Russia

At least seven Black Sea cargo vessels were attacked this month, leaving two dead and at least 25 missing. Two chemical tankers near Romania caught fire; seven Wine Trader crew remain missing and five were rescued. NATO said it was strengthening counter-drone capabilities.

Ukraine struck a refinery in Russia’s Ryazan region, causing a fire, after Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the US-backed energy ceasefire was over. Russian attacks killed three people and wounded six in Ukraine’s Kirovohrad region.

Heavy overnight Russian strikes on Ukraine killed at least six people and disrupted power supplies in Kyiv and for at least 600,000 people, according to Ukrainian authorities. Russia said it had downed 902 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s partners gave Kyiv no early warning before Russian ballistic missiles hit civilian infrastructure, including CHP-4. The Kyiv attack killed two and injured 21; the wider attacks damaged 30 energy facilities and left at least 600,000 without power.

MI5 chief Ken McCallum confirmed that Russia attempted to interfere in the 2016 Brexit referendum through RT, Sputnik and internet trolls, but said the efforts were not successful and did not show they affected the result. Burnham had made the allegation without supplying evidence.

In Warsaw on October 12, NATO commander Alexus Grynkewich outlined a “block, blunt and break” plan to stop an attack, prevent an advance and destroy attacking forces and their support systems if needed. He said conflict with Russia is not imminent or inevitable.