Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Share
The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
Millions read the Kyiv Independent, but only one in 1,000 supports us financially
Russia’s war against Ukraine
A view of the destruction after the Russian army’s Shahed drone attacks that hit two schools in the city of Sloviansk, on Oct. 7, 2025. (Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Partisans derail train carrying military cargo in Russia, military intelligence source says. A train carrying military cargo derailed in Russia’s Leningrad Oblast following an explosion early on Oct. 7, a source in Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent.
Kyiv condemns attacks near occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, cut off from Ukraine’s grid for 2nd week. After Russian state media put the blame for the attacks on Ukraine’s Armed Forces, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on Oct. 6 that it was “a deliberate provocation by Russia.”
Ukraine hits largest oil terminal in Russian-occupied Crimea, sparks massive blaze, General Staff confirms. The terminal can hold up to 250,000 tons of fuel, which supplies Russian forces.
‘Liberating our land, step by step’ — Ukraine reports successful counterattack in Dnipropterovsk Oblast, shows footage. The Shkval (“squall”) assault unit “eliminated” 50 Russian troops in the battle, while eight others were taken prisoner, the 141st Mechanized Brigade reported.
Russian who joined Ukraine’s military detained over suspected espionage. The man, detained in the western city of Lviv, is suspected of helping Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) coordinate strikes on his unit’s temporary base and nearby positions in Lviv Oblast.
Your contribution helps keep the Kyiv Independent going. Become a member today.
Thales arms maker delivers new missiles to Ukraine designed to take out Russian drones. The weapon has a maximum range of 3,000 meters and is designed to counter Shahed-type attack drones that Russia has used extensively against Ukraine.
Controversial ex-adviser to Zelensky’s office hit with Russian international arrest warrant. Russian authorities have accused Oleksiy Arestovych of terrorism and spreading “fake news about the Russian army.”
Ukraine allocates $36 million to bolster energy grid of frontline regions amid Russian strikes, Zelensky says. The announcement comes, as Russia stepped up its campaign against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in recent days.
Indian national surrenders to Ukraine after fighting for Russia for 3 days, military says. Majoti Sahil Mohamed Hussein, a 22-year-old student from the Indian city of Morbi, allegedly came to Russia to study at a university.
Ukraine to increase gas imports 30% after Russian strikes on energy sector. Ukraine plans to increase natural gas imports by 30% after recent Russian strikes caused major damage to its energy infrastructure, Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk said Oct. 7.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN…
War Notes
Get the latest news from the front lines in your inbox every Friday
Read our exclusives
Ukraine war latest: ‘Not in Poland’s interest,’ to hand over Ukrainian in Nord Stream probe, Tusk says
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Oct. 7 said those who built Nord Stream 2, not those accused of sabotaging it, “should be ashamed and remain silent,” adding it is “not in Poland’s interest” to hand over the suspect.
Photo: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Learn more
The military branch behind Ukraine’s battlefield apps turns to weapons bureaucracy
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry’s digitization fights to streamline a clunky military machine. But can centralized data hold out in the face of constant Russian cyber attacks?
Photo: Maks Muravsky / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
Learn more
‘Logistical terrorism’ — Russia steps up attacks on Ukrainian railways
Russia has escalated its strikes on the country’s critical railway infrastructure, targeting Ukrainian Railways, also known as Ukrzaliznytsia, in what appears to be a bid to disrupt military logistics amid new arms delivery announcements. The attacks, primarily carried out by drones, targeted oblasts near the Russian border and active front lines, including Donetsk, Sumy, Poltava, Chernihiv, and Kirovohrad, as well as southern areas.
Photo: Pavlo Zarva / Kordon.Media / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
Learn more
Investigation: Top Russian defense industry boss tries to lift sanctions, spills own secrets instead
A bid to unfreeze a superyacht exposes a Russian defense executive’s ties — including a Trump Tower investor — and shows how Russian elites use complex networks to lift sanctions, including Western law firms. In March 2025, an American law firm signed a deal to assist Russian national Sergei Chemezov with efforts to have sanctions against him lifted.
Photo: Nataliia Shulga/The Kyiv Independent
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN…
One story from Ukraine
Monday to Friday, get an email with our most important story of the day
Human cost of Russia’s war
Russian attacks kill 1, injure 33 in Ukraine over past day. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 88 out of the 152 Russian drones launched overnight. Russia also attacked Ukraine with two ballistic missiles.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,117,360 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. The number includes 1,020 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
Millions read the Kyiv Independent, but only one in 1,000 supports us financially. One membership might not seem like much, but to us, it makes a real difference. If you value our reporting, consider becoming a member — your support makes us stronger.
International response
World Bank lowers Ukraine’s 2026 GDP growth forecast. The World Bank has cut Ukraine’s 2026 GDP growth projections by more than 3 points, citing the ongoing impact of Russia’s invasion on the economy.
‘Not in Poland’s interest,’ to hand over Ukrainian in Nord Stream probe, Tusk says. “From our point of view, the only people who should be ashamed and should remain silent on the issue of Nord Stream 2 are those who decided to build it,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.
EU to reportedly restrict Russian diplomats’ travel amid espionage surge. The measure follows a surge in hybrid operations targeting Ukraine’s partners in the EU and NATO, including arson, cyberattacks, infrastructure sabotage, and drone incursions.
Poland, Lithuania reject Merkel’s claim they ‘did not support’ EU unity on Russia. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she sought to revive dialogue between the EU and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Hungary’s Orban accuses Zelensky of ‘moral blackmail’ over Ukraine’s EU bid. “Hungary has no moral obligation to support Ukraine’s EU accession,” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.
Slovakia sends first non-lethal defense aid package to Ukraine since Fico took office. The package includes engineering and construction equipment, transportation, demining systems, and medical evacuation vehicles.
Europe believes Russia responsible for drone sightings, Dutch PM says
In other news
Estonian court sentences soldier for spying for Russia. Estonia’s State Prosecutor Triinu Olev-Aas said Ivan Dmitriev, an active member of the Estonian Defense Forces who handled drone operations, posed a significant threat to Estonia’s security.
Latvia extends nighttime airspace restrictions near borders with Russia and Belarus. Latvia fully closed its airspace along the Russian and Belarusian borders between Sept. 11 and 18, following a series of regional security incidents. Since Sept. 18, restrictions have applied during nighttime hours.
Aliyev congratulates Putin on birthday in rare call amid strained Russia-Azerbaijan ties. The call is the first publicly reported conversation between the presidents since March. Their relations had seemed to deteriorate since then, as Moscow and Baku clashed over several political and security issues.
US Supreme Court won’t review Russian bank’s appeal over MH17 downing. The move enables the family of Quinn Schansman, an 18-year-old American passenger killed in the crash, to sue Sberbank under the U.S. anti-terrorism law.
Ukraine’s top anti-graft prosecutor decries pressure amid reports of Security Service probe targeting him. “Such reports, as well as a number of clearly illegal actions against NABU employees that have already taken place, are nothing other than a continuation of pressure on anti-corruption agencies,” Oleksandr Klymenko told the Kyiv Independent.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN…
WTF is wrong with Russia?
A weekly newsletter about Russian politics, history, and culture
This newsletter is open for sponsorship. Boost your brand’s visibility by reaching thousands of engaged subscribers. Click here for more details.
Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Martin Fornusek, Tymur Zadorozhnyy, Yuliia Taradiuk, Toma Istomina, Anna Fratsyvir, Jared Goyette, Kateryna Hodunova, Alisa Yurchenko, Kollen Post, Lucy Pakhnyuk, Volodymyr Ivanyshyn, and Sonya Bandouil.
If you’re enjoying this newsletter, consider joining our membership program. Start supporting independent journalism today.
Share
Membership
News, analyses, investigations, opinions, podcasts and more. On-the-ground reporting from UkraineThe Kyiv Independent