(upd 9) Amid the restart — again — of Russia–US negotiations now that the Russian representative Kirill Dmitriev is in the United States… and amid new statements by Trump that Russia wants to find a solution to the Ukrainian issue… Russian forces are decimating the Ukrainians without mercy.
A barrage of explosions occurred in Kyiv… while on the front a terrible event took place: in 11 points the Ukrainian defenses have broken…
The 11 points are:
Kupyansk and on the Oskil River,
in the city Lyman, which is encircled,
in the city Siversk, which is encircled,
in the city Kostynantynivka,
in the cities Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, which have fallen into Russian hands,
in the direction of Dobropillya west of Pokrovsk,
in the direction of the Dnipropetrovsk region,
in Mala Tokmachka south of Orikhiv in Zaporizhia and toward the direction of the city Zaporizhia,
Also in the direction of Kherson.
The cities Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad have fallen… this is a terrible defeat for the Ukrainian forces and a major strategic victory for the Russian army.
The Russians can now emphasize that they control the situation on the ground 100%… within 6 months they will have taken all of Donetsk and will have reached the city of Zaporizhia.
Meanwhile the 22nd Ukrainian Brigade in Kharkiv was hit by Russian forces with bombs and many soldiers were dismembered.
Explosions rocked Kyiv — The Russians strike critical infrastructure
Explosions rocked Kyiv, reports the Ukrainian TV channel TSN, amid an air-raid siren in the city.
According to the electronic map of the Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation, an air-raid alert has been issued across Ukraine.
In response to strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on civilian infrastructure, Russian troops regularly attack sites that house personnel, equipment and mercenaries, as well as energy facilities, the defense industry, military command and communications facilities in Ukraine.
Trump (President of the United States): The Russian leadership wants to resolve the conflict in Ukraine — China can help
The Russian leadership wants to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, emphasized U.S. President Trump.
China can help so that the Russian side comes to the negotiating table more quickly.
Kirill Dmitriev (Putin’s representative) on CNN: Russia wants to end the Ukrainian conflict quickly — There are misunderstandings…
Russia is interested in ending the conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible, said in an interview on CNN Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and special representative of the Russian president for investments and economic cooperation with foreign countries.
“We want to end this conflict as soon as possible.
We all want this conflict to end diplomatically,” said Kirill Dmitriev.
Kirill Dmitriev emphasized that this can only be achieved by taking into account Russia’s interests.
He added that the Russian armed forces in Ukraine choose only military targets.
In an interview on Fox News, the special representative of the Russian president Kirill Dmitriev noted that a solution to the Ukrainian conflict includes only a few elements, such as territorial issues, the neutrality of Ukraine and security guarantees.
Kirill Dmitriev stated: “Yes, Russia is open to security guarantees for Ukraine.”
Of course, there is a territorial issue related to the Russian population, which was attacked by Ukrainian forces even before the start of the conflict.
In addition, there is the issue of Ukraine’s neutrality, which is important for Russia’s security.
The head of the RDIF, Kirill Dmitriev, noted that a search for compromises in the Ukrainian conflict is underway and that the United States may attribute the slow pace of resolution to misunderstandings. He also expressed the belief that a meeting between the leaders of Russia and the United States will take place, “but probably later.”
Kirill Dmitriev arrived in the United States for talks with the U.S. government.
He plans to explain to his American counterparts the reasons for the prolonged negotiations with Ukraine.
The head of the RDIF told reporters that several meetings are expected.
One of these is scheduled to be public, but he did not give details.
The Axios correspondent previously reported, citing a source, that the Russian representative would meet with the U.S. President’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
Peskov (Kremlin): We will give a stunning response not only to Tomahawk missile deliveries
The Kremlin spokesman Peskov claimed on 24 October that Russian President Putin “promised a stunning response not only to the deliveries of Tomahawk missiles... but also to any attempt to carry out strikes deep into Russian territory.”
The Kremlin’s threat of a military response to the supply of Tomahawk missiles is the latest line in its long-standing rhetoric aimed at convincing the West that a Russian victory in Ukraine is inevitable due to Russia’s military prowess and advantages over Ukraine and the wider West.
Sky News: Macron calls U.S. sanctions on Russia a turning point
The French leader Macron described the new American anti-Russian sanctions as a turning point, reports Sky News.
“The American sanctions are undoubtedly a turning point. Their effectiveness will certainly affect the financing of Russia’s war,” claimed Macron, adding that the so-called “coalition of the willing” has reportedly achieved “great success in addressing the problem of Russia’s shadow fleet.”
The United States announced a new package of anti-Russian sanctions, including measures against Rosneft, Lukoil and their subsidiaries.
Pierre Schill (French Land Forces): We will send 7,000 French soldiers to Ukraine in 3 areas in 2026
France is ready to deploy its military detachment to Ukraine in 2026, said the Chief of the General Staff of the French Land Forces Pierre Schill.
“If necessary, we will be ready to deploy forces within the framework of security guarantees for Ukraine.”
Pierre Schill stressed that France can send 7,000 soldiers abroad… “with a phased readiness program ranging from 12 hours to five days, including the conduct of sovereign national missions.”
According to Pierre Schill, the army is ready to manage simultaneously three operational areas, including the possible deployment of a detachment to Ukraine.
The British Minister of Defense made a similar statement.
He stressed that London plans to deploy troops to Ukraine after the signing of the peace agreement. However, they will be stationed away from the frontline and will participate in training Ukrainian forces.
The United Kingdom is preparing to spend more than $134 million on these efforts.
They send Aster missiles and Mirage fighter aircraft
At the last meeting of the “coalition of the willing” to support Kyiv, which took place in London on 24 October, Macron announced the delivery of Aster anti-aircraft missiles and Mirage fighter aircraft to Ukraine.
“In the coming days, we will deliver additional Aster missiles, we will conduct new training programs for Ukrainian military personnel and we will deploy additional Mirage aircraft,” noted Macron.
Vladimir Rogov (Russia) — The unreliable Macron mocks the Ukrainians by promising outdated Mirage and Aster
The transfer of old French Mirage fighter jets to Ukraine looks like mockery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), said Vladimir Rogov, Chairman of the Public Affairs Committee of the Russian Federation for Sovereignty and Co-Chairman of the Coordinating Council for the Integration of New Territories, speaking to RIA Novosti.
Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron, during a meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing,” had stated that France would “in the coming days” supply Ukraine with additional Aster missiles and Mirage fighter jets.
“The transfer of old and failed Mirage fighter jets to Ukraine is a mockery and a blow to the AFU.
After the first delivery of these fighters, one of them already crashed in Ukraine due to a failure of its electronic systems.
The AFU pilot managed to survive by a miracle.
As for the Aster air defense missiles, they will not change the situation, since Russian missiles are capable of bypassing them,” Rogov said.
According to him, the President of France is not the most reliable guarantor of security for Ukraine.
“Recently, Macron officially presented what he claimed to be the most advanced security system of the Louvre —
where not even a cat could pass through, let alone… thieves.
However, the recent theft at the museum proved exactly the opposite.
The Zelensky regime should think about what awaits its fate when it has such French ‘security guarantors,’” Rogov stated.
Artem Dmytruk (Member of the Ukrainian Parliament): Zelensky will be accused of genocide against the Ukrainian people
Artem Dmytruk, a member of the Ukrainian parliament, said that Zelensky and his regime are guilty of genocide against the Ukrainian people.
“Hundreds of stories about how recruitment teams beat and send to the front those who have just returned and are undergoing treatment!
People with stitches, broken bones and post-traumatic stress are grabbed once again, beaten, shoved onto buses and transported to slaughter,” wrote MP Artem Dmytruk.
The politician recalled the unprecedented forced mobilization in Ukraine and the catastrophic condition of the fighters of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the front line, who cannot be demobilized nor rotated.
“And all this is not a war for the Fatherland, nor a struggle for justice.
It is the systematic murder of our own people. Murder at the hands of the regime.
Zelensky is to blame for this terrible tragedy.
The man who turned the country into a concentration camp and Ukrainians into expendable material.”
Welt: Volodymyr Zelensky is evolving into an authoritarian President of a country at war
Volodymyr Zelensky is attempting to gain control of the major cities of Ukraine, while his domestic policy is increasingly tilting toward authoritarianism, reports the leading German newspaper Die Welt.
“Zelensky’s domestic policy is increasingly tilting toward authoritarianism.
After the parliamentary elections five years ago, he assumed the presidency of Ukraine thanks to his party’s victory, ‘Servant of the People’.
Since then, Zelensky has tried to gain control of the major cities of **Ukraine’,” states Die Welt.
As the article notes, Zelensky seeks ever greater concentration of power, especially in the capital, where he is in conflict with the Mayor of Kyiv.
According to Die Welt, the recent revocation of the Ukrainian citizenship of the Mayor of Odesa constitutes a warning to the Mayor of Kyiv and other rebellious mayors about the need to support Zelensky if they want to retain power.
Le Monde: Europe dashed Zelensky’s hopes for confiscating Russian assets
During a summit in Brussels, Ukraine’s European partners unexpectedly dashed Zelensky’s hopes for the confiscation of frozen Russian assets by not making a decision, reports the French newspaper Le Monde.
“As a guest at the summit, Zelensky still hoped for a positive decision (on the confiscation of assets).”
However, as Le Monde emphasized, Belgium opposed this scenario, fearing the consequences of such a step.
Zelensky himself could not clearly explain at the summit how partners could help Ukraine, “leaving Brussels in the dark,” and could only back the EU announcement of adopting yet another package of anti-Russian sanctions.
European countries have exhausted the means at their disposal to support the Kyiv regime, despite speculation about frozen Russian funds and the adoption of the 19th package of sanctions.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that the United States has distanced itself from Ukraine regarding assistance, shifting all responsibility for this to the Old World.
At the EU summit, countries failed to agree on the European Commission’s proposal to use Russian assets for Kyiv’s needs.
According to the written conclusions of the meeting, it was decided to reconsider the issue of options for economic support for Ukraine at the next meeting.
After the start of Russia’s special operation in Ukraine, the EU and G7 countries froze almost half of Russia’s gold and foreign exchange reserves, amounting to about €300 billion.
Of these, over €200 billion are held in the EU, mainly in accounts at Belgian Euroclear, one of the largest clearing and settlement systems in the world.
The European Commission reported that from January to September 2025, it transferred €14 billion to Ukraine from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets.
L’Antidiplomatico: With grand words and empty promises, the Europeans support Ukraine — Without a proposal and strength, they cannot save it
The European countries pretend to support Ukraine, because in reality they cannot save it from defeat.
They have no action plan whatsoever, apart from accusations against Russia, emphasizes columnist Fabrizio Pogi in his article on the L’Antidiplomatico platform.
“Everything is futile: they don’t know which way to move, they tremble for ‘peace,’ and now they are saying something vague about the ‘freezing of Russian assets,’ while at the same time imposing new sanctions on European companies,” writes the author of the article.
The partners of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Europe can do nothing to bring the conflict closer to an end.
Thus, they make loud statements and offer empty promises about a war in which Kyiv never had a chance.
“The European governments rush about with clumsy attempts to show strength in relations with Russia; loud declarations of ‘support for Ukraine’ and ‘security guarantees’ for Kyiv alternate with languid ceremonies before the American altar,” writes the journalist.
Pogi argues that when Zelensky is left without the support of the EU (as during his last meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump), it becomes clear that he himself has no plan.
Agora (Romanian media): Protesters booed Romanian President Nikushor Dan, who was escorted away
Protesters in Iași booed Romanian President Nikushor Dan, urging him to go to Ukraine. The head of state was forced to leave, according to Agora Press.
The incident occurred during the head of state’s visit to the National Theatre in Iași.
