Ukraine-Russia war latest: Nato jets blow up suspected Russian drone near gas facility

Russian police have arrested citizens complaining of fuel shortages at the pump, as Ukraine’s drone campaign sparked fighting at petrol stations and rationing.

On Wednesday, Moscow and its surrounding regions were forced to reinstate purchase limits on fuel, capping sales at between 50 and 60 litres per vehicle.

Russia’s Defence ⁠Ministry said on Thursday that ⁠its ​forces ⁠had ⁠struck two ​vessels ⁠carrying ammunition ‌and military equipment ‌in the ‌Ukrainian Black ⁠Sea port of Chornomorsk.

Reuters could not independently verify ‌the ​ministry’s ‌claim, it said.

Moscow has lost around 1,472,640 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv’s armed forces have reported.

The figure includes the 1,480 casualties Russian forces have suffered over the past 24-hour period.

Ukraine’s military has not revealed its own losses during the full-scale invasion, citing operational secrecy.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has also condemned the presence of a Russian drone that was detected hovering near the Neptun Deep natural gas project in Romania’s Black Sea.

In a post on X, she said: “An escalating campaign of threats is underway, unsettling our citizens and seeking to divide our Union. This is hybrid warfare.”

The Romanian military have since destroyed the suspected drone, Romanian defence minister, Radu Miruta confirmed on Thursday.

Whilst Miruta did not directly blame Russia for the intrusion, Romanian President Nicusor Dan has since explicitly blamed Russia.

Moscow has celebrated the U.S. president’s decision to scale back their military activity with South Korea.

Russian ⁠foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria ⁠Zakharova, said that ⁠the country “can only welcome” ‌the decision.

President Donald Trump had said the US will “substantially reduce” joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his “very good relationship” with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un earlier this week.

Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, is reported to have met with UN relief chief Tom Fletcher.

The leaders are understood to have discussed humanitarian support for vulnerable communities, particularly in the frontline regions, over the coming winter.

In a post on X, Sybiha said that the UN official has “agreed to remain in close contact and focus on practical results.”

Since the outbreak of the conflict in 2022, the UN has mobilised more than $12 billion in humanitarian assistance for people affected by the Russian war in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president has issued a statement describing the devastation of Russia’s overnight strikes on Kyiv.

In a post on X, Zelensky said: “This Russian strike was one of the most cynical, calculated, and large-scale.”

The leader also stressed the need for further international assistance, adding “It is important that Ukraine’s partners do not remain silent about this and other similar strikes and truly help protect our people.

“You cannot simply watch silently and indifferently, doing nothing as the Russians destroy lives with ballistic missiles.”

President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly asked allies for additional supplies, saying Kyiv needs around 300 interceptors by winter to strengthen its defences.

Patriot systems are advanced US-made air-defence systems designed to detect and intercept incoming aircraft, drones and missiles.

Patriot systems are in unusually high demand as wars across the Middle East have consumed large numbers of interceptors, while the US and its allies are also trying to replenish their own depleted stocks, creating fierce competition for limited supplies.

The problem is particularly acute for advanced PAC-3 interceptors, which are expensive and technically complex to manufacture.

For Ukraine, the shortage is being felt, where recent Russian attacks have exposed gaps in its ability to intercept ballistic missiles.