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The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is circulating a claim by Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) that, after "catastrophic" Ukrainian military losses, EU leaders "have turned to" more than one million Ukrainian men living in the EU. According to the SVR, Brussels sees them as "expendable" and plans to force them home "by any means necessary".

The claim is the Russian intelligence service's and the post offers no evidence for it. TASS carried the same claim earlier today.

Latvia's Ministry of Defence says the armed forces are holding a military exercise in the country's eastern border area until 10 November. Soldiers and members of the National Guard (Zemessardze), together with the State Border Guard and the State Police, are improving unit deployment, patrolling and mutual coordination.

The ministry links to a report by the military outlet Sargs.lv from Liepna in Alūksne municipality.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says Russia reiterates that the deployment of foreign military contingents in Ukraine is "categorically unacceptable".

According to her, the Russian Ministry of Defence regards any military units in Ukraine as "legitimate targets", "with all the attendant risks and consequences".

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine says that during the night of 9 November the Ukrainian Defence Forces hit the Morozov Plant near St Petersburg, damaging three production workshops; the extent of the damage is being clarified.

According to the General Staff, the plant, part of the state corporation Rostec, produces explosives and supplies solid-propellant charges for the 9Kh820 motors of 9M723 Iskander-M ballistic missiles. Ukraine says it is acting within the right of self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter. The damage claim has not been independently confirmed.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says she is beginning a visit to the Black Sea region, where, in her words, security threats are escalating, attacks are increasing and innocent lives have been lost. In Romania and Bulgaria she will meet the two countries' leaders to discuss the situation and how Europe can strengthen its response.

Ahead of the visit, von der Leyen spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. She says freedom of navigation in the Black Sea must be restored and preserved, and reiterates her support for his call for a ceasefire covering food and energy infrastructure. They also discussed peace efforts and this week's talks in Abu Dhabi, where the EU will be present alongside its partners; she expects to meet Zelenskyy in Dublin later in the week.