In late October 2025, a series of Ukrainian drone strikes shattered Russia’s claim of an “invincible” air defense shield in Crimea. Over five days, Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate and its “Ghosts” drone unit destroyed three major Russian radar stations,

Moscow expects to take Kupiansk in a week while Ukraine claims to have expelled the Russians from the northern part of the city. Ukraine continues to launch attacks on Russian military targets and energy facilities.

Ukraine’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.

Ukraine has never used American weapons to strike distant targets on Russian territory. Various long-range weapons have been used in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea and in the east of the country.

Ukraine’s finance ministry said on Thursday that it had ended recent talks over $2.6bn in controversial growth-linked debt without a deal, just as Kyiv is seeking a multibillion dollar expansion of a $15.5bn bailout from the fund along with European financial support.

A diplomatic row has broken out at an international conservation conference in Hobart after Ukraine accused Russia of detaining one of its scientists for alleged security threats.

Talks between Ukraine and holders of its GDP warrants have broken down for a second time in six months, the Kyiv government said on Thursday, adding another delay to its hopes of restructuring the $3.