Ukraine has begun serial production of its new Octopus interceptor drone designed to take down Russia’s Shahed-type attack UAVs, Ukrainian Minister of Defense Denys Shmyhal announced on Friday. The technology has been handed to three manufacturers, with another eleven preparing production lines.

Shaheds are Iranian kamikaze drones regularly used by Russia to strike Ukrainian cities, industry, and energy facilities. They are often launched in large groups to strain air defenses and cause maximum damage. Ukraine has pushed to expand its own interception capabilities as these drones continue to hit civilian areas and critical infrastructure across the country.

Ukrainian-developed Octopus system confirmed in combat conditions

Shmyhal said Octopus is a Ukrainian-developed system created by the Armed Forces and confirmed in combat. It can operate at night, under electronic jamming, and at low altitude - conditions that often make Shahed attacks difficult to counter with standard air defense assets.

He said the launch of mass production will accelerate the deployment of interceptors “so they can begin protecting Ukraine’s skies as soon as possible.” 

He added that the Defense Ministry is continuing to cooperate with domestic drone manufacturers to move new designs quickly from innovation to regular frontline use.

Eight Baltic and Nordic countries announced a joint $500 million weapons and munitions military aid package for Ukraine on 13 November.

The package is designed to strengthen Ukraine’s defence capabilities ahead of winter, as Russia intensifies strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure. It will supply critical weapons and ammunition sourced from the United States through NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative.

Eight northern allies declare "Ukraine's security is directly connected to ours"

The countries involved - Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden - confirmed the package during the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Helsinki. 

In a joint statement, they reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine’s security, calling it “fundamental to European security” and emphasizing the need for long-term, coordinated military support.

The statement said the package is one of many ways the NB8 supports Ukraine’s ability to deter future Russian aggression. “We will not allow [Russia’s war of aggression] to succeed. Ukraine’s security is directly connected to ours,” the ministers said.

Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden announced today that they will fund a USD 500 million package of defence materiel for Ukraine sourced from the United States.

Press release: https://t.co/84hkJTowV4 pic.twitter.com/a13IdUfK9z

— Puolustusministeriö (@DefenceFinland) November 13, 2025

How NATO's PURL initiative pools allied funds for urgent Ukraine weapons deliveries

The Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) allows NATO allies to pool funds to purchase US-supplied weapons, munitions, and military equipment for Ukraine. 

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the announcement: “This equipment is extremely important as Ukraine enters the winter months, and deliveries through PURL are flowing into Ukraine. NATO Allies will continue to deliver essential equipment and supplies.”

The aid package will provide high-priority military equipment such as missiles, precision weapons, air defence systems, long-range artillery shells, HIMARS rockets, and guided aerial bombs. 

Norway’s Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik noted that PURL ensures Ukraine receives urgent equipment quickly, and Sweden highlighted the package’s contribution to strengthening Ukraine’s air-defence capabilities.

Norway leads with $200M, Lithuania commits funds through 2026

Norway is contributing the largest share at roughly NOK 2 billion (~$200 million), Sweden $60 million, Denmark around 400 million Danish kroner (~$53 million), and Lithuania $30 million.

Lithuania also earmarked funds for next year and stressed the importance of using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s defence spending.

Beyond weapons: Nordic-Baltic Eight expands brigade training in Poland

The NB8 meeting also addressed broader initiatives, including training Ukrainian brigades in collaboration with Baltic, Nordic, and Polish forces. Lithuania will contribute €12 million worth of equipment, ammunition, grenades, and a mobile training team to the OP-LEGIO Training Centre in Poland.

Ministers emphasized that Russia’s aggression poses a long-term threat to European security, the transatlantic community, and the rules-based international order. 

Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said maintaining support for Ukraine will remain central to the NB8’s agenda during Estonia’s presidency next year.

A 6,600 km strike to sever Russia's North Korean lifeline

Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) released a video showing what it says was a sabotage operation that disrupted freight traffic on the Trans-Siberian Railway in Russia’s Khabarovsk Krai.

The Trans-Siberian line moves military cargo across Russia, including weapons from abroad. HUR has carried out similar operations against rail lines, depots, and supply routes in recent months, aiming to slow Russian logistics far from the front.

According to HUR, an explosion hit the line near the village of Sosnovka, about 6,600km from Ukraine, on 13 November, halting cargo movement along a route used for transporting weapons and ammunition, including supplies from North Korea.

Sabotage proofs followed by a direct threat

HUR said the blast derailed a freight train and damaged the track. The agency described the operation as part of broader efforts to target Russian logistics.

The published video shows the placement of an explosive charge along the rail line and the controlled detonation.

HUR added that Russian security services failed to protect one of the country’s critical transport corridors and said such actions would continue.

Ukrainian forces launched a large drone strike on Russian positions in occupied Donetsk on Thursday evening, according to local Telegram channels.

Donetsk in eastern Ukraine has been under Russian occupation since 2014. The city hosts major industrial sites and remains one of the main rear areas supporting Russian forces in the east.

Residents reported the sound of dozens of drones around 8pm, followed by intense Russian anti-aircraft fire across several districts. 

Videos show gun and machine-gun fire directed at low-flying targets, which Ukrainian defense portal Militarnyi says suggests earlier strikes may have disabled some Russian missile and radar systems.

Donetsk-based sources report a drone attack on the occupied city.

Footage from the scene includes the sound of drone engines, Russian anti-aircraft fire, an apparent strike, and what may be a fire at the Donetsk Metallurgical Plant. The full outcome of the attack remains… pic.twitter.com/94CksVPsDt

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) November 13, 2025

Footage from the scene captures the sound of drone engines, bursts of anti-aircraft fire, and at least one blast. A major fire was later visible at the Donetsk Metallurgical Plant, with several thick columns of smoke rising from the area.

Parts of the city lost power during the attack, pointing to possible damage to energy infrastructure. Witnesses said the drones arrived in waves and circled over the city for an extended period.

Militarnyi reports, based on the released clips, that the strike appears to have involved FP-2 kamikaze drones produced in Ukraine. 

Ukraine unleashes the minigun on Shahed drones

Ukraine has started equipping its Mi-8 helicopters with American-made M134 Minigun systems to counter Russian Shahed kamikaze drones, according to footage published by the Instagram account aero.tim and reported by Militarnyi.

Russia launches swarms of Shahed kamikaze drones at Ukrainian cities every night, overwhelming air defenses with sheer numbers. These Iranian-designed attack drones are difficult targets for expensive surface-to-air missiles. Helicopter-mounted machine guns give Ukraine another option for intercepting drones without burning through costly missile stockpiles.

The video shows a Mi-8 door gunner firing several bursts at an incoming drone, which then veers off course and crashes. The modification gives the Soviet-designed helicopters a major boost in firepower against low-flying targets that have become a constant threat across Ukraine.

Why Ukraine is putting American miniguns on Soviet helicopters

According to Ukrainian defense portal Militarnyi, the M134 Minigun is a six-barrel, electrically driven machine gun chambered in 7.62×51 mm NATO. It can fire between 2,000 and 6,000 rounds per minute - about eight times faster than the standard PKT machine guns typically mounted on Mi-8s.

Often seen on US helicopters such as the Black Hawk and Huey, the Minigun can be mounted in fixed or swivel configurations, allowing gunners to cover a wide firing arc. Beyond defending against drones, the weapon is also effective for close air support and suppressing enemy firing positions.

The UK will ban its firms from providing shipping or insurance services for Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports starting in 2026, aiming to curb Moscow’s fossil fuel revenues that fund its war against Ukraine.

While Britain and the EU banned direct imports of Russian LNG years ago following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western companies have still been allowed to transport and insure Russian gas bound for other markets - a gap campaigners have fought for years to close.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the move at a G7 meeting in Canada, describing it as a coordinated effort with the EU, which plans to phase out Russian LNG imports under long-term contracts by early 2027. 

Britain banned direct imports in 2023, but its maritime and insurance sectors have continued to handle shipments from Russia’s Yamal terminal.

Campaigners welcome the move, urge faster action

A recent report by the Ukrainian group Razom We Stand identified Glasgow-based Seapeak Maritime as having facilitated about 4 million tons of Russian LNG in the first half of 2025 - nearly 40 percent of exports from Yamal. The group said the UK’s new measures mark a long-awaited success after more than three years of advocacy.

“The government’s move is a long-overdue and welcome step,” said Razom We Stand founder Svitlana Romanko. “But the UK must not slow-walk the phase-out, and Prime Minister Starmer should immediately cancel the indefensible energy contract with TotalEnergies - a firm still collaborating with Russia and helping raise billions for its war machine.”

Razom We Stand also urged London to align with upcoming G7 and EU sanctions and to consider secondary sanctions targeting Russian LNG exports and the shadow fleet that carries them.

Coordinated Pressure on Russia’s Energy Sector

Western allies have increasingly targeted Russia’s remaining energy revenues as oil price caps and pipeline gas embargoes lose impact. The G7 is discussing further restrictions on LNG transshipment and the use of Western shipping insurance - key pressure points in global trade. 

By joining these measures, the UK seeks to limit Russia’s ability to reroute gas through intermediary countries and close off financial channels that have helped sustain its war economy.

Cooper said the UK’s approach “shows unity with our partners in cutting off Russia’s access to the revenues it uses to wage this illegal war,” adding that London “will keep tightening sanctions until Putin ends his aggression.”

Denmark has announced its 28th military aid package for Ukraine worth 1.4 billion kroner (€188 million), reinforcing support through the so-called “Danish model” and NATO’s PURL initiative to strengthen Kyiv’s combat readiness against Russia.

The new package includes 100 million kroner for continued donations through the Danish model, 372 million for the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) which secures high-demand US weapons, and over 80 million for fuel deliveries coordinated through NATO’s Support and Procurement Agency.

“With this package, we’re ensuring Ukraine decisive battlefield capabilities in the coming months,” Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said. “There’s still a great need to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom - and for other countries to contribute, for example, through the Danish model.”

Under the Danish model, Copenhagen funds Ukraine’s own defense industry directly through the Ukrainian state, allowing faster procurement of locally made weapons and equipment. Denmark has already earmarked 2.6 billion kroner from its Ukraine Fund for this purpose in 2025, and a further 1 billion annually for 2026-2027.

The PURL initiative - jointly coordinated with allies such as Sweden, Norway, and the United States - enables NATO partners to finance and deliver high-priority weapon systems. In August, the mechanism was used to supply Patriot missiles to Ukraine.

Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the latest package aims to strengthen Ukraine’s hand both militarily and diplomatically.

“As long as Putin and Russia don’t want peace, we must ensure Ukraine is in the best possible position - on the battlefield and at the negotiating table,” he said. “This is about Ukraine’s defense, but also Europe’s continued security.”

So far, Denmark has committed about 70.8 billion kroner (€9.5 billion) in military aid to Ukraine from 2022 through 2028 via its Ukraine Fund, with 16.5 billion allocated for 2025 alone.

Ukraine will host an informal summit of EU ministers in Lviv on December 10-11 to review Kyiv’s progress toward EU membership, Politico reports. The meeting is intended to show political support for Ukraine while allies seek ways around Hungary’s veto, which has blocked the formal accession process.

Kyiv was granted EU candidate status in 2022 and has carried out broad economic, judicial, and anti-corruption reforms amid Russia’s ongoing invasion. 

However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán - widely regarded as Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest ally within the EU - has pledged to block accession until next year’s elections, preventing the opening of formal negotiating chapters. 

To get around the veto, EU officials are considering a “frontloading” plan, allowing Ukraine to start implementing reforms and aligning its laws with EU standards even before formal negotiations begin. This would let Kyiv advance its membership preparations so it can move quickly whenever the impasse may be lifted.

The invitation for the Lviv meeting was sent jointly by Denmark, holding the EU Council presidency, and Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka. 

Officials say the discussions will focus on reviewing reform progress, planning next steps, and reaffirming political support. Frontloading reforms also applies to neighboring Moldova, which faces a similar accession path.

Officials told Politico that frontloading will allow Kyiv to move quickly once Hungary lifts its veto, which may happen after the Hungarian parliamentary elections in early 2026.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the positive assessment of Ukraine’s reforms from Brussels, saying the country will become a full EU member “in a fair way when Ukraine is standing for itself and when the war is over.”

Ukrainian troops have pulled back from positions near five settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region as Russian forces intensified attacks, Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces said on 11 November.

Zaporizhzhia Oblast has been a contested frontline since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, with control of its towns and supply routes shifting multiple times. The region’s strategic location, linking southern Ukraine to the eastern front, has made it a frequent target for assaults, artillery barrages, and drone attacks.

Intense Russian artillery barrage forces tactical withdrawal

The withdrawal comes after several days of intense fighting in the Oleksandrivka and Huliaipole sectors, with Russian units carrying out over 400 artillery strikes daily, firing around 2,000 shells. 

Ukrainian defenses suffered repeated assaults and near-total destruction of fortifications, forcing troops to retreat to preserve personnel while continuing to repel enemy attempts to entrench.

Russia presses advantage, aims to encircle Huliaipole

Ukrainian units pulled back from Novouspenivske, Nove, Okhotnyche, Uspenivka, and Novomykolaivka. Russian forces are trying to move into these settlements, but Ukrainian troops continue to push back.

Heavy clashes are ongoing around Yablukove, Rivnopillia, and Solodke. Russian units from the east are pressing to encircle Huliaipole and cut key supply routes leading from Pokrovske in the north.

“The fighting goes on. Our assault units and other troops are battling hard for every inch of our land,” the Southern Defense Forces said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a working visit to Kherson on Tuesday, marking three years since Ukrainian forces retook the city from Russian occupation. The president met with local officials, military leaders, and units from Ukraine’s drone forces to review measures for defending the city, which remains under constant threat from Russian drone attacks.

Kherson sits on the west bank of the Dnipro River and was occupied by Russian forces from March to November 2022. Since its liberation, the city has faced frequent Russian strikes, particularly from small drones targeting infrastructure and hunting civilians in what officials describe as Russian “human safari” tactics.

Zelenskyy’s visit highlighted plans to bolster the city’s defenses, including expanding capabilities of drone units like the “Ptakhy Madyara” and improving protection of key roads, logistics hubs, and energy systems.

Strategically located near the Dnipro crossing to Russian-occupied territory, Kherson serves as a gateway to southern Ukraine and a critical hub for logistics and regional administration. Its proximity to Russian positions makes it a high-priority target for attacks, especially drone and artillery strikes.

Zelenskyy emphasized the need to prepare Kherson for the ongoing threat, noting that the city experiences thousands of drone strikes each month. He directed additional resources to frontline units and security services, ensuring that both military and civilian infrastructure are better protected against Russian aggression.

Beyond military measures, Zelenskyy reviewed requests from the Kherson regional administration for civilian needs, ranging from education and social programs to energy and equipment for public services.

The visit underscored Kyiv’s dual focus on reinforcing security while sustaining everyday life in a frontline city still within reach of Russian forces.

Plans to create a special tribunal to try crimes of aggression committed by Russia in Ukraine are facing financial hurdles, Euronews reports. European donors are concerned that the United States may continue to pull back support under the Trump administration, complicating efforts to cover the tribunal’s costs.

The tribunal, agreed bilaterally by the Council of Europe and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in June, is designed to prosecute Russia’s crimes of aggression - a gap left by the International Criminal Court, which cannot target the crime of waging war.

Funding from multiple partners is required for the tribunal to operate, but European countries are now weighing their contributions amid rising costs and reduced US engagement.

Holding Russia accountable - with limits

The tribunal was formally announced in Strasbourg in June 2025, with Zelenskyy noting that “every war criminal must know: justice will prevail - and that includes Russia.” 

While the court cannot prosecute sitting Russian leaders such as President Vladimir Putin or Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov due to immunity, it can try other senior Russian and Belarusian officials, potentially even in absentia.

The tribunal is seen as a key step in Ukraine’s broader strategy to secure legal accountability for Moscow’s invasion.

Europe scrambles to cover €75M tribunal costs as Trump pulls back

The Council of Europe initially proposed a budget of roughly €75 million per year for operational costs, with additional funding needed for premises and security. The Netherlands is set to host the tribunal. 

The EU is expected to contribute about €10 million annually, but it is unclear which G7 countries, including France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, will participate.

Sources told Euronews that discussions are ongoing, and fewer funds from Washington put the tribunal’s implementation at risk. To begin work, the tribunal must secure a minimum number of participating countries, usually 16, but in Ukraine’s case, experts say more influential and relevant states will need to join to lend credibility.

European governments are now facing difficult choices about which Ukraine-related projects to fund as military, humanitarian, and financial support falls increasingly on their shoulders.

A major fire broke out at the Orsk oil refinery in Russia’s Orenburg region after a reported drone strike overnight, more than 1,400 kilometers from the front line in Ukraine. The Ukrainian army confirmed that the facility was hit as part of efforts to disrupt Russia’s fuel supply for its army.

The strike marks one of Ukraine’s deepest attacks inside Russian territory, targeting energy infrastructure vital to Moscow’s war effort. Ukraine has intensified its drone campaign against refineries and fuel depots that supply Russia’s military and underpin its oil exports - a key source of revenue for the Kremlin. Kyiv says such strikes are meant to disrupt logistics, reduce Russia’s offensive potential, and pressure Moscow to end its invasion.

According to the General Staff, Ukrainian Defense Forces struck facilities at the Orsknefteorgsintez refinery in Orenburg Oblast on 11 November. 

The refinery reportedly produces over 30 types of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and lubricants, with an annual capacity of 6.6 million tons. It is involved in supplying Russia’s occupation forces, the statement said.

Explosions and a fire were recorded at the site, and one of the refinery’s primary oil distillation units was reportedly damaged.

The strike on Orsk followed confirmed hits on another refinery in Russia’s Saratov region earlier the same night.

Fire reported at the Orsk oil refinery in Russia

Reports claim it was caused by a drone attack. The facility is located in Orenburg Oblast next to Kazakhstan, more than 1400 km from the war zone in Ukraine.
Exilenova+ pic.twitter.com/bQvgfX04sy

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) November 11, 2025

Ukraine’s defense companies are turning to exports to fund production and expand their operations, Bloomberg reports. European militaries are keen to use Ukraine’s battle-tested drones to boost defenses against Russian airspace violations.

Producing drones outside Ukraine allows companies to access financing, accelerate innovation, and maintain steady supply for the front line. NATO allies benefit from proven, scalable systems while Ukraine channels revenue into domestic production of advanced drones, Bloomberg notes.

Ukraine now produces millions of drones annually, ranging from long-range strike models to small first-person view (FPV) units. Ukrainian firms continue to refine a wide range of drones, from inexpensive frontline FPV models to advanced long-range and surveillance units capable of operating deep inside Russian territory.

Moving production to safer ground

TSIR, Skyeton, and FlyWell are among the companies expanding production abroad to reduce the risk of Russian attacks, Bloomberg reports. Facilities in Finland, Slovakia, and Denmark aim to supply both Ukrainian forces and allied militaries. 

Skyeton’s Slovak plant attracted over €10 million in foreign investment, while FlyWell is seeking $50 million to expand European production and develop hydrogen-powered drones. Producing outside Ukraine also gives engineers more stable supply chains and opportunities to share expertise with NATO partners.

Battle-tested Ukrainian drones enter NATO plans

Countries including Denmark, Germany, the UK, and Finland are increasingly integrating Ukrainian drones into their defense planning. Beyond supplying their own militaries, these projects help train personnel to operate unmanned systems and develop doctrines for drone-based warfare. Ukraine’s experience producing hundreds of thousands of drones annually positions it as a key contributor to NATO’s capabilities in unmanned conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced plans to open arms sales offices in Berlin and Copenhagen this year to manage co-production and exports of weapons Ukraine can spare, generating funds for domestic production of critical military hardware.

The expansion reflects a shift from a domestic-focused defense industry toward international collaboration. Ukrainian engineers, seasoned by frontline experience, produce low-cost, effective systems at a pace unmatched by European counterparts, giving NATO partners scalable solutions while maintaining Ukraine’s wartime production capabilities.

Ukraine reinstated a full mechanism for exporting domestically-produced weapons this month, marking a strategic pivot for a defense industry that largely suspended arms exports after Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion. 

A Ukrainian renewable energy facility was struck by three drones overnight, Clear Energy’s founder Andriy Grinenko said on Sunday. 

The strike is part of a broader pattern of attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in recent weeks. Russian forces have increasingly targeted both conventional and renewable power facilities, aiming to disrupt civilian life, strain industrial capacity, and undermine Ukraine’s energy resilience ahead of winter.

Grinenko said the biomass power plant, established in 2016 by Clear Energy, has been a model for Ukraine’s green energy sector, showing how local renewable resources can support the country’s energy independence. No casualties were reported.

In the past few days, several regions have reported drone and missile strikes on power plants and electrical grids. A wave of attacks on November 8 prompted rolling blackouts across the country. 

A Ukrainian renewable energy facility was struck by three drones overnight, according to Clear Energy founder Andriy Grinenko.

The biomass power plant, established in 2016, has been a model for Ukraine's green energy sector, demonstrating how local renewable resources can… pic.twitter.com/HJcmCQOAxi

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) November 9, 2025

Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence (HUR) said members of the resistance movement inside Russia carried out new sabotage operations at the end of October and beginning of November, destroying four key logistical facilities used by the Russian military.

Ukraine’s military intelligence says sabotage acts on Russian soil have intensified, targeting transport and communication links that feed Moscow’s war effort. A growing number of resistance operations have hit railways, oil depots, and telecom infrastructure deep inside Russia in recent months, disrupting supply chains used by its forces in Ukraine.

According to HUR, resistance groups set fire to communication tower equipment in the city of Sterlitamak, Bashkortostan, and destroyed a railway relay cabinet near Vologda. 

Resistance movement destroyed 4 military logistics objects inside Russia in late October, burning equipment at 3 communication towers in Sterlitamak, Bashkortostan and railway relay infrastructure near Vologda.

Systematic sabotage operations deep in Russian territory continue… pic.twitter.com/k4tDSTWle2

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) November 9, 2025

The agency said the attacks disrupted key links in Russia’s transport and communication infrastructure that support its war effort in Ukraine.

“The systematic disabling of such facilities significantly complicates the military logistics of the Russian occupation army,” HUR stated.

The intelligence service said acts of resistance continue across Russia, targeting supply routes and other infrastructure used to sustain Moscow’s invasion.

Yurii Fedorenko, commander of Ukraine’s 429th separate unmanned systems regiment “Achilles,” said Russia’s Rubicon center for unmanned systems can quickly scale from a company to a battalion thanks to manpower and financial resources Ukraine cannot match. He spoke to LIGA.net about the growing challenge.

Russia's "Rubicon" center creates a scalable advantage in drone warfare

Drone warfare has become one of the defining features of the war, with Russia investing heavily in organised, well-funded units that can quickly expand and adapt on the battlefield. These efforts have turned unmanned systems into a key part of Moscow’s military strategy, giving it an advantage in scale and coordination that Ukraine often struggles to match.

Fedorenko described Rubicon as a direct response to Ukraine’s “Line of Drones” - a nationwide project that coordinates Ukrainian drone units for reconnaissance, targeting, and operational support on the frontlines - with Moscow standardizing training, tasking, and logistics across its units. 

The structure allows Russia to rapidly expand personnel, provide the best equipment, and focus on narrow operational functions, unlike infantry or assault units that spread resources across multiple tasks.

State-backed recruitment and priority funding fuel Russian efforts

He noted that Russia recruits heavily through incentives and youth program linked to United Russia - Russia’s ruling political party - training thousands of 16-17-year-olds as future drone pilots who will be mobilized at 18. 

Fedorenko emphasized that Rubicon units have priority in receiving resources, including advanced technology and funding for research, development, and innovation centers.

A stark contrast: Ukraine's resource-constrained, colunteer-based model

According to Fedorenko, Ukraine cannot match these scales of expansion and funding, relying instead on teaching, equipping, and persuading volunteers to join, a slower and more resource-constrained process.

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Former NATO secretary‑general Jens Stoltenberg described a “painful moment” in February 2022 when he turned down Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s request to impose a no‑fly zone over the country, according to his memoirs, reported by The Times.

In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with forces advancing rapidly toward Kyiv and other major cities. The Ukrainian military was under heavy pressure, and the capital faced an imminent threat of occupation. NATO faced a choice: support Ukraine directly and risk provoking a wider war, or limit its involvement to avoid direct confrontation with Russia.

Stoltenberg said Zelenskyy called from a Kyiv bunker as Russian forces approached, asking NATO to block Russian aircraft, drones, and helicopters. Zelenskyy acknowledged that NATO would not send ground troops, saying he accepted the decision even though he disagreed.

Zelenskyy pointed out that NATO had previously implemented a no‑fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s to prevent attacks by the invading Serbian armed forces and asked for similar protection over Ukraine.

Stoltenberg told him that enforcing a no‑fly zone would require neutralizing Russian air‑defense systems in Belarus and Russia, and that any engagement with Russian aircraft could trigger a full-scale war between NATO and Moscow.

He said the moment was “extremely painful” because he feared the call might be Zelenskyy’s last. Stoltenberg emphasized that, despite the refusal, the decision not to deploy NATO ground troops or enforce a no‑fly zone was correct under the circumstances.

He also noted that Western military support to Ukraine was often “too little and too late,” suggesting that if Kyiv had received sufficient backing earlier, Russia might have reconsidered a full-scale invasion, judging it too risky.

Agents of the Ukrainian partisan movement ATESH carried out a successful sabotage operation on a railway near Simferopol, Crimea, temporarily halting train traffic and disrupting Russian supply routes to the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia fronts, the group said on Sunday.

The ATESH movement operates as part of a wider network of Ukrainian partisans active in Russian-occupied territories. These underground groups carry out sabotage and intelligence gathering targeting supply lines, military bases, and occupation authorities, particularly in Crimea, where they aim to undermine Russia’s control and disrupt its military logistics.

According to ATESH, the attack targeted a key logistical artery used by Russian occupation forces to transport ammunition, fuel, and military equipment. The movement said the operation caused a direct interruption in deliveries to frontline units.

“The ATESH movement continues to systematically destroy the enemy’s transport infrastructure. Even deep in the rear in Crimea, the occupiers cannot feel safe,” the group stated on Telegram.

Crimea, illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, has seen a surge in partisan and drone activity aimed at weakening the peninsula’s role as a military hub for the invasion of Ukraine.

https://youtu.be/0GvGuKivEE4

Britain is deploying military personnel and equipment to Belgium after a series of drone incursions disrupted air traffic and raised fears of Russian hybrid operations, the BBC reported on Sunday.

A growing number of unexplained drone incursions across Europe in recent months has alarmed governments and aviation authorities. Sightings in Belgium, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark have disrupted flights and raised fears of Russian hybrid activity aimed at testing air defenses and spreading uncertainty. 

UK Chief of Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton said the move followed a request from his Belgian counterpart earlier in the week. He called it “plausible” that the drones were ordered by Moscow, though no evidence has been confirmed. 

Belgium’s main airport, Zaventem, was briefly closed on Thursday after drones were spotted nearby, while others were seen over a military base.

Defence Secretary John Healey said the deployment showed the importance of allied coordination “to defend, deter and protect our critical infrastructure and airspace.” 

Members of the Royal Air Force’s 2 Force Protection Wing, previously used in anti-drone operations during the 2024 Paris Olympics, are expected to take part. Germany has also pledged support with anti-drone measures.

The incidents forced Brussels Airlines to cancel or divert dozens of flights, affecting some 3,000 passengers.

Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken acknowledged there was no proof of Russian involvement but said the threat had grown into a “serious” regional issue affecting both civilian and military infrastructure.

While Moscow denies involvement, European officials say the incidents fit a broader pattern of covert pressure tactics linked to the war in Ukraine.

The Russian military has shifted tactics in its energy attacks, now hitting both power generation sites and transmission networks at once, Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy said on Sunday.

Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure to pressure civilians and disrupt the economy. With winter approaching, such attacks are intensifying again, aiming to undermine public morale and strain Ukraine’s air defense resources as demand for electricity rises.

First Deputy Energy Minister Artem Nekrasov said during a TV appearance that this new approach makes it harder to quickly restore electricity supply and maintain stable operation of the system. 

“The enemy has changed its tactics and is trying to strike simultaneously at power generation facilities as well as transmission and distribution systems,” he said, according to Ukrinform.

Power supplies are gradually stabilizing, Nekrasov said, but full recovery will take time. 

After Russian attacks on November 8, most regions introduced hourly outages and capacity limits for businesses and industry. Kharkiv, Sumy, and Poltava oblasts face the most severe restrictions, with up to three stages of blackouts, while other regions, including Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Mykolaiv, experience shorter rolling cuts.

The November 8 assault saw Russia firing over 450 drones and 45 missiles, including Iskander and Kinzhal systems, at nine regions. 

All three Centrenergo thermal plants went offline, leaving much of the country without power for hours, while Naftogaz reported it was the ninth targeted attack on civilian gas infrastructure since October.

Pressure is building in Norway to use its vast sovereign wealth fund to help move forward the European Union’s stalled €140 billion loan for Ukraine - a proposal now gaining traction as part of efforts to overcome Belgium’s objections to using frozen Russian assets.

The EU’s proposed reparations loan would tap into about €190-210 billion in frozen Russian state assets held in Europe to use as collateral to finance Ukraine’s recovery and budget needs. Legal and political disputes, led by Belgium, where most assets are held by the clearing house Euroclear, have delayed the plan.

The idea of Norway stepping in to guarantee part of the loan has revived debate over the country’s wartime windfall. After overtaking Russia as Europe’s main gas supplier, Norway earned roughly €109 billion in extra revenues from surging prices in 2022-2023, prompting accusations it had become a “war profiteer.”

Several Norwegian parties, including those aligned with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre’s governing bloc, have urged Oslo to help “break the impasse.” Opposition politicians argue that Norway’s €1.8 trillion fund gives it the financial strength and moral duty to act. 

“Norway has the means to guarantee a loan that would help Ukraine defend itself,” said Guri Melby, leader of the opposition Liberal Party. Greens leader Arild Hermstad added that Norway’s profit from the war made such support “a moral obligation.”

The proposal, first floated by two Norwegian economists in Denmark’s Politiken and endorsed by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen as “a great idea,” has since entered mainstream discussion in Oslo. 

Støre has ordered a “full review” of possible involvement, while Norway’s finance ministry said it is “closely monitoring the situation and continuing dialogue with the EU.”

Norway has already committed 275 billion kroner (€27 billion) in civil and military aid to Ukraine through 2030. While officials stress there are no current plans for Oslo to act as a single guarantor, the debate underscores how Europe’s wealthiest energy producer is being drawn deeper into discussions on how to fund Ukraine’s war effort.

EU leaders are expected to revisit the issue in the coming months as Brussels looks for ways to meet Kyiv’s €55 billion funding needs for the next two years without adding pressure to national budgets.

The European Commission has introduced stricter visa regulations for Russian citizens, ending the issuance of multiple-entry Schengen visas except in limited humanitarian cases.

According to the Commission, the decision responds to growing concerns over public security and the misuse of visas, citing cases of sabotage, espionage, and weaponized migration by Russian actors in Europe.

Announced on 7 November, the new policy means that Russians will now have to apply for a new visa for each trip to the EU. The European Commission said the measure aims to ensure more frequent and thorough security screenings in light of heightened risks linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Under the updated rules, multiple-entry visas will only be granted in exceptional circumstances - such as to independent journalists, human rights defenders, members of civil society organizations, or other vulnerable individuals, along with their immediate family members.

The move is the latest in a series of EU measures restricting travel for Russian citizens since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Many member states, including Estonia, Latvia, Finland, and Poland, had already unilaterally tightened visa access or closed their borders to most Russian visitors.

European officials say the new bloc-wide restrictions are intended to prevent security threats while keeping channels open for those fleeing repression.

Ukraine is reinstating a full mechanism for exporting domestically-produced weapons under the oversight of the National Security and Defence Council (NSDC), officials announced, according to Ukrainian defense portal Militarnyi.

The move marks a key step in formalising Ukraine’s fast-growing defence industry. By reopening arms exports, Kyiv aims to attract new revenue and investment to fund its own military needs, sustain production, and deepen cooperation with partners, while keeping front-line supply the top priority.

Ukraine largely suspended arms exports after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, redirecting all production to front-line needs. The renewed system reopens that channel under stricter oversight and updated procedures, prioritising trusted partners.

According to NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov and presidential strategic adviser Oleksandr Kamyshin, the renewed export procedure will apply primarily to countries that have signed bilateral security agreements with Ukraine. The announcement was made during a meeting with journalists, Ukrainian defense portal Militarnyi reports.

Under the renewed system, Ukrainian defence companies with surplus production capacity will be able to apply for export licences through the State Service for Export Control. Approval will depend on confirmation that the equipment is not needed by the military.

Private producers will have flexibility in how they export - either via state intermediaries, private firms, or independently if authorised. The NSDC will maintain a list of approved partner countries, ensuring exports remain within trusted networks and under strict post-export monitoring.

“Such an approach provides a double level of control - technical and security,” the officials said.

They also underlined that exports will not come at the expense of the Armed Forces. “If the military urgently needs this weapon, the export licence can be suspended or cancelled,” the officials added.

Ukraine and Sweden have agreed to begin localizing the production of Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets on Ukrainian territory, with plans to establish significant domestic manufacturing by 2033, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on 7 November, as reported by Ukrainian national broadcaster Suspilne.

This marks a major step in Ukraine’s long-term strategy to rebuild and modernize its defense industry through Western technology partnerships. By producing advanced fighter jets domestically, Kyiv secures greater self-sufficiency in arms manufacturing, strengthens its air force against continued Russian attacks, and integrates more deeply into Europe’s defense ecosystem.

According to Shmyhal, the two countries finalized the details with Sweden’s Ministry of Defence on 6 November, including provisions for the supply of up to 150 Gripen E-class fighters. A memorandum of intent was signed between a Ukrainian defense enterprise and Saab, the Swedish aerospace manufacturer, to set up future production inside Ukraine.

“From 2033, Gripen production will be significantly localized in Ukraine, from large-unit assembly to the manufacturing of individual components,” Shmyhal said.

First jets arrive next year, domestic production follows

Ukraine expects to receive its first Gripen fighter jets from Sweden as early as next year, with initial batches likely to include older C and D models, before the full-scale production of the advanced Gripen E variant begins later in the decade.

Ukrainian defense portal Militarnyi notes that the localization project would be Ukraine’s first large-scale fighter-aircraft production effort, encompassing everything from assembly to parts manufacturing. Saab is also reportedly exploring options for a parallel production line in Canada due to growing international demand.

Deal builds on Ukraine's largest-ever combat aviation agreement

The agreement follows the 22 October 2025 letter of intent signed by Zelenskyy and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson for the purchase of 100 to 150 Gripen E fighters - Ukraine’s largest-ever combat aviation deal. 

Kristersson described it as a long-term partnership to build a “serious air force” capable of defending Ukrainian skies against Russian attacks.

The Gripen E is a 4++-generation multirole fighter capable of speeds up to Mach 2, equipped with advanced radar, AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, and precision strike capability.

Ukraine has been elected to the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the 2025-2029 term, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Friday.

Ukraine’s re-election comes amid ongoing Russian attacks on cultural and heritage sites across the country. UNESCO has documented extensive damage to Ukrainian monuments, museums, and religious sites since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.

“Today, Ukraine was elected to the UNESCO Executive Board for 2025-2029 with the highest number of votes. Together with Romania and Moldova, we outpaced Russia - for the second time in a row, Moscow lost the vote and will not join the Board,” Zelenskyy said.

He thanked member states for supporting Ukraine’s candidacy, saying the country would use the position “to restore life, protect our culture, heritage, and people,” and ensure that “all forms of Russian aggression - whether war or hybrid threats - receive an adequate response.”

Russia also failed to secure a seat in the previous election in 2023, when it lost its bid to remain on the Board for the first time since joining UNESCO in 1954 - a setback widely seen as reflecting its diplomatic isolation following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

UNESCO - the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - is a UN agency that promotes international cooperation in education, culture, science, and communication. It is best known for its World Heritage program and efforts to protect cultural heritage and freedom of expression worldwide.

The UNESCO Executive Board is one of the agency’s key governing bodies, overseeing its work in education, culture, and science policy. 

UNESCO has documented extensive damage to Ukrainian cultural heritage since 2022, including hundreds of monuments, museums, and religious sites hit by Russian attacks.

Ukraine has imposed new sanctions on Russian companies involved in Arctic resource extraction - a lucrative sector that Kyiv says helps finance Moscow’s war against Ukraine. 

The sanctions target a sector that has remained less affected by previous sanctions packages, even as Arctic extraction projects generate critical revenues for the Kremlin and accelerate fossil fuel development in one of the planet's most climate-sensitive regions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the measures on Thursday, describing Arctic extraction as one of Russia’s most profitable ventures that generates tens of billions of dollars annually. He said the new sanctions aim to cut off that revenue stream, following earlier efforts to target Russia’s tanker fleet and oil sector.

“Any way to limit Russia’s income is effective resistance to the war,” Zelenskyy said in his evening address. He noted that the sanctions apply to Russian entities working on Arctic extraction projects and that Ukraine expects partners to extend similar restrictions. “We already know that this step will be continued by our partners,” he added.

Arctic fossil fuels: funding Russia's war, wrecking the planet

Oleh Savytskyi, a climate expert and campaign manager with Ukrainian NGO Razom We Stand, wrote on Facebook that Ukraine’s decision “speaks louder than promises to cut emissions by 2050.” 

He called on the EU, the UK, and other “self-declared climate leaders” to “take immediate action the world needs most today - to stop Russia’s Arctic fossil fuel expansion projects and start cleaning up the mess caused by decades of Kremlin’s imperial plunder in this most fragile region of the planet.”

Ukraine aligns with EU's 19th sanctions package

Separately, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has synchronized its sanctions regime with the European Union’s 19th package against Russia, which focuses on restricting the export of electronic components and curbing Russian energy revenues. 

While Ukraine’s own sanctions against Russia are largely symbolic, as the vast majority of economic cooperation was severed after the 2022 full-scale invasion, Ukraine often leads the charge on sanctions packages that international allies may later choose to adopt themselves.

Bulgaria is preparing legislation that could allow the government to take control of Russian oil company Lukoil’s assets in the country, according to Bulgarian news outlet Capital. The move comes as new US sanctions against Moscow’s oil sector force Lukoil to exit international markets and sell its overseas holdings.

US sanctions announced in October targeted Russia’s top oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, intending to cut Moscow’s wartime energy revenue. The measures ban Western firms from trading, shipping, or insuring their oil, forcing Lukoil to scale back abroad and prompting countries like Bulgaria to reassess its assets under growing restrictions.

Under the proposed bill, a state-appointed manager could assume full control of Lukoil’s Bulgarian refinery and fuel operations, with the power to sell the company’s assets and deposit proceeds into a government account. The draft law has not yet been submitted to parliament but would effectively suspend the Russian company’s management and ownership rights.

