This week, battles continued to rage along the front lines. Russia continued to pummel Ukrainian cities and towns deep in the rear with missiles and drones. Russia carried out a daytime attack on Kyiv and the surrounding region on Monday. Some of the drone debris crashed onto the central Maidan Square in the capital. Russia dropped two FAB-250 aerial bombs on Kramatorsk overnight on Wednesday, injuring eight residents, including two children
Ukraine’s strikes into Russia are becoming more and more painful. Ukrainian drones targeted Moscow for three days in a row. The country’s Special Operations Forces struck a secret base of Russia’s Rubikon elite drone unit in Donetsk on Wednesday. On Thursday, Ukraine struck a plant in Sevastopol that repairs Russia’s air defense systems. The facility is part of the Almaz-Antey group. Ukraine could test its FP-7 ballistic missiles on Russia, co-founder and chief designer at Fire Point, Denys Shtilerman said Sunday. Ukraine’s drone development means no region of Russia can feel safe, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu told a meeting of officials Tuesday.
Russia shows no intention to give up its war goals. It plans to recruit another 409,000 soldiers in 2026, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Thursday.
Ukraine has completed 84 per cent of the requirements under the Association Agreement with the EU, an implementation report released on Monday shows. Ukraine informally opened remaining three clusters in the EU membership bid. A growing number of Ukrainians favor elections only after the war ends, a poll found.
Zelenskyi asks EU for 5 billion euros for Ukraine to meet urgent energy needs.
Ukraine urgently needs at least 5 billion euros to rebuild its energy system heavily damaged by Russian attacks and prepare for the next winter, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi told a meeting of the European Council Thursday via video.
“Funding is needed now — at least 5 billion for energy resilience for the next winter as a part of the 90-billion package,” he said. “We need to act quickly — to protect our energy system and rebuild what was destroyed by Russia. Time matters. This work must start now.”
He said Ukraine will also use the EU’s 90 billion euro loan to pay European defense producers for weapons and equipment it is ordering.
“This is about your jobs and your technological growth. So this 90-billion package will actually work for Europe because in today’s Europe, no one stands alone — we are all closely connected. And if something is blocked for us, it will lead to consequences for everyone — maybe not always obvious, but definitely felt,” Zelenskyi said.