Ukraine Invasion: Part 59

[MagicFox]

Well, it’s thread 59.

Thanks to all regular contributors, especially those doing the daily hard work. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

Agreed thread guidance:

A. The agreed purpose of the thread is for the sharing of information and commentary on current events

B. If you post a link please tell us where it leads/give a precis of the content

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Not sure if that link came through OK:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2pwweqllro

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-22-2025/

Key Takeaways

1. Russian forces conducted a large combined drone and missile strike against Ukraine on the night of October 21 and 22 and struck a Ukrainian kindergarten on the morning of October 22.
2. The United States announced new economic and military levers in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s persistent reticence to engage in good-faith negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
3. Western reporting indicates that the United States called off the planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russia continued to demonstrate its unwillingness to compromise on its long-standing war demands in Ukraine.
4. The Kremlin is setting conditions to exculpate itself for the likely failure of future peace negotiations due to its own unwillingness to engage in good-faith negotiations.
5. The Kremlin is using pre-planned strategic missile tests to further its ongoing rhetorical effort to push the United States to agree to concessions on the war in Ukraine in return for US-Russian arms control talks.
6. Ukraine and its European allies are reportedly developing a 12-point proposal to end the war in Ukraine that includes multiple points that the Kremlin has already designated as non-starters.
7. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced plans to deploy active reservists to protect infrastructure in the Russian rear, in part to obfuscate likely Kremlin efforts to prepare to deploy reservists to combat in Ukraine in the future.
8. Ukrainian forces conducted long-range strikes against Russian energy and defense industrial enterprises overnight on October 21 and 22.
9. Ukrainian forces advanced in the Dobropillya tactical area and near Pokrovsk, and Russian forces advanced near Lyman.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-23-2025/

Key Takeaways

1. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Indian oil companies are reportedly significantly reducing direct purchases of Russian oil in the short term, and the European Union (EU) passed its 19th sanctions package against Russia, primarily targeting the Russian energy sector.
2. Senior Kremlin officials publicly characterized the United States and US President Donald Trump as Russia’s adversary and “unfriendly” to Russia in response to the October 22 US sanctions against Russia’s energy sector.
3. The Kremlin is attempting to falsely portray Russian forces as having established a bridgehead in west (right) bank Kherson Oblast – a new Russian cognitive warfare effort against Ukraine and its partners.
4. Available evidence continues to indicate that Russian forces have not established a bridgehead or begun an offensive in west bank Kherson Oblast.
5. Russian forces continue to increase the frequency of mechanized assaults in eastern and southern Ukraine, likely to take advantage of rainy and foggy weather conditions that complicate Ukrainian drone operations.
6. Ukraine’s partners continue to support Ukraine through the Prioritized Ukrainian Requirements List (PURL) initiative to purchase US military equipment for Ukraine.
7. Russian forces continue to target and kill civilians, first responders, and journalists.
8. Ukraine and Russia conducted another exchange of the bodies of soldiers killed in action (KIA) on October 23.
9. Russian forces advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area and near Kupyansk, Siversk, and Velykomykhailivka.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

Trump's Russia sanctions 'a shock' to Moscow, may deal 'serious blow' to oil giants, experts say
(kyivindependent.com/trumps-russia-sanctions-a-shock-to-moscow-may-deal-serious-blow-to-oil-giants-experts-say/)
In a surprising move, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his administration's first sanctions on Moscow since taking office — a step analysts say could create new hurdles for Russia's oil sector.
The U.S. imposed sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, on Oct. 22, aiming to pressure the Kremlin into agreeing to a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Experts described the move as "quite a shock" and a "serious blow" to Russia's top oil exporters.

⚡️ BREAKING: Lithuania says Russian warplanes violated its airspace. (https://kyivindependent.com/lithuania-says-russian-aircraft-violated-its-airspace/)
A Su-30 fighter jet and an Il-78 refueling plane flew approximately 700 meters into Lithuanian airspace from Kaliningrad, remaining there for about 18 seconds, according to the Baltic country's military.

EU leaders delay Ukraine loan using Russian assets, task commission with working out legal route (kyivindependent.com/eu-leaders-delay-ukraine-reparations-loan-task-commission-with-working-out-legal-route/)
Belgium, where the majority of frozen funds is parked in the financial clearing house Euroclear, put the brakes on swift progress on the use of frozen Russian assets, warning that three of its key demands related to legal worries would first need to be met.

⚡️ Update: Zelensky meets leaders (kyivindependent.com/zelensky-arrives-at-eu-summit-as-leaders-set-to-discuss-ukraine-aid-frozen-russian-assets/) of Czechia, France, Poland during EU summit.
Zelensky is meeting European leaders to discuss further support for Kyiv amid Russian strikes against Ukraine’s energy grid.

⚡️ Kyiv faces 'most difficult (kyivindependent.com/kyiv-faces-most-difficult-heating-season-amid-escalating-russian-attacks-klitschko-said/)' heating season of full-scale war amid escalating Russian attacks, Klitschko says.
Klitschko’s warning comes just a day after Russia launched a massive assault on Ukraine’s energy and port infrastructure.

⚡️ Putin claims Russia won't cave under US sanctions (kyivindependent.com/putin-decries-us-sanctions-pressure-says-budapest-summit-postponed/), says Budapest summit 'postponed.'
Putin said that "no self-respecting country does anything under pressure," calling new U.S. sanctions an "unfriendly act."

⚡️White House says Trump-Putin meeting (kyivindependent.com/white-house-says-trump-putin-meeting-not-completely-off-the-table/) 'not completely off the table.'
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump has seen "not enough interest and enough action" from Russia to advance toward peace.

'Very cautious decision' — Ukraine's central bank leaves interest rate unchanged
(kyivindependent.com/very-cautious-decision-ukraines-central-bank-leaves-interest-rate-unchanged/)
The National Bank of Ukraine kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 15.5%, warning that inflation could intensify amid Russian attacks on the energy system and Kyiv's ongoing budgetary challenges.
"Despite a decline in inflation over the past months, inflation expectations remained high and inflationary risks rose, particularly those related to larger energy shortages and greater budgetary needs," the bank's Governor Andrii Pyshnyi said on Oct. 23 when announcing the decision.

⚡️ UK arrests 3 over suspected espionage (kyivindependent.com/uk-arrests-3-over-suspected-espionage-for-russia/) for Russia.
The suspects, men aged 44, 45, and 48, were arrested by the Metropolitan police at addresses in central and west London. Searches at the addresses are ongoing.

Investigation: How Russia militarizes Ukrainian children, training them for a lifetime of war (kyivindependent.com/investigation-russia-militarizes-ukrainian-children-from-occupied-territories-training-them-for-a-lifetime-of-war/)
Today, an estimated 1.6 million Ukrainian children remain in territories occupied by Russia. Cut off from Ukraine’s education system, they are exposed daily to Russian propaganda, militarization, and pressure to abandon their national identity.
Parents, children, and human rights activists interviewed by the Kyiv Independent say escaping this system is nearly impossible. In occupied territories, the indoctrination begins at school and extends into nearly every aspect of children’s lives.

⚡️ Ukraine war latest: Russia hits Kharkiv with glide bombs, artillery, drones (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-update-2025-10-24/) kill 3 in Kherson.
Video posted to social media shows multiple explosions in Kherson.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬ ‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬
· 3h
⚡️ WAR IN UKRAINE & RUSSIA — OCT 24, 2025
■ Engagements and casualties below the 7-day average
Equipment losses above average, however
■ Overnight attacks: triple-digit, all drones; interception rate could be better
■ Single-digit 🇺🇦 strikes, 🇷🇺 strikes above average

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

Russia, using Western technology, has created a secret system to track NATO ships in the Arctic, according to the international investigative project “Russian Secrets,” which involves major European and American media outlets.
Key findings of the investigation:
▫️The system, called Harmony, consists of underwater microphones, sonars, and other equipment designed to detect NATO submarines.
▫️It strengthens Russia’s ability to monitor Western submarines and allows its own nuclear submarines to move in and out of ports undetected.
▫️To build Harmony, Russian companies imported technology and vessels from ten European countries, as well as from the US, Canada, and Japan — continuing until at least the fall of 2024.
▫️Most of the technology was purchased through a Cypriot shell company, Mostrello, which had a contract with the Russian defense concern Kometa, the main developer of the system.
▫️In 2014, Mostrello ordered the Mohican underwater robot from the British company Forum Energy Technologies, capable of operating at depths of up to 3,000 meters.
▫️Purchases continued even after sanctions on Russia were tightened, including following the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine.
▫️Western intelligence agencies see Harmony as evidence of a growing Russian threat in the Arctic.
▫️Moscow has also reinforced its military infrastructure on the Kola Peninsula and in Murmansk — a region from which Russian missiles can reach both Europe and the United States.

The EU has postponed until December its decision on using €140 billion in frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, Bloomberg reports. The delay is due to Belgium’s demand for stronger guarantees that it will not be held liable for risks linked to lending to Kyiv.

Spain has agreed to participate in the purchase of American weapons for Ukraine, reports El País.
According to the publication, Madrid will join the US arms supply program (PURL), though the exact amount Spain plans to allocate has not yet been determined.

🏭 Energy workers have restored power to the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk reported.
Power supply was restored after repairs to the 750 kV Dniprovska line were completed. Work is now underway on the 330 kV Ferrosplavna line.
According to the minister, during the outage, the safety of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant was ensured solely by emergency diesel generators.

China’s state-owned oil giants are suspending purchases of Russian oil due to US sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil, Reuters reports.
The decision affects PetroChina, Sinopec, CNOOC, and Zhenhua Oil. PetroChina alone imports about 900,000 tonnes of Russian pipeline oil daily, though traders believe the sanctions will have limited impact on its operations.
Most of Russia’s offshore oil to China — about 1.4 million tonnes per day — is bought by independent refineries and smaller operators. State-owned firms account for roughly 250,000–500,000 barrels per day, according to Vortexa Analytics and Energy Aspects.
Traders note that independent refineries may temporarily pause purchases to assess risks but will likely continue buying Russian oil.
India, Russia’s largest seaborne oil customer, has also announced plans to sharply reduce imports to comply with US sanctions.
A sharp drop in demand from China and India — Moscow’s two biggest buyers — could hit Russia’s oil revenues and force importers to look for alternative suppliers, potentially driving global prices higher.

Putin said today: Replacing Russian oil on the global market will take time. The global energy balance has already been established, and disrupting it is not in the interests of those trying to do so. Russia and Saudi Arabia sell more oil than they consume, unlike the US.
Meanwhile, Kuwait’s Oil Minister Tarek al-Roumi said all OPEC countries are currently exporting below capacity and are ready to fully restore previous volumes.
He noted growing demand for oil from the Persian Gulf and Middle Eastern countries amid sanctions targeting Rosneft and Lukoil.

🤦‍♂️ Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council and former President Dmitry Medvedev said that the United States is Russia’s adversary and that its “talkative peacemaker” has now “fully embarked on the warpath against Russia.”
“Yes, he doesn’t always actively fight on the side of Bandera’s Kyiv, but this is his conflict now, not that of the senile Biden!
They will, of course, say he couldn’t help himself, that he was pressured in Congress, etc.
This doesn’t change the main point: the decisions taken are an act of war against Russia.
And now Trump has fully aligned himself with crazy Europe,” Medvedev stated.

Ukraine plans to use frozen Russian assets to produce weapons with ranges of up to 3,000 km, President Zelenskyy said.
“We already have clear long-range capabilities of Ukrainian production. We will use domestic long-range systems from 150 km to 3,000 km. The issue of assets is also very important for us — to partially use them for Ukrainian production and for European partners,” he said.

🇺🇦🇪🇺 Ukraine is ready to share its own technologies with European partners — President Zelenskyy
“We are counting on a decision regarding frozen Russian assets. This will help not only Ukraine — we are ready to use part of these funds together with Europeans to strengthen Europe. We have technologies and are ready to share them with the countries that have supported us during the war,” the president said.
According to him, Ukraine possesses technologies and practical experience that many European countries currently lack.

