Ukraine-Russia war latest: Ukrainian drones wound Russian firefighters as G7 ministers pledge support
Ukraine launches series of drones targeting Moscow and western Russia
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Ukraine launched a series of drones targeting Moscow and western Russia, regional officials said today, adding that there was no significant damage.
Four firefighters in an industrial zone in Dzerzhinsk in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region however, received minor shrapnel wounds from a drone attack. Regional governor Gleb Nikitin said on the Telegram messaging app they were given “necessary medical care”.
Sergei Sobyanin, the mayor of Moscow, said Russia’s air-defence units destroyed at least one drone flying towards Moscow.
Meanwhile, defence ministers of the G7 countries pledged “unwavering support” for Ukraine.
“We underscore our intent to continue to provide assistance to Ukraine, including military assistance in the short and long term,” in its conflict with Russia, the ministers said after their meeting in Naples.
The statement added that they supported Ukraine’s “irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including Nato membership”.
It comes as the National Intelligence Service (NIS) said in a statement that Russian Navy ships had transferred 1,500 North Korean special operation forces to the Russian port city of Vladivostok earlier this month.
Trump blames Zelensky and Biden – but not Putin – for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Don’t tremble at Putin’s threats, Zelensky urges West as Ukraine seeks backing for ‘victory plan’
Putin introduces bizarre new law to tackle Russia’s declining birth rate
The alarming numbers behind North Korea’s growing nuclear arsenal
Former Russian mayor enlists for war after five years in prison
Igor Pushkarev, the former Vladivostok mayor who was sentenced to 15 years behind bars for corruption in 2019, will join the war in Ukraine.
The mayor signed a contract with the Russian Defence Ministry to permit his release and join the war, Ukrainska Pravda cited Nastoyashcheye Vremya as saying.
It is not clear if and when Pushkarev will be deployed into battle.
He is the second former mayor of the south east Russian city to enlist in the war, following in the footsteps of Oleg Gumenyuk, who was mayor from 2019 until 2021 when he was also sent to prison for 12 years in a bribery case.
Pushkarev was imprisoned for large-scale bribery, commercial bribery, and abuse of power, receiving 15 years in a max-security jail.
ICYMI: Russian airstrikes injure 17 in Ukraine’s Kryvyi Rih city
Russia launched major air strikes on Ukraine overnight, targeting Kyiv and the western region of Lviv. At least 17 have been injured, including a rescue worker in the city of Kryvyi Rih in the eastern part of the country, officials said.
Ukraine’s interior ministry said on Telegram that Russia’s strikes also targeted the city of Kryvyi Rih, some 400 km southeast of Kyiv, injuring 17, including a rescue worker. Eight of the wounded were hospitalised.
A city administration building in Kryvyi Rih was left partially destroyed while multiple residential buildings and cars were damaged. A fire also damaged emergency services equipment.
Kyiv’s military administration said on the Telegram messaging app that around 10 drones were destroyed near the city. They added that there were no reports of destruction or injuries.
Ukraine’s capital saw two air alerts during the night, lasting about three hours in total.
Watch: G7 defence ministers meet in Naples amid Middle East tensions and Ukraine crisis
G7 ministers are arriving in Naples for a defence summit today (19 October), amid rising global tensions.
Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto claims to have initiated the summit, and it’s the first of its kind.
“I found it surreal that the seven largest economies in the world have met to talk about all the issues, from tourism, to culture, to energy... and they didn’t find themselves talking together about defense in a historic moment like the one we’re experiencing,” Crosetto said of the annual G7 summit which took place in June.
Watch: G7 defence ministers meet in Naples amid global tensions and war fears
G7 ministers are arriving in Naples for a defence summit today (19 October), amid rising global tensions.
Street battles unfolding in town of Selydove, pro-Russian bloggers say
Ukrainian troops are engaging in street battles with Russian forces as they defend the eastern Ukrainian town of Selydove in the Donbas region, according to pro-Russian bloggers.
Open source data suggests that in September, Russian forces advanced at their fastest rate since March 2022.
“Street by street fighting is going on in the town,” says Yuri Podolyaka, a prominent Ukrainian-born and pro-Russian military blogger. “The assault on Selydove has intensified.”
Videos of intensive shelling in Selydrove were published by other pro-Russian bloggers, Reuters reported. These videos have not been independently verified.
Putin says he wants full control over the Donbas region, around 80 per cent of which Russia currently holds.
Russian forces continue their gradual but steady approach towards the strategically important towns of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove, west of Donetsk city.
‘This is just the beginning’, says David Lammy of Russia sanctions
David Lammy has said “this is just the beginning” after Ukrainian president Volodymy Zelensky thanked him for issuing new sanctions on Russia.
The UK has imposed sanctions on Putin’s shadow tanker fleet, swhich Zelensky says “helps Putin finance war and terror, while also posing a global threat to the security of all countries whose coasts and seas could be polluted due to the exploitation of these tankers”.
It comes after the Department for Business and Trade recently established a new Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) to boost compliance with existing sanctions.
Moldovans vote in election and EU referendum - with allegations of Russian meddling
Moldovans have cast their ballots in a major presidential election and EU referendum which was mired with allegations of Russian meddling.
The former Soviet republic is attempting to push away from Moscow politically and has begun the arduous process of EU accession talks.
Pro-Western incumbent Maia Sandu is the favourite with a comfortable 10-point lead over opposition candidates. If she fails to reach 50 percent in this election, the race will go to a run-off on 3 November.
In a run-off Sandu would likely face Alexandr Stoianoglo of the traditionally pro-Russian Party of Socialists.
Sandu’s government has repeatedly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and has accused Russia of plotting her overthrow as leader. Since taking power in December 2020, Moldovan-Russian relations have significantly deteriorated.
Election-meddling allegations have now been made, including against fugitive tycoon Ilan Shor, who is accused by police of attempting to pay a group of at least 130,000 voters to vote ‘No’.
On Thursday, law-enforcement agencies claimed to uncover a programme which would see hundreds taken to Russia to go through training to stage-riots and cause civil unrest.
UK waging war against Russia, says ambassador
Moscow’s ambassador to the UK has accused the government of “waging” war against the Russians by supplying Ukraine with weapons.
Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, ambassador Andrei Kelin said: “My government firmly believes the UK Government is waging an aggressive war against Russia by the hands of the Ukrainians.
“This is a proxy war led by the United Kingdom’s government by providing lethal weapons with which the UK Government is killing Russian soldiers and civilians.”
He added: “I think you are aggressive and waging a proxy war against Russia.”
In pictures: Russian drones shot down over Kyiv amid overnight attack on Sunday
Ukraine’s commander-in-chief visits units fighting in Kursk
Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian military, said the situation “remains under control” in Kursk, the Russian region taken over by Ukrainian troops in early August.
Syrskyi wrote on Telegram, according to Ukrainska Pravda: "The situation remains under our control despite all the enemy’s attempts to seize the initiative. I’ve carried out work directly at the command posts of the brigades.
“I’ve heard reports from the brigade commanders and their proposals for further actions and provided assistance in resolving problematic issues.
“Taking the situation into account, I made several decisions designed to counteract the enemy’s actions and maximise their losses."
Russia has an advantage in manpower and equipment in the region, he explained, but they are not achieving their objectives due to the skill and professionalism of Ukraine’s troops.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments