Russia–Ukraine: latest events

Story so far

1. 24 Oct 2026 ■ Steady

   Ukraine says Starlink restored; Abu Dhabi talks expected next month amid ongoing strikes

   On Saturday Ukraine said its Starlink and Starshield connection was stable again after disruptions that caused tensions with Washington, and negotiators from Ukraine, Russia and the US are expected to meet in Abu Dhabi next month. Strikes continued on both sides. On Thursday the UN said Russian attacks killed at least 14 civilians and injured 78 across Ukraine, hours after Moscow said it was ready to resume talks. Maritime analysts say nearly 50 commercial vessels have been attacked in the Black Sea in October.

   Nearly 50 commercial vessels attacked in Black Sea in October,… · Ukraine says Starlink restored; Ukraine, Russia and US negotiators… · Ukraine says Starlink and Starshield connection 'stable' again

2. 23 Oct 2026 ■ Steady

   Strikes continue as Moscow signals readiness to resume talks; Starlink curbs and Black Sea ship sinking

   On Friday, Romania blamed Russia after a drone sank the Comoros-flagged Khoryv in the Black Sea, killing one sailor with three missing. The White House said a localised ceasefire would take effect in Oleshky, but neither Russia nor Ukraine has confirmed it. Putin said Russia is ready to resume three-way talks with Ukraine and the US on the parameters of a final deal, not a short truce. Overnight into Thursday, Russian attacks killed at least 14 civilians and injured 78, the UN says.

   Russian attacks on Kyiv intensify, making 2026 one of the war's… · Romania blames Russia after drone sinks ship in Black Sea · Russia drops cluster bombs on Ukraine as Kyiv consolidates front line

3. 22 Oct 2026 ▲ Escalating

   Russian missile waves hit Ukraine hours after Moscow says it is ready to resume talks

   On Thursday, three waves of Russian missiles struck Ukraine, and authorities said drone and missile strikes killed seven people. Overnight attacks on Kyiv injured 15 people, and two were injured in Moscow. Russia said it intercepted 630 Ukrainian drones targeting the capital. The strikes followed the Kremlin's statement on Wednesday that it was ready to resume trilateral talks with the US and Ukraine, after Putin met US envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg.

   Russian missile waves hit Ukraine hours after Moscow says it is… · Ukraine and Russia exchange strikes after Witkoff visit; seven… · Russia and Ukraine trade attacks; 15 hurt in Kyiv, two in Moscow

4. 21 Oct 2026 ▼ Easing

   Kremlin offers to resume three-way talks in mid-November after Putin meets Witkoff

   After US envoy Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg on Wednesday, the Kremlin said it is ready to resume US-Ukraine-Russia talks in mid-November. Volodymyr Zelensky proposed freezing the front line as a first step toward peace talks. Moscow is also pushing for a summit with Donald Trump and Xi Jinping that would exclude Kyiv and the EU. Ukraine says such a summit would prolong the war.

   Russia pushes for Trump-Putin-Xi summit on Ukraine without Kyiv or EU · Russia ready to resume talks with Ukraine and US after Putin meets… · Kremlin says ready to resume three-way talks with US and Ukraine in…

5. 20 Oct 2026 ▲ Escalating

   Nato adds Black Sea forces after Russia says it hit five more merchant ships

   On Tuesday Nato said it is deploying extra military assets to the Black Sea after a deadly escalation of Russian attacks on merchant shipping. Russia said it struck three cargo vessels in Reni port and two heading to Odesa. Zelensky met US envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo and said Ukraine is again receiving advance warnings of ballistic missile attacks, which had seemingly been suspended last week. The row between Washington and Kyiv continues, with Trump saying he does not care how a peace deal is reached.

   Nato increases Black Sea deployment as Russia attacks five more… · Trump pressures Ukraine to cut peace deal amid feud with Zelensky · US resumes sharing intelligence with Ukraine on Russian missile…

6. 19 Oct 2026 ▲ Escalating

   Russian missiles hit Kyiv power plants as US-Ukraine row over Starshield and talks deepens

   A Russian missile barrage hit power plants in Kyiv around 11pm on Sunday, and Russia said it carried out a massive strike on Kyiv and its region. Ukraine's air force said it received no warning, and Zelensky accused Washington of 'denial of reality'. Rubio denies any pause in US intelligence sharing. Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones at Russia on Sunday, setting an oil export terminal in St Petersburg ablaze, while Trump's sanctions waiver on Russia and his criticism of Zelensky keep Kyiv and Washington at odds.

   Ukraine and Russia exchange strikes as Trump–Zelensky relations sour · Zelensky says US gave no warning of Russian missile strikes on Kyiv… · Russia says it carried out 'massive strike' on Kyiv as Rubio urges…

7. 18 Oct 2026 ▲ Escalating

   Ukraine launches over 1,000 drones at Russia as US-Kyiv rift deepens over sanctions and Starshield

   On Sunday Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones across Russia in one of its largest aerial bombardments, setting an oil export terminal ablaze in St Petersburg. Two people were killed and at least 17 injured as both sides kept hitting power infrastructure after Trump's "energy ceasefire" broke down. Diplomatically, Trump defended his Russia sanctions relief and accused Zelensky of prolonging the war, while Zelensky said the war must be brought to an end and that contact with Washington is "virtually nonstop".

   Two killed, 17 hurt as Russia and Ukraine trade strikes on power… · Oil export terminal ablaze in St Petersburg as Kyiv launches over… · Suspected Ukrainian drone swarm attacks St Petersburg

8. 17 Oct 2026 ▲ Escalating

   Trump pauses new Russia sanctions as Russian strikes cut power to 1 million in Ukraine

   On Friday Trump signed an executive order putting on hold a sweeping new sanctions package on Russia's economy, telling Congress the pause was in the national interest. Republicans and Democrats criticised the move, and Zelensky called it a reward for Putin. The same day Russian strikes on Kharkiv, Kramatorsk, Volyn and Rivne killed at least 8 people and cut power to 1 million. Tensions between Washington and Kyiv remain high over sanctions, refinery strikes and Starlink limits.

   Russian attacks in Ukraine kill at least 8 and cut power to 1 million · Trump faces bipartisan backlash over Russia sanctions waiver · Zelensky says Trump's lifting of Russia sanctions will intensify war…

9. 16 Oct 2026 ▲ Escalating

   Zelensky rallies EU in Brussels as US ties sour over refinery strikes and Starlink

   At an EU summit in Brussels on Friday, Zelensky said Russia does not want peace, asked the EU for another €70bn next year and criticised a US diesel deal with Russia as a possible path to wider sanctions relief. Von der Leyen said the EU will not lift any sanctions unless Russia stops the war. Trump called Ukraine's renewed refinery strikes "a disgrace" and said Zelensky is "more difficult to deal with than Putin", while denying he limited Ukraine's Starlink access. On the ground, Russian strikes hit power plants in Kyiv and Kharkiv, and Ukraine says it has regained territory in the Donbas.

   Pope Leo XIV asks Putin for a cease-fire in besieged Ukrainian city… · Ukraine regains territory in Donbas as Starlink role and Trump ties… · Russian strikes on power plants in Kyiv and Kharkiv cause blackouts…

Written by Claude from the reports on this page and on the map. Check the linked sources for full details.