The momentum to find a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine has been exhausted since the Donald Trump-Vladimir Putin summit in Alaska, Moscow’s deputy foreign minister has said.
Growing relations between Washington and Moscow culminated in the August meeting, the second between the two presidents, which some hoped would see progress towards a peace deal in Ukraine.
"Unfortunately, we have to admit that Anchorage's powerful momentum in favour of agreements has been largely exhausted by the efforts of opponents and supporters of the war," Sergei Ryabkov said according to Interfax.
"This is the result of destructive activities, primarily by the Europeans," he said.
The deputy foreign minister also warned Washington against sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, echoing repeated warnings from the past week.
The potential appearance of US Tomahawk missiles in Ukraine would mean a 'qualitative' change in the situation, he was quoted as Interfax by saying, calling on Washington to take what he described as a sober and responsible approach.
Trump had said he wants to know what Ukraine plans to do with Tomahawks before agreeing to provide them, because he did not want to escalate the war.
Key Points
- Momentum for peace deal has been exhausted, says Moscow
- Tomahawks for Ukraine would mean there are 'no safe places' in western Russia - expert
- Russia again warns US against sending Tomahawks
- Trump: I thought solving Ukraine war would be one of the 'easy ones'
- Russia utilising tankers of 'shadow fleet' to finance war and sabotage Europe
- Indian man fighting with Russian forces surrenders to Ukrainian Army, Kyiv says
Russia's air defence units destroys 53 Ukrainian drones overnight
17:30 , Alex CroftRussia's air defence units destroyed 53 Ukrainian drones overnight, its defence ministry said this morning.
Nearly half of these were downed in the regions on the border between Russia and Ukraine, the defence ministry said.
The drones did not appear to target Moscow, according to the preliminary reports from the Russian defence ministry.
Zelensky asks allies to respond to Russian attacks from shadow fleet
17:01 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine’s partners should respond to Russia's use of its shadow fleet to destabilise Europe.
“The Head of Foreign Intelligence reported in detail on how the Russians are utilising tankers of their “shadow fleet” – not only to finance the war, but also for sabotage and various destabilisation attempts in Europe.
Recent launches of drones from tankers are one such example,” he said.
Zelensky added: “We share the information we have with our partners, and it is crucial that they take tangible steps in response to Russia. We are working toward this at all levels, and there will be further meetings and negotiations with partners, both public and behind closed doors.”
Ukraine is convincing its allies to “not to hold back on determination”, he said.
“The Russians must know that none of their destructive actions – all the vile things they do – will go unanswered by the world,” he said.
Trump: I thought solving Ukraine war would be one of the 'easy ones'
16:32 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has expressed his surprise at how difficult it has been to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.
Speaking during a meeting with Canadian prime minister Mark Carney, the US president called the situation “crazy”, according to European Pravda.
He added: "I thought that would have been one of the easy ones. I get along very well with [Russian president Vladimir] Putin and I thought that would have been... I'm very disappointed in him because I thought this would have been an easy one to settle, but it turned out to be maybe tougher than the Middle East."
In pictures: Putin meets top generals in St Petersburg
16:00 , Alex Croft
Russian officials in Crimea check students' phone for pro-Ukraine content
15:30 , Alex CroftRussian officials in Crimea are checking the phones of school students for content and settings that might give away a pro-Ukrainian stance, officials said.
Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation said the occupying authorities are doing this to build ideological pressure on students.
"Activists of Ukrainian movements in the temporarily occupied territories report that in schools in Crimea, representatives of the occupation administration together with Russian military personnel are checking children's mobile phones – searching for banned apps, VPN services, and even the Ukrainian language in the settings," the centre said on their Telegram channel.
The act of checking schoolchildren's phones is not "concern for security" but a systematic attempt to intimidate children and impose loyalty to the Russian regime, the centre said.
It added: "Such 'raids' are another tool of total control and ideological pressure. The occupiers seek to eradicate any manifestations of Ukrainian identity.
Russia's central bank calls out violations in state asset grab
15:04 , Alex CroftRussia's central bank has ruled the state violated the rights of minority shareholders in some asset seizures it made in relation to its conflict in Ukraine, sources told Reuters news agency, in a first pushback by the Russian elite on the nationalisation process.
Amid the confrontation with the West over the Ukraine conflict, tens of billions of dollars worth of assets owned by foreign investors and Russian billionaires have changed hands, mostly after being seized by the state.
But within parts of the Russian elite, there are signs of a backlash, especially among market-friendly technocrats who are credited with saving the Russian economy from collapse amid the toughest sanctions ever imposed on a major economy.
Some business executives and central bank and finance ministry officials are questioning what they see as a move to a Soviet-style command structure, with all resources mobilised towards achieving military victory in Ukraine, the sources said.
Three sources close to the central bank and the Moscow Stock Exchange told Reuters that MOEX had officially complained to the central bank over the alleged violation of the law by the government after seizing a majority stake in gold miner UGC.
Russia will shoot down any Tomahawk launchers if US sends them to Kyiv, says Moscow
14:31 , Alex CroftAndrei Kartapolov, head of the Russian parliament's defence committee, has joined in Moscow’s warnings against the US sending Tomahawks to Ukraine.
If and when that happened, he said, Russia would use drones and missiles to destroy any launchers.
Kartapolov, a former deputy defence minister, said he did not think Tomahawks would change anything on the battlefield even if they were supplied to Ukraine as he said they could only be given in small numbers - in tens rather than hundreds.
"We know these missiles very well, how they fly, how to shoot them down; we worked with them in Syria, so there is nothing new. The only problems will be for those who supply them and those who use them; that's where the problems will be," he told the RIA state news agency.
Kartapolov also said Moscow had so far seen no signs that Ukraine was preparing launch sites for Tomahawks, something he said Kyiv would not be able to hide if it got such missiles.
Shadow defence secretary accuses Farage of 'blaming Nato for provoking Putin'
13:28 , Alex CroftBritain’s shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge has accused Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of “blaming Nato for provoking Putin”.
Speaking at the Conservative Party conference, Mr Cartlidge said: "There are those who claim that Nigel Farage's party are the true conservatives, but let us remind ourselves what happened when Putin launched his all-out invasion.
"On that day, what did Farage do? Whose side was he on as our continent was suddenly threatened with war for the first time since 1945? That day, he chose to blame Nato for provoking Putin.”
Farage has previously faced criticism for suggesting that the eastwards expansion of Nato was responsible for Russia’s invasion, rather than Putin’s imperialist ambitions.
Watch: Sam Kiley joins Nato plane fuelling British fighter jets defending Europe's eastern flank
13:00 , Alex CroftTomahawks would mean there are 'no safe places' in western Russia - expert
12:28 , Alex CroftUS supply of Tomahawks to Ukraine would mean there are “no safe places in western Russia”, a military analyst has told The Independent.
Donald Trump appears to be undecided on whether to supply the long-range missiles, a move which Moscow says would severely damage relations with Washington. The missiles would allow Kyiv to strike far deeper inside Russia than it has done so far.
“It would mean Ukraine could decide on where to actually strike,” said Emil Kastehelmi of Finnish analysts the BlackBird Group.
“They could do more concentrated operations against Russian oil infrastructure, hitting those with missiles would hurt the refineries really, really badly,” he added.
“They could, of course, also switch to various military targets, for example air bases would be threatened. They could start hitting various kinds of warehouses and logistical hubs in order to weaken Russian war effort.
“They could strike command elements or important training centres very deep inside Russia. So there would be no safe places in western Russia,” Mr Kastehelmi said.
Erdogan tells Putin more momentum needed to achieve Ukraine-Russia peace
11:56 , Alex CroftTurkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone with Russian president Vladimir Putin and said diplomatic initiatives need to gain momentum to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Ukraine-Russia war, Erdogan's office said.
The statement cited Erdogan as saying Turkey will continue to work for peace.
It said bilateral relations and regional and global issues, including Turkey's efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, were also discussed on the call yesterday.
Moscow claims control of village in Zaporizhzhia region
11:24 , Alex CroftThe Russian Defence Ministry said on Wednesday that its forces had taken control of the settlement of Novohryhorivka in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region.
The Independent could not independently verify the claim.
Russia will respond harshly if US supplies Tomahawks to Ukraine, says Moscow
10:55 , Alex CroftRussia will respond harshly if the United States supplies Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, Andrei Kartapolov, head of the Russian parliament's defence committee, said on Wednesday, the state RIA news agency reported.
"We know these missiles very well, how they fly, how to shoot them down, we worked on them in Syria, so there is nothing new," RIA cited him as saying.
"Only those who supply them and those who use them will have problems," Mr Kartapolov said.
Russian strike seriously damages Ukrainian power plant as winter approaches, officials say
10:55 , Alex CroftRussia seriously damaged one of Ukraine’s thermal power plants in an overnight attack, authorities said Wednesday, as Moscow pursued its campaign to deny Ukrainians heat, light and running water as winter approaches.
Two workers were injured in the attack, according to DTEK, Ukraine’s biggest electricity operator. It provided no further information, including the plant’s location.
Ukrainian authorities release few details about the routine Russian attacks on its power grid so as not to give away intelligence to the enemy. Repair crews, meanwhile, work round the clock to undo the damage.
Read the full report:
Russian strike seriously damages Ukrainian power plant as winter approaches, officials say
Moscow says momentum for Russia-Ukraine peace deal has been exhausted
10:26 , Alex CroftRussian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov has said that the impetus to find a Ukrainian peace deal which emerged after the summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in August had proven to be exhausted.
Ryabkov also said the potential appearance of U.S. Tomahawk missiles in Ukraine would mean a 'qualitative' change in the situation, Interfax quoted him as saying.
Trump said earlier this week that he would want to know what Ukraine planned to do with Tomahawks before agreeing to provide them because he did not want to escalate the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Moscow again warns US against sending Tomahawks
10:15 , Alex CroftMoscow has again warned the US against sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, warning it would be an escalation in the conflict.
Vladimir Putin warned last week that it would spell a “whole new level of escalation” and would result in the destruction of the Moscow-Washington relationship, which both sides have been carefully working to rebuild since Donald Trump took office in January.
Now, Russia’s deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov has said the appearance of Tomahawks in Ukraine would mean a “qualitative” change in the situation, state news agency Interfax reported.
He urged the US leadership to take what he described as a sober and responsible approach to the transfer of Tomahawks.
Putin claims Russia holds 'initiative' in Ukraine war
10:00 , Alex CroftVladimir Putin has claimed Ukrainian forces are retreating and that Russia holds the initiative in its invasion of its European neighbour.
Describing seizing Ukrainian territory as "liberation", he boasted of Russia's military successes this year at a meeting in St Petersburg.
According to a Kremlin transcript, he said: "At this time, the Russian armed forces fully hold the strategic initiative.
"This year, we have liberated nearly 5,000 square km of territory - 4,900 – and 212 localities.
"Ukrainian forces, he said, "are retreating throughout the line of combat contact, despite attempts at fierce resistance."
His comments were echoed by General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff of Russia's armed forces, who told the meeting of top commanders that his troops were "advancing in practically all directions."
Ukrainian forces, he said, were focused on slowing the Russian advance.
Gerasimov, overall commander of Russia's war effort, said the heaviest fighting was gripping Pokrovsk and areas towards Dnipropetrovsk.
Zelensky demands action on British firms supplying parts for Russian drones - ICYMI
09:18 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky is calling for more stringent sanctions against British companies implicated in supplying components for Russian drones, which are actively being deployed in attacks across Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president criticised allied nations for their role in providing parts to Russia, asserting that hundreds of thousands of foreign-made components were used in a deadly strike on Sunday morning.
Writing on X, Mr Zelensky stated that microcomputers for flight control, manufactured in the UK, were discovered in drones involved in the assault. Other parts from allied countries, including the US, were also identified.
Read more here:
British parts discovered in Russian drones used to attack Ukraine
EU needs broad response to Russian hybrid threat, says Brussels chief
08:51 , Alex CroftRecent drone incidents and other airspace violations show Europe is facing hybrid warfare to which it must respond with measures that go beyond traditional defence, EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.
"This is not random harassment," Ms von der Leyen said in a speech in European Parliament in Strasbourg.
"It is a coherent and escalating campaign to unsettle our citizens, test our resolve, divide our Union, and weaken our support for Ukraine. And it is time to call it by its name. This is hybrid warfare."
Ms Von der Leyen did not say Russia was responsible for all the incidents but said it was clear Russia's aim is to "sow division" in Europe.
European officials have already attributed some of the recent incidents to Moscow.
"Tackling Russia’s hybrid war is not only about traditional defence," Ms von der Leyen said. "This requires a new mind-set for all of us. We can either shy away and watch Russian threats escalate, or we meet them with unity, deterrence and resolve."
Two power engineers injured in Russian attack on power plant
08:21 , Alex CroftRussia has launched an attack on a thermal power plant injuring two power engineers, according to Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK.
“The power plant equipment was seriously damaged. We are working to eliminate the consequences,” the company said in a post on Telegram.
The two power workers are being provided with “all necessary assistance”, it said.
DTEK says that since the Russian invasion began in 2022, its power plants have suffered more than 200 attacks by Russian forces.
Three killed and one injured in Ukrainian attack on Russia's Belgorod region, governor says
08:02 , Alex CroftThree people were killed and one injured by Ukrainian shelling in Russia's Belgorod region, the local governor said on Wednesday.
Ukrainian rocket fire struck the Maslova Pristan area of the Shebekinski District, with the building of a social facility partially destroyed, Vyacheslav Gladkov said.
“Emergency Ministry personnel and self-defense forces are already at the scene, clearing the rubble. There may be people under the rubble,” he added in a post on Telegram.
Trump: I thought solving Ukraine war would be one of the 'easy ones'
07:47 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has expressed his surprise at how difficult it has been to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.
Speaking during a meeting with Canadian prime minister Mark Carney, the US president called the situation “crazy”, according to European Pravda.
He added: "I thought that would have been one of the easy ones. I get along very well with [Russian president Vladimir] Putin and I thought that would have been... I'm very disappointed in him because I thought this would have been an easy one to settle, but it turned out to be maybe tougher than the Middle East."
In pictures: Putin meets top generals in St Petersburg
07:28 , Alex CroftRussian officials in Crimea check students' phone for pro-Ukraine content
07:09 , Arpan RaiRussian officials in Crimea are checking the phones of school students for content and settings that might give away a pro-Ukrainian stance, officials said.
Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation said the occupying authorities are doing this to build ideological pressure on students.
"Activists of Ukrainian movements in the temporarily occupied territories report that in schools in Crimea, representatives of the occupation administration together with Russian military personnel are checking children's mobile phones – searching for banned apps, VPN services, and even the Ukrainian language in the settings," the centre said on their Telegram channel.
The act of checking schoolchildren's phones is not "concern for security" but a systematic attempt to intimidate children and impose loyalty to the Russian regime, the centre said.
It added: "Such 'raids' are another tool of total control and ideological pressure. The occupiers seek to eradicate any manifestations of Ukrainian identity.
Shadow defence secretary accuses Farage of 'blaming Nato for provoking Putin'
06:55 , Arpan RaiBritain’s shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge has accused Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of “blaming Nato for provoking Putin”.
Speaking at the Conservative Party conference, Mr Cartlidge said: "There are those who claim that Nigel Farage's party are the true conservatives, but let us remind ourselves what happened when Putin launched his all-out invasion.
"On that day, what did Farage do? Whose side was he on as our continent was suddenly threatened with war for the first time since 1945? That day, he chose to blame Nato for provoking Putin.”
Farage has previously faced criticism for suggesting that the eastwards expansion of Nato was responsible for Russia’s invasion, rather than Putin’s imperialist ambitions.
Watch: Patrolling Nato’s skies with the RAF: A bird’s-eye look at Europe’s creeping frontline
06:40 , Arpan RaiIndian man fighting with Russian forces surrenders to Ukrainian Army, Kyiv says
06:27 , Arpan RaiAn Indian citizen fighting alongside Russian forces has surrendered to the Ukrainian military, Kyiv claimed on Tuesday.
The 63rd Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Army posted a video on Telegram showing a man calling himself Majoti Sahil Mohamed Hussein in its custody. The man claims to be a 22-year-old from Morbi in the western state of Gujarat.
In the one minute and 45 second-video, Mr Hussein – wearing a red T-shirt and speaking in Russian – claims he was sent to fight in Ukraine after being convicted on drug charges in Russia.
Indian man fighting with Russian forces surrenders to Ukrainian Army, Kyiv says
What do we know about Russia's shadow fleet?
06:18 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has said Russia is using tankers from its "shadow fleet" to "conduct sabotage and destabilising operations in Europe” citing intelligence reports.
But what is this shadow fleet?
The shadow fleet is made up of ageing tankers bought second-hand, often by nontransparent entities with addresses in non-sanctioning countries such as the United Arab Emirates or the Marshall Islands, and flagged in places like Gabon or the Cook Islands. It is claimed that some of the vessels are owned by the Russian state-run Sovcomflot shipping company, which is denied by the company.
Estimates vary, but S&P Global and the Kyiv School of Economics Institute have put the number at over 400 ships that can transport oil, or products made from crude such as diesel fuel and gasoline.
Last week, French president Emmanuel Macron accused an oil tanker off the nation's coast of "very serious wrongdoings," linking it to Russia's "shadow fleet" circumventing Western sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine.
The vessel, whose current status remains unclear, was previously sighted off the Danish coast last week, where European naval experts suggested its potential involvement in drone flights.
Zelensky asks allies to respond to Russian attacks from shadow fleet
05:57 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine’s partners should respond to Russia's use of its shadow fleet to destabilise Europe.
“The Head of Foreign Intelligence reported in detail on how the Russians are utilising tankers of their “shadow fleet” – not only to finance the war, but also for sabotage and various destabilisation attempts in Europe.
Recent launches of drones from tankers are one such example,” he said.
Zelensky added: “We share the information we have with our partners, and it is crucial that they take tangible steps in response to Russia. We are working toward this at all levels, and there will be further meetings and negotiations with partners, both public and behind closed doors.”
Ukraine is convincing its allies to “not to hold back on determination”, he said.
“The Russians must know that none of their destructive actions – all the vile things they do – will go unanswered by the world,” he said.
The Head of Foreign Intelligence reported in detail on how the Russians are utilizing tankers of their “shadow fleet” – not only to finance the war, but also for sabotage and various destabilization attempts in Europe. Recent launches of drones from tankers are one such example.… pic.twitter.com/B09UQo9EZK
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 7, 2025
Russia's air defence units destroys 53 Ukrainian drones overnight
05:45 , Arpan RaiRussia's air defence units destroyed 53 Ukrainian drones overnight, its defence ministry said this morning.
Nearly half of these were downed in the regions on the border between Russia and Ukraine, the defence ministry said.
The drones did not appear to target Moscow, according to the preliminary reports from the Russian defence ministry.
Erdogan tells Putin more momentum needed to achieve Ukraine-Russia peace
05:26 , Arpan RaiTurkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone with Russian president Vladimir Putin and said diplomatic initiatives need to gain momentum to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Ukraine-Russia war, Erdogan's office said.
The statement cited Erdogan as saying Turkey will continue to work for peace.
It said bilateral relations and regional and global issues, including Turkey's efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, were also discussed on the call yesterday.
Putin claims Russia holds 'initiative' in Ukraine war
04:46 , Arpan RaiVladimir Putin has claimed Ukrainian forces are retreating and that Russia holds the initiative in its invasion of its European neighbour.
Describing seizing Ukrainian territory as "liberation", he boasted of Russia's military successes this year at a meeting in St Petersburg.
According to a Kremlin transcript, he said: "At this time, the Russian armed forces fully hold the strategic initiative.
"This year, we have liberated nearly 5,000 square km of territory - 4,900 – and 212 localities.
