Sep 29, 2026, 08:00 PM UTC

Russia and Ukraine engaged in another round of overnight strikes following the departure of American envoys from Kyiv. Russian ballistic missiles hit the Ukrainian capital, leaving at least two people dead and six injured. A separate strike hit a foreign-owned manufacturing plant in northern Ukraine.

Ukrainian forces launched drone attacks targeting industrial infrastructure in Russia's Saratov and Samara regions. A fire broke out at the Kuibyshev oil refinery, while regional authorities claimed air defense systems intercepted dozens of incoming drones.

Concurrently, US-led NATO forces conducted military operations near the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. The maneuvers featured Polish infantry along with reconnaissance aircraft and fighter jets from Norway and the United States. NATO stated the activities align with its defensive mandate.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV

U.S. military forces executed extensive strikes against Iranian military positions and three commercial oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz following Iranian missile attacks against two American warships and attempts to deploy sea mines. According to U.S. Central Command, all sea mines in the vital maritime corridor have been neutralized.

The confrontation signifies an expansion into energy warfare directly impacting international commercial shipping fleets. The military actions follow direct warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened that further disruption to maritime commerce would prompt strikes against Iran's power grid and domestic energy infrastructure. Observers note that targeting critical infrastructure marks an evolving doctrine in modern conflict, blending high-tech warfare with economic pressure.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV

Former Slovenian national team captain Aleš Čeh and Maribor forward Jan Mlakar have offered their perspectives on the ongoing rivalry between NK Maribor and Olimpija Ljubljana.

Čeh, who captained Slovenia during its landmark international tournament appearances and spent over a decade in coaching alongside Srečko Katanec, expressed his affection for Olimpija while emphasizing his respect for Maribor.

Meanwhile, Ljubljana-born Mlakar has returned to Maribor for his third stint at the club. Addressing long-standing transfer rumors, Mlakar stated that he was "never close to joining Olimpija" despite his hometown roots. He added that although Olimpija is currently facing a period of struggle, the team "can only gain" in the competitive context of an upcoming derby match.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

German law enforcement and intelligence agencies are investigating over 100 suspected cases of state-sponsored hybrid interference across the country. Investigative findings into an August incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport indicate that a suspected operative from Russia's GRU military intelligence served as a logistician for a failed explosive drone attack targeting Ukrainian transport aircraft.

Beyond the airport plot, domestic intelligence officials suspect Russian actors may have hidden weapons caches inside Germany for future operations. Federal and state authorities are tracking unauthorized drone overflights near military sites, infrastructure sabotage, severed undersea cables, and digital disinformation campaigns. Security agencies assess that these coordinated activities aim to destabilize democratic institutions and heighten domestic divisions.

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