War in Ukraine: Russian jet crashes into building; Zelensky asks for more air defence systems

Ukraine has called on the international community to provide more air defence systems to Kyiv as Russia has increased its use of drones and missiles. Russia has been pounding Ukrainian cities with 'kamikaze' drones reportedly imported from Iran. 

The international community is also discussing whether Iran has breached UN sanctions by providing Russia with the drones. Iran has denied its role. 

On Monday, October 17, several drone strikes were reported in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. A six-month-pregnant woman and her husband were among those killed on Monday in the recent wave of attacks. 

Read more on how the Iranian "Kamikaze" drones work.

State of play: Ukraine has accused Russia of kidnapping two of its officials from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. 

• Ukraine war is also resulting in increasing number of accidents and casualties in Russia. At least 13 people including 3 children were killed after a jet crashed into an apartment building in Russia's southwestern region. 
• Russian media said that the pilots had ejected before the jet crashed. 

• Russian state TV journalist, Marina Ovsyannikova, who protested against the war in Ukraine on Live TV, has fled the country. 
• Ovsyannikova was put on a wanted list following her protest. According to reports, she has fled Russia with her daughter and is reportedly in Europe. 
• Three more strikes were reported at power facilities in Kyiv. 

• Ukraine said that it swapped another 100 Russian POWs with Ukrainian soldiers. The exchange was also an all-female prisoner swap.