Bulgaria is drafting new legislation that will allow it to seize control of an important oil refinery belonging to Russia's sanctioned oil giant Lukoil.
The Burgas refinery is the only one of its kind in Bulgaria and was a vital party of Lukoil's foreign business empire. The company is now facing US sanctions over Russia's war on Ukraine.
Earlier, Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered preparations for nuclear weapons testing after president Donald Trump announced last week that the US would be running its first tests in over three decades.
Trump announced last week that the US would breach a global moratorium on testing nuclear weapons, claiming rivals such as China and Russia were already doing the same in secret, but did not offer more details.
At the same meeting on Wednesday, Putin ordered the heightened defence of Russia's oil refineries from Ukrainian drone attacks, signing a new law deploying millions of reservists to the task.
And on the battlefield, Russia claimed its troops were advancing inside the key city of Pokrovsk, where the Ukrainian army said its units were battling hard to avoid being encircled by Moscow's forces.
Key Points
- Bulgaria drafts law to seize and sell Russian oil refinery
- Why talk of the fall of Pokrovsk – and Ukraine – is premature
- Putin's aides push him for full-scale nuclear tests
- Britain may send troubled Ajax vehicles to Ukraine
- Putin orders defence of oil sites from Ukrainian drone attacks
- Watch: Putin orders nuclear weapons test preparations after Trump threat in new escalation
- Angelina Jolie makes surprise visit to Ukraine's frontline region
Russian rebels burn locomotives aiding Putin's war, Ukrainian intelligence agency says
04:21 , Arpan RaiAn anti-Russian rebel group has carried out sabotage operations and attacked dozens of locomotives being used to transport weapons and ammunition, Ukrainian intelligence agency said.
The Freedom of Russia resistance movement, seen as one of the most dominant resistance groups on Russian territory, carried out the attack. A video showed locomotives set ablaze in multiple locations, the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine (HUR) said on Telegram.
“The partisans’ incendiary cocktails incinerated the control and power systems of dozens of vehicles used for military cargo transport,” the statement by HUR said.
The attacks have slowed down Russian logistics and disrupted the military supplies to Russian frontline units.
Nato surpasses Russia on ammunition production, says Rutte
03:53 , Arpan RaiNato is now producing more ammunition than Russia, the alliance’s secretary general Mark Rutte has said.
“We are already turning the tide on ammunition. Until recently, Russia was producing more ammunition than all Nato allies put together. But not anymore. Across the Alliance, we are now opening dozens of new production lines and expanding existing ones,” he said at the Nato Industry Forum in Bucharest yesterday.
“We are making more than we have done in decades. We need to build on this progress in other areas, from high end air defence and low-cost drone interceptors,” he said.
Rutte warned that the danger posed by Russia “will not end when this war does”.
“For the foreseeable future, Russia will remain a destabilising force in Europe and the world. And Russia is not alone in its efforts to undermine the global rules. As you know it is working with China, with North Korea, with Iran and others,” he said.
“They are increasing their defence industrial collaboration to unprecedented levels. They are preparing for long term confrontation,” Rutte said.
Ukraine in 'positive' talks with US on Tomahawk missiles, says ambassador
03:31 , Arpan RaiUkraine is engaged in “positive” talks with the US on buying Tomahawk missiles and other long-range weapons, the country’s ambassador to Washington Olha Stefanishyna said.
“The discussion is still ongoing but we have a lot of delegations working to scale up the available financial resources to procure more military capabilities from the US,” she told Bloomberg.
US president Donald Trump on Sunday said that for now, he is not considering a deal that would allow Ukraine to obtain long-range Tomahawk missiles for use against Russia.
Trump and Nato secretary general Mark Rutte discussed the Tomahawk missile sale to Kyiv when they met at the White House on 22 October.
The While Trump has cooled on a plan for the United States to sell Tomahawks to Nato nations that would transfer them to Ukraine, with Trump now saying that he does not want to escalate the war.
“No, not really," Trump told reporters as he flew to Washington from Palm Beach, Florida, when asked whether he was considering a deal to sell the missiles. He added, however, that he could change his mind.
European pressure needed to prevent ‘forever war’ in Ukraine, warns ex-Nato chief
03:18 , Arpan RaiUnless Europe dramatically increases pressure on Russia, Ukraine will face a “forever war” and a slow erosion of its territory, a former Nato secretary general has said.
“If we do not carry out major changes in strategy we will look into a forever war,” said Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Nato secretary general from 2009 to 2014.
“Putin has no incentive to engage in peace negotiations so long as he thinks he can win on the battlefield. Changes in speed and mindset are needed,” he said.
Calling on the deployment of a European protection force for Ukraine in advance of a ceasefire agreement, Rasmussen said the “coalition of the willing” is now reduced to a coalition of the waiting as it waits for fighting to end.
Putin orders conscription of 135,000 Russians by end of year
02:59 , Arpan RaiRussian president Vladimir Putin has ordered a fresh round of conscription of troops before the end of this year, according to Britain's Ministry of Defence.
“Putin is increasing the number of Russians conscripted into the military. 135,000 is the number of Russians Putin has ordered for conscription by the end of the year,” the MoD said in an update yesterday.
Putin signed a law on year-round conscription into the army on Tuesday, according to Russia's legal acts portal.
It has been nine years since Russia called up so many men in its autumn draft, according to the ministry. The defence ministry said at least 160,000 men were called up in this year's spring intake. That was the highest number of Russian servicemen drafted into the military during the spring since 2011.
Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine is increasing in scale, as Putin drafts more ordinary Russians into its military.#StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/yxWjc3ck9w
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) November 6, 2025
Ukraine jails Russian soldier for killing POW in first such ruling
02:46 , Arpan RaiA Ukrainian court sentenced a Russian soldier to life in prison after finding him guilty of killing a Ukrainian prisoner of war, the first time Ukraine has jailed a suspect on such charges.
The court in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia found Dmitry Kurashov, 27, guilty of shooting dead Vitalii Hodniuk, a Ukrainian soldier who had surrendered in January 2024 when his dugout was captured by Russian forces.
