Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 02-10-2025

Kyiv Post’s Sergii Kostezh interviews families of Kremlin Prisoners at a rally in Kyiv

The leaked presentation seen by the higher echelons of Russia’s ruling class depicts long-term plans to rival existing blocs and consolidate influence over post-Soviet states and the Global South.

Russia plans to exert long-term regional dominance by establishing a trading bloc to counter the likes of the EU, but Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine has hampered that vision, a leaked Kremlin report alleged.

The report also acknowledged Western sanctions have driven the Kremlin’s former allies away from its grasp.

The deadliest weapon in the Ukrainian military is manufactured domestically 96.3% of the time – and it’s almost always a cheap quadcopter toting an explosive.

Ukraine is on track to manufacture 2.5-3 million military-use drones in 2025 and that’s not the limit, a senior Ukrainian official said on Sunday.

Ivan Havryliuk, First Deputy Minister of Defense, in video comments, said that currently, Ukraine-state, private-industry, and volunteer-financed weapons manufacturers are producing about 200,000 drones a month, the heavy majority of which are kamikaze FPV (first-person view) drones carrying an anti-tank munition or an anti-personnel grenade.

The scale of the project remains unclear, but if proven effective, Russia will likely expand these “protective nets,” Ukrainian military experts speculate.

Russian troops are installing protective nets over supply routes to counter Ukrainian FPV drone strikes.

A Russian military engineer from the 3rd Army Corps claimed they are covering over two kilometers (1.2 miles) of roads with anti-drone nets, with efforts to expand and improve the system.

Kyiv Post Chief Editor Bohdan Nahaylo talks to TVP World

The European Commission will describe continued support for Ukraine as its “foremost priority” in its work programme for 2025, according to a near-final draft seen by Euractiv.

The European Commission will describe continued support for Ukraine as its “foremost priority” in its work programme for 2025, according to a near-final draft seen by Euractiv.  

The latest draft, seen on Monday by Euractiv, indicates little change to the legislative programme outlined in last week’s leaked draft.  

The newly appointed head of the recently established Department of State Efficiency (DOGE) criticized the use of taxpayer funds for media outlets that employ “far-left crazy people.”

Elon Musk, head of the newly formed Department of State Efficiency (DOGE), has called for shutting down Radio Liberty and Voice of America, both funded by the US government.

Musk was responding to a statement from Donald Trump’s former special envoy, Richard Grenell, who criticized taxpayer funding for media outlets employing “far-left activists.”

Senior representatives from US President Donald Trump’s new administration will also be at the gathering in the southern German city from Friday to Sunday.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected at the Munich Security Conference, where the war with Russia and how to end it will be high on the agenda, organisers said Monday.

Senior representatives from US President Donald Trump’s new administration will also be at the gathering in the southern German city from Friday to Sunday.

A member of Russian State Duma’s Defense Committee cited World War II precedents, saying that field artillery was once horse-drawn and dogs were used as anti-tank saboteurs.

Russian officials have defended the use of donkeys in support of military logistics, calling it a normal practice, according to a report by Defense Express.

Reports on the use of donkeys by Russia’s armed forces have become widespread, particularly since they are being officially deployed by Russian Defense Ministry supply units rather than through volunteer initiatives.

Designers from Russia’s Stary Oskol “Reanimator” design bureau have announced the development of a mobile system for controlling fiber-optic drone swarms.

The Russian state news agency Izvestiya reported on Feb. 4 that designers from Russia’s Stary Oskol “Reanimator” design bureau have revealed they are developing a mobile control system that will allow a swarm of fiber-optic drones to be launched and controlled by a single operator.

The system will consist of an unspecified vehicle platform that will carry “hangars” housing up to 12 artificial intelligence (AI) enhanced drones. The artist’s impression of the system suggests it will be mounted on a military truck. 

The world in focus, as seen by Canadian leading global affairs analyst Michael Bociurkiw in a quick review of the biggest news in international media today.

President Donald Trump has said he will announce a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium entering the US, a move that will have the biggest impact in Canada. Trump also said that there would be an announcement later in the week about reciprocal tariffs on all countries that tax imports from the US, but he did not specify which nations would be targeted, or if there would be any exemptions. “If they charge us, we charge them,” Trump said. The move marks another escalation in Trump’s trade policy, which has already sparked retaliation from China. - BBC

Donald Trump said he is serious about wanting Canada to become the 51st state in an interview that aired Sunday during the Super Bowl preshow. “Yeah it is,” Trump told Fox News Channel when asked whether his talk of annexing Canada is “a real thing” — as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently warned. “I think Canada would be much better off being the 51st state because we lose $200 billion a year with Canada. And I’m not going to let that happen,” he said. “Why are we paying $200 billion a year, essentially a subsidy to Canada?” The U.S. is not subsidizing Canada. The U.S. buys products from the natural resource-rich nation, including commodities like oil. While the trade gap in goods has ballooned in recent years to $72 billion in 2023, the deficit largely reflects America’s imports of Canadian energy - AP

India is poised to launch one of the most ambitious Asia-Europe logistic projects since the Chinese Belt Road. Ukraine and Italy will play a part in the India-Middle East-Europe-Economic-Corridor

On Sept. 9, 2023, at the G20 New Delhi summit, the India-Middle East-Europe-Economic-Corridor (IMEC) was presented and a memorandum of understanding was signed by India, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Italy, Germany, France, the United States and the European Union.

