Ukraine war: Drone attack ‘wipes Russian arms depot off face of the Earth’, says Kyiv

In case you missed it: The Independent’s frontline reporter Askold Krushelnycky looks at how death tolls on both sides are assessed:

Germany is set to approve close to €400m in additional military aid to Ukraine, according to a finance ministry letter.

The funds are in addition to around €8bn budgeted for Ukraine in 2024 and a fresh package of tanks, vehicles, radars, weapons and other equipment.

Germany is Ukraine’s biggest supporter in Europe in terms of military aid.

“In view of the continuously deteriorating military situation in Ukraine, there is a serious risk that Ukraine, without significantly increased material support, could be defeated in its defence campaign,” the letter said.

Following a request by the defence ministry, the finance ministry in the letter is asking for the approval of the extra expenditure from the budget committee of the lower house of parliament.

The funds will be used to buy ammunition, fighting vehicles, drones and protective equipment, among other items.

German aid to Ukraine will be cut to €4bn next year, according to the draft of the 2025 budget, as the country hopes Ukraine will be able to meet the bulk of its military needs with loans from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets approved by the Group of Seven.

Russia has targeted Ukrainian energy facilities in a new wave of air strikes, Ukrainian officials have said, despite a UN monitoring body saying attacks on the power grid probably violated humanitarian law.

Regional officials said civilian infrastructure had also been damaged, and the International Energy Agency warned of an electricity shortfall in Ukraine this winter.

Ukraine’s air force said it had shot down all 42 drones and one of four missiles launched by Russia.

Three people were killed in shelling near Krasnopillia in the Sumy region on Wednesday evening and two were wounded in shelling of the frontline region on Thursday that damaged a medical institution, local prosecutors said.

Ukraine’s energy ministry said power cuts had been introduced in 10 regions, and the IEA said in a report that electricity supply shortfall in the winter months could reach about a third of expected peak demand.

The European Union said a fuel power plant was being dismantled in Lithuania to be rebuilt in Ukraine.

Kyiv says the targeting of its energy system is a war crime, and the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for four Russian officials and military officers for the bombing of civilian power infrastructure. Moscow says power infrastructure is a legitimate military target.

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen is heading to Ukraine tomorrow, with the promise of €160m (£134m) in fresh energy funds to heat homes, hospitals and schools through the winter.

Much of the funds will come the proceeds of the Russian assets held in the EU. “It is only right that Russia pays for the destruction it caused,” she said.

Vladimir Putin has said Russia is ramping up drone production by around 10 times to nearly 1.4 million this year to ensure Russian armed forces grab victory in Ukraine.

“In total, about 140,000 unmanned aerial vehicles of various types were delivered to the armed forces in 2023,” Putin said. “This year, the production of drones is planned to increase significantly. Well, to be more precise, almost 10 times.”

“Whoever reacts faster to these demands on the battlefield wins,” Mr Putin said at a meeting in St Petersburg about developing drone production.

Since Russia sent tens of thousands of soldiers into Ukraine in February 2022, both Russia and Ukraine have bought drones abroad and ramped up their own production for a range of targets – from artillery to energy infrastructure.

Intense battles continued on the eastern Pokrovsk and Kurakhove fronts as Ukraine’s General Staff recorded 187 combat clashes over the past day.

Residential areas in Kharkiv – near the northeastern border – were also struck by Russian guided missiles, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

But Pokrovsk and Kurakove, both towns near the eastern city of Donetsk, faced the brunt of Russian assaults in the past day.

Ukrainian forces repelled 46 assaults towards the various settlements around the town of Pokrovsk, a key strategic city for the movement of Ukrainian supplies.

On the Kurakhove front, around 50 kilometres south of Pokrovsk and 50 kilometres west of Donetsk, 40 attacks were repelled.

Ukraine’s operation in Russia’s Kursk region is ongoing, with Russian forces striking their own territory 19 times with 39 guided bombs.

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk was dramatically led away in handcuffs as he passed through a Polish airport.

Usyk, who was due in London, was detained in Krakow but spoke out soon after to clarify the incident was a misunderstanding.

In footage posted to social media, the heavyweight world champion was seen being led away into a lift by five police officers.

The sum of €160 million from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets will be allocated to meet Ukraine‘s urgent humanitarian needs for this winter, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced.

She added that a fuel power plant is being dismantled in Lithuania and will be rebuilt in Ukraine, where 80 per cent of the country’s thermal plants have been destroyed.

“We aim to restore 2.5 gw of capacity, which is 15 per cent of Ukraine‘s needs,” Von der Leyen said.