At least 26 people have been killed and dozens injured after Russian forces unleashed a barrage of heavy aerial bombs on an aid distribution centre in southern Ukraine, in a strike president Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned as “utterly horrific.”
At least nine 3,000kg guided bombs struck the village of Komyshuvakha on Monday, targeting a local school used for humanitarian operations before a second bomb hit a shelter where survivors were taking cover, regional head Mykhailo Semikin said.
The massacre casts a dark shadow over fragile diplomatic momentum ahead of proposed trilateral peace talks involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States in Abu Dhabi later this week.
Zelensky has warned the strike proves Moscow “does not want any de-escalation,” coming just days after a rare humanitarian ceasefire had facilitated civilian evacuations from Russian-occupied Oleshky.
The deadly bombardment in the south follows a huge technological blow for the Kremlin at home, after Ukrainian military intelligence reported on Monday that a $150m Su-57 stealth fighter “exploded” during engine startup at the Akhtubinsk military airbase.
Read MoreRussia suffers ‘deadliest month of war so far’ as Ukraine strikes missile plant and oil refinery
US warns Russia about ‘mass casualty event’ plot to attack Moscow
Putin’s war on Ukraine blamed for 120,000 dead dolphins in the Black Sea
Starved residents of Russian-occupied Oleshky return to Ukraine during rare ceasefire
Key Points
- Ukrainian air force says public air raid alert app has been hacked
- Ceasefire in occupied Oleshky ends after successful evacuation of residents
- Russia suffers ‘deadliest month of war so far’ as Ukraine strikes missile plant and oil refinery
- Pope Leo XIV hopes Oleshky ceasefire will strengthen dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv
Report: Moscow’s most advanced stealth jet blows up miles from combat
23:00 , James ReynoldsRussia suffered another battlefield blow as a $150mn advanced stealth jet “exploded” before takeoff, Ukrainian military intelligence reported on Monday.
The fifth-generation Su-57 multipurpose fighter blew up during engine startup at Akhtubinsk military airbase on October 29, the Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR) reported.
It was unclear what caused the incident, but HUR said the engines can undergo “catastrophic destruction” when filled with poor quality fuel.
The costly jet has been used sparingly in Ukraine, launching long-range stand-off missiles from Russian-controlled airspace. Analysts estimate Russia currently uses fewer than 30 Su-57s, having received only around 20 between 2020 and 2025, according to RUSI.
Russia has suffered a string of losses in recent weeks, with Ukraine last month claiming to have damaged six Su-34M medium bombers in strikes on the Borisoglebsk airfield in Voronezh region.
Delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States are expected to sit down for talks aimed at ending the nearly five year war later this week, although specifics are yet to be confirmed.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said last week that he expects trilateral peace talks to take place in Abu Dhabi between November 6 and 10, subject to Washington confirming a date.
Preview: Why the US midterm elections matter to the rest of the world
22:00 , James ReynoldsMillions of Americans will go to the polls on November 3 in what will be seen as a verdict on Trump’s first two years back in office.
Gergana Krasteva reports on the impact the pivotal election could have beyond the United States:
How US midterm elections could impact the rest of the world as Trump faces reckoning
Watch: A drubbing in the midterms will make Trump even more dangerous to the entire world.mp4
21:00 , James ReynoldsAt least 24 killed after 'horrific' Russian attack hits Ukrainian aid centre
20:15 , Suha KidwaiAt least 24 people, including two emergency rescue workers and four police officers, have been killed after Russian forces struck a humanitarian aid distribution hub in the southern Zaporizhzhia region.
Regional administration head Mykhailo Semikin reported that at least nine 3,000kg aerial bombs struck the village of Komyshuvakha.
President Volodymyr Zelensky described the bombardment as “utterly horrific,” stating that Russian jets launched a secondary strike targeting a shelter where civilians and responders had taken cover following an initial hit on a local school.
“The Russians could not have been unaware that the local residents who remained in Komyshuvakha received humanitarian aid there every week,” Zelenskyy said, adding that the strike shows Moscow rejects de-escalation immediately following the conclusion of the Oleshky evacuation truce.
Putin’s war on Ukraine blamed for 120,000 dead dolphins in the Black Sea
20:00 , James ReynoldsExplosions, missile launches, and military sonar systems used during the Ukraine war are confusing dolphins in the Black Sea and leaving them unable to hunt, experts have said.
Trawlers are finding the animals suffocated and entangled in their nets and cutting off their fins to release them, leaving them to wash ashore with the net marks still visible.
Ivan Rusev, head researcher at the Tuzly Lagoons national park in southern Ukraine, told Al Jazeera more than 120,000 dolphins have died this way since Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Read the full story:
Putin’s war on Ukraine blamed for 120,000 dead dolphins in the Black Sea
Civilians in Ukraine's Kherson prepare for the return of war as localized ceasefire ends
19:00 , James ReynoldsCivilians in Ukraine’s southeastern Kherson region prepared Sunday for the end of a localized ceasefire that has marked the most significant truce between Kyiv and Moscow since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine 4½ years ago.
The White House said U.S. first lady Melania Trump helped to broker the limited truce, which began early Tuesday and is expected to end Sunday evening. The pause in hostilities allowed besieged residents in the front-line city of Oleshky to be evacuated in a rare joint operation that ended Saturday.
An estimated 2,000 civilians were in Oleshky when the temporary truce took hold. They were offered the choice of evacuating to territory controlled by Ukraine or Russia, or remaining in the city with replenished food and medical supplies. For the safety of those who have stayed, exact numbers were not released after the evacuation.
Civilians in Ukraine's Kherson prepare for the return of war as localized ceasefire ends
Hypersonic missile being made by British-German startup ‘could strike deep inside Russia’
18:00 , James ReynoldsA British-German startup developing hypersonic long-range cruise missiles that could strike deep inside Russia has received significant funding, the company has said.
Hypersonica has raised €100 million (£83.5m) in its efforts to develop the deep-strike missiles to strengthen Europe’s defence against a growing Russian threat, the Financial Times reported, coming at a crucial moment as Washington urges the continent to be more responsible for its own security.
“The debate over whether Europe needs these kinds of deterrence capabilities is over. It’s absolutely clear we need them,” Philipp Kerth, the chief executive of the company, told the outlet.
Hypersonic missile being made by British-German startup ‘could strike deep in Russia’
17:20 , ReutersEuropean supermarket fridges are under cyberattack once again, with stores across a vast swathe of the continent from Sweden to Belgium hit by a hack on Monday that turned up their temperatures, echoing an incident in France just last month.
Supermarket chains Ahold Delhaize and Colruyt said an IT incident overnight hit fridges and freezers in dozens of stores in Belgium and Luxembourg, while Swedish grocers ICA and Coop reported similar temperature spikes.
"There has been a cyberattack and all our freezers reached 50 degrees (Celsius)," Engla Ingwall, sales manager at an ICA franchise store in Stockholm, told Reuters, adding the attack occurred at 2am (1am GMT) but was only noticed hours later.
While no-one has claimed responsibility for either attack, the cases have put a spotlight on rising anxiety among regional authorities over hybrid attacks spreading from conflicts on European borders after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow has repeatedly denied involvement in any sabotage or hybrid warfare operations. Reuters was unable to establish who was behind Monday's attacks, or if there was any link to the October ones in France.
Sweden's national cybersecurity centre - which said it could not speculate on who was behind the attacks - is working on several incidents affecting grocery stores across the country, the head of the centre, John Billow, said on Monday.
Recap: Desperate residents evacuate devastated Russian-occupied Oleshky by bus
16:40 , James ReynoldsResidents in the occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky began a desperate evacuation on Friday as a localised ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv held for a third day.
A fleet of 25 buses with at least 750 seats stood ready to withdraw locals seeking to leave, Kyiv's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, said. His Russian counterpart, Yana Lantratova, added that space would also be provided for their pets.
Residents who wanted to leave were given a four-hour window to do so, lasting until 2pm local time (12pm GMT). Several hundred people are understood to have decided to stay.
As it happened:
Desperate residents evacuate devastated Russian-occupied Oleshky by bus
Ukraine says Russia used Oleshky truce to rearm
16:00 , James ReynoldsUkraine's General Staff said on Monday that Russian forces had used a humanitarian ceasefire last week in the Russian-held southern town of Oleshky to strengthen their military positions, which Moscow said it assumed Kyiv had also done.
The six—day ceasefire — brokered through US first lady Melania Trump — was meant to allow aid deliveries and civilian evacuations from the frontline town. In total, nearly 800 people were evacuated, Melania Trump said on X.
However, Ukraine's General Staff said it had recorded rotations of Russian units, fortification of positions, expansion of anti—drone measures along roads, and increased logistics activity including deliveries of ammunition.
"Under the ceasefire introduced for the humanitarian operation in Oleshky, units of the Defence Forces of Ukraine ensured that the ceasefire was observed, and acted exclusively within the framework of the agreements reached," the General Staff said in a statement on X.
"The enemy, by contrast, used the humanitarian pause to improve its positions."
Russia suffers ‘deadliest month of war so far’ as Ukraine strikes missile plant and oil refinery
15:20 , James ReynoldsRussia has suffered its deadliest month of the war in Ukraine since it began four years ago, according to figures released by Kyiv, as Ukrainian forces launched overnight strikes against a major Russian missile plant.
Ukrainian military officials have said throughout October, Moscow sustained 54,400 casualties. The figure surpasses the previous monthly high of 48,670 recorded in December 2024, with military planners warning that Russian frontline losses are now outweighing the Kremlin’s recruitment pipeline.
The claims coincide with deep-strike operations inside Russian territory overnight. Long-range Ukrainian drones targeted a facility manufacturing solid propellant and air-defence systems in the southern Rostov region, while more than 100 drones struck the industrial hub of Kstovo, east of Moscow, which processes five per cent of the country’s crude.
Read the full story:
Russia suffers ‘deadliest month of war’ as Kyiv hits missile plant and oil refinery
Russia and Ukraine prepare to restart talks on ending the war
14:40 , James ReynoldsRussia and Ukraine are expected in Abu Dhabi for talks with the US this week.
Exact dates and a venue are yet to be finalised, but Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the sides are considering talks between November 6 and 10.
Where have peace talks been left?
Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have been on hold since February, when the United States shifted focus to its new war in the Middle East.
Moscow and Kyiv walked away from talks in Geneva no closer to a deal, as Ukraine suggested the US was unfairly demanding Kyiv alone make concessions to end the war.
Zelensky said the last round of direct talks had been “difficult” and accused Russia of deliberately stalling, with the issue of territory still in dispute.
What does either side want?
Russia insists on its demands for Ukrainian territory and the withdrawal of forces from its borders.
Ukraine insists it needs clear security guarantees from allies to stop Russia reopening the conflict and says it cannot and will not give up territory sought by Russia.
The lands in the east include industry heavy regions and Ukraine’s belt of ‘fortress cities’ to protect against invasion.
Will talks start again?
Zelensky said late in April that he was keen to meet with Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart, in an effort to restart negotiations.
While Ukraine claimed a string of wins on the ground, Zelensky warned that US attention on the war with Iran was soaking up resources and leaving Ukraine with critical shortages of air defences.
But the Kremlin said Putin would only meet Zelensky in Moscow for the purpose of finalising agreements on the conflict. Turkey said it was making efforts to restart talks and bring together the leaders, after hosting delegations in July 2025.
Donald Trump is pushing to restore Russian gas sales to Europe through Ukraine, report claims
14:00 , James ReynoldsThe Trump administration is pushing to restore Russian natural gas sales to Europe via pipelines running through Ukraine, according to a new report.
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff proposed the idea during trips to Moscow and Kyiv earlier this year, as Washington looks to push for an energy truce ahead of the winter, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Russian gas would be sold through a US intermediary in order to avoid sanctions by the EU - which has legislated to end all purchases of Russia’s natural gas by the end of 2027.
Read the full story:
Trump ‘pushing to restore Russian gas sales to Europe through Ukrainian pipelines’
Top story: Emergency alert apps 'hacked' overnight, say Ukraine and Russia
13:20 , James ReynoldsUkraine and Russia said their emergency alert apps had been hacked overnight, sending false warnings to citizens about impending air raids, chemical and nuclear attacks.
What happened?
Ukraine's public air raid app started to send false alerts just before 11pm on Sunday for the capital Kyiv and other areas warning of radiation and chemical attacks and also the risk of street combat in some areas.
One of the fake alarms said Russia had launched a hypersonic Oreshnik missile and that a nuclear alert had been declared across Ukraine.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations in Russia also said on Monday its app had been hit by a cyberattack that resulted in the spread of false information to the public.
Why does it matter?
The apps are used to warn civilians of potential incoming threats and get them to safety in time. Mistrust in the systems could lead people not to follow their guidance.
The warnings also coincided with the expiry of a six-day local ceasefire brokered by US first lady Melania Trump in a small area of southern Ukraine — the longest such pause in fighting since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
Russia and Ukraine are expected to restart talks with the US later this week, aimed at ending the war. But the dates and venue are yet to be finalised.
Comment: A drubbing in the midterms will make Trump even more dangerous to the entire world
12:41 , James ReynoldsTrump has often seemed unhinged in the run up to these midterms – and after Tuesday he will be unbound in his support for Putin and worse, warns world affairs editor Sam Kiley
A drubbing in the midterms will make Trump even more dangerous to the entire world
Trump ‘pushing to restore Russian gas sales to Europe’
12:01 , Adam WithnallTrump ‘pushing to restore Russian gas sales to Europe through Ukrainian pipelines’
Russian drone strike kills 13-year-old girl at school dormitory, Kyiv says
11:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarA Russian drone strike near a vocational school dormitory housing displaced people in Ukraine’s Vinnytsia region has killed two people, including a 13-year-old girl, and injured several children, according to Ukrainian authorities.
The attack took place on 1 November on the grounds of the educational institution, the state emergency service of Ukraine reported.
The strike is the latest in a series of Russian attacks targeting Ukrainian civilian infrastructure and populated areas, Kyiv authorities said.
Hundreds evacuated from Kherson region during temporary Oleshky ceasefire
10:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarUkrainian forces evacuated 167 civilians trapped on the right bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson during a temporary ceasefire in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky.
The evacuation included 22 children and 21 people with limited mobility, according to the Ukrainian military general staff.
The ceasefire also enabled hundreds of residents from Oleshky, located on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, to cross into Ukrainian-controlled territory and reunite with their families.
Ukrainian officials described the evacuation as an important humanitarian achievement, although concerns remain about the security of civilians in the region following the end of the truce.
The Kherson region has remained a major frontline area since Ukrainian forces liberated the regional capital in November 2022. Russian forces continue to occupy territory on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River.
US says grain shortages ‘threatening the world’ in calls for Black Sea ceasefire
09:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarPower cuts as Russia intensifies attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure
08:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarUkraine has reported widespread electricity disruptions after Russian attacks damaged critical energy infrastructure across four regions, with president Volodymyr Zelensky warning that Moscow is intensifying its campaign against the country’s power supply.
Kyiv experienced blackouts lasting between eight and 10 hours on Sunday after a critical thermal power plant was damaged.
Hundreds of thousands of households were also left without electricity following overnight attacks elsewhere in the country.
Zelensky said Russian forces were taking advantage of Ukraine’s shortage of ballistic missile interceptors to intensify their strikes.
“The intensity of the strikes is very high, and the Russians are seeking to maximally exploit the deficit of ballistic missile interceptors,” he said in a statement posted on Telegram.
Ukraine resumes attacks on Russian oil refineries despite Trump pressure
07:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarUkraine has resumed attacks on Russian oil refineries despite reported pressure from US president Donald Trump to halt strikes on Moscow’s energy infrastructure.
Russian state media reported on Sunday that Ukrainian long-range drones had set fire to the Kstovo oil refinery in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region overnight. The attack followed a separate strike on a major refinery in the Samara region, owned by Russian state energy company Rosneft.
The renewed attacks came after The Wall Street Journal reported that Kyiv had agreed to suspend strikes on Russian energy facilities following pressure from the White House.
However, Ukrainian officials told The Kyiv Independent that Ukraine had never agreed to a 30-day pause in refinery attacks, rejecting an alleged demand made by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law.
Russian officials said Ukrainian attacks had resumed on Friday, accusing Kyiv of ignoring Washington’s wishes.
Trump has previously blamed Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky for rising global fuel prices. Last month, his administration also lifted US sanctions on Russian diesel.
Zelensky has not publicly acknowledged the latest refinery strikes, but said Ukraine had targeted a Russian defence industry facility in the Rostov region that manufactures missiles. He also claimed that a Pantsir air defence system had been destroyed.
Kyiv has described its long-range strikes against Russian military and energy infrastructure as a form of retaliation for Moscow's continued attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy facilities.
Russia says alert system ‘operating as normal’ after cyberattack
06:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarRussia’s emergencies ministry said the public alert system is “operating as normal” after both Ukraine and Russia said that cyberattacks had hit their emergency warning systems.
However, Moscow said that citizens are informed of alerts through sirens and loudspeakers, text messages, and TV and radio broadcasts.
It said that the app is “only an additional, ancillary news service”.
“The hacking of the mobile app has not had, and cannot have, any impact on the operation of the public alert system,” Russia’s emergencies ministry said on its Telegram channel.
The ministry said that it had employed experts to restore normal operation of the mobile app but said that the situation was “under control”.
Pope Leo XIV hopes Oleshky ceasefire will strengthen dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv
05:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarPope Leo XIV said on Sunday that he hoped the ceasefire arrangement between Ukraine and Russia in the Ukrainian town of Oleshky would encourage the two countries to pursue broader dialogue and peace efforts.
“I hope that the cooperation between the parties, which made this necessary humanitarian gesture possible, will strengthen their willingness to engage in dialogue,” he said during his Sunday prayer.
The development comes as trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States are expected to take place later this month.
Kremlin officials have also said Russian president Vladimir Putin is willing to speak directly with Zelensky by phone, although they insisted that European leaders supporting Ukraine should not participate.
However, prospects for a broader peace agreement remain uncertain. Putin continues to demand that Ukraine surrender the entirety of the eastern Donetsk region, along with additional territory in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia – including areas that Russian forces have failed to capture but Moscow claims to have annexed.
Ceasefire in occupied Oleshky ends after successful evacuation of residents
04:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarA six-day ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky has ended, bringing to a close a humanitarian operation that allowed hundreds of residents to cross into Ukrainian-controlled territory and reunite with their families.
The temporary truce, which was in effect from 27 October to 1 November, was brokered by US first lady Melania Trump to facilitate the evacuation of civilians from the occupied town.
Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets confirmed on Sunday that the ceasefire had ended, describing the evacuation as an important achievement in humanitarian cooperation between the two sides.
Hundreds of residents were able to cross into northern Ukraine over the weekend, where they reunited with relatives.
The town of Oleshky lies on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, opposite the city of Kherson, which Ukrainian forces recaptured in November 2022.
Watch: Tearful reunions as Oleshky evacuees arrive in Ukraine
03:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneComment: Melania Trump’s ‘humanitarian ceasefire’ in Ukraine is a PR stunt
02:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe evacuation of Oleshky in eastern Ukraine is a cynical move by Putin to rearm and reset in his endless war, explains world affairs editor Sam Kiley.
Melania Trump’s ‘humanitarian ceasefire’ in Ukraine is a PR stunt
Putin’s war on Ukraine blamed for 120,000 dead dolphins in the Black Sea
01:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneExplosions, missile launches, and military sonar systems used during the Ukraine war are confusing dolphins in the Black Sea and leaving them unable to hunt, experts have said.
Trawlers are finding the animals suffocated and entangled in their nets and cutting off their fins to release them, leaving them to wash ashore with the net marks still visible.
Ivan Rusev, head researcher at the Tuzly Lagoons national park in southern Ukraine, told Al Jazeera more than 120,000 dolphins have died this way since Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
You can read more below:
Putin’s war on Ukraine blamed for 120,000 dead dolphins in the Black Sea
Recap: Pope Leo says he hopes Oleshky truce could spur Ukraine-Russia peace efforts
00:00 , Nicole Wootton-CanePope Leo has said he hopes cooperation between Russia and Ukraine in implementing a ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky could pave the way for broader peace efforts.
Ukraine and Russia said on October 23 they had agreed to a ceasefire in Oleshky, brokered by US first lady Melania Trump with the additional involvement of Pope Leo, to allow aid deliveries and evacuations from the frontline town, which has been suffering acute food and medicine shortages.
"A humanitarian operation has been carried out to help the civilian population in the city of Oleshky. I hope that the cooperation between the parties, which made this necessary humanitarian gesture possible, will strengthen their willingness to engage in dialogue and lead to fresh concrete initiatives for peace," Pope Leo said during his Sunday prayer.
Exclusive: Russia ramps up disinformation war on UK with propaganda claiming Britain is ‘ungovernable and defenceless’
Sunday 1 November 2026 23:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussia’s disinformation war on the UK has reached new highs as Kremlin-backed media seek to sow chaos amongst Britons and ramp up attacks on their “main adversary”, experts warn.
In the past six months, state-affiliated media have pushed hundreds of thousands of stories on social media portraying Britain as ungovernable, defenceless, and a legitimate Russian target, The Independent can reveal.
Analysis by risk intelligence firm Osavul, which tracks global hybrid threats and supplies technology to Nato, shows such media output rose by around 15 per cent in September, when it produced around 40,365 stories about the UK, while similar levels of disinformation pushed in October.
You can read more below:
Russia ramps up disinformation war on UK with barrage of online propaganda
Ukrainian air force says public air raid alert app has been hacked
Sunday 1 November 2026 22:39 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkraine's Air Force said late on Sunday that the public air raid alert app had been hacked.
The app for a short time showed Kyiv and other areas subject to a nuclear alert. But the abnormality later disappeared.
"The air alert app appears to have been subjected to enemy influence," the air force said on Telegram. "There is no radiation threat! Stay calm and follow our updates on our channel!"
Watch: Russia's Lavrov dismisses decision by G20 ministers to skip group photocall
Sunday 1 November 2026 22:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussia suffers ‘deadliest month of war so far’ as Ukraine strikes missile plant and oil refinery
Sunday 1 November 2026 21:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussia has suffered its deadliest month of the war in Ukraine since it began four years ago, according to figures released by Kyiv, as Ukrainian forces launched overnight strikes against a major Russian missile plant.
Ukrainian military officials have said throughout October, Moscow sustained 54,400 casualties. The figure surpasses the previous monthly high of 48,670 recorded in December 2024, with military planners warning that Russian frontline losses are now outweighing the Kremlin’s recruitment pipeline.
You can read more below:
Russia suffers ‘deadliest month of war’ as Kyiv hits missile plant and oil refinery
Ukraine claims this week of strikes will cost Russia $100m
Sunday 1 November 2026 20:30 , Suha KidwaiUkrainian forces have destroyed two Russian bombers valued at roughly $100 million over the past week, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence said on Sunday.
The ministry reported that recent deep-strike operations also hit Russia's Energiya plant — a facility producing guidance batteries for aerial glide bombs — as well as an Iskander-M ballistic missile launcher in the Kursk region.
Kyiv said its ongoing campaign targeting drone depots, launch sites, and high-value weapons systems aims to systematically degrade Moscow’s ability to mount aerial barrages against Ukrainian cities.
Ukraine evacuates civilians from parts of Kherson region as expiry of Oleshky ceasefire nears
Sunday 1 November 2026 20:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkraine's military said it evacuated 167 people from threatened areas of southern Kherson region on Sunday as a temporary local ceasefire neared expiry - two days after busloads of residents were brought out of the embattled Russian-held town of Oleshky.
A six-day local ceasefire in Oleshky and the surrounding area was reached after mediation efforts by US first lady Melania Trump and with the involvement of Pope Leo. The ceasefire was due to expire at midnight Moscow time (2100 GMT).
It is the longest local pause in fighting since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
"Units of civil-military cooperation of the 'South' group of forces, in cooperation with representatives of local authorities, evacuated 167 civilians to safer points in the Kherson region," Ukraine's General Staff wrote on Telegram.
It said the evacuees included 22 children and 21 people with limited mobility requiring special assistance.
The governor of Kherson region, Oleksandr Prokudin, urged residents to be vigilant as the expiry of the ceasefire neared.
"I also strongly urge you not to visit the so-called 'red zones' – areas and settlements near the Dnipro," Prokudin wrote on Telegram. "The intensity of Russian strikes there remains high, and the threat to life is extremely high."
Ukraine inflicts $70m in damage on Russian air defences and missile plant, says Zelensky
Sunday 1 November 2026 19:30 , Suha KidwaiUkrainian forces destroyed an estimated $70 million worth of Russian air defence hardware during a strike on a missile production facility in the Rostov region, president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday.
The long-range attack hit the Kamensky Plant alongside a Pantsir-S2 system and an S-400 Triumph command vehicle, he confirmed in a post on X.
Our long-range sanctions have targeted the Rostov region. The Kamensky Combine, a Russian defense industry enterprise involved in missile production, was hit.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 1, 2026
A Pantsir-S2 system and a command and staff vehicle of the S-400 Triumf system were also hit. The total value of the air… pic.twitter.com/mo4FsyeSlL
Ukraine's General Staff confirmed the strike used Neptune cruise missiles and drones, hitting multiple production workshops.
Kremlin envoy claims Denmark serves as 'production base' for Ukrainian military
Sunday 1 November 2026 18:30 , Suha KidwaiDenmark’s involvement in the war in Ukraine is “enormous,” Russia’s ambassador to Copenhagen has claimed, accusing the Scandinavian nation of acting as a “production base” for Ukrainian forces.
Speaking to Russian state news agency TASS, ambassador Vladimir Barbin singled out Denmark’s military support and defence manufacturing cooperation:
“Copenhagen’s involvement in the conflict is enormous. Denmark, which was a pioneer among NATO countries in providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets and organising direct financing for enterprises in the Ukrainian military-industrial complex, now serves as a production base for the Ukrainian armed forces.”
Denmark has openly championed military aid for Kyiv, spearheading European F-16 donations and directly financing arms production within Ukraine.
Latvia reports brief airspace intrusion near Russia, Belarus borders
Sunday 1 November 2026 18:18 , Nicole Wootton-CaneLatvia's armed forces reported a brief intrusion into the country's airspace near the borders with Belarus and Russia on Sunday, asking people in the area to stay inside for their safety during the incident.
"We inform you that there is a threat in the airspace... If you notice a low-flying or suspicious object, do not approach," the military said in a post on X. Some 30 minutes later it said the unidentified object had left Latvian airspace and that the threat had ended.
Ukrainian military drones have been straying into the airspace of Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, creating concerns that the war in Ukraine is spilling over into NATO countries that border Russia and its ally Belarus.
As Ukraine attacks Russian Baltic Sea oil shipping ports, some of its drones have missed their targets and led to security warnings in neighbouring countries. In the case of Latvia, it led to a government collapse earlier this year.
Moscow has accused Kyiv of using NATO airspace as cover for attacks, while Kyiv says some of its drones have been steered off course by Russian signal jamming. The NATO countries generally blame Russia for the incidents, for having ignited the war by invading its neighbour nearly five years ago.
Ukraine liberated more territory than it lost in October, Zelensky says
Sunday 1 November 2026 17:30 , Suha KidwaiUkrainian forces liberated more territory than they lost during the month of October, -resident Volodymyr Zelensky announced Sunday.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian troops reclaimed 96.2 square kilometres of land last month — surpassing the area seized by Russian forces by 10.4 square kilometres.
The territorial gains come alongside what Ukrainian officials describe as record Russian casualty figures, with Moscow reportedly losing 54,400 soldiers killed or seriously wounded in October — the highest single-month total since the 2022 invasion began.
“Russia is losing. We are holding our positions, liberating territory, and ensuring that every day of the war costs the aggressor as much as possible,” Zelensky said. “To stop these insane losses, Russia only needs to choose a ceasefire and diplomacy.”
Ceasefire nears end as Oleshky evacuations conclude
Sunday 1 November 2026 16:30 , Suha KidwaiCivilians in Ukraine’s southeastern Kherson region are preparing for the conclusion of a localised ceasefire that marked the most significant truce between Kyiv and Moscow in over four years.
The White House said US First Lady Melania Trump helped broker the limited pause in hostilities, which took effect early Tuesday and is set to expire Sunday evening.
The temporary truce enabled a rare joint operation that concluded Saturday to evacuate besieged residents from the front-line city of Oleshky.
Before the truce took hold, an estimated 2,000 civilians remained in Oleshky. Residents were given the option to evacuate to Ukrainian-controlled territory, move to Russian-held areas, or remain in the city with replenished food and medical supplies.
Russia's FSB detains minor following US intelligence tip-off
Sunday 1 November 2026 15:30 , Suha KidwaiRussia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has detained a Russian minor over an alleged threat to carry out a terrorist attack in a Moscow park, acting on intelligence supplied by the United States.
The FSB received information Saturday through partner channels warning of attack preparations, prompting the temporary closure of the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve in southern Moscow.
According to Interfax, the suspect posted TikTok photos in tactical gear and a balaclava holding an object resembling an automatic weapon, alongside images from Tsaritsyno captioned: "I found a place".
"We are grateful to the American side for providing the information," the FSB stated.
A search of the minor's home uncovered the clothing and items shown online. The FSB said his phone revealed a subscription to a neo-Nazi Telegram channel and numerous searches related to terrorist attacks and mass killings.
Pope Leo says he hopes Oleshky truce could spur Ukraine-Russia peace efforts
Sunday 1 November 2026 14:32 , Sam RkainaPope Leo said on Sunday he hoped cooperation between Russia and Ukraine in implementing a ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky would pave the way for broader peace efforts.
Ukraine and Russia said on October 23 they had agreed to a ceasefire in Oleshky, brokered by US first lady Melania Trump with the additional involvement of Pope Leo, to allow aid deliveries and evacuations from the frontline town, which has been suffering acute food and medicine shortages.
“A humanitarian operation has been carried out to help the civilian population in the city of Oleshky,” Pope Leo said during his Sunday prayer.
“I hope that the cooperation between the parties, which made this necessary humanitarian gesture possible, will strengthen their willingness to engage in dialogue and lead to fresh concrete initiatives for peace.”
Watch: Tearful reunions as Oleshky evacuees arrive in Ukraine
Sunday 1 November 2026 13:49 , Sam RkainaUS warns Russia about ‘mass casualty event’ plot to attack Moscow
Sunday 1 November 2026 12:30 , Rituparna ChatterjeeThe United States has warned Russian authorities of a potential terror threat, pointing to an imminent “mass casualty event” targeting a landmark museum estate in Moscow.
In an urgent security alert issued on Saturday, the US Embassy named the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve as the specific target of the planned attack, advising all American nationals in the Russian capital to avoid the site and stay clear of large crowds.
The museum was established in 1775 and after a restoration in the 1980s has remained a popular tourist destination in the city.
Ukrainian arms maker Fire Point says its systems can complete missions without SpaceX
Sunday 1 November 2026 12:00 , Rituparna ChatterjeeUkrainian arms manufacturer Fire Point has found ways to carry out long-range strikes in Russia and occupied areas of Ukraine without relying on SpaceX satellite services, its chief executive told Reuters.
CEO Iryna Terekh also said a new tactical ballistic missile developed by Fire Point could help boost the protection of Ukrainian cities, which have been pounded by Russian forces as Ukraine's air defences run low.
Ukraine's military relies heavily on Elon Musk's SpaceX for satellite communications over its territory and Kyiv has asked the company to extend coverage over Russia.
But for 10 days this month, Ukraine faced speed limits on its use of SpaceX services, which hampered drone defences and mid-strike missions.
Terekh, 34, said the company had found workarounds that allowed it to finish strike missions without using a satellite link.
"We have built with this in mind. Fire Point systems are designed to finish a mission without a satellite link," she said, discussing the recent SpaceX restrictions.
"Navigation that works without any external signal is a priority."
Key questions around the Russian and Ukrainian evacuation of Oleshky
Sunday 1 November 2026 11:30 , Rituparna ChatterjeeResidents of the Russian-held town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine began evacuating on Friday as part of a joint relief operation by the two sides, the first of its kind in four years and eight months of war.
Many questions have been asked about the humanitarian operation and its wider significance under a deal that US first lady Melania Trump was involved in brokering, with the additional involvement of Pope Leo.
WHAT DO RUSSIA AND UKRAINE WANT FROM THE OPERATION?
Besides the safe evacuation of many of Oleshky's residents, Moscow and Kyiv are trying to use the operation to show US President Donald Trump they are serious about his efforts to secure an overall peace settlement.
Neither side wants to be blamed by Trump for something going wrong in Oleshky, an event that could burnish his self-professed credentials as a peacemaker before US midterm legislative elections.
