Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham outside 10 Downing Street, London, October 14, 2026

UPDATE 1532 GMT:

Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk posts a message:

After my talks with European leaders in Brussels today, I can reassure you, dear Ukrainian friends and President @ZelenskyyUa: YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) October 15, 2026

UPDATE 1153 GMT:

Romania’s President Nicușor Dan has confirmed that two aerial drones hit and set afire ships in Romanian territorial waters overnight.

Dan said Romania state will offer “a reaction” to the incident, suggesting the issue should be added to tomorrow’s agenda on Ukraine at the European Union leaders’

Bulgaria’s PM Rumen Radev said on Wednesday that Russia is suspected of sinking two ships in the Bulgarian exclusive economic zone, although this cannot be proved.

Dan and Radev will meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to discuss the incidents.

Dan told the EU Summit:

Clearly, Russia is attempting to destabilize societies – not just in Romania and Bulgaria, but across European nations, particularly those on the Eastern Flank – and to erode support for Ukraine.

Our response is to continue supporting Ukraine, as this is a matter of international law and a matter concerning Romania’s own security.

UPDATE 1102 GMT:

Ukraine’s navy has confirmed the destruction of four Russian Su-34M bombers and damaging of two by strikes on a military airfield in Borisoglebs in the Voronezh region overnight.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said a Neptune missile was deployed in the strike: “The Russians used [the S-34s] to terrorize our people. These very warplanes were ready to launch new attacks on Ukraine and were loaded with aerial bombs.”

Zelensky said a facility used for drone storage and launches was struck in the Oryol region, and a target was hit in the Black Sea.

These are our justified responses to all of Russia’s terror against Ukraine. Russia is dragging out the war, so our long-range operations will continue,” he posted.

UPDATE 1055 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has commented further, after a “horrific” drone attack which partially destroyed supermarket in Odesa and injured three people:

It is important that our partners help us defend against this. Residential buildings, stores, energy and other critical infrastructure are under attack virtually nonstop. Not a single hour of peace.

What is happening is Russia’s pointed response to the signals it is receiving from America. Unfortunately, there are dangerous signals about the possibility of further sanctions relief.

UPDATE 1007 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has posted about Russia’s “massive” drone attack overnight.

Zelensky said Russia has launched more than 850 drones over 33 hours, from midnight Wednesday to 9 a.m. Thursday.

He said there had been dozens of hits across the country.

It is obvious that Russia deliberately chose to escalate its attacks after receiving sanctions relief and seeing attempts to pressure Ukraine. Russia exploits every such opportunity and must be held accountable for what it does. Strong decisions are needed to end this war.

Ukraine needs steady support, above all in defending our skies. We need HONESTY from our partners about this war: It is important that everyone in America stand not with the aggressor, but with our efforts to protect lives, end this war, and guarantee security.

UPDATE 0944 GMT:

Connectivity for Starlink systems used by the Ukrainian military have “been restored and remains operational,” says a source in Ukraine’s Defense Ministry.

“As of now, Starshield service while on the move has been restored and remains operational. We have confirmed this through reports from our units,” the source confirmed. “The Defense Ministry is also continuing its engagement to clarify all the reasons and circumstances surrounding yesterday’s restrictions.”

UPDATE 0911 GMT:

Resuming strikes on Russia’s oil refineries, Ukraine hit and set afire the Ryazan facility.

Governor Pavel Malkov confirmed the blaze.

The Ryazan Oil Refinery is the third-largest in Russia, with a capacity of 17.1 million tons. It produces more than 2 million tons of gasoline and more than 3 million tons of diesel.

The complex, one of the key refineries supplying Moscow, halted operations after an attack on September 6.

Ukraine’s forces also struck a military airfield in Borisoglebs in the Voronezh region. Eyewitness footage showed a fire.

The airfield was allegedly struck by Neptune missiles, damaging six Su-34 fighter jets.

UPDATE 0906 GMT:

“Informed sources” say the Trump Administration is considering easing sanctions on Russian “shadow fleet” vessels transporting oil and petroleum products from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela.

The sources claimed the removal of sanctions on the transportation of “legal” fuel, rather than restricted Russian or Iranian oil, would lower freight rates and allow more crude oil and petroleum products to leave the Persian Gulf.

Companies wishing to use sanctioned vessels will need to apply to the US Treasury for permission. The US Energy Department insisting the easing sanctions against the “shadow fleet” will not help Russia transport oil or petroleum products.

The Administration is also proposing that European countries unblock some frozen Russian assets, transferring them to a US-controlled entity, said “four informed sources”.

Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner tabled the proposal during talks with Ukrainian and European officials last Friday in Miami. European officials rejected the initiative. “They [Witkoff and Kushner] were told it simply wouldn’t happen,” said one source.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz added at a summit of European Union leaders on Thursday. “These are assets that are frozen in Europe and they should stay frozen in Europe. This is our matter, and we decide on it.”

The New York Times reported the transfer of assets is one of three economic steps offered by the Trump camp to Russia as advance incentives for a partial ceasefire.

UPDATE 0830 GMT:

With no sign of Donald Trump pulling back his recent support for Russia, Ukraine is lifting the pause on strikes against Russian refineries which Trump has demanded.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that Kyiv suspended strikes for three days. In that time, Russia fired 39 ballistic missiles and more than 120 drones at Ukraine’s power grid, leaving at least 600,000 people without electricity.

“The block [on attacking refineries] is out. We’re done,” Zelensky said in an interview in London.

The President said Kyiv will agree to another pause only in exchange for more US Patriot interceptors. He warned that an embargo on strikes against Russian energy would just invite more deal between the Trump camp and the Kremlin.

Assessing Trump’s relationship with Putin, Zelensky noted Trump’s affinity for autocrats and the super-wealthy: “He speaks about it openly and loudly that he loves such people and he respects such people. Because for him people who can be leaders 20 years, 30 years, 40 years, it means they can be very strong.”

He reiterated that Trump’s envoys told Ukrainian officials, “If you will not stop [the strikes on Russian refineries], we will block intelligence”. He dismissed the idea that restrictions of the Starlink satellite system might have been caused by a fault. “It was not a technical problem, it was the will.”

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky says Donald Trump has betrayed Ukrainians, following Trump’s agreement to buy Russian diesel fuel, a reported cutoff of early-warning intelligence, and restrictions on Elon Musk’s Starlink for Kyiv’s frontline military.

Visiting UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham in London, Zelensky was
asked about the sudden restriction of Starlink and whether he felt betrayed by Trump. He replied:

“Really, yes…but it’s a little bit more complicated ⁠than just my emotions or my feelings.

It’s a pity that we are losing a strong partner.

On Friday, Trump announced the purchase of Russian diesel, undermining US sanctions with potentially billions of dollars for the Kremlin amid Russia’s economic problems. He followed up with a declaration on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an “energy ceasefire”.

However, Russia has continued its intense missile and drone strikes terrorizing Ukraine’s civilians and trying to break energy infrastructure. On two consecutive nights, Kyiv did not receive alerts of the incoming strikes from the US, according to Zelensky.

On Wednesday, Zelensky’s advisors and the Ukrainian military confirmed the restrictions on SpaceX’s Starshield, the military version of Starlink. Several missions were scuttled because of the sudden cutoff.

Musk tweeted, “Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS.”

Last Friday, Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner threatened the cutoff of intelligence unless Ukraine halted its strikes on Russia’s oil refineries.

Trump insisted on Wednesday that he had not ordered a halt to intelligence-sharing. However, an Administration official declared that Trump is “very angry” and may do so.

Ukraine War, Day 1,694: Zelensky — Trump Has “Betrayed” Us