Russians and Belarusians have been barred from the 2026 Paralympics.
This decision became possible thanks to the international federations of biathlon, skiing, and snowboarding, as well as the World Para Hockey Federation, which opposed the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in all six sports of the 2026 Games. [It was previously reported they would be allowed in, so good]

❗️1,000 bodies, which the Russians claim belong to Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers, have been returned to Ukraine, the Coordination Headquarters reported.
Investigators and experts from the Ministry of Internal Affairs will soon conduct all necessary examinations and identification procedures, the Headquarters added.

Horrific footage of shelling in residential areas of Kherson today has surfaced online. t.me/United24media/36601

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Trump will meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping next Thursday.

Ukraine is officially creating recruiting centers (www.kyivpost.com/post/62832) amid a decline in mobilization rates and a growing number of unauthorized absences from military units.

British PM Starmer is hosting more than 20 of Ukraine’s allies in London (www.kyivpost.com/post/62883) on Friday for a meeting of the self-titled Coalition of the Willing, pressing European partners to deliver additional long-range missiles to Kyiv.

Russia orders thousands of civilian reservists back into army (www.kyivpost.com/post/62825) — but insists they won’t be sent to fight in Ukraine.

Kyiv Mayor Klitschko said backup power sources are being set up to ensure the functioning of water supply (www.kyivpost.com/post/62840) and drainage systems amid intensified Russian strikes on infrastructure.

Speaking to Kyiv Post, Ambassador Michael Carpenter urged Western allies to aggressively pursue Moscow’s oil trade (www.kyivpost.com/post/62856) loopholes and shadow shipping fleet to escalate pressure beyond Rosneft and Lukoil.

Volodymyr Zelensky met with King Charles III in London during his visit to the United Kingdom.

Ukraine has never used US long-range weapons to strike targets on Russian territory, Zelensky said.
According to him, American weapons have been used only against targets in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.

Russia’s response in the event of Tomahawk strikes on its territory will be serious — if not downright staggering — Putin [so, does he still think there's a possibility?]

Putin said his meeting with Trump in Hungary is being postponed
“It would be a mistake to approach the summit in Hungary without proper preparation,” he added.

Kyiv explosives experts have safely removed two unexploded Russian drones (www.kyivpost.com/post/62817) that hit high-rise apartment buildings in two cities districts during attacks on the capital.

In a Bucha-like atrocity, Russian soldiers killed a family at home, (www.kyivpost.com/post/62855) but the mother, who was shot in the face and left for dead, walked to unoccupied Ukraine and told her story to police.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇨🇿 Czech volunteers raised funds for a Ukrainian “Flamingo” missile in just two days.
The civic initiative “A Gift for Putin” had planned to collect $600,000 within a week — but reached the goal in under 48 hours.

🇺🇦 A young mother and her baby have been brought back from Russian occupation.
The family’s hometown was occupied in 2022. The 23-year-old woman refused to accept a Russian passport, after which the occupation “child services” tried to take away her newborn son.
She hid from the Russian authorities for a year to keep her child and dreamed of reuniting with her sister in Dnipro. Today, the mother and baby are safely back on Ukrainian-controlled territory.

🇰🇵 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un plans to build a museum in Pyongyang dedicated to DPRK soldiers who took part in the “liberation of Russia’s Kursk region.”

A Russian military court in Rostov-on-Don has sentenced Yana Suvorova, the administrator of the Telegram channel “Melitopol is Ukraine,” to 14 years in prison, Mediazona reports.
The then 19-year-old Suvorova was detained on August 20, 2023, in the occupied city of Melitopol, along with several other journalists allegedly linked by Russian security forces to the channels “Melitopol is Ukraine,” “RIA-Melitopol,” and “Gachi-Ugolok.”
According to the FSB, these channels allegedly collected “intelligence information” and exerted “psychological influence on the local population.”
Russian media also claim that Suvorova and her colleagues were accused of helping guide HIMARS strikes on a Melitopol college building housing Russian National Guard and FSB units. The strike occurred on March 27, 2023 — no casualties were reported, as Russian personnel had evacuated beforehand.

Murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska: the suspect faces the death penalty.
A grand jury found that Decarlos Brown deliberately killed Iryna Zarutska.
▪️The Ukrainian refugee was murdered on August 22 at a light rail station in Charlotte, North Carolina. Brown was later arrested and charged.

Kherson today
Combined attacks using MLRS and drones — there are casualties.

I can’t believe I walked right past Windsor Castle today and did not know Zelenskyy was meeting with the King! Was it like a state visit then? There was no warning about it, no flags like they had for Trump last month. I’m guessing the security had to be super tight but had I known, I would have gotten closer so be able to see him. The news article said public were watching through the gates.

It's certainly not a state visit, the President is in London for a coalition summit this weekend and it looks like HRH invited him round for a look at the guards and maybe a cup of tea..

Dylan Earl and the five other Wagner gophers all jailed.

The message from security minister Dan Jarvis was, "To those acting for a foreign state, as the head of MI5 has said, you are disposable and you will not receive your reward, just as these individuals found out".

Men jailed over arson attack for Russia on Ukrainian business in London
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c04g5x1wq5vo

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ Top Russian envoy reportedly visits US (kyivindependent.com/top-russian-envoy-reportedly-visits-us-after-trump-slaps-sanctions/) after Trump's sanctions.
Kirill Dmitriev is expected to discuss "the U.S.-Russia relationship" with Trump administration officials, CNN reported.

‘Putin is playing with nuclear fire’ — Zaporizhzhia power plant blackout ends, but experts warn risks are far from over (kyivindependent.com/putin-is-playing-with-nuclear-fire-zaporizhzhia-power-plant-blackout-ends-but-experts-warn-risks-are-far-from-over/)

⚡️Ukraine’s central bank devalues hryvnia (kyivindependent.com/ukraines-central-bank-devalues-hryvnia-in-nod-to-imf-demands/) in nod to IMF demands.
The National Bank of Ukraine will devalue the hryvnia next week, following reports that the International Monetary Fund was pushing the bank to weaken the country's currency ahead of negotiations for a new loan program.

⚡️ Ukraine war latest (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-update-2025-10-24/): France announces more Mirage fighter jets, Aster missiles for Kyiv.

Analysis: After two refinery blasts, Russian propaganda reports a fake one — blaming Ukraine (kyivindependent.com/analysis-after-two-refinery-blasts-russian-propaganda-reports-a-fake-one-blaming-ukraine/)
After explosions at Russian-linked refineries in Romania and Hungary, reports on Oct. 22 claimed another blaze at a Druzhba-connected refinery in Slovakia. The incidents at Romania's Lukoil refinery in Ploiesti and Hungary's Szazhalombatta plant were real. The third one was not.
“The main goal is to test NATO’s reaction, sow fear in European societies, and reduce support for Ukraine,” Alina Alieksieieva, deputy head of Ukraine’s government-led Center for Countering Disinformation, told the Kyiv Independent in September.

Rival rallies mark start of Hungary’s election season as Orban faces his strongest challenger yet (kyivindependent.com/russians-go-home-vs-not-our-war-hungarys-election-campaign-kicks-off/)
Viktor Orban, the country’s longest-serving prime minister, sees his 15-year-long rule challenged by an upstart — Peter Magyar. And the rallies that took place in Budapest on a national holiday commemorating Hungary’s 1956 anti-Soviet uprising shed some light on the divide between the two camps.

A month-long blackout at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant ended on Oct. 23, after suspected Russian sabotage disconnected it from Ukraine’s power grid.
But experts have told the Kyiv Independent it could have been repaired by Moscow in days, warned of serious future risks, and said Moscow could be planning further sabotage in order to connect it to Russia’s power grid.
A month-long blackout at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant ended on Oct. 23, after suspected Russian sabotage disconnected it from Ukraine’s power grid.
But experts have told the Kyiv Independent it could have been repaired by Moscow in days, warned of serious future risks, and said Moscow could be planning further sabotage in order to connect it to Russia’s power grid.

⚡️ Lithuania closes airports, Belarus border crossings after 'smuggling balloons (kyivindependent.com/lithuania-closes-airports-belarus-border-crossings-after-smuggling-balloons-incident/)' incident.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said a large group of "smuggling balloons" was launched from Belarus toward Lithuania.

⚡️ 'Russians hunting Ukrainian farmers (kyivindependent.com/russians-hunting-ukrainian-farmers-in-intercepted-drone-footage-azov-claims/)' in intercepted drone footage, Azov claims.
The video clearly shows at least four men in a field abandoning agricultural equipment and running from the drone.

⚡️Ukrainian drones strike (kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-drones-strike-russian-electrical-substation-in-volgograd-oblast-for-second-time-in-two-weeks/) electrical substation in Russia's Volgograd Oblast for second time in two weeks.
An electrical substation in Russia's Volgograd Oblast is in flames following a reported Ukrainian drone strike, regional Governor Andrey Bocharov said on Oct. 25.

⚡️ Man detonates grenade on train platform in Zhytomyr Oblast, kills 4, including himself (kyivindependent.com/grenade-explosion-on-train-platform-in-zhytomyr-oblast-kills-4-injures-12/).
The man has been identified as a 23-year-old resident of Kharkiv.

⚡️ Update: At least 2 killed, 10 injured in Russian ballistic missile attack (kyivindependent.com/russian-attack-oct-25/) on Kyiv.
Russia launched nine Iskander-M ballistic missiles from Russia's Rostov and Kursk oblasts overnight, along with 62 Shahed-type attack and decoy drones, according to Ukraine's Air Force.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬ ‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬
· 47m
⚡️ WAR IN UKRAINE & RUSSIA — OCT 25, 2025
■ Engagements and casualties remain below the 7-day average
■ Equipment losses also below average, including 4 tanks
■ Overnight attacks: double-digit, including 9 missiles; improved interception
■ Single-digit 🇺🇦 strikes, 🇷🇺 strikes below average

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev told CNN that Moscow, Washington, and Kyiv are close to a diplomatic end to the war.
Speaking to the channel, Dmitriev said the meeting between Donald Trump and Putin “has not been canceled,” as the US president described it, and that the two leaders “will probably meet later.”

Italy is preparing its 12th military aid package for Ukraine, Bloomberg reports.
The new deliveries will focus mainly on ammunition and SAMP/T air defense missiles.
According to sources, the package could be finalized by the end of the year, depending on parliamentary procedures.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Giorgia Meloni’s government has provided 11 military aid packages worth between €2.5 and €3 billion ($2.9–3.48 billion). Details of the shipments remain classified under state secrecy laws.

🇬🇧 The UK will produce and supply Ukraine with 5,000 new multi-purpose missiles to strengthen its air defences — Starmer.
“We are also announcing an expansion of the UK’s programme to provide Ukraine with 5,000 new multi-purpose missiles. This will create new jobs in Belfast and other cities, and strengthen Ukraine’s air defences ahead of the coming winter,” the British Prime Minister said.

🇯🇵 Japan scrambled fighter jets after Russian nuclear-capable Tu-95 bombers flew along its western coast over the Sea of Japan. According to Japan’s Defense Ministry, the two Tu-95s were escorted by Su-35 fighters as they approached Sado Island before turning north.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi called the incident another example of Russia’s daily military activity around Japan amid the war in Ukraine.
The flight occurred shortly before a speech by new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who pledged to strengthen Japan’s defenses and expressed support for Ukraine, calling the partnership “special.”
Moscow stated that the flight was a routine patrol over neutral waters.

Ukrainian intelligence officers destroyed three Russian air defense systems worth over $250 million in two days, the Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) reported.
Between October 23 and 24, the GUR’s Active Operations Department detected two Nebo-SVU radar stations (each worth about $100 million) and a Buk-M3 system (valued at $45–50 million) in the airspace of Crimea, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.
All identified targets — the enemy radars and the Buk self-propelled firing system — were successfully destroyed.