The measure follows Lukoil’s plan to sell its international assets, including its Bulgarian refinery, to Swiss-based trader Gunvor, pending US approval. The company announced its global withdrawal after Washington imposed sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil in October, barring Western firms from handling Russian oil from November 21.

Lukoil’s Burgas refinery, the largest in the Balkans, has been a key supplier of fuel to Bulgaria and neighboring countries. US sanctions have raised questions over the refinery’s future operations and energy security in the region.

The draft law reflects growing pressure on European governments to comply with US sanctions and cut Russian energy influence. Bulgaria, which had already limited Lukoil’s exports earlier this year, is now weighing whether to nationalize its operations as part of that broader effort.

Russian officials are using deported Ukrainian children as a political tool, framing limited returns as signs of goodwill toward the United States, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The Kremlin is presenting these cases as evidence of cooperation with Washington even as it continues large-scale deportations in violation of international law.

Ukraine and international investigators have documented at least 19,500 cases of children forcibly taken from occupied Ukrainian territories to Russia - an act recognized as a war crime under international law.

ISW reports that Russian Direct Investment Fund head Kirill Dmitriev and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova have both used the issue publicly. Dmitriev, sanctioned by the US in 2022, responded to First Lady Melania Trump’s announcement of the return of seven Ukrainian children with handshake and flag emojis, suggesting that Moscow views the matter as leverage for restoring ties.

The institute says the Kremlin is advancing two overlapping narratives. The first downplays the scale of deportations by claiming Russia took only “hundreds” of children for humanitarian reasons. The second portrays the issue as an area of cooperation with the US, implying that further returns could follow improved relations.

Russian data contradict these claims. Official reports show children from occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions have been placed in Russian families or institutions across at least 20 regions since 2022. Ukraine has confirmed 19,500 deported children, while Russia’s own commissioner for children’s rights has acknowledged receiving more than 700,000 minors “from Ukraine.”

ISW says Russia is using the return of a few children to obscure the broader campaign of forced deportations and adoptions. The institute notes that these actions constitute war crimes under international law and that Moscow has not documented the identities of the children it has taken.

A Ukrainian drone strike has forced Russia’s Volgograd oil refinery to suspend operations after a fire broke out at the facility, sources told Reuters on Thursday. The Lukoil-operated plant, one of Russia’s largest, reportedly suffered damage to key processing units in the strike earlier reported by the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

The attack is part of Ukraine’s ongoing campaign to disrupt Russia’s oil refining capacity - a strategy aimed at undermining the Kremlin’s ability to fuel its military and generate export revenue. Since late 2023, Kyiv has intensified long-range drone operations deep inside Russian territory, targeting refineries, depots, and fuel pipelines that sustain Moscow’s war effort.

According to three sources cited by Reuters, the Volgograd refinery halted work after its CDU-5 primary processing unit and hydrocracker were damaged. The CDU-5, with a daily capacity of 66,700 barrels, represents around a fifth of the refinery’s output.

The refinery processed 13.7 million metric tons of crude in 2024, about 5% of Russia’s total refining capacity.

Russian officials said Ukraine launched at least 75 drones overnight on Thursday, triggering explosions and fires in several regions.

The Volgograd refinery attack follows a series of high-impact strikes that have temporarily shut down or disrupted operations at major facilities across Russia. 

The Ukrainian Army's General Staff confirmed the attack on the Volgograd refinery

The military said that explosions and fire were reported at the facility, processing 15.7 million tons of oil annually, or about 5.6%.
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Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) said the anti-Kremlin partisan movement Freedom of Russia has carried out a series of sabotage attacks on Russian railway infrastructure, destroying dozens of locomotives used to transport military supplies to the front.

"Freedom of Russia Legion" claims responsibility for sabotage

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, partisan movements have emerged both in occupied Ukrainian territories and within Russia itself, targeting military infrastructure and supply routes. Among them, the Freedom of Russia Legion - a group of anti-Kremlin fighters composed of Russian citizens opposing Vladimir Putin’s regime - has become one of the most visible. 

According to a statement published by HUR on Thursday, the Freedom of Russia movement conducted coordinated operations targeting the logistics network of the Russian army. Using improvised incendiary devices, the partisans reportedly set fire to control and power systems of multiple locomotives across Russian territory.

Attacks aim to disrupt critical military supply lines to the front

“These locomotives were used by the occupiers to deliver weapons, ammunition, and equipment for the war against Ukraine,” HUR said. The agency added that the attacks “significantly slowed the movement of enemy resources and disrupted the stability of supply lines to Russian units at the front.”

In a separate statement on Tuesday, Freedom of Russia said its “resistance had delivered a series of powerful blows to Putin’s army logistics,” claiming that the operation destroyed “dozens of locomotives transporting weapons, ammunition, and equipment to the front.” The group said the damaged systems “burned out completely, making the trains impossible to repair.”

A closer look at the Ukrainian-coordinated anti-Kremlin movement

HUR described Freedom of Russia as one of the most active and effective resistance movements operating inside Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Operating in coordination with Ukraine’s defense intelligence, the group has claimed responsibility for numerous acts of sabotage since the start of the full-scale war, including cross-border raids, railway disruptions, and attacks on military facilities aimed at undermining Moscow’s war effort from within.

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Polish prosecutors have charged a Russian couple, Igor and Irina Rogov, with spying for Moscow after they were granted asylum in Poland as political refugees.

The case comes amid longstanding warnings from Polish security services about the risk of Russian agents entering the country under the guise of political refugees.

According to Wirtualna Polska, the pair are accused of passing information to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) that could have harmed Polish state interests. 

After more than a year of investigation by Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW), the couple will face trial on 8 December. If convicted, they face between eight years and life in prison.

Igor Rogov, a 29-year-old IT student from Saratov, arrived in Poland in 2022 under a government program for Russian dissidents after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He received a state stipend, housing and social support, and portrayed himself as an anti-Putin activist. 

Investigators say he later confessed to maintaining contact with an FSB officer and transmitting encrypted reports about Polish officials, university staff and NGOs supporting Russian exiles.

His wife, Irina, initially defended him publicly but later told acquaintances that he had long cooperated with Russian intelligence, prompting ABW to confront the couple’s conflicting statements. She also allegedly delivered a parcel containing a USB drive with encrypted data to Russia on her husband’s behalf.

The investigation also linked Igor to a separate incident in 2024, when a courier parcel addressed to him was found to contain bomb components. Prosecutors accuse him of endangering public safety, though he claims he was unaware of the package’s contents.

Poland at the center of Moscow’s growing spy war in Europe

The case reflects a broader pattern of Russian intelligence operations across Europe. Poland has become a major target, with authorities busting multiple spy rings since 2022, including a six-person network that planted hidden cameras on railway routes near the Rzeszów airport - the main logistics gateway for Western weapons to Ukraine. 

Russia has escalated espionage and sabotage operations beyond Ukraine's borders, recruiting agents through various methods including Telegram channels promising "quick earnings," and even targeting teenagers. 

These operations span from arson attacks on military facilities to surveillance of critical infrastructure, with Russian intelligence increasingly using local proxies and refugees as cover. 

Polish security services have repeatedly warned about infiltration risks, even as the country continues supporting Russian dissidents fleeing Putin's regime.

Germany will increase its aid to Ukraine by an additional €3 billion next year, the German Finance Ministry confirmed Tuesday, Reuters reported, reinforcing Berlin’s role as Europe’s largest supporter of Kyiv’s defense effort.

The additional funds will raise Germany’s total planned support for Ukraine next year to about €11.5 billion.

The aid will cover artillery, drones, armored vehicles, and the replacement of two Patriot air-defense systems, according to a ministry spokesperson.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz supports the increase, which is expected to be approved in the coming weeks, a government source told Reuters.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Germany has provided roughly €40 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, second only to the United States.

“We will continue our support for as long as necessary to defend against Russia’s war of aggression,” the spokesperson said.

South Korea’s intelligence service has reported that around 5,000 North Korean construction troops have been dispatched to Russia since September, to assist with “infrastructure reconstruction,” according to a lawmaker briefed on the findings, AFP reports.

The deployment marks a deepening of military and economic ties between Moscow and Pyongyang, which have strengthened since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. North Korea has already supplied Russia with artillery shells, missiles, and other munitions in defiance of UN sanctions, helping sustain the Kremlin’s war effort.

According to lawmaker Lee Seong-Kweun, the troops have been moving to Russia in phases and are expected to be deployed on reconstruction projects. He said the intelligence service had detected “continued signs of training and personnel selection” for additional deployments.

South Korea estimates that around 10,000 North Korean personnel are currently deployed near the Russia-Ukraine border. At least 600 North Korean soldiers have died in the war with Ukraine and thousands more have been injured, according to South Korean intelligence.

The report also said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has grown more confident since aligning closely with Moscow and Beijing. Pyongyang has strengthened ties with Russia, and Kim’s foreign minister Choe Son Hui recently met with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss deeper cooperation.

A UN sanctions monitoring group recently reported that North Korea plans to send 40,000 labourers to Russia, including IT workers, despite a ban on overseas work under international sanctions.

Belgium’s armed forces have been ordered to shoot down unidentified drones flying over military installations after a series of incursions above sensitive sites, Belgian Chief of Defense Frederik Vansina said on Monday, as reported by Belgian media.

There is growing concern across Europe over unidentified drones near sensitive military sites, a phenomenon that has triggered security alerts from Scandinavia to Central Europe in recent months. While Belgium has now authorized direct engagement, most NATO countries have so far avoided shoot-down orders, citing the risks of misidentification, civilian harm, and escalation or diplomatic fallout.

The order follows three consecutive nights of drone sightings in Belgium, including four seen Sunday above the Kleine-Brogel air base near Peer, a NATO-linked facility. That same evening, police received reports of about a dozen drones over the Mechelen-Zuid industrial zone.