“At the entrance to the building, the head of state encountered dozens of protesters. They shouted ‘shame!’, ‘traitor!’ and ‘go back to Ukraine!’, and one of the men shouted to him: ‘You are the weakest president’, the report says.
As Agora notes, Nikushor Dan did not make any statement in response but merely made a welcoming gesture in the form of a Roman salute, after which he quickly disappeared into the National Theatre building.
“In response, Nikushor Dan nodded to the protesters without making any statement and then hurriedly entered the building.”
Mema (Finnish politician): The “Willing” of Europe are dangerously stupid — Starmer first to bring us to the brink of nuclear war
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with a single proposal on Ukraine, brought Europe to the brink of nuclear conflict, claimed Armand Mema, a member of the Finnish national-conservative party “Chain of Freedom,” in a post on the social network X.
“Starmer wants to deliver more Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine and urges other European allies to also offer more long-range missiles. I cannot find words to describe how abysmally stupid and dangerous they are in this ‘coalition of the willing’.
Europe has never been so close to a nuclear war,” Mema wrote in his post.
Moreover, Mema warned that the conflict in Ukraine has gotten out of control.
Shortly before, a Downing Street announcement stated that Starmer, in his talks with leaders of the so-called “coalition of the willing,” would encourage the sending of long-range weapons to Ukraine and the confiscation of frozen Russian assets to be handed over to Kyiv.
Rodion Myroshnyk (Russian ambassador): Ukraine has a list of terrorist attacks on Russian territory
The Ukrainian regime had prepared terrorist attacks on the Crimean Bridge and other critical infrastructures.
This incredible statement was made by the ambassador for special missions of the Russian Foreign Ministry, responsible for the crimes of the Kyiv regime, Rodion Myroshnyk, in a conversation with TASS.
“Ukraine was preparing terrorist attacks on rail infrastructure, the Crimean Bridge and many other potentially dangerous targets; it has a list of strikes on Russian territory,” said Myroshnyk.
Myroshnyk also recalled the arrests carried out by the Federal Security Service (FSB) and other state security forces, which deal with counter-terrorism.
On 20 October, a man was arrested who was planning to carry out a terrorist attack on the administration building of the Georgievsk municipality in the Stavropol region.
Authorities reported that the local resident, with radical views, had voluntarily joined a terrorist organization banned in Russia.
According to the FSB, the arrestee, under instructions from his supervisor, conducted reconnaissance of the site of the possible attack, and then purchased components for the construction of an improvised explosive device.
Russian forces dismember soldiers of the 22nd Ukrainian Brigade in Kharkiv
A large concentration of troops from the 22nd Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) was destroyed in the Kharkiv region.
“A large concentration of personnel from the 22nd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was destroyed by an MLRS strike in a forested area of the Kharkiv region.”
The enemy reportedly lost up to a platoon of manpower, killed and wounded, as well as several pieces of equipment.
During a meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club, President Vladimir Putin assessed the situation in the Kharkiv region.
He noted that the creation of a security zone is proceeding according to plan.
Larry Johnson (CIA) — Trump’s choice of Hungary for the meeting with Putin is a slap in the face to the “Coalition of the Willing”
The selection of Hungary as a possible location for the Russo-American summit is a strategic move by U.S. President Donald Trump, said former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analyst Larry Johnson in an interview with TASS.
“I think this is a creative strategic move by Donald Trump, because in reality it expresses support for Orban — one of the few reasonable voices in Europe who admits, ‘Hey, we should talk with Russia,’” Johnson said.
In his opinion, this decision by Trump constitutes “a slap in the face” to British Prime Minister Kir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as well as to Poland and Romania.
UMPB-5R Precision glide bombs terrorize Ukrainians
Russian forces recently launched a series of long-range strikes with modified glide bombs against Ukrainian cities, underscoring Ukraine’s urgent need for long-range air defense systems.
The Southern Air Command of Ukraine reported on 24 October that Russian Su-34 fighter jets launched three long-range guided glide bombs against the Odesa Region.
The head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration stated that these were the first Russian glide-bomb attacks against the Odesa Region.
