RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western military aid to Kyiv, worldwide reaction, and the plight of civilians and refugees. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.
Latest Developments At A Glance
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stressed the importance of European unity as he took part in a summit in Croatia with Balkan leaders on October 9.
- A high-level meeting of the Ramstein group of Ukraine arms donors has been canceled after U.S. President Joe Biden scrapped a visit to Germany this week due to the impending landfall of Hurricane Milton in Florida.
- The Ukrainian military said on October 9 that its forces destroyed a facility storing hundreds of attack drones in Russia's southern Krasnodar region.
- Ukrainian air-defense systems shot down 21 out of the 22 drones launched by Russia early on October 9 in the Odesa, Vinnytsya, and Kyiv regions, the air force said, adding that three Iskander ballistic missiles had been launched at the Poltava region.
- Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban -- who has been assailed by the West for his often Russian-friendly stance -- has suggested that Ukraine cannot win its war with Russia and pressed again for negotiations.
- The editorial board of one of Ukraine’s most respected media outlets, Ukrayinska Pravda, has accused President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s office of launching an "ongoing and systematic pressure" campaign against it that threatens the independence of its work.
- A Russian strike on an industrial plant in Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, has wounded at least 21 people, local officials reported on October 8, as Moscow continued its relentless attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian targets.
- Odesa region Governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram on October 7 that a Russian missile struck a Palau-flagged ship in the port of Odesa, killing a 60-year-old Ukrainian employee of a private cargo-handling company.
- Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on October 7 told Slovak counterpart Robert Fico that Kyiv will not extend a gas-transit deal with Russia when it expires at year's end.
- A Ukrainian drone strike on the largest fuel depot in occupied Crimea early on October 7 triggered a huge fire that prompted the evacuation of hundreds of people as Russia and Ukraine exchanged another series of drone attacks.
The Fall Of Vuhledar: What Does It Mean For Ukraine's Beleaguered Military?
Ukraine lost the Donbas coal-mining city of Vuhledar, amid a relentless, months-long offensive by Russian forces. It probably doesn’t herald the entire collapse of Ukrainian lines, but it’s definitely not a good sign. Read the report by Mike Eckel here.
What Do Ukrainians Expect From Zelenskiy's 'Victory Plan'?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is set to present his plan for victory in the war against Russia to U.S. President Joe Biden during his visit to the United States this week. On September 19, RFE/RL asked people in two Ukrainian cities what they think the path to peace might look like. Report by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.
Will Ukraine Embrace Russian Refugees? Border Residents Are Not Excited
Skepticism prevailed in the Ukrainian border city of Sumy when locals were asked about government plans to accept refugees from Russia's Kursk region. Officials have said that civilians displaced by Ukraine's ongoing military incursion in Russia could be relocated and offered humanitarian aid. But one man speaking to RFE/RL on August 16 said: "Let their country protect them. We've got enough of our own suffering." Video report by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.
On The Battlefield, Russia Leans Into A Window Of Opportunity That Ukraine’s Trying To Shut
Things aren’t looking as bleak for Ukraine as they were in the spring. Despite stabilizing many of its lines, Ukraine still faces a concentrated Russian effort that appears to be aimed at making tangible gains before more Ukrainian soldiers and Western weapons show up at the front. Read the story by Mike Eckel here.
Ukraine Gets U.S. OK To Hit Targets Inside Russia. Now What?
Ukraine got the green light from Washington, and more than a dozen NATO allies, to start using Western weaponry on some targets inside Russia. Is it a game changer? Read the story by Mike Eckel here.
Why Is Ukraine Attacking Russia's Oil Refineries?
Russia said it would protect oil refineries better after several were struck by Ukrainian drones. Ukraine continues to hit the facilities, despite U.S. warnings against such attacks, as it launches larger and larger drone swarms. The strikes have decreased refinery output but beyond a morale boost for Ukraine, the effects are moderate so far. Read the story by Todd Prince here.
Ukraine Has No Navy. But It's Hammering Russia In The Black Sea.
The landing ship that purportedly sank off Crimea last week is one of nearly two dozen Russian warships that Ukraine has seriously damaged or sunk since the full-scale invasion two years ago. It’s an extraordinary set of naval losses inflicted by a country that currently doesn’t even have a navy. Read the report by Mike Eckel here.
Interactive: Occupied, Militarized Crimea
As Ukrainian leaders vow to reclaim all territories seized by Russia, Moscow has prepared extensive defensive measures, particularly in Crimea, a region unlawfully annexed in 2014. This area, now under Russian occupation, has been heavily militarized with an array of air bases and army bases, making it one of the most fortified zones in the war. View the interactive map by Crimea.Realities, Schemes, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, and Central Newsroom here.
