War

Ukraine: civilians used by Russians as human shields in Pokrovsk. Sanchez: 615 million in aid to Ukraine

On the day after his visit to France, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, is expected in Madrid, Spain, where he will meet the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, and King Felipe VI

18 November 2025

6' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

6' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Russian commanders ordered their troops to use civilians as 'human shields' during an assault on the south-eastern outskirts of the Donetsk city of Pokrovsk on 10 November. This was claimed by the Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office quoted by Ukrainska Pravda. "At around 14:30, a commander of the Russian armed forces issued a radio instruction to his subordinates, who had entered Pokrovsk, ordering them to use the civilian population as human shields," they said.

Specifically, the commander allegedly ordered the Russian troops to force the detained civilians - a man, a woman and a 13-year-old child - to walk in front of them during a sweep of populated areas. Citing preliminary data, prosecutors reported that the order was given to the First Motorised Rifle Battalion of the 506th Motorised Rifle Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces, which was engaged in the attack on the south-eastern outskirts of Pokrovsk. Investigations and searches are underway to establish the circumstances of the incident, identify those responsible and determine the fate of civilians. The investigation is being conducted by the Security Services of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russian attacks continue in Ukraine. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian drones hit and damaged the building housing the editorial office of the Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne and the Ukrainian radio station in Dnipro. This was reported by the public TV station Suspilne. The pictures show the station's windows smashed and large holes drilled in the sides of the building. In the night attacks, a 17-year-old girl died and 17 were injured in a rocket attack in Kharkiv, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said, reported in the country's media.

Two women, aged 72 and 75, were killed in an attack on the town of Gorodnia in the northern Ukrainian province of Chernihiv. This was announced by the local authorities, while from Kiev they informed that they had shot down 101 of 114 drones launched by the Russians.- In Kherson a Russian drone finally killed one person.

Kiev: "Russian troops spotted north of Pokrovsk"

Russian troops were spotted outside the northern outskirts of Pokrovsk, Donetsk oblast. This was reported by the Ukrainian army as intense fighting for control of the city continues. The report published today by the 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Ukrainian Assault Air Force confirms that Russian troops, who initially entered Pokrovsk from the south in October, have now probably penetrated all areas of the city, although actual territorial control remains difficult to establish. "Several enemy infantrymen attempted to penetrate and set foot in one of the agricultural facilities," the document reads. "The enemy was annihilated." The battle of Pokrovsk, one of the main hot spots in Russia's last year of large-scale warfare, is still ongoing despite the fact that Russian troops infiltrated the city in large numbers in November. According to the Seventh Corps, 314 Russian soldiers were killed in action in and around Pokrovsk in November, while another 71 were wounded.

The Zuyevka and Starobeshevo thermal power plants in the Donetsk People's Republic were damaged by Ukrainian drone bombardment. This was stated by Denis Pushilin, head of the pro-Russian administration of the DPR, calling the incident 'an unprecedented attack on the republic's energy system'. As a result of the attack, the supply of electricity was disrupted in numerous localities, seriously affecting the civilian population.

Ucraina, 1355° giorno di guerra
Photogallery8 foto

Kiev: 46,000 Ukrainians forcibly conscripted by Moscow into occupied areas

At least 46,327 Ukrainian citizens have allegedly been 'forcibly conscripted' by the Russians as of February 2022 into territories occupied by Moscow's army, particularly in Crimea: this is the calculation, reported by the Ukrinform news agency, of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, established by the Kiev government. "These people are fighting against us," the secretary of this body, Dmytro Usov, claimed at a conference. The figure released, he added, refers to the period from February 2022 to July 2025. Over 35,000 Ukrainians forcibly conscripted would come from Crimea, while another 5,000 or so from Donetsk, 4,600 from the Luhansk area and about 1,000 from the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson areas.

Sanchez: 615 million in aid to Ukraine

In the aftermath of his visit to France, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky travelled to Madrid, Spain, where he met with King Philip VI. "I am grateful to Spain for its sincere support for Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression. We appreciate all the help provided," the Ukrainian leader wrote on his X profile.

During the meeting between Zelensky and the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, the latter said: 'I shared with President Zelensky that Spain will mobilise during the next month a military aid package to Ukraine in the amount of 615 million euros. It will include the sending of new defensive equipment, worth around 300 million euros and as part of our bilateral agreement, which includes a billion euros committed again this year for security'. Sanchez announced this at a joint press conference with the Ukrainian president after today's meeting at the Moncloa Palace.

Zelensky's visit, the third since the start of the war, 'demonstrates the strong commitment Spain has and continues to have with the Ukrainian people, a long-standing commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and defence of the people and government of Kiev for as long as Russian aggression lasts'. This was said by Spanish government spokeswoman Pilar Alegria at a press conference at the end of the Council of Ministers. "The war against Ukraine harms European security and values and that is why Spain's position is to stand by Ukraine for as long as necessary," the spokeswoman added, recalling that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will receive Zelensky at Moncloa this afternoon to "address issues of common interest" and talk about the "reconstruction of Ukraine". According to El Pais, Sanchez will announce today Madrid's commitment to buy American arms for Kiev and specify the amount of the agreement. The newspaper recalls that on 23 October Sanchez confirmed in Brussels his decision to join the Purl (Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List) programme.

...and tomorrow in Turkey with Witkoff

Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff will be in Turkey tomorrow and participate in talks with President Zelensky, a Turkish source told Reuters. Zelensky announced that he would be in Turkey tomorrow after his visit to Spain today, adding that Ukraine was preparing to relaunch negotiations and had 'developed solutions' that it would propose to its partners. Witkoff led Washington's diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine, meeting several times with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Russia will not be represented at these meetings between Zelensky and the US envoy, Steve Witkoff. This was stated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, when questioned by the press. "There will be no Russian representatives in Turkey tomorrow," Peskov said, adding, "We will wait to be informed."

Asked about the initiatives drawn up by Kiev to resolve the conflict, mentioned by Zelensky in the post in which he announced his visit to Turkey, the Kremlin spokesman replied: "For now we have not received any information from Kiev". He then reiterated that Moscow remains 'open to negotiations' and that its position is 'well known to Washington, Istanbul and Kiev'.

Russia and the US have discussed the possibility of another prisoner exchange, Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev said in an interview with Axios. A US official confirmed this and said that the US side is receptive, but warned that nothing is imminent. At least eight Americans are in Russian prisons. Bringing the detained Americans home is a priority for President Trump and an exchange could help the Kremlin improve relations with his administration, despite tensions over Ukraine. According to a source familiar with the matter, Russia hopes that a new prisoner exchange with the US will show goodwill and build greater trust between the two countries.

Kiev-Paris: pact on fighters

The Supreme Defence Council, presided over by Mattarella in the presence of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, reaffirms support for Ukraine, by sending a new arms package, and the need for peace in the Strip to pass through the recognition of two states. Beware of Moscow's 'hybrid threats' carried out with cyber attacks and the use of drones. All scenarios that require the EU to adapt, even if NATO has shown 'readiness' to react, and Italy to define 'innovation projects' in defence. The League once again warned about corruption in Ukraine, as leader Matteo Salvini had already done in recent days. In the evening, massive Russian attack in Dnipro. In Paris, meanwhile, agreement between Macron and Zelensky for the purchase by Kiev of 100 fighter jets, the new Samp-T system, radar and drones. "Paris is currently fuelling a pro-war sentiment. In this regard, one can only express regret'. This was said by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Emmanuel Macron in France yesterday. Von der Leyen wrote to the 27 indicating Kiev's needs in 2026 as 70 billion, in 2027 as 64 billion.