October 5, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

Our live coverage of Russia’s war in Ukraine has moved here.

A Russian missile strike killed at least 51 people, including a child, in a village near the eastern Ukrainian city of Kupiansk on Thursday, officials say.

It marks one of the deadliest attacks against civilians reported by Ukraine since the conflict began, and it came without a conceivable military target, according to a top Ukrainian police official.

Here’s what we know about the devastating strike:

And here are two other key storylines from the war today:

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that war in Ukraine is not a conflict over territory.

According to Putin, Russia “still has much to do to properly develop Siberia, Eastern Siberia, and the Russian Far East.” 

The president reiterated that Russia was not “attempting to establish regional geopolitical balance.” 

Instead, Putin said the issue was “about the principles underlying the new international order.” 

This denial of these principles, one of them being “a balance in the world where no one can unilaterally force or compel others to live or behave as a hegemon pleases” is what causes conflicts, Putin said, seemingly referring to the West. 

Western elites “need an enemy to justify the need for military action and expansion” and made Moscow into one, Putin added.

There was not “a single military object” in Hroza when a Russian missile struck the eastern Ukrainian village Thursday, killing 51 civilians, according to a top police official.

“We have registered a criminal proceeding over this and are investigating it,” Bolvinov added, saying a wide range of agencies are currently working in the village.

Authorities have recovered parts of a missile at the scene, he said.

Bolvinov repeated earlier reports that the strike was carried out with an Iskander ballistic missile, which Russia has commonly used in Ukraine and has a relatively short range.

“Iskander is definitely a big missile. You can see behind me that the building is completely destroyed. People were in the same room at that time, and as a result of the explosion, a very large number of people died,” Bolvinov said. 

Ukrainian president calls for support: In his evening address Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said about 300 residents lived in the village, and more than 50 of them were killed in the Russian attack — one of every six residents. 

“Russian terror must fail. And the world has what it takes to ensure this,” the president continued. “The main thing is unity. The main thing is to believe in freedom and protect life.”

A Russian missile attack that killed dozens of people Thursday struck a cafe in the village of Hroza that was hosting a wake for a fallen soldier, a Ukrainian official told media outlet RBC.  

The soldier’s son, wife and mother were killed in the strike, said Dmytro Chubenko, spokesperson for the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office.

Ukrainian officials said at least 51 people died, including an 8-year-old boy, and six people were injured, when the cafe and a nearby grocery were struck. It was one of the deadliest attacks against civilians since the conflict began.

The fallen Ukrainian soldier had previously been buried in the city of Dnipro, but his relatives wanted him to be reburied in his home village, Chubenko said.

A specialist works at the site of a crash of the private jet linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin in the Tver region, Russia, on August 24.

Investigators found hand grenade fragments in the remains of those killed when Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin’s plane crashed in August, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday, claiming the probe has shown “no external influence” downed the aircraft.

The country’s Investigative Committee “reported a few days ago that the fragments of hand grenades were found in the bodies of the victims,” Putin said during a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club in the Russian city of Sochi.

“There was no external influence on the plane; it is an established fact,” the Russian leader claimed.

Putin added that the investigation into the crash is still ongoing.

Key context: The crash that killed the mercenary leader and seven other people came months after Prigozhin launched a brief rebellion that posed an unprecedented challenge to Putin’s authority. The mutiny was suddenly called off in a deal that required the Wagner chief and his fighters to relocate to Belarus.

Speculation about Prigozhin’s eventual fate began soon after his march on Russia, and he eventually joined a long line of Putin critics who met an early death.

There is no concrete evidence that points to Kremlin involvement and, officially, the cause of the crash is unknown. Russia has denied any involvement in downing the plane. Shortly after the crash, it said it was launching an official investigation into the cause of the crash, and Putin said his comments Thursday reflected the results of that probe.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials and US President Joe Biden have suggested Putin may have been behind the crash.

CNN’s Jessie Yeung and Lauren Said-Moorhouse contributed reporting to this post.

The “horrifying” Russian missile strike that hit a grocery store near the eastern city of Kupiansk is an example of why the US needs to continue to support Ukraine, the White House said Thursday.

“This is why we’re doing everything that we can to help Ukraine, to help the brave people of Ukraine to fight for their freedom,” Jean-Pierre added.

The press secretary said that, during the recent US government funding fight, President Joe Biden had pushed for the US to “continue to support the people of Ukraine, because this is the horrifying nature that they live in every day.”

Jean-Pierre called on Congress to now act on additional funding, after the short-term spending bill passed last weekend left out any new funding for Kyiv’s war effort.

The press secretary said the administration is working another Ukraine aid package that includes new weapons and equipment. “We’re going to continue to make sure that we meet the battlefield needs that Ukraine has,” she told reporters.

More on the attack: Ukrainian officials say the devastating strike hit the grocery store and a cafe nearby Thursday afternoon. It marks one of the deadliest attacks against civilians to be reported since the conflict began. At least 51 people are dead, according to Ukrainian officials, who say the toll may still rise as workers clear the rubble.

Rescues work at a site of a Russian military strike in Kupiansk on Thursday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his call for more air defenses following a Russian strike in the village of Hroza in Kupiansk district, which left at least 51 people dead. 

During meetings with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Zelensky said he is focused on Ukraine’s need for air defense and thinks a lot of progress has been made for the support needed.

He said Ukraine will receive six Hawk systems from Spain and that Germany will work to provide Kyiv with another Patriot system. Zelensky said he believes that the Patriot system is “the only system that can withstand such threats and such massacres.”

Vladimir Putin delivers a speech at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday.

Russia has successfully tested a new generation of nuclear-powered cruise missile, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

The “last successful test of the Burevestnik, a global-range cruise missile with a nuclear installation, a nuclear propulsion system, has been conducted,” state news agency RIA Novosti quoted Putin as saying at the Valdai Discussion Club forum in the southern Russian city of Sochi.

Some background: Putin announced the program to develop the Burevestnik in March 2018 as part of a broader initiative to develop a new generation of intercontinental and hypersonic missiles. Others included the Kinzhal ballistic missile and the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle.

Putin told the country’s Federal Assembly that missiles like the Burevestnik would help ensure a strategic balance in the world for decades to come.

Reported failures: However, Western analysts say the program has since run into trouble, with a number of failed tests. In 2019, the Nuclear Threat Initiative, an open source analytical group, said “there is a consensus in the press, with purported agreement from U.S. intelligence services, that the Burevestnik has been tested 13 times, with two partial successes.”

Russian military expert Alexei Leonkov described the Burevestnik as a weapon of retaliation, which Russia would use after intercontinental ballistic missiles to fully destroy military and civilian infrastructure and leave no chance of survival, according to the analytical group.

Rescuers work at a site of a Russian military strike in the village of Hroza, in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, on October 5.

At least 51 people have been killed in a Russian strike that hit a grocery store near Kupiansk Thursday, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said, adding that the latest fatality came after one of the injured people died while receiving treatment.

The death toll may rise as the rubble is still being cleared, according to Dmytro Chubenko, a spokesperson with the Prosecutor’s Office in Kharkiv region.

Shortly after 1 p.m. local time, Russian forces shelled a cafe and shop in the village of Hroza in the Kupiansk district, according to Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv region military administration. Hroza is about 40 kilometers (24 miles) from the frontlines near Kupiansk.

The strike appears to be the deadliest against Ukraine’s civilian population since an attack on Kramatorsk railway station early in 2022. It’s unclear what weapon was used. Ukrainian officials have used different terms to describe the attack.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, who is on a visit to Spain, called the attack “a demonstrably brutal Russian crime — a rocket attack on an ordinary grocery store, a completely deliberate terrorist attack.”

“Russian terror must be stopped. Anyone who helps Russia circumvent sanctions is a criminal. Everyone who still supports Russia is supporting evil. Russia needs this and similar terrorist attacks for one thing only: to make its genocidal aggression the new normal for the whole world,” Zelensky said.

“According to preliminary findings, the facility was hit with an Iskander [missile],” Klymenko said.

Some background: The Iskander is a ballistic missile with a relatively short range that depending on configuration carries a warhead of between 500 and 700 kilograms (about 1100 to 1500 lbs). Russia has extensively used it against Ukraine, causing substantial civilian casualties.

The death toll has been updated to reflect the latest information from authorities.

President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at the European Political Community Summit in Granada, Spain, on October 5.

At a European political summit in Spain, President Volodymyr Zelensky urged European leaders to continue their support of Ukraine while the US goes through the “growing political storm” of leadership crisis in the US Congress.

This comes as Kevin McCarthy was removed from speakership by the US House of Representatives on Tuesday.

“Now Europe is following the developments in America – the growing political storm. Europe has its own potential for strength, and its global role, which should be as powerful as possible in all key issues that are important for Europe,” he said.

Expressing confidence in US institutions and the country’s leadership’s resolve to support Ukraine against Russia, he urged European leaders to continue the work through uncertain times.

“America helped us – helped Europe to survive. And now it is important for Europe not to hide sails from the wind trying to wait out the storm, but to be together in this uncertain time – to work united, and protect our values and our common space of liberty – in common with the US,” he said.

“We must not allow Putin to destabilize any other parts of the world and our partners in order to ruin Europe’s power. We must continue to put pressure with sanctions, politically and economically, so that Russia cannot spread chaos,” Zelensky added.

Speaking to reporters at the summit, Zelensky later added that while uncertainty in the US presents challenges for Ukraine, the country has proven its resilience throughout the war.

Some background: Zelensky was speaking against a background of growing tensions among the international coalition supporting Ukraine, following the election of a party in Slovakia that opposes further aid to Ukraine, a row with Poland over farm exports and a warning from the Italian Prime Minister that public support in her country might begin to wane.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky looked for reassurance from Western leaders on Thursday, as political upheaval in the US Congress and drained ammunition stocks among NATO countries threaten the flow of military aid to Ukraine.

Here are the latest developments:

The leader of the region of Abkhazia, a pro-Russian territory on the Black Sea that broke away from Georgia, says there will be a Russian military base on its coast.

This comes as satellite imagery indicates that a number of Russian naval ships have been relocated to other ports in the Black Sea following several devastating Ukrainian missile strikes on the Crimean port of Sevastopol.

CNN can confirm that some of the ships did come from Sevastopol, the home port of Black Sea Fleet, but additional satellite imagery reviewed by CNN shows a number of military vessels remain in that port. 

Satellite imagery indicates that a number of Russian naval ships have been relocated to other ports in the Black Sea following several devastating Ukrainian missile strikes on the Crimean port of Sevastopol, pictured here on October 3.

Satellite imagery indicates that a number of Russian naval ships have been relocated to other ports in the Black Sea following several devastating Ukrainian missile strikes on the Crimean port of Sevastopol.

As many as a dozen ships, including frigates, landing ships and submarines now appear to be moored at Novorossiysk, according to satellite imagery over the past few weeks.

CNN can confirm that some of the ships did come from Sevastopol, the home port of Black Sea Fleet, but additional satellite imagery reviewed by CNN shows a number of military vessels remain in that port. 

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) commented that imagery from October 1 and October 3 “reportedly shows that Russian forces recently moved the Admiral Makarov and Admiral Essen frigates, three diesel submarines, five landing ships, and several small missile ships” to Novorossiysk.

At least one other ship had been moved to the port of Feodosia in eastern Crimea. 

ISW noted that satellite imagery taken on October 2 shows four Russian landing ships and one Kilo-class submarine remaining in Sevastopol.

Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy, said Thursday that the Black Sea Fleet was “constantly dispersing its ships. They realize that these are our targets and are constantly moving them between several ports.” 

He said four ships were currently in the Black Sea.

Pletenchuk also noted Russian “defense and security efforts around the so-called Crimean Bridge have been reinforced again….Now we see 9 units there - 4 ships and 5 boats of the Border Guard Service, the FSB maritime guard. They are guarding this facility from the north and from the south.”

A Moscow-based institute, the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, said that the movement of ships was normal. “The Black Sea Fleet once again made a traditional maneuver from Sevastopol to Novorossiysk - all three operational submarines of Project 06363, both frigates of Project 11356, one patrol ship of Project 1135M, five large landing ships, and, apparently, the bulk of small missile ships have moved to Novorossiysk.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky at the European Political Community Summit in Granada, Spain, on October 5.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had “productive” discussions on Thursday with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, on the sidelines of the European Political Community Summit in Granada, in southern Spain.

Zelensky and Sanchez spoke about a new defense support package to Ukraine which will include “additional air defense equipment, artillery, and anti-drone systems,” he said in a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Zelensky also thanked Spain for its support of Kyiv’s aspirations to join the European Union.

The Ukrainian leader said he also met with his Italian counterpart, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, saying they “reaffirmed the strong Ukrainian-Italian partnership.” He noted that he thanked Italy for its support of Ukraine and “informed the Prime Minister of the progress of our counteroffensive and our priority defense needs. We discussed Italy’s next military aid package, including ways to strengthen our air defense.”

Zelensky told reporters Europe’s “biggest challenge” will be to preserve its “unity,” as an emerging wing of leaders in the region voice opposition to sending aid to Ukraine.

This comes as Slovakia’s former pro-Russia Prime Minister Robert Fico’s populist party won parliamentary elections. Fico anchored his campaign on his anti-US rhetoric and the promise to stop sending weapons to Ukraine and a pledge to thwart Kyiv’s NATO ambitions.

