The US has imposed new sanctions on 32 legal entities involved in the supply network for components used to produce Shahed-136 kamikaze drones. Among them are two companies registered in Ukraine, according to the US Department of the Treasury. 

Ukrainian companies under foreign control

The adversary may aim to use this information as “evidence” of corruption, internal collaboration with the enemy, or other theories. While the companies are formally registered in Ukraine, control is effectively in foreign hands.

An Iranian citizen, Bahram Tabibi, “used his Ukrainian shell companies” to “purchase and supply aerospace materials” for the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company, the producer of the Shahed drones.

Russia uses three distinct turboprop Shahed drone variants — all packed with foreign parts

The supplies included position indicators, magnetometers, AC generator components, engines, and other equipment.

The companies named are LLC "GK Imperativ Ukraine" and LLC "Ecofera"

According to the Opendatabot portal, LLC "GK Imperativ Ukraine" was registered in 2018 in Kharkiv and is engaged in trade. The company’s owner is an Iranian citizen, Bahram Tabibi Jabali.

As for LLC "Ecofera," no publicly available information has been found. 

Some European countries believe that Russian leader Vladimir Putin will eventually win in Ukraine, according to Bundestag member Jürgen Hardt from the ruling Christian Democratic Union, UkrInform reports. This conviction persists despite Ukraine successfully defending against the attacks of the world’s largest country for 11 years. 

Members of Ukraine’s EU-backed anti-corruption agency and the FBI are coordinating actions in the 2025 top energy investigation, which involves the alleged laundering of $100 million, ZN.UA reports, citing its own sources. 

Recently, representatives from both agencies met in connection with the case of Energoatom, Ukraine's sole nuclear operator.

According to investigators, the perpetrators demanded kickbacks amounting to 10–15% of Energoatom contract values. Contractors had to pay to avoid blocked payments or the loss of supplier status. Timyr Mindich, one of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's closest associates, oversaw the operation of a so-called “laundromat”, where funds obtained through illegal means were laundered.

In the embezzlement case, five individuals have been detained, and seven alleged members of the criminal organization have already been formally charged. Among those searched were Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko, who has since resigned, and Mindich, who is hiding abroad.

FBI returns to Ukrainian investigations 

A new FBI officer has recently arrived in Kyiv, and one of his first meetings was specifically focused on the Mindich case. The FBI representative works within the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine under an interagency memorandum originally signed during the bureau’s founding.

The case highlights Ukraine’s commitment, with strong European Union support, to eradicating corruption at the highest levels of government. However, the investigation must yield results and lead to the arrest of jail officials involved in the scheme. The case is especially painful to ordinary Ukrainians, who continue to endure up to 12-hour blackouts following Russian missile attacks.

For comparison, the stolen $100 million could have purchased 27 Patriot missiles or 40,000 Sting interceptor drones. 

After a brief technical pause that coincided with the US President Donald Trump administration, the document was re-signed following NABU Director Semen Kryvonos’s visit to the US. Since then, constant operational cooperation between NABU and the FBI has been restored for cases involving high-level corruption.

Barracuda-500 opens up a new 900 km strike potential for Poland. Manufacturing these missiles would theoretically allow Warsaw to reach Moscow, writes military portal Defence Express.

“The presence of Barracuda-500 in the Polish military’s arsenal would theoretically allow them to strike even Moscow, which lies roughly 900 km from the state border,” the analysts say. 

Can Barracuda-500 production spread fast? 

For now, the discussion concerns producing these missiles only for Poland’s own needs, and does not even touch on the possibility of supplying them to Ukraine, although that scenario is entirely realistic.

In addition, the US Air Force also wants to purchase more than 3,000 Barracuda-500 missiles.

“Ukraine had already expressed interest in the Barracuda-500, which is intended to replace or complement the Tomahawk,” the experts explain.

The missiles were first revealed in autumn 2024, and since then, production has also been rolled out in Taiwan.

“Therefore, looking ahead, it is quite possible that Barracuda-500 production could be established in Ukraine in a relatively short time,” the experts believe. 

The cheap missile ready to strike from fighters or transport planes

“The price of one Barracuda-500 is estimated at $216,500, which is very low for a cruise missile," the experts added. 

