Was the assault on Odesa a Russian response to Kyiv’s new fuel deal?
Mendacity on a Black Sea estuary, Izmail is one in every of a string of ports which can be important for Ukrainian imports and exports, notably as Russia targets Ukraine’s power infrastructure.
Zelensky is attempting to safe imports of fuel and different power which might assist see his nation by way of the approaching winter, amid rising fears that it could possibly be probably the most tough for Ukraine.
The strike got here simply at some point after the Ukrainian president had visited Greece to agree a deal for US liquefied pure fuel to circulation to Odesa, by way of pipelines from the northern Greek port of Alexandroupolis beginning in January.
“As of at present, we’ve ready an settlement on fuel for Ukraine,” Mr Zelensky mentioned in response to The Kyiv Impartial. “This can be one other route for fuel provide — to maximise the safety of import routes for Ukraine throughout winter.”
Daniel Keane18 November 2025 12:52
Romanian villages evacuated after tanker strike on Danube River
The MT Orinda was hit whereas offloading liquefied petroleum fuel in a Ukrainian border metropolis close to Romania, sparking fires whereas greater than a dozen employees have been onboard. All have been evacuated, and no one was injured.
The strike nonetheless dangers inflaming tensions because the warfare in Ukraine overspills into NATO territory. Learn the total report:
James Reynolds18 November 2025 12:22
Spain to announce support bundle for Ukraine
Spain will announce a ‘substantial’ support bundle for Ukraine at present, the nation’s state secretary for overseas affairs mentioned on Tuesday, throughout Volodymyr Zelensky’s go to to Madrid.
Zelensky wrote on X that he had spoken with parliamentarians to debate cooperation with Spanish defence corporations, the need of support, and assist for “the joint path” of Ukraine and Moldova towards EU membership.
James Reynolds18 November 2025 11:51
Ukraine ‘strikes thermal energy stations’ in occupied Donetsk
Ukraine attacked two thermal energy stations within the Russian-occupied Donetsk, the commander of its drone forces mentioned on Tuesday.
Main Robert Brovdi wrote that the Starobeshivska and Zuivska energy crops had been hit by his forces.
He posted a video showing to indicate onboard footage from a drone attacking one of many amenities.
James Reynolds18 November 2025 11:32
Russia discusses prisoner swaps with US in effort to indicate goodwill
Russia and the US have mentioned the opportunity of conducting one other prisoner alternate, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s particular envoy Kirill Dmitriev advised Axios in an interview printed on Tuesday.
“I met some US officers and members of the Trump crew on some points which can be humanitarian in nature, resembling potential exchanges of prisoners that the US aspect has been engaged on,” Dmitriev mentioned.
Dmitriev mentioned the concept of the newest swap with US envoy Steve Witkoff and different administration officers, the Axios report added, citing a supply.
In August 2024, the US and Russia carried out their greatest prisoner swap because the Chilly Struggle, with 24 prisoners gaining their freedom, together with US journalist Evan Gershkovich and ex-Marine Paul Whelan.
James Reynolds18 November 2025 11:14
‘All the pieces factors to Russia’, Poland says after train-track explosion
All the pieces factors to Russian intelligence companies commissioning sabotage on Polish railways over the weekend, a spokesperson for the particular companies minister mentioned on Tuesday.
An explosion that broken a Polish railway observe on a path to Ukraine was an “unprecedented act of sabotage”, Prime Minister Donald Tusk mentioned on Monday as he vowed to catch these answerable for an incident he mentioned might have led to tragedy.
James Reynolds18 November 2025 10:29
Russia is not going to participate in Istanbul talks this week
Russian representatives is not going to participate in talks on Ukraine in Istanbul on Wednesday, a Kremlin spokesperson mentioned at present, with Zelensky and US particular envoy Steve Witkoff heading for Turkey this week.
Russia’s overseas ministry indicated final week that Moscow is able to resume direct talks in Istanbul, some 4 months because the final spherical happened.
“The Russian crew is prepared for this, the ball is within the Ukrainian court docket,” mentioned overseas ministry official, Alexei Polishchuk.
James Reynolds18 November 2025 10:15
Ukraine’s corruption scandal: What to find out about Operation Midas
Ukraine’s anti-corruption businesses introduced final Monday, 10 November, that that they had uncovered a big scale corruption scheme within the nation’s power sector.
Nationwide Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Workplace (Sap) concluded after 15 months of investigation that a few of Zelensky’s shut associates have been concerned in a plot to launder round $100mn from Ukraine’s power sector.
In ‘Operation Midas’, the businesses dismantled an alleged felony organisation consisting of present and former power officers, authorities ministers, a former deputy prime minister, and a businessman.
The accused are mentioned to have manipulated contracts at Energoatom, Ukraine’s state nuclear power firm, to take kickbacks – secret funds, like a bribe, made in alternate for a favour. These have been mentioned to be price some 10-15 per cent of contracts given to construct up fortifications in opposition to Russian assaults on power infrastructure, as civilians face rolling blackouts.
By Tuesday, 11 November, eight folks had been charged with bribery, embezzlement and illicit enrichment. President Zelensky vowed to “overhaul” state-owned power corporations within the wake of the scandal, beginning with a full audit.
A number of of these implicated within the scandal are intently linked to the president. Zelensky is just not straight implicated.
Earlier this 12 months, Zelensky confronted scrutiny for signing a legislation limiting the independence of Nabu and Sap. Ukraine noticed its first main anti-government protests because the invasion in 2022.
James Reynolds18 November 2025 10:00
Teenager amongst killed in Russian assault in Kharkiv – native officers
A 17-year-old lady was killed in a Russian assault on Berestyn metropolis in Ukraine’s Kharkiv oblast in a single day.
The lady, who has not been named, was critically wounded within the strike and later died from her accidents, regional governor Oleg Synegubov reported.
9 folks have been injured within the assault, together with seven who have been hospitalised with blast accidents, he wrote on Telegram on Tuesday.
James Reynolds18 November 2025 09:39
In footage: Aftermath of Turkish-flagged tanker set ablaze in ‘drone strike’


James Reynolds18 November 2025 09:05
