Russian forces attacked energy infrastructure in the southern region of Mykolaiv, launching 56 drones and one missile in an overnight assault on Ukraine mid-week.
Mykolaiv regional governor Vitaliy Kim said the attack had cut power to some consumers but there were no casualties.
The Ukrainian air force also reported five hits to infrastructure facilities in regions near the front line. It said 22 drones were shot down and that it lost track of 27 drones that likely fell into Ukrainian territory following active electronic warfare measures. Two more drones went into Belarus.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said drone debris fell into the yard of a kindergarten in the capital. The authorities in Kyiv and the surrounding region reported no damage to critical infrastructure or casualties following the attack.
Regional authorities in the northeastern Sumy region said a drone attack caused a fire at an administrative building and damaged two cars.
Russian forces have pummeled critical infrastructure in Ukrainian cities ahead of the winter months, prompting Kyiv leadership to intensify pleas for additional air defense from its allies.
Russia denies targeting civilians, although it has killed thousands during its more than two and a half years at war with Ukraine.
Six Russian soldiers granted French visas after fleeing the war
Six Russian soldiers who fled the war in Ukraine have been granted temporary visas as they apply for political asylum in France, in what human rights activists describe as the first major case of a group of deserters being admitted to a EU country.
The men arrived in Paris on separate flights over the last few months after initially fleeing Russia to Kazakhstan in 2022 and 2023, according to an organization that assists soldiers to flee, and to accounts from the deserters.
“When I landed in France, it was the first time I could breathe fully. I felt a sense of calmness and freedom…the worst was behind me,” Alexander, a former Russian contract soldier who was sent to Ukraine and deserted during the summer of 2023, told The Guardian in an interview.
Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, tens of thousands of Russian soldiers have deserted or refused orders to fight, say rights activists and groups that help soldiers flee.
But the West has long grappled with the decision over whether to accept Russian soldiers who have deserted, with questions lingering over whether to treat them as heroes, potential security risks, or war criminals. While the EU and its member states have publicly discussed offering asylum to Russian deserters, no decision has been reached and it has proven difficult for deserters to get asylum.
Media reports reveal details of new EU migration plan: changes will impact Ukrainians
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has unveiled a new ten-point EU plan to tackle illegal migration. The plan includes proposed changes that will also have an impact on Ukrainians.
Source: European Pravda, citing Polish radio station RMF FM Von der Leyen announced “innovative ways to combat illegal migration” in a letter to EU heads of state and government two days ahead of the upcoming EU summit.
In particular, the European Commission president proposed exploring the idea of creating centers for migrants outside the EU for those who are not eligible for asylum.
This is the first time that the European Commission has welcomed a proposal supported, in particular, by Poland. Italy already runs such centers in Albania.
Ursula von der Leyen also introduced new regulations aimed at streamlining the process of sending back migrants who do not qualify for asylum to their home countries and making it more efficient.
She also highlighted that a key responsibility of the commissioner for home affairs and migration is to tackle hybrid attacks from Russia and Belarus. This effort involves, among other measures, negotiating agreements with airlines flying to Minsk and implementing a stricter visa policy.
There will also be new rules governing the long-term stay of refugees from Ukraine, though the exact details have yet to be announced.
Migration is one of the main topics of the two-day summit of EU heads of state and government in Brussels, which begun on Thursday.
Compiled by Ana Dumbadze
