Russia has attacked a kindergarten in the North-Eastern city of Kharkiv, the drone strike left one person dead, and seven more injured.  The bombing came less than one day after Donald Trump announced that his scheduled meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Hungary was canceled over a ceasefire disagreement.  “There is no justification for a drone strike on a kindergarten, nor can there ever be,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “clearly, Russia is growing more brazen.”

The attack was only one of a wave of strikes across the country that left at least six people dead and more than 29 people injured, among the dead a 12 year old and her six month old sister.  The attacks have also caused a mass blackout in the city of Chernihiv, Chernihiv Oblast borders both Russia and Belarus, this is a logistical nightmare for the Ukrainians whose anti-air defense systems have very little time to prepare for an attack. “Russia’s tactics are to murder people and terrorize them with the cold,” Zelenskyy said.

The main culprit of the destruction in Chernihiv, Iranian designed Shahed drones, capable of carrying six ballistic missiles and a 50kg warhead.  However, Ukraine has secured its own arms support, Sweden has signed an agreement to provide Ukraine with its most modern Gripen E fighter jets.  “We count on the first deliveries of Gripens already in 2026,” said Zelenskyy.

With Ukraine’s infrastructure starting to crack after some of the most intense Russian attacks in recent months, combating the approaching winter cold is becoming an even bigger priority for the Ukrainian government.  On the 8th of October the government approved a new “Winter Preparedness Plan”, it provides special protection for energy facilities, a rapid response plan to prevent blackouts, and a reserve of materials.  “This will enable coordinated actions to prevent and quickly address the consequences of enemy attacks,” said Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.