Sep 24, 2026, 07:00 PM UTC

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the bloc will "not tolerate attacks on EU soil" and remains "ready to respond," following heightened security concerns across the continent. Danish intelligence agencies warned that Moscow may be preparing sabotage operations against domestic industrial sites, adding to warnings over Russian hybrid warfare. Meanwhile, German authorities identified two suspects tied to an explosive device at Leipzig Airport: a Russian national holding Latvian documentation and a Belarusian citizen carrying Russian papers. Italian security sources clarified that the Belarusian suspect did not physically pass through Italy despite obtaining a Schengen visa there. On the battlefield, Russia launched a campaign targeting Ukrainian energy facilities, while Ukraine escalated drone strikes against Russian oil infrastructure to disrupt enemy military logistics.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

German security authorities are investigating more than 100 cases of suspected state-sponsored hybrid warfare, including infrastructure sabotage, unauthorized drone overflights, and digital disinformation campaigns.

Investigative leads concerning a failed explosive drone attack against Ukrainian transport aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport in August have directly implicated Russia's GRU military intelligence agency. Reports indicate that a GRU operative managed logistics for the attempt, which was thwarted when a detonator failed to ignite. Additionally, domestic intelligence officials suspect foreign operatives may have established hidden weapon caches across Germany to support potential future attacks. Security authorities warn that these coordinated physical and digital subversion tactics aim to destabilize democratic processes and erode public trust.

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

Military confrontations between the United States and Iran have escalated around the Strait of Hormuz following a series of retaliatory attacks. US Central Command reported destroying five Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps vessels after Iranian forces targeted American naval assets. Tehran responded by firing 20 missiles at US positions in Jordan, while Iranian state media claimed strikes on six ships, including three oil tankers and a US aircraft carrier.

US President Donald Trump downplayed the disruption, asserting that maritime corridors remain open and stating that "Tehran is in severe difficulty." Firefighters successfully extinguished a blaze on one damaged tanker. Meanwhile, American intelligence agencies warned that Iranian forces feel emboldened and may further intensify the regional conflict.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica.

American federal prosecutors have unsealed an indictment charging five men connected to Russian intelligence services with conspiring to carry out assassinations and sabotage across Europe and North America. According to the United States Department of Justice, the suspects recruited a global network to surveil and eliminate individuals supporting Ukraine, including orchestrating a June 2024 attack in Prague. All five accused remain at large.

In a related development, a regional court in Stuttgart, Germany, convicted a Ukrainian national for participating in a Russian-directed scheme involving incendiary packages sent via courier services. German prosecutors stated the plot aimed to disrupt logistical routes and destabilize public security across Europe.

Sources: BBC News, Cyprus Mail, France24, OCCRP, The Guardian

Russian bombardments across Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region killed five people and injured 16 others within a 24-hour window, according to regional emergency responders. Forces launched nearly 60 separate attacks targeting five distinct districts.

The heaviest toll occurred in Kamianske district, where three residents lost their lives and five sustained injuries. In Pavlohrad, shelling caused two fatalities and wounded seven people. Additional casualties and property damage were reported in the Nikopol district. Firefighters and rescue personnel were deployed across the affected areas to extinguish blazes, clear wreckage, and render assistance.

The strikes reflect ongoing military action in central Ukraine as the conflict continues. Local officials are evaluating the full extent of structural harm across impacted communities.

Sources: Ziarul de Gardă