Oct 13, 2026, 01:00 PM UTC

Fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces persisted into its 1,663rd day, with local authorities reporting casualties from artillery shelling in Kherson and drone strikes targeting Sochi and Belgorod. Amid the active combat, US President Donald Trump announced that both nations agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure.

In Europe, diplomats condemned a recent strike on a train near the Polish border. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot asserted that the action was designed to create European divisions. In response to continuing hostilities, the European Union prolonged its existing sanctions against Russia.

Domestically, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued an official decree removing the nation's prosecutor general from his position.

Sources: CDM.

Heavy combat continues along eastern and northern frontlines in Ukraine, with Ukrainian officials reporting between 221 and 254 engagements within recent 24-hour periods. Russian troops launched intensive assaults targeting defensive positions near Lyman, Kostiantynivka, and Pokrovsk, where Ukrainian units repelled dozens of pushes.

Concurrently, tactical movements persist across several sectors. Reports indicate Ukrainian forces advanced north of Kