Ukraine war latest: Russia 'shoots down own fighter jet' during drone attack on Crimea, Sochi
Hi, this is Tania Myronyshena reporting from Kyiv on day 1,332 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Today's top story:
Russia shot down its own Su-30SM fighter jet over Crimea while its air defense was trying to intercept Ukrainian drones flying to the occupied peninsula and deep inside Russia overnight, Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy, said on Oct. 17.
Pletenchuk said that the intercepted radio communications reveal that the pilot flying the fighter jet in the northwestern part of Crimea was killed after two engines caused fire.
"The enemy likely shot down its own multirole fighter while repelling a (Ukrainian) drone attack using air defense systems," Pletenchuk told the Kyiv Independent.
The Ukrainian drone attack appears to have hit a facility near the Gvardeyskoye airbase in Crimea, and the footages appear to show the oil depot nearby on fire, the Crimean Wind Telegram channel reported.
Ukraine's Special Forces later confirmed that its drones inflicted damage on Gvardeyskoye's oil depot and a plant, attaching a video supposedly showing the attack from a drone view.
Russian conscript opens fire on fellow soldiers in Moscow Oblast
A Russian conscript opened fire at a military base in Naro-Fominsk, Moscow Oblast, fatally shooting a contract soldier before taking his own life, Russian state media reported on Oct. 17.
The incident was confirmed by the Moscow Military District, which said the soldier "violated firearm handling rules," resulting in the death of a contract serviceman. Russian outlet Vazhniye Istorii wrote that the incident happened at a base in Naro-Fominsk, where several elite units are stationed.
Among them are the 1182nd Guards Artillery Regiment of the 106th Airborne Division and formations of the Kantemirovskaya Tank Division.
Ukraine confirms drone strike on Crimea oil depot, releases footage
Last updated 19:48 p.m.
Ukraine's Special Operations Forces confirmed that a drone strike targeted an oil depot and industrial facility near the Russian Gvardeyskoye airbase in occupied Crimea overnight on Oct. 17.
A video from the attack posted on social media shows the strike followed by a large fire.
"The result of the successful actions of the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces is the destruction of the oil depot in the village of Gvardiyskyi," it wrote.
The strike was part of a wider Ukrainian drone operation that hit multiple Russian military targets across occupied territories and inside Russia.
Around 90% of Ukrainians believe government should be criticized even during war, poll shows
Last updated 4:06 p.m.
Around 90% of Ukrainians believe the government can be criticized, even during a full-scale war, according to a poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) published on Oct. 17.
Of those respondents, 58% said that criticism should be balanced and constructive, in order "to not destabilize the situation in the country."
Another 32% support harsh and uncompromising criticism, while only 8% oppose any criticism of the authorities, the survey showed.
Russia, Ukraine not ready for peace deal, Vance says
Last updated 3:40 p.m. Kyiv time.
Russia and Ukraine are not yet prepared to reach a peace agreement, although some progress has been made over the past few months, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said in an interview with Newsmax on Oct. 16.
The comments came only a day before U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to host President Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House to discuss U.S. support and peace efforts in Ukraine.
"And right now... the Russians and the Ukrainians are just not at the point where they can make a deal," he said.
Trump's now months-long push to broker a peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow yielded little result, as Russia continues to escalate strikes against Ukrainian cities and rejects a ceasefire.
Russian court sentences 15 Ukrainian POWs to up to 21 years in prison
Last updated 3:16 p.m. Kyiv time.
A Russian military court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced 15 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) to prison terms ranging from 15 to 21 years, accusing them of participating in a "terrorist organization" and receiving "terrorist training," the court`s press center announced on Oct.17.
The individuals were allegedly affiliated with the Aidar Battalion, which Russia unilaterally designated a terrorist group. Human rights watchdogs note that the charges were based solely on the fact of military service in the unit, with no specific war crimes presented.
Russian media outlet Mediazona reported that drivers and medics were also prosecuted under the same accusations, with prosecutors claiming that even providing medical aid “sustained the unit’s combat readiness.”
Two female medics and another individual named in the case were reportedly separated into different proceedings. The medics were previously released in a prisoner exchange.
The sentences are further evidence of Russia’s violation of international law regarding the treatment of POWs.
Read the full story at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).
Ukraine halts Russian spring-summer offensive, Syrskyi says
Last updated 13:30 pm Kyiv time.
Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said that the spring-summer offensive campaign of the Russian army has been successfully stopped by Ukrainian forces.
"I can state with confidence: Ukrainian warriors have ceased the enemy’s spring-summer offensive campaign and continue to disrupt the Kremlin’s further plans by employing asymmetric measures to neutralize the adversary’s advantages in personnel and armaments," he wrote on Facebook on Oct. 17.
In a statement, Syrskyi said that despite Russia’s continued attempts to seize territory, it has failed to achieve strategic goals.
“At the cost of enormous losses, the adversary has achieved only minor advances,” he said, citing nearly 29,000 Russian troops killed in September alone.
Syrskyi reported that Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian troops across all directions, while conducting “active defense” and local counteroffensive operations.
He admitted particular success in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, as well as ongoing efforts to push Russian troops out of Sumy Oblast.
Ukraine has also intensified deep-strike operations on Russian military and energy infrastructure, targeting over 45 key facilities since the beginning of 2025. These strikes are among the most effective in the war to date, Syrskyi said.
At least 1 killed, 12 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day
At least one person has been killed and 12 others injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day, local authorities reported on Oct. 17.
Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 35 out of the 70 Shahed-type attack drones and other drones launched by Russia overnight, according to the Air Force. Thirty-one strikes were recorded at 10 locations.
One person was killed and four were injured in various strikes in Sumy Oblast, according to the regional military administration.
In Kharkiv oblast, four people were injured in a Russian attack, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.
In Kherson Oblast, two people were injured, regional military administration. In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a Russian attack injured two people, according to the regional military administration.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,128,030 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
Russia has lost around 1,128,030 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Oct. 17.
The number includes 730 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
According to the report, Russia has also lost 11,266 tanks, 23,394 armored fighting vehicles, 64,541 vehicles and fuel tanks, 33,748 artillery systems, 1,520 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,228 air defense systems, 427 airplanes, 346 helicopters, 71,025 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.
