Following a phone call, President Trump announced plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, with high-level advisors meeting the following week led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Trump and Putin also discussed future trade, while a meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky was scheduled to follow. This comes after growing frustration over the war’s slow progress and a recent massive Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine, which Ukraine’s ambassador says demonstrates Russia’s lack of interest in ending the war.
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A former US embassy security guard has been sentenced to three years and seven months in prison by a Norwegian court for spying on behalf of Russia and Iran. The 28-year-old provided floor plans, personal details of embassy staff and their families, and information about embassy activities in exchange for payments from Russian and Iranian intelligence. The court determined the information could be used for attacks, and the accused admitted to the actions, claiming they were a protest. Despite his defense’s argument, the court ruled that the information shared was harmful to US security interests.
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On October 16, just before a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed hesitancy about providing Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, citing the U.S.’s own need for the weapons. This reluctance followed a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which Putin voiced strong opposition to the potential transfer. Despite this, Trump’s remarks on weapons deliveries contrast with his previous statements and recent criticisms of Russia, leaving the decision regarding the missiles’ supply uncertain.
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The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine has updated its War&Sanctions portal, releasing dossiers on 139 vessels and 142 captains engaged in illicit activities. These activities include the illegal transport of sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil, and the smuggling of stolen Ukrainian grain. The intelligence agency highlights that these actions provide crucial revenue to Russia, which funds the ongoing war. The update reveals new tankers, vessels linked to Iranian oil magnates, and ships involved in transporting stolen Ukrainian grain, further exposing the scale of sanctions evasion.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a recent phone call with former US President Donald Trump, requested he broker peace in Ukraine, citing Trump’s recent ceasefire efforts in the Middle East as a precedent. The call occurred shortly after a large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine’s energy grid, which caused widespread power outages. Zelensky urged Trump to pressure Russia into negotiations to end the ongoing conflict, hoping that success in one region could lead to success in another. While Trump and Putin previously met in August, they failed to establish a peace deal.
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On October 15th, St. Petersburg police detained 18-year-old singer Diana Loginova, known as Naoko, after she performed the protest song “Swan Lake Cooperative,” by rapper Noize MC. The song, which calls for the overthrow of President Putin, was previously labeled “extremist” by the St. Petersburg Prosecutor’s Office. Loginova’s bandmates from Stoptime were also questioned, with Loginova potentially facing charges of “discrediting” the Russian Armed Forces and organizing an unauthorized event. Stoptime has since canceled their scheduled performances and announced they would temporarily stop sharing the street locations of their performances in advance.
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Overnight drone strikes targeted energy facilities in Russia’s Volgograd and Saratov regions, damaging infrastructure and causing widespread power outages. A major fire erupted at the Balashovskaya electrical substation following a strike, while the Saratov oil refinery, a key supplier for the Russian military, was also hit. Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed to have intercepted numerous drones, however, multiple impacts and fires were confirmed. These attacks are reportedly part of a campaign to degrade Russia’s military-industrial capabilities.
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A drone strike hit an industrial area in Ufa, Russia, near the Ufaorgsintez oil refinery, which is part of the Bashneft oil company affiliated with Gazprom. Local reports indicated smoke and internet disruptions, with authorities previously announcing a drone threat in the region. This potential attack, if confirmed, would be the third drone strike in Bashkortostan in the past month and adds to the trend of Ukrainian forces targeting Russian oil infrastructure with long-range drones. An additional drone attack on an oil refinery in Volgograd was reported the same day.
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According to the director of Russia’s FSB intelligence service, the U.K. is directly involved in combat operations and supports acts of terrorism and sabotage within Russia. The director specifically claimed the U.K. was overseeing Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, which targeted Russian airfields. This latest accusation arrives amid heightened tensions between Russia and NATO, where both sides claim to be in a form of war, though undeclared. Despite the U.K. typically dismissing these claims as propaganda, the U.S. is considering providing Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, which could escalate the conflict further.
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According to Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR), at least 1,076 Cuban nationals are fighting for Russia in Ukraine, with 96 confirmed deaths or disappearances. These figures align with the lower end of a U.S. estimate, revealing that recruits receive only two weeks of training before deployment. Cuban nationals are reportedly lured to Russia with promises of construction work, then offered military service contracts in Russian. Cuba denies involvement in the war, claiming the U.S. is making “false accusations,” despite reports of generous payments and citizenship offers to these fighters from Russia.
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John Q. Hosedrinker