"Ukrainian forces, he said, "are retreating throughout the line of combat contact, despite attempts at fierce resistance."
His comments were echoed by General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff of Russia's armed forces, who told the meeting of top commanders that his troops were "advancing in practically all directions."
Ukrainian forces, he said, were focused on slowing the Russian advance.
Gerasimov, overall commander of Russia's war effort, said the heaviest fighting was gripping Pokrovsk and areas towards Dnipropetrovsk.
British parts discovered in Russian drones used to attack Ukraine
04:00 , Bryony GoochBritish parts discovered in Russian drones used to attack Ukraine
Recap: IAEA discussing proposals with Russia, Ukraine to restore power to Zaporizhzhia plant, Grossi says
03:00 , Bryony GoochInternational Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said on Friday he is discussing detailed proposals with Russia and Ukraine on how to restore off-site power to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
The plant, Europe's largest, has been cut off from external power for more than a week. It is being cooled by emergency diesel generators.
Recap: Power restored in Russian-held parts of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, officials say
02:00 , Bryony GoochThe Russian-controlled part of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region was left largely without electricity for a time on Tuesday after a Ukrainian drone strike, Russian-installed governor Yevgeny Balitsky said.
Balitsky, in a later post on Telegram, said power had been restored throughout those parts of Zaporizhzhia region under Moscow's control. He thanked emergency crews for their fast work.
The Russian-appointed governor of the neighbouring Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, said separately that around 38,000 people there were without power, though he did not say whether it was connected to the outages in Zaporizhzhia.
Russia controls around three-quarters of the two southern Ukrainian regions, with frontlines largely unchanged since 2022.
Reuters was unable to confirm the reports, and there was no immediate comment from Kyiv.
Patrolling Nato’s skies with the RAF: A bird’s-eye look at Europe’s creeping frontline
01:00 , Bryony Gooch
Patrolling Nato’s skies with the RAF: A birds-eye look at Europe’s creeping frontline
Russia utilising tankers of 'shadow fleet' to finance war and sabotage Europe, says Ukrainian intelligence
Wednesday 8 October 2025 00:00 , Bryony GoochUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russia is utilising the tankers of its “shadow fleet” to finance the war and destabilise Europe.
“The Head of Foreign Intelligence reported in detail on how the Russians are utilising tankers of their ‘shadow fleet’ – not only to finance the war, but also for sabotage and various destabilisation attempts in Europe,” he said on social media. “Recent launches of drones from tankers are one such example. We share the information we have with our partners, and it is crucial that they take tangible steps in response to Russia.
“We are working toward this at all levels, and there will be further meetings and negotiations with partners, both public and behind closed doors. We are convincing them not to hold back on determination.
“The Russians must know that none of their destructive actions – all the vile things they do – will go unanswered by the world.”
The Head of Foreign Intelligence reported in detail on how the Russians are utilizing tankers of their “shadow fleet” – not only to finance the war, but also for sabotage and various destabilization attempts in Europe. Recent launches of drones from tankers are one such example.… pic.twitter.com/B09UQo9EZK
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 7, 2025
Ukraine unlikely to receive Tomahawks, says humanitarian aid organisation
Tuesday 7 October 2025 23:20 , Bryony GoochHumanitarian aid organisation Hope For Ukraine has expressed doubt that the war-torn country will receive Tomahawks requested from the United States as Trump teases he has “sort of” made a decision on whether to grant the request.
CEO Yuriy Boyechko has said that it remains unlikely that Ukraine will receive the highly-coveted missiles, which have a range of 2,500 km, because “Traditional launch platforms for Tomahawk missiles are sea-based, primarily deployed from US Navy ships and submarines.
“Ukraine has a very small navy, and the chances of it acquiring a Tomahawk‑capable surface ship or submarine are nearly zero.”, the organisation added.
“The U.S. also has ground‑based launchers for Tomahawk missiles (the Typhon), but these systems are scarce and the U.S. will not sell them to European NATO members.
The only way Ukraine could receive Tomahawks would be if the US sent already‑retired LRF launchers, the organisation explained, adding that the country does not possess the specialised launch equipment or the trained personnel needed to field the Tomahawk missile system.
Putin says Russia has captured nearly 5,000 square km in Ukraine this year
Tuesday 7 October 2025 23:00 , Bryony GoochRussian president Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russian forces had captured almost 5,000 square km (1,930 square miles) of land in Ukraine in 2025 and that Moscow retained complete strategic initiative on the battlefield.
Putin, addressing a meeting with Russian top military commanders, said Ukrainian forces were retreating in all sectors of the front. He said Kyiv was trying to strike deep into Russian territory, but it would not help it to change the situation in the more than 3 1/2-year-old war.
"At this time, the Russian armed forces fully hold the strategic initiative," Putin told the meeting in northwestern Russia, according to a Kremlin transcript.
"This year, we have liberated nearly 5,000 square km of territory - 4,900 - and 212 localities."
Ukrainian forces, he said, "are retreating throughout the line of combat contact, despite attempts at fierce resistance."
Russia's Defence Ministry on Tuesday reported the capture of two more villages along the front, which Ukraine's top commander says now extends over 1,250 km (775 miles).
Ukrainian accounts of the situation on the front line say Kyiv's forces have made gains in the Donetsk region, particularly near the town of Dobropillia. President Volodymyr Zelensky has also said Ukrainian forces have regained ground in the border Sumy region, where Russia has established a foothold.
Pictured: First Icon of Our Lady of Victories unveiled in Aldershot in mark of solidarity with Ukraine
Tuesday 7 October 2025 21:00 , Daniel Keane
Russia hosts Taliban delegation and warns against foreign military presence in Afghanistan
Tuesday 7 October 2025 20:00 , Daniel KeaneRussia hosted a delegation of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban government Tuesday and issued a strong warning against a foreign military presence in the country.
Speaking at the start of an international meeting on Afghanistan in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov praised the Taliban government for efforts to combat the Islamic State and other extremist groups, as well as eradicate illegal drugs.
Lavrov emphasized that “the deployment of military infrastructure of any third countries on the territory of Afghanistan, as well as on the territories of neighboring states, is categorically unacceptable under any pretext.”
Read our full story here.
Russia hosts Taliban delegation and warns against foreign military presence in Afghanistan
Russia to send Medvedev to North Korea this week
Tuesday 7 October 2025 19:00 , Daniel KeaneRussia will send Dmitry Medvedev to North Korea for celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the country’s ruling party.
It comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un joined Vladimir Putin and others at a Chinese military parade in Beijing last month.
China’s Premier Li Qiang will also travel to North Korea in its highest-level visit since 2019.
A statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry called China and North Korea "traditional friends and neighbors" and said it is "an unswerving strategic policy" of the Chinese government and the ruling Communist Party "to maintain, consolidate and develop" relations with North Korea.
Zelensky says Russia using tankers for reconnaissance
Tuesday 7 October 2025 18:00 , Daniel KeaneUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of using oil tankers for intelligence gathering and sabotage operations.
Zelensky, writing in a post on Telegram after receiving a briefing from Ukraine's foreign intelligence chief, said Ukraine was co-operating with allies on the matter.
"Currently, Russians are using tankers not only to earn money for the war, but also for reconnaissance and even sabotage activities. It is entirely possible to stop this."
Russia and India begin joint military drills
Tuesday 7 October 2025 17:30 , Daniel KeaneRussia and India have begun joint military drills in the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan in a sign of deepening cooperation between Delhi and Moscow.
The Russian defence ministry said the “Indra 2025” drills would take place at the Mahajan range and continue until 15 October.
"The main goal of the drills is honing the cohesion of both countries' units in the fight against terrorism, including the perfection of counter-terrorism operations' tactics," the ministry said.
Ukrainian soldiers carried out 'successful' counter-attack in eastern region, says military
Tuesday 7 October 2025 17:00 , Daniel KeaneUkrainian soldiers carried out a successful counter-attack in the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, Kyiv’s military said.
The Skhval unit “eliminated” 50 Russian troops in a battle in Sichneve while eight others were taken prisoner, according to the Kyiv Independent.
Footage published on Telegram appeared to show Ukrainian troops advancing to a settlement and clearing out Russian positions. The footage could not be independently verified.
Sichneve lies at the administrative border with the key region of Donetsk, which Russian forces are desperate to capture.
Pictured: Ukrainian soldiers launch reconnaissance drones in Donetsk
Tuesday 7 October 2025 16:30 , Daniel Keane
Shadow defence secretary accuses Farage of 'blaming Nato for provoking Putin'
Tuesday 7 October 2025 16:00 , Daniel KeaneBritain’s shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge has accused Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of “blaming Nato for provoking Putin”.
Speaking at the Conservative Party conference, Mr Cartlidge said: "There are those who claim that Nigel Farage's party are the true conservatives, but let us remind ourselves what happened when Putin launched his all-out invasion.
"On that day, what did Farage do? Whose side was he on as our continent was suddenly threatened with war for the first time since 1945? That day, he chose to blame Nato for provoking Putin.”
Farage has previously faced criticism for suggesting that the eastwards expansion of Nato was responsible for Russia’s invasion, rather than Putin’s imperialist ambitions.
Erdogan tells Putin more momentum is needed to achieve piece
Tuesday 7 October 2025 15:55 , Daniel KeaneTurkish president Tayyip Erdogan told Vladimir Putin in a phone call that more momentum is needed to achieve peace in Ukraine, his office said.
The statement cited Erdogan as saying Turkey will continue to work for peace.
It said bilateral relations and regional and global issues, including Turkey's efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, were also discussed on the call.
Russia 'awaiting clarity' on US supply of Tomahawks to Ukraine
Tuesday 7 October 2025 15:30 , Daniel KeaneRussia has said it is waiting for clarity on the possible supply of US Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
It comes after President Donald Trump said he had “sort of made a decision” on whether to send the missiles to Kyiv, but was waiting to hear how Ukraine planned to use them.
Asked about the comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "We understand that we need to wait, probably, for clearer statements, if any come."
