Sep 12, 2026, 07:00 AM UTC

Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have escalated following the largest U.S. crude oil escort mission since conflict began six months ago. American forces utilized air, naval, and space capabilities to transport millions of barrels of oil while targeting Iranian positions on Larak Island. Iran retaliated by deploying rocket-launched naval mines and warned that the strategic maritime passage will remain shut until Washington meets several explicit conditions.

According to Iranian officials, opening the strait depends on a memorandum demanding the removal of U.S. port blockades, suspension of energy sanctions, unfreezing of assets, and an immediate halt to military actions. With daily oil transit severely reduced from pre-war levels of 20 million barrels, analysts warn both nations face narrowing operational windows, significantly increasing the potential for further military escalation.

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

Ukrainian drone strikes targeted Russian commercial infrastructure and civilian areas across multiple regions. Strikes hit warehouses belonging to major retailers Ozon and Wildberries in Leningrad Oblast and Dagestan, sending Ozon’s stock down nearly 30 percent. In Moscow Oblast, drone attacks left five people dead and ten injured. Separately, seven people, including three children, died when a drone fell on a beach in Krasnodar Krai.

In Ukraine, a Russian attack on Kyiv killed nine people and injured 33. On the front lines, Russian troops made localized gains near Artelne in Kharkiv Oblast, while Ukrainian forces advanced near Velyka Novosilka. Meanwhile, Belarusian officials confirmed the creation of a new air assault brigade along the Ukrainian border.

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

Heavy combat continues across several sectors in eastern and southern Ukraine, with the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine recording over 220 to 250 daily military engagements. Russian forces maintained high-intensity assaults targeting defensive positions near Pokrovsk, Kostiantynivka, and Lyman, attempting to breach Ukrainian defensive lines.

On the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian infantry executed clearing operations along the Oskil River's right bank after electronic warfare assets neutralised Russian drone capabilities. Further developments were reported near Lyman, where Ukrainian forces are preparing to formalise control over newly reclaimed territory.

Meanwhile, conflicting accounts persist regarding other front-line sectors. The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed gains near Sumy and denied reports of Ukrainian progress in Zaporizhzhia, while Ukrainian sources noted continued defensive efforts across northern sectors.

Sources: NV, Radio Svoboda, The Insider, Ukrainska Pravda.

US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have pushed back against media reports alleging critical ammunition shortages within the American military following recent strikes against Iran.

Initial reports from news outlets, including CNN, suggested that declining missile inventories compelled Washington to pause further military operations. However, Hegseth publicly rejected claims that defense stocks were dangerously low. Trump similarly dismissed the allegations via Truth Social, writing that the military possesses "huge amounts of 'ammunition', especially of certain types," while noting that domestic production is ramping up.

Additionally, Trump issued warnings of lengthy prison sentences for individuals leaking classified inventory details to the press. Subsequent media reports indicated Trump directly questioned Hegseth over internal security leaks, though the administration maintains that US armed forces retain full combat capability.

Sources: Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF

White House aides are urging President Donald Trump to avoid escalating tensions with Iran prior to the upcoming November midterm elections. Strategists worry that launching deeper military actions in the Middle East could trigger significant losses for the Republican Party in Congress.

Control of both legislative chambers remains highly competitive. A shift in congressional leadership could fundamentally alter US foreign policy, directly affecting future military assistance and financial backing for Ukraine. With the elections approaching in less than three months, internal White House discussions underline the balance between international security maneuvers and domestic political survival.

Sources: NV, Українська правда.