Russia launched a North Korean ballistic missile at a Ukrainian village killing six members of a single family, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
In his nightly video address, the Ukrainian president said preliminary data shows Moscow launched a North Korean missile for the first time “in a long time”
It once again showed “the alliance of Moscow bastards with the mad regime in North Korea – for missiles, for the North Korean contingent here in Europe, on our borders, and for the killing of our Ukrainian children,” Mr Zelensky added.
Meanwhile, Nato has vowed to defend its territory after Poland said that a Russian missile landed on its territory and exploded in a field.
A spokesperson for the alliance said it would “take all necessary measures” to protect member states after the violation of Polish airspace on Thursday morning.
President Donald Tusk said the missile was likely a Russian Kh-101 ballistic missile, but that authorities were not yet “100 per cent certain” who launched it.
At least 8 people, including three children, were killed overnight in Ukraine after Russia launched 70 missiles, many of them ballistic, and over 280 drones overnight, Mr Zelensky said.
Trump says he is 'not sure' on Ukraine building Patriot missiles - report
US president Donald Trump said he was "not sure" he would let Ukraine build Patriot missiles, The Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing a phone call with him.
Trump also said his envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff would visit Ukraine for the first time in the coming days, the Financial Times said.
"It's a very extraordinary weapon, and we have to be a little bit careful of who we licence to," the president said in his comments to FT.
Ukraine's envoy tells Washington 'we need the missiles'
Ukraine hopes a new push for ceasefire talks with Russia could halt the war before a potentially brutal winter, but needs new anti-ballistic missiles now to defend against strikes by Moscow, the country's envoy to Washington said.
Olha Stefanishyna told reporters that Ukraine was in discussions with the Pentagon about a license to produce Patriot PAC-3 missiles itself, but that process could take 12 months to five years.
“The devastating effect of every overnight attack right now is unbelievable,” Stefanishyna said.
“Last night and the night before, it was 30 to 40 ballistic missiles.”
While Ukraine was able to defend against Iranian and Russian-built drones, it had not yet developed an effective way to defend against ballistic missiles, whose production is being rapidly increased by Russian president Vladimir Putin.
“He has an intention to destroy Ukraine, and that's why, you know, we're looking for different capabilities. We have been successful in everything, but so far, for this winter, we need the missiles.”
Discussions were also underway about Ukraine agreeing to a long-term purchase of PAC-3 missiles, and then swapping positions in the production line with another buyer.
Romania scrambles jets as aerial targets detected near Ukraine border
Romania, a member of European Union and Nato, briefly scrambled two fighter jets as a group of aerial targets was detected near its river border with Ukraine, the Romanian defence ministry said on social media website X.
The targets later disappeared from the radar monitoring systems without entering the national airspace, it said in a follow up post, adding that the air alert was lifted and explosions were reported on the Ukrainian territory.
Drone attack sparks fire at energy plant in Russia's Volgograd
A drone attack touched off a fire at an energy facility and warehouses in Russia's Volgograd region this morning, injuring five, the regional governor, Andrei Bocharov, said, but stopped short of giving details of the facility.
The region is home to a Lukoil-owned oil refinery.
At least five people are seeking medical help after the attacks, Bocharov added on Telegram.
In the neighbouring southern region of Rostov, a woman was injured after a drone attack in the town of Gukovo, regional governor Yuri Slyusar said on the messaging app.
Ukraine has recently stepped up attacks on Russian logistics hubs, such as those of top online retailer Wildberries, as it keeps up strikes on energy facilities that have triggered a supply crisis across most of Russia.
Wildberries, with a few of its warehouses hit as recently as Thursday, said on Telegram it had paid a second tranche of financial support to nearly 100,000 sellers whose goods were damaged.
Russia and Belarus to remain excluded from major international ice hockey tournaments
Russia and Belarus will remain excluded from most major international ice hockey tournaments next season, the sport's world governing body said on Thursday, citing "ongoing safety, security and sporting integrity concerns".
The decision means Russia's teams will not compete in IIHF events during the 2026-27 season, including the men's World Championship, World Junior Championship and the men's and women's Under-18 World Championships.
Belarus also remain barred from the World Junior Championship, although the IIHF had previously announced plans to reintegrate the country in some lower-level competitions, including the men's and women's under-18 events and Women's Division IV World Championship.
"In line with the event-by-event approach established, the eligibility of Russia at the IIHF Women's World Championship 2027 will be reviewed separately by the IIHF Council in November 2026, taking into account the circumstances and risk assessment applicable at that time," the governing body said in a statement.
Russia and Belarus have been excluded from IIHF competitions since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with Belarus sanctioned for its support of Moscow's war effort.
The IIHF in May said it would assess Russia's participation in the 2026-27 season on an event-by-event basis.
Moscow adds Telegram founder to list of extremists and terrorists
Russia's financial monitoring agency, Rosfinmonitoring, added Telegram founder Pavel Durov to its list of extremists and terrorists, according to a designation on the agency's website posted on Thursday.
Moscow charged Durov on Wednesday with facilitating terrorist activity, alleging that Ukrainian spies were using his popular messaging app to organise attacks inside Russia.
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said Durov, who lives in Dubai, is being placed on an international wanted list, but it did not specify what mechanism Russia would use to do this.
The action against Durov is part of a broader crackdown on Telegram by the Russian government, which has effectively throttled the app as it seeks to promote state-backed services and tighten control over what Russians can see and do online.
Polish foreign minister calls Russian missile an 'unacceptable threat' to be met 'further diplomatic steps'
Following the crash and explosion of a Russian missile in Poland on Thursday morning, the Polish ministry for foreign affairs has emphasised the consequences of unchecked Russian aggression.
In a statement on X, the ministry said: “This incident is a direct consequence of the brutal attacks by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Russia’s military actions pose an unacceptable threat to our citizens.
“The ministry for foreign affairs remains in contact with the Armed Forces and relevant institutions. We are analysing the course of the incident together with our NATO allies.
“Further diplomatic steps will be taken once the technical details have been established by the services responsible.”
Export ban on diesel and gas extended to next year as Ukrainian attacks hit Russian economy
The Russian government has extended its bans on export of diesel and gasoline until January 31, 2027, it said in a statement on Thursday.
Russia initially introduced the ban on diesel from July 8 to July 31 as part of a broader package of measures to support the domestic fuel market after repeated Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries triggered fuel shortages and price spikes.
Moscow had already previously imposed restrictions on exports of gasoline and jet fuel.
The Russian government has said it is temporarily banning the export of gasoline, diesel, marine fuel and gas oils in order to maintain stability on the domestic market.
From September 1, however, producers' exports will be exempt from the restrictions on diesel, marine fuel and gas oils.
Some fuel exports will still take place under intergovernmental agreements and in the form of humanitarian aid, the statement said.
Zelensky condemns Russian missile that left 'fragments of bodies'
The Ukrainian president has named the family who were killed in Kryvyi Rih in Russian strikes on Thursday morning.
In a post on X, he said that the Russian missile "struck with such force that almost nothing was left of the house".
"Fragments of human bodies were found under the rubble, and only forensic examinations can establish which members of the family they belong to."
While the deaths of five of the family have been confirmed, Zelensky has said the fates of five others are still unknown.