Russia claims Ukrainian drone crashed into nuclear plant but did not cause damage
Tuesday 7 October 2025 15:00 , Daniel KeaneRussia's state nuclear energy company has claimed that a Ukrainian drone attempted to strike a nuclear plant in the Voronezh region, but did not cause damage.
In a statement, Rosenergoatom said the drone was "suppressed by technical means" and detonated after crashing into a cooling tower at the Novovoronezh plant.
"There was no damage or injuries; however, the detonation left a dark mark on the cooling tower. The safe operation of the nuclear power plant is ensured," the company said, adding that radiation levels were normal and unchanged.
Ukraine wants to increase gas imports by 30% after Russian attacks
Tuesday 7 October 2025 14:29 , Daniel KeaneUkraine wants to increase natural gas imports by 30% following Russian airstrikes on its gas infrastructure, the country’s energy minister has said.
It comes amid an increase in Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector in recent weeks. Last Friday, an attack on Ukraine’s main gas fields raised fears of a possible gas shortage.
"We plan to increase imports by around 30% if we manage to expand our import capacity," Ukrainian Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk told a press briefing.
"We plan to import throughout the coldest months, although the priority now is to secure imports for October-December and, if necessary, for other months."
In pictures: Moscow delegation meets the Taliban
Tuesday 7 October 2025 14:01 , Alex Croft
Finnish president to deliver messages from Kyiv to Trump
Tuesday 7 October 2025 13:32 , Alex CroftFinland's president Alexander Stubb said on Tuesday he would this week deliver messages from his recent visit to Ukraine's capital Kyiv to US president Donald Trump.
Stubb is due to visit Washington DC on October 9-10 for a meeting with Trump to discuss US-Finnish relations and Russia's war in Ukraine.
Kyiv says Russian airstrikes caused 'significant' damage to Ukraine gas capacity
Tuesday 7 October 2025 13:00 , Alex CroftUkraine's energy minister Svitlana Hrynchuk said on Tuesday that Russian airstrikes had caused 'significant' damage to Ukraine's gas production capacity.
But Ms Hrynchuk declined to give specific details on the extent of this damage.
She said Russian attacks were targeting Ukraine's regional gas infrastructure, as well as power transmission facilities in Ukraine's frontline regions.
The country was considering increasing LNG imports, Ms Hrynchuk said.
Russia captures two villages in Ukraine, claims defence ministry
Tuesday 7 October 2025 12:30 , Alex CroftThe Russian Defence Ministry said on Tuesday its troops had captured two villages in Ukraine.
The villages are Novovasylivka in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region and Fedorivka in the eastern Donetsk region, the defence ministry said.
The Independent could not verify the battlefield report.
Full report: British parts discovered in Russian drones used to attack Ukraine
Tuesday 7 October 2025 12:00 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky is calling for more stringent sanctions against British companies implicated in supplying components for Russian drones, which are actively being deployed in attacks across Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president criticised allied nations for their role in providing parts to Russia, asserting that hundreds of thousands of foreign-made components were used in a deadly strike on Sunday morning.
Writing on X, Mr Zelensky stated that microcomputers for flight control, manufactured in the UK, were discovered in drones involved in the assault. Other parts from allied countries, including the US, were also identified.
The Sunday attack, a combined drone and missile strike on Lviv, resulted in the deaths of four people, including a 15-year-old, and left six others injured, according to regional officials.
Read the full report here:
British parts discovered in Russian drones used to attack Ukraine
Watch: Zelensky criticises allies over 'zero real reaction' to Russian strikes
Tuesday 7 October 2025 11:29 , Alex CroftTrump says he has 'sort of' made decision on sending Tomahawks to Ukraine
Tuesday 7 October 2025 11:18 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has said he has “sort of” made a decision on whether the US will supply Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
The US president was speaking to reporters after signing several executive orders at the White House on Monday evening.
"I think I want to find out what they're doing with them," he said in response to a question about sending Tomahawks to Ukraine.
"Where are they sending them? I guess I'd have to ask that question. I would ask some questions. I'm not looking to escalate that war."
The questions came after a video clip from Vladimir Putin released on Sunday which said Moscow’s relationship with Washington would be over if the missiles were sent to Ukraine for long-range strikes into Russia.
Bulletin | Zelensky demands action on British firms supplying parts for Russian drones
Tuesday 7 October 2025 11:01 , Alex Croft- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for more stringent sanctions against British companies implicated in supplying components for Russian drones.
- Zelensky criticised allied nations, stating that hundreds of thousands of foreign-made components, including UK-manufactured microcomputers, were used in recent Russian attacks.
- A combined drone and missile strike on Lviv on Sunday resulted in four fatalities, including a 15-year-old, and six injuries, marking the most significant aerial assault on the city since February 2022.
- Zelensky detailed that a massive strike on 5 October involved 549 weapon systems containing over 100,000 foreign-made components from various countries, including the UK, US, and China.
- Ukraine is preparing new sanctions against those aiding Russia, with Zelensky calling for G7 nations to implement systemic decisions to ensure sanctions are effective and prevent circumvention.
