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Kyiv has launched more than 1,000 drones across Russia and set an oil terminal ablaze in St Petersburg as the US resumes intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
The attacks, which also sparked fires at both the Petersburg Oil Terminal and the city’s Ruchi oil depot, killed one person and injured five others.
It comes after Donald Trump criticised Volodymyr Zelensky and called renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries “a disgrace”.
Russia has also unleashed strikes on Ukraine’s energy, oil, and gas sectors at least 76 times over the last day.
President Zelensky told NBC’s Meet the Press that he was “very thankful” that intelligence sharing had been resumed to help defend against Russian missile strikes.
Meanwhile, Nato jets were scrambled in response to an unidentified flying object over Lithuania on Sunday morning, with residents in the central and northern parts of the country told to seek shelter.
The order to shelter lasted about an hour, and the government later said the object was likely a drone that entered from Poland.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry said it “regrets” the possible diversion of its drones, which it said may have been caused by Russian electronic warfare.
Watch: Moment British-made sea drones strike Russian Olympic sea port in Ukraine’s Black Sea blockade
Moment British-made sea drones strike Russian Olympic sea port in Ukraine’s Black Sea blockade
Harriette Boucher18 October 2026 18:30
Zelensky urges support for new US sanctions on Russia after Trump puts them on hold
Volodymyr Zelensky urged supporters Saturday to speak out in defense of new U.S. sanctions against Russia, hours after President Donald Trump signed an executive order pausing a sweeping package of restrictions targeting the Russian economy.
The White House’s decision has further raised fears that Ukraine could be left exposed to Moscow’s escalating assaults with winter approaching.
Zelensky described Trump’s move to put sanctions on hold as unfortunate, but did not directly criticize the U.S. leader despite deepening tensions between Ukraine and Washington in recent days.
“A decision was unfortunately made in America to completely disregard the Lindsey Graham Act, which was supposed to impose truly effective pressure on Russia to bring this war to an end,” Zelensky wrote.
Harriette Boucher18 October 2026 18:00
Zelensky speaks to Witkoff and Kushner as Ukraine pushes for peace
Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken with Donald Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as he tries to secure a new peace meeting.
The Ukrainian president said his side was “doing everything” to make peace happen and ensure that the US’s position was strong.
“Peace comes only through strength and cooperation built on trust,” he wrote on X.
“Peace that everyone, except Russia, has been waiting for over the past four and a half years.”
President Zelensky added: “In particular, we discussed the results of our teams’ meeting in Florida. Our teams maintain virtually nonstop communication. We are also preparing the next steps in diplomacy. We constantly inform our partners about the real situation with Russian strikes, which do not cease for a single minute, and about air defense issues.
“A lot here depends precisely on America’s position. Ukraine remains ready to work constructively, honestly, and toward a real result. I thank everyone in America who supports Ukraine and this particular approach.”
It is understood that President Zelensky hoped to arrange a new peace meeting next week, Bloomberg News reported on Sunday, citing an interview with the leader.
Had a conversation with the American President’s envoys, Steve Witkoff @SEPeaceMissions and Jared Kushner @jaredkushner. Peace comes only through strength and cooperation built on trust. We are doing everything on our part to make this happen, and to ensure that America’s position is strong and helps bring peace closer. Peace that everyone, except Russia, has been waiting for over the past four and a half years. In particular, we discussed the results of our teams’ meeting in Florida. Our teams maintain virtually nonstop communication. We are also preparing the next steps in diplomacy. We constantly inform our partners about the real situation with Russian strikes, which do not cease for a single minute, and about air defense issues. A lot here depends precisely on America’s position. Ukraine remains ready to work constructively, honestly, and toward a real result. I thank everyone in America who supports Ukraine and this particular approach.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 18, 2026
Harriette Boucher18 October 2026 17:33
In pictures: Aftermath of a Russian air attack in Sloviansk
(Reuters)
(Reuters)
Harriette Boucher18 October 2026 17:30
EU ‘quickly preparing sanctions on Russia’ in case Le Pen elected in 2027
Le Pen is the leader of France’s far-right National Rally (RN), and the current favourite to win France’s presidential election next year. She has declared that she would end support for Ukraine within six months if she is elected in the April 2027 contest.
February may present the “last opportunity [to impose sanctions] because of the French elections”, one source involved in the EU discussions told The Telegraph. Officials told the outlet Brussels would be “lucky” to secure sanctions after February as France enters campaign mode.
Harriette Boucher18 October 2026 17:02
Ukraine was blindsided by Russian attacks when intelligence-sharing was paused
Ukraine was blinded by Russian ballistic missile attacks after intelligence-sharing with the US was paused, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
The Ukrainian leader said Donald Trump has since resumed intelligence-sharing with Ukraine to help defend against Russian missile strikes.
He told NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday that Ukraine was “very thankful for this.”
Ukraine has relied on US intelligence to spot the fast-moving ballistic missiles that Russia has fired in waves at its cities.
“Only United States has this unique intelligence to tell our side when Russia uses ballistic missiles, and we didn’t get it during ballistic attacks over three days,” he added.
Harriette Boucher18 October 2026 17:00
In full: Blaze at St Petersburg oil sites as Kyiv launches more than 1,000 drones at Russia
Ukrainian attacks set an oil export terminal ablaze in St. Petersburg on Sunday, as Kyiv launched more than 1,000 drones across Russia in one of its largest ever aerial bombardments.
The attack comes amid deepening tensions between Ukraine and Washington, with U.S. President Donald Trump criticizing Kyiv for its strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.
One person was killed and five more were wounded in the attack, which sparked fires at both the Petersburg Oil Terminal and the city’s Ruchi oil depot, said local Gov. Alexander Beglov. A logistics center belonging to Russian retailer Ozon and a data center for local tech giant VK were also targeted, both companies confirmed.
Harriette Boucher18 October 2026 16:30
Zelensky: It would be a ‘historic mistake’ for Trump to side with Putin
If Donald Trump sides with Vladimir Putin it would be a “historic mistake”, Ukraine’s president has warned.
Volodymyr Zelensky said he still views the US president as an ally and wants to trust him after he waived sanctions against Russia, saying the move “is in the national interests of the United States.”
He told NBC’s Meet the Press: “I hope that he will change his decisions, because I think that it’s all mistakes, and it will not help us, and it will not help United States.”
President Zelensky it was a “pity” that the President Trump waived sanctions in a bill named for the late Lindsay Graham, who he said “a great supporter of peace and of Ukraine.”
Harriette Boucher18 October 2026 16:00
Ukraine will ‘not prevail’ if Trump sides with Russia
Ukraine will “not prevail” if Donald Trump sides with Russia, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
He said it would be a “big tragedy” for the US to take Vladimir Putin’s side and “very difficult for Ukraine to win the war without US support.
He told NBC’s Meet the Press he didn’t “want to live in illusions” and had to be pragmatic.
“If the United States will officially take the side of Russia, if these two countries will be together, of course, we will not prevail, and we will not be able to stand.
“That’s why we hope that the president, his team will be on our side, minimum, in the middle.”
He added: “If the United States supports Putin, it’s unbelievable. It’s a tragedy. It’s a historic mistake and big tragedy.”
Harriette Boucher18 October 2026 15:58
Zelensky to speak with Trump envoys about possible peace meeting
Volodymyr Zelensky is holding talks with Donald Trump’s envoys on Sunday in the hopes of arranging a new peace meeting next week.
The Ukrainian leader is understood to be having a video call with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Bloomberg News reported on Sunday, citing an interview with Zelensky.
He said he would use the call to discuss a possible time and venue for the meeting.
Harriette Boucher18 October 2026 15:28