Ukraine Live Briefing: Kyiv Says Russia Deploying North Korean Troops

RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western military aid to Kyiv, worldwide reaction, and the plight of civilians and refugees. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

Latest Developments At A Glance

• The Russian military claimed to have made advances in eastern Ukraine, while authorities in Kyiv said the Kremlin’s forces continued their relentless attacks on the regional center of Kherson on October 27, killing at least two civilians.
• Three civilians were killed and seven wounded, including a child, in Russian shelling in Ukraine's southern Kherson region over the past 24 hours, the regional governor said on the morning of October 26.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has warned that Russia intends to deploy troops from North Korea in combat areas as early as October 27.
• Russian air strikes late on October 25 that hit civilian buildings in Kyiv and Dnipro killed at least four people, local officials in the Ukrainian cities said.
• Prosecutor-General Andriy Kostin has resigned amid investigations that found dozens of government officials had dodged military service by claiming disability benefits.
• The United States is set to announce new sanctions as early as next week aimed at curbing Russia's Ukraine war efforts, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said.
• The European Parliament has approved a loan of up to 35 billion euros ($38 billion) for Ukraine's defense and reconstruction that will be repaid using future revenues from Russian central bank assets frozen abroad.

Has Russia's Invasion Brought Ukraine And Romania Closer?

Romania's parliament has approved a two-year program to train Ukrainian marines, the latest in a series of moves by Bucharest to help Kyiv defend itself from Moscow's full-scale invasion. Romania has quietly become one of Ukraine's most indispensable allies. Read the story by Tony Wesolowsky here.

The Moment A Russian Shell Landed Next To An RFE/RL Crew In Ukraine

A Russian shell came close to directly hitting an RFE/RL crew on the front line in Ukraine's Donetsk region. Correspondent Roman Pahulych and cameraman Pavlo Kholodov were filming with a Ukrainian drone team on October 10 when the shell struck. They and injured Ukrainian Army personnel were evacuated to a stabilization point for medical checks and treatment and were later discharged. By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, Roman Pahulych, and Pavlo Kholodov

Tense Times For Ukraine As Pressure Mounts On The Battlefield And Beyond

Russian forces push forward in the Donbas, diplomatic pressure on Kyiv increases, and the U.S. election looms. It's all adding up to one of the toughest points for Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Read the story by Steve Gutterman here.

The Fall Of Vuhledar: What Does It Mean For Ukraine's Beleaguered Military?

Ukraine lost the Donbas coal-mining city of Vuhledar, amid a relentless, months-long offensive by Russian forces. It probably doesn’t herald the entire collapse of Ukrainian lines, but it’s definitely not a good sign. Read the report by Mike Eckel here.

Will Ukraine Embrace Russian Refugees? Border Residents Are Not Excited

Skepticism prevailed in the Ukrainian border city of Sumy when locals were asked about government plans to accept refugees from Russia's Kursk region. Officials have said that civilians displaced by Ukraine's ongoing military incursion in Russia could be relocated and offered humanitarian aid. But one man speaking to RFE/RL on August 16 said: "Let their country protect them. We've got enough of our own suffering." Video report by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.

Why Is Ukraine Attacking Russia's Oil Refineries?

Russia said it would protect oil refineries better after several were struck by Ukrainian drones. Ukraine continues to hit the facilities, despite U.S. warnings against such attacks, as it launches larger and larger drone swarms. The strikes have decreased refinery output but beyond a morale boost for Ukraine, the effects are moderate so far. Read the story by Todd Prince here.

Interactive: Occupied, Militarized Crimea

As Ukrainian leaders vow to reclaim all territories seized by Russia, Moscow has prepared extensive defensive measures, particularly in Crimea, a region unlawfully annexed in 2014. This area, now under Russian occupation, has been heavily militarized with an array of air bases and army bases, making it one of the most fortified zones in the war. View the interactive map by Crimea.Realities, Schemes, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, and Central Newsroom here.