Russia's total oil refining capacity down 45% after mass attack on Moscow * Exclusive: EU readies biggest-ever sanctions package targeting Russia's war machine *

The war, which Western officials say has killed more than 500,000 Russian troops, has had global repercussions.

By promoting the veterans as what Putin has called the “new elite”, analysts say Russia wants to strengthen the war’s legitimacy while retaining control over the political process.

Russian media have reported that Konstantin Polezhayev, former mayor of the Russian city of Belgorod and former head of the regional housing and utilities department, has been killed in action in the war against Ukraine.

Russia’s parliamentary election for the first time is being held in Ukraine’s regions that Moscow illegally annexed after the start of its full-scale invasion more than 4 1/2 years ago.

Kaja Kallas says sanctions vital as bloc scrambles to reach deal on extension; UN sounds warning for civilians on both sides of war as winter approaches. What we know on day 1,672

Sept 22 (Reuters) - Russia hit industrial sites in southeastern and central Ukraine overnight, killing three, while an attack cut power to thousands in the country's north, Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday.

Of the 1,004 verified cases against civilians and prisoners of war, 89% were attributed to the Russian side, the report said.

Oleksii and Vasyl, servicemen of an air defence unit of the Separate Presidential Brigade named after Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, look at a military tablet to track the movement of Russia drones during their combat shift to protect the sky, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv region, Ukraine September 17, 2026. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko