Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky with Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Athens, November 16, 2025

Sunday’s Coverage: Amid Corruption Scandal, Zelensky Announces Reforms of Energy Sector

UPDATE 0709 GMT:

Russia’s economic growth was close to zero in the third quarter of 2025, according to State statistics agency Rosstat.

“Gross Domestic Product in the third quarter of 2025 amounted to 100.6%, relative to the same period of 2024, according to preliminary estimates,” said the agency.

The 0.6% was a notable drop from 1.1% growth in the second quarter.

UPDATE 0630 GMT:

The leader of a far-right Russian paramilitary unit has posted photos of three executed Ukrainian prisoners of war.

Alexei Milchakov, the commander of the Rusich Sabotage Assault Reconnaissance Group leader, offered cash prizes to the first three people who submit a photo with “clearly executed prisoners in the background”.

The Prosecutor’s Office in the partly-occupied Zaporizhzhia region in southern Ukraine announced on Sunday that it has opened an investigation into the execution of the three POWs on Friday.

The killings came amid a Russian offensive trying to seize the town of Hulyaipole.

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency HUR said in May that it has documented more than 150 cases of Ukrainian soldiers being summarily executed after surrendering to Russian forces.

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine confirmed the exeuctions in March.

UPDATE 0623 GMT:

Three civilians have been murdered by two Russian missiles on the Kharkiv region in northeast Ukraine.

The Russians struck the center of the town of Balakliia, near apartment buildings, around 3 a.m.

Thirteen people were injured, including juveniles born in 2007, 2010, and 2011.

Additional casualties are feared as emergency responders work at the site.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Facing Russia’s intense attacks on its energy infrastructure, Ukraine has reached a deal with Greece for the supply of US liquified natural gas.

Visiting Athens on Sunday, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the supply for the first quarter of 2026. He said at a joint press conference alongside Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, “Our agreements with Greece today are a key part of the broader energy package we’ve been preparing to ensure Ukraine has sufficient gas this winter.”

The import route connects the Greek port of Alexandroupolis to Odesa in southern Ukraine through Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova.

The agreement includes long-term arrangements to strengthen Ukraine’s energy security.

Zelensky posted: