Sep 25, 2026, 07:30 PM UTC

United States federal prosecutors have unsealed charges against five alleged Russian intelligence agents for orchestrating a global sabotage and assassination plot against supporters of Ukraine. According to the indictment from a Manhattan court, the Kremlin-backed network paid individuals across Europe and the United States to conduct surveillance, arson, and targeted attacks, including a June 2024 assault in Prague. All five suspects remain at large.

Meanwhile, a regional court in Stuttgart, Germany, convicted a Ukrainian national for participating in a Russian-backed scheme to send explosive parcels equipped with tracking devices through European postal networks to disrupt security and logistics.

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

Former Slovenian international captain Aleš Čeh and forward Jan Mlakar have shared insights into their career trajectories and domestic football perspectives. Čeh, who skippered Slovenia's national team during its successful qualification era and later worked alongside former head coach Srečko Katanec in Asia for seven years, reaffirmed his affection for Olimpija Ljubljana while expressing high regard for NK Maribor.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old striker Mlakar has returned to NK Maribor for a third stint. Mlakar clarified that despite his Ljubljana origins, he was "never close to Olimpija." Looking ahead to the upcoming Slovenian derby, Mlakar remarked that although Olimpija "is in crisis, but in a derby it can only gain," underscoring his trust in Maribor's sporting management.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

Fresh reciprocal military actions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated across several sectors. A Russian ballistic missile barrage targeted Kyiv, killing at least two individuals and injuring six others, while additional strikes damaged a commercial facility in northern Ukraine.

Concurrently, Ukrainian forces launched drone attacks against Russian industrial sites in the Saratov and Samara regions. Local officials reported that air defense systems intercepted multiple unmanned aerial vehicles, though a strike triggered a fire at the Kuibyshev oil refinery. Regional Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishev confirmed that "the enemy targeted industrial enterprises."

Meanwhile, NATO forces conducted joint operations near Russia's Kaliningrad enclave involving American, Norwegian, and Polish assets. Alliance representatives characterized the activity as routine efforts to strengthen defensive capabilities.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV

The United States military has conducted additional strikes against Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, expanding direct military action into commercial shipping corridors. According to U.S. Central Command, military forces targeted three Iranian oil tankers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired ballistic missiles at two American warships. U.S. officials confirmed that naval mines deployed by Iranian forces in international shipping lanes have since been completely cleared.

The retaliatory actions follow warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened strikes against Iranian civilian and energy infrastructure if maritime attacks persist. Analysts suggest the conflict marks a shift toward fifth-generation warfare, characterized by the targeting of energy supply chains and increased reliance on drone technology.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV

Tehran has declared that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until Washington lifts petroleum sanctions, unfreezes Iranian assets, and ceases all military operations. Despite this firm public position, an Iranian official privately signaled that the strategic waterway could reopen within seven days if the United States reduces military pressure and resumes negotiations.

Concurrently, military confrontations along the trade corridor are intensifying. US forces have begun escorting commercial oil tankers through the strait under cover of darkness, while Iranian forces responded by deploying rocket-launched sea mines. A recent US air strike on Larak Island further underscores the expanding battlefield, as both nations attempt to establish leverage while diplomatic channels remain fragile.

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