Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered preparations for nuclear testing after President Donald Trump said the US would be running tests last week.
"I am instructing the Foreign Ministry, the Defence Ministry, the special services and relevant civilian agencies to do everything possible to collect additional information on the issue, analyse it at the Security Council and make agreed proposals on the possible start of work on the preparation of nuclear weapons tests,” Putin said on Wednesday.
Defence Minister Andrei Belousov told the Russian leader that remarks by the US made it "advisable to prepare for full-scale nuclear tests" immediately.
Last week, Donald Trump announced that the United States is to resume nuclear weapons testing “immediately”, raising fears of renewed proliferation between the world’s two biggest stockpiles of atomic weaponry.
Between them, Russia and the US maintain 87 per cent of the world’s total inventory of nuclear weapons.
Key Points
- Russia orders preparations for nuclear testing after Trump announcement
- The Nuclear Club: The 9 countries armed with nukes as US set to resume weapons testing
- Russian governor urges residents to 'remain calm' as historic Russian city comes under drone attack
- Zelensky visits troops fighting near Pokrovsk
- Russian army 'forced to push back deadlines' for Pokrovsk and Dobropillia
- Why Russia is so desperate to win the battle of Povrosk
Why Russia is so desperate to win the battle of Pokrovsk and what happens next
16:32 , Maira ButtRussian forces have advanced in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Monday.
Pokrovsk is a city that Russia has been trying to capture for over a year.
An estimated 100,000 Russian troops were circling the area, with Ukraine’s top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi saying his forces pushed hard to dislodge Russian troops.
The following are key facts about Pokrovsk, which Russians call by its Soviet-era name of Krasnoarmeysk, and the long battle for its control, which began in earnest in mid-2024.
Why Russia is so desperate to win the battle of Pokrovsk and what happens next
Embarrassment in Moscow as Ukraine’s daring strikes hit targets deep inside Russia
16:06 , Maira ButtUkrainian long-range drones have reportedly struck an industrial plant deep inside Russia, approximately 1,300 kilometres (800 miles) from the border, while Kyiv’s forces continue to fight an intense battle to repel a Russian advance on the strategic city of Pokrovsk in eastern Donetsk.
Two drones targeted an industrial facility in Sterlitamak, located in Russia’s Bashkortostan region, according to regional Governor Radiy Habirov. He stated online that both drones were shot down, causing no casualties, and that the facility was operating normally, though he did not specify the exact target.
Embarrassment in Moscow as Ukraine’s daring strikes hit targets deep inside Russia
Analysis: Why talk of the fall of Pokrovsk – and Ukraine – is premature
15:30 , Maira ButtNot 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 frontline that his country’s fighters are “under pressure” is also misleading - and something of an understatement.
The Independent’s foreign correspondent Sam Kiley reports:
Why talk of the fall of Pokrovsk – and Ukraine – is premature
Putin orders preparations for nuclear testing after Trump threat
14:59 , Maira ButtRussian President Vladimir Putin has ordered top officials to begin drafting proposals on nuclear testing after US President Donald Trump said that he would resume tests last week.
"I am instructing the Foreign Ministry, the Defence Ministry... the special services and relevant civilian agencies to do everything possible to collect additional information on the issue, analyse it at the Security Council and make agreed proposals on the possible start of work on the preparation of nuclear weapons tests," Putin said on Wednesday.
Ukraine strengthens units to defend Pokrovsk
14:30 , Maira ButtUkraine’s general staff denied Russian statements that its military surrounded Kyiv troops.
The military said that it had strengthened its units to defend the strategic city, which is located in the eastern Donetsk region.
It said combat work was underway to reinforce the flanks around Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad area and secure logistics routes, according to the statement on the Telegram app.
Ukraine military using video game-style reward system earning points killing Russians with drones
14:00 , Maira ButtUkraine’s military units are competing with each other by launching deadly drone attacks to earn points that can be used to buy more weapons.
The video game-style rewards system is proving to be very popular, Ukraine’s first deputy prime minister said, with hundreds of units participating. Launched a year ago, it is now being expanded to reconnaissance, artillery and logistics operations, according to reports.
Bryony Gooch reports:
Ukraine military using video game-style reward system to earn new weapons with points
Zelensky calls for Ukraine to join EU before 2030
13:30 , Maira ButtVolodymyr Zelensky has expressed his desire for Ukraine to join the EU by 2030.
"Ukraine is fighting for its independence, and our future is in the EU, which is part of our independence … and for us, it is an important factor that we are highly assessed in this [report]," he said, speaking during a visit to frontline troops near Pokrovsk.
The president said he "would not like this [accession] process to be too long," but acknowledged that this "does not depend on us".
"The quicker Ukraine is able to open the clusters and to have the fully fledged negotiations, the better it is for us," he added.
His statement comes after the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said the EU could admit new members by 2030.
“Russia’s full-scale invasion in Ukraine and the geopolitical shifts make the case for enlargement very clear cut,” Kallas told reporters.
“It is a necessity if we want to be a stronger player on the world stage.”
She added that “new countries joining the European Union by 2030 is a realistic goal” and said Montenegro was the most advanced in the accession process.
Analysis: Ceasefire deal 'firmly off the table', says expert
12:55 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to the frontline shows that the battle between Ukraine and Russia is continuing to intensify rather than slow down.
“Zelensky's visit to the troops near an embattled town is a clear sign that a ceasefire deal is firmly off the table - at least in the short run,” Dr Bariş Çelik, an academic specialising in security and defence policies in Europe at the University of Sheffield, told The Independent.
“The visit shows that Zelensky's government is understandably invested in a defensive struggle to maintain Ukraine's territorial integrity, even if this means a continued and protracted fight against a sustained flood of Russian troops.
“This in turn adds to the doubts over a potential ceasefire between Russian and Ukrainian forces, let alone an end to the ongoing war.”
