Oct 3, 2026, 07:00 AM UTC

United States federal prosecutors have unsealed charges against five individuals linked to Russian intelligence, accusing them of managing a global network tasked with assassination and sabotage plots across Europe and North America. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the suspects recruited operatives to surveil and target individuals aligned with Ukraine, including conducting an operation in Prague in mid-2024. All five suspects remain at large.

In a related development, a regional court in Stuttgart, Germany, convicted a Ukrainian national over a Russian-backed parcel bomb plot. German prosecutors stated that three men dispatched packages containing explosive devices and tracking equipment across logistics networks connecting Germany and Ukraine to undermine public confidence in regional security.

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

Russian forces launched fresh overnight drone attacks against Kyiv, injuring a woman in the capital. The escalated bombardment followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's address to the United Nations General Assembly, where he strongly criticized Russian leadership. Russian defense officials confirmed a military campaign specifically targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure. In response, Ukrainian forces intensified long-range drone strikes on Russian petroleum facilities, straining domestic fuel supplies and forcing Moscow to import refined fuel.

Meanwhile, European Union leadership raised concerns over hybrid warfare after German authorities linked two suspects tied to Moscow to explosive drones discovered in Leipzig. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared that the bloc "will not tolerate attacks on EU soil" and affirmed readiness to react against foreign interference.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

Iranian state media reported that forces launched missile strikes targeting six vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, including three oil tankers and an American aircraft carrier, in retaliation for recent US military actions. Iranian attacks also targeted US military positions in Jordan. US intelligence officials warned that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps feels emboldened and may intensify the conflict.

Conversely, US President Donald Trump downplayed the disruption, asserting that commercial passage through the vital waterway remains open and claiming Tehran is facing "great difficulty." Meanwhile, emergency crews contained a fire aboard one of the damaged tankers. The ongoing clashes continue to strain a fragile 14-point memorandum signed in June, which was previously disrupted by American air strikes in July.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point peace proposal for Gaza endorsed by US President Donald Trump and accepted by Hamas. In televised remarks to his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu declared that "Israel rejects the 15-point document" and insisted military forces "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed."

The refusal underscores growing diplomatic friction between Washington and Jerusalem, even as Israeli military activity recently eased in Gaza following American intervention. Netanyahu's stance comes as he prepares for Israel's upcoming national election on October 27, where he is balancing demands from far-right coalition partners against pressure from international partners.

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

A total of 128 United Nations member states in Geneva have agreed on an official definition for autonomous weapon systems, marking a key step toward potential global regulation. The consensus follows warnings from the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding automated systems targeting humans.

Meanwhile, Germany's Ministry of Defence clarified its military artificial intelligence policy. Official concept documents indicate that certain weapon systems may act independently under specific conditions, though officials maintained that "the decision on the use of military force remains with humans." Additionally, the German military will build its own AI data platform rather than using US software contractor Palantir.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Spiegel, Der Standard, Die Zeit, ESUT.