Ukraine's Minister of Defense, Denys Shmyhal, announced on Thursday the signing of a licensing agreement with a delegation from the United Kingdom to enable the future mass production of the Ukrainian Octopus interceptor drone model in that country. "This is a historic precedent," Shmyhal wrote on Facebook, adding that it will allow the manufacturing in the UK of an unmanned aircraft model that has proven effective in combating the enemy's kamikaze drones Shahed.
On the front lines, challenges multiply for the Ukrainian army, outnumbered and less equipped than the Russian forces. Ukrainian troops are fighting for the last strongholds in the Donbas, an industrial and mining region in the east that the Kremlin has prioritized conquering.
Russia regularly launches hundreds of drones and missiles over Ukraine, targeting the country's energy infrastructure with the arrival of winter. The Russian army occupies about a fifth of Ukraine, which has been largely devastated by the fighting. Tens of thousands of civilians and military personnel have died, and millions have fled from the eastern part of the country.
Russia accuses the United States of recruiting Filipino mercenaries for the war in Ukraine
The United States has launched a campaign to recruit Filipino mercenaries to fight in Ukraine, denounced Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, on Thursday.
"According to the information received, U.S. representatives have launched a recruitment campaign in the Philippines for local citizens to fight alongside the Ukrainian Armed Forces," Zakharova reported during a press conference broadcast on state television.
According to the Russian diplomat, the recruitment is being handled by a U.S. company based in Florida, RMS International, specialized in security services.
Russian Athletes to Compete Under National Flag in Judo Events Starting This Weekend
The International Judo Federation (IJF) has decided to "fully restore national representation" of Russian athletes in its competitions starting this weekend, as announced on Thursday, reported AP.
The IJF executive committee voted to allow Russian athletes to compete under their national flag, with their anthem and insignias, starting with the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam 2025 from November 28 to 30.
"The decision reaffirms the role of the IJF as a truly global federation and strengthens its commitment to fair, transparent, and value-based governance," the federation stated.
The Russian Olympic Committee was suspended in 2023 by the International Olympic Committee for violating the Olympic Charter by using administrative appropriation of land to incorporate regional sports bodies in occupied regions in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine and United States Negotiating Teams to Meet Soon
The negotiating teams of Ukraine and the United States will meet soon, announced Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Thursday, emphasizing that Kyiv will focus on concrete steps within the peace proposals.
"Our expectations are concrete results. Concrete results so that progress can be made," Sybiha said at a press conference. "It is extremely important for us, and Ukraine has repeatedly demonstrated it, to achieve a ceasefire."
Russia Sentences Eight People to Life Imprisonment for the 2022 Crimea Bridge Explosions
A Russian court sentenced eight people to life imprisonment on Thursday for the 2022 explosions on the Crimea Bridge, an attack claimed by Kiev, reported Efe.
The explosion of a truck bomb on October 8, 2022, on the 19-kilometer-long Kerch Bridge killed five people and occurred eight months after Russia launched its offensive in Ukraine.
Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, has been a key supply route for Russian troops fighting in southern Ukraine. Kiev claimed responsibility for the attack, justifying it as an attempt to hinder Moscow's logistics.
Russia Advances in Pokrovsk and Captures Another Village in Donetsk Region
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday that its forces have made progress in the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, also capturing the village of Vasiukivka in the Donetsk region.
The announcement highlights the ongoing efforts of Russian troops to consolidate their control in this strategic area within the Ukraine conflict, which has lasted for over a year. Although Russian authorities have not provided additional details on the military operations, the capture of Vasiukivka represents a significant advancement in the area.
Russia Rules Out Cancelling Witkoff's Visit Due to Kremlin Contacts Leaks
Russia ruled out canceling the planned visit next week of U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff due to leaks to the press of his conversations with Kremlin representatives, reported Efe.
"I have no reason to doubt it (the visit)," said Sergei Ryabkov, Deputy Foreign Minister, to local press.
The diplomat recalled that this will not be Witkoff's first visit to Moscow, where he was for the fifth time last August.
"We will work with whatever comes," he said, acknowledging that there is no "clarity" on the conclusions of the Geneva consultations between Ukraine, Europeans, and the U.S.
Poland Arrests Russian Suspected of Hacking Polish Companies
A Russian citizen suspected of hacking into the computer systems of Polish companies was arrested in Krakow, announced Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski on Thursday, reported Reuters.
"Police officers in Krakow have arrested a Russian citizen suspected of committing serious crimes related to unauthorized interference in the computer systems of Polish companies," Kierwinski wrote on the X social media platform.
Kyiv Says Russian Crude Oil Sales Have Dropped by Up to 20% Due to U.S. Sanctions
Ukraine estimates that Russian crude oil exports have fallen by 15 to 20% since the U.S. imposed sanctions on Russian oil giants Lukoil and Rosneft on October 22, according to Vladislav Vlasiuk, the presidential sanctions official, after meeting with U.S. Treasury advisor Cyrus Newlin, reported Efe.
Vlasiuk stated that these measures issued last month by the administration of President Donald Trump could also lead to a 5% drop in "crude production in the Russian Federation" by the end of this year.
"In addition, local budgets in Russian regions are facing increasing deficits," reads the statement from the Ukrainian presidency citing estimates provided by President Volodymyr Zelensky's advisor.
Russia Shoots Down 118 Ukrainian Drones Overnight
Russian air defenses shot down 118 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 52 over the Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine, reported Russian news agencies on Thursday, citing the Ministry of Defense.
Seoul Confirms First Death of South Korean Volunteer in War in Ukraine
The South Korean government confirmed on Thursday the first known death of a South Korean volunteer in the war in Ukraine while supporting the country's army in its campaign against the Russian invasion, reported Efe.
The man, around 50 years old and surnamed Kim, died in combat in May in the Donetsk region, one of the most active fronts of the war, as detailed by The Korea Herald newspaper.
The authorities' confirmation comes after a funeral was held in Kiev on Tuesday for international volunteers, where a South Korean flag was seen on one of the coffins, as shown in images from the event published in the press.
IMF and Ukraine Reach Agreement on Financing
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced on Wednesday that it has reached a staff-level agreement on a new four-year, $8.2 billion program for Ukraine as the country faces increasing fiscal pressures due to the war, reported Reuters.
The IMF stated that the agreement, replacing the current $15.6 billion Extended Fund Facility program approved in March 2023, aims to help Kiev maintain macroeconomic stability and strengthen public finances as the war with Russia continues to strain its budget. "The program is expected to catalyze large-scale external support to close Ukraine's financing gaps," said Gavin Gray, an IMF official and leader of the team that visited Ukraine, in a statement. He added that the total financing gap is estimated at around $136.5 billion for the period 2026-2029.