Oct 4, 2026, 07:00 PM UTC

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Kyiv will only cease strikes on Russian energy targets if Western allies ensure Moscow simultaneously halts attacks on Ukraine’s power grid, critical infrastructure, and food supply routes. The statement followed claims by former US President Donald Trump that both nations had agreed to suspend targeting energy facilities.

Meanwhile, hostilities persist across multiple regions. Local authorities reported two people killed and 14 injured in Russian shelling in the Kherson area, while Ukrainian drone strikes injured seven people in Sochi and Belgorod. Additionally, EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned a Russian attack on a train near the Polish border, describing it as a deliberate effort to intimidate and divide European nations. Separately, Zelenskyy issued a decree dismissing Ukraine’s state prosecutor.

Sources: CDM, N1

Russian forces launched additional drone strikes against Kyiv, injuring at least one person, following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's address at the United Nations General Assembly. Concurrently, Russia's Defense Ministry announced a dedicated military campaign to target Ukraine's energy grid. In response, Kyiv intensified strikes on Russian petroleum facilities, causing fuel shortages that forced Moscow to import oil products.

Security tensions also spread to Western Europe after German investigators identified two suspects connected to Moscow in relation to explosive drone incidents near Leipzig. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the alleged sabotage, stating, "We will not tolerate attacks on EU soil, ready to respond."

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

Iran has claimed responsibility for missile strikes against six vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, including three oil tankers and US naval ships, in retaliation for recent American air raids. Emergency personnel successfully extinguished a fire aboard one damaged tanker.

US President Donald Trump downplayed the maritime disruption, asserting that the strategic waterway remains operational and that Tehran is experiencing "great difficulty." However, intelligence reports from Washington indicate that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps feels emboldened by the recent clashes, raising concerns about a potential escalation of the conflict. The ongoing hostilities continue to test the 14-point memorandum of understanding agreed upon by both nations in June.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

Russian forces launched nearly 60 strikes across five districts in Ukraine's eastern Dnipropetrovsk region over a 24-hour period, emergency services reported.

The artillery and drone bombardments resulted in at least five fatalities and left 16 people injured. Casualties were concentrated across several key locations. In the Kamianske district, three individuals were killed and five others sustained injuries. Shelling in Pavlohrad claimed two lives and wounded seven people, while additional injuries were reported in the Nikopol district.

Emergency crews worked throughout the area to clear wreckage, extinguish fires, and provide aid to affected residents as authorities continue to assess structural damage.

Sources: Ziarul de Gardă

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was dismissed by President Volodymyr Zelensky in July, has urged lawmakers to begin drafting legal frameworks for future post-war elections. Ukrainian constitutional rules and active martial law currently prohibit national voting during the ongoing war with Russia. Fedorov stressed that early legislative action is necessary to overcome significant logistical obstacles. Key concerns include enabling voting for millions of displaced citizens living abroad and ensuring secure ballot access for military personnel serving on the frontlines. Advocates maintain that establishing guidelines now will preserve democratic standards and facilitate an orderly transition when martial law is eventually lifted.

Sources: Le Monde.