Barracuda missiles can be launched from airborne platforms such as the F-15E, F-18E/F, and F-16, and also from any transport aircraft, even an An-26, on Rapid Dragon pallets.

Russia's nuclear threats continue. Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin on tests of the unlimited-range nuclear-powered cruise missile "Burevestnik" conducted on 21 October, UNIAN reports. 

Putin states that Burevestnik can fly 14,000 kilometers

Putin stated that Russia’s nuclear forces “are at the highest level in the world” and boasted about tests of the “unique” nuclear-powered missile Burevestnik. He made the statements during a meeting with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov and the commanders of military formations.

According to him, the missile traveled 14,000 kilometers and remained in the air for about 15 hours. He also claimed that Burevestnik demonstrated the ability to evade missile defense systems.

“Technical characteristics of the missile allow it to be used with guaranteed accuracy against heavily protected targets at any distance,” Gerasimov said.

Commenting on the tests, Putin added that this is a “unique weapon that no one else in the world possesses.”

He also stated that the missile tests are complete and the key objectives of the tests have been achieved.

“We need to determine possible methods of deployment and start preparing the infrastructure to integrate this weapon into our armed forces,” said the Russian president.

Dmitriev in the US: Details on Burevestnik tests was conveyed to the US administration 

Kirill Dmitriev, the Kremlin's special envoy for investment and economic cooperation, stated during the visit to the US that “the security of the whole world” depends on peaceful US–Russia relations and warned the Trump administration about “complete annihilation of humanity."

He also mentioned the nuclear drills held on 21-22 October, RBC reports. During the drills, Russia launched a Yars ballistic missile toward the US. This missile can also carry a nuclear warhead. 

Russia will feel the pain immediately. CBS News anchor Margaret Brennan asked US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent whether Kirill Dmitriev, the Kremlin's envoy, was correct in claiming that American sanctions would have "absolutely no effect on Russia's economy. They will simply lead to higher prices at gas stations in the United States." 

"Margaret, are you really going to- the- publish what a Russian propagandist says? I mean, what else is he going to say?" Bessent replied.

Near-zero growth and inflation above 20%

The Russian economy is a wartime economy. Growth is virtually zero, and inflation is over 20%. Oil is what finances Russia’s war machine.

“Well, I think Russia is going to feel the pain immediately. I can tell you that we've already seen India has done a complete halt of Russian oil purchases. Many of the Chinese refineries have stopped,” Bessent explained.

He added that the Russian claim of "having immunized the economy against this" is not true.

Bessent noted that Russia’s oil revenues have dropped by 20% compared to last year.

“Their oil earnings are down 20% year over year. I would suspect that this could take them down another 20 or 30%,” he said.

Russian oil remains a key source of revenue that funds its military aggression against Ukraine. In 2025, profits from the oil and gas sector account for about 77.7% of Russia’s federal budget. 

According to the International Liberty Institute, the main buyers of Russian oil remain Asian countries, as European markets are largely restricted by sanctions.

Kyiv holds a strategic call. On 24 October, Ukraine's Army Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi spoke with NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich. 

They discussed the formation of new aid packages to meet the needs of Ukrainian troops amid Russia's intensified campaign of terror strikes on Ukraine's infrastructure. 

Russian troops continue terror against civilians

During the conversation, General Syrskyi detailed the current operational situation in combat zones.

He noted that Russia continues its terror against civilians, striking critical infrastructure, educational institutions, kindergartens, hospitals, and residential buildings.

“Energy facilities are the main target of Russian strikes, aimed at leaving Ukrainians without electricity, water, and heating,” Syrskyi said.

A new aid package for the Armed Forces of Ukraine is planned

Syrskyi expressed gratitude to General Grynkewich, US Secretary of War Pete Hegset, Trump, and the American people for their support and assistance to Ukraine.

This regards particularly the practical implementation of the PURL initiative, which is crucial for saving civilian lives and protecting critical infrastructure.

PURL unites NATO countries for collective armament

More than 17 NATO member states have joined the PURL initiative to jointly fund purchases of American weapons for Ukraine.

This is a significant expansion from the original six participating countries: the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.