The events of the past month leave Zelensky and his European counterparts no choice but to scramble for alternatives to Starlink.

By Mike Stone Oct 30 (Reuters) - The US State Department said on Friday it had approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine for an estimated $2.1 billion, in what would be one of the most significant steps to supply defensive weapons to Kyiv since the start of the second Trump administration.

Colombia's Foreign Ministry said 256 Colombian citizens have been reported dead and 973 missing in connection with the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Ukraine and Russia exchanged attacks as Melania Trump's localized ceasefire continued in southern Ukraine.

Several hundred people are understood to have decided to stay in the frontline town, despite the lack of gas, electricity and running water.

A humanitarian convoy for the stricken city of Oleshky has been set up in a nearby town. It includes 25 buses, ambulances and other vehicles for the aid mission due to take place Friday, a Ukrainian official said.

The first strike on a Russian oil refinery in two weeks comes after Russian attacks killed 27 civilians on Thursday.

It has been a bewildering week in US-Ukraine relations. Amid continuing tensions, experts say there are three broad levers of pressure the US can apply to Kyiv.