Sep 22, 2026, 01:30 PM UTC

Former Slovenian international Aleš Čeh and striker Jan Mlakar have reflected on their careers and the domestic football scene ahead of the upcoming derby between NK Maribor and Olimpija Ljubljana. Čeh, who served as captain during Slovenia's historic qualification runs, discussed transitioning into coaching. He spent over a decade as assistant manager to Srečko Katanec, including seven years coaching in Asia, while maintaining strong affinities for Olimpija Ljubljana, Grazer AK, and NK Maribor.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old forward Jan Mlakar detailed his third tenure with NK Maribor at Ljudski vrt. Expressing confidence in club executives Zlatko Zahović and Darko Milanič, Mlakar addressed the upcoming clash against rivals Olimpija Ljubljana. He noted that although Olimpija is currently navigating a domestic crisis, high-stakes derby matches present struggling teams with an opportunity to reset their season momentum.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

Cross-border aerial attacks between Russia and Ukraine have escalated following a series of overnight missile and drone strikes. Russian forces targeted Kyiv with ballistic missiles, resulting in at least two fatalities and six injuries, according to Ukrainian authorities. The attack follows earlier drone strikes on an industrial facility in northern Ukraine.

In response, Ukraine launched multiple unmanned aerial vehicles targeting Russian industrial infrastructure. Strikes hit the Kuibyshev oil refinery in Samara, causing a fire, while separate Ukrainian drone operations were reported in the Saratov region. Samara Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishev stated that air defense systems intercepted dozens of incoming drones.

Meanwhile, US-led NATO military operations involving Norwegian aircraft, AWACS surveillance planes, and Polish ground units reported activity near Russia's Kaliningrad enclave. NATO officials described the movements as defensive actions aimed at enhancing alliance readiness.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV

The United States has expanded military operations against Iranian assets following persistent conflict in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command reported conducting large-scale strikes on Iranian military positions after Iranian forces launched ballistic missiles at two American warships and attempted to lay naval mines in commercial shipping channels. U.S. military actions also targeted three Iranian oil tankers, marking a direct escalation involving commercial shipping fleets.

U.S. President Donald Trump issued further warnings, threatening retaliatory strikes against Iran's domestic energy infrastructure, including power generation plants and bridges, if attacks on commercial vessels continue. Strategic analyses characterize these developments as an emergence of fifth-generation warfare, where targeted disruptions to civil energy infrastructure are leveraged to impact global commerce and civil populations. U.S. officials stated that naval mines in the strait have since been cleared.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV

German law enforcement is examining more than 100 cases of suspected foreign sabotage, as intelligence findings increasingly point toward Russian state involvement.

Recent investigative details into a failed August explosive drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport reveal that a Russian military intelligence (GRU) operative likely served as the primary logistician. The operation targeted four Ukrainian transport aircraft, but failed when a detonator malfunctioned. Beyond drone incidents, German domestic intelligence suspects Moscow of concealing weapon caches within the country and orchestrating railway sabotage, undersea cable damage, and disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilizing democratic institutions.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Standard, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau

Intensified Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine have prompted local authorities to urge civilian evacuations. In Kherson, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin advised residents to leave ahead of anticipated winter energy and heating shortages. Concurrently, between 250 and 300 displaced people arrive daily in the eastern hub of Lozova from the Donetsk region.

The continuous bombardments follow a double strike on a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih that left at least 14 dead and over 120 injured. July marked the highest monthly civilian death toll since early 2022, with at least 437 fatalities. As President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues requesting Western air defence systems, authorities are conducting round-the-clock street patrols to enforce draft compliance among an estimated two million men avoiding service.

Sources: Dagens Industri, Dagens Nyheter, Svenska Dagbladet, SVT, Sydsvenskan.