Russia Claims Gains in Ukraine as Trump Imposes New Sanctions:

Russia announced fresh territorial gains in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, capturing the villages of Pavlivka in the Zaporizhia region and Ivanivka in Dnipropetrovsk, according to the Russian Ministry of Defence. The ministry also said it launched strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in retaliation for what it claimed were Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilian targets. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian assaults across the country on Wednesday killed six people, including two children, and triggered widespread power outages. Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 405 drones and 28 missiles in an overnight barrage, mainly targeting energy sites. Ukrainian defenses shot down 16 missiles and 333 drones, though some projectiles struck critical facilities. Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk accused Moscow of conducting a systematic campaign to cripple Ukraine’s power network, noting that Russian forces were even targeting repair crews with follow-up strikes. In Kyiv, drone attacks injured four people and damaged residential buildings, including a kindergarten, city military head Tymur Tkachenko said. Ukraine responded with strikes inside Russia, claiming to have hit a weapons plant in Mordovia and an oil refinery in Dagestan. In turn, Russian Vice Admiral Vladimir Tsimlyansky said the Kremlin plans to use reservists to protect energy facilities amid a surge in Ukrainian drone attacks deep into Russian territory. President Vladimir Putin oversaw a major nuclear readiness drill, involving the launch of a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile, a Sineva submarine-launched missile, and air-launched cruise missiles. The exercise was meant to test Russia’s command and control of its nuclear triad. In Washington, President Donald Trump imposed his administration’s first Ukraine-related sanctions of his second term, targeting Russian oil giants Lukoil and Rosneft. The move comes amid Trump’s growing frustration with Putin over stalled ceasefire efforts. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the sanctions aim to cut off funding for Russia’s “war machine” and urged allies to follow suit. Trump also announced plans to discuss China’s purchases of Russian oil with President Xi Jinping during an upcoming meeting in South Korea, while expressing optimism about a potential U.S.–China trade deal. Meanwhile, the European Union approved its 19th sanctions package against Moscow, which includes a phased ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports—short-term contracts will end within six months, and long-term ones by 2027. The UK also expanded sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil but granted a temporary licence for companies working with their German subsidiaries under state control. Ukraine, for its part, is pushing EU states to allow flexible use of a proposed $163 billion loan drawn from frozen Russian assets. Kyiv insists it must be free to buy non-European weapons and fund reconstruction, despite some EU members wanting the funds to support domestic defense industries. Amid diplomatic deadlock, Trump cancelled a planned summit with Putin, saying the timing “didn’t feel right.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautiously welcomed Trump’s proposal to freeze the war along current front lines, calling it a “good compromise,” though he doubted Putin would agree. In a sign of continued Western support, Sweden signed a letter of intent to supply up to 150 Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine next year, while Norway pledged another $149 million to help Kyiv purchase natural gas ahead of winter.

NEWS