Sep 12, 2026, 02:30 AM UTC

Ukrainian drone attacks against Russian logistics networks expanded to target Ozon e-commerce hubs in Dagestan and other southern locations, driving company shares down nearly 30 percent, alongside a warehouse fire at Wildberries in Leningrad Oblast.

Casualties inside Russia mounted following drone incidents. Authorities reported five deaths and 10 injuries in Moscow Oblast, while seven people, including three children, died after a drone crashed onto a beach in Krasnodar Krai. Meanwhile, a Russian strike on Kyiv left nine people dead and 33 injured.

On the front lines, Russian forces advanced near Artelne in Kharkiv Oblast, while Ukrainian troops made gains near Velyka Novosilka. In Belarus, military officials announced the creation of a new air assault brigade near the southern border.

Sources: Mediazona, Point, Радіо Свобода, The Guardian, The Insider

The United States executed its largest crude oil escort mission through the Strait of Hormuz since hostilities began six months ago, employing air, naval, and space assets to transport millions of barrels. During the overnight operation, American forces targeted Iran's Larak Island. Iranian forces responded by deploying naval mines via rocket launchers.

Tehran reaffirmed that the strategic waterway will remain closed until Washington meets specific conditions outlined in a memorandum of understanding. Iranian demands include lifting American blockades on Iranian ports, suspending petroleum sanctions, unfreezing national assets, and terminating military threats and actions across all fronts. Analysts warn that both sides face narrowing windows to exert pressure, heightening risks of conflict escalation.

Sources: Expresso, Expresso das Ilhas, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)

Domestic polling and media analyses point to growing challenges for US President Donald Trump during his second term. A Financial Times survey conducted by Focaldata revealed that a majority of registered US voters report feeling financially worse off under the current administration, posing potential risks ahead of upcoming elections.

At the same to time, diplomatic restructuring has drawn sharp scrutiny. The State Department announced plans to close five overseas consulates and diplomatic missions across Asia, Africa, North America, and the Caribbean as part of a cost-cutting initiative following a bilateral relations review. Critics and foreign policy analysts caution that reducing Washington's diplomatic footprint risks weakening American global standing and creating opportunities for strategic competitors, particularly China, to expand their international influence.

Sources: CDM, Danas, Klix, N1, Vijesti

United States President Donald Trump announced that no diplomatic negotiations are currently scheduled with Iran, warning of potential military escalation if Iranian or Omani forces disrupt operations in the Strait of Hormuz following an attack on a vessel in the waterway. Trump reiterated that Tehran must never acquire nuclear weapons, while Iranian officials cautioned that their military would adopt an offensive stance should diplomatic efforts fail completely.

Simultaneously, Middle East peace efforts remain deadlocked. Although Hamas announced its acceptance of the second phase of a US-backed ceasefire framework, Israeli authorities rejected immediate troop withdrawals, insisting that any military pullback depends entirely on the complete disarmament of Hamas.

Sources: CDM (Cafe del Montenegro)

Russian authorities have intensified political restrictions ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections by banning Yabloko, the nation's final official anti-war political party, and sentencing opposition figure Lev Schlosberg to 11 years in prison. Concurrently, public anxiety over potential military conscription following heavy battlefield losses in Ukraine has prompted some citizens to sell property and plan departures.

Analysts note these developments coincide with recurring late-summer political volatility, often termed "Black August," alongside questions regarding succession plans for 73-year-old President Vladimir Putin. Beyond domestic borders, Moscow has repeatedly warned of potential Western-backed "color revolutions" ahead of Serbia's parliamentary vote to preserve its Balkan influence.

Sources: Avaz, Danas, Klix, N1, Vijesti