The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
Russia’s war against Ukraine
Emergency personnel work at the scene following a Russian attack on a postal service branch in Kharkiv on Oct. 28, 2026. Local authorities reported that Russian forces struck the facility using a ‘Geran-3’ attack drone, triggering a fire at the site that resulted in the death of a 38-year-old man and injured four others. (Serhii Masin/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Russia wants deal with NATO to reshape Europe’s security order, Zelensky says. The Kremlin is repackaging these demands as “security guarantees” for itself amid ongoing negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, Zelensky told journalists at a press briefing.
Zelensky backs Norway-Finland talks with Putin, says Trump already ended Russia’s isolation. Zelensky praised Norway and Finland for putting their diplomacy “completely out in the open: discussions in advance, a full briefing, and transparent objectives,” saying that not all countries had taken the time to speak with Ukraine beforehand.
UK announces ‘biggest ever’ Ukraine support package of $13 billion in 2027. “Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine poses a serious threat to U.K. prosperity and security,” reads a social media post from the U.K.’s finance ministry explaining the new support to Ukraine.
Netherlands confirms $1.3 billion in non-military aid for Ukraine through 2029. “Support for recovery and reconstruction can’t wait for a ceasefire. Ukraine needs our help right now: military support, but also social and economic assistance,” Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma said during his visit to Kyiv.
Ukraine receives 12 Patriot missiles per month from US, Zelensky says. Ukraine needs to intercept around 150 Russian ballistic missiles per month but receives about 150 Patriot missiles from the U.S. annually, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine paused attacks on oil refineries for 3 days as Russia continued strikes on energy infrastructure, Zelensky says. During those days, Ukrainian forces acted “a little more cautiously,” but were not ordered to refrain from responding to Russian strikes, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Russia building new drone launch site near Millerovo airfield in Rostov Oblast, HUR says. HUR estimated that once construction is complete, the site could accommodate up to 100 drone launches per day.
Zelensky pushes back against Musk, says Ukraine uses Starshield to defend itself. “When Elon Musk said that we use Starshield against the Russians — yes, against the Russians, but on our own territory. This is not offensive; it’s defensive,” Zelensky told journalists at a press briefing.
Putin calls Musk ‘genius‘ as Ukraine recovers from Starshield throttling. “I want to point out that Elon Musk is a genius, a real genius,” Putin said, praising the billionaire’s vast satellite network as Russia scrambles to develop its own answer to Starlink.
Zelensky tasks PM with assembling Kyiv winter preparations team, says Klitschko ‘can’t do it alone.’ “It would be wonderful if Kyiv could protect itself or at least prepare for the dangers. But that didn’t happen in any of these areas,” Zelensky said.
Read our exclusives
Ukraine war latest: Oleshky ceasefire holds as Zelensky secures new aid pledges
Russian President Vladimir Putin “wanted very much” for U.S. First Lady Melania Trump to mediate the ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in Kherson Oblast, Marc Beckman, her exclusive senior adviser, told the Kyiv Independent on Oct. 28.
Photo: Volodymyr Zelensky/X
‘There cannot be business as usual with Russia’ — Dutch minister urges Europe to step up for Ukraine
The Kyiv Independent walked through central Kyiv with Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, the Netherlands’ minister for foreign trade, to discuss how Europe can help Ukraine withstand mounting pressure on its energy and water infrastructure amid ongoing Russian attacks.
Photo: Handout / Tetiana Bulhakova
Zelensky reveals what to expect as Ukraine, Russia head back to peace talks
Although Ukrainian officials do not expect the first round to produce a major breakthrough, Kyiv hopes the meeting will restart regular negotiations and deliver limited results.
Photo: Olga Ivashchenko/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Kyiv’s housing market feels the chill as residents escape ahead of winter
As temperatures are falling in Kyiv, so are rent prices, with residents leaving the capital to escape Russian bombardment and the prospect of a winter without heating and electricity.
Photo: Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images
Human costs of war
Ukraine’s military reveals what Russia’s war has cost Moscow — in dollars, arms, and lives. With the money spent on the war, Russia could have built 1,000 new schools and 200 hospitals, and granted 1 million rubles to every child born since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Ceasefire in Oleshky enters 30th hour as Russian strikes kill 2, injure 17 elsewhere in Ukraine over past day. Russian forces launched an Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missile and 88 Shahed-type drones at Ukraine, including 38 jet-powered drones, overnight on Oct. 28.
Canadian volunteer killed by Russian drone while rescuing animals in Donetsk Oblast. Jesse Adams, founder of the Canadian organization RainCoast Dog Rescue Society, was killed by a Russian FPV drone while evacuating animals from front-line Kramatorsk.