Historic Russian city rocked by explosions after Ukrainian drone attacks
12:17 , Maira ButtThe historic Russian city of Oryol came under Ukrainian attack on Wednesday as the governor of the region urged residents to “remain calm”.
Governor Andrey Klychkov claimed that Ukrainian drones were targeting the region and that Russian air defense units destroyed the UAVs.
Debris from the intercepted drones is said to have damaged some homes and an outbuilding, he said.
Footage circulated on social media shows the aftermath of explosions around 1 to 1.5km from the Oryol thermal plant.
“Specialists are working on site. Recovery efforts will begin at daylight. Please remain calm. All essential systems are operating normally,” Avdeyev said.
Ukraine ‘destroys elite Russian unit’ in drone strike on Black Sea oil rig
12:15 , Maira ButtUkraine’s navy says it has struck an “elite” Russian special unit located on a Black Sea oil rig.
An anti-tank missile crew was killed in the strike and reconnaissance equipment was destroyed at the Syvash drilling rig, near Russian-occupied Crimea, the naval forces said in a Telegram post.
Russia has disputed the account by distributing a video that alleges a Ukrainian naval boat was destroyed by a Lancet drone, but Kyiv’s forces said the video actually showed them deploying a kamikaze drone successfully.
Bryony Gooch reports:
Ukraine ‘destroys elite Russian unit’ in drone strike on Black Sea oil rig
The Nuclear Club: The 9 countries armed with nukes as US set to resume weapons testing
11:45 , Maira ButtThere has been renewed focus on nuclear arsenals after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
James C Reynolds and Maryam Zakir-Hussain report:
The 9 countries with nuclear weapons as US set to resume testing after 30 years
Ukraine seeks to revamp military service as troops worn down by war
11:15 , Maira ButtUkraine seeks to introduce fixed-term military contracts to allow recruits more flexibility over their futures as the war with Russia shows no sign of ending.
Its current system of conscription enlists soldiers under open-ended contracts, which has led to an army worn down by the relentless intensity of fighting since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
The new system will allow current service members and recruits to sign deals lasting between one and five years, according to the country’s defence minister Denys Shmyhal who announced the news on Tuesday. The plan will seek to ease the strain on existing military members, and replenish Ukraine’s forces.
Zelensky calls on Orban to stop blocking Ukraine's bid to join the EU
10:22 , Maira ButtUkraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban to stop blocking the country’s bid to join the European Union.
Orban has previously drawn criticism after denying Ukraine’s sovereignty. “Ukraine is not an independent country. Ukraine is not a sovereign country,” he said in September.
Hungary was due to host a highly-anticipated summit between US President Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, but talks appear to have stalled in recent weeks.
“We are at war for our survival, and we would really like the prime minister of Hungary to support us, at least not block us,” Zelensky said at a Euronews event on Tuesday.
Russia's Black Sea port suspends fuel exports after Ukrainian drone attack
10:14 , Maira ButtRussia has been forced to suspend fuel exports at one of its main ports while an oil refinery was forced to halt the progression of crude oil after two Ukrainian drone attacks on its infrastructure.
Two industry sources told Reuters that drone attacks struck Tuapse on Sunday, one of Russia’s main Black Sea ports causing a fire and damaging at least one ship. LSEG ship tracking data appeared to confirm the reports.
Watch: Why Russians are fighting against Russia: ‘Putin has not only ruined Ukraine, he’s ruined my country’
09:38 , Maira ButtZelensky meets troops near Ukrainian frontline town of Pokrovsk
09:15 , Maira ButtUkraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky met troops near Pokrovsk as fighting intensified in recent days and Russian troops said they had his army in the region surrounded.
“I met with servicemembers at the command post of the 4th Rapid Response Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine ‘Rubizh,’” he wrote in a post on X/Twitter on Tuesday.
“Together with adjacent units, they are engaged in a defensive operation in the Dobropillia sector.”
He continued: “I heard the commander’s report on the situation in this sector. We discussed the brigade’s needs in detail, the production and centralized supply of drones: ground robotic platforms, heavy bomber drones and others, as well as the manufacturing of standardized munitions for them.”
He presented the soldiers with state awards as he thanked them for their service.
I met with servicemembers at the command post of the 4th Rapid Response Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine “Rubizh.” Together with adjacent units, they are engaged in a defensive operation in the Dobropillia sector.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 4, 2025
I heard the commander’s report on the situation in this… pic.twitter.com/NjqzGv7YF7
Ukraine drone attacks damage Russian oil pumping stations
08:44 , Maira ButtTwo oil pumping stations in Russia’s Yaroslavl region have been left with minor damage after a Ukrainian drone attack.
Mikhail Evrayev, the regional governor said nobody had been hurt in the attack.
It continues a pattern of strikes on energy infrastructure by both sides.
Russia urges surrounded Ukrainian troops to surrender
08:12 , Maira ButtRussia’s defence ministry has said Ukrainian troops encircled in the cities of Pokrovsk and Kupiansk should give themselves up.
Ukraine has denied its troops are surrounded in the region where fighting has intensified in recent days.
In a statement, the ministry said troops would have no other chance to save themselves with their situation deteriorating fast. It said President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statements on the conditions on the ground were false.
Why Russia is so desperate to win the battle of Pokrovsk
07:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussian forces have advanced in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Monday.
Pokrovsk is a city that Russia has been trying to capture for over a year.
An estimated 100,000 Russian troops were circling the area, with Ukraine’s top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi saying his forces pushed hard to dislodge Russian troops.
The following are key facts about Pokrovsk, which Russians call by its Soviet-era name of Krasnoarmeysk, and the long battle for its control, which began in earnest in mid-2024.
What is Pokrovsk?
Pokrovsk is a road and rail hub in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region with a pre-war population of some 60,000 people. Most people have now fled, all children have been evacuated and few civilians remain amid its pulverised apartment buildings and cratered roads.
More here.
