Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin’s forces lose ‘record 2,000 troops’ in a day amid North Korea military talks
Ukraine’s military reports more than 200 combat clashes in a single day
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Your support makes all the difference.Vladimir Putin’s forces have suffered more than 2,000 casualties in a single day, Ukraine’s military has claimed, in what would mark the highest daily toll of the war so far.
With both Kyiv and Moscow anticipating that Donald Trump could seek to broker a rapid peace deal upon returning to the White House in January, freezing the front lines, Ukraine’s military said on Friday there had been more than 200 combat clashes over the past 24 hours.
Russia has been progressing in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region at the fastest rate since the start of the war, analysts have said, while its ally North Korea is believed to have deployed thousands of troops to Russia, including the Kursk region partly occupied by Kyiv’s forces.
As the intense fighting continued, Russia’s defence minister Andrei Belousov arrived in North Korea for talks with military and political leaders, as the two countries deepen a partnership which has caused alarm in South Korea and among its allies.
Why is Russia targeting Ukraine’s energy grid with missile attacks?
Russia has unleashed another “massive” attack against Ukraine‘s energy infrastructure, firing nearly 200 missiles and drones and leaving more than a million households without power, Ukrainian officials said.
Explosions were heard across the country as damage to the energy and other critical infrastructure was reported by officials in cities in the west, south and centre of the country.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia used cruise missiles with cluster munitions in Thursday’s attack, calling it a “vile escalation”.
“Energy infrastructure is once again targeted by the enemy’s massive strike,” Ukrainian energy minister Herman Halushchenko said on Facebook.
Why is Russia targeting Ukraine’s energy grid with missile attacks?
Moscow unleashes second major strike on power sector in two weeks in what Ukrainian president Zelensky calls ‘vile escalation’
Photos: Kyiv goes dark under blackout after Russian missile attack
Biden says Russia’s aerial attack against Ukraine is ‘outrageous’
Russia’s overnight aerial attack against Ukraine on Wednesday is “outrageous”, Joe Biden has said, calling it a reminder of the urgency and importance of supporting the Ukrainian people.
“Russia continues to underestimate the bravery, resilience, and determination of the Ukrainian people. The United States stands with more than 50 countries in support of Ukraine and its fight for freedom,” Mr Biden said in a statement released by the White House.
Russia unleashed its second big attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure this month, triggering deep power cuts across the country yesterday.
President Vladimir Putin said Moscow had struck in response to Ukraine’s strikes on Russian territory with US medium-range ATACMS missiles. He said Russia’s future targets could include “decision-making centres” in Kyiv
Ukraine says faster military aid more important than drafting more men
Ukraine is asking its allies to speed up deliveries of military aid, saying quicker delivery of critical battlefield equipment was more important than drafting more men.
“We are now in the situation when we need more equipment to arm all the people that have already been mobilised, and we think the first priority is to send quicker, faster military aid,” Heorhii Tykhyi, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s foreign ministry, told reporters in Kyiv.
His statement echoed a comment from Ukrainian presidential adviser Dmytro Lytvyn, who criticised what he said was sluggish military aid. “Ukraine cannot be expected to compensate for delays in logistics or hesitation in support with the youth of our men on the frontline,” Mr Lytvyn wrote on X.
A senior US official said earlier that Ukraine was not mobilising enough new soldiers to replace those lost on the battlefield, and urged Kyiv to reduce the mobilisation age from 25 to 18.
Putin praises Trump, questions whether he is safe after assassination attempts
Russian president Vladimir Putin praised Donald Trump as an experienced and intelligent politician and questioned whether he was safe after attempts on his life.
Speaking to reporters after a summit in Kazakhstan, Mr Putin said he had also been shocked by how Mr Trump’s family and children had been criticised by political opponents during the US election campaign.
“In my opinion, he is not safe now,” Mr Putin said. “Unfortunately, in the history of the United States, various incidents have happened. I think he [Trump] is intelligent and I hope he’s cautious and understands this,” he said.
Russia downs 30 Ukrainian drones in Rostov region
Russian air defences downed 30 Ukrainian drones in the southern Rostov region early this morning, regional governor Yuri Slyusar said.
Some private homes in two villages had sustained some damage, but there were no casualties, Mr Slyusar said on his Telegram channel.
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Why is Russia targeting Ukraine’s energy grid with missile attacks?
Why is Russia targeting Ukraine’s energy grid with missile attacks?
Moscow unleashes second major strike on power sector in two weeks in what Ukrainian president Zelensky calls ‘vile escalation’
Ukraine imposes first wartime tax hikes to fight Russian invasion
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed into law Ukraine's first wartime tax increases as the war against Russia reaches its 34th month.
Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenkko said that the bill was vital to ensure smooth funding for the Ukrainian defence sector next year. The changes will take effect from 1 December, he said.
The government is raising the war tax for residents to 5% from 1.5% paid currently on personal income and is introducing the war tax for tens of thousands of individual entrepreneurs and small businesses.
It also increases some rental payments, taxes commercial banks' profits at 50%, and raises taxes on the profits of other financial institutions to 25%.
The tax increases would help raise about 140 billion hryvnias (£2.8 billion) in additional revenues next year to fund Ukraine's defence efforts at a critical juncture of the war as Kyiv is battling with a much bigger and better-equipped enemy.
Russia kills five Ukrainian prisoners of war, prosecutor general says
Russian forces have killed five Ukrainian prisoners of war in Zaporizhzhia region, according to the Ukrainian prosecutor general.
In a statement on Facebook, the prosecutor general said an investigation has been launched after Russian forces shot five out of six captured Ukrainian soldiers.
Investigators also received a video of the moment the shooting was recorded, the prosecutor said.
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