Homeland Security grants temporary deportation reprieve for more than 100K Ukrainians and Sudanese
More than 100,000 people from Ukraine and Sudan can stay in the United States without immediate risk of deportation, the Department of Homeland Security said, in what amounts to a temporary reprieve after their right to stay in the country was set to expire Monday.
Temporary Protected Status was set to end Oct. 19 for about 101,000 Ukrainians and 1,800 Sudanese. But DHS said an announcement “will be made at the appropriate time.” Until then, the department said in a written statement, Ukrainians and Sudanese in the U.S. covered by those temporary measures “retain protection.” The Department did not indicate how long they could stay or when a final announcement would be made on their status.
DHS did not respond to a question about whether they can keep their work permits, but TPS generally allows people to work while their protections remain in effect.
Harriette Boucher19 October 2026 21:15
Trump hits out Zelensky and says Ukraine has ‘given us nothing’
Donald Trump has said it may be time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine, as he hit out at Kyiv for “giving us nothing”.
He told reporters: “We’ve given a lot to Ukraine, they’ve given nothing to us…We’ve given hundreds of billions of dollars. I gave the Javelin [missiles] to Ukraine. That was me. [Barack] Obama gave them pillows.
“All I want is for Russia and Ukraine to stop that stupid war.”
Asked if he would meet with Chinese president Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin to discuss the end of the war without Zelensky there, he said: “Anything I can do to end the war, whether somebody is there or not.”
Trump was also asked about Zelensky’s comments, in which he said the president was “on the wrong side of history”.
“Zelensky doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” the president responded. “Zelensky’s a man that should have this war settled a long time ago.
“If he would have listened to me, he would have made a much better deal a long time ago and had a million people living from his side.
“To be honest, I think it’s time for someone else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine.
“Maybe it’s time for Zelensky to get someone else to negotiate.”
Harriette Boucher19 October 2026 21:12
Zelensky says he spoke with Pope Leo after plea for cooperation with Russia
Volodymyr Zelensky has said he discussed the crisis in Oleshky with Pope Leo, who has urged both Ukraine and Russia to deliver aid to the besieged town.
We reported earlier that the pontiff had asked the Ukrainian president to cooperate with Vladimir Putin in providing a safe passaage for humanitarian aid into Oleshky.
Pope Leo had called Putin on Friday, when he also urged for a ceasefire.
President Zelensky said on Monday: “I spoke with Pope Leo XIV and wished His Holiness a full and speedy recovery following his surgery.
“I briefed him in detail on the situation with Russian escalation and Russia’s constant strikes on Ukrainian cities and communities. We also discussed the humanitarian catastrophe in temporarily occupied Oleshky. We are working to help our people there. We are preparing decisions.
“His Holiness informed me about contacts with the Russian side on this matter. Of course, we also discussed all the current security challenges and threats, including the periodic lack of warnings from our partners about Russian ballistic missile attacks – something that has happened three times recently.”
I spoke with Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex and wished His Holiness a full and speedy recovery following his surgery. We are grateful that even during this difficult time for him personally, His Holiness remembers Ukraine and prays for our people. I briefed him in detail on the situation with Russian escalation and Russia’s constant strikes on Ukrainian cities and communities. We also discussed the humanitarian catastrophe in temporarily occupied Oleshky. We are working to help our people there. We are preparing decisions. His Holiness informed me about contacts with the Russian side on this matter. Of course, we also discussed all the current security challenges and threats, including the periodic lack of warnings from our partners about Russian ballistic missile attacks – something that has happened three times recently. I thank His Holiness for his support and all his efforts to achieve a dignified peace.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 19, 2026
Harriette Boucher19 October 2026 20:30
‘Savage’ Russian attack on park kills toddler in stroller
A toddler and an 11-year-old are among six people who have been killed in a “savage” Russia attack on a park in the Kharkiv region.
Vladimir Putin’s forces targeted the park with Shahed drones and injured another fourteen people, including six more children.
A one-year-old girl named Angelina was in her stroller when she was killed, and her mother, Inna, later died in hospital, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
Another 11-year-old girl was also murdered, along with three others.
Sharing photos from the attack, the Ukrainian leader said: “These are horrific photos, but behind them are shattered lives and the truth about this war. Lives must be protected. Ukraine needs air defence.
“You can’t think about making money with Russia as long as it continues its asinine war. We ask that sanctions on Russia stay in place as long as the killings continue.
“It is Russia that has insisted on continuing the killing all this time. The world has enough strength to stop the war. That strength must finally be used – against the murderers.”
Harriette Boucher19 October 2026 19:45
Watch: Ukraine will ‘not prevail’ if Trump sides with Russia
Harriette Boucher19 October 2026 19:05
Trump claims Zelensky ‘never wanted to end war’ as rift deepens with Kyiv
Donald Trump has claimed that Volodymyr Zelensky “never wanted to end” the war with Russia as he escalated his attacks on the Ukrainian president.
The rift between the two powers deepened on Sunday when Trump posted on Truth Social that Zelensky “doesn’t want to end this war”.
Harriette Boucher19 October 2026 18:35
Pope Leo urges Zelensky to cooperate with Russia on aid for Oleshky
Pope Leo has urged Volodymyr Zelensky to cooperate with Vladimir Putin on delivering aid for the Russian-occupied Oleshky.
The pontiff had called Putin on Friday to urge a ceasefire and request safe passage for humanitarian aid into the besieged Ukrainian town of Oleshky.
Russia’s leader agreed to cooperate with the Vatican to help organise vital supplies.
A statement from the Holy See said: “The Holy Father recalled the grave situation in the city of Oleshky, in the Kherson region, and made reference to the request for a humanitarian ceasefire that he had presented to the President of the Russian Federation”.
The Pope also expressed his hope that “cooperation between both parties will allow for the delivery of food and medical aid”, as well as for the “voluntary and safe evacuation of the civilian population”.
Harriette Boucher19 October 2026 18:05
In pictures: Drone rescues Ukrainian soldier from frontlines


Harriette Boucher19 October 2026 17:34
Ukrainian soldier rescued from frontlines by drone in first-of-its kind operation
Ukraine has carried out the first medical evacuation with a drone after an injured soldier was rescued from the frontlines.
Its armed forces claims that the “historic” mission was a world-first when it shared footage of the comrade strapping himself in to the drone and being flown away.
A 92nd Brigade programmer who was involved in preparing the operation wrote on Telegram: “Due to intense enemy drone activity and the presence of landmines, evacuation using conventional unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) was impossible.”
He said specialists decided to take on “the challenge of attempting something never done before: evacuating a serviceman using an aerial drone.
“The craft used was a heavy-lift hexacopter from the Ukrainian manufacturer Gurzuf Defence, provided by the company free of charge.
“The operation was a success—the wounded soldier was rescued! He is currently undergoing treatment and rehabilitation, and his life is no longer in danger.”
Harriette Boucher19 October 2026 17:09
Ukraine faces ‘obstacles’ in obtaining missile interceptors, minister says
Ukraine is facing “obstacles” in obtaining interceptors critical to repelling Russian ballistic missile attacks, foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said.
He did not provide details in his statement on X.
“Cutting Russian war revenues and ensuring uninterrupted deliveries of air defence systems and ballistic missile interceptors must be treated as urgent, connected priorities,” Sybiha added.
Daniel Keane19 October 2026 16:30
