A recent investigation by the Kyiv Independent reveals that high-ranking Russian officers are orchestrating military training programs for Ukrainian children from occupied territories. These programs, run by the Warrior Center for Military and Patriotic Education, were established in 2022 by a direct order from Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian teenagers from occupied regions are subjected to combat-style drills, including drone operation and firearms training, at camps such as the “Time of Young Heroes.” The Warrior Center’s leadership includes Russian State Duma deputies and Russian Armed Forces colonels with backgrounds in conflicts such as Chechnya and Syria, who have been implicated in war crimes. In 2024 alone, 1,290 Ukrainian children underwent these militarization programs in Volgograd.
Read More
The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Yana Suvorova, the administrator of the “Melitopol is Ukraine” Telegram channel, to 14 years in prison on October 23. Detained in August 2023, she was accused of “terrorism” and “espionage” by Russia for publishing pro-Ukrainian content and gathering information on Russian military personnel. Reports indicate that Suvorova is in a difficult psychological state, awaiting a potential prisoner exchange. This case is part of a larger crackdown on press freedom, as Russian authorities have targeted and detained multiple Ukrainian journalists in occupied territories since the full-scale invasion.
Read More
According to industry sources, Russia’s fourth-largest oil refinery in Ryazan halted its main crude distillation unit this week after a Ukrainian drone strike. The attack on Thursday caused a fire, prompting the temporary shutdown of several related units as well. Ukraine has been increasing its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. While no casualties were reported, Russian officials have yet to comment on the damage or timeline for resuming operations.
Read More
In his recent evening address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that despite Russia’s claims, the latest sanctions are significantly impacting the Kremlin. Zelenskyy highlighted the visible effects of the sanctions, including gas station lines, bankrupt regions, and a federal budget deficit. He further noted that the sanctions inflict a painful blow on Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy also mentioned growing European support for utilizing frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine.
Read More
In a summit held in London, over 20 nations supporting Ukraine have committed to removing Russian oil and gas from the global market to pressure President Putin. Key actions include sanctions against major Russian oil companies and targeting Moscow’s LNG exports, with the UK aiming to unlock billions through Russian sovereign assets for Ukraine’s defense. While the allies also pledged to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses, no announcements were made regarding the delivery of long-range missiles, which Ukraine has requested to target Russian military assets. Despite these efforts, no specific strategies were detailed to force a battlefield change or compel Putin to negotiate.
Read More
In response to increasing Ukrainian drone strikes, Russia is seeking to bolster its defenses. President Putin is turning to civilian reservists for support, aiming to protect critical infrastructure. The Russian government plans to amend legislation concerning these reservists, who already participate in regular defense training. This move signals a heightened effort to safeguard against further attacks within Russian territory.
Read More
The Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) reported striking 868 Russian military targets within the last 24 hours. These targets included enemy personnel, UAV launch sites, artillery systems, tanks, armored vehicles, and various other vehicles and drones. Over the period of October 1st to 23rd, the USF has destroyed or damaged over 20,322 enemy targets. Simultaneously, the Russian army experienced a loss of 910 troops, one tank, five armored combat vehicles, and numerous other military assets.
Read More
On the morning of October 24, Russian authorities reported a drone attack on Moscow and its surrounding Oblast. Governor Andrei Vorobyov stated that a residential building in Krasnogorsk was damaged, with a drone entering a 13th-floor apartment, resulting in five injuries, including a child. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that three drones approaching the capital were destroyed. Specialized personnel are currently assessing the debris at the scene of the incident.
Read More
A cross-border investigation, “Russian Secrets,” has revealed that Russia has been secretly acquiring high-tech equipment from companies in Europe, the U.S., and Asia for its “Harmony” surveillance system in the Arctic, used to protect its nuclear submarine fleet. This system utilizes seabed sensors to detect enemy submarines approaching Russian nuclear weapons. For a decade, companies traded with a Cypriot entity linked to a Russian defense contractor, supplying technology worth over $50 million, evading Western scrutiny until the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The investigation highlights how Russia circumvented sanctions, utilizing shell companies and intermediaries to procure advanced technology like underwater drones and fiber optic cables, with the system’s location possibly in waters off the Arctic coast.
Read More
Following President Trump’s decision to retreat from supplying Tomahawk missiles, Kyiv officials welcomed new U.S. sanctions targeting Russian oil giants Lukoil and Rosneft, and their subsidiaries. The U.S. Treasury Department cited Russia’s lack of commitment to a peace process as the reason for the sanctions, with Ukrainian leaders like Oleksandr Merezhko seeing it as a significant shift, although not enough on its own. While the sanctions are considered a positive step, experts believe more actions are necessary, such as providing Tomahawk missiles and broader sanctions to truly pressure Moscow to end the war.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker