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.
A foreigner suspected of a robbery attack on cash collectors in Zhytomyr in 2019 has been extradited from Germany. He faces life imprisonment, and the court chose a pre-trial measure – detention.
At the Ukrainian-Romanian border, customs officers found a man in a truck from Istanbul, hiding among packages of baby diapers. According to preliminary data, he may be a Syrian citizen, and border guards are establishing the circumstances of the illegal border crossing.
Former Russian Minister of Transport Vitaly Savelyev has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for organizing illegal air travel to occupied Crimea. He also ensured the movement of Russian military equipment.
The General Staff reported that North Korean units are involved in supporting Russian operations in the Sumy region. UAV operators are adjusting MLRS fire on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Specialists at the Shalimov Center successfully performed an operation, removing shrapnel from the body of 41-year-old defender Oleksandr, who was wounded by a mortar. Thanks to a medical magnet, a 5x2x3 cm fragment was removed, preventing damage to internal organs.
Law enforcement officers have blocked new schemes of evasion from mobilization, detaining 20 organizers who, for 3-14 thousand US dollars, offered fictitious certificates, enrollment in studies or work, as well as escape routes abroad. Among those detained are a radiologist, employees of a transport company, and a specialist from the land department of the city council.
The 26-year-old Belarusian singer went to Thailand, where she fell into a fraudulent center, and then she was taken to Myanmar. The family was informed that the girl was sold for organs and her body was cremated.
The head of a Ukrainian factory tried to import 6. 3 tons of beaver fur from the European Union at an understated value. Slovak customs officers found that the real value of the cargo was significantly higher, which led to the seizure of fur worth 10 million hryvnias.
Since the beginning of October, 17 people involved in organizing illegal border crossings for conscripts have been exposed. The prices for such "services" ranged from 2 to 25 thousand dollars.
In Bukovyna, border guards liquidated a scheme of illegal border crossing organized by the deputy mayor of Sokyriany. The official helped draft dodgers travel to Moldova for 7,000 dollars; weapons and ammunition were seized from him.
On October 14, the UNESCO Executive Board adopted a new decision regarding the emergency aid program for Ukraine. The organization reaffirmed its solidarity with the Ukrainian people and condemned Russian aggression.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that two-thirds of the 99 battles on the front line during the day occurred in the Pokrovsk, Kostiantynivka, and Oleksandrivka directions. The enemy launched an airstrike on Sumy and shelled the border areas of Sumy Oblast.
