Renewed Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries since late October have reportedly reduced Russia's oil refining capacity by about 30 per cent.
Ukrainian attacks disrupted operations and caused emergency situations at nine of Russia's 35 major refineries over the past week, Reuters reported, citing sources.
The report comes as US secretary of state Marco Rubio said there is “a lot” of work to be done after the first day of resumed peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
The talks in Abu Dhabi, which included US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, were taking place as US officials sought a “final end” to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Rubio said the first day of talks was “very productive”, adding that the goal was to expand the negotiations to include Europe.
Donald Trump previously that Washington was seeing a “very strong inclination” to end the war with both sides “tired of fighting”.
Moscow and Kyiv are privately showing some “flexibility” over a possible territorial exchange, a US official claimed, before what will be the first serious peace talks since February.
Speaking with CBS’s 60 Minutes, Trump said Ukraine is likely to “end up with a different shape” after a deal.
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Key Points
- Ukrainian attacks have reduced 'Russia's oil processing capacity by 30%'
- Trump sees ‘very strong inclination’ to end Russia-Ukraine war
- Huge Russian attacks cause power cuts in six regions hours before talks
- Kyiv and Moscow are finally talking again - but what are the chances of a breakthrough?
- Russia and Ukraine showing flexibility on territory, US official says
- UK military chief issues stark warning over Russian threat
Ukrainian attacks have reduced Russia's oil processing capacity by 30%
04:35 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRenewed Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries since late October have reduced Russia's oil refining capacity by about 30 per cent, Reuters reported, citing two industry sources.
Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries add to Moscow's difficulties in addressing domestic fuel shortages as it ships diesel to international markets under an export deal with US president Donald Trump.
Ukraine has stepped up strikes on Russian refineries since the end of October.
Ukrainian attacks disrupted operations and caused emergency situations at nine of Russia's 35 major refineries over the past week, sources said.
The combined daily nameplate capacity of Russian refineries affected by drone attacks since late October, including three major plants in central Russia, stands at around 300,000 metric tons, or 2.2 million barrels, compared with Russia's total primary refining capacity of about 930,000 tons per day.
At the end of October, Russian refineries were processing about 700,000 tons, or 5 million barrels, of crude per day, according to the sources.
Latvia and Lithuania warned people of drone threats
04:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarLatvia and Lithuania warned people to seek shelter today across several regions against threats from unidentified drones entering their airspace via neighbouring Russia or Belarus.
It added that Nato air defence fighter jets were activated.
There were no reports of injuries, while Lithuania's crisis management authorities said their warning covered the second most populous city of Kaunas, home to about 300,000.
Russia has accused Ukraine of using Nato airspace as cover for attacks, while Kyiv says some of its drones have been steered off course by Russian signal jamming.
Finland imposes airspace and maritime curbs
03:50 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarFinland has adopted temporary airspace and maritime curbs in the eastern Gulf of Finland for today, its defence forces said on X.
"This is a precautionary measure aimed at ensuring the safety of bystanders and enabling the authorities to counter potential drones," it added.
The step came as Ukrainian drones were attacking Russia's northwest, home to major Baltic Sea export facilities and a big oil refinery.
Russia shoots down 92 drones over Leningrad region
03:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussia shot down 92 drones during today's early hours in an attack over the Leningrad region northwest of Moscow, governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said.
The region is home to the ports of Ust-Luga, Primorsk and Vysotsk, key for Russia's oil and grain exports on the Baltic Sea, as well as the Kirishi oil refinery, Russia's second-largest.
On Monday, a drone struck the Kirishi refinery, run by Surgutneftegaz, setting the plant on fire, and killing a woman in the region where St. Petersburg, the hometown of president Vladimir Putin, is located.
Drone strike causes fire in Russia's Baltic Sea port
03:17 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA drone attack has caused fire in the port area of Ust-Luga by the Baltic Sea in Russia's northwest, regional governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said this morning.
Royal Navy to deploy autonomous boats to tackle Russian interference
03:00 , James ReynoldsThe Royal Navy will deploy a fleet autonomous drone boats to intercept Russian warships and spy vessels around British shores for the first time, the head of its fleet has confirmed.
The squadron of autonomous Kraken 3 boats, which are unmanned and remotely controlled, will be used to help the Ryoal Navy’s fleet of vessels to tackle Russian interference in UK waters.
Vice-Admiral Steve Moorhouse told The Times the boats will begin operations “as soon as possible”, meaning they could be deployed before the end of the year.
Royal Navy to deploy autonomous boats to tackle Russian interference in UK waters
Streeting wants more direct contact with Russia to avoid war 'miscalculation'
01:30 , Alex CroftBritain would like more channels for talking to Russia, Defence Minister Wes Streeting has said, with military-to-military contact singled out as a way to lower the "risk of miscalculation".
The remarks came in a Financial Times interview published on Tuesday.
"We have our embassy in Moscow. That is an important channel ... I would much prefer there to be additional channels too, particularly military-to-military level," Mr Streeting told the FT.
"There is always a risk of miscalculation and that's why having that direct communication is important," he said.
Read more here:
Streeting wants more direct contact with Russia to avoid war 'miscalculation'
Merz urges EU to fast-track talks on €45bn Ukraine funding for 2027
00:00 , Alex CroftGerman chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged the EU to prioritise discussions on closing Ukraine’s €70bn budget shortfall for 2027, warning that around €45bn of the funding burden will fall on European member states.
In a letter to European Council president Antonio Costa, Merz called for the issue to be discussed at the EU’s informal meeting on 13 November.
Merz said supporting Ukraine was a shared responsibility, arguing that financial assistance was currently unevenly distributed among EU countries.
The letter says “we must then find a solution supported by all Member States that ensures a sound and multiannual financing perspective for Ukraine from 2028 onwards, including the interest liabilities that have already accrued”.
His push comes as the bloc prepares to discuss its long-term budget for 2028-2034.
“Providing this support is an indivisible responsibility shared by us all,” Merz said. But “bilateral assistance to Ukraine is distributed unevenly and carried mostly by only a few Member States”, he added.
Nine Zimbabweans arrested in South Africa over alleged Ukraine war recruitment
Tuesday 10 November 2026 23:01 , Maroosha MuzaffarNine Zimbabwean nationals have been arrested in South Africa for allegedly attempting to travel abroad to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war, according to police.
The suspects, aged between 20 and 26, were detained on Sunday evening in Johannesburg while they were “preparing to board flights out of the country”.
Five were arrested at OR Tambo international airport and another four at a hotel in Bruma, east of Johannesburg, during an operation involving Interpol.
They have been charged under South Africa’s regulation of foreign military assistance act, which prohibits mercenary activity without government authorisation.
Authorities have not disclosed whether the group intended to fight for Russia or Ukraine, or identified the organisations allegedly arranging their travel.
The arrests come amid growing concerns about the recruitment of African nationals into the conflict. A Ukrainian intelligence assessment earlier this year estimated that more than 1,700 people from 36 African countries had been recruited to fight for Russia.
Zimbabwe said in March that 15 of its citizens had been killed after being recruited to fight for Russia, while more than 60 others remained trapped on the front lines. South Africa also secured the return of 17 citizens who were allegedly tricked into joining the war.
Europe’s irrelevance means lame duck Trump will only serve Putin again in new Ukraine peace talks
Tuesday 10 November 2026 22:00 , Alex CroftOur world affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:
Brokered by American businessmen, Ukrainian and Russian securocrats are meeting in Abu Dhabi to agree on a ceasefire that Donald Trump says will leave Ukraine “with a different shape”.
The redrawing of Europe’s map that he believes is inevitable will emerge after talks about Europe, without Europe.
The limping English of the lame-duck American president’s pre-talks conclusion states what he has said for nearly two years – that Kyiv has to give up territory because the Russians have already won it.
Trump sees this as inevitable, as his negotiators, his son-in-law Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, a real-estate buddy, may see a pro-Russian outcome like this as lucrative.
Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, has told them there’s $12 trillion (or more) in deals to be struck if Moscow can return to business with America.
Lame duck Trump will only serve Putin again in new Ukraine peace talks
Lavrov: Russia will not agree to immediate ceasefire without knowing what is next
Tuesday 10 November 2026 21:02 , Alex CroftWe hears from Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov earlier, who said on Tuesday that Russia would not agree to an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine without knowing what would happen next.
It would be wiser to discuss the outlines of the future security architecture in Europe first, and then a ceasefire in Ukraine, he added.
Lavrov referred to the trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US in Abu Dhabi.
Slovak prime minister accuses German chancellor of 'blackmail'
Tuesday 10 November 2026 20:01 , ReutersSlovak prime minister Robert Fico accused German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of "blackmail" on Tuesday after Berlin pushed to link a deal on funding for Ukraine to talks on the European Union's next long-term budget.
Merz, in a letter to European Council President Antonio Costa seen by Reuters, said all of the EU must contribute to funding Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia's invasion.
He said a commitment that all EU members would help Ukraine fill a projected €70 billion funding gap for 2027 — with an expected EU contribution of €45 billion — was a prerequisite for "discussing any further matters, particularly those with financial implications".
Addressing that, Fico said: "We must respond to blackmail."
"We have the same veto as the German Federal Chancellor," he added.
Talks to continue Wednesday
Tuesday 10 November 2026 19:00 , Alex CroftKyiv has confirmed that talks are due to continue in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
We’ll be bringing you all the latest developments from the negotiations.
In pictures: Ukraine, Russia and US sit down for peace talks
Tuesday 10 November 2026 18:00 , Alex Croft
Rubio says any security guarantees for Ukraine must be acceptable to Russia
Tuesday 10 November 2026 17:01 , Maroosha MuzaffarUS secretary of state Marco Rubio has said that any post-war security guarantees for Ukraine must be acceptable to both Kyiv and Moscow, arguing that such arrangements will be essential to securing a peace deal.
He said Washington had not yet settled on a concrete plan but stressed that Ukraine must feel secure after the war.
Asked whether the guarantees could be formalised through a treaty, Rubio said: “I mean, potentially, but I don’t know if that’s, we’ve discussed it at that level of detail yet.”
Before today;s US-mediated peace talks in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday, Rubio acknowledged that Washington could help facilitate negotiations but could not guarantee a breakthrough.
“The United States is not a combatant in that war,” he said.
“It’s the Russians that are fighting that war, and it’s Ukraine that was invaded and is being attacked and being fought against.”
He said the US would continue to “inject ideas into those discussions in the hopes of arriving at a solution that’s diplomatic in nature”.
More than 400,000 Russians killed in Ukraine-Russia war, leaked data reveals
Tuesday 10 November 2026 16:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarA leaked dataset from Russia’s state statistics agency, Rosstat suggests that 412,576 Russian soldiers have been killed in the war in Ukraine since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion.
The information, obtained by two hacking groups, reportedly comes from more than 11 million death certificates.
Rosstat confirmed the breach but denied that sensitive information had been accessed.
The figures are broadly in line with other estimates, but analysts believe the actual death toll could be closer to 500,000 because some deaths have not yet been officially recorded.
“The data looks authentic, and it’s very rich,” Janis Kluge, the head of the Russia and Eurasia division at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, told the outlet.
“This is the biggest leak of data when it comes to Russian casualties.”
“We are probably at this time closer to 500,000 killed Russian soldiers than 400,000,” he added.
Ukraine strikes elite Russian ‘Rubicon’ drone unit in occupied territory
Tuesday 10 November 2026 15:29 , Alex CroftUkrainian forces have struck Russia’s elite Rubicon drone unit overnight, Kyiv’s military said hours before peace talks got underway with Moscow in Abu Dhabi.
The Rubicon Center for Advanced Unmanned Technologies was formed in August 2024 by the Russian ministry of defence and is a sprawling unit operating in the heart of occupied territory.
Its key aims include hunting down Ukrainian drone teams on the ground and intercepting reconnaissance and strike drones. It serves as the heart of Russian drone missions against Ukraine.
Maira Butt reports:
Ukraine strikes elite Russian ‘Rubicon’ drone unit in occupied territory
EU pledges €50 million for Black Sea security hub
Tuesday 10 November 2026 15:00 , Alex CroftEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen pledged €50 million (£42 million) on Tuesday to help Bulgaria and Romania launch a Black Sea maritime security hub after several deadly drone attacks.
At least nine cargo ships were hit by naval drones near Nato members Romania and Bulgaria last month, killing several seafarers and leaving others missing, raising concerns over how the escalating maritime war between Russia and Ukraine is expanding into a major challenge for Nato in the Black Sea.
The US-led military alliance said it would deploy maritime patrol aircraft, radars and drones to bolster its eastern flank in the Black Sea.
Speaking from the Bulgarian port of Varna, von der Leyen said all sides have agreed to speed up the hub to restore freedom of navigation in the Black Sea.
"It is important to have it now up and running and therefore we want to have clear timelines for its completion and we want to offer a dedicated funding of 50 million euros to this Black Sea maritime security hub," von der Leyen said at a press conference alongside Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev.
With Reuters
German chancellor says EU has collective responsbility to back Ukraine
Tuesday 10 November 2026 14:31 , Alex CroftGerman chancellor Friedrich Merz has said it is the collective responsibility for the EU to back Ukraine
Support for Kyiv cannot be weakened, he said.
It comes after Slovak prime minister Robert Fico earlier accused Merz of "blackmail" after Berlin pushed to link a deal on funding for Ukraine to talks on the EU's next long-term budget.
Rubio: A lot of work to be done after first day of talks
Tuesday 10 November 2026 13:56 , Alex CroftWe’ve just heard from US secretary of state Marco Rubio, who has been speaking to reporters on Tuesday.
He says there is still a lot of work to be done after the conclusion of the first day of US-led talks with Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Abu Dhabi.
However, Mr Rubio said the talks were “very productive”.
He added that the ultimate goal is to expand trilateral talks on Ukraine to include Europe.
Watch: Trump suggests Ukraine will end up with a ‘different shape’ after peace deal
Tuesday 10 November 2026 13:40 , Alex CroftFrance says Ukraine peace must address European security
Tuesday 10 November 2026 13:00 , MehrajThere can be no lasting peace in Ukraine without addressing European security nor can there be an agreement on Europe’s security without European involvement, the French presidency said on Tuesday.
It added that representatives from France, the UK, Germany, the EU, Nato, and Italy would attend the Russia-Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi.
Poland arrests two Ukrainians suspected of spying for Russia
Tuesday 10 November 2026 12:40 , ReutersPoland has arrested two Ukrainian men suspected of espionage and sabotage on behalf of Russian intelligence services, the Internal Security Agency (ABW) said on Tuesday.
Poland has long accused Russia and its ally Belarus of waging a hybrid campaign involving sabotage, cyberattacks and disinformation since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly denied the accusations.
"According to findings by the ABW, the suspects carried out tasks on behalf of Russian special services, which included, among other things, reconnoitring critical infrastructure and military facilities throughout the country," the agency said in a statement.
According to investigators, the men set fire to vehicles after replacing their licence plates with ones resembling those used by the Ukrainian military. The men were paid for carrying out the tasks, including in cryptocurrencies.
Both face from 10 years to life imprisonment if found guilty.
The Russian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Russia attacks 10 Ukrainian regions, hits five substations
Tuesday 10 November 2026 12:19 , Alex CroftRussia attacked 10 Ukrainian regions overnight, hitting five major energy substations that transmit electricity between regions, Ukrainian prime minister Sergii Koretskyi said on Tuesday.
The substations that were hit are in the Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Vinnytsia and Kirovohrad regions, Koretskyi said on Telegram.
Kremlin declines to say if Black Sea shipping on agenda for Abu Dhabi talks
Tuesday 10 November 2026 12:00 , Alex CroftWe’re still waiting to hear on the outcomes of today’s Kyiv-Moscow peace talks.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier on Tuesday that he would not provide any details on whether the resumption of shipping in the Black Sea, a major global grain trading route, would be on the agenda of trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US in Abu Dhabi.
Grain trade in the Black Sea has stalled following mutual drone attacks by Russia and Ukraine on vessels and ports.
Mediation efforts to resume trade, led by Turkey, have so far yielded no results.
Wheat traded near multi-month lows on Tuesday as traders awaited the outcome of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine that could boost global supply by reviving grain exports.
Russia delegation source says security framework for Europe main thrust of Ukraine talks
Tuesday 10 November 2026 11:30 , MehrajRussia believes that the main thrust of new peace talks on Ukraine starting in Abu Dhabi later on Tuesday will be trying to hammer out the key elements of a new post-war security framework for Europe, a source in the Russian delegation told Reuters.
Russian and Ukrainian officials plan to meet later in the day for two days of US-brokered talks – their first since February – after US president Donald Trump suggested last week that a broad peace deal was possible and could incorporate Europe's security.
The delegation source said the meeting would focus on developing mechanisms to prevent threats and strengthen regional stability. "Whilst the Ukrainian settlement, being a matter of critical importance, is just one aspect of this wide-ranging discussion, it is subordinate to the main objective – the creation of a comprehensive and indivisible security architecture for the entire continent," the source said.