Kurashov, who was taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces along with other Russian troops soon after the incident, pleaded guilty in court, although he later told reporters that he was innocent and wanted to be exchanged in a prisoner swap.
Kurashov said he did not plan to appeal after the ruling.
His sentencing carries symbolic importance for Ukraine, which says Russian forces have executed numerous Ukrainian prisoners of war, but that the suspects are usually outside their jurisdiction.
Gazprom sends record gas volumes to China via Siberian pipeline
02:04 , James ReynoldsGazprom hit a new daily record for gas supplies to China via its Power of Siberia pipeline on Wednesday, the Russian holding said in a statement.
“The delivered volume exceeded Gazprom's contractual obligations,” it said.
It was the sixth time in two months that the supplier had hit a new daily record, with China remaining a major buyer of Russian fuel.
Ukraine sentences Russian soldier over killing of Ukrainian POW
01:05 , James ReynoldsA Ukrainian court sentenced a Russian soldier on Thursday to life in prison after finding him guilty of killing a Ukrainian prisoner of war, the first time Ukraine has jailed a suspect on such charges.
The court in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia found Dmitry Kurashov, 27, guilty of shooting dead Vitalii Hodniuk, a Ukrainian soldier who had surrendered in January 2024 when his dugout was captured by Russian forces.
Kurashov, who was taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces along with other Russian troops soon after the incident, pleaded guilty in court, although he later told reporters that he was innocent and wanted to be exchanged in a prisoner swap.
His sentencing carries symbolic importance for Ukraine, which says Russian forces have executed numerous Ukrainian prisoners of war, but that the suspects are usually outside their jurisdiction.
US and European energy leaders in Greece to talk ways to better supply Ukraine
Thursday 6 November 2025 23:58 , James ReynoldsEnergy ministers from the United States and European countries were holding talks Thursday in Greece on how to use a newly upgraded regional pipeline network to better supply war-torn Ukraine as the Trump administration seeks to further ramp up gas exports to Europe.
Read the full story:
US and European energy leaders in Greece to talk ways to better supply Ukraine
South Africa investigates how 17 men were duped into joining mercenaries in the Russia-Ukraine war
Thursday 6 November 2025 23:07 , James ReynoldsThe South African government said on Thursday that it will investigate how 17 of its citizens were tricked into joining mercenaries in the Russia-Ukraine war after they asked for help to escape the conflict in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said the South African men aged between 20 and 39 were lured into joining mercenary forces “under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts" and had issued distress calls after becoming trapped in Ukraine.
Read the full story:
South Africa investigates how 17 men were duped into joining mercenaries in the Russia-Ukraine war
Ukraine hits another major oil refinery in Russia
Thursday 6 November 2025 22:03 , James ReynoldsUkrainian drones struck a major oil refinery in Russia's Volgograd region for the second time in almost three months, Ukraine's general staff said Thursday.
Russian officials did not confirm the attack, although the local governor said drones started a fire at an unspecified industrial facility in the region.
Ukraine's general staff said in a statement that the attack took place the previous day.
The refinery is the largest producer of fuel and lubricants in Russia's Southern Federal District, processing more than 15 million tons of crude annually — about 5.6% of the country's total refining capacity, according to Ukrainian officials.
In pictures: Russian forces in Ukraine fire upon Ukrainian positions
Thursday 6 November 2025 21:03 , James Reynolds
Inside Europe's new defence against Russian drone incursions
Thursday 6 November 2025 20:04 , James ReynoldsPoland and Romania are deploying a new American weapons system, Merops, to defend against Russian drones. This follows recent incursions into NATO airspace, which have exposed the alliance’s vulnerabilities and put Europe on edge.
The American-made Merops system, compact enough for a mid-sized pickup truck, identifies and intercepts drones. It crucially employs artificial intelligence to navigate even when satellite and electronic communications are jammed.
Read the full story:
Europe’s new weapons system to fight the rising threat of Russian drones
Drone sighting halts traffic at Swedish airport
Thursday 6 November 2025 19:02 , James ReynoldsTraffic was halted at the Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport on Sweden's west coast on Thursday after one or more drones were observed at the airport, civil aviation agency LFV said.
Drones have caused major disruption across Europe in recent months, forcing temporary closures of airports in several countries. Some officials have blamed the incidents on hybrid warfare by Russia. Moscow has denied any connection with the incidents.
"A drone or drones have been observed at Landvetter Airport just before 6 p.m. (1700 GMT). There is a halt to traffic but I don't know for how long," an LFV spokesperson said.
Gothenburg is Sweden's second-biggest city.
Ukraine keen to train pilots on Swedish jets as soon as possible
Thursday 6 November 2025 17:59 , James ReynoldsUkraine has asked Sweden to start training Ukrainian pilots on Swedish Gripen fighter jets as soon as possible, Kyiv's defence minister said on Thursday.
Denys Shmyhal told reporters in Stockholm alongside his Swedish counterpart that Ukraine was ready to send personnel to Sweden immediately.
Recap watch: How Ukraine and Russia are playing out a deadly cat and mouse drone war from underground bunkers
Thursday 6 November 2025 17:30 , Bryony GoochRecap: Angelina Jolie visits Ukraine's frontline
Thursday 6 November 2025 17:00 , Bryony GoochHollywood actor Angelina Jolie has visited one of Ukraine's most dangerous frontline cities and a neighbouring region, meeting medical staff, volunteers and civilians living under constant attacks from Russian troops.
"At a time when governments around the world are turning their backs on the protection of civilians, their strength, and their support for each other is humbling," Jolie said in a statement released on Thursday by the Legacy of War Foundation, which supported her visit to Kherson and nearby Mykolaiv.
"The people of Mykolaiv and Kherson live with danger every day, but they refuse to give in," Jolie said.
Photos showed Jolie in a flak jacket in a basement, and meeting children in a windowless room. The group said she toured medical and educational facilities that had been relocated underground to escape constant Russian attacks.
Kherson, once home to nearly 300,000 people, is the biggest city within range of Russia's frontline weapons, making it one of Ukraine's most dangerous cities. It was occupied by Russian forces from March 2022 until they withdrew eight months later across the Dnipro River, where they remain on the opposite bank.
A U.N. inquiry found last month that Russia has been chasing down civilians who live near the front line with drones, forcing thousands to flee in what amounts to a crime against humanity. Russia denies intentionally targeting civilians.
Local officials said Ukraine's military downed around 2,500 of 2,646 Russian drones launched to attack Kherson region just last week.
"We are very grateful for (Jolie's visit) and for the fact that people are coming here," Oleksandr Tolokonnikov, deputy head of Kherson's regional administration, told Ukraine's main state-controlled TV. "Sometimes it seems that we have been forgotten, but we can see that this is not the case."
Jolie previously came to Ukraine's western city of Lviv in the spring of 2022 to meet people displaced by the war.
Watch: Moment 11-year-old girl bravely confronts Putin after uncle injured in war
Thursday 6 November 2025 16:30 , Bryony GoochLatvia gives 21 armoured vehicles to Ukraine
Thursday 6 November 2025 16:00 , Bryony GoochUkraine has received 21 Patria 6x6 Armoured Personnel Carriers from Latvia, according to Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal. The handover took place today in Riga at the Ādaži military base.
He said: “These vehicles will immediately enter service with the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine.
“In total, Ukraine has received all 42 armored vehicles promised for 2025. In addition, Latvia has delivered 12 CVR(T) combat reconnaissance vehicles. We are also grateful for an additional contribution of €2.2 million to the PURL initiative and for financial support to the Shelter Coalition. “Latvia’s participation in NATO’s “Renovator” project — rebuilding five military rehabilitation centers in Ukraine — is extremely important.”
He then thanked Latvia’s government and citizens for support.
🇺🇦🇱🇻 Ukraine has received 21 Patria 6x6 APCs from Latvia.
— Denys Shmyhal (@Denys_Shmyhal) November 6, 2025
The handover took place today in Riga at the Ādaži military base.
These vehicles will immediately enter service with @SOF_UKR.
In total, Ukraine has received all 42 armored vehicles promised for 2025.
In addition,… pic.twitter.com/b4HFRepozK
Belgium moves to improve airspace surveillance after drone incursions
Thursday 6 November 2025 15:30 , Bryony GoochBelgium will work to improve surveillance of its airspace following repeated sightings of drones over its airports and military bases, Defence Minister Theo Francken said on Thursday.
Belgium's Brussels and Liege airports were closed for hours on Tuesday evening after drone sightings, diverting many incoming planes and preventing others from taking off.
"We have to be able to observe our airspace better," Francken said after a meeting of the country's security council to discuss the drone incursions.
A national air security centre would be operational by January 1, Francken said. If suspect drones are sighted in the meantime, "where possible we will try to take them down, we will try to jam them," he said.
Belgium's government will also discuss the acquisition of "counter-drone material" on Friday, he added.
NATO countries have been on high alert in recent weeks after drone sightings and other air incursions, including at airports in Copenhagen, Munich and in the Baltic region. Some 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace in September.
Francken declined to comment on questions whether the government suspected Russia to be behind the drone incursions.
Belgian police have also been investigating drone sightings over military bases in the past week.
Zelensky signs off new sanctions against Russia
Thursday 6 November 2025 15:00 , Bryony GoochUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has signed off several new sanction decisions against Russia in an effort to put pressure on Moscow.
He said on X:“We continue synchronizing partner sanctions within Ukraine’s jurisdiction, and the EU’s 19th sanctions package against Russia for this war is now in effect in Ukraine.
“We are also working to extend European Union sanctions into the jurisdictions of other European countries outside the EU. This is a strong package, targeting, in particular, Russian resource exports and schemes for supplying electronic components to Russia. And the overall impact of the 19th package on curbing Russia’s income is estimated at no less than tens of billions of euros annually.
“We are also enacting our new sanctions targeting Russian entities involved in resource extraction in the Arctic, which contributes to funding Russia’s ability to wage war. We already know that our partners will follow suit by incorporating our proposals into their own sanctions packages. I thank everyone who is helping. I have also instructed preparations for new decisions by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine based on relevant submissions regarding entities in Russian propaganda and military production, as well as collaborationists.
“We will also issue a sanctions response to Russia’s measures against the Prime Minister of Ukraine and other government officials. Of course, unlike global sanctions, Russian sanctions do not pose any real problems. But at a time when the majority of the world is working with us to do everything possible to end this war, any Russian escalation, including propaganda actions, deserves a proper and tangible response.
“Russia must end this war, which it itself started and continues to prolong. And concrete steps, along with meaningful diplomacy, are needed to achieve this. Any other scenario will mean increased pressure on all key figures in Russia. Glory to Ukraine!”
I have signed several new sanctions decisions.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 6, 2025
We continue synchronizing partner sanctions within Ukraine’s jurisdiction, and the EU’s 19th sanctions package against Russia for this war is now in effect in Ukraine. We are also working to extend European Union sanctions into the… pic.twitter.com/hHLvF15rKf
In pictures: Russian soldiers fire a Malka self-propelled gun towards Ukrainian positions on an undisclosed location in Ukraine
Thursday 6 November 2025 14:30 , Bryony GoochEU urges Russia to halt nuclear threats, warns against fueling new arms race
Thursday 6 November 2025 14:00 , Bryony GoochThe European Union on Thursday urged Russia to stop making nuclear threats and called on all parties to avoid actions that could spark a new arms race, a spokesperson said.
"The EU urges Russia to refrain from nuclear threats and all actors to avoid actions that could trigger a new arms race," the spokesperson said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered officials to draft plans for a possible nuclear test, Moscow's first since 1991, in response to US President Donald Trump's announcement that the U.S. would resume testing.
Ukraine's PM condemns Russia's latest overnight attack calling for Russia's frozen assets to be mobilised for defence
Thursday 6 November 2025 13:30 , Bryony GoochUkrainian prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko has condemned Russia’s latest overnight attack on the Dnipro region, where eight people have been injured in Kamianske.
In a statement on X, she said: “Again, last night, Russia targeted the people of Ukraine with another massive drone assault. Since yesterday evening, our Dnipro region has been under attack, with eight people injured in Kamianske, where residential buildings and railway infrastructure were targeted.
“Russians also struck the Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv regions. Russia’s ongoing terror against our civilians and energy systems continues, making it clear that the current level of pressure has failed to force Russians into reconsidering their fantasies of empire.
“Sanctions and tariffs on Russia’s energy exports and finances must increase. Russia's frozen assets must be fully mobilized for defense, and Moscow must finally understand that Europe is serious about defending itself.
“The time is now. Every day, the cost of this inaction only increases.”
Again, last night, Russia targeted the people of Ukraine with another massive drone assault.
— Yulia Svyrydenko (@Svyrydenko_Y) November 6, 2025
Since yesterday evening, our Dnipro region has been under attack, with eight people injured in Kamianske, where residential buildings and railway infrastructure were targeted.
Russians… pic.twitter.com/NoDJniGM7b
Watch: Moment 11-year-old girl bravely confronts Putin after uncle injured in war
Thursday 6 November 2025 13:00 , Bryony GoochAnalysis: What to expect as Hungary's Orban, Putin's closest European ally, is set to meet Trump on Friday
Thursday 6 November 2025 12:30 , The Associated PressWhen Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visits President Donald Trump in the White House on Friday, his priority will be convincing the US administration to turn a blind eye to Hungary's dogged commitment to buying Russian oil, a potential test of how deep the affinity goes between the two friendly leaders.
Orban, once an outspoken opponent of Russia's dominance of Hungary during the Cold War, has in the last decade made a dramatic shift toward Moscow that has baffled his opponents and many earlier allies. Widely considered Russian President Vladimir Putin's most reliable advocate in the European Union, Orban has maintained warm relations with the Kremlin despite its war against Ukraine.
He has also curried favor with Trump and his MAGA movement, which views Hungary as a shining example of conservative nationalism despite the erosion of its democratic institutions.
But now, as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches its fourth anniversary, Orban is under increasing pressure from both Brussels and Washington to end Hungary's reliance on Russian oil, a resource seen as critical for funding Moscow's war. Last month, the Trump administration levied sanctions on Russian state-affiliated energy giants Lukoil and Rosneft that could expose their foreign buyers — like India, China and Hungary — to secondary sanctions.
Yet the Hungarian leader hopes his personal relationship with Trump will score him points at Friday's meeting, the first between the two leaders since Trump retook office in January. In comments to state radio last week, Orban made clear he would try to "make the Americans understand" that Hungary needs a carve out for its continued purchases of Russian energy.
Mapped: A closer look at eastern Ukraine where the war is raging
Thursday 6 November 2025 12:00 , Arpan RaiUkraine ‘destroys elite Russian unit’ in drone strike on Black Sea oil rig
Thursday 6 November 2025 11:45 , Arpan RaiUkraine’s navy says it has struck an “elite” Russian special unit located on a Black Sea oil rig.
An anti-tank missile crew was killed in the strike and reconnaissance equipment was destroyed at the Syvash drilling rig, near Russian-occupied Crimea, the naval forces said in a Telegram post.
Russia has disputed the account by distributing a video that alleges a Ukrainian naval boat was destroyed by a Lancet drone, but Kyiv’s forces said the video actually showed them deploying a kamikaze drone successfully.
Ukraine ‘destroys elite Russian unit’ in drone strike on Black Sea oil rig
Moscow reports battles in Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad and Kupiansk
Thursday 6 November 2025 11:10 , Arpan RaiRussia's defence ministry said its forces were battling Ukrainian troops in the towns of Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad and Kupiansk, news agencies reported.
They quoted the ministry as saying fighting was taking place in the centre of Pokrovsk and in its western industrial zone.
It said Russia had carried out new overnight strikes on Ukrainian energy and transport infrastructure.
Angelina Jolie’s Ukraine visit sparks row as military recruiters seize her driver
Thursday 6 November 2025 11:03 , Arpan RaiHollywood star Angelina Jolie’s trip to Ukraine descended into drama on Wednesday when her local driver was press-ganged into the military.
Jolie, a Unicef ambassador, was visiting the south of the country to meet with children impacted by the war, local media reported.
The celebrity was seen playing with a group of children in Kherson, a region attacked by Russian forces with drones and missiles on an almost daily basis.
It was her second trip to the country since it was invaded by Russia in February 2022.
Angelina Jolie’s Ukraine visit sparks row as military recruiters seize her driver
Poland launches new military programme to train 400,000 in 2026
Thursday 6 November 2025 10:59 , Arpan RaiPoland will roll out a new military programme this month as part of a broader plan to train around 400,000 people in 2026, the defence ministry said today.
Galvanised by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Poland now spends more of its GDP on defence than any other Nato member. It has grown into the alliance's third-largest military, with 216,000 personnel, and plans to expand its forces by nearly a third over the next decade.
Dubbed by defence minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz as "the largest defence training in Polish history", the programme "At Readiness" will be voluntary and open to all citizens - from schoolchildren to working adults, companies, and seniors.
The programme will offer a basic security course, survival training, medical instruction, and cyber-hygiene classes.
“In November and December alone (...) we will train about 20,000 people in individual training, but the total number..., in terms of all forms of training, is about 100,000 people," deputy defence minister Cezary Tomczyk told a conference.
The ministry plans next year to train approximately 400,000 people "individually, in groups, as part of 'Education with the Army', reserve training and voluntary compulsory military service", Tomczyk added.
Ukraine's military says it struck Russia's Volgograd oil refinery
Thursday 6 November 2025 10:30 , Arpan RaiThe Ukrainian military said that it struck Russia's Volgograd oil refinery, causing a fire this morning.
Ukraine's general staff also said it struck military and energy targets in Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia, according to statement on the Telegram messaging app.
The targets included a drone base in Donetsk and fuel and lubricant targets in Crimea.
In photos: Angelina Jolie visits Ukraine
Thursday 6 November 2025 10:00 , Arpan Rai
A look at Pokrovsk – the hottest sector of Ukraine battlefield
Thursday 6 November 2025 09:50 , Arpan RaiBulgaria drafts law to seize and sell Russian oil refinery
Thursday 6 November 2025 09:00 , Arpan RaiBulgaria is drafting legal changes that will allow it to seize control of sanctioned Russian oil giant Lukoil's Burgas refinery and sell it to a new owner to protect the plant from US sanctions, local media reported.
Burgas is Bulgaria's only oil refinery, and was a key part of Lukoil's foreign business empire, which is being threatened after the US joined Britain last month in imposing sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies over Moscow's war in Ukraine.
The draft legislation, first reported by Bulgarian outlet Mediapool yesterday, would permit a special manager to oversee the sale of the Burgas oil refinery, which owner Lukoil would have no right to vote on or appeal against, the reports said.
"There is a lot of logic in this, which is why today we will submit a draft law on the special governor," public broadcaster BNT quoted Boyko Borissov, former prime minister and leader of the GERB party – which heads Bulgaria's coalition government – as saying.
As Russian drone incursions rattle Europe, Poland and Romania deploy a new defensive system
Thursday 6 November 2025 08:45 , Arpan RaiPoland and Romania are deploying a new weapons system to defend against Russian drones, following a spate of incursions into Nato airspace in recent months that exposed the alliance’s vulnerabilities and put Europe on edge.
The American Merops system, which is small enough to fit in the back of a mid-sized pickup truck, can identify drones and close in on them, using artificial intelligence to navigate when satellite and electronic communications are jammed.
As well as being deployed in Poland and Romania, Merops will also be used by Denmark, Nato military officials told The Associated Press, part of a move to boost defenses on the alliance’s eastern flank.
As Russian drone incursions rattle Europe, Poland and Romania deploy a new defensive system
US and European energy leaders in Greece to talk ways to better supply Ukraine
Thursday 6 November 2025 08:30 , Arpan RaiEnergy ministers from the United States and European countries are holding talks today in Greece on how to use a newly upgraded regional pipeline network to better supply war-torn Ukraine as the Trump administration seeks to further ramp up gas exports to Europe.
US energy secretary Chris Wright and interior secretary Doug Burgum were attending the meeting in Athens, hosted by the Atlantic Council, the Washington-based think tank.
They were joined by more than 80 US officials, European Union energy ministers, and executives from leading American liquified natural gas companies.
President Donald Trump is seeking to use America’s position as the world’s top LNG exporter to press the EU to buy more US gas, linking energy exports to broader trade negotiations.
US and European energy leaders in Greece to talk ways to better supply Ukraine
South Africa says 17 citizens were lured into fighting in Ukraine
Thursday 6 November 2025 08:15 , Arpan RaiSouth Africa's government said it had received distress calls from 17 citizens who had joined mercenary forces in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The men are between the ages of 20 and 39 years and are trapped in Ukraine's war-torn Donbas region.
"President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an investigation into the circumstances that led to the recruitment of these young men into these seemingly mercenary activities," South Africa's government said in a statement.
Angelina Jolie makes surprise visit to Ukraine's frontline region
Thursday 6 November 2025 08:00 , Arpan RaiAmerican actor Angelina Jolie has visited Ukraine’s southern regions to meet children impacted by the Russian invasion, local media reported.
Jolie was seen playing with Ukrainian children in Kherson, a region that is hit by Russian drones and missiles on a daily basis.
The Tomb Raider star was visiting the war-hit country in her role as a UNICEF ambassador.
The actor was seen wearing a bulletproof vest with a patch from the Legacy of War Foundation, a British non-profit organisation helping civilians during the war.
The visit by Jolie faced an incident with local military recruiters, reported Politico, citing a top Ukrainian official. The official said Jolie had not informed the Ukrainian government about her intention to visit the country, and that she entered on foot.
American actress and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie visited the city of Kherson, according to local Telegram channels. Suspilne and local outlet MOST also confirmed the visit.
— Hromadske Int. (@Hromadske) November 5, 2025
Jolie visited medical facilities, including a children's hospital and a maternity hospital. pic.twitter.com/gVTvdwKoG3
Watch: Putin orders nuclear weapons test preparations after Trump threat in new escalation
Thursday 6 November 2025 07:45 , Arpan RaiPutin orders defence of oil sites from Ukrainian drone attacks
Thursday 6 November 2025 07:30 , Arpan RaiVladimir Putin has ordered the heightened defence of Russia's oil refineries from Ukrainian drone attacks in a new law.
In a law signed on Tuesday, Putin called on around two million reservists to protect Russian oil facilities from increasing Ukrainian drone attacks.
In recent weeks, Ukraine's daring strikes deep inside Russia using domestically produced drones have embarrassed Moscow, with officials being unforthcoming about any damage, and unnerved Russians.
Ukraine has taken aim at manufacturing plants, oil refineries and military logistics hubs in a bid to disrupt Russia's war effort almost four years after Moscow launched an all-out invasion.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian long-range drones attacked an industrial plant around 1,300km (800 miles) inside Russia, local officials said.
Russia and Ukraine say their forces are locked in fierce fighting in the ruins of Pokrovsk
Thursday 6 November 2025 07:14 , Arpan RaiRussia said its forces were advancing north inside Pokrovsk in a drive to take full control of the Ukrainian city, but the Ukrainian army said its units were battling hard to try to stop the Russians from gaining new ground.
Ukraine has acknowledged that its troops face a difficult position in the strategic eastern city, once an important transport and logistics hub for the Ukrainian army, which Russia has been trying to capture for more than a year.
The Russian defence ministry said two assault groups were destroying Ukrainian troops that were surrounded in several districts of the city and continuing an offensive pushing north through it. Russian forces were clearing Ukrainian troops from settlements on Pokrovsk's southeastern flank and had repelled Ukrainian attempts to break out of encirclement.
The Ukrainian military denied that its troops were surrounded in Pokrovsk. It said they were trying to stop Russian soldiers from digging in while seeking to secure and protect logistics routes in the wider area.
“Measures are being taken to block the enemy, which is attempting to infiltrate and accumulate in the city of Pokrovsk," the Ukrainian General Staff said in a statement.
“Active countermeasures are being taken against attempts by enemy infantry groups to gain a foothold.”
Russia sees the city as the gateway to its capture of the remaining 10 per cent, or 5,000 square km (1,930 square miles) of Ukraine's eastern industrial Donbas region, one of its key aims in the almost four-year-old war.
Britain may send troubled Ajax vehicles to Ukraine
Thursday 6 November 2025 06:57 , Arpan RaiThe UK government is reportedly considering transferring some of the Army’s controversial Ajax armoured vehicles to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force.
Ministry of Defence figures show that the Army has at least 128 Ajax armoured fighting vehicles, though an update from defence minister Lord Coaker suggests that only 91 of these are already in service after years of delays.
Around 50 of these vehicles are now ready to be deployed, reported The Telegraph.
The armoured vehicles have been deemed unfit over several problems, most notably the loudness of the noise it produces, which has been harmful to soldiers testing them.
More than 300 British soldiers have had to undergo hearing assessments and around 17 of those involved in the trials have been undergoing treatment for hearing loss, the report added.
One killed as Ukraine strikes Russia's Volgograd with drones
Thursday 6 November 2025 06:20 , Arpan RaiAt least one person was killed after Ukraine struck Russia with at least 75 drones overnight, officials said.
The attack sparked a fire in an industrial area of the southern city of Volgograd, killing at least one and halting dozens of flights across the country, according to regional officials said.
Volgograd Governor Andrei Bocharov said a 48-year-old man was killed by shrapnel and that a fire was sparked in an industrial zone in the Krasnoarmeysk district of the city, which was formerly known as Stalingrad.
The district is home to Lukoil's major Volgograd refinery which has been repeatedly targetted by Ukraine. In 2024 the Volgograd refinery processed 13.7 million metric tons of oil, or 5.1 per cent of the total volume at Russian refineries.
Ukraine has for several months been striking Russian oil refineries, depots and pipelines in a bid to undermine the Russian economy as Russian forces advance in eastern Ukraine.
Bulgaria drafts law to seize and sell Russian oil refinery
Thursday 6 November 2025 05:59 , Arpan RaiBulgaria is drafting legal changes that will allow it to seize control of sanctioned Russian oil giant Lukoil's Burgas refinery and sell it to a new owner to protect the plant from US sanctions, local media reported.
Burgas is Bulgaria's only oil refinery, and was a key part of Lukoil's foreign business empire, which is being threatened after the US joined Britain last month in imposing sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies over Moscow's war in Ukraine.
The draft legislation, first reported by Bulgarian outlet Mediapool yesterday, would permit a special manager to oversee the sale of the Burgas oil refinery, which owner Lukoil would have no right to vote on or appeal against, the reports said.
"There is a lot of logic in this, which is why today we will submit a draft law on the special governor," public broadcaster BNT quoted Boyko Borissov, former prime minister and leader of the GERB party – which heads Bulgaria's coalition government – as saying.
Putin's aides push him for full-scale nuclear tests
Thursday 6 November 2025 05:32 , Arpan RaiRussian defence minister Andrei Belousov told Vladimir Putin that recent US remarks and actions meant it was "advisable to prepare for full-scale nuclear tests" immediately.
Russia's Arctic testing site at Novaya Zemlya could host such tests at short notice, Belousov added.
The comments were made at a meeting between Putin and his Security Council, where parliamentary speaker Vyacheslav Volodin departed from the official agenda of transport safety to ask how Moscow should respond to Donald Trump's threat to carry out the first US nuclear weapons testing in 33 years.
Trump announced last week that the US would breach a global moratorium on testing nuclear weapons, claiming rivals such as China, Russia and North Korea were already doing the same in secret, but did not offer more details.
General Valery Gerasimov, head of the General Staff, told Putin: "If we do not take appropriate measures now, time and opportunities for a timely response to the actions of the United States will be lost, since the time required to prepare for nuclear tests, depending on their type, ranges from several months to several years.”
No country apart from North Korea – most recently in 2017 – has carried out explosive tests of nuclear weapons in the 21st century.
Security analysts say a resumption of testing by any of the world's nuclear powers would be destabilising, as it would likely trigger a similar response by the others.
“Action-reaction cycle at its best. No one needs this, but we might get there regardless," Andrey Baklitskiy, senior researcher at the UN Institute for Disarmament Research, posted on X.
Russia and the US are by far the biggest nuclear powers by numbers of warheads, followed by China, France, Britain, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea, according to the Federation of American Scientists.
Poland in talks to import more LNG from US to supply Ukraine
Thursday 6 November 2025 04:55 , Arpan RaiPoland is working on a deal to import liquefied natural gas from the US to supply Ukraine and Slovakia, sources familiar with the negotiations said.
The agreement would further tighten the European Union’s ties to American energy.
"We are working with our partners – Americans, Slovaks, Ukrainians – on the possibilities of importing American gas to boost the energy security of our region," the Polish energy ministry told Reuters late last night, confirming the talks.
Officials expect to announce a joint declaration to boost imports after a meeting of the parties at a transatlantic energy conference in Athens later this week, one of the sources said.
"After that, discussions would follow on terms for supplies to Slovakia," one of the sources told Reuters. Potential volumes to be shipped south via Poland could be as much as 4 to 5 billion cubic meters of gas per year, about the same as Slovakia's annual gas consumption, the sources said.
This is expected to be the latest in a series of energy deals struck between European and US government officials and companies on the back of a push from Washington to boost exports of American gas and nuclear technology.