Meanwhile, tensions between Poland and Ukraine eased, after a grain spat between both countries escalated in September when Warsaw — one of Kyiv’s earliest and most steadfast allies — threatened to stop sending arms to its neighbor.

CNN’s Stephen Collinson contributed reporting.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky talks to the press as he arrives at the European Political Community summit at the Palacio de Congreso in Granada, Spain, on October 5.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the United States is going through a “difficult election period,” amid growing concerns about dwindling financial support for Kyiv from Washington.

The wartime leader was asked if he is worried the removal of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from Congress on Tuesday could stall legislative approval for further US aid for Ukraine.

“I think it’s too late to worry. We have to work on it,” Zelensky stressed, as he made his way to the European Political Community Summit in Granada, in southern Spain.

Zelensky on Thursday acknowledged the US is experiencing a “difficult election period” with many “different” and competing voices, adding that the political situation in Washington will be discussed by European leaders during Thursday’s meeting.

He recounted how during a trip to Washington earlier this year he received a message of “100%” support from US President Joe Biden, alongside strong bipartisan endorsement. 

Some context: There are growing calls from Republican and Democrat lawmakers for the White House to send Congress a single supplemental funding bill for Ukraine that would take American funding for the war in Ukraine through 2024 and past the election, two senior Republican congressional aides previously told CNN.

Giorgia Meloni, President of the Council of Ministers, attends the 2023 Festival of the Regions and Autonomous Provinces on October 3, in Turin, Italy.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she will continue to back Ukrainian troops but is aware of waning public support, as Western militaries warned of depleting ammunition stocks to send to Kyiv.

“On aid, we’ve always stood by Ukraine and that’s what we will continue to do, clearly consistent with, on the one hand the requests that come in, and on the other hand the need not to undermine or compromise our security,” she told CNN affiliate Sky TG in an on-camera interview on Wednesday.

Italy has been a steadfast supporter of Ukraine, so far providing six military support packages and over 165 million euros ($173 million) in humanitarian aid.

“It is clear that war generates consequences that greatly impact our society, and if we are not good at dealing with them, public opinion will continue to wear thin,” Meloni cautioned.

The Italian leader listed inflation, surging energy prices and increased migration as examples of consequences of the war which risk “generating a fatigue in public opinion.”

Some background: Ukraine is facing a potential aid deficit from US and European allies, a predicament that senior officials said could raise serious battlefield concerns amid Russia’s invasion.

US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he is worried about failed efforts by Congress to approve arms for Kyiv. The historic ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday from the law-making branch of Washington means that legislation cannot be passed until a new leader is installed – potentially delaying military aid for Ukraine.

Meanwhile, NATO and British officials urged the bloc’s nations to increase weapons production because stockpiles may be thin, in a troubling development for allies hoping to maintain a steady flow of aid to Ukraine.

At least two people were killed during bombardments in Kherson on Thursday, as Russian forces ramped up strikes targeting the southern Ukrainian city.

A 60-year-old woman and a 54-year-old utility worker, who was pruning trees, died during the attacks, Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of Kherson region military administration, posted on Telegram.

An artillery shell had landed in the city at 9:30 a.m. local time (2:30 a.m. ET), according to Produkin.

Moscow’s troops have intensified deadly attacks in Kherson in recent weeks, amid Ukrainian fire on Russian units in occupied parts of the region.

Russia shelled the Kherson region 78 times in the past 24 hours, aiming 25 artillery shells at the city of Kherson alone, Produkin said. Moscow’s forces used weapons including mortars, artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, tanks, aircraft, drones, and missiles.

Russia launched more than 60 airstrikes at military and civilian targets in Ukraine over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian military officials said Thursday.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also said Russian forces shelled more than 140 settlements in the Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.

Here’s what else Ukrainian military officials said:

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, arrives at the Palacio de Congresos de Granada to participate in the summit of the European Political Community (EPC), on October 5, in Granada, Spain.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in southern Spain on Thursday for an unannounced appearance at the European Political Community Summit.

“Our joint goal is to ensure the security and stability of our common European home,” Zelensky wrote on X, formerly Twitter, to announce his arrival in the city of Granada.

“We are working together with partners on enhancing the European security architecture, particularly regional security,” he wrote, adding Ukraine will also “pay special attention” to the Black Sea region along with “joint efforts to strengthen global food security and freedom of navigation.” 

He also spoke about Kyiv’s focus on strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses as winter approaches.

Some context: The first meeting of the European Political Community was held in October 2022, with the leaders primarily discussing the war in Ukraine and global energy crisis. At last year’s summit, European leaders addressed security issues and areas of cooperation across the continent, with Zelensky advocating for Ukraine to join NATO.