Russia
🇺🇦 President Biden has authorized Ukraine to use long-range U.S. ATACMS missiles for the first time, enabling strikes against Russian forces in the Kursk region. This move aims to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities as the conflict continues.
🇺🇦 In a significant escalation, Russia has launched a major attack on Ukraine’s power grid, deploying around 120 missiles and 90 drones. The assault has tragically resulted in at least five fatalities as officials report extensive damage. The ongoing conflict continues to severely impact civilian infrastructure.
🇷🇺 A 68-year-old doctor in Moscow receives 5.5 years in a penal colony based on one mother’s word in a war censorship trial. Denunciations, echoing Soviet times, are rising as Putin’s Russia weaponizes fear to stifle dissent. A grim warning for those who think silence ensures safety.
🇦🇲 Protests erupt in Abkhazia as anger over a Russia-backed investment deal escalates into demands for leader Bzhania’s resignation. Protesters storm parliament, decrying Moscow’s influence, while Bzhania pledges to stay. The crisis highlights the region’s fraught dependence on Russian support.
🇫🇷 Ukrainian troops train in France near historic WWI battlefields, preparing for trench warfare against Russia. Backed by EU funding and French arms, the Anne of Kyiv brigade readies for deployment, embodying resilience as Kyiv braces for uncertain Western aid under Trump’s presidency.
🇰🇷 South Korea’s Yoon urges Xi to tackle North Korea’s provocations and growing Russia-Pyongyang ties, emphasizing regional stability. Meeting at APEC, Yoon also highlights economic collaboration as key to bilateral ties, while Xi nods to shared interests amid shifting global dynamics.
🇺🇦 Zelenskiy warns Scholz’s call with Putin risks legitimizing Russia’s aggression, calling it a “Pandora’s box.” While Berlin pushes for “just peace,” Kyiv fears talks without security guarantees could embolden Moscow, as Ukraine braces for tougher fronts and uncertain U.S. support under Trump.
🇦🇹 Austria braces for winter as Russia ends gas supplies via Ukraine, closing a Soviet-era pipeline. Moscow’s move pressures Europe, but Austrian leaders claim homes will stay warm. Decades of energy dependence meet geopolitical reality as the EU pivots to alternatives.
🇺🇦 Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha calls for a “peace through strength” approach from U.S. Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio, hoping for robust U.S. support against Russian aggression. As Trump’s administration signals a pivot, Kyiv stresses unity in fortifying Ukraine’s defense.
🇰🇵 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un orders mass production of suicide drones, citing the need to update military strategy amid global drone warfare trends. This push follows increasing military cooperation with Russia, sparking concerns over advanced weaponry use in regional conflicts.
🇺🇸 Trump’s pick of Tulsi Gabbard as intelligence chief rattles U.S. allies and intel officials, wary of her pro-Russia stance and limited intel experience. With potential to politicize the role, this appointment could shift the Five Eyes alliance’s dynamics, straining critical intelligence sharing.
🇺🇦 Ukraine remains “cautiously optimistic” after discussing potential deep strikes in Russia with the U.S., as Kyiv seeks NATO integration amidst fears Trump’s policies could force concessions to Moscow. With pledged aid on track, Ukraine prepares for strategic battlefield actions before Biden exits.
🇺🇦 Ukrainian forces successfully thwarted a Russian attempt to break through defenses near Kupiansk, neutralizing multiple armored vehicles and troops in a four-wave attack. Russia’s use of Ukrainian-style uniforms raises ethical concerns as intense clashes continue in the Donetsk region.
🇺🇸 Biden and Trump held a cordial White House meeting, discussing Ukraine and the Middle East. Biden pledged support for Ukraine’s security, while Trump committed to ending the Russia-Ukraine war “quickly.” Despite past tension, both leaders vowed a smooth transition ahead of January.
🇮🇱 Israel reports progress in ceasefire talks with Lebanon, suggesting that Russia could aid by preventing Hezbollah’s rearmament via Syria. Israel seeks Hezbollah’s withdrawal north of the Litani River, while Hezbollah claims it has sufficient arms and remains active on the border.
🇺🇦 Russian attacks in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region killed three people and injured at least 19, with more potentially trapped under rubble. Shelling hit Nikopol, killing two and damaging buildings, while a missile strike on a residential building in Kryvyi Rih killed a woman.
🇫🇮 Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen firmly dismissed the idea of “Finlandisation” for Ukraine, arguing that forced neutrality would not ensure peace with Russia, which Ukraine once held and was still attacked. She warned against imposing terms on Ukraine, emphasizing sovereignty.
🇺🇦 With Trump’s return signaling potential talks on ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, Kyiv is scrambling to secure weapons and defend key positions. Officials see the coming months as critical, fearing that a “quick end” under Trump could demand major concessions.
🇰🇵 North Korea has ratified a mutual defense treaty with Russia, pledging military support if either nation faces attack. The alliance, signed by Kim Jong Un and Putin in June, has stirred global criticism as reports indicate over 10,000 North Korean troops are in Russia, some allegedly in combat.
🇷🇺 The Kremlin dismissed claims of a recent Trump-Putin call as “pure fiction,” rebuking reports Trump urged Putin to avoid escalating in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Peskov criticized the media’s accuracy, denying any recent Trump-Putin contact and stating no current plans for future talks exist.