US private equity firm Carlyle is considering acquiring Lukoil’s foreign assets, Reuters reports. The potential deal is unfolding under the pressure of a looming 21 November deadline, when Washington's sanctions will block all transactions with the Russian oil giant.

Carlyle "exploring options to buy" Lukoil’s global oil assets before sanctions lockout

American company Carlyle has begun exploring the purchase of Lukoil’s foreign holdings, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters. The assets are estimated at $22 billion and include refineries, oilfields, and fuel stations across multiple continents. Carlyle has informed Lukoil of its interest but has not yet begun due diligence.

Before it can proceed, Carlyle plans to apply for a US government license to make the deal legal under existing sanctions. The firm could still walk away from the deal, Reuters reports, depending on the outcome of the license application and timing constraints.

Gunvor pushed out after US calls it Kremlin “puppet”

Lukoil had previously tried to sell the same assets to Swiss commodities trader Gunvor. But the US Treasury blocked the transaction, Reuters reported, labeling Gunvor a Kremlin “puppet.” The move forced Gunvor to withdraw. That left Carlyle, which experts told Reuters is more likely to win approval from Washington. 

Lukoil has applied for an extension of the 21 November deadline, Reuters reported earlier this week. If the deadline stands, deals involving the company will be banned after that date.

$22 billion portfolio spans oilfields, refineries, and retail stations worldwide

Lukoil’s foreign assets produce 0.5% of the world’s oil and include three refineries in Europe, stakes in oilfields in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Mexico, Ghana, Egypt and Nigeria, and hundreds of fuel stations — including some in the US.

The company’s total global output amounts to about 2% of worldwide oil production. Its foreign portfolio, based on 2024 filings, is valued at roughly $22 billion.

Ukraine has received over 144,000 appeals from Russian families trying to locate soldiers missing in action, according to Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. In October alone, the project confirmed 159 Russian invaders held in captivity — including not only Russian nationals but also citizens of Egypt, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus.

Russians turn to Ukraine as the Kremlin hides the missing

According to the Coordination Headquarters, every day, hundreds of families from Russia contact Ukraine’s “Want to Find” project, pleading for help in discovering the fate of relatives lost during the full-scale invasion. The HQ says a total of 144,138 appeals have been submitted so far. That number only reflects those who reached out — Ukrainian officials say the actual count of missing invaders is far higher.

Since Russia continues to ignore the growing list of its soldiers reported missing in Ukraine, relatives are increasingly bypassing their own government to seek answers directly from Ukrainian channels, the Headquarters stated.

“Not all families contact the Ukrainian project,” the Coordination Headquarters said, noting the real number of unaccounted-for Russian troops likely exceeds the official appeal count.

In October alone, 9,243 new requests were submitted — about 300 per day. Relatives use the project’s tools to confirm whether someone is dead or in captivity. Those confirmations allow them to pressure Russian authorities to conduct exchanges, the report noted.

Foreign mercenaries among Russia’s captured soldiers

In October 2025 alone, Ukraine confirmed the presence of 159 Russian invaders in captivity, all listed after appeals from their relatives. Among these were not only Russian citizens but also individuals from Egypt, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus.

This aligns with earlier reports from the Ukrainian project “Want to Live”, which said Russia continues to rely on foreign mercenaries to sustain its war against Ukraine.

Low education, low loyalty: who Russia sends to die

Only 2% of the prisoners confirmed in October had higher education. Over half — 53% — had completed only secondary school, while some never progressed beyond primary education. Ukrainian officials say this education profile reflects deliberate recruitment by Russia’s Ministry of Defense, which targets undereducated individuals who are easier to coerce into contracts.

Mounting losses in Russia’s ranks

As of the morning of 4 November 2025, the Ukrainian Army’s General Staff reported that total Russian personnel losses since 24 February 2022 stood at approximately 1,145,670. That figure includes 840 new combat losses over the previous day. 

On 23 October, a drone explosion site was discovered in a remote area of northern Kazakhstan, more than 1,200 kilometers from Ukraine’s frontline, in a district bordering Russia’s Orenburg Oblast — where Ukrainian drones struck a Gazprom gas-processing facility on 19 October. Photos from the scene show drone fragments, including a part with Ukrainian-language markings. Kazakhstan launched an investigation.

Explosion of unknown drone reported in Kazakhstan near Russian border

A drone of unknown origin exploded on 23 October in Börılı District of West Kazakhstan Oblast, according to the country’s Ministry of Defense. The blast occurred in a remote area, far from residential zones. No casualties or property damage were reported.

The Defense Ministry confirmed that authorized state agencies have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident and the drone’s origin.

"Consultations are underway with foreign partners who may potentially own these aircraft," the Kazakhstan Defense Ministry wote.

The Ministry also announced additional measures to strengthen airspace monitoring and prevent unauthorized crossings of Kazakhstan’s borders by aerial objects.

Ukrainian-language markings visible on debris

The same day, Kazakh Telegram channel Orda published photos from the explosion site showing a crater, what appears to be part of a drone’s engine, a quadcopter-like frame, and two other parts, one of which labeled in Ukrainian: “Don’t touch! Movable part.” 

The Kazakhstan Ministry of Defense did not comment on any identifying features or possible origin of the drone.

Editor's note: The article was updated with a statement from Ukraine's military intelligence agency.

A tanker carrying 1 million barrels of oil experienced an explosion near Libya, its operator, TMS Tankers, said on June 30. The vessel, Vilamoura, is now being towed to Greece, where the extent of the damage will be assessed upon arrival.

The blast caused the engine room to flood due to water intake, though the cause of the explosion remains unclear, according to a company spokesperson.

The spokesperson confirmed that the crew is safe and no pollution has been reported.

The explosion occurred on June 27 as the vessel was departing the Libyan port of Zuwetina, some 150 kilometers (90 miles) northeast of Libyan territorial waters, Ukraine's military intelligence reported.

The incident comes amid a series of unexplained blasts targeting oil tankers that had previously visited Russian ports. In response, shipowners have started inspecting their vessels for mines using divers and underwater drones.

Vilamoura had visited Russian oil terminals twice since April, loading Kazakh-origin crude rather than Russian oil. According to Bloomberg vessel-tracking data, the tanker called at the Russian port of Ust-Luga in early April and at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal near Novorossiysk in May. Both terminals primarily handle Kazakh crude exports.

Maritime risk consultancy Vanguard Tech reported that four other vessels have been damaged by explosions since the beginning of the year. Each had recently docked at Russian ports, the firm said.

Ukraine has targeted Russian energy assets throughout the full-scale invasion, including a drone strike in February on the CPC pipeline, a route responsible for moving roughly 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil exports.

Russia-Iran alliance wavers as Tehran suffers major blows

Tehran, Russia’s main ally in the Middle East, has been dealt a heavy blow as Israel dismantled its network of proxies and then struck targets in Iran. The recent Iranian-Israeli war, which ended with a ceasefire on June 24, showed that the regional balance of power has shifted in Israel’s favor. This could have a major impact on Russian-Iranian relations as Moscow will have to recalibrate its approach to the region. Russian-Iranian cooperation is likely to continue but Iran’s ability to help

The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov