+++ News in the Ukraine War +++: Merz and Reiche surprisingly in Kyiv

Chancellor Friedrich Merz made a surprise arrival in Kyiv on Sunday morning. He will be accompanied by Economics Minister Katherina Reiche and a business delegation. The Chancellor has a package of support measures that includes the release of one billion euros in German military aid as well as 350 million euros for repairs in the energy sector, government circles said on Sunday.

This should be the starting signal for the joint production of various types of drones, which are to be built in both Germany and Ukraine. Central to this is the rapid production of the anti-jet drones, which the Quantum company had successfully tested. Russia recently used fast jet drones to attack civilian targets.

It is also about the joint development and production of so-called standoff weapons with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers, which Ukraine can use to attack the Russian hinterland. That's why Merz is also accompanied by heads of arms companies. Government circles emphasized that it was not just about supporting Ukraine. The increased cooperation also benefits Germany because money and technology flow back to the Federal Republic because weapons are produced there and the defense of drones against critical infrastructure can be strengthened.

The trip, which takes place under increased security precautions, is intended as a clear signal to the Ukrainian leadership and Russia that Germany stands by its support so far. Chancellor Merz is also likely to push for reforms in the country, for example in the fight against corruption.

Merz had only announced on Thursday in a keynote speech that Germany would not be impressed by Russia's increasing number of hybrid attacks on European states.

The Russian leadership published a statement on Saturday warning foreign citizens and diplomatic personnel not to stay in or travel to Ukraine. “Responsibility for any adverse consequences lies entirely with those who ignore this warning,” the statement said. Russia is increasingly bombing civilian targets in neighboring Ukraine, which it invaded in 2022. Attacks on the capital Kyiv were also intensified. (rtr)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday that his country's armed forces would step up attacks on oil refineries in Russia. This is a response to a new Russian tactic to encourage residents of Kiev and other cities to flee, Zelensky told Reuters. Last Wednesday he announced that his government would soon finalize contracts with the federal government for the production of various types of drones. (rtr)

Russia lost more ground in Ukraine than it gained in September, according to an analysis by the US Institute for War Studies (ISW). The institute announced on the X platform that the loss was around 81 square kilometers. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin's claims about Russian gains in territory on the front in September are so far from reality "that they seem like hallucinations." The ISW could not judge whether Putin knew that the figures he presented were wrong, it said. It could also be that he provides “fictitious information about the situation at the front”. The “culture of lying” is deeply rooted in the Russian military leadership. Putin claimed that Russian forces had conquered more than 1,300 square kilometers in September.

A few days ago, Putin announced the complete conquest of the Ukrainian Donbas region in less than a year and a half. He assumes that this will happen much sooner given the advance of Russian troops. However, the front line has remained largely unchanged in many sections for several months. In recent weeks, the Russian military has increased attacks against Ukrainian cities. The Russian Air Force is particularly targeting large urban centers such as Kiev, Kharkiv and Odessa and are attacking them with combat drones or ballistic missiles. (dpa)

According to Ukrainian reports, six people were killed in Russian attacks. Drones and glide bombs killed five people and injured more than 40 in Kharkiv and the surrounding area, regional governor Oleh Synjehubov said on Saturday. According to the military administration, Russian drone strikes injured three people in nearby Izjum.

It was said that a drone had crashed into an industrial warehouse. Another damaged residential buildings. The Ukrainian seaport authority said Russian forces had attacked a civilian cargo ship flying the Liberian flag in the Odessa region, where several Black Sea ports are located. A sailor was killed and three other people were injured.

Ukrainian drones killed two people in the Russian-occupied eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk. Another two were injured, said Moscow-appointed administrative chief Leonid Paseschnik. The drones attacked a truck and a car that were traveling on a highway. All victims were civilians. In Russia, Ukrainian drone strikes hit villages just a few kilometers from the border. One civilian was injured and two other people suffered injuries, local authorities said. (ap)

According to Ukrainian sources, Russia attacked a Liberian-flagged cargo ship in one of Ukraine's Black Sea ports in the Odessa region. The Ukrainian port administration said one person was killed and three others were injured. A statement on the Telegram app said 13 other crew members had been brought to safety. With the war now in its fifth year, Russia has effectively resumed its blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports since the summer, disrupting trade routes, restricting grain and steel exports and dealing a major blow to Ukraine's economy. (rtr)

According to a newspaper report, the US government's talks with Russia about ending the war in Ukraine have expanded into billion-dollar oil deals. Businessmen with connections to US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would benefit from these, the New York Times reported.

The possible deal, which depends on the approval of the US government and the Kremlin, involves a global network of oil fields, refineries and gas stations owned by the Russian energy company Lukoil. In addition to US billionaire Todd Boehly, the group seeking the deal includes two Middle Eastern corporations that have already done business with Kushner or Witkoff's family, according to the newspaper. ‌The White House, ⁠the US Treasury Department and Lukoil did not respond to requests for comment. (rtr)

According to Ukrainian information, Russia has again damaged an important bridge in Kyiv. The northern bridge over the Dnipro River was hit in recent Russian air strikes and is now closed to traffic, said Mayor Vitali Klitschko. There were no reports of victims. In the past few days, the south bridge had been hit several times by Russian drones. Many residents of the Ukrainian capital live east of the river and commute to the west side for work. Russia has repeatedly emphasized that its attacks are not directed against the civilian population. (rtr)

According to the Interfax agency, Russian President Vladimir Putin observed a military exercise in the Ural region in which troops from China, Belarus and Pakistan were also deployed. Russian strategic bombers were also used during the exercise. According to the Tass agency, the Kremlin described the maneuver as routine. (rtr)