British parts found in Russian drones being used to bomb Ukraine, claims ZelenskyYour support helps us to tell the story
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Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of using the illicit tankers in its “shadow fleet” for intelligence gathering and sabotage operations against Europe.
“Russians are utilising tankers of their ‘shadow fleet’ – not only to finance the war, but also for sabotage and various destabilisation attempts in Europe,” he said on social media, citing the launch of drones from these tankers as a recent example brought to his attention by the head of Ukraine’s foreign intelligence.
The announcement follows a French investigation into the sanctioned Boracay tanker, suspected to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet, which unexpectedly departed its anchorage off western France days ago.
French president Emmanuel Macron said it was unclear whether the vessel was involved in drone incursions in Denmark last week, which shut Danish airports close to the route the ship had been sailing from the Baltic to the North Sea.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has said he has “sort of” decided on whether to supply long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, after Moscow warned such a move would spell the end of Russia-US relations.
“I think I want to find out what they’re doing with them,” the US president said.
Zelensky asks allies to respond to Russian attacks from shadow fleet
Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine’s partners should respond to Russia’s use of its shadow fleet to destabilise Europe.
“The Head of Foreign Intelligence reported in detail on how the Russians are utilising tankers of their “shadow fleet” – not only to finance the war, but also for sabotage and various destabilisation attempts in Europe.
Recent launches of drones from tankers are one such example,” he said.
Zelensky added: “We share the information we have with our partners, and it is crucial that they take tangible steps in response to Russia. We are working toward this at all levels, and there will be further meetings and negotiations with partners, both public and behind closed doors.”
Ukraine is convincing its allies to “not to hold back on determination”, he said.
“The Russians must know that none of their destructive actions – all the vile things they do – will go unanswered by the world,” he said.
Arpan Rai8 October 2025 05:57
Russia’s air defence units destroys 53 Ukrainian drones overnight
Russia’s air defence units destroyed 53 Ukrainian drones overnight, its defence ministry said this morning.
Nearly half of these were downed in the regions on the border between Russia and Ukraine, the defence ministry said.
The drones did not appear to target Moscow, according to the preliminary reports from the Russian defence ministry.
Arpan Rai8 October 2025 05:45
Erdogan tells Putin more momentum needed to achieve Ukraine-Russia peace
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone with Russian president Vladimir Putin and said diplomatic initiatives need to gain momentum to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Ukraine-Russia war, Erdogan’s office said.
The statement cited Erdogan as saying Turkey will continue to work for peace.
It said bilateral relations and regional and global issues, including Turkey’s efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, were also discussed on the call yesterday.
Arpan Rai8 October 2025 05:26
Putin claims Russia holds ‘initiative’ in Ukraine war
Vladimir Putin has claimed Ukrainian forces are retreating and that Russia holds the initiative in its invasion of its European neighbour.
Describing seizing Ukrainian territory as “liberation”, he boasted of Russia’s military successes this year at a meeting in St Petersburg.
According to a Kremlin transcript, he said: “At this time, the Russian armed forces fully hold the strategic initiative.
“This year, we have liberated nearly 5,000 square km of territory – 4,900 – and 212 localities.
“Ukrainian forces, he said, “are retreating throughout the line of combat contact, despite attempts at fierce resistance.”
His comments were echoed by General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff of Russia’s armed forces, who told the meeting of top commanders that his troops were “advancing in practically all directions.”
Ukrainian forces, he said, were focused on slowing the Russian advance.
Gerasimov, overall commander of Russia’s war effort, said the heaviest fighting was gripping Pokrovsk and areas towards Dnipropetrovsk.
Arpan Rai8 October 2025 04:46
British parts discovered in Russian drones used to attack Ukraine
Bryony Gooch8 October 2025 04:00
Recap: IAEA discussing proposals with Russia, Ukraine to restore power to Zaporizhzhia plant, Grossi says
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said on Friday he is discussing detailed proposals with Russia and Ukraine on how to restore off-site power to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
The plant, Europe’s largest, has been cut off from external power for more than a week. It is being cooled by emergency diesel generators.
Bryony Gooch8 October 2025 03:00
Recap: Power restored in Russian-held parts of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, officials say
The Russian-controlled part of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region was left largely without electricity for a time on Tuesday after a Ukrainian drone strike, Russian-installed governor Yevgeny Balitsky said.
Balitsky, in a later post on Telegram, said power had been restored throughout those parts of Zaporizhzhia region under Moscow’s control. He thanked emergency crews for their fast work.
The Russian-appointed governor of the neighbouring Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, said separately that around 38,000 people there were without power, though he did not say whether it was connected to the outages in Zaporizhzhia.
Russia controls around three-quarters of the two southern Ukrainian regions, with frontlines largely unchanged since 2022.
Reuters was unable to confirm the reports, and there was no immediate comment from Kyiv.
Bryony Gooch8 October 2025 02:00
Patrolling Nato’s skies with the RAF: A bird’s-eye look at Europe’s creeping frontline
Bryony Gooch8 October 2025 01:00
Russia utilising tankers of ‘shadow fleet’ to finance war and sabotage Europe, says Ukrainian intelligence
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russia is utilising the tankers of its “shadow fleet” to finance the war and destabilise Europe.
“The Head of Foreign Intelligence reported in detail on how the Russians are utilising tankers of their ‘shadow fleet’ – not only to finance the war, but also for sabotage and various destabilisation attempts in Europe,” he said on social media. “Recent launches of drones from tankers are one such example. We share the information we have with our partners, and it is crucial that they take tangible steps in response to Russia.
“We are working toward this at all levels, and there will be further meetings and negotiations with partners, both public and behind closed doors. We are convincing them not to hold back on determination.
“The Russians must know that none of their destructive actions – all the vile things they do – will go unanswered by the world.”
Bryony Gooch8 October 2025 00:00
Ukraine unlikely to receive Tomahawks, says humanitarian aid organisation
Humanitarian aid organisation Hope For Ukraine has expressed doubt that the war-torn country will receive Tomahawks requested from the United States as Trump teases he has “sort of” made a decision on whether to grant the request.
CEO Yuriy Boyechko has said that it remains unlikely that Ukraine will receive the highly-coveted missiles, which have a range of 2,500 km, because “Traditional launch platforms for Tomahawk missiles are sea-based, primarily deployed from US Navy ships and submarines.
“Ukraine has a very small navy, and the chances of it acquiring a Tomahawk‑capable surface ship or submarine are nearly zero.”, the organisation added.
“The U.S. also has ground‑based launchers for Tomahawk missiles (the Typhon), but these systems are scarce and the U.S. will not sell them to European NATO members.
The only way Ukraine could receive Tomahawks would be if the US sent already‑retired LRF launchers, the organisation explained, adding that the country does not possess the specialised launch equipment or the trained personnel needed to field the Tomahawk missile system.
Bryony Gooch7 October 2025 23:20