Sep 24, 2026, 11:00 PM UTC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally turned down a 15-point Gaza peace proposal backed by US President Donald Trump, asserting that Israeli military forces will not pull back until Hamas is completely disarmed.

Speaking to his cabinet, Netanyahu stated that "Israel rejects the 15-point document" and emphasized that troops "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed." The announcement marks a growing rift between Jerusalem and Washington, coming shortly after Trump cited progress in negotiations.

While Israeli combat operations in Gaza have slowed recently amid American diplomatic pressure, Netanyahu faces domestic political considerations ahead of the national election set for October 27, balancing demands from coalition allies with international relations.

Sources: Cyprus Mail, France24, STV News, The Guardian, The Herald.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb has dismissed German predictions suggesting Russia could attack NATO territory by 2029, stating he sees "neither evidence nor facts for this" forecast. Speaking to German media, Stubb doubted Moscow would risk attacking the world's strongest military alliance, though he emphasized that NATO must remain prepared for any contingency to ensure deterrence.

Despite Stubb's skepticism regarding a conventional assault, European intelligence services and eastern flank nations continue to report a rise in Russian hybrid operations, including sabotage and espionage. To counter these non-conventional threats, Northern European defense ties are strengthening, with Sweden expanding military cooperation with Finland.

Sources: Defence24, Portal obronny, Rzeczpospolita, TVP info.

Cross-border strikes between Russia and Ukraine have escalated alongside reported Allied military activity near Kaliningrad. Russian ballistic missiles hit Kyiv overnight, leaving at least two people dead and six injured, following earlier drone strikes on a tobacco plant in northern Ukraine. In retaliation, Ukrainian drones targeted commercial facilities in Russia's Saratov and Samara regions, starting a fire at the Kuibyshev oil refinery. Regional officials in Samara reported that air defense systems intercepted dozens of incoming drones.

Simultaneously, German media reported heightened NATO activity surrounding Russia's Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad. The U.S.-led operation reportedly involved American and Norwegian fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft, and Polish ground forces. NATO officials stated the alliance maintains routine efforts to enhance defensive capabilities.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV

Ukrainian agricultural workers operating near active combat zones are adopting personal defensive measures to protect their operations from frequent Russian drone attacks. Former grain logistics manager Viktor Hordienko, who previously coordinated international maritime shipments, now uses personal firearms to defend his farm near the front line.

Agricultural production in these vulnerable areas remains critical for sustaining Ukraine's domestic food supply and broader economy. However, continuous aerial bombardment and targeted strikes by hostile unmanned aerial vehicles have forced workers to combine daily farming tasks with armed self-defense. Local producers face severe operational challenges and physical risks while attempting to maintain harvest yields during the ongoing conflict.

Sources: LSM.

Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) stated that NABU Director Semen Kryvonos was never formally served a notice of suspicion. The statement responded to accusations from Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, who claimed Kryvonos committed document forgery and orchestrated a fake adoption to avoid prosecution.

Following his announcement, media outlets reported that Kravchenko left Ukraine, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested parliament to remove him from office. NABU and SAP characterized Kravchenko's claims as an attack on independent anti-corruption institutions. The clash occurs while NABU conducts probes into a suspected criminal network involving current and former lawmakers as well as officials within the President's Office.

Sources: NEXTA, OCCRP, The Insider, Радіо Свобода, Українська правда