Why talk of the fall of Pokrovsk – and Ukraine – is premature
Thursday 6 November 2025 04:24 , Arpan RaiNot a word of what the Russian defence ministry says is credible. Its claims that Russian troops have surrounded Ukrainian forces in Pokrovsk, Kostyantynivka and Kupiansk, in eastern Ukraine, are agitprop.
But Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement from the front line that his country’s fighters are “under pressure” is something of an understatement.
Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Russian troops may have successfully infiltrated the three tactically important towns.
Kupiansk is on Russia’s route towards Kharkiv. The other two control the eastern and southern routes to the last remaining Ukrainian redoubts in Donetsk – Kramatorsk and Slaviansk.
Vladimir Putin has thrown a massive effort into the fight for Donetsk, which Moscow has already illegally “annexed”. Ukraine’s commanders believe there are about 100,000 Russian troops in this sector alone.
Ukraine is reported to have sent its own special forces into the fight for Pokrovsk. If the pattern of previous battles for eastern towns and cities is repeated, it could be a year at least and many tens of thousands of Russian dead, before they fall. If they fall.
Why talk of the fall of Pokrovsk – and Ukraine – is premature
Putin orders defence of oil sites from Ukrainian drone attacks
Thursday 6 November 2025 04:00 , Arpan RaiVladimir Putin has ordered the heightened defence of Russia's oil refineries from Ukrainian drone attacks in a new law.
In a law signed on Tuesday, Putin called on around two million reservists to protect Russian oil facilities from increasing Ukrainian drone attacks.
In recent weeks, Ukraine's daring strikes deep inside Russia using domestically produced drones have embarrassed Moscow, with officials being unforthcoming about any damage, and unnerved Russians.
Ukraine has taken aim at manufacturing plants, oil refineries and military logistics hubs in a bid to disrupt Russia's war effort almost four years after Moscow launched an all-out invasion.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian long-range drones attacked an industrial plant around 1,300km (800 miles) inside Russia, local officials said.
Watch: Putin orders nuclear weapons test preparations after Trump threat in new escalation
Thursday 6 November 2025 03:48 , Arpan RaiAngelina Jolie makes surprise visit to Ukraine's frontline region
Thursday 6 November 2025 03:35 , Arpan RaiAmerican actor Angelina Jolie has visited Ukraine’s southern regions to meet children impacted by the Russian invasion, local media reported.
Jolie was seen playing with Ukrainian children in Kherson, a region that is hit by Russian drones and missiles on a daily basis.
The Tomb Raider star was visiting the war-hit country in her role as a UNICEF ambassador.
The actor was seen wearing a bulletproof vest with a patch from the Legacy of War Foundation, a British non-profit organisation helping civilians during the war.
The visit by Jolie faced an incident with local military recruiters, reported Politico, citing a top Ukrainian official. The official said Jolie had not informed the Ukrainian government about her intention to visit the country, and that she entered on foot.
Russia and Ukraine say their forces are locked in fierce fighting in the ruins of Pokrovsk
Thursday 6 November 2025 03:05 , Arpan RaiRussia said its forces were advancing north inside Pokrovsk in a drive to take full control of the Ukrainian city, but the Ukrainian army said its units were battling hard to try to stop the Russians from gaining new ground.
Ukraine has acknowledged that its troops face a difficult position in the strategic eastern city, once an important transport and logistics hub for the Ukrainian army, which Russia has been trying to capture for more than a year.
The Russian defence ministry said two assault groups were destroying Ukrainian troops that were surrounded in several districts of the city and continuing an offensive pushing north through it. Russian forces were clearing Ukrainian troops from settlements on Pokrovsk's southeastern flank and had repelled Ukrainian attempts to break out of encirclement.
The Ukrainian military denied that its troops were surrounded in Pokrovsk. It said they were trying to stop Russian soldiers from digging in while seeking to secure and protect logistics routes in the wider area.
“Measures are being taken to block the enemy, which is attempting to infiltrate and accumulate in the city of Pokrovsk," the Ukrainian General Staff said in a statement.
“Active countermeasures are being taken against attempts by enemy infantry groups to gain a foothold.”
Russia sees the city as the gateway to its capture of the remaining 10 per cent, or 5,000 square km (1,930 square miles) of Ukraine's eastern industrial Donbas region, one of its key aims in the almost four-year-old war.
Analysis: Ceasefire deal 'firmly off the table', says expert
Thursday 6 November 2025 02:00 , Nicole Wootton-CanePresident Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to the frontline shows that the battle between Ukraine and Russia is continuing to intensify rather than slow down.
“Zelensky's visit to the troops near an embattled town is a clear sign that a ceasefire deal is firmly off the table - at least in the short run,” Dr Bariş Çelik, an academic specialising in security and defence policies in Europe at the University of Sheffield, told The Independent.
“The visit shows that Zelensky's government is understandably invested in a defensive struggle to maintain Ukraine's territorial integrity, even if this means a continued and protracted fight against a sustained flood of Russian troops.
“This in turn adds to the doubts over a potential ceasefire between Russian and Ukrainian forces, let alone an end to the ongoing war.”
Recap: Ukraine seeks to revamp military service as troops worn down by war
Thursday 6 November 2025 01:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkraine seeks to introduce fixed-term military contracts to allow recruits more flexibility over their futures as the war with Russia shows no sign of ending.
Its current system of conscription enlists soldiers under open-ended contracts, which has led to an army worn down by the relentless intensity of fighting since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
The new system will allow current service members and recruits to sign deals lasting between one and five years, according to the country’s defence minister Denys Shmyhal who announced the news on Tuesday. The plan will seek to ease the strain on existing military members, and replenish Ukraine’s forces.
Watch: Why Russians are fighting against Russia
Thursday 6 November 2025 00:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneICYMI: Latvian arrested for allegedly collecting information for Russia's intelligence
Wednesday 5 November 2025 23:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneA Latvian citizen has been arrested for allegedly collecting information on behalf of Russia’s intelligence service, according to Latvia's State Security Service.
They added the suspect obtained and passed along details about NATO forces there, as well as information about private infrastructure used for aviation and how to buy prepaid cellphone cards.
You can read more below...
A Latvian arrested for allegedly collecting information for Russia's intelligence
Special dispatch: US medic describes horrors of Ukraine frontline – but says hearing Trump pontificate about peace is more traumatic
Wednesday 5 November 2025 22:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
US medic says Trump’s bluster about peace is more traumatic than horrors of frontline
Ukraine gets more Patriot air defence systems to counter deadly Russian attacks
Wednesday 5 November 2025 21:01 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkraine has received more American-made Patriot air defence systems in an effort to repel Russian attacks, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
“More Patriots are now in Ukraine and being put into operation,” Zelenskyy said on social media late Sunday. “Of course, more systems are needed to protect key infrastructure sites and our cities across the entire territory of our state.”
The sophisticated Patriot systems are the most effective weapon against Russian missiles.
You can read more below...
Ukraine gets more Patriot air defense systems to counter deadly Russian attacks
Poland 'working with US' on gas deal, reports say
Wednesday 5 November 2025 20:00 , Nicole Wootton-CanePoland is working on a deal to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US to supply Ukraine and Slovakia, an agreement that would further tighten the European Union’s ties to American energy, according to two sources familiar with the negotiations.
Officials expect to announce a joint declaration to boost imports after a meeting of the parties at a transatlantic energy conference in Athens later this week, one of the sources said.
"After that, discussions would follow on terms for supplies to Slovakia," one of the sources told Reuters news agency.
This is expected to be the latest in a series of energy deals struck between European and U.S. government officials and companies on the back of a push from Washington to boost exports of American gas and nuclear technology.
Watch: Moment Ukraine special ops blow up ‘elite Russian unit’ on Black Sea oil rig
Wednesday 5 November 2025 19:30 , Daniel KeaneRecap: Embarrassment in Moscow as Ukraine’s daring strikes hit targets deep inside Russia
Wednesday 5 November 2025 19:16 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkrainian long-range drones have reportedly struck an industrial plant deep inside Russia, approximately 1,300 kilometres (800 miles) from the border, while Kyiv’s forces continue to fight an intense battle to repel a Russian advance on the strategic city of Pokrovsk in eastern Donetsk.
These strikes, using domestically produced drones, have caused considerable embarrassment for Moscow, with officials often reluctant to admit any damage.
You can read more below...
Embarrassment in Moscow as Ukraine’s daring strikes hit targets deep inside Russia
Russia and Ukraine say their forces in fierce battles in ruins of Pokrovsk
Wednesday 5 November 2025 18:30 , Daniel KeaneRussia has said that its forces are advancing north inside Pokrovsk in a drive to take full control of the Ukrainian city, but the Ukrainian army said its units were battling hard to try to stop the Russians from gaining new ground.
Ukraine has acknowledged that its troops face a difficult position in the strategic eastern city, once an important transport and logistics hub for the Ukrainian army, which Russia has been trying to capture for more than a year.
Russia sees the city as the gateway to its capture of the remaining 10% of Ukraine's eastern industrial Donbas region, one of its key aims in the war.
The Russian defence ministry said two assault groups were destroying Ukrainian troops that were surrounded in several districts of the city and continuing an offensive pushing north through it.
The Ukrainian military denied that its troops were surrounded in Pokrovsk. It said they were trying to stop Russian soldiers from digging in while seeking to secure and protect logistics routes in the wider area.
US 'notified Russia ahead of Minuteman III missile test'
Wednesday 5 November 2025 17:38 , Daniel KeaneThe United States notified Russia in advance of a Minuteman III missile launch, Russia's Interfax news agency reported on Wednesday, citing Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
The US conducted a test launch of the unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on 5 November.
Why Russia is so desperate to win the battle of Pokrovsk and what happens next
Wednesday 5 November 2025 16:32 , Maira ButtRussian forces have advanced in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Monday.
Pokrovsk is a city that Russia has been trying to capture for over a year.
An estimated 100,000 Russian troops were circling the area, with Ukraine’s top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi saying his forces pushed hard to dislodge Russian troops.
The following are key facts about Pokrovsk, which Russians call by its Soviet-era name of Krasnoarmeysk, and the long battle for its control, which began in earnest in mid-2024.
Why Russia is so desperate to win the battle of Pokrovsk and what happens next
Embarrassment in Moscow as Ukraine’s daring strikes hit targets deep inside Russia
Wednesday 5 November 2025 16:06 , Maira ButtUkrainian long-range drones have reportedly struck an industrial plant deep inside Russia, approximately 1,300 kilometres (800 miles) from the border, while Kyiv’s forces continue to fight an intense battle to repel a Russian advance on the strategic city of Pokrovsk in eastern Donetsk.
Two drones targeted an industrial facility in Sterlitamak, located in Russia’s Bashkortostan region, according to regional Governor Radiy Habirov. He stated online that both drones were shot down, causing no casualties, and that the facility was operating normally, though he did not specify the exact target.
Embarrassment in Moscow as Ukraine’s daring strikes hit targets deep inside Russia
Analysis: Why talk of the fall of Pokrovsk – and Ukraine – is premature
Wednesday 5 November 2025 15:30 , Maira ButtNot a word of what the Russian defence ministry says is credible. Its claims that Russian troops have surrounded Ukrainian forces in Pokrovsk, Kostyantynivka and Kupiansk, in eastern Ukraine, are agitprop.
But Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement from the frontline that his country’s fighters are “under pressure” is also misleading - and something of an understatement.
The Independent’s foreign correspondent Sam Kiley reports:
Why talk of the fall of Pokrovsk – and Ukraine – is premature
Putin orders preparations for nuclear testing after Trump threat
Wednesday 5 November 2025 14:59 , Maira ButtRussian President Vladimir Putin has ordered top officials to begin drafting proposals on nuclear testing after US President Donald Trump said that he would resume tests last week.
"I am instructing the Foreign Ministry, the Defence Ministry... the special services and relevant civilian agencies to do everything possible to collect additional information on the issue, analyse it at the Security Council and make agreed proposals on the possible start of work on the preparation of nuclear weapons tests," Putin said on Wednesday.