Why Russia is so desperate to win the battle of Pokrovsk and what happens next
The European countries impacted by Russia's 'hybrid war'
07:25 , Adam WithnallAt least 10 European nations have reported airspace violations and drone sightings so far this year, with Russia suspected to be the culprit in many of the cases. Here’s a breakdown:
BELGIUM
The Brussels and Liege airports were closed on Tuesday evening after drones were spotted, diverting many incoming planes and preventing others from taking off. The Brussels airport reopened Wednesday morning though some flights were cancelled and others delayed.
Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken said on Sunday that police was investigating drone sightings over the Kleine Brogel air base in north-east Belgium.
The country opened an investigation last week after two drone sightings over a military base in the country's south-east, and another inquiry last month after several drones were spotted flying over a military base at Elsenborn, on the German border.
CZECH REPUBLIC
The Czech army said on 10 September it was detecting an increasing number of unidentified drones flying over its military facilities, according to the Institute for the Study of War research group.
DENMARK
Drones disrupted air traffic at six Danish airports in September, including in Copenhagen, the Nordic region's busiest airport, in what Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called a hybrid attack on her nation.
ESTONIA
Three Russian military jets violated NATO member Estonia's airspace for 12 minutes on September 19, before NATO Italian fighter jets escorted them out.
GERMANY
The Berlin and Bremen airports briefly closed on the weekend after two separate drone sightings, local media reported.
Drones were spotted at airports and military installations across Germany earlier in October, Bild newspaper quoted a confidential police report as saying, suggesting sightings at Munich Airport on October 3 were the tip of the iceberg.
The interior ministry of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein said on September 26 that drones had been sighted overnight and they were being investigated for possible espionage and sabotage.
LITHUANIA
NATO member Lithuania closed Vilnius Airport and Belarus border crossings on October 28, after several objects, identified as likely helium balloons, entered its airspace, the National Crisis Management Centre said, the fourth such incident in a week.
The country said on October 23 that two Russian military aircraft had entered its airspace for about 18 seconds, prompting a formal protest and a reaction from NATO forces, while Russia denied the incident.
NORWAY
Norway's Oslo Airport temporarily paused one or several landings early on October 6 after a report of a drone sighting near the airport, its operator Avinor said.
POLAND
Polish MiG-29 fighter aircraft intercepted a Russian reconnaissance plane over the Baltic Sea on October 30, Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
The country's army said that its jets had intercepted a Russian aircraft flying a reconnaissance mission in international airspace over the Baltic Sea on October 28.
Some 20 Russian drones entered the country's airspace on the night of September 9-10. NATO deployed F-35 and F-16 fighter jets, helicopters and a Patriot air defence system to respond to the incursion.
ROMANIA
Romania scrambled fighter jets on September 13, when a drone breached the country's airspace during a Russian attack on Ukrainian infrastructure near the border, the defence ministry said.
SPAIN
Flight operations at Palma de Mallorca Airport were temporarily suspended on October 20 following drone sightings, according to the ISW.
Ukraine military using video game-style reward system earning points killing Russians with drones
06:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUkraine’s military units are competing with each other by launching deadly drone attacks to earn points that can be used to buy more weapons.
The video game-style rewards system is proving to be very popular, Ukraine’s first deputy prime minister said, with hundreds of units participating. Launched a year ago, it is now being expanded to reconnaissance, artillery and logistics operations, according to reports.
“It’s become truly popular among units,” deputy prime minister Mykhailo Fedorov told The Guardian. “All the defence forces know about this and there’s competition for the points, for getting these drones, electronic warfare systems and other things to help them in warfighting.
Bryony Gooch has more.
Ukraine military using video game-style reward system to earn new weapons with points
Russia says its troops have advanced into Pokrovsk
06:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Russian and Ukrainian troops battle in ruins of Pokrovsk
05:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussian and Ukrainian troops fought battles yesterday in the ruins of Pokrovsk, a transport and logistics hub in eastern Ukraine that Moscow has been trying to capture for over a year.
Ukraine's military yesterday said fierce fighting was underway in a part of the city that was key for Kyiv's frontline logistics. It said additional special forces had arrived there, and more weapons and equipment were being sent.
Russia's defence ministry said its soldiers had cleared 35 buildings of Ukrainian troops. It also said that Russian forces were squeezing surrounded Ukrainians near the town of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, about 160km to the north.
On Monday, a spokesperson for the General Staff of Ukraine's military reaffirmed, in comments to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, that not a single military unit was encircled in the Pokrovsk sector.
With peace talks at an impasse in the fourth year of the war, Russia says it has the initiative on all sections of the front, yet it has not captured a major town since taking Avdiivka in early 2024.
Ukraine says the fighting is largely stalemated and its territorial losses have been marginal.
Putin hails developers of nuclear-powered Burevestnik missile
05:15 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussia's Vladimir Putin has awarded the developers of the Burevestnik cruise missile and the Poseidon underwater torpedo at a ceremony last night.
At the event in the Kremlin, Putin claimed the two nuclear-powered, nuclear-capable weapons were of “historic significance” for Russia and “for the entire 21st century".
“In terms of flight range, the Burevestnik … has surpassed all known missile systems in the world,” Putin said in a speech, praising the state of Russia’s defence technology.
The Russian leader said that Moscow has commenced the serial production of the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile.
Last month, Putin said Russia had successfully tested its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, which he claimed was capable of piercing any defence shield.
Russia says the 9M730 Burevestnik (Storm Petrel) - dubbed the SSC-X-9 Skyfall by Nato - is "invincible" to current and future missile defences, with an almost unlimited range and unpredictable flight path.
Since first announcing the 9M730 Burevestnik in 2018, Putin has cast the weapon as a response to moves by the US to build a missile defence shield after Washington in 2001 unilaterally withdrew from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and to enlarge the Nato military alliance.
Ukraine ‘destroys elite Russian unit’ in drone strike
04:55 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUkraine’s navy says it has struck an “elite” Russian special unit located on a Black Sea oil rig.
An anti-tank missile crew was killed in the strike and reconnaissance equipment was destroyed at the Syvash drilling rig, near Russian-occupied Crimea, the naval forces said in a Telegram post.
Russia has disputed the account by distributing a video that alleges a Ukrainian naval boat was destroyed by a Lancet drone, but Kyiv’s forces said the video actually showed them deploying a kamikaze drone successfully.
More here.
Ukraine ‘destroys elite Russian unit’ in drone strike on Black Sea oil rig
Russia says it destroyed 40 Ukrainian drones overnight
04:22 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussia's air defence units destroyed 40 Ukrainian drones overnight, TASS news agency reported this morning, citing data from the Russian defence ministry.
Recap: All flights grounded at Brussels Airport after ‘drone sighting’
04:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
All flights grounded at Brussels Airport after ‘drone sighting’
Zelensky calls for Ukraine to join EU before 2030
04:01 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarVolodymyr Zelensky has expressed his desire for Ukraine to join the EU by 2030.
"Ukraine is fighting for its independence, and our future is in the EU, which is part of our independence … and for us, it is an important factor that we are highly assessed in this [report]," he said, speaking during a visit to frontline troops near Pokrovsk.
The president said he "would not like this [accession] process to be too long," but acknowledged that this "does not depend on us".
"The quicker Ukraine is able to open the clusters and to have the fully fledged negotiations, the better it is for us," he added.
His statement comes after the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said the EU could admit new members by 2030.
“Russia’s full-scale invasion in Ukraine and the geopolitical shifts make the case for enlargement very clear cut,” Kallas told reporters.
“It is a necessity if we want to be a stronger player on the world stage.”
She added that “new countries joining the European Union by 2030 is a realistic goal” and said Montenegro was the most advanced in the accession process.
Blast reported at petrochemical plant in Russia's Bashkortostan
03:49 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAn explosion at the Sterlitamak petrochemical plant in Russia's Bashkortostan caused a partial collapse of a water-treatment facility, the administration of the city of Sterlitamak has said.
There were no immediate reports of injuries, the administration said yesterday.
It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion.
All flights grounded at Brussels Airport after ‘drone sighting’
03:27 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarBrussels Airport has been closed and all flights grounded after the reported sighting of a drone, Belgian air traffic control has said.
"There are no flights currently landing or taking off," a spokeswoman said, adding she could not estimate how long the airport would remain closed.
Belgium's busiest airport briefly reopened on Tuesday evening after two hours of disruption, but was closed again after more drone sightings. It was unclear when flights would resume.
Nicole Wootton-Cane reports.
All flights grounded at Brussels Airport after ‘drone sighting’
Zelensky meet Ukrainian troops to discuss Pokrovsk situation
03:04 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUkrainian president said the operational situation near Pokrovsk and on its outskirts was the main topic of discussion with the servicemen.
The operational situation near Pokrovsk and on its outskirts was the main topic of discussion with the servicemen of the 25th Separate Airborne Sicheslav Brigade, which is engaged in a defensive operation in this sector of the front. Today, I met with the warriors in their… pic.twitter.com/RRdPTbkm53
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 4, 2025
Russian army 'forced to push back deadlines' for Pokrovsk and Dobropillia
03:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneZelensky has claimed the Russian army has been forced to “push back” its deadlines for capturing the regions of Pokrovsk and Dobropillia.
In a post on X, the Ukrainian leader wrote: “The Russian army has once again been forced to push back the deadlines it had drawn up for itself for capturing Pokrovsk and Dobropillia. And every Russian loss contributes to our ability to defend our state, our people, our independence.
“It is symbolic that today we have the most positive European Commission report in three years. This gives Ukrainians even more motivation as Europe recognizes our joint efforts. Ukraine is doing everything to gain EU membership. Even in wartime, even amid the toughest battles, our state keeps moving forward in the membership talks, which is absolutely unprecedented across Europe.
“Every other EU member state has followed a much easier path. It is crucial that our results are met with proper support in Europe – that the EU fulfills its commitments.
“Ukraine is ready to open the clusters, and we need a European decision on this. I thank everyone who is helping. I am proud of our people, proud of every single one of our warriors.”
The Russian army has once again been forced to push back the deadlines it had drawn up for itself for capturing Pokrovsk and Dobropillia. And every Russian loss contributes to our ability to defend our state, our people, our independence.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 4, 2025
It is symbolic that today we have the… pic.twitter.com/VRBEvDGv4D
Zelensky visits troops fighting near Pokrovsk
02:52 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarVolodymyr Zelensky said he met Ukrainian soldiers near the town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk, where one of the fiercest front-line battles between Russia and Ukraine is underway.
President Zelensky yesterday on X claimed he visited a command post of the 1st Corps, which was conducting a defensive operation."I heard reports from the military; we discussed the situation on the frontline and the most urgent needs. Much attention was given to weapons, scaling up drone production, needs of brigades," Zelensky wrote on X.
He added: "I am grateful to the warriors for defending Ukraine and our territorial integrity. This is our country, this is our East, and we will certainly do our utmost to keep it Ukrainian."
Russia said on Monday that its troops had advanced into Pokrovsk, a transport and logistics hub that they have been trying to capture for over a year.
Zelensky said Pokrovsk remained under severe pressure, though Russian troops had made no gains in the past day. He said up to 300 Russian servicemen had infiltrated the city.
Watch: Why Russians are fighting against Russia: ‘Putin has not only ruined Ukraine, he’s ruined my country’
02:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRecap: Ukraine military using video game-style reward system earning points killing Russians with drones
01:00 , 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.
The video game-style rewards system is proving to be very popular, Ukraine’s first deputy prime minister said, with hundreds of units participating. Launched a year ago, it is now being expanded to reconnaissance, artillery and logistics operations, according to reports.
“It’s become truly popular among units,” deputy prime minister Mykhailo Fedorov told The Guardian. “All the defence forces know about this and there’s competition for the points, for getting these drones, electronic warfare systems and other things to help them in warfighting.
“The more infantry you kill, the more drones you get to kill more infantry. This is becoming kind of a self-reinforcing cycle.”
You can read more below...
Ukraine military using video game-style reward system to earn new weapons with points
Ukraine's defence minister meets Dutch counterpart
00:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkraine’s minister of defence has met with his counterpart in the Netherlands to discuss air defence.
In a post on X, Denys Shmyhal wrote: “On the sidelines of JEF, I met with the Minister of Defense of the Netherlands Ruben Brekelmans.
“We discussed strengthening air defense. I am grateful to the Netherlands for its significant contribution. We also need to further develop cooperation between our defense companies.
“Agreements are already in place and will be implemented by the end of the year. Joint production of drones, particularly interceptors, is a promising direction.
“I am grateful to the Netherlands for providing important support!”
🇺🇦🇳🇱On the sidelines of JEF, I met with the Minister of Defense of the Netherlands Ruben Brekelmans (@DefensieMin).
— Denys Shmyhal (@Denys_Shmyhal) November 4, 2025
We discussed strengthening air defense. I am grateful to the Netherlands for its significant contribution. We also need to further develop cooperation between our… pic.twitter.com/gUnLo1zxzk
Ukraine ‘destroys elite Russian unit’ in drone strike on Black Sea oil rig
Tuesday 4 November 2025 23:00 , Daniel KeaneUkraine’s navy has it has struck an “elite” Russian special unit located on a Black Sea oil rig.
An anti-tank missile crew was killed in the strike and reconnaissance equipment was destroyed at the Syvash drilling rig, near Russian-occupied Crimea, the naval forces said in a Telegram post.
Russia has disputed the account by distributing a video that alleges a Ukrainian naval boat was destroyed by a Lancet drone, but Kyiv’s forces said the video actually showed them deploying a kamikaze drone successfully.
The statement from Ukraine’s naval forces read: “The Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck an elite enemy special unit located on the ‘Syvash’ drilling rig. In addition to the Russian occupiers' technical reconnaissance and observation equipment, an enemy anti-tank missile system crew was destroyed.
“Trying to pass off another defeat as a victory, the Russians are spreading a video allegedly showing the destruction of a Ukrainian Navy boat by a "Lancet" munition, while in reality we successfully used a kamikaze drone.”
Read our full story below.
Ukraine ‘destroys elite Russian unit’ in drone strike on Black Sea oil rig
Watch: How Ukraine and Russia are playing out a deadly cat and mouse drone war from underground bunkers
Tuesday 4 November 2025 22:00 , Alex CroftPutin praises new Russian weapons at ceremony
Tuesday 4 November 2025 21:30 , Nicole Wootton-CanePresident Vladimir Putin on Tuesday praised some of Russia's newest weapons, describing them as faster and more effective, capable of ensuring security and strategic parity and even of use in rare metals extraction and lunar missions. Putin extolled the qualities of the Burevestnik cruise missile and Poseidon super torpedo at a ceremony honoring the experts who helped design and build the weapons.
"The result you have achieved has, with no exaggeration, historic significance for our people for ensuring security and strategic parity for decades to come and, we can boldly say, for the entire 21st century," Putin said in comments reported by Russian news agencies.
Last week, Putin said Russia had successfully tested the nuclear-capable Burevestnik (storm petrel) missile, saying it could evade any defense system. The chief of staff of Russia's armed forces said it had travelled 14,000 km (8,700 miles).
On Tuesday, he praised the missile's speed - more than three times the speed of sound - and its propulsion system of small nuclear reactors which can be brought into action much more quickly than standard reactors - within seconds.
Ukraine says defences are holding in Pokrovsk as Russia claims advance
Tuesday 4 November 2025 21:00 , Alex CroftThe Ukrainian military has said its defences around Pokrovsk city in Donetsk are holding, denying claims from Russia that its troops are in full control of any district of the city.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Pokrovsk remained under severe pressure, though Russian troops had made no gains in the past day. He said up to 300 Russian servicemen had infiltrated the city.
Russia said on Monday that its troops had advanced into Pokrovsk, a transport and logistics hub that they have been trying to capture for over a year.
The Russian defence ministry said its soldiers were destroying what it described as surrounded Ukrainian formations near Pokrovsk's railway station and industrial zone, and had entered the city's Prigorodny area and dug in there.
“The invaders continue to attack in small groups of up to five soldiers, without using armoured vehicles," the operation task force responsible for Ukraine's eastern front line said on Facebook.
Ukraine's 7th Rapid Response Corps said Ukrainian forces had thwarted an attempt to cut off a supply route from Rodynske, to the north.
North of Pokrovsk, however, Ukraine has recorded recent gains near Dobropillia. Army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said his forces had stepped up pressure there with the aim of forcing Russia to divert its focus away from Pokrovsk.
BREAKING: All flights grounded at Brussels Airport after ‘drone sighting’
Tuesday 4 November 2025 20:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAll flights are currently grounded at Brussels Airport following a drone sighting.
You can read more below...
All flights grounded at Brussels Airport after ‘drone sighting’
One killed and 11 injured in attacks on Dnipropetrovsk
Tuesday 4 November 2025 20:01 , Alex CroftOne person was killed and 11 have been injured, including two children, following Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region.
This is according to Vladyslav Haivanenko, the acting chief of the regional military administration, who was providing an update on Facebook.
Russians attacked the Mykolaivka hromada [area] in the Synelnykove district with a missile and a drone, Mr Haivanenko said.
A 65-year-old woman was killed and eight were injured, including a 15-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl.
A further three men were injured in attacks on the region’s Nikopol district.
Russia strikes civilian infrastructure in Odesa - governor
Tuesday 4 November 2025 19:00 , Alex CroftRussia struck civilian energy and port infrastructure in a massive overnight drone attack on Ukraine's southern region of Odesa, its governor said on Tuesday.
"Despite the active work of air defence forces, which destroyed most of the enemy targets, there were hits on civilian port and energy infrastructure facilities," Oleh Kiper wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
He said that rescuers quickly extinguished the fires and there were no casualties.
Italy summons Russian ambassador after 'vulgar' remarks on tower collapse
Tuesday 4 November 2025 18:01 , Alex CroftItaly summoned Russia's deputy ambassador on Tuesday to protest at what it said were "vulgar" remarks by Moscow's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who linked the collapse of a tower in Rome to Italy's military support for Ukraine.
A Romanian worker was trapped under the rubble after part of a medieval tower near Rome's Colosseum gave way on Monday. He was later extracted alive, but subsequently died in hospital.
With the rescue operation still underway, Zakharova wrote on her Telegram channel that as long as the Italian government "wastes its taxpayers' money" on backing Ukraine, the local economy, and its towers, would continue to collapse.
Foreign minister Antonio Tajani denounced her post as "disturbing" and "unacceptable", adding: "Italy will not alter its foreign policy stance or its principles in response to reckless verbal attacks".
In a statement later posted on Facebook, the Russian Embassy in Rome expressed its condolences for the death of Romanian worker Octav Stroici.
It added that Moscow had raised concerns with Italy over what it called an "aggressive, deplorable anti-Russian campaign" in the Italian media, triggered by Zakharova's earlier comments.
Russian and Ukrainian troops remain in fierce battles in Pokrovsk
Tuesday 4 November 2025 17:29 , Alex CroftRussian and Ukrainian troops fought battles on Tuesday in the ruins of Pokrovsk, a transport and logistics hub in eastern Ukraine that Moscow has been trying to capture for over a year.
Ukraine's military said fierce fighting was under way in a part of the city that was key for Kyiv's frontline logistics. It said additional special forces had arrived there, and more weapons and equipment were being sent.
The Russian Defence Ministry said its soldiers had cleared 35 buildings of Ukrainian troops. It also said that Russian forces were squeezing surrounded Ukrainians near the town of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, about 100 miles (160 km) to the north.
The Independent was unable to verify the battlefield reports from either side. Ukraine has denied that its troops are encircled in either location.
But DeepState, an authoritative Ukrainian battlefield map, on Tuesday showed that Russian forces had pushed further into Pokrovsk and its environs, though it showed much of it still in grey, beyond firm control of either side.
Zelensky urges US to remain open to supplying long-range weapons
Tuesday 4 November 2025 17:00 , Alex CroftUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky urged the United States on Tuesday to remain open to supplying Kyiv with long-range weapons for its war effort against Russia.
Donald Trump has said the US will not be providing Kyiv with Tomahawks after months of suggesting he may do so.
While addressing a European Union summit from the Pokrovsk area of eastern Ukraine, Mr Zelensky also called for more Western sanctions on Russia - including on Russia's gas and nuclear sectors - and said he wanted Ukraine to join the EU before 2030.
Putin lays wreath to the monument of liberators of Moscow at Moscow's Red Square
Tuesday 4 November 2025 16:30 , Alex CroftMembership of EU by 2030 is realistic goal for Ukraine, says Kallas
Tuesday 4 November 2025 16:01 , Alex CroftMembership of the European Union by 2030 is a realistic goal for some aspiring countries, the bloc's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said on Tuesday.
In its annual enlargement report, the EU said that Montenegro, Albania, Moldova and Ukraine have all made significant advances this year in the path toward membership.
"Expanding the union is in our best interest," Ms Kallas told reporters in Brussels.
IAEA mediating between Moscow and Kyiv over Ukraine's nuclear power plants
Tuesday 4 November 2025 15:31 , Alex CroftThe International Atomic Energy Agency is constantly working as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia over Ukraine's nuclear power plants, IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi said on Tuesday in Paris.
The agency is monitoring the compliance of the conditions for the temporary ceasefire around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine, Mr Grossi said.
He added that there is an expanded interest in nuclear power around the world but investments and new projects must abide by non-proliferation rules.
The Zaporizhzhia power plant is currently under Russian occupation, after it took over the area in 2022.
Ukraine military using video game-style reward system earning points killing Russians with drones
Tuesday 4 November 2025 14:59 , 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.
The video game-style rewards system is proving to be very popular, Ukraine’s first deputy prime minister said, with hundreds of units participating. Launched a year ago, it is now being expanded to reconnaissance, artillery and logistics operations, according to reports.
“It’s become truly popular among units,” deputy prime minister Mykhailo Fedorov told The Guardian. “All the defence forces know about this and there’s competition for the points, for getting these drones, electronic warfare systems and other things to help them in warfighting.
“The more infantry you kill, the more drones you get to kill more infantry. This is becoming kind of a self-reinforcing cycle.”
Bryony Gooch reports:
Ukraine military using video game-style reward system to earn new weapons with points
Zelensky visits troops on frontline
Tuesday 4 November 2025 14:30 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky has visited troops fighting near the eastern city of Dobropillia, where Ukrainian forces are conducting a counteroffensive against Russian troops.
"Much attention was given to weapons, scaling up drone production, the needs of brigades and the experience of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine 'Azov' and other units," he wrote on X.
The Ukrainian president also shared footage of him speaking with the troops to whom he gave medals.
На пункті управління 4-ї бригади оперативного призначення НГУ «Рубіж» зустрівся з військовими. Вони разом із суміжними підрозділами тримають оборону на Добропільському напрямку.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 4, 2025
Заслухав доповідь командира про ситуацію на цьому напрямку. Детально обговорили з військовими потреби… pic.twitter.com/EJpQWGzcCN
Germany to boost financial aid for Ukraine by 3 billion euros
Tuesday 4 November 2025 14:01 , Alex CroftGermany plans to increase its financial aid for Ukraine by about three billion euros ($3.5 billion) next year, two government sources said on Tuesday, confirming a report in business daily Handelsblatt.
Germany is Europe's largest contributor of military aid to Ukraine, having provided around 40 billion euros since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. In its 2026 budget, Germany had allocated 8.5 billion euros to Ukraine.
"We will continue our support for as long as necessary to defend against Russia's war of aggression," one government source told Reuters.
Germany's finance and defence ministers will add an extra three billion euros for Ukraine to final 2026 budget adjustments, said the source. This will cover artillery, drones, armoured vehicles, and the replacement of two Patriot systems, the source added.
A second government source told Reuters that Chancellor Friedrich Merz supported the plans which were expected to be agreed.
Zelensky says EU report shows Kyiv 'confidently moving' towards EU membership
Tuesday 4 November 2025 13:28 , Alex CroftUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said the European Commission's latest report on Ukraine's reform progress showed Kyiv was "confidently moving" toward EU membership and was ready to open the first three negotiation clusters.
"We expect the EU's decisive action to overcome all artificial obstacles for a strong and united Europe," he wrote on X.
“Unity and strength are two key elements for the European project to succeed and ensure safety, prosperity, and guaranteed peace for all European nations, communities, and families.
“We are committed to working together to strengthen Europe and our shared values.”
Ukraine committed to EU accession but should do more, says Commission draft
Tuesday 4 November 2025 13:00 , Alex CroftUkraine is showing "remarkable commitment" to joining the EU, but must reverse recent negative trends in the fight against corruption, the European Commission has said.
The draft text, part of an EU enlargement report expected to be adopted today, says that "despite the very difficult circumstances the country finds itself in on account of Russia’s war of aggression, Ukraine continued to demonstrate remarkable commitment to the EU accession path over the past year".
Ukraine applied to join the EU days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. It has been pushing to make progress on its bid, despite the challenges of Russia’s war and EU member Hungary blocking Kyiv from formally moving to the next phase of negotiations.
While praising Ukraine for launching reform processes, the European Commission also said that Kyiv needs to make more progress on judicial independence, fighting organised crime and respecting civil society.
Russia massing troops near eastern town of Dobropillia, says Zelensky
Tuesday 4 November 2025 12:29 , Alex CroftUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia is massing troops near the eastern Ukrainian town of Dobropillia, where Kyiv's forces advanced earlier this year in a successful counteroffensive.
Dobropillia is about 30km north of Pokrovsk, where Zelensky said Ukraine's defences are coming under severe pressure and up to 300 Russian soldiers have infiltrated the city.
Russia is focussing its offensive on this eastern sector of Donetsk, and has been pushing to take the strategic city of Pokrovsk for almost a year.
Taking Pokrovsk would give Moscow its most important single territorial gain in Ukraine since the capture of the ruined city of Avdiivka in early 2024.
Ukraine says defences are holding in Pokrovsk as Russia claims advance
Tuesday 4 November 2025 12:00 , Alex CroftThe Ukrainian military has said its defences around Pokrovsk city in Donetsk are holding, denying claims from Russia that its troops are in full control of any district of the city.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Pokrovsk remained under severe pressure, though Russian troops had made no gains in the past day. He said up to 300 Russian servicemen had infiltrated the city.
Russia said on Monday that its troops had advanced into Pokrovsk, a transport and logistics hub that they have been trying to capture for over a year.
The Russian defence ministry said its soldiers were destroying what it described as surrounded Ukrainian formations near Pokrovsk's railway station and industrial zone, and had entered the city's Prigorodny area and dug in there.
“The invaders continue to attack in small groups of up to five soldiers, without using armoured vehicles," the operation task force responsible for Ukraine's eastern front line said on Facebook.
Ukraine's 7th Rapid Response Corps said Ukrainian forces had thwarted an attempt to cut off a supply route from Rodynske, to the north.
North of Pokrovsk, however, Ukraine has recorded recent gains near Dobropillia. Army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said his forces had stepped up pressure there with the aim of forcing Russia to divert its focus away from Pokrovsk.
Why Russia is so desperate to win the battle of Pokrovsk - and what happens next?
Tuesday 4 November 2025 11:27 , Alex CroftRussian forces have advanced in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Monday.
Pokrovsk is a city that Russia has been trying to capture for over a year.
An estimated 100,000 Russian troops were circling the area, with Ukraine’s top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi saying his forces pushed hard to dislodge Russian troops.
The following are key facts about Pokrovsk, which Russians call by its Soviet-era name of Krasnoarmeysk, and the long battle for its control, which began in earnest in mid-2024.
Why Russia is so desperate to win the battle of Pokrovsk and what happens next
Russia fires 137 drones and missiles at Ukraine overnight
Tuesday 4 November 2025 10:55 , Alex CroftRussian forces fired 137 drones and missiles at Ukraine overnight, including an Iskander-M ballistic missile launched from the Rostov region, Ukraine’s air force has said in its daily update.
The attack also involved six S-300 surface-to-air guided missiles from Kursk Oblast and 130 drones, the military added.
Ukrainian forces downed 92 drones, it added. Around 80 of the 130 drones were Iranian-made Shahed drones.
Video: Fire breaks out in Mykolaiv after Russian attack, authorities say
Tuesday 4 November 2025 10:23 , Alex CroftOne killed and 11 injured in attacks on Dnipropetrovsk
Tuesday 4 November 2025 09:50 , Alex CroftOne person was killed and 11 have been injured, including two children, following Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region.
This is according to Vladyslav Haivanenko, the acting chief of the regional military administration, who was providing an update on Facebook.
Russians attacked the Mykolaivka hromada [area] in the Synelnykove district with a missile and a drone, Mr Haivanenko said.
A 65-year-old woman was killed and eight were injured, including a 15-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl.
A further three men were injured in attacks on the region’s Nikopol district.
Ukrainian forces attack petrochemical plant 1,500km inside Russia
Tuesday 4 November 2025 09:19 , Alex CroftUkrainian forces attacked a petrochemical plant deep inside Russia, causing a partial collapse of a water-treatment facility but no injuries, regional authorities said on Tuesday.
The Sterlitamak plant in the Bashkortostan region, some 1,500 km (932 miles) from the Ukrainian border in the Urals Mountains, continued operating after the attack, the head of the Bashkortostan region, Radiy Khabirov, said on Telegram.
He added that both of the drones involved in the overnight strike were destroyed. The Russian defence ministry said in its daily report that, in addition to the two drones downed over the Bashkortostan region, its defence systems destroyed 83 drones over seven other Russian regions.
The administration of the city of Sterlitamak, where the plant is located, said that all five workers inside were not injured.
There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.
In pictures: Zelensky meets with administration officials and holds news conference
Tuesday 4 November 2025 08:47 , Alex Croft
Russia strikes civilian infrastructure in Odesa - governor
Tuesday 4 November 2025 08:15 , Alex CroftRussia struck civilian energy and port infrastructure in a massive overnight drone attack on Ukraine's southern region of Odesa, its governor said on Tuesday.
"Despite the active work of air defence forces, which destroyed most of the enemy targets, there were hits on civilian port and energy infrastructure facilities," Oleh Kiper wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
He said that rescuers quickly extinguished the fires and there were no casualties.
UK sends more Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine
Tuesday 4 November 2025 07:53 , Alex CroftThe UK government has provided Ukraine with more supplies of Storm Shadow cruise missiles, officials said.
An unspecified number of missiles have been sent to Ukraine to ensure the war-hit nation is amply stocked up to respond to Russian attacks with its own long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory, people aware of the matter told Bloomberg.
The officials said Britain is resupplying Ukraine with the cruise missiles as it is concerned Moscow will step up attacks on Ukrainian civilians.
The UK government has not publicly announced the transfer of Storm Shadow missiles or how many are being sent. The reported transfer comes as Donald Trump continues to delay a decision on sending US-made Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
Two weeks ago Ukraine successfully attacked an important Russian chemical plant using British-made Storm Shadow missiles. Kyiv described the facility as critical to Moscow’s war efforts.
Russia struck energy and port infrastructure in Ukraine's Odesa
Tuesday 4 November 2025 07:15 , Arpan RaiRussia struck civilian energy and port infrastructure in a massive overnight drone attack on Ukraine's southern region of Odesa, its governor said this morning.
"Despite the active work of air defence forces, which destroyed most of the enemy targets, there were hits on civilian port and energy infrastructure facilities," Oleh Kiper said on his Telegram channel.
He said that rescuers quickly extinguished the fires and there were no casualties.
Watch: Trump claims Moscow is carrying out underground nuclear weapons tests
Tuesday 4 November 2025 07:05 , Arpan RaiA look at Ukraine-Russia battlefield in the past 24 hours
Tuesday 4 November 2025 07:00 , Arpan RaiRussia said its troops had advanced in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a transport and logistics hub that they have been trying to capture for over a year, but Ukraine said its forces were holding on.
The Russian defence ministry said its soldiers were destroying what it described as surrounded Ukrainian formations near Pokrovsk's railway station and industrial zone, and had entered the city's Prigorodny area and dug in there.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, the Russian forces were appearing to be operating with increasing comfort within Pokrovsk.
Here are some other battlefield updates by Ukrainian military officials:
- Ukrainian forces continue defensive efforts and counterattacks in the Pokrovsk direction
- Ukrainian forces advanced near Kupyansk. Russian forces advanced in northern Kharkiv Oblast, near Siversk and Pokrovsk, and in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area
- Ukrainian forces have liberated a significant portion of the Russian penetration in the Dobropillya direction on the eastern flank of the Pokrovsk effort
- Ukrainian efforts to cut off the Russian salient east of Dobropillya are likely generating tactical effects on Russian efforts to encircle the Ukrainian pocket near Pokrovsk
NEW: Russian forces continue to advance in the Pokrovsk direction and appear to be operating with increasing comfort within Pokrovsk itself.
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) November 4, 2025
Other Key Takeaways:
Ukrainian forces continue defensive efforts and counterattacks in the Pokrovsk direction.
Ukrainian forces have… pic.twitter.com/U4hLnVUZpu
UK sends more Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine
Tuesday 4 November 2025 06:46 , Arpan RaiThe UK government has provided Ukraine with more supplies of Storm Shadow cruise missiles, officials said.
An unspecified number of missiles have been sent to Ukraine to ensure the war-hit nation is amply stocked up to respond to Russian attacks with its own long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory, people aware of the matter told Bloomberg.
The officials said Britain is resupplying Ukraine with the cruise missiles as it is concerned Moscow will step up attacks on Ukrainian civilians.
The UK government has not publicly announced the transfer of Storm Shadow missiles or how many are being sent. The reported transfer comes as Donald Trump continues to delay a decision on sending US-made Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
Two weeks ago Ukraine successfully attacked an important Russian chemical plant using British-made Storm Shadow missiles. Kyiv described the facility as critical to Moscow’s war efforts.
Drone flights near Belgium air base could be part of a spying operation, says minister
Tuesday 4 November 2025 06:35 , Arpan RaiBelgium's defence minister has expressed concern over a series of unidentified drone flights near a key military base where US nuclear weapons are stored, saying they seem to be part of a spying operation.
Defence minister Theo Francken confirmed that drones had flown into the area near the Kleine Brogel air base in northeast Belgium in two phases on Saturday and Sunday night.
The first phase involved "small drones to test the radio frequencies" of Belgian security services, then later came "big drones to destabilise the area and people," Francken told public broadcaster RTBF.
“It resembles a spy operation. By whom, I don't know. I have a few ideas but I'm going to be careful” about speculating, he said. Last month, several drones were spotted above another Belgian military base near the German border. The operators were not identified.
Russia has been blamed for a number of European airspace violations, notably in Estonia and Poland, in recent months. But the perpetrators of a series of mysterious drone flights in Denmark and Germany have been harder to pin down.
A late evening drone sighting at Berlin's Brandenburg airport on Friday suspended flights for nearly two hours. It was not clear who was responsible.Francken ruled out that the weekend drone flights in Belgium might have been a prank.