Vansina confirmed that the Belgian army’s anti-drone program is being accelerated and that a new protection plan will soon be presented to the Council of Ministers. Belgium currently has limited capacity to counter unmanned aerial vehicles, relying mainly on detection tools, jammers, and portable drone guns.

“If more drones appear above army bases, the order has been given to shoot them down,” Vansina said during a naval ceremony in Zeebrugge. 

He stressed, however, that any interception must be carried out “without causing collateral damage,” a challenge given the drones’ small size and the fact that they often fly at night.

The Kleine-Brogel air base has issued safety instructions for nearby residents, urging them to report suspicious aerial activity to police and, if possible, to capture photos or video.

Local and federal police have attempted to track the drones from the ground and air, including by helicopter, but so far have been unable to locate their operators.

The repeated incursions have heightened concern across Belgium, which, like other NATO members, has seen a rise in unidentified drone activity near critical and military infrastructure in recent months.

Ukraine plans to begin mass production of its new Flamingo and Ruta missiles by the end of this year, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on 3 November, as reported by Ukrainian media, saying the country is making “very good” progress in developing its own long-range strike capabilities.

In recent months, Kyiv has accelerated domestic weapons production to strengthen its defenses and reduce dependence on foreign supplies amid ongoing Russian attacks. Ukraine’s push to build homegrown missiles marks a major step toward achieving self-sufficiency in long-range precision warfare, a domain once dominated by imported systems.

Speaking at a press briefing, Zelenskyy said the new weapons are already being used by Ukraine’s Defense Forces, but declined to specify numbers. “We expect mass production by the end of this year,” he said

He added that Ukraine’s Neptune anti-ship missile is already in serial production, with an extended-range cruise missile version - the “long Neptune” - also in service.

The Flamingo is a long-range Ukrainian cruise missile designed for deep-strike missions. Ukrainian officials say it delivers heavy strike power and long reach, giving Kyiv a strategic-capability previously dependent on foreign supplies.

The Ruta is a shorter-range jet-powered cruise missile or high-end loitering drone developed with technology from the Netherlands-based start-up Destinus. It is intended for tactical precision strikes and greater operational flexibility.

Zelenskyy said the deployment of these systems shows that Ukraine is “doing very well” in domestic missile production despite wartime constraints. “Every new missile we build strengthens our independence,” he noted.

The move underscores Ukraine’s determination to expand its domestic defense industry while maintaining pressure on Russian military targets far behind the front lines.

Türkiye’s top oil refiners are ramping up purchases of non-Russian crude following the latest US and EU sanctions targeting Moscow’s energy exports, Reuters reported on Sunday, citing multiple industry sources.

Western allies aim to choke off one of the Kremlin’s last major revenue streams used to fund its war in Ukraine. New sanctions target Russia’s oil industry, including major producers Rosneft and Lukoil, and the networks helping Moscow evade restrictions.

The move marks a notable shift for one of Russia’s biggest remaining oil customers, aligning Türkiye with India’s recent efforts to diversify supply following the sanctions, as both nations face secondary sanctions risks for dealing with blocked Russian entities. 

The SOCAR Türkiye Aegean Refinery, owned by Azerbaijan’s state oil company, has reportedly purchased several cargoes from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers.

Meanwhile, Türkiye’s largest refiner, Tupras, is said to be phasing out Russian crude at one of its plants to maintain compliance with upcoming EU rules while keeping exports to Europe.

Türkiye has long relied heavily on discounted Russian oil since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But tightening Western sanctions appear to be reshaping trade flows, prompting Ankara’s refiners to seek alternative sources from the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

The country doubled its Russian oil imports in 2022, with trade between the two nations booming as Turkish companies faced no restrictions on dealing with Russian counterparts.

Türkiye's broader energy relationship with Moscow extends beyond oil to include Russian construction of Türkiye's first nuclear plant and natural gas supplies, though Ankara has also signaled plans to reduce gas dependence within three years.

Germany has provided Ukraine with additional US-made Patriot air defense systems, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday, hailing the move as a vital step in shielding Ukrainian cities from Russian missile and drone attacks.

In recent months, Russia has sharply intensified its aerial campaign against Ukraine, launching near-daily waves of missiles and drones targeting energy infrastructure, industrial facilities, and residential areas. The renewed strikes have aimed to cripple Ukraine’s power grid ahead of winter and exhaust its air defense resources.

“We have strengthened the ‘Patriot’ component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X, expressing gratitude to Germany and personally to Chancellor Friedrich Merz for “this joint step to protect human lives from Russian terror.”

Zelenskyy said the delivery followed weeks of preparation and coordination, calling it a significant implementation of earlier agreements between Kyiv and Berlin. “For some time, we have been preparing this reinforcement of our air defense, and now the agreements reached have been implemented,” he said.

The Patriot system is among the most advanced air defense platforms in Ukraine’s arsenal, capable of intercepting ballistic and cruise missiles. Germany has already supplied several Patriot batteries to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022, and has led European efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s protection against intensified Russian strikes.

In August 2025, Germany coordinated a multinational effort with Norway, Denmark, and Lithuania to finance two Patriot systems for Ukraine. 

Zelenskyy described Russian air assaults as President Vladimir Putin’s “main stake in this war,” saying Moscow uses terror to make up for its failures on the battlefield. 

“Every strengthening of our air defense literally brings us closer to the end of the war,” he said, adding that Ukraine’s growing capabilities would enhance not only national security but also the safety of its European partners.

“Our security is indivisible - which means our air defense must protect all of us,” the president said.

He also noted that talks on further joint steps are ongoing “both at the governmental level and directly with the manufacturers of the necessary systems,” hinting at additional air defense deliveries to come.

Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service has located the addresses of more than 300 Ukrainian children illegally taken to Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his evening address on Friday.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, thousands of Ukrainian children have been forcibly taken from their families to Russia or occupied territories, in what Kyiv and international observers classify as a war crime.

Zelenskyy said the list of names and verified addresses will be shared with international partners and world leaders assisting in the effort to return the children. 

The president described the initiative as part of “quiet diplomatic work” aimed at countering Moscow’s denial of responsibility for the deportations.

“We are giving our partners a list of children who must be returned,” Zelenskyy said. “To undermine any Russian attempts to pretend they don’t know about our children, we provide addresses.”

“The first such list - more than 300 names and addresses of abducted children - will be on the desks of all the leaders who are helping us,” he added.

Kyiv continues to compile additional lists as its intelligence and law enforcement agencies verify more cases.

The forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and occupied territories is one of the most severe allegations of war crimes leveled against Moscow since the start of its full-scale invasion in 2022.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in 2023 for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the country’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, over their alleged roles in the scheme.

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has destroyed about 48% of Russia’s Pantsir-S1 short-range air defense systems since the beginning of 2025, SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk said.

The claim highlights how Ukraine’s expanding long-range strike capability is eroding Moscow’s ability to protect critical sites deep inside occupied territory and Russia itself.

According to Malyuk, Russian forces produce around 30 of the self-propelled systems annually, but Ukrainian strikes have eliminated a number “that far exceeds their production capacity.”

“Since the beginning of 2025, we have neutralized nearly half of all enemy Pantsirs. This is one of our top priorities set by the president,” Malyuk said.

The Netherlands-based defense analysis site Oryx has visually confirmed at least 35 destroyed Pantsir-S1 systems, though Ukrainian officials say the real figure may be higher.

Malyuk noted that the Russian system remains one of the most effective against Ukraine’s long-range drones.

“The enemy has a very strong air defense. The Pantsirs are the most effective tool against our long-range drones,” he said.

The Pantsir-S1 is a short-range combined surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft gun system designed to protect troops and strategic sites from aircraft, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles. It carries two 30-mm cannons and 12 missiles, supported by radar and electro-optical tracking.

Ukraine’s most recent strike on a Pantsir system took place in late October, when SBU unit “A” drones hit Russian air defense positions in Crimea. Earlier in the month, a RAM-2X loitering munition struck another system at the Luhansk airport, more than 100 kilometers from the front line.

The Pantsir has been in Russian service in Ukraine since 2014, first appearing during the battle for Debaltseve. Its growing vulnerability underscores Ukraine’s progress in precision targeting and the intensifying contest between drones and air defenses shaping the next phase of the war.

Ukraine systematically dismantles Russian air defense network

Ukraine has conducted a systematic campaign to dismantle Russian air defense coverage in occupied southern Ukraine, particularly Crimea, creating "blind corridors" that allow long-range drones to reach deep into occupied territory and Russia itself. 

In late October alone, SBU drones struck a $20 million Pantsir-S2 system along with two radar stations in Crimea, while HUR's "Ghosts" unit destroyed multiple radar installations including components of S-300 and S-400 systems across occupied Donbas. 

The campaign targets not just Pantsir systems but the entire Russian air defense network - Ukrainian forces have destroyed or damaged S-400 radars and launchers, Buk-M3 systems, and specialized anti-drone radars like the Valdai. 

Each strike reduces Russia's ability to protect critical sites and opens pathways for Ukrainian drones operating at ranges exceeding 1,000 kilometers.

Ukraine is working closely with European partners on the 20th EU sanctions package against Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on 31 October 2025. 

Kyiv has submitted proposals to ensure the package targets Russian energy companies, tankers, and military-industrial enterprises, reinforcing pressure on Moscow over its war in Ukraine.

In parallel, Ukraine enacted domestic sanctions on more than 50 individuals and companies supporting Russia’s war effort. The measures target pro-Russian propagandists, Russian, Chinese, and Iranian companies supplying Russia’s military-industrial complex, and their executives. 

While largely symbolic, these domestic sanctions are intended to synchronize Kyiv’s restrictions with international partners and signal a unified stance against Moscow.

“Since the beginning of the year, we have synchronized 11 sanction packages with our partners - six with the EU, and others with the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom,” Zelenskyy said. “Next month, we will complete the synchronization efforts. It is now very important for us to ensure coordination among the G7 countries.”

Ukraine’s coordination emphasizes reducing Russia’s oil revenues, limiting the shadow fleet, and countering propaganda, while ensuring sanctions enforcement is consistent across partner jurisdictions. 

Recent sanctions cut Russia off from major oil buyers as energy giant profits plunge

Recent coordinated sanctions are showing concrete impact on Russia's war economy. On 22-23 October, the US, UK, and EU imposed their largest sanctions package since 2022, targeting Rosneft and Lukoil - Russia's two largest oil companies that account for roughly half of the country's 10.6 million barrels per day output and nearly a third of federal tax revenue. 

Within hours of the announcement, Chinese state oil firms suspended seaborne Russian crude purchases while Indian refiners prepared to slash imports, isolating Moscow from buyers representing over 85% of its crude exports. Lukoil announced it would sell its international assets just days after the sanctions took effect. 

The EU's 19th package simultaneously banned Russian LNG imports by 2027 and froze 117 additional shadow fleet tankers.

Combined with Ukrainian drone strikes that have cut Russia's refining output by 500,000 barrels per day, refined fuel exports have plunged to their lowest level since early 2022, averaging just 1.89 million barrels per day in October, according to Bloomberg.

Ukraine is set to reinforce security at 100 critical energy and infrastructure sites by the end of 2025, government officials said. 

The measures are aimed at protecting facilities most vulnerable to repeated Russian drone attacks, which have grown in both frequency and sophistication in recent months.

The program, coordinated by the State Agency for Infrastructure Restoration, brings together military, civilian, and energy sector resources to prevent disruptions to power supply and critical services. 

Ukrainian officials have emphasized that the initiative is part of a broader effort to adapt to evolving threats, including drones carrying heavier warheads and performing complex maneuvers under operator guidance.

“The enemy constantly upgrades its technology, but Ukraine is improving its defenses as well,” Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksiy Kuleba told journalists on 31 October.

Since 2023, Ukraine has piloted similar protection measures on selected energy facilities, learning from experience to scale up defenses across more sites. 

Protective measures include physical barriers, coordination of rapid repair capabilities, and logistical planning to ensure that damaged facilities can resume operation quickly.

Russia intensifies strikes on Ukraine’s power grid before winter

Russia has unleashed what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls "the world's largest terror campaign" against Ukraine's energy grid, destroying more than half of pre-war generating capacity in 2025 alone, including about 70% of thermal generation. 

The attacks have grown increasingly sophisticated and targeted. Moscow shifted tactics from attempting to collapse the entire power system to striking regional infrastructure that supplies specific communities, while Russian forces destroyed 60% of Ukraine's domestic gas production just weeks before the heating season. 

In recent weeks, Russia has launched massive overnight assaults using hundreds of drones systematically targeting power facilities to deprive Ukrainians of electricity and heating as winter approaches. 

Ukrainian naval forces carried out precision strikes inside Russian territory using Neptune cruise missiles, targeting the Orlovskaya thermal power plant in Oryol Oblast and the Novobryansk electrical substation in Bryansk Oblast, the Ukrainian Navy reported.

The strikes highlight Ukraine’s expanding ability to strike critical infrastructure deep inside Russia, targeting energy facilities that sustain military operations. By disrupting power to key military enterprises, Kyiv aims to degrade Russian logistical capacity and hinder their operational effectiveness.

Both facilities supply electricity to Russian military enterprises, making their destruction a significant disruption to enemy logistics and operations.

The Navy emphasized that the operation demonstrates Ukraine’s growing ability to strike critical infrastructure far from the frontlines. "Ukrainian forces continue to show that no enemy rear is safe," the military statement said.

The strike follows a series of Ukrainian attacks on energy and logistics hubs in recent months, aimed at weakening Russia’s capacity to sustain military operations and disrupt supply chains across multiple regions.

Ukraine's Neptune missile: from anti-ship to deep-strike weapon 

Ukraine's Neptune cruise missile has evolved from a ship-killer into a precision deep-strike weapon. Originally designed as an anti-ship missile based on the Soviet Kh-35, the R-360 Neptune gained international recognition in April 2022 when two missiles sank the Russian cruiser Moskva - the Black Sea Fleet's flagship and one of Moscow's most significant naval losses of the war. 

Ukrainian engineers have since extended the missile's range from an initial 300-400 kilometers to 1,000 kilometers in the "Long Neptune" variant, transforming it into a weapon capable of striking deep inside Russian territory. The missile carries a 150-260 kg warhead and uses satellite navigation combined with radar or infrared seekers for terminal guidance.

Recent Neptune strikes demonstrate Ukraine's expanding ability to target Russia's military-industrial infrastructure far beyond the frontlines.

In September 2025, four Neptune missiles struck the Elektrodetal plant in Russia's Bryansk Oblast at a range exceeding 240 kilometers - a facility that supplies components to more than 1,500 enterprises in Russia's defense industry. 

The Ukrainian Navy, which operates the Neptune system, has struck over 50 Russian targets in the past year alone, including ammunition depots and energy infrastructure. 

The latest strikes on the Orlovskaya thermal power plant and Novobryansk substation continue this pattern of targeting energy facilities that power Russian military enterprises - a tactic Ukraine has used repeatedly to disrupt logistics and operations supporting Moscow's invasion.

Ukrainian forces have carried out more than 160 precision strikes on oil refineries and energy facilities deep inside Russia in 2025, reducing the country’s oil production by up to 90% and causing a fuel shortage of over 20%, according to Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) chief Vasyl Malyuk.

The strikes represent one of Ukraine’s most extensive long-range campaigns of the war, directly targeting the backbone of Russia’s war economy. Oil and gas revenues remain Moscow’s primary source of funding for its invasion and a critical cushion against Western sanctions. By disrupting refinery operations and exports, Ukraine aims to weaken the Kremlin’s ability to sustain its military spending.

Speaking at a press briefing on 31 October, Malyuk said Ukrainian drones and missiles have hit several key refineries in September and October, severely impacting Russia’s oil sector and fuel supply.

“We are implementing what we call kinetic sanctions - deep strikes into the enemy’s rear using drones at ranges beyond 120 kilometers,” Malyuk said.

He emphasized that Ukrainian operations target only lawful military and economic objectives - specifically, oil production and refining facilities that directly support Russia’s war effort.

“These are the dirty oil rubles the enemy uses to kill us,” Malyuk said.

Ukraine's precision refinery strikes combine with sanctions to create repair crisis

Ukraine's systematic campaign targeting Russian refineries has evolved from opportunistic strikes to precision economic warfare. The SBU and other Ukrainian defense agencies have repeatedly hit critical processing units.

BBC Verify documented 21 of Russia's 38 large refineries struck since January 2025, with attacks reaching record levels in August and remaining elevated through October.

The campaign's impact extends beyond immediate damage. The International Energy Agency estimates Ukrainian strikes have cut Russia's refining output by 500,000 barrels per day and will keep processing rates low until at least mid-2026. 

Combined with Western sanctions that prevent Russian refineries from obtaining specialized repair equipment, each breakdown, whether from combat damage or routine failure, becomes a prolonged crisis.

Data cited by Bloomberg shows that Russia’s fuel exports have fallen to wartime lows amid mounting refinery outages and Western sanctions. Seaborne oil product shipments dropped to 1.89 million barrels per day in October - the lowest since the start of the full-scale invasion - underscoring how Ukraine’s strikes are increasingly eroding Moscow’s energy revenues.

Russia’s refined fuel exports have plunged to their lowest level since the start of the full-scale war, as a combination of refinery outages, Ukrainian drone strikes, and Western sanctions disrupt Moscow’s energy trade, Bloomberg reported on 30 October.

The decline reflects mounting pressure on Russia’s energy sector amid both physical and financial disruption, as US and European sanctions tighten and recent Ukrainian strikes target key export infrastructure across the country.

According to data from Vortexa Ltd. cited by Bloomberg, seaborne oil product shipments averaged just 1.89 million barrels per day in the first 26 days of October, the weakest level since early 2022. 

While diesel exports edged up slightly, supported by shipments to nearby markets in Türkiye and Africa, exports of naphtha and fuel oil fell sharply. Naphtha flows remained constrained after the September attack on the Ust-Luga terminal on the Baltic Sea, which handles over 60% of Russia’s naphtha exports, while fuel oil exports dropped 10% month-on-month to a three-month low.

Crude oil shipments have also slipped from recent highs, suggesting that the combined impact of sanctions and Ukrainian attacks is beginning to weigh more heavily on Russia’s oil output and export capacity.

Refinery attacks disrupt supply

Ukraine's systematic campaign targeting Russian refineries has knocked offline processing capacity worth hundreds of thousands of barrels per day. Since January 2025, Ukrainian drones have struck 21 of Russia's 38 large oil refineries. 

The International Energy Agency estimates these strikes have cut Russia's refining output by 500,000 barrels per day and will keep processing rates lower until at least mid-2026.

Sanctions squeeze Moscow’s energy giants

The physical destruction of refineries now combines with financial pressure from coordinated Western sanctions. 

On 22-23 October, the US, UK, and EU imposed their largest sanctions package since 2022, targeting Rosneft and Lukoil - Russia's two largest oil companies that together account for roughly half of the country's 10.6 million barrels per day output. 

Within hours of the announcement, Chinese state oil firms suspended seaborne Russian crude purchases while Indian refiners prepared to slash imports, isolating Moscow from buyers representing over 85% of its crude exports. 

Ukraine has showcased a new concept for a jet-powered unmanned fighter aircraft at the first-ever Drone Warfare Summit in the Philippines, Defence Blog reports.

The presentation highlights Ukraine’s growing efforts to promote its defense technologies internationally, as Kyiv increasingly positions itself as a key innovator in drone warfare amid its ongoing war with Russia.

During its presentation, the Ukrainian delegation revealed the Fighter Aircraft FA v1, a concept for a compact jet-powered drone designed for high-speed reconnaissance and strike missions. 

According to technical data shown at the event, the FA v1 can reach speeds of over 250 km/h, with an operational range of 30 kilometers and a flight ceiling of 5,000 meters. It also features a detection range of up to 15 kilometers for aerial targets.

Images from the presentation indicate a twin-tail design, similar to small-scale experimental unmanned jets under development in other countries. While Kyiv did not disclose the manufacturer or production plans, officials said the project reflects Ukraine’s wartime experience in deploying and countering drones on the battlefield.

The Ukrainian delegation also shared insights into how unmanned and autonomous systems have reshaped its defense strategy, particularly in electronic warfare and multi-domain operations.

The three-day summit, held from 27 to 29 October at Subic Bay, brought together military officials, defense manufacturers, and experts from across the Indo-Pacific to discuss the rapidly evolving role of unmanned systems in modern warfare.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Ukraine has evidence of Chinese involvement in Russia’s war effort, including the supply of machinery used in weapons production and the presence of Chinese mercenaries on the battlefield, Ukrinform reports.

Despite public commitments to neutrality, China maintains close economic and strategic ties with Russia, including trade, energy cooperation, and technology transfers. Analysts say Beijing has balanced its relationship with Moscow carefully, avoiding overt military involvement while providing support that can indirectly aid Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.

Speaking in Kyiv during a meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel, Zelenskyy said his message to China is simple: stop assisting Russia and pressure Moscow to end the war.

“I’ve had phone conversations with Xi Jinping, and he assured me that China would not sell weapons to the Russians. [However], we see that China has supplied the Russian Federation with machinery used for weapons [production], Zelenskyy said. 

“We also see that [China] is helping Moscow circumvent sanctions. And we’ve seen Chinese mercenaries fighting against Ukrainian troops,” he added.

Ukrainian intelligence has reported that China supplies components to 20 Russian weapons factories, provides satellite data for missile targeting, and has at least 155 nationals fighting in Russian units. 

Since 2022, China and Russia have deepened their strategic partnership, with bilateral trade hitting $237 billion in 2024. 

The Russian State Duma has approved new legislation enabling the Defense Ministry to deploy military reservists to protect “critical and life-support facilities” across the country, in response to escalating Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on Russian oil, energy, and transport infrastructure.

The Kremlin portrays the initiative as a defensive step to secure infrastructure “deep inside Russian territory,” as Ukraine’s cross-border drone operations have increasingly penetrated hundreds of kilometers into Russia in recent months, striking infrastructure that sustains Moscow's war effort.

Under the measure, adopted on 28 October, reservists - civilians with prior military service who voluntarily signed contracts to remain in Russia’s military reserve - can now be summoned to special training assemblies and tasked with guarding key sites. 

The order to activate them will require a decree from Russian President Vladimir Putin, with procedures defined by the government, according to the Duma’s official statement.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said the law was prompted by the growing threat of Ukrainian drone attacks targeting infrastructure and residential areas. The ministry described the reservists as “prepared and patriotic citizens” who will be deployed only within their home regions to protect energy, transport, and industrial facilities, including oil refineries. 

Officials emphasized that the measure “does not constitute mobilization” and does not involve sending reservists to the war zone in Ukraine.

The Kenyan government said Monday that Russian agents used deceptive methods, including falsified information, to lure Kenyan citizens into military service in Ukraine. Some victims unknowingly found themselves in Russian military operations after being promised legitimate jobs.

The Kenyan case reflects a wider pattern of Russian recruitment targeting foreign nationals. Similar schemes have reportedly involved recruits from more than 20 countries, with some forced into military service under coercion.

Kenya has engaged the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and reached an agreement for citizens held without their consent to be released to Kenya’s mission in Moscow. Several nationals have already been rescued, with emergency travel documents issued to facilitate their safe return home. 

The mission is working to establish the total number of Kenyans detained in military camps and to assist those who manage to leave voluntarily.

The government said agents masquerade as Russian officials and urged immigration and security agencies to strengthen vigilance at border points, particularly airports, to prevent further recruitment. 

“Kenya expressed its concern that its young citizens continue to be lured by such corrupt and ruthless agents to travel to Russia and unknowingly find themselves in the Russian military operation,” the statement from the Kenyan Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Ministry of Foreign & Diaspora Affairs reads.

The office said Kenya remains committed to strengthening bilateral relations with Russia, including negotiating a Bilateral Labour Agreement to provide legitimate employment opportunities for its citizens abroad.

Russian recruitment network promises fake jobs

The announcement follows a September intelligence-led operation in Nairobi, where police rescued 22 Kenyans awaiting processing to Russia. 

Authorities arrested Edward Kamau Gituku, accused of coordinating the recruitment, and seized materials showing victims had signed agreements to pay between $13,000 and $18,000 for visas, travel, and accommodation. 

His defense team claimed the company had already facilitated the travel of more than 1,000 Kenyans to Russia, according to local media reports.

Ukrainian forces captured Kenyan athlete Evans Kibet in September after he fought alongside Russian troops in Kharkiv Oblast. Kibet said a sports agent offered him a tourist trip to Saint Petersburg before pressuring him to sign documents in Russian that turned out to be military contracts. 

"I didn't know it was a military job. He told me to sign and took my passport and phone, and that is how everything went wrong," Kibet said in a video interview with Ukrainian forces. When he tried to refuse military service, recruiters told him he would either fight or be killed. 

Russia has recruited citizens from at least 21 countries - from Nepal to Cuba - through similar deceptive schemes, with BBC confirming 523 foreign mercenaries from 28 countries killed since the invasion began.

Russian forces on the Pokrovsk front in Donetsk Oblast outnumber Ukrainian forces by eight to one, but have failed to capture the city after a year of fighting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told journalists on 28 October.

Pokrovsk has been a key focus of Russian attacks for over a year. Its capture would allow Russian forces to strengthen positions in eastern Ukraine and potentially leverage the city in international negotiations. 

“They have committed forces to Pokrovsk that Ukraine cannot match one to one. Yet they have achieved none of their objectives,” Zelenskyy said, adding that Russia aims to use Pokrovsk to bolster its position in talks with the United States.

Ukrainian forces have captured 2,200 Russian soldiers in the east over the first six months of 2025, including on the Pokrovsk and Dobropillia fronts, Zelenskyy noted.

Russian troops have reached the outskirts of Pokrovsk, where street fighting continues. Ukrainian forces remain in control of the city, while Russian units attempt to advance toward the railway station, sometimes disguised as civilians. 

Russia also holds a significant drone advantage in the area, estimated at 10 to 1, according to Ukrainian military sources.

Over 1,200 civilians remain in the city, where evacuation has been suspended due to ongoing Russian control of all exits. Ukrainian forces continue to provide food, water, and medical aid to those trapped.

Pokrovsk anchors the southernmost point of Ukraine's fortress belt - a chain of fortified cities stretching north through Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk that has held for years against Russian advances.

Baltic companies are quietly sustaining Russia’s “shadow fleet,” helping sanctioned and high-risk tankers to transport Russian oil globally, a joint investigation by LRT, 15min, Eesti Ekspress, and Nekā personīga has found.

Russia’s “shadow fleet” is a network of old, often uninsured tankers with opaque ownership, designed to evade Western sanctions and move Russian oil and petroleum products around the world. These vessels fly under various foreign flags, frequently disable tracking systems, disguise cargo origins, and transfer fuel at sea, allowing Moscow to maintain its energy exports and finance its war effort despite international restrictions.

The investigation tracked the movements of two bunker tankers, Rina and Zircone, which conducted hundreds of ship-to-ship refueling operations between June 2024 and March 2025. 

During this period, the vessels supplied fuel to at least 177 oil tankers, 159 of which had recently visited Russian ports. 

The vessels are linked to Fast Bunkering, a Baltic oil empire founded by Aleksei Tšulets in Estonia. While Tšulets sold the ships in 2023, the investigation found they remain effectively controlled through Dubai-registered FB Trade, using complex offshore structures to obscure ownership.

How shadow fleet operations exploit sanctions loopholes

Many of the tankers the vessels refueled exhibit classic shadow fleet characteristics: they operate without insurance, conceal ownership, and disable tracking systems. 

Experts say these shadow fleet operations exploit loopholes in EU maritime sanctions, which allow for exceptions for refueling vessels transporting Russian oil, provided companies conduct due diligence. 

In practice, the LRT investigation shows these safeguards are often bypassed, with tankers operating largely undisturbed despite repeated EU, US, and UK sanctions.

Fast Bunkering and its affiliates have long used offshore companies and layered corporate structures to hide connections and continue trading Russian fuel, including shipments to India, Brazil, and Libya. 

Western countries struggle to enforce sanctions

“The threat is growing. Russia sees this as an effective weapon - both to undermine European security and to keep its oil flowing,” Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys told LRT. He warned that such practices not only expose the slow pace of sanctions enforcement, but also heighten the risk of environmental disasters.

Even after multiple high-profile incidents, including EU sanctions against some of its vessels, Fast Bunkering’s network continues to operate, underscoring the difficulty of policing international waters.

Maritime intelligence analyst Michelle Wiese Bockmann told LRT that the shadow fleet has tripled in size since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“Russia has spent billions of dollars building this network. In that sense, the sanctions have failed to achieve their intended goal - instead of making the seas safer, they’ve made them more dangerous,” she said.

Broader pattern of sanctions circumvention

A February investigation by Follow the Money found Western shipowners earned over $6 billion by selling aging oil tankers that now transport Russian oil. More than 230 vessels previously owned by Western companies, representing over a third of Russia's shadow fleet, were sold at premium prices.

Despite the US and UK blocking two major Russian oil producers, Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, as part of January's largest-ever energy sanctions package, enforcement remains challenging. 

The investigation underscores the continuing challenge for European authorities to monitor and enforce sanctions in the Baltic and beyond, as private companies play a central role in sustaining Russia’s global oil trade.