Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Vladimir Putin is "losing the war" as a huge oil refinery burned after a "massive" overnight drone strike on key infrastructure inside Russia. Zelensky confirmed a barrage had struck the Kamensky missile manufacturing plant in the Rostov region, along the border with Ukraine, and said overnight attacks by Russian forces left hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians without power.
Massive Drone Attack on Russian Refinery
Dramatic pictures appeared to show multiple fires at the huge Kstovo facility in the Nizhny Novgorod region. Gleb Nikitin, governor of Nizhny Novgorod, confirmed a "massive drone attack" involving more than 100 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). "The intensity of the strikes is very high, and the Russians are seeking to maximally exploit the deficit of ballistic missile interceptors," he said in a message shared on Telegram. Russian officials said it had shot down 235 drones launched from Ukraine.
Zelensky said: "Russia is losing. We are holding our positions, liberating territory, and ensuring that every day of the war costs the aggressor as much as possible."
Record Casualties in October
Russia suffered more casualties last month than at any time since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, with 54,400 soldiers killed. Ukraine's air force claimed to have shot down 371 of 433 long-range drones launched by Russia since Saturday. There has been no let up in fighting ahead of the winter, even as a six-day ceasefire held in the town of Oleshky, currently under Russian control.
Russia continues to pay a high price for every metre of territory it seizes, while Ukraine is making gains. In October, Ukraine liberated 96.2 square kilometres of land, according to Zelensky, which is 10.4 square kilometres more than Russia managed to capture during the same period.
Ceasefire and Evacuations
Zelensky added: "To stop these insane losses, Russia only needs to choose a ceasefire and diplomacy. We are justly defending ourselves against Russian aggression and doing everything to reduce Russia's capability to continue it."
Russia this week accused Ukraine of continuing to strike its oil refineries and ignoring a request from US President Donald Trump, who signed a controversial deal with Vladimir Putin to purchase hundreds of thousands of Russian diesel to temporarily ease US sanctions. Trump lashed out at Zelensky following previous attacks on Russia, claiming he has been "negotiating peace" between the two warring countries. But Zelensky has shown little sign of easing pressure on Russia after US military aid to Ukraine effectively collapsed.
Humanitarian Ceasefire in Oleshky
A humanitarian ceasefire, brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, allowed hundreds of residents to flee the city of Oleshky, which is occupied by Russian forces. Up to 6,000 people, including 200 children, were believed to still be living in the city and its surrounding areas, with 1,700 in the city itself. Residents had a four-hour window to leave; a convoy of 25 buses was brought in for up to 750 evacuees, along with ambulances for people with limited mobility.
After travelling through Russian-occupied territory to southern Russia, then flying to Belarus, evacuees arrived on buses to a military facility in Chernihiv on Saturday. On the tarmac, some elderly residents were so weak they had to be carried on stretchers. For many, there were emotional reunions once they returned to Ukraine.
The ceasefire was due to end last night. Mykhailo Palii had an emotional reunion with his daughters Dasha and Anya, telling them about life under military occupation. "A hole was blown into the bathroom," he told the BBC. "There were drone attacks and missile strikes. I didn't tell them about it because I knew they would worry."
