Russian Ministry of Defense

Force in Play

Said air defenses intercepted and destroyed 433 Ukrainian drones overnight across 19 administrative regions on Oct. 31, after reporting 1,297 drones downed in the 24 hours to Oct. 24.

Ukrainian drones set fire to the Kirishi refinery in Leningrad Oblast, Russia's second-largest, overnight into Nov. 9, and struck the Morozov plant near St Petersburg, which makes solid fuel for Iskander ballistic missiles. A woman was killed by falling debris in Kirishi, and a Russian strike on Odesa killed three people.

Updated 2 days ago

Force in Play

Conducting strikes on Ukrainian data and port infrastructure

Russia's Defense Ministry said its drones hit cargo ships near Odesa on November 1 and 2, and struck a military facility in the Odesa region. It also reported hits on a shelter for Neptune missile launchers, an arms depot and a logistics center. Reuters could not independently verify the claims.

Updated Nov 2

Force in Play

Reported striking two cargo vessels on the day of the sinking

A drone hit the Comoros-flagged cargo ship Khoryv about 13 nautical miles off Romania's Constanta port on Oct. 23, killing at least one of its 13 Ukrainian and Azeri crew. Nine sailors were rescued, three are still missing, and President Nicușor Dan said the strike was part of Russia's escalation in its war in Ukraine.

Updated Oct 25

Force in Play

Confirming strikes on Ukrainian ports

Russia and Ukraine kept striking each other's grain ports through the fall. After the August attacks on Izmail and Novorossiysk, the Black Sea grain trade nearly stopped. Ukraine's grain exports fell 76% in the first two weeks of August from a year earlier, and wheat prices hit $8 a bushel, the highest in three and a half years.

Updated Oct 16

Force in Play

As of July 2026: Proposed the local ceasefire and body transfer

Russia says it holds Kostiantynivka. Ukraine says its troops are still fighting inside the city. On July 5, 2026, Russia's Defense Ministry offered a six-hour truce there for July 6 to hand back the bodies of dead Ukrainian soldiers. Kyiv rejected the offer.

Updated Jul 5

Force in Play

As of May 2026: Conducts Russia's side of the exchange and publishes its own count

Russia and Ukraine each handed back 205 prisoners on May 15, the first tranche of a 1,000-for-1,000 swap Donald Trump brokered in early May. Zelenskyy said on May 16 that work on the next round's prisoner lists is ongoing. The swap is still the only deliverable from months of US-led talks.

Updated May 20