Ukrainian drone attacks have forced Putin to deploy additional troops to protect infrastructure, Bloomberg reported.
The government plans to amend Russian legislation concerning civilian reservists who have signed contracts for regular military training during peacetime.
The bill would allow them to be called up under “special conscription” by presidential decree and deployed to protect “critically important” facilities, including oil refineries, energy infrastructure, transport routes, and industrial enterprises.
These reservists will not be sent to Ukraine or posted abroad, said Vladimir Tsimlyansky, Deputy Chief of the Main Organizational and Mobilization Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.
“Nevertheless, this potentially frees up additional troops for the Russian military to deploy to Ukraine without resorting to an unpopular conscription. This highlights the strained personnel situation facing the Russian military, which has suffered massive losses since its invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth year,” Bloomberg notes.

Orbán explained why Hungary did not block the adoption of the EU’s 19th sanctions package against Russia.
According to him, Budapest agreed to the new restrictions only after all provisions that could allegedly harm Hungarian interests were removed:
“We removed everything that was bad for Hungary.”
Orbán added that although the EU “continues a sanctions policy that is fundamentally wrong,” the adopted decision “does not affect Hungary negatively.”

Russia is using the wreck of the sunken ferry Estonia in the Baltic Sea to spy on NATO, according to an investigation by WDR, NDR, and Süddeutsche Zeitung.
The ferry Estonia, which sailed from Tallinn to Stockholm, sank on September 28, 1994, killing 825 people. Its wreck lies about 80 meters deep, roughly 35 km southeast of the Finnish island of Ute.
Experts interviewed by journalists say the site is ideal for covert intelligence gathering.
Several NATO countries reportedly received information that, years ago, technical equipment was installed on the wreckage to enable precise navigation of underwater drones and robots. Western intelligence circles believe Russian forces conducted related exercises at the site.
Investigators note that Moscow may also use the wreck to conceal military sensors designed to detect NATO warships and submarines.
Unlike sandy seabeds, equipment mounted on a shipwreck is nearly invisible and securely anchored. Russia can also operate there freely, as underwater activity in the Estonia area is officially banned.
Operations near the wreck are reportedly overseen by the Main Directorate for Deep-Sea Research (GUGI) of Russia’s Defense Ministry. The GUGI operates the reconnaissance vessel Yantar, which has frequently appeared near critical underwater infrastructure in the North and Baltic Seas and is considered one of Russia’s key spy ships.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Kyiv wakes up to scenes of apocalypse.
Fires still rage across the capital as emergency crews battle the aftermath of a massive Russian missile strike. (www.kyivpost.com/post/62929) Entire blocks are burning, civilians killed and wounded.

Russian forces have[...] launched a missile strike on Kyiv, reportedly targeting a thermal power plant.

🎙️ New episode of Off the Record kicks off
Ambassador Natalka Cmoc sits down with world-renowned Ukrainian author Andrey Kurkov for a powerful conversation about identity, freedom, and the role of literature in times of war.
Watch now:

The first owner of Kyiv Post, Jed Sunden, congratulated the newspaper and its team on their 30th anniversary.
He founded Kyiv Post in 1995, just days before his 25th birthday. In 2000, he was declared persona non grata in Ukraine by order of the SBU director — who later fled to Russia in February 2022.
Jed remained publisher of Kyiv Post until selling the company in 2009.
He is now the founder and director of the American Ukraine Political Action Committee (Amukr.org), which builds political and public support for Ukraine in the United States.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

President Zelensky has urged European partners to “lend” Ukraine their Patriot air defense systems.
He said Ukraine is currently negotiating with the United States to purchase the necessary number of Patriot systems, which may not be delivered immediately.

[yesterday] In Kherson, the number of injured in this morning’s Russian attack has risen to 24, according to the Prosecutor’s Office.
Two women — aged 45 and 83 — were killed.
More than 80 buildings were damaged in the city, along with a bus, a trolleybus, ambulances, a police car, and other civilian vehicles

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico says he will not sign any loan agreements for Ukraine’s military needs.
Fico claims that during the October 23 European Council meeting, he succeeded in removing from the joint statement on Ukraine any mention of confiscating frozen Russian assets to finance a so-called reparations loan.
He insisted that the European Commission propose alternative funding options for Ukraine over the next two years — a demand he says was accepted.
In Fico’s view, the EU’s plan for such a loan “may face reality at the next European Council meeting in December and end in fiasco.”
▪️The proposed “reparations loan” worth €140 billion is not formally considered confiscation: Russia would retain the right to demand the return of its assets in the future — but only if it agrees to compensate Ukraine for the damage caused by the war.

🇷🇸Serbia’s only oil refinery is on the brink of shutdown due to U.S. sanctions, Reuters reports, citing sources.
The country has only a few days left before the Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS) refinery — majority-owned by Russia — will be forced to halt operations.
President Aleksandar Vučić warned on October 9 that without new supplies, the refinery, which produces most of Serbia’s fuel, including gasoline and jet fuel, will not be able to function after November 1.
He added, however, that the country’s fuel storage facilities are full and existing reserves should last until the end of the year.
Russia and Serbia are still looking for a solution to lift the U.S. sanctions imposed in January on the Russian owners of the refinery’s controlling stake. The restrictions took effect on October 9.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-24-2025/

Key Takeaways

1. Russian forces continue to advance in central and western Pokrovsk, although the exact contour of the front line in and around the town remains unclear.
2. The Kremlin continues its multifaceted cognitive warfare effort aimed at influencing US decision makers in Russia’s favor in response to recent US sanctions.
3. Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) CEO and key Kremlin negotiator Kirill Dmitriev announced on October 24 that he is traveling to the United States to meet with Trump Administration officials.
4. The Russian Central Bank lowered its key interest rate for the fourth time since June 2025, likely in an attempt to increase capital available for the Russian defense industrial base (DIB) and to maintain the facade of domestic economic stability against the backdrop of new US sanctions and continued unsustainable wartime spending.
5. Russian forces recently launched a series of long-range strikes with modified glide bombs against Ukrainian cities, underscoring Ukraine’s urgent requirements for long-range air defense systems.
6. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) is reportedly increasing its purchases of domestically produced cruise and ballistic missiles despite Western sanctions that aim to contain Russia’s defense industrial base (DIB) production.
7. Russian manned aircraft violated NATO airspace for a second time on October 23.
8. Belarusian security officials are supporting Russian cognitive warfare efforts against Poland and Lithuania.
9. Ukrainian forces advanced near Kupyansk and Lyman. Russian forces advanced near Velykyi Burluk, Siversk, Pokrovsk, Novopavlivka, and Velykomykhailivka.

I doubt that Putin would ever have gone to Budapest. How would he fly there? He's pretty paranoid, he'd surely not fly through Polish airspace.

Perhaps he'd send a different self.

This RUSI report summarises how Ukraine has fighting.

https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/insights-papers/emergent-approaches-combined-arms-manoeuvre-ukraine

@MMBaranova thanks for the RUSI excerpt.

A defensive posture on the part of Ukraine using drones ties in with this article from WSJ:

As Putin Digs In, a Long—and Different—War With Ukraine Looms
Long-range strikes on infrastructure become increasingly critical as front-line advances stall.
...
The drone revolution in the battlefield, meanwhile, has redefined the nature of combat operations. This means that neither side is likely to make major territorial strides soon.
...
Kyiv’s theory of victory now increasingly rests on the growing power of Ukrainian long-range strikes against Russia’s oil-and-gas infrastructure, the lifeblood of Putin’s war machine. Russia is already experiencing fuel shortages after dozens of its refineries were blown up. The latest <a class="break-all" href="https://archive.ph/o/XQ8ro/www.wsj.com/politics/policy/bessent-u-s-to-impose-substantial-sanctions-on-russia-84132054" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">U.S. and European sanctions are adding to that pressure.

“The Ukrainian strategy, as funny as it may seem, is the mirror image of Russia’s strategy: to do everything possible that Russia’s economy collapses before the Ukrainian economy, and at the same time to hope to achieve through diplomatic negotiations what it can’t achieve on the battlefield,” said Kyiv-based Russian opposition politician Ilya Ponomarev, who was the only Russian parliament member to vote against the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and is now involved in Ukraine’s war effort.

Poland said that if Putin tries to fly through it they'd force the plane down to get him arrested, at least according to one news report.

Now that could be interesting.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ US reportedly readies (kyivindependent.com/us-reportedly-readies-new-sanctions-as-russia-stalls-on-ukraine-peace-talks/) new sanctions as Russia stalls on Ukraine peace talks.
The sanctions could be imposed if Russian President Vladimir Putin shows no interest in meaningful negotiations and continues to delay ending Russia's war in Ukraine, Reuters reported.

⚡️'I'm not going to be wasting my time (kyivindependent.com/trump-rules-out-meeting-putin-without-progress-toward-ukraine-peace-deal/)' — Trump rules out Putin meeting without Ukraine peace progress.
"I've always had a great relationship with Vladimir Putin, but this has been very disappointing," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

⚡️ One of Russia's largest oil refineries reportedly suspends operations (kyivindependent.com/one-of-russias-largest-oil-refineries-reportedly-suspends-operations-after-ukrainian-attack/) after Ukrainian attack.
The plant is Russia's fourth-largest oil refinery and processed 13.1 million tons of oil last year, according to Russian estimates.

⚡️ Russia attacks coal mine (kyivindependent.com/russia-attacks-coal-mine-in-central-ukraine/) in central Ukraine with nearly 500 workers underground.
All mine workers were brought to the surface safely, and none were injured, Ukrainian energy company DTEK said.

⚡️'No pressure (kyivindependent.com/no-pressure-works-on-russia-kremlin-envoy-says-as-he-praises-trumps-role-in-peace-talks/) works on Russia,' Kremlin envoy says as he praises Trump’s role in peace talks.
"I think it's very important we have dialogue because President Trump already has done a lot to solve lots of the world conflicts,” Kirill Dmitriev told Fox News on Oct. 25.

AI drones in Ukraine — this is where we're at (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-is-autonomizing-more-of-its-drones-ai-is-only-part-of-the-solution/)
Ukraine’s drones are setting new standards for self-piloting on the battlefield. Full autonomy, however, remains well out of reach — and is likely to stay there.
Artificial intelligence is often mentioned alongside autonomy to the point that in Ukrainian weapons circles, the terms are often used interchangeably. But AI technologies and their underlying neural networks remain far from capable of making choices on the Ukrainian battlefield.

⚡️ Russian attacks kill 8, injure 67 (kyivindependent.com/russian-attacks-kill-8-injure-67-hit-energy-infrastructure-in-ukraine-over-past-day/), hit energy infrastructure in Ukraine [from 24 - 25 October 2025]
Russia launched nine Iskander-M ballistic missiles from Rostov and Kursk oblasts overnight, along with 62 Shahed-type attack and decoy drones, according to Ukraine's Air Force.

⚡️Lithuania closes (kyivindependent.com/lithuania-closes-airports-belarus-border-crossings-after-smuggling-balloons-incident/) airports, Belarus border crossings for second night in a row after 'smuggling balloons' violate airspace.
Lithuania has closed its last two operational border crossings with Belarus and the country's largest airport after another incident involving balloons launched from Belarusian territory, officials announced on Oct. 25.
The incident marks the second time within 24 hours that the country has shuttered flight operations and closed border crossings, after Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene announced an initial incident involving balloons on Oct. 24.

International Gymnastics Federation’s ‘neutral status’ is a sham that legitimizes Russian pro-war athletes (https://kyivindependent.com/international-gymnastics-federations-neutral-status-is-a-sham-that-legitimizes-russian-pro-war-athletes/)

⚡️Update: 3 killed (kyivindependent.com/kyiv-drone-attack-oct-26/), 29 injured in Kyiv amid Russian drone attack on residential buildings.
Russia's overnight drone attack on residential buildings in Kyiv has killed at least three people and injured at least 29 others, including seven children, Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported.

No Russian losses figures released yet.

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

Chief of Staff of the French Army Pierre Schill said the French army will be ready to deploy its forces as part of security guarantees for Ukraine as early as 2026.
“We will be ready to deploy forces within the framework of security guarantees if there is such a need, in particular for the benefit of Ukraine,” he stated.

Moldova has reduced the gas transit tariff to Ukraine by 50%.
The initiative aims to strengthen regional energy security and ensure stable natural gas supplies to Ukraine.

Currently, 31 people, including 7 children, have been injured and 3 killed in Kyiv as a result of the night strikes — Kyiv City Military Administration.

Rosneft and Lukoil led the decline in blue chips on the Moscow Exchange after the two largest Russian oil companies were hit with US sanctions, The Moscow Times reported.
The combined market capitalization of Rosneft and Lukoil dropped by 424 billion rubles ($5.2 billion) over Thursday and Friday, according to exchange data.
Rosneft shares traded at 389.85 rubles apiece as of yesterday evening, 3% lower than before the sanctions were imposed. During trading, they fell to 383.15 rubles — the lowest since May 2023 — cutting the company’s market value by 127 billion rubles ($1.56 billion).
Lukoil shares fell by 7.2% in two days, wiping out 297 billion rubles ($3.66 billion) from the company’s capitalization. Its main owner, Russia’s richest billionaire Vagit Alekperov, who holds a 28% stake, lost about 83 billion rubles (just over $1 billion) in two days.
According to first-half results, both companies had already faced a sharp drop in profits — Rosneft’s fell threefold, and Lukoil’s halved. Analysts note that inclusion on the US Treasury’s “blacklist” could further strain Russia’s largest oil companies, as many counterparties may withdraw over fears of secondary sanctions, potentially reducing exports to foreign markets.

India, amid US sanctions, will begin purchasing oil from Iraq and Qatar, Bloomberg reported.
Reliance Industries, the largest Indian buyer of Russian oil, has signed contracts for the supply of several grades of crude oil — Saudi Khafji, Iraqi Basrah Medium, and Qatari Al-Shaheen.
Purchases will also be made from the American company West Texas Intermediate, with deliveries expected in December or January next year.
According to sources, Indian companies are now focusing on supplies from the Middle East, the US, and Brazil.
Russia has been India’s main oil supplier over the past three years, providing up to 36% of its crude imports. However, due to US sanctions, Indian refineries are being forced to urgently return to purchases from the Middle East, the agency noted.

Russians lost six armored vehicles during an attempted assault in the Dobropillia direction.
After that, the equipment was destroyed by HIMARS, FPV drones, and artillery of the 33rd Separate Mechanized Brigade.

The Russians have released a toy called the Shahed drone, which is used to regularly attack Ukraine and kill civilians. The toy's description states: “Suitable for children aged 6 and up. Develops coordination, accuracy and imagination. The perfect gift for young patriots and future conquerors of the skies.”

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Trump will use tariff threat in Asia mission to force China (www.kyivpost.com/post/62923) to abandon cheap Russian energy, with sanctions push a “significant shift” in Ukraine strategy.

Kremlin envoy claimed that Russia, the US, and Ukraine are nearing a diplomatic deal to end the war, (www.kyivpost.com/post/62939) even as Putin refuses concessions and new US sanctions take effect.

Odesa rudderless after Trukhanov’s removal. (www.kyivpost.com/analysis/62904)
Gen. Lisak has been chosen to be the city’s new military administrator, but several legal issues prevent the immediate replacement of the deposed mayor.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇺🇸The United States has prepared new sanctions against Russia if it delays ending the war, Reuters reports.
The restrictions will target key sectors of the Russian economy.
U.S. officials also told their European counterparts that Washington supports the EU’s use of frozen Russian assets to purchase American weapons for Kyiv. The U.S. has also held internal discussions about using Russian assets held in America to support Ukraine’s war effort.
According to Reuters sources, President Donald Trump is expected to take a few weeks to assess Russia’s reaction to the previous sanctions before moving forward.

Ukrainian paratroopers have liberated the [ruins of the] village of Sukhetske in the Donetsk region.
The assault was carried out by units of the 82nd Separate Air Assault Bukovyna Brigade of the Air Assault Forces.
Ukrainian troops engaged in battle with more than 60 Russian soldiers — most of the occupiers were eliminated, and several were taken prisoner.

Ukraine will receive its first Gripen fighter jets from Sweden in 2026, President Zelensky said.
In total, Ukraine expects to obtain 150 of these aircraft. The two countries signed the corresponding agreement on October 22.

Left-wing politician Catherine Connolly has won Ireland’s presidential election.
Connolly — a former deputy speaker of the lower house of parliament, as well as a lawyer and psychologist — received 61.1% of the vote, while her opponent Heather Humphreys garnered 21.1%.
The newly elected president condemned Russia’s invasion but has previously blamed NATO for expanding eastward and provoking the war. She has expressed skepticism toward Europe’s military buildup, comparing Germany’s defense spending to the militarization of the Nazi era.
Connolly said Ukrainian refugees have become an important part of Irish society and are integrating well.
Within Ireland, she pledged to promote the Irish language and defend the rights of people with disabilities. Ireland is a parliamentary republic, where the president’s role is largely ceremonial.

Putin claimed that the Russian army has tested the Burevestnik — a nuclear-powered, nuclear-capable cruise missile with unlimited range.
Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported that the test took place on October 21, with the missile allegedly flying 14,000 kilometers over the course of 15 hours.
There is no evidence to confirm the test. However, in August, Reuters reported—citing researchers and sources—that Russia might be preparing for such a launch.
What is known about the Burevestnik: Putin has described it as “invulnerable” to current and future missile defense systems. According to him, it can fly almost indefinitely and alter its trajectory mid-flight, making interception extremely difficult.
Yet many experts doubt these claims, arguing that the missile is unlikely to evade modern air-defense systems and provides no fundamentally new military advantage. They also warn it poses a radiation hazard even to Russia itself, as the missile could emit radiation during flight.
The Burevestnik’s testing record has been troubled — of 13 known launches, only two were partially successful, raising questions about its reliability. In October 2023, Putin announced a “final successful test,” but the missile has not been fielded since.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-25-2025/

Key Takeaways

1. The Kremlin is attempting to leverage the visit of Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) CEO Kirill Dmitriev to the United States to spread Kremlin narratives in the US information space.
2. Dmitriev effectively acknowledged that Ukraine has made compromises in its negotiating position while reaffirming that Russia’s maximalist demands from 2021 and 2022 remain unchanged.
3. Dmitriev attempted to appeal to what he perceives to be Trump administration interests in order to distract from Dmitriev’s statements, which demonstrate Russia’s continued unwillingness to engage in good-faith negotiations to end the war.
4. Russian State Duma deputies continue to publicly state that Russia has not changed its maximalist demands — contradicting Dmitriev’s attempts to obfuscate his reiteration of unchanged Russia’s demands in his interviews with US media outlets.
5. Dmitriev heavily promoted US-Russian economic cooperation while subtly alluding to Russia’s status as a nuclear power.
6. The British and French-led Coalition of the Willing met on October 24 in the UK to discuss further support for Ukraine and to put pressure on Russia.
7. Russian forces are making gains near Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad (directly east of Pokrovsk) that are significant but likely do not portend the imminent collapse of Ukrainian defenses in the area.
8. Russian forces are employing infiltration tactics in other areas of the front line for informational effects.
9. Russian forces continue attempts to leverage poor weather conditions to conduct larger mechanized assaults but continue to suffer high vehicle losses disproportionate to their gains.
10. Russian aircraft may have violated Japanese airspace on October 24.
11. Ukraine’s European allies continue to provide military aid to Ukraine.
12. Ukrainian forces advanced near Kupyansk, Pokrovsk, and Velykomykhailivka. Russian forces advanced near Lyman, Siversk, Pokrovsk, Novopavlivka, and Velykomykhailivka.

United 24 Media:

⚡️Putin announced the test of the Burevestnik missile with a nuclear propulsion system — Kremlin press service.

According to the Russian General Staff, the missile covered 14,000 km and remained in the air for about 15 hours.

🇨🇿🇺🇦 Czech activists have launched a social campaign reminding people that the war in Ukraine is still ongoing.

Realistic visuals and animated photos have appeared on the streets of Prague, showing what the Czech capital would look like if war came there.

The project was created by the Paměť národa organization (“Memory of the Nation”) together with the OAK agency. According to the agency’s co-founder, Tereza Svěráková, by helping Ukraine, Czechs are also strengthening their own security.

The campaign accompanies the charity fundraiser “Pomozte Ukrajině s Pamětí národa,” which raises funds for humanitarian aid and equipment for Ukrainian medics. Seventy-five percent of the goal was collected in the first week.

🔹 Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anušić arrived in Kyiv on a two-day visit.

“In Kyiv, I will meet with Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal.
In addition, I have come to honor the courageous Ukrainian people, Ukrainian soldiers, and all victims of the Russian war against Ukraine.
Ukraine has been resisting Russian attacks for almost four years, and Croatia understands well what an imposed war is,” the minister wrote on Facebook.

🔸 Russia does not believe its aggression against Ukraine violates the Budapest Memorandum, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

He justified Russia’s actions by claiming that, along with the Budapest Memorandum, the same parties signed a declaration committing to OSCE principles such as minority rights, democracy, and freedom of speech. According to Lavrov, these commitments were allegedly violated by Kyiv.

🔹 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on October 20 went “really well” if Washington decided to cancel their personal meeting afterward.

He added that the prospects for a new meeting between Putin and Trump now depend on the United States.

🔸 Russian media report that unknown drones are attacking Moscow right now — explosions are being heard in the capital.
(8pm Sunday)

🔹 Russian forces struck a minibus carrying civilians with a drone near the Mykolaivka district in the Sumy region, injuring five people, including a child, according to the regional military administration.

“Public transport should not be operating on this section of the highway; other routes have been designated for transportation. We are investigating all the circumstances of the incident,” the regional military administration stated.

📰 The US State Department doubts that Putin is ready for peace talks on Ukraine, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The outlet writes that the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) does not share the CIA’s more optimistic assessment of possible negotiations.

Disagreements between analysts from the two agencies emerged even before the planned Trump–Putin summit in Alaska and were reflected in the daily briefings for the US president, the newspaper notes.

🔸 Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev told American commentator Lara Logan that Russia upholds “traditional values”, but domestic violence statistics tells a different story. In 2017, Russia decriminalized first-time domestic battery, reducing it to a non-criminal offense. The government’s policy shift has left victims with even fewer protections. One in ten Russian families experiences domestic violence, and about two-thirds of homicides are committed in domestic settings.

🔹 By constantly attacking Ukraine’s energy sector, Russia is trying to make parts of the country “uninhabitable,” provoking panic and mass emigration, according to The Economist.

Putin is now acting more cynically and cruelly, unable to achieve his desired goals in the war.

❗️Trump responded to Putin’s threats with the Burevestnik and advised him not to repeat them.

“They know we have a nuclear submarine — the best in the world — right off their coast. So we don’t need to fly 8,000 miles […] And, by the way, I don’t think it’s appropriate for Putin to say such things. He should be ending the war — a war that was supposed to last one week and is now entering its fourth year. That’s what he should be doing, not testing missiles.”

🔸 Lithuania’s border with Belarus has been closed indefinitely due to the arrival of balloons carrying contraband.

As previously reported, air traffic at Vilnius Airport was suspended again yesterday at 21:42 local time and resumed today at 04:30, affecting 47 flights.

Following this, Lithuania suspended all border crossings with Belarus at around 22:00 yesterday evening.

The National Crisis Management Center announced that the crossings will be closed “indefinitely.” Today, the National Security Commission will also discuss the possibility of a long-term closure of the border with Belarus.