Opinions and insights
Europe must finally hold Russia accountable for hybrid attacks
Europe has already learned to better recognize hybrid threats, which is definitely a good thing, but recognition alone is not enough and doesn’t serve as sufficient deterrence, Marek Zenisek writes.
Photo: John Thys/AFP via Getty Images
Reporter’s notebook: Visiting a POW camp is the best possible antidote to sympathy for Russian soldiers
It was a scorching June day in western Ukraine, and we had just been released, like kids in a petting zoo, into a courtyard full of prisoners of war from the Russian military.
Photo: Francis Farrell / The Kyiv Independent
International response
Exclusive: Putin ‘wanted very much’ for Melania Trump to broker Oleshky ceasefire, first lady adviser says. Concerns have been raised about Russia’s true motives in agreeing to the ceasefire, as well as its agreement to allowing Trump to mediate it.
Zelensky expects trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi by Nov. 10, but no firm date set. “We need to have this meeting till the end of (next) month, I hope… between Nov. 6 and 10,” Zelensky said at a press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten.
Netherlands announces 500 million euro military aid package for Ukraine. The announcement comes on the back of a Dutch ministerial visit to Kyiv, where 1.2 billion euros in non-military aid was pledged.
Nearly 50 companies involved in producing Russia’s Starlink alternative, 23 not under international sanctions, HUR says. Rassvet’s planned coverage is expected to focus primarily on Ukraine and Europe, HUR said, warning that the system could also support Russian hybrid operations against other countries.
Zelensky lands in Netherlands to discuss air defense, economic partnership. “We will discuss defense and economic cooperation, strengthening Ukrainian air defense, and new steps to support Ukraine,” Zelensky said on X upon his arrival.
Lavrov to travel to US for G20 meeting amid warming Washington-Moscow ties. The Russian delegation will use the two-day meeting, held from Oct. 30 to Oct. 31, to “promote Russian ideas, aimed at strengthening the foundations of a multipolar world,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.
‘Reverse course while there’s still time’ — US senator tells ships carrying Russian diesel to turn around. “I’m sending a sledgehammer message to shipping companies whose tankers are transporting illegal Russian diesel to our ports,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal said. “Reverse course while there’s still time.”
Pentagon watchdog rejects bipartisan plea to investigate Starlink disruption, AP reports. The refusal is interpreted by sources familiar with the matter as a way to avoid investigating Elon Musk and Starlink, AP reported.
Russia restarts grain shipments through Sea of Azov, media reports. Kyiv’s military campaign resulted in over 100 Russian vessels being hit in the Azov sea during the summer — negatively impacting Russia’s economy and contributing to an increase in global grain prices.
Tsikhanouskaya on how Russia’s closest ally is playing the US
In other news
Ukraine’s parliament approves 2027 state budget in first reading. With security and defense allocations accounting for around two-thirds of planned expenditure and a projected deficit of nearly Hr 1.7 trillion ($37 billion), the budget highlights the challenge of funding the war while maintaining economic stability and meeting social commitments.
2 Russian army deserters arrested while heading for Kyiv. Both were detained when trying to cross into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and one “was found to be wearing a Russian military identification tag around his neck,” SBU said.
Ukraine’s fugitive ex-prosecutor general alleges conspiracy, anti-graft agencies hit back. The former prosecutor general broke a month-long silence after fleeing Ukraine to Austria amid a corruption scandal involving senior officials from the Prosecutor General’s Office.
80% of Ukrainians back strikes on Russian refineries even if US cuts support, poll shows. Some 80% of respondents back the continued strikes, even if Washington restricts intelligence sharing or Starlink operations. Only 11% said Ukraine should pause the attacks, despite Russia’s ongoing attacks on the Ukrainian energy grid, according to the survey.
Kyivstar acquires Ukrainian cloud provider GigaCloud for nearly $50 million. The acquisition reflects Kyivstar’s ambition to build a broader digital ecosystem beyond its core telecommunications business.
Ex-Unmanned Systems Forces commander Sukharevskyi to lead Ukraine’s Marines, media reports. Sukharevskyi will replace Major General Dmytro Deliatytskyi in the job, sources confirmed independently to Ukrainska Pravda and Interfax-Ukraine.
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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Francis Farrell, Abbey Fenbert, Tim Zadorozhnyy, Dominic Culverwell, Chris Powers, Chris York, Martin Fornusek, Rebecka Pieder, and Dmytro Basmat.
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