Moscow hit by record losses as Ukrainian drones target Russian military site

Russia has recorded its deadliest month in Ukraine since it began the war four years ago, data from Kyiv indicates, as Ukrainian forces launched overnight strikes against a major Russian missile plant. Former ambassador to Ukraine, Leigh Turner, joins Shelagh Fogarty as Ukrainian officials claim Moscow sustained 54,400 casualties throughout October. This exceeds the previous monthly high of 48,670 recorded in December 2024, as military planners warn that Moscow is facing frontline losses which surpass the Kremlin's recruitment efforts. This comes as deep-strike operations have been reported in Russian territory overnight. A Russian facility creating solid propellant and air-defence systems in the southern Rostov region was targeted by long-range Ukrainian drones while over 100 drones hit the industrial region of Kstovo, which produces five per cent of the country's crude. Retaliatory strikes were launched overnight by Russian forces, which targeted Ukraine's energy grid, comprising 433 drones. The attacks left 280,000 households without electricity or heating after cutting power lines across several regions. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the Russian bombardments were designed to "take maximum advantage of the shortage of ballistic missile interceptors", and warned that critical civilian infrastructure remains under severe strain. "Each month of the war is becoming increasingly costly for Russia's armed forces," the Ukrainian general staff said in an update posted on social media. The attacks may leave Russia vulnerable as its recruitment efforts are outpaced by military depletion. On Saturday, starved and exhausted residents from the Russian-controlled town of Oleshky crossed into Ukraine in a major return of civilians under the first humanitarian truce of its kind in more than four years of the war. Ukrainian officials greeted the evacuees with posters "You're not alone" and "We embrace with our hearts." One evacuee, an elderly man in a wheelchair, said that he had lost 20 kg over the past year, becoming so weak that he required hospital treatment. Another resident, Svitlana Yermakova, said that they had to eat grass to survive food shortages. "We chopped grass and squash ... just to hold on," she said, adding that she risked riding by bicycle through minefields to a nearby village to get food for herself and her dog, Manila. The six-day local ceasefire in Oleshky was reached after mediation efforts by US first lady Melania Trump and with the pope's involvement. It is the longest local pause in fighting since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. "As of now, Ukrainian citizens from Oleshky have crossed the Ukrainian border in the Chernihiv region. All of them will receive the assistance they need," said President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, thanking the US and Melania Trump for mediation. To reach Ukrainian-held territory, Oleshky residents had to take a complicated route to leave the devastated town just a few kilometres away from the front line. They first travelled by bus via Crimea to the Russian town of Anapa, before flying to Belarus from where they continued to Ukraine. A video shared by Ukraine's ombudsman showed dozens of Oleshky residents slowly disembarking from a plane at a Belarusian airfield. Many people were elderly. Some required help to walk, and a few were carried on stretchers or in wheelchairs. They carried minimal luggage - only a bag or two. Dogs were unloaded from the plane in cages. As several big buses crossed into Ukraine's northern Chernihiv region from Belarus, the residents were greeted by relatives. Many cried. Ambulances lined the street and several large military tents were erected where hot meals, tea and medical aid were provided. Pet food and water bottles were piled up on several tables. "We have come a complicated way: from negotiations and agreeing on a ceasefire to delivering humanitarian aid directly to Oleshky and organising the evacuation of civilians," said Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's human rights ombudsman. The ceasefire has been holding since Tuesday without violations, according to both Ukrainian and Russian officials. It has allowed them to de-mine the roads and bring food, medicines and other supplies into the town. Supply routes to Oleshky were disrupted by fighting and drones. According to some residents, food deliveries were stopped in May, pushing hundreds of people into starvation. Some residents decided to go to Russia, while others elected to remain in Oleshky, despite the lack of gas, electricity and running water. The ceasefire will end on Sunday. Listen to the full show on the all-new LBC App: https://app.af.lbc.co.uk/btnc/thenewlbcapp #news #russia #ukraine #LBC LBC is the home of live debate around news and current affairs in the UK. Join in the conversation and listen at https://www.lbc.co.uk/ Sign up to LBC's