President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Law No. 4648-IX on increasing state budget expenditures for national security and defense by UAH 324.7 billion. The funds will be directed to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, weapons procurement, the National Guard, the State Special Communications Service, and other law enforcement agencies.
European countries, together with Ukraine, are developing a 12-point plan to end the war, which includes a cessation of hostilities, an exchange of prisoners, and the return of deported children. The implementation of the plan will be monitored by a peace council chaired by Donald Trump, and Ukraine will receive security guarantees and a path to the EU.
Lithuania and eight other NATO countries are organizing the training and equipping of a Ukrainian brigade in Poland, supplying weapons and equipment. The initiative involves training servicemen according to NATO standards and strengthening support for Ukraine in long-range operations.
Yevhen Hrytskov, a supporter of the “Kharkiv Spring” and a person with a questionable reputation, could become the new rector of the State Biotechnological University. After the scandalous fugitive bribe-taker Andriy Odarchenko, who was sentenced to 8 years in prison with confiscation of property, the university risks getting another figure in office with shadows in his biography and finances.
Ukraine is striking Russian military targets at a distance of 1,500 km or more. This has already led to 27-30% losses in the aggressor's fuel and energy infrastructure.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, including Merz, Macron, and Starmer, advocated for an immediate ceasefire. They propose considering the current line of contact as a starting point for negotiations, supporting Trump's position.
The occupiers want to legalize the port stolen from Ukraine in order to officially export Ukrainian grain, metal, and building materials abroad.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on the results of the Staff meeting, dedicated to energy and preparations for winter. The government has already secured half of the funds needed to purchase gas for the heating season.
Border guards advise taking into account the high load in queues at the Krakovets checkpoint, which is associated with the recent launch of the EES system. Dozens of cars are waiting in front of the border crossing. The State Border Guard Service warned of a possible increase in delay times.
The Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court satisfied the SAP prosecutor's appeal, granting permission for a special pre-trial investigation against former MP Heorhiy Logvynskyi. He is suspected of organizing a scheme under which the company "Golden Mandarin" received UAH 54 million from the state budget.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated the employees of the State Border Guard Service intelligence units on Intelligence Day. The Head of State noted the importance of their work for the country's security.
Ukrainian law enforcement officers uncovered an international cocaine smuggling channel from Spain, seizing almost 3 kg of drugs worth over UAH 18. 5 million. Two participants in the scheme have been notified of suspicion and remanded in custody.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Russians' position on Donbas has not changed: they demand that Ukraine cede the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Zelenskyy emphasized that the so-called "referendum" was illegal, and Russia's demands are far from reality.
Law enforcement officers in Zakarpattia have uncovered over 270 organizers of illegal border crossing schemes, with 174 indictments sent to court. The total amount of illicit gains exceeds 1.6 million US dollars.
Donald Trump believes that Vladimir Putin will not stop the war without obtaining Ukrainian territories, claiming that he has already gained some land. Putin sees the war as his “historic mission” and may agree to return Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions in exchange for full control over Donetsk region.
During a visit to Moscow, pro-Russian MEP Șoșoacă stated that she would "break Zelenskyy's legs" if he dared to speak in the Romanian parliament again.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy heard reports from the military and the SBU on the situation at the front, including the Pokrovsk direction and Kupyansk. He announced an increase in the range and accuracy of Ukrainian strikes against Russia.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin does not want to end the war in Ukraine, as he is confident of his victory and views the conflict as a "historic mission. " He believes he has the upper hand on the battlefield and is willing to ignore the destruction of the Russian economy.
ATESH agents carried out sabotage at a key communication hub in the Bryansk region, 100 km from the border with Ukraine. This disabled a tower that provided coordination for the occupation forces and border units, disrupting coordination and creating chaos in the control system.
The Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, during a conversation with Donald Trump, made it clear that he could agree to return the occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions to Ukraine. As a condition for ending the war, he demands full control over the Donetsk region.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 74 combat engagements at the front as of 4:00 p. m. on October 18, 2025. In the Pokrovsk direction, the Defense Forces repelled 31 enemy attempts to break through.
Traffic may be complicated at the Ustyluh-Zosin checkpoint on the border between Ukraine and Poland. From October 20 to November 30, road works will be carried out there, which will lead to the closure of the "Red Corridor" lane at the entrance to Ukraine.
The Kremlin is launching a program to colonize the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, replacing the local population with Russians from the deep regions of the Russian Federation. This is a legalization of population replacement and Russification, displacing locals and settling "new Russians."
After meeting with Donald Trump in Washington, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about the American leader's words regarding his relationship with the Russian leader. Trump stated that Putin hates Zelenskyy, and the Ukrainian president replied that he has the same attitude towards Putin.
Officers of the Podlaskie Border Guard Unit of Poland discovered an underground tunnel under the barrier on the Polish-Belarusian border. The tunnel started on the territory of Belarus and ended 20 meters from the border on the Polish side.
Donald Trump stated that strikes by Ukrainian forces deep inside Russian territory would mean an escalation of the conflict. He also called the transfer of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine a "fair question."
State bodies and the Russian football union continue the illegal integration of Ukrainian clubs into Russian domestic competitions. The Ukrainian Football Association (UAF) is protesting against the fictitious "Shakhtar". An appeal has been sent to UEFA.
Slovakia plans to provide humanitarian aid and demining support to Ukraine. At the government meeting, they will discuss protection against drones and strengthening Slovakia's defense.
People's Deputy Yevhen Shevchenko has been served with a new suspicion notice for legalizing criminal proceeds; he was previously accused of high treason. He received over UAH 9 million for promising to help with a permit for fertilizer transportation, but kept the money for himself.
Ukraine is monitoring the situation regarding the threat from Belarus, not recording a significant increase in troops, as confirmed by MP Yehor Cherniev. The use of Belarusian territory for air strikes is possible, but it is not a new threat to the north of Ukraine.
