Category: World

Pope Leo XIV has expressed his condolences over the individuals killed in Ukraine because of the newest Russian assaults.

Supply: Pope on X (Twitter)

Quote from Leo XIV: "I observe with sorrow the information of assaults that proceed to strike quite a few Ukrainian cities, together with Kyiv.

These assaults trigger deaths and accidents, amongst them kids, and inflict severe harm on civilian infrastructure, leaving households homeless because the chilly units in."

Particulars: The Pope expressed solidarity with these affected and urged individuals world wide to not change into accustomed to conflict and destruction.

He concluded his tweet: "Allow us to pray for a simply and lasting peace in war-torn Ukraine."

Ukrainian Overseas Minister Andrii Sybiha thanked the Pope for his prayers and condolences to the Ukrainian individuals after Russia's newest brutal strike on Kyiv.

"We worth the Pontiff's name to not change into accustomed to this terror. It is necessary for the world to unite in demanding that the aggressor cease this conflict," he tweeted.

Background:

• Leo XIV grew to become pope on 18 Might and in his first tackle talked about "war-torn Ukraine", which "is ready for negotiations on a simply and lasting peace".
• On the identical day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Woman Olena Zelenska met with Pope Leo XIV after his inaugural Mass within the Vatican.

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Greek pure fuel operator DEPA has reported {that a} fuel provide deal simply signed by Ukraine and Greece is designed to cowl the primary quarter of 2026.

Supply: DEPA, as reported by European Pravda

Particulars: DEPA has mentioned that it has signed a letter of intent with Naftogaz, Ukraine's largest nationwide oil and fuel firm, relating to the provision of "pure fuel to the market of Ukraine for the winter interval between December 2025 and March 2026".

Quote: "Underneath the framework of the potential settlement, LNG volumes originating from america are anticipated to be transported via Route 1, provided collectively by the fuel transmission system operators of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine."

Extra particulars: DEPA provides that the letter is "a tangible step in strengthening regional vitality cooperation and advancing Europe's vitality safety structure".

Background:

• Earlier, when asserting the conclusion of the settlement, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned that fuel provides from Greece to Ukraine are scheduled to start in January 2026.
• On Sunday 16 November, Zelenskyy arrived in Athens, the place he met with Greek President Konstantinos Tasoulas.
• Earlier than the go to, the Ukrainian chief introduced that Kyiv would signal an vitality settlement with Greece.

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Russian forces have struck Kharkiv's Kholodnohirskyi district with a Molniya drone on the afternoon of 16 November.

Supply: Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov

Quote: "The strike hit a youngsters's playground.

A number of home windows had been shattered in close by buildings."

Particulars: No casualties had been reported.

The assault occurred whereas no air-raid warning was in impact.

Emergency providers are working on the scene.

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Ukrainian forces have struck the Novokuybyshevsk oil refinery in Russia's Samara Oblast.

Supply: Normal Workers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Particulars: Explosions and a fireplace have been recorded within the goal space. The extent of the harm isn’t but identified.

Ukrainian defenders additionally struck a UAV storage level of Russia's Rubikon unit and a gas and lubricants pumping station within the occupied territory of Donetsk Oblast.

The up to date evaluation of the sooner strike on the Ryazan oil refinery signifies harm to oil-processing items, a petroleum merchandise storage tank and a pipeline rack.

For reference: The Novokuybyshevsk oil refinery processes 8.8 million tonnes of crude yearly, producing greater than 20 forms of business merchandise, and is used to help the Russian forces.

Background: On 15 November, Ukrainian forces struck the oil refinery within the Russian metropolis of Ryazan.

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Russian forces attacked Ukraine with an Iskander-M ballistic missile and 176 UAVs, round 100 of them Shaheds, on the evening of 15-16 November.

Supply: Air Power of Ukraine

Particulars: The Air Power reported that 139 drones had been both shot down or jammed.

A complete of 37 assault UAVs hit 14 areas, and drone particles fell at one other two websites.

After 9:00, new teams of drones have been detected in Ukrainian airspace.

