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Wednesday, October 7 Russia's war against Ukraine Anti-drone nets pictured being installed on Kyiv’s Northern Bridge on Oct. 6, 2026. Russia has targeted key bridges in the capital over the past week as its attacks on civilian infrastructure in the capital intensify. (AFP via Getty Images) At least 2 killed Kyiv as Russia slams capital with missile, drones on Putin's 74th birthday. Explosions rocked Kyiv overnight on Oct. 7 as Moscow launched its latest mass missile and drone attack on the capital, coinciding with Russian President Vladimir Putin's 74th birthday. Klitschko's promise of 50 mobile shelters for Kyiv set to fall far short. The city administration said the district administrations did not request funding for mobile shelters when the budget was drafted. Shadow fleet tanker reportedly ablaze near Russian port city Sochi. The ship may have been attacked by unmanned surface vessels, Russian Telegram channels suggest. Russia testing Europe's defenses below threshold of open war, experts say. What may look like a string of hybrid incidents increasingly resembles a sub-threshold war against Europe, says Olena Davlikanova, a security policy expert. Despite intensified Russian attacks, 62% of Ukrainians ready to endure war as long as needed, poll finds. The share has remained largely unchanged since late July and early August, despite the beginning of intensified Russian attacks using jet-powered drones and strikes on civilian infrastructure. Read our exclusives Ukraine war latest: Russia strikes civilian vessels in Black Sea off Bulgaria's coast Drones struck several merchant vessels in the Black Sea on Oct. 6, including two ships in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone. A Russian strike on a separate civilian vessel killed at least one crew member and injured several others. Photo: AFP via Getty Images Read more Everything you need to know about EU's first step to making Ukraine's membership real The European Commission published a document on Oct. 6 about the future of EU enlargement, a first step toward making Ukraine's eventual accession feel real, but also laying bare some of the work the bloc needs to do to be ready. Photo: Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images Read more The price of doing business in Russia When Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, most global businesses rushed for the exit. Swiss food and drink firm Nestlé was not among them. The company hunkered down, a decision it framed as ensuring local people's "right to food." It made little difference to the Kremlin. Photo: Kirill Kudryavtev /AFP via Getty Images Read more Europe is learning the wrong lesson from Russia's drone war European governments are preparing for a form of confrontation that their current investments do not fully match. Photo: Nathan Howard/Getty Images Read more Human costs of war Russian strikes kill 13, injure 104 across Ukraine, damage Kryvyi Rih hospital. Regional Governor Oleksandr Hanzha said that four people were injured in the Kryvyi Rih attack, including two medical workers. Escape from Oleshky — 12 people reached Ukraine-controlled territory in September, official says. In recent weeks, some residents have started walking out of Oleshky to the neighboring village of Radensk alone or in pairs, on roads mined by Russian forces. Drones strike merchant vessels in Black Sea off Bulgaria, Ukraine, killing at least 1. A Russian drone struck a merchant vessel flying the Marshall Islands flag in the Black Sea. Separately, two merchant ships were hit by drones around 112 kilometers (70 miles) off Bulgaria's coast on Oct. 6. Russian losses to Ukrainian drones surge in early October, Madyar says. Between Oct. 1 and Oct. 5, Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces recorded 2,699 Russian troops killed or wounded, compared with 1,931 during the same period in September, Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, said. International response Lithuania takes 1st step to lift nuclear weapons ban amid Russian threat. Parliament Speaker Juozas Olekas said removing the constitutional ban would strengthen Lithuania's resilience and deterrence. South Korea says it received 'insufficient' apology from Ukraine over North Korean POWs, mulls envoy recall. The South Korean government is considering several measures in response to the dispute, including a potential recall of South Korea's Ambassador to Ukraine, according to South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun. Rubio presses Russia for answers over suspected plague death in Siberia. "We're watching it very closely, hour by hour," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. Poland to deploy Patriots near Ukrainian border, announces $26 billion civil defense plan. The money will be spent on shelters, equipment, rescue bases, stockpiles, and secure water and energy supplies in case of natural disasters and war, according to Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Armed individuals from Belarus threaten Latvian soldiers at border, followed by another breach. "The escorts of the illegal migrants, who were located on the Belarusian side, were armed, issued threats to (Latvian) soldiers, and also actively urged and drove the migrant group toward Latvia," Latvian Interior Minister Janis Dombrava said. You've made it this far, which means you care. Ukraine Daily has never missed a morning — not through blackouts, not through mass attacks. Our mission is to show the world the truth of what is happening here. Becoming a member helps us keep doing that, every single day. EXPLORE MEMBERSHIP MAKE A DONATION In other news SBU arrests collaborator suspected of setting up repeater stations for Russian drones in Kyiv. The man was suspected of "collecting data on defense facilities and critical infrastructure to adjust massive attacks on Kyiv from September 21 to 24 this year," the SBU said on Oct. 5. This newsletter is open for sponsorship. Boost your brand's visibility by reaching thousands of engaged subscribers. Click here for more details. Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Yuliia Taradiuk, Chris York, Martin Fornusek, Jonas Heins, Tim Zadorzhnyy, Rebecka Pieder, Volodymyr Ivanyshyn, Chris Powers, and Dmytro Basmat. If you’re enjoying this newsletter, consider joining our membership program. Start supporting independent journalism today. If you have a story tip and want to get in touch with our reporters, please reply to this email.