Eastern Ukrainian city, long a frontline flashpoint in Donbas.
The latest wave of Russian strikes targets Kyiv and other Ukrainian infrastructure, intensifying an already brutal conflict. Officials report civilian casualties, power outages, and disrupted daily life as both sides escalate long-range attacks and Ukraine warns of winter-scale challenges ahead.
Ukraine’s sacked Defence Minister has urged Zelenskyy to schedule presidential elections amid ongoing war. He says democracy must not be Russia’s hostage, while allies debate safe conditions for votes. Polls show strong trust in various leaders, complicating the scene.
Russian forces have intensified operations around Donetsk’s fortress belt, advancing on Sloviansk and nearby Kostiantynivka and Kramatorsk, while Ukraine reshapes its command to defend the region. Western analysts remain skeptical of Russia’s battlefield gains as Kyiv seeks to hold critical strongholds amid ongoing fighting.
Russia has held parliamentary elections with United Russia expected to cruise to victory. The vote, held under tightened censorship, is a gauge of public support for the war in Ukraine as Moscow claims drone attacks and calls for stability.
Preliminary results have shown President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia has secured about 57–58% of the party vote and is set to take roughly 355 of 450 State Duma seats after three days of voting. Turnout has been reported near 57–60%. Voting included polling in Crimea and four Ukrainian regions annexed by Moscow; Western governments have denounced the ballot as uncompetitive and illegal in occupied territories.
Russian strikes have damaged Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing emergency power cuts in Kyiv and surrounding regions. Officials report several fatalities, including a child, as Moscow targets power facilities ahead of winter. Ukraine is restoring some power while warning of a harsh winter.
Ukraine has faced another night of heavy Russian airstrikes on energy infrastructure as frost nears. Kyiv reports fatalities and widespread damage to the grid; authorities urge readiness of back-up power for critical facilities while Moscow says it has launched a massive strike on Ukraine’s power network.
Kyiv has faced a sharp escalation in Russian drone and missile strikes targeting bridges, energy infrastructure and critical services. City authorities report ongoing disruption as authorities brace for a difficult winter while seeking to bolster energy resilience and defense.
A bus attack in Kramatorsk, in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, has killed at least 30 people and wounded many others. Authorities say the strike hit a bus stop with civilian passengers as fighting to control fortress belt cities continues. Public transport has been halted in the area as officials warn civilians to relocate to safer regions.
Ukraine says it has liberated more territory than Russia has captured since autumn; Russia asserts gains in 92 Ukrainian settlements. Both sides intensify strikes, with civilians increasingly targeted as winter approaches. Independent verification remains limited.