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Nataliia Khodemchuk, 73, has died in hospital of accidents sustained on account of Russia's assault on Kyiv on the night time of 13-14 November. Nataliia was the widow of Valerii Khodemchuk, the primary sufferer of the 1986 catastrophe on the Chornobyl Nuclear Energy Plant.

Supply: the nationwide joint 24/7 newscast

Particulars: Nataliia died in a Kyiv hospital, the place medics had battled to save lots of her life.

Nataliia's husband, Valerii Khodemchuk, was the primary particular person to die within the Chornobyl accident in 1986. Journalist Tamara Khrushch mentioned that his physique nonetheless stays trapped beneath the ruins of Reactor 4.

After the tragedy, Nataliia moved from the town of Prypiat to Kyiv and lived within the Troieshchyna district.

Quote from Tamara Khrushch: "On Chornobyl remembrance days, Nataliia would journey with different widows to Mitinskoye Cemetery in Moscow, the place the primary 30 Chornobyl employees who had been fatally uncovered to radiation are buried. One 12 months I used to be there with them; I got here again with a tv movie and, in my coronary heart, the deep grief and ache felt by these individuals who had misplaced their family members.

Moscow's celebrated drugs didn’t save them. I say this not out of anger or the ache stirred up by at present's lethal warfare, however as a matter of fact. One other group of Chornobyl energy engineers who obtained extraordinarily excessive doses of radiation recovered and had the nice fortune to stay on; they had been handled in Kyiv by Professor Kindzelskyi."

Extra particulars: In Kyiv, Nataliia lived in a residential constructing the place a number of the flats had been allotted to first responders and family of those that died on account of the Chornobyl catastrophe. Referred to as "liquidators", the primary responders had been civil and army personnel referred to as in to take care of the fast and long-term aftermath of the nuclear catastrophe at nice private danger.

One other resident of the constructing is Oleksii Ananenko, a former Chornobyl mechanical engineer and Hero of Ukraine who was one of many three volunteers who risked their lives to avert a second attainable explosion on the plant.

The residential constructing was hit by a drone throughout Russia's large-scale assault on the night time of 13-14 November. Nataliia's condo was "burnt to the bottom", Khrushch mentioned. Nataliia suffered burns to over 45% of her physique and was taken to hospital, the place she later died.

Background: Newest studies point out that seven individuals had been killed within the Russian assault on Kyiv, together with Svitlana Vashchenko, a kindergarten trainer.

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Preparations have been made to activate the Istanbul agreements, as a part of which 1,200 Ukrainians are to be launched from Russian captivity, Rustem Umierov, Secretary of Ukraine's Nationwide Safety and Defence Council (NSDC), has introduced.

Supply: Umierov on Fb

Quote: "On the directions of the President of Ukraine, in current days I held consultations mediated by our companions in Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates relating to the resumption of the trade course of and the discharge of our folks from russian captivity.

Because of these negotiations, the events agreed to activate the Istanbul preparations. This issues the discharge of 1,200 Ukrainians."

Particulars: Umierov reported that technical consultations will happen shortly to formalise all procedural and organisational points.

"We’re working with out pause in order that the Ukrainians who’re to return from captivity can spend the New Yr and Christmas holidays at dwelling – on the household desk and alongside their family members," he added.

Background: On 11 November, Umierov said that he had arrived in Türkiye to "unblock the trade situation" to deliver Ukrainians dwelling from Russian captivity.

In the meantime, a supply informed Ukrainska Pravda that the Coordination Headquarters, which handles POW swaps, realized about Umierov's journey from the media.

For reference: After three rounds of talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul, agreements have been reached, notably an "all-for-all" trade masking severely unwell and severely wounded troopers in addition to POWs beneath the age of 25. Due to the complexity of negotiations with Russia, one of these swap was handled as a separate case.

As well as, negotiations with Russia on routine POW exchanges are ongoing.

The latest launch from Russian captivity passed off on 2 October, when 185 navy personnel and 20 civilians have been freed – some beneath the Istanbul agreements and others as a part of Ukraine and Russia's 69th prisoner trade.

In July 2025, Rustem Umierov and Vladimir Medinsky, the heads of the Ukrainian and Russian delegations on the talks in Istanbul, introduced an settlement to trade over 1,200 prisoners of struggle from both sides.

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Russia has missed one more deadline set by its chief, Vladimir Putin, for the seize of Pokrovsk and Kupiansk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said following a report by Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.

Supply: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)

Particulars: Zelenskyy has reported {that a} assembly of key leaders from throughout Ukraine's defence and safety sector has taken place. Members heard briefings from Defence Intelligence of Ukraine and the International Intelligence Service on Russia's capability to proceed the warfare and its plans for the approaching months.

Quote: "Kyrylo Budanov reported on the scenario in essentially the most vital sectors of the entrance, on Russia's navy preparations and on the timelines the occupier is relying on. At this level, Russia has failed to satisfy one more deadline set by Putin for the seize of Pokrovsk and Kupiansk, and people deadlines have been pushed again as soon as once more..

Oleh Ivashchenko [Head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service] reported on the political scenario in Russia, the temper of their society and within the circle surrounding the pinnacle of the aggressor state, in addition to on the financial scenario. The conclusions have been drawn."

Particulars: Zelenskyy famous that assembly individuals recognized the important thing areas of Ukraine's defence for the approaching weeks and that the plan for winter defensive measures will probably be expanded.

Quote: "We are going to proceed making use of our long-range sanctions as effectively – our particular providers, and primarily the Safety Service of Ukraine, in addition to the Ukrainian military, have the related duties. We’re getting ready to coordinate our diplomatic efforts with key companions, taking into consideration the up to date assessments of the scenario. We’re establishing measures that may guarantee a lift in diplomatic exercise."

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The ambassadors of the Group of Seven have praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for supporting an impartial investigation by the Nationwide Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Workplace (SAPO) right into a corruption scandal within the power sector.

Supply: Presidency of the G7 Ambassadors' Help Group in Ukraine on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Particulars: The ambassadors stated they hope for Zelenskyy's continued management in anti-corruption reforms, that are important for Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration.

Quote from the ambassadors: "We welcome Zelenskyy's cooperation and help for NABU/SAPO's impartial investigation. We rely on Ukraine's management to proceed its anticorruption efforts, which is essential to Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration. As Russian assaults persist, we proceed to help Ukraine's power resilience."

Background:

• Earlier, NABU unveiled an investigation into a significant corruption scheme inside Energoatom, Ukraine's state-owned nuclear power firm, codenamed "Midas".
• The ringleader is alleged to be Tymur Mindich (known as "Karlson" within the NABU recordsdata), a businessman and co-owner of Kvartal 95, the Ukrainian TV manufacturing firm that Volodymyr Zelenskyy based earlier than he turned president. Mindich can be alleged to have exerted affect over former power minister Herman Halushchenko and former defence minister Rustem Umierov.
• The European Fee believes the publicity of the corruption scheme demonstrates the effectiveness of Ukraine's anti-corruption our bodies.

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Within the first three quarters of 2025, Russian fertiliser exports to EU nations rose 5% year-on-year, reaching €1.346 billion regardless of tariffs launched in July. That is the very best nine-month whole since 2022.

Supply: The Moscow Instances, an impartial Amsterdam-based information outlet

Particulars: The Moscow Instances reported, citing information from Eurostat, that Poland bought the biggest share of Russian fertilisers between January and October 2025 (37% of whole EU imports).

Poland stored its high place from final 12 months, when its purchases over the primary three quarters accounted for 1 / 4 of all Russian fertiliser provided to the EU.

Germany ranks second amongst importers of Russian fertilisers (10%), adopted by Romania (9%), Spain (7%) and France (6%), The Moscow Instances stated.

Background:

• In Might, the European Parliament accredited a big enhance in tariffs on Russian and Belarusian fertilisers and a few agricultural merchandise.
• The European Parliament's Committee on Worldwide Commerce accredited a 50% tariff enhance on sure Russian and Belarusian agricultural items.
• It was additionally reported that the European Union had adjusted the standards for assessing whether or not Russian oligarchs may very well be faraway from sanctions lists. The tightening was prompted by makes an attempt by sanctioned people to problem the restrictions within the EU Court docket of Justice, claiming that they had been unjustified.
• In the meantime, Russia continues to acquire chemical substances important for producing explosives from fertiliser producers which have largely averted worldwide sanctions.

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