Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the Russians are trying to capture the embattled city of Pokrovsk. It could enable further Russian advances in the Donetsk region, which it aims to occupy fully.
G7 condemns Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy system
The energy ministers of the Group of Seven nations issued a joint statement condemning Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy system. They also said the G7 will support Ukraine’s energy needs.
“Russia’s recent attacks on Ukraine’s natural gas infrastructure have created risks to communities and human lives, weakening civilian infrastructure and the energy security of the Ukrainian people,” the ministers said.
In recent weeks, both Ukraine and Russia have intensified attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure.
Five killed in landmine explosion in northern Ukraine
At least five people were killed and two others were injured when their vehicle hit a landmine in a forest in the Zhytomyr region of northern Ukraine.
The explosion occurred in a border area near Belarus when the vehicle drove over an explosive device in a minefield, according to a police statement on Facebook.
The victims, who were all men between the ages of 19 and 65, were killed instantly. Two others were hospitalized with injuries.
According to police, the civilians had been cutting wood near the Belarusian border, through which Russian forces entered Ukraine at the beginning of Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Belarus remains a close ally of Russia in the war. Fearing further attacks from the north, Ukraine has heavily mined sections of the border area.
The police reiterated that warning signs are in place and civilians are prohibited from entering within 30 kilometers of the state border.
War in Ukraine deadlier for civilians in 2025, says UN
The United Nations says 2025 has been more deadly for civilians in Ukraine than last year, with a 30% increase in casualties so far.
Drone attacks caused a third of all recorded civilian deaths and injuries.
“This is increasingly a technological war, a drone war,” Matthias Schmale, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, said.
#Ukraine 🇺🇦
“We are particularly worried about the continuous attacks on the energy production capacities and energy distribution facilities. This clearly impacts the civilian population and is a form of terror.”
– @matzschmale, head of @UN_Ukraine pic.twitter.com/rImEFImimx
— United Nations Geneva (@UNGeneva) October 31, 2025
“Apart from the terror of war, the sirens, the attacks, it’s also increasingly a fight for survival,” with limited access to basic goods, he said.
He added Russia’s near-daily airstrikes on Ukrainian energy sites are also concerning as a colder winter looms.
“Destroying energy production and distribution capacity as winter starts clearly impacts the civilian population and is a form of terror,” he said.
The UN’s winter aid plan, targeting 1.7 million people with heating and cash support, is only half funded.
“My appeal to the international community, with all the other crises going on, don’t forget Ukraine, the war is not over, and we need predictable funding,” Schmale said.
Poland intercepts Russian plane over Baltic Sea
Poland reported that its warplanes intercepted a Russian reconnaissance plane over the Baltic Sea for the third time this week.
“The Polish pilots intercepted and identified the foreign aircraft and then escorted it in accordance with NATO procedures,” and the airspace over Poland was not violated, the Polish Armed Forces High Command wrote on X.
It posted a picture of an Ilyushin Il-20 aircraft that was escorted out of the area by two Polish MiG-29 fighter jets.
Trzecia w tym tygodniu misja przechwycenia rosyjskiego samolotu nad Bałtykiem❗️
Dziś, 31 października przed godziną 9.00, para dyżurna samolotów MiG-29 🇵🇱 kolejny raz została poderwana w celu przechwycenia samolotu rozpoznawczego Federacji Rosyjskiej 🇷🇺 Ił-20 wykonującego lot… pic.twitter.com/brM5GwreFO
— Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ (@DowOperSZ) October 31, 2025
“This is already the third such situation this week, confirming the increasing activity of Russian aviation in the Baltic region,” the military said.
NATO’s eastern members remain on high alert after Russian jets and drones violated Estonian and Polish airspace in September.
