Newsblog on the Ukraine War: Russian Major Attacks on Putin's Birthday: Numerous Dead and Wounded

Many details about the course of the war, such as casualty figures or details of battles, come from Ukrainian or Russian authorities and cannot be independently verified. For our live blog, in addition to our own research, we use material from the news agencies dpa, Reuters, epd, KNA, and Bloomberg. Important Updates EU tightens sanctions against Russia - North Korea also affected Selenskij: At least 25 dead and 100 injured in major attacks on Putin's birthday Heavy Russian air raids on Ukraine: Dead and injured Mayor: Ukraine attacks Moscow with 650 drones Russia: Death in Ukrainian drone attack on Saporishchya NPP Selenskij: At least 25 dead and 100 injured in major attacks on Putin's birthday Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskij draws a bloody balance of the Russian major attack on Putin's birthday: The Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities that began that night have claimed at least 25 lives, including five children. Selenskij reported that the total number of injured was at least 100. The Russian military used a mix of drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles in the attacks. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, who was celebrating his 74th birthday on Wednesday, made this his gift: "The murder of children, the murder of people." In his opinion, Russia intends to maintain this course. "Putin does not feel that problems are causing him trouble," Selenskij said. The sanctions against Russia have been weakened in many respects, and the signals to lift the sanctions against the oligarchs are actually signals for a normalization of the war. EU tightens sanctions against Russia - North Korea also affected EU ambassadors approved 1646 new entries on the sanctions list against Russia. The focus is on the country's military-industrial complex. More than half of the newly sanctioned companies and persons are involved in the production of Russian ballistic missiles such as Iskander-M. These can only be intercepted by US Patriot air defense systems. However, Ukraine almost completely lacks these intercept missiles, as the US military has shifted resources to the Gulf region. Russia uses this weakness for increased missile attacks. Due to the close relations between Russia and North Korea, the EU also sanctions seven North Korean organizations and persons. Barbara Klimke Heavy Russian air raids on Ukraine: Dead and injured Russia has for the first time this autumn surrounded Ukraine with one of the feared combined attacks with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and combat drones. At least 18 people were killed and 55 more injured in the city of Pryluky alone, as reported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskij. According to these figures, four children and five other children were among the dead. A five-story residential building was hit about 120 kilometers east of Kyiv. Missing persons are suspected among the debris. 34 injured were reported after a Russian drone attack in Krementschuk. Two people died in an attack on a non-specified facility in the central Odesa region. According to President Volodymyr Selenskij, Russia launched a total of 70 missiles, including many ballistic projectiles, as well as numerous drones. The main target was the Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Ukraine fears that Russia aims to paralyze the energy supply, as in the past winters. "This was one of the most atrocious attacks," Selenskij explained via the Telegram news service. Due to the damage, the Ministry of Energy initiated emergency power shutdowns in five regions. The Ukrainian capital was also a focus of the massive air raid, according to the data. Many explosions were heard in Kyiv in the early morning hours, as reported by the Kyiv Independent portal. "The missiles are hitting one after another. As far as I can count, there are at least ten to twelve explosions. It is quite loud in the city center," a reporter said. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported in the morning about at least two deaths. They were found in the debris of garages in the eastern district of Darnyzja. Two other people were rescued alive there. The industrial cities Dnipro and Saporishchya were also heavily bombed. Deaths were also reported from the city of Olexandriia in Central Ukraine. According to President Volodymyr Selenskij, Russia launched a total of 70 missiles, including many ballistic projectiles, as well as numerous drones. The main target was the Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Ukraine fears that Russia aims to paralyze the energy supply, as in the past winters. "This was one of the most atrocious attacks," Selenskij explained via the Telegram news service. Due to the damage, the Ministry of Energy initiated emergency power shutdowns in five regions. The Ukrainian capital was also a focus of the massive air raid, according to the data. Many explosions were heard in Kyiv in the early morning hours, as reported by the Kyiv Independent portal. "The missiles are hitting one after another. As far as I can count, there are at least ten to twelve explosions. It is quite loud in the city center," a reporter said. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported in the morning about at least two deaths. They were found in the debris of garages in the eastern district of Darnyzja. Two other people were rescued alive there. The industrial cities Dnipro and Saporishchya were also heavily bombed. Deaths were also reported from the city of Olexandriia in Central Ukraine. According to Russian data, Russia has heavily attacked the defense industry in Ukraine. Body-borne, sea-borne, and air-borne precision weapons as well as drones were used, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported. Among the targets were facilities of the defense company Fire Point in Kyiv, where cruise missiles of the Flamingo type as well as drones with medium and large range were manufactured and stored. Further attacks have taken place by Russian reports in the regions of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, and Kharkiv. In addition, port and shipyard infrastructure in the Black Sea region of Odesa and ships were targeted. These were used by the Ukrainian armed forces, according to the Ministry. Tanker on the Russian Black Sea Coast on Fire A tanker sailing under the Liberian flag came to a halt near Sochi on the Russian Black Sea coast on fire. The Aframax Rio was attacked by sea drones, the Russian Ministry of Transport in Moscow reported according to the State Agency Tass. "A ship flying under the Liberian flag with a cargo of oil was attacked by unmanned boats," the statement said. The 23 crew members from India were rescued. The tanker burned brightly by evening, according to the reports. A firefighting attempt can only be made once the intensity of the fire decreases, the Ministry reported. The nearest beaches were closed for the time being, and the residents of Sochi were asked by the authorities to close their windows and not to stay on the streets. The ship is attributed to the Ukrainian website Black Sea News as a Russian shadow fleet. Selenskij warns of a new major Russian attack According to President Volodymyr Selenskij, Ukraine expects a new major attack by the Russian military. "We have current intelligence from the intelligence service that the Russians are preparing a massive attack," Selenskij said in his evening video address. He called on the population to heed the warnings about missile attacks. "The Ukrainian security forces and our air force are ready to react, as far as our defense means allow," he said, implying the lack of defense weapons. He added his warning with hope for more help from Western allies with corresponding weapon systems. "A lot depends on our partners - on every head of state, every country in the world that has the means of defense that we need and is ready to pass them to us," Selenskij said. Anna Lea Jakobs Ukraine-Peace Talks to be Linked to a Major Oil Deal According to a newspaper report, the talks between the US government and Russia about an end to the war in Ukraine have expanded to multi-billion dollar oil deals. Businesspeople with connections to US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would benefit from these, reported the New York Times. The possible deal, which depends on the consent of the US government and the Kremlin, concerns a global network of oil fields, refineries, and gas stations of the Russian energy giant Lukoil. The group seeking the deal includes, in addition to the US billionaire Todd Boehly, two companies from the Middle East that have already conducted business with Kushner or Witkoff's families, according to the newspaper. The US government itself would also be involved. The White House, the US Department of the Treasury, and Lukoil did not respond to requests for a statement. There is currently no evidence according to the New York Times that Kushner and Witkoff are financially benefiting from the deal. According to a source from the US newspaper, Putin had proposed the deal himself to show his people that Russia could do business with the US. The deal would include oil fields in Cameroon, refineries in Europe, and gas stations in New Jersey, among other things. Selenskij announces increased attacks on Russian oil refineries According to President Volodymyr Selenskij, Ukraine wants to increase its attacks on oil refineries in Russia. This is a reaction to a new Russian tactic to force the inhabitants of Kyiv and other cities to flee, Selenskij told the Reuters news agency. "We must react to their attacks on our energy," Selenskij said. "Especially on oil refineries: that is what brings them money for this war." Selenskij explained that documents about a "new doctrine" from Russian President Vladimir Putin are available to Ukrainian intelligence services. "We have seen documents and we know that they allow attacks on infrastructure (...) roads, schools, hospitals, to put people under pressure to leave the capital and other cities," Selenskij said. Russia had attacked the bridges over the Dnipro River in Kyiv for the first time recently. The Russian Foreign Ministry has asked foreigners to leave Kyiv. Representatives of Ukraine have explained that Russia has stockpiled hundreds of ballistic missiles to specifically attack Ukraine's electricity and water supply in the coming winter. Selenskij explained that Ukraine will not attack civilian targets in contrast to Russia. Russia also denies targeting civilian targets. Selenskij said Putin wants to demonstrate strength by expanding attacks on civilian targets as his troops are losing ground on the front.