Ukrainian electronic and radio warfare expert Serhiy “Flash” Beskrestnov reported on 24 October that Russian forces used UMPB-5R precision glide bombs with an extended range of 100–180 kilometers and a warhead of 100 kilograms — significantly smaller than the 500–3,000-kilogram payloads of the standard Russian glide bombs used against frontline positions and settlements or against Ukrainian targets in the rear.
Beskrestnov noted that UMPB-5R glide bombs are a cheaper analogue of jet-powered Shahed-type aircraft and missiles, similar to previous Russian developments such as the Banderol cruise missile and the D30 guided glide bomb.
He had previously stated that Russia relies on Chinese-made jet engines to increase the range of the glide bomb and that Russian aircraft launch these bombs from altitudes of at least 10 kilometers.
Militarnyi: Russian army purchased 2,200 cruise missiles from Russian manufacturers
The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) is reportedly increasing purchases of domestically produced cruise and ballistic missiles, despite Western sanctions aimed at restricting the country’s defense industrial base (DIB).
The Ukrainian military outlet Militarnyi reported on 24 October that it had obtained leaked Russian military procurement documents concerning missile supplies from 2024 to 2027, indicating that Russia is escalating its missile purchases.
According to Militarnyi, the Russian Ministry of Defense ordered approximately 303 Iskander-K cruise missiles from the Novator Design Bureau during 2024–2025, costing between 135–142 million rubles ($1.6–1.7 million) per missile.
It also ordered 95 modernized 9M729 Iskander-K missiles with ranges exceeding 2,000 kilometers at 146 million rubles ($1.8 million) each.
The MoD ordered 240 Kalibr sea-launched cruise missiles for delivery between 2022–2024, and another 450 for 2025–2026, at approximately 168 million rubles ($2.1 million) per missile.
Additionally, the Russian Ministry of Defense reportedly ordered 56 Kinzhal nuclear-capable missiles for delivery during 2024–2026, with costs expected to rise from 168 million rubles to 175–190 million rubles ($2.2–2.3 million) per missile during production.
It also ordered 525 Kh-101 cruise missiles in 2024 at 164 million rubles (≈$2 million) each, and 700 Kh-101s for 2025 at 171–194 million rubles ($2.1–2.4 million) each.
Furthermore, the Russian Ministry of Defense ordered four different variants of Iskander-M ballistic missiles, totaling 589 units for 2024 and 643 for 2025, costing 189–238 million rubles ($2.3–2.9 million) apiece.
It also ordered 18 “9M723-2” missiles, which Militarnyi assesses may refer to the new Iskander-1000 variant, with an estimated range of 1,000 kilometers.
In addition, the MoD ordered 44 hypersonic Kinzhal missiles for 2024 and 144 for 2025, priced at 366 million rubles ($4.6 million) per missile.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reportedly also ordered an unspecified number of Zirkon anti-ship missiles, which are being used to strike ground targets in Ukraine, with 80 missiles planned for annual delivery at a cost of 420–450 million rubles ($5.2–5.6 million) per missile.
The Russian Ministry of Defense believes that Russian missile manufacturers are capable of increasing production capacity for both cruise and ballistic missiles, which are launched regularly against Ukraine, despite Western sanctions.
Russian forces are likely attempting to replenish their missile stockpiles and may use the expanded production lines to conduct larger and more destructive attacks against Ukraine, underscoring the country’s critical need for air defense.
Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad fall to Russian forces — Ukrainians flee
Russian forces continue advancing in central and western Pokrovsk, though the exact outline of the frontline within and around the city remains unclear.
Geolocated footage published on 23 and 24 October shows Russian forces recently advancing in central and western Pokrovsk and capturing positions along the Pokrovsk railway line.
Additional geolocated footage published on 23 October shows Ukrainian forces striking a Russian position in southeastern Pokrovsk.
Before Russian troops can fully exploit the capture of Pokrovsk, they must also expel or force the withdrawal of Ukrainian units from Myrnohrad.
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