Russian national arrested after allegedly spying for Moscow in Ukrainian military
Tuesday 7 October 2025 10:31 , Alex CroftA Russian national who spied for Moscow’s intelligence while serving for Ukraine’s military has been detained, Kyiv’s security service said.
The man is accused of helping Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) coordinate strikes on his unit’s temporary base and other positions in the Lviv region.
He also sent locations of armoured convoys, transit depots and vehicle parks to his Russian handler through anonymous chat apps, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said according to The Kyiv Independent.
The suspect joined the military “under the guise of a volunteer”, the SBU said. He was detained while heading to an ATM where he was due to receive payments from Russia.
The detainee started spying for Russia after joining Ukrainian forces and is believed to have been recruited through his brother, who now lives in Russia.
Russia attack on Kharkiv damages local businesses
Tuesday 7 October 2025 10:07 , Alex CroftA Russian attack on the city of Kharkiv has caused damage and prompted fires at civilian businesses, Ukrainian authorities have said.
The attack was carried out in the Nemyshlianskyi district of the city, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said.
No people were injured or killed, it said, and firefighting crews, medical teams and bomb disposal experts are dealing with the aftermath.
Man killed in Russian attack on Kherson
Tuesday 7 October 2025 09:39 , Alex CroftOne man was killed after Russian forces dropped explosives from a drone on a public transport stop in the city of Kherson on 7 October, the regional prosecutor’s office has said.
A 65-year-old man was killed instantly and a 70-year-old man was injured and hospitalised in the attack.
"Our investigators revealed that Russian forces had dropped explosives from an unmanned aerial vehicle onto a public transport stop in the city of Kherson on 7 October 2025 at around 06:30,” the office said in a statement.
Russia attacks Ukraine with 154 drones and missiles
Tuesday 7 October 2025 09:10 , Alex CroftRussian forces fired two ballistic missiles and 152 drones at Ukraine in an overnight attack, Kyiv’s air force has said.
Ukrainian air defences destroyed or jammed 88 Russian drones across the north and east of the country, the air force added according to Ukrainska Pravda.
Strikes were recorded by two missiles and 52 drones across 10 locations.
The attack is still ongoing with several Russian drones still in Ukrainian air space, the force reported shortly after 7am UK time (9am Ukraine time).
We haven’t yet seen reports of any casualties but will keep you updated on the overnight attack.
Pictured: Rescuers sift through rubble after Russian strike on energy facility
Tuesday 7 October 2025 08:43 , Alex Croft
Ukraine's Donetsk region seen as Russia’s gateway, not the ultimate prize in war
Tuesday 7 October 2025 08:22 , Alex CroftFrom a bunker in eastern Ukraine, the 33-year-old soldier asks her comrade to fly a reconnaissance drone over her childhood home, hoping for a final glimpse before it becomes just another city pulverized by years of fighting.
The soldier took up arms a decade ago to defend her home region, Donetsk, where Ukraine has been battling Russian-backed forces since 2014. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the region has become synonymous with Ukraine’s fight for survival. Battlefield developments in Donetsk are considered a gauge of each side’s fortunes in the war.
In over 10 years of fighting, Ukraine has lost control of around 70% of the region.
“I watched my school destroyed, the community center where I once took dance lessons reduced to rubble,” Fox said in the dugout close to her beloved Kostiantynivka, where Russian forces are steadily closing in.
Ukraine's Donetsk region seen as Russia’s gateway, not the ultimate prize in war
Watch: British parts found in Russian drones being used to bomb Ukraine, claims Zelensky
Tuesday 7 October 2025 08:02 , Alex CroftEU governments agree to limit travel of Russian diplomats in fresh sanctions
Tuesday 7 October 2025 07:45 , Alex CroftEuropean Union governments have agreed to limit the travel of Russian diplomats within the bloc, the Financial Times said on Tuesday.
The move is a response to sabotage attempts, which intelligence agencies believe are often led by spies working under diplomatic cover.
Russian diplomats in EU capitals will be forced to inform other governments of their travel plans before leaving their host countries under the proposed rules, the outlet reported.
The move is part of fresh sanctions being issued by Brussels in response to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Russian air defences destroy 184 Ukrainian drones, defence ministry says
Tuesday 7 October 2025 07:29 , Alex CroftRussian air defence units destroyed 184 Ukrainian drones overnight, the country's RIA news agency reported on Tuesday, citing data from the defence ministry.
We’ll bring you more on the Ukrainian air attack as it comes in.
Attacks on Russia now include domestic missiles, says Zelensky
Tuesday 7 October 2025 07:10 , Arpan RaiPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has said the recent attacks by Ukraine's military on Russian infrastructure included domestically produced missiles.
"It's important to understand that in recent days Ukraine has been using exclusively Ukrainian products (and) not just drones," he said at a briefing in Kyiv, when asked whether Ukraine has fired its new long-range Flamingo missile against Russian targets.
"And judging by the strikes, I think it's clear to people where drones were used, and where drones were not used."
Zelensky added that the supply of US-produced weapons to Ukraine has not been affected by the ongoing government shutdown in Washington.
