 , Alex CroftThe death toll in Russia’s overnight attack on Ukraine has increased to 19 people, Ukrainian authorities have said.
The missile and drone attack, which wounded 66 people, included an attack on an apartment building in the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil,
It targeted energy and transport infrastructure, forcing emergency power cuts in a number of regions in frigid temperatures.
The upper floors of the residential building in Ternopil were torn away in the attack. Black smoke poured upwards, while an orange glow burned through the haze from a fire in the tower block.
Russia launched more than 470 drones and 48 missiles in the overnight attack, officials said. Poland, a Nato member state bordering western Ukraine, temporarily closed Rzeszow and Lublin airports in the southeast of the country and scrambled Polish and allied aircraft as a precaution to safeguard its airspace.
Analysis | As Russia strikes Europe again, when will this hybrid war with Nato turn physical?
Wednesday 19 November 2025 13:39 , Alex CroftRussia stands accused of sabotage on Poland’s railways. The Kremlin attacked a gas-loaded tanker on the Romania border, forcing the evacuation of several villages in the country. Moscow has repeatedly flown drones into European airspace, and jets over Estonia.
These, plus waves of sabotage, cyber attacks, and social media propaganda, are acts of war. But they are all part of a hybrid war. And this malevolent blend allows Vladimir Putin to punch well above his weight.
Russia is the prime suspect in Monday’s bombing of the Warsaw to Lublin railway line, a main artery from Poland to Ukraine.
Poland’s security ministry said that “everything points to Russian sabotage”, after the blast on the railway and another attack in which the rails on the same route were cut.
Our world affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:
As Russia strikes Europe again, when will this hybrid war with Nato turn physical?
Watch: US medic on Ukraine’s frontline says Nato not ready for war with Russia
Wednesday 19 November 2025 13:14 , Alex CroftPoland to withdraw consent for Russian consulate in Poland
Wednesday 19 November 2025 12:50 , Alex CroftEarlier, we reported that Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Wednesday the country will respond to last weekend's railway sabotage, not only by diplomatic means.
He has since said that he would withdraw consent for the functioning of Russia's last operating consulate in Poland, in Gdansk, in response to last weekend's railway sabotage.
An explosion damaged a Polish railway track near Mika village on Monday, a route crucial for delivering aid to Ukraine, with Warsaw saying it was the work of a “foreign state”.
In pictures: Russia says Ukraine fired US-made ATACMS missile at Voronezh
Wednesday 19 November 2025 12:24 , Alex Croft
In Focus | From blowing up tankers in Europe to drone sightings in Belgium: How Putin is pushing Nato to a cliff edge
Wednesday 19 November 2025 11:59 , Alex CroftEuropean allies have been shaken by provocations on Nato’s eastern frontier in recent months, accusing Russia of making brazen incursions onto foreign soil to test the bloc’s responses and undermine collective resolve.
Russia has long been accused of interfering in European affairs. But the issue was thrust back into focus in September, when nearly two dozen drones crossed over into Poland amid a large-scale Russian drone attack on Ukraine. Days later, jets violated Estonia’s airspace as Russia concluded major drills in Belarus.
Subsequent activity near the border has forced Europeans to close airports and borders, causing major disruption and exposing vulnerability. Businesses have responded with a wave of military and civilian innovations to safeguard the continent against the threats of modern warfare.
Our foreign affairs reporter James Reynolds writes...
Blowing up tankers and drone incursions: How Putin is pushing Nato to a cliff edge
Slovakia wants Nato to boost air defences on country's eastern flank
Wednesday 19 November 2025 11:36 , Alex CroftSlovakia wants Nato to boost air defences in the country, on its eastern flank, Slovak prime minister Robert Fico said after a meeting with the military alliance's chief.
"During the joint discussion, he also asked the Secretary General to strengthen the air defence of Slovakia," the Slovak government office said in a statement after the meeting on Tuesday evening, without providing more details.
Slovakia has sought to bolster its air defence capabilities in recent years, including acquiring defence systems from Israel and buying new F-16 fighter jets.
It was among the EU states on the eastern flank that agreed in September on the need for a "drone wall" with advanced detection.
But Slovakia has opposed the European Union's policy towards helping Ukraine's defence against Russia's 2022 invasion, and Mr Fico reiterated in his meeting with Mr Rutte that the government would not directly supply lethal weapons to Kyiv, with the exception of allowing commercial contracts.
