Thursday, October 23, 2025
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The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
Russian air strike on a kindergarten in Kharkiv on Oct. 22. (State Emergency Service of Ukraine / Telegram)
In Trump first, US sanctions Russia’s oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil after White House cancels Putin meeting. “Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate ceasefire,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. “Given President Putin’s refusal to end this senseless war, Treasury is sanctioning Russia’s two largest oil companies that fund the Kremlin’s war machine.”
‘Budanov’s sanctions’ — HUR confirms Ukrainian drone strike on Dagestan oil refinery. Russian air defenses intercepted 44 Ukrainian drones overnight and into the morning of Oct. 22, including eight over Dagestan, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry. No drones were reportedly shot down over Mordovia.
Explosions reported near military base in southern Russia, blasts allegedly rock ammunition plant 1,700 km from Ukraine. Explosions were reported near a military base just outside the southern Russian city of Stavropol late on Oct. 22, and additional explosions allegedly rocked an ammunition plant in the central city of Kopeysk, local media reported.
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Intercepted radio suggests Russian commander ordered troops to shoot civilians near Pokrovsk, HUR says. Intercepted calls released by Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) suggest a Russian commander ordering his soldiers to shoot civilians near the embattled city of Pokrovsk.
SBU reveals next-gen Sea Baby naval drones, confirms use in June Crimea Bridge attack. In a video, the SBU revealed two versions of the new drones.
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As Zelensky set to land in Brussels, EU rushes to offset Trump’s pressure on Ukraine
EU leaders, meeting in Brussels on Oct. 23, are expected to weigh in on a wide range of measures in support of Ukraine — including whether to unlock frozen Russian Central Bank assets for Kyiv.
Photo: Nicolas Economou / NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Russian assault on Ukraine’s power grid leaves over 100,000 without power in north, east
A massive Russian attack pummeled Ukraine’s energy and port infrastructure on Oct. 22 as Moscow shows no sign of slowing down its plan to freeze out Ukrainians as winter draws closer.
Photo: Ukraine’s Energy Ministry/Telegram
Analysis: Pokrovsk on the brink as Russian troops, drones infiltrate deeper into Ukraine’s fortress city
After more than a year as the rock upon which Russia’s territorial ambitions in Donbas were broken, cracks are opening in Ukraine’s defense of Pokrovsk, and the end may finally be near.
Photo: Taras Ibragimov / Suspilne Ukraine / JSC “UA:PBC” / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
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Why every call with Putin changes Trump’s Ukraine policy
Human cost of war
6 killed, 29 injured in Kyiv oblast during mass Russian overnight missile and drone attack. Explosions rocked Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight on Oct. 22 as Russia launched a large-scale aerial attack against Ukraine.
Russia just hit a kindergarten in Kharkiv. Russia attacked Kharkiv with drones on Oct. 22, damaging a kindergarten and killing one person, injuring at least 10, local authorities reported.
‘Any one of us could have died’ — Russian drone attack on Kyiv damages residential buildings, injures 7. A Russian drone attack injured seven in Kyiv, damaged buildings, and set fires throughout the city late on Oct. 22.
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International response
Up to 150 Gripens — Ukraine, Sweden move toward long-term deal on Swedish jets. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Zelensky are meeting in the city of Linkoping, home to the defense company Saab, which produces Gripen fighter jets and other arms.
Opinions and insights
Editorial: Europe, it’s time to finally be brave. Start with Russian assets
“What is needed is a direct European military presence in Ukraine, with or without a ceasefire,” the editorial states. “The road to achieving a robust peace and the road to ensuring Ukraine’s (and Europe’s) security in the future are the same road.”
Photo: Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images
In other news
Poland hopes Ukraine knocks out Druzhba pipeline — Sikorski taunts Hungary.
“I hope your brave compatriot, Major Magyar, finally succeeds in knocking out the oil pipeline that feeds Putin’s war machine and you get your oil via Croatia,” Sikorski told Szijjarto on X.
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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Martin Fornusek, Alexandra Brzozowski, Dominic Culverwell, Tim Zadorozhnyy, Kateryna Hodunova, Yuliia Taradiuk, Francis Farrell, and Volodymyr Ivanyshyn.
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Poland hopes Ukraine knocks out Druzhba pipeline — Sikorski taunts Hungary
"I hope your brave compatriot, Major Magyar, finally succeeds in knocking out the oil pipeline that feeds Putin's war machine and you get your oil via Croatia," Sikorski told Szijjarto on X.Martin Fornusek (The Kyiv Independent)