Notwithstanding the strategic role played by Ukrainian ports in the Black and Mediterranean Seas, Ukraine is not among the signatories. But Italy can play a decisive role in getting Ukraine with its ports into the IMEC.

The Chinese leader has already accepted the invitation to attend Russia’s 80th commemoration of the end of WWII, Russia’s ambassador to China said. Beijing has yet to comment.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping reportedly accepted an invitation to attend the May 9 Victory Day celebration in Moscow.

Igor Morgulov, Russian Ambassador to Beijing, announced the update on Russian television channel Rossiya-24 and said Xi would also reciprocally invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to China to mark the Chinese WWII victory over Japan, as reported by Interfax Russia.

Cheaper and more plentiful than in the past, drones are changing the face of modern warfare, particularly in Ukraine.

Deep in a Bavarian forest, a black reconnaissance drone buzzes overhead, piloted by US soldiers hoping to put lessons learnt from the war in Ukraine into practice.

Cheaper and more plentiful than in the past, drones are changing the face of modern warfare, particularly in Ukraine.

Canadians are perplexed by Donald Trump’s sudden targeting of their staunchest ally. Many Ukrainians in Canada, however, suspect there might be an element of Russian influence in the actions.

With no shortage of controversy in the first few weeks of his presidency, US President Donald Trump’s recently threatened 25% tariff on Canadian imports (including 10% on oil) – has sparked outrage across Canada, with economists warning it could push the country into recession.

The move also caused confusion as Canada was considered one of America’s closest allies. Canada and the US are also home to some of the largest Ukrainian diasporas in the world.

Ukraine and Russia have targeted each other’s energy facilities and military infrastructure in almost nightly drone or missile attacks.

Ukrainian drones struck Krasnodar Krai early in the morning on Monday, Feb. 10, targeting the Afipsky oil refinery - the key oil hub in southwestern Russia. Andriy Kovalenko, the Head of the Center of Countering Disinformation, reported on his Telegram channel. 

According to Kovalenko, the Afipsky refinery is one of the key refineries in Russia, with a capacity of 6.25 million tons of oil per year. The refinery plays a strategic role for Russian troops in providing fuel for military equipment, especially in the southern direction.

Trump has questioned US security commitments in Europe and called on allies to boost their defense spending, while his administration has been quiet so far on his plans for future Ukraine aid.

A trio of top Trump administration officials will make separate trips to Europe this week, with security and Washington’s commitment to Ukraine expected to be at the heart of their discussions.

President Donald Trump -- pushing his “America First” agenda -- has questioned US security commitments in Europe and called on allies to drastically boost their defense spending, while his administration has been largely quiet so far on his plans for future Ukraine aid.

Russian media reported on Sunday that the foreign registered tanker “Koala” carrying 130,000 tons of fuel oil was damaged by explosions in the engine room in the Russian port of Ust-Luga.

The Antigua and Barbadua flagged oil tanker Koala, carrying 130,000 tons of fuel oil, was reportedly in danger of sinking following as many as three explosions in the engine room in the early hours of Sunday while docked in the Ust-Luga port in Russia’s Leningrad region according to reports on the Baza and Fontanka SPB Online Telegram channels.

The tanker had a 24-man crew that included four Russian, eight Georgian and 12 Indonesian citizens. Russia’s Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport – Rosmorrechflot – said there were no casualties and although the crew was forced to evacuate, the blast did not cause “a spill of the cargo or a leak of oil products,” and there was no risk of the ship sinking. As a precaution Russia’s Emergencies Ministry staff installed booms around the ship.

The far-right performed well in various European elections in 2024. That does not bode well for the EU and Ukraine.

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine approaches its three-year anniversary this month, many international observers are anxious to see what will unfold. Throughout the war, tens of thousands of Ukrainians have been killed by Russian forces. Numerous cities and villages have been razed to the ground, and a quarter of Ukraine’s population remains displaced.

Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Russians have sustained nearly 850,000 casualties. Tens of billions of dollars of Russian military equipment have been destroyed, and the Russian Federation has lost hundreds of billions of dollars due to international sanctions. Despite these heavy losses, the war has continued at Russia’s command.

Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.

Key Takeaways from the ISW:

• Russia continues to leverage its partnerships with US adversaries, including North Korea, to offset the resource shortages constraining Russia’s economy and war effort.
• The arrival of North Korean workers to Russia demonstrates how Russia, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), is violating UNSC Resolution 2397.
• North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un continues to reiterate his support for Russia and its war effort in Ukraine.
• German authorities reportedly failed to down suspected Russian reconnaissance drones flying near a German military facility in January 2025 where Ukrainian forces have undergone training.
• Russia appears to be leveraging the technological innovations it is developing in its war in Ukraine directly against NATO states.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced in Kursk Oblast and near Vovchansk.
• Russian forces recently advanced near Toretsk, Pokrovsk, and Velyka Novosilka.
• Russia continues efforts to recruit Russians and citizens of other Commonwealth of Independent State (CIS) countries to sign military service contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD).

As Trump flies to New Orleans for the Super Bowl, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz tells NBC News that US will “recoup” any future military aid through rare earths deal.

As US President Donald Trump flew to New Orleans to watch the biggest football game of the year, his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, on Sunday went on television to expand on an interview given to the New York Post that sketched out an idea of trading security guarantees for Ukraine’s rare metals.

Speaking on Air Force One on Friday, where Waltz was also aboard, Trump mentioned a proposed $500 million agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The deal would grant the US access to rare earth minerals and gas in Ukraine in exchange for security guarantees in a potential peace settlement.