The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
Russia’s war against Ukraine
Firefighters recover the body of an elderly woman from the rubble following a Russian air strike on a residential building in Sloviansk, Ukraine, on Oct. 17 2026. (Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images)
‘Putin feels joy’ — Zelensky calls Trump’s waiving of key Russia sanctions ‘wrong.’ President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 17 U.S. President Donald Trump was “wrong” to further “block” sanctions against Russia, while expressing hope that he would do “everything possible” to stop the full-scale war.
Massive Ukrainian drone attack hit oil facility, bridge, and data centers in St. Petersburg. Eyewitness footage taken by St. Petersburg residents show what appears to be Ukrainian drones flying through the air and the city’s air defense systems at work.‘Planned operation’ — Zelensky confirms Ukraine’s Starlink access not fully restored. Zelensky called the restrictions a “planned operation” targeting Ukraine, noting that Starlink speed limits remain in effect in Ukraine but not in EU countries.
Over half of Russian jet-powered drones downed by Ukraine’s aircraft, Zelensky says. Ukraine has secured contracts and assurances from partners on additional supplies of F-16 ammunition, Zelensky noted, adding that the current deliveries were at a “satisfactory level.”
Russian Ryazan oil refinery halts operations of one main unit after drone attack, Reuters reports. Since President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the resumption of strikes on Oct. 15, Kyiv has not reported any new attacks on Russian oil refineries or confirmed reports of such strikes.
Kromberg and Schubert electrical wiring plant in Lutsk halts operations following Russian attack. The Lutsk facility in northwestern Ukraine, which manufactures wiring systems for BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Skoda vehicles, was attacked by Russian drones on Oct. 16.
Russia may seek to get back immobilized assets through Ukraine’s partners, Zelensky says. “Today, this is fully under Europe’s control. That means (Russian assets) are safe for now,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Zelensky warns Russia may expand missile threats from Belarus against western Ukraine. Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andrii Demchenko has separately reported that equipment based in Belarus helps relay or amplify signals for Russian Shahed and Geran drones heading toward western Ukraine and Poland’s border region.
Ukraine hits Russian drone manufacturing plant in Rostov Oblast. Among the drones it produces are the Sarych, which uses video and thermal imaging equipment for surveillance, and the Klin, a loitering munition designed to strike targets, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency.
Romanian F-16s down two jet-powered drones after airspace incursion. The two drones were jet-powered, belonging to the Geran-family of attack drones frequently used by Russia to attack targets in Ukraine, according to Romania’s Defense Ministry. The Ministry did not specify which nation the drones belonged to.
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Watchdog lists ships carrying Russian gas, blasts Trump sanctions waiver.
“Republicans and Democrats passed this law in Lindsey Graham’s name to squeeze Russia’s war revenues. Trump has now hollowed it out before its main sanctions could bite,” said Alexander Kirk, a sanctions campaigner at Urgewald.
Photo: Loic Venance/AFP via Getty Images
Anger over Kyiv’s winter preparations fuels calls for Mayor Klitschko to resign.
Local residents gathered on Oct. 17 in front of the city council to demand that Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko step down from the post he has occupied for over 12 years.
Photo: Ihor Kuznietsov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
Human costs of war
Russian troops executed Ukrainian POWs in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, military says.
The Russian soldiers are believed to belong to the 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, which is operating in the area. Maksym Kravchuk, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Southern Forces Group, alleged that orders of this nature within the brigade are issued at the initiative of its commander, Colonel Valery Kazak.
Russia launches ‘one of its largest attacks’ on Ukraine’s energy grid as US ‘disregards’ Graham’s sanctions, Zelensky says. Ukrainian forces downed 289 out of the 332 drones, including jet-powered attack drones, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Russian drones and ballistic missiles of the Iskander-M or the North Korean KN-23 model struck 22 different locations, and debris fell in three areas.
International response
Trump waives latest Russia sanctions amid growing Ukraine-US tensions. U.S. President Donald Trump issued a broad waiver of sanctions under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act on Oct. 16.
Marco Rubio says Trump’s Russian oil sanctions waiver is a ’60-day pause,’ denies restricting Starlink access. “I think the President wants to take the 60-day period of time to sort of analyze what imposing both sanctions and tariffs will mean to the global economy and even to the U.S. economy,” said Rubio.
Slovakia, Hungary won’t join 70 billion euro EU package sought by Ukraine, Fico says. Zelensky asked EU leaders for an additional 70 billion euros to help cover Ukraine’s defense and “resilience” needs in 2027, as Kyiv grapples with a budget shortfall amid escalating Russian attacks.
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