Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin realises he can’t win war against Ukraine, Trump’s envoy says

Ukrainian leader Zelensky has warned of an “emergency” threat at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which he called a ”threat to everyone”.

“It is now the seventh day – something that has never happened before – of an emergency situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,” he wrote on X/Twitter.

“Because of Russian shelling, the plant has been cut off from power, disconnected from the electrical grid, and is being supplied with electricity by diesel generators.”

He added: This is extraordinary. The generators and the plant were not designed for this, have never operated in this mode for long, and we already have information that one generator has failed. It is Russian shelling that prevents repair of the power lines to the plant and the restoration of basic safety.

“This is a threat to everyone – no terrorist in the world has ever dared to do to a nuclear plant what Russia is doing. And it is right that the world does not stay silent.”

Nine people have died after severe flooding in Odesa southern Ukraine. Among the dead were a family of five who were swept away from their flat, according to emergency services.

Some 362 people were rescued.

“In just seven hours, almost two months’ worth of rain fell in Odesa,” Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov said on Telegram on Wednesday.

“No stormwater drainage system can withstand such a load.”

A fire at a major oil refinery in the Yaroslavl region northeast of Moscow, has been contained, according to emergency services.

The blaze broke out on Wednesday and was suspected to be a drone attack by Ukraine.

However, regional governor, Mikhail Yevrayev, said the incident was under control.

“Residents were concerned it might have been the result of an enemy drone attack,” Yevrayev said on Telegram.

“But what happened has nothing to do with that…The fire is of a technological nature.”

Ukraine has reportedly been attacking refineries in an attempt to disrupt fuel supplies and revenue.

As EU leaders meet to discuss bolstering their defences on Wednesday and Thursday, a priority on the agenda will be plans for a drone alliance with Ukraine.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said €6b would be earmarked for the initiative.

Talks about a “drone wall” began after Poland and Estonia reported violations of their airspace.

The “wall” is not a physical barrier and would consist of equipment intended to plug gaps in Europe’s defences across Nato’s eastern flank and counter drone incursions.

It is anticipated to be a network of tools, which could include drone trackers using radar, jammers and acoustic sensors. Information sharing across countries is also envisaged to be a part of the plan.

Last week, Von der Leyen said the EU “must heed the call of our Baltic friends and build a drone wall.”

European leaders will meet in Denmark today to discuss defence across the continent after a series of drone incursions violated Nato airspace.

Denmark was the latest country to be unsettled by unidentified drone activity near airports.

An informal European Council summit will take place on Wednesday, involving 27 EU leaders.

Over 40 heads of state will gather on Thursday for a meeting of the European Political Community.

Princess Anne has met with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky for an official visit at the request of the Foreign Office.

The Royal made the surprise visit on Tuesday and left a toy bear at the Children’s Memorial for children killed since Russia’s invasion. She was joined by First Lady Olena Zelenska.

She wanted to highlight “the traumatic experiences of children living on the frontline of the conflict”, according to Buckingham Palace.

According to Ukraine, 19,500 children have been displaced since February 2022.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has mocked US President Donald Trump after the American leader suggested that he was a “stupid person”.

Mr Trump said he had moved a “submarine or two” to the Russian coast on Tuesday. In August, he said that he had ordered two nuclear submarines to “appropriate regions” in response to threats from Medvedev.

“New episode of the thriller series,” Medvedev wrote on X/Twitter. “Trump once again brought up the subs he allegedly ‘sent to the Russian shores’ insisting they are ‘very well hidden.”

Rescuers worked through the night after severe weather and floods in Ukraine’s southern city of Odesa killed nine people, a child among them, the state emergency service said this morning.

The workers helped evacuate people from water traps, shift cars, pump water from buildings, and trace a missing girl who was found in the early hours, the service said on the Telegram messaging app.

It posted pictures of passengers being taken off a flooded bus and cars pulled from the water.

“In just seven hours, almost two months’ worth of rain fell in Odesa,” mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov said on Telegram earlier.

“No stormwater drainage system can withstand such a load.”

A total of 362 people were rescued in the continuing effort, the emergency service added.