We did a long post last night, so just a brief rundown of the basics tonight.
🇺🇦🧑🧒🧒 Zelensky: The return of Ukrainian children abducted and illegally deported by Russia is a priority for us. We can exchange our warriors and prisoners of other categories. But we cannot exchange children with the Russians, and it’s understandable why.
— The Ukrainian Review (@theukrainianreview.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 2:12 PM
During my meeting with the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Pere Joan Pons Sampietro, I proposed appointing a special envoy under the OSCE PA President to focus specifically on the return of Ukrainian children. We must bring them back to their families, to their loved ones.
— The Ukrainian Review (@theukrainianreview.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
For This Winter, We Will Maintain a Fixed Price for Natural Gas for Household Consumers; There Will Be No Price Increases – Address by the President
7 October 2025 – 20:28
Dear Ukrainians!
Just now, in the evening, there was a report from the Minister of Internal Affairs Klymenko, focused particularly on the response to the aftermath of Russian strikes in the regions. All branches of the Ministry of Internal Affairs – including the State Emergency Service responders and the National Police – all of them are ensuring maximum support in the communities. I want to thank everyone working for our people: our rescuers, our power engineers, and repair crews. Additional patrols will be deployed where necessary, to increase our ability to help people and maintain order.
I also spoke today with Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko. Yesterday at the Staff meeting, we decided to allocate additional funding and equipment to the regions that need it most. These are, specifically, our frontline and border regions. All of this is already underway. Moreover, for this winter, we will maintain a fixed price for natural gas for household consumers; there will be no price increases. We also need to work out now – in full – how teachers’ salaries will increase next year, along with other social decisions that have already been approved and must be reflected in the state budget and the Government’s concrete actions. The resources are available. I also expect more detailed and more thorough work of our government officials with our people, those who lost their homes due to the war, those who were forced to relocate. We need more tangible mechanisms of government support for internally displaced persons. A report on these issues will be presented in the near future.
Today, I spoke with the Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service Ivashchenko and instructed him to work more actively with partners who can provide more assistance to Ukraine in terms of weapons and investment we need. We clearly see our partners’ intentions and capabilities – and we will work with them in a way that ensures our shared defense potential in Europe is not wasted. Every opportunity must be seized to make us all in Europe only stronger. The Head of Foreign Intelligence also reported in detail on how the Russians are utilizing tankers of their “shadow fleet” – not only to finance the war, but also for sabotage and various destabilization attempts in Europe. Recent launches of drones from tankers are one such example. We share the information we have with our partners, and it is crucial that they take tangible steps in response to Russia. We are working toward this at all levels, and there will be further meetings, there will be negotiations with our partners, both public and behind closed doors. We are convincing them not to hold back on determination. The Russians must know that none of their destructive actions – all the vile things they do – will go unanswered by the world. And we are steadily adding such determination to the world. Since the start of this war, the world has undergone a significant evolution in its attitude toward the Russian state, its potential, and its real capabilities. There was once fear of how Russia would react. Because of that, a lot of time and opportunities were lost by some of our partners. Ukraine has always called for greater determination. Now everyone sees that this is exactly what works with Russia: strong pressure, sanctions, and sufficient long-range capabilities – our fully justified long-range capabilities in response to all Russian strikes on our energy infrastructure, our cities, and our people. Russian refineries feel it, Russian military factories feel it, Russian logistics feel it. It is precisely forcing Russia into peace that must succeed – succeed through strength: Ukraine’s strength, and that of all our partners and friends who are truly helping.
Today, I met with the OSCE, and we discussed the importance of maintaining political pressure on Russia. I want to express my gratitude for the support. I also held a meeting today with the Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs of Denmark – Denmark is helping us in a very tangible way. I want to thank them for that! We must fully implement all agreements we have with Denmark, we have between our countries. And we will. This work is for our shared strength, the strength of everyone in Europe, of all decent people in the world, of all who value life and who do not want the Russian virus of war to infect anyone else. I thank everyone standing with us! I thank everyone standing with Ukraine!
Glory to Ukraine!
First Lady Zelenska addressed the first meeting of the Community of Ambassadors for Barrier-free Activity. Video followed by the English write up.
Olena Zelenska Took Part in the First Meeting of the Community of Ambassadors for Barrier-Free Accessibility
7 October 2025 – 13:39
First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska took part in the first meeting of the Community of Ambassadors for Barrier-Free Accessibility, which brought together more than 70 representatives of communities, businesses, government institutions, and the public sector.
“Just five years ago, when we first began working on this issue in Ukraine, most Ukrainians said that barrier-free accessibility was ‘something about ramps,’ because they understood barriers literally, as purely physical obstacles. And for several years we had to explain that, beyond the physical dimension, barrier-free accessibility also includes social, economic, educational, digital, and informational dimensions. In fact, these six key areas later became the foundation of the government’s barrier-free environment strategy,” the First Lady said.
According to Olena Zelenska, in the physical dimension, a program of barrier-free routes in cities has already been launched. In the social and economic dimensions, cooperation continues with major national employers – members of the Business Without Barriers community. The interactive Barrier-Free Handbook, which is continuously updated with new terms and insights, serves as a practical tool designed to help people better understand the principles of barrier-free accessibility and communicate respectfully and inclusively with different groups of society.
“Today, our meeting is taking place within the framework of the nationwide campaign ‘Barrier-Free Means When You Can.’ I really like this title, because that’s exactly about opportunities. Everyone you engage with should feel that barrier-free accessibility is not about someone else, but about them – about their needs,” the First Lady noted.
As part of the initiative, ambassadors for barrier-free accessibility were appointed to represent flagship projects of ministries and other government institutions – to strengthen interagency cooperation and promote the principles of barrier-free environment in all areas of life.
The participants also took part in a training session on the basics of barrier-free accessibility, conducted by the NGO Barrier-Free, and developed individual project implementation plans for their own communities. These are concrete steps to be implemented by the end of the year to make communities more accessible for everyone – for example, monitoring public spaces and businesses for physical accessibility, creating maps of accessible locations, and promoting the requirements of the State Building Codes.
Social and civic accessibility efforts include advocacy for establishing accessibility councils and training for specialists working with veterans and people with disabilities.
In the field of educational accessibility, it is planned to work with teachers, parents, and students, as well as raise awareness among people with disabilities about their educational rights.
In the area of informational accessibility, ambassadors plan to conduct audits of information accessibility.
Georgia:
Day 314 of uninterrupted protests in Georgia.
Usually, when activists block Rustaveli Avenue, police cars block every entry point to stop traffic from entering. For the past 3 days, they didn’t — forcing activists to stand and block all sides themselves.
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Georgian police are asking protesters to clear Rustaveli Avenue, blocked for the 314th consecutive day.
Protesters refuse.It’s clear Georgian Dream is getting increasingly desperate to suppress the daily protests.
#GeorgiaProtests 🇬🇪
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 1:13 PM
1/ On the 314th day of continuous protests, Rustaveli remains blocked. No police are on the scene. Unlike before, the Ministry of Internal Affairs hasn’t cordoned off the road.
#GeorgiaProtests
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 1:38 PM
2/ Protesters themselves are redirecting traffic away from Rustaveli, Freedom Square, and April 9 Street. At times, this leads to tensions with frustrated drivers, creating a fragile atmosphere on the ground.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 1:38 PM
3/ Police appeared on Rustaveli twice, calling on citizens to open the road. However, the protesters refused to comply.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 1:38 PM
4/ Yesterday, Irakli Kobakhidze threatened protesters, saying: “100 people on Rustaveli are committing violence against 4 million people. Let them expect our methodical and systematic response.”
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 1:38 PM
5/ Because the police didn’t cordon off the road during the protest, some buses and cars saw that people were on the road but didn’t care and tried to use it as usual.
#GeorgiaProtests
Video: Rusudan Jakeli
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 3:57 PM
A bus tried to drive onto Rustaveli Avenue, blocked by protesters for the 314th consecutive day.
This girl didn’t hesitate to jump right in front of it.
#GeorgiaProtests— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 1:22 PM
1/ Irakli Kobakhidze Threatens Participants of the Daily Protest Outside Parliament Speaking on the pro-government channel Rustavi 2, Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said there would be “zero compassion.”
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 6:42 AM
2/ “Zero compassion toward these people. We will act in accordance with the law and the Constitution. The standards of fundamental rights will be respected, but once again — zero compassion toward these people,” Kobakhidze stated.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 6:42 AM
3/ He reiterated that, under Georgian Dream’s “methodical approach,” the participants of the Rustaveli protests “will be held accountable for the year-long, hundred-person violence they have been committing against the country’s national interests and economy.”
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 6:42 AM
4/ Since 28 November 2024, Rustaveli Avenue has been closed to traffic every evening as part of ongoing protests — the date when Kobakhidze announced that Georgia was suspending negotiations on joining the European Union.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Four more people have been arrested according to the ministry, 17 in total.
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 3:10 PM
⭕️On October 7, Judge Lela Maridashvili ordered the pre-trial detention of five organizers of October 5 protest.
♦️13 more were arrested last night.
♦️Kobakhidze promised “zero compassion”
#GeorgiaProtests #RepressionInGeorgia
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) October 7, 2025 at 8:19 AM
The EU:
And that’s it?
🇪🇺💤
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 7:33 AM
From The Financial Times:
EU governments have agreed to limit the travel of Russian diplomats within the bloc, in response to a surge in sabotage attempts that intelligence agencies say are often led by spies operating under diplomatic cover.
Moscow-sponsored intelligence operatives have been blamed for escalating provocations against Nato states — from arson and cyber attacks to infrastructure sabotage and drone incursions — in what EU security services call a co-ordinated campaign to destabilise Kyiv’s European allies.
The proposed rules will force Russian diplomats posted in EU capitals to inform other governments of their travel plans before crossing beyond the border of their host country.
The initiative, championed by the Czech Republic, is part of a fresh set of sanctions being drawn up by Brussels in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The package also includes a proposed transaction ban on a rouble-pegged cryptocurrency and a related exchange, according to a person familiar with the matter. The Financial Times earlier this week reported on Russia’s success in using the rouble-pegged A7A5 token to circumvent US sanctions targeting Grinex, a Kyrgyzstan-based exchange.
The package requires unanimous support to be adopted. Hungary, the last country opposed to the measure, had dropped its veto, two people briefed on the negotiations said.
However, legal adoption could be delayed by a dispute over Austria’s bid to include another measure that would lift sanctions on assets linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, in order to compensate the country’s bank Raiffeisen for damages it had to pay in Russia.
Ambassadors from at least a dozen other capitals said last week they could not back the package if Austria’s proposal was included, the officials said. Further talks will take place on Wednesday.
EU intelligence agencies say that Russian spies, posing as diplomats, often run assets or operations beyond their host countries, in order to better elude counter-espionage surveillance.
“They are posted to one place — but work in another,” said a senior EU diplomat, citing intelligence reports. “The host country intelligence services know what they are up to but, if they cross the border, it can be harder for that country to keep tabs on them.”
In particular, the Czech government has been lobbying for restrictions since May last year. Prague has barred several Russian diplomats suspected of aiding intelligence activities. However, hundreds are still accredited to neighbouring Austria and from there they can legally cross the border into the Czech Republic.
Spain:
Spanish authorities have seized the Mallorca property of Nikolai Kolesov, head of the state corporation Russian Helicopters and a top Rostec executive. The property is valued at €18 million.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Estonia:
Estonia has sentenced a serviceman to nearly five years in prison for spying for Russia’s FSB.
Estonian citizen, Ivan Dmitriev, in March and May 2025 cooperated with FSB officer. He was a member of the voluntary defense organization, where he carried out various tasks, including operating drones.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 7:19 PM
France:
European manufacturer Thales has developed a compact mini-missile to help counter Shahed-type attack drones — FZ123 warhead for the 70 mm missile is filled with thousands of tiny steel pellets and nearly one-kilogram charge. New system is already being deployed in Ukraine.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 2:45 AM
/2. The strike radius during an explosion reaches up to 25 meters in diameter. The maximum range of the missile with this warhead is up to 3 km.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Belarus:
🇧🇾⛽️ Belarusian gasoline exports to Russia quadrupled in September due to fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, — Reuters.
Last month, 49,000 tons of gasoline and 33,000 tons of diesel were delivered to Russia.
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Back to Ukraine.
🇺🇦🚀 Ukrainian “Neptunes” hit the enemy more than 50 times last year, but this is not always reported, – a spokesman for the Ukrainian Navy.
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 7:30 AM
There are now three versions of missiles for the Neptune system:
The Original (photo 1), the Long (photo 2), and the Chubby (photo 3) 🙃🤩
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 10:07 AM
No body shaming the Neptune missiles.
From the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine:
Minister of Defence of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and the MoD team presented Ukraine’s weapons production capabilities to foreign delegations.
The Ministry of Defence team presented ready-to-deploy solutions that strike the enemy on the front lines and in the rear. Ukrainian manufacturers showcased their products that could be produced in partner countries in the very near future under the ‘Build with Ukraine’ program.
Drones, ammunition, missiles, robotic systems, artillery assets, and armoured vehicles are what Ukraine manufactures today and stands ready to produce jointly with partners.
“We call on our partner countries to invest in strengthening the arsenal of the free world — to build it together with Ukraine. The weapons of Ukraine are the weapons of the free world,” said Denys Shmyhal.
Attendees included Inga Ruginienė, the Prime Minister of Lithuania; Troels Lund Poulsen, Denmark’s Minister of Defence; Morten Bødskov, Denmark’s Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs; Andreas Flåm, Norway’s State Secretary to the Minister of Defence; NATO representatives; and other distinguished foreign guests.
“That’s where it’s burning — and here we’re shooting them down.” – One of the “Dronopad” crews showed the behind-the-scenes of their “anti-Shahed” work. They took down three Shaheds in one night — one of the downed drones crashed right next to them.
t.me/c/1067414761…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 10:19 AM
❗️Today alone, Russia has attacked Ukraine’s energy sector more than 26 times, — Ministry of Energy
Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Odesa and Poltava regions are actually under the enemy’s daily sights.
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 3:20 PM
🇺🇦🦩 Ukraine has begun using FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles, costing about $500,000, — The Economist.
For comparison, Tomahawk missile costs four times as much, has a shorter claimed range and payload, but is more accurate and harder to shoot down.
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 3:17 PM
✅🇺🇦 Gas supply has been fully restored in Shostka after recent shelling — 33,000 subscribers are already receiving gas.
👏 Gas supply has also been restored in six surrounding villages, including Bohdanka, Obrazhiyevka, Kovtunovo, Mironivka, Kruptka, and Shkyrmanivka.
— The Ukrainian Review (@theukrainianreview.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Sumy Oblast:
In Shostka, Sumy Oblast, people have to cook their meals outdoors after repeated russian attacks left the city without electricity and gas. Water is supplied on a schedule. Imagine this in the middle of winter.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Russian occupied Crimea:
Oil depot in occupied Feodosia keeps burning. Fire spread 🔥
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Satellite images of a Russian oil depot in Feodosia, where a fire has been raging for more than a day and a half following the Ukrainian drone attack.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 12:24 PM
The oil depot in Feodosia has been burning for the second day in a row. Russian channels report that the fire has already spread to another storage tank, and according to satellite images, the smoke from the burning facility has stretched for 21 kilometers.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Five more days and the Ukrainians get a new holiday.
I do not make the rules.
Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast:
If you don’t get the Hachiko newsletter, here are some recent updates from the front lines in Ukraine (you can also subscribe here). There’s some good news to share as well! 👉 mailchi.mp/hachikofound…
— Nate Mook (@natemook.bsky.social) October 5, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Belgorod Oblast, Russia:
Russian air defence missile hit residential building on n Belgorod.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Ukrainian long range kamikaze drones “Morok” flying over Belgorod right now.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Russians are posting about another Ukrainian drone attack on Russia. But the most interesting part of all their post is the speed of those drones! O.o
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Leningrad Oblast, Russia:
In the morning, a railway track was blown up in Russia’s Leningrad region, on the stretch between Stroganovo and Mshinskaya. The explosion caused the locomotive and several cars of a military cargo train to derail – Suspilne news reports 👀
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Russian Railways attributed the disruption to “technical reasons,” and freight and passenger trains were delayed several hours along a detour.
Later, Ukrainian media reported that partisans had derailed a train carrying military cargo, paralyzing the St. Petersburg-Pskov train service.
— Savchenko Volodymyr (@savchenkoua.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Yekaterinburg, Russia:
The Ural Turbine Plant in Yekaterinburg is currently on fire. The blaze has engulfed about 1,000 square meters of the facility’s roof, where equipment for nuclear power plants, thermal power stations, and turbines for nuclear vessels is manufactured.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Tyumen Oblast, Russia:
Russian oil refinery in Tyumen, located 2000km from the front line, was hit by at least two drones. Drones damaged a distillation column and part of the water supply system. According to Astra.
Tyumen oil refinery has a total capacity of 7,5mln tons of oil per year.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Voronezh Oblast, Russia:
Rosenergoatom claimed that a Ukrainian drone tried to attack the cooling tower of the Novovoronezh NPP.
In reality, however, RF electronic warfare systems jammed the drone, causing it to crash into the tower-type evaporative cooling unit of the operating power unit No. 6 at the plant.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 8:22 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron skeets or videos today. Here is some adjacent material.
This is Dexter, he lives in Kharkiv. Today he visited a children’s event at Barabashovo market, the same place russia bombed just a few nights ago. He’s irresistibly cute, and simply by being his playful, curious self, he helps Kharkiv’s kids cope with the hardest chapter of their lives: war.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Open thread!
bjacques
Thanks as always, Adam.
I hope Ukraine can spare a few drones for that Belarusian gasoline and diesel once it rolls across the Russian border.
Karen Gail
Thank you, I can’t imagine the horrors these people live with day after day and still keep going strong.
funlady75
thanks Adam.
Adam L Silverman
@bjacques: @Karen Gail: @funlady75: You’re all welcome.
Westyny
Thanks again, Adam. When Dexter grows up I’d like to introduce him to Putin.
Adam L Silverman
@Westyny: You’re welcome.
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: You’re welcome.
Carlo Graziani
The Tomahawk may be harder to shoot down and more accurate than a single Flamingo.I bet the Tomahawk is not harder to shoot down and not more likely to strike its target than the quartet of Flamingos that its cost would displace.
Carlo Graziani
The new Ukrainian strategic bombing capability has an interesting new consequence relating to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. In principle, the Ukrainians can now create radiation/contamination problems for the Russians at nuclear facilities up to 2000 km from their border with Russia. That fact would actually create the conditions for deterrence: if the Russians fuck with the Zaporizhzhia NPP, they could wind up with some extremely serious nuclear plant management problems of their own.
I can’t help wondering whether that drone crash at the cooling tower of Novovoronezh NPP is a coded message to the Russians.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
Thank you Adam.
bjacques
@Carlo Graziani: I don’t think that’s a line Ukraine would cross. But Russian incompetence makes such an event inevitable, and I’m sure they’d try to hang it on Ukraine regardless.
YY_Sima Qian
I am seeing claims that Russia is importing gasoline from the PRC, too, even as it continues to export crude oil to the latter.
YY_Sima Qian
@YY_Sima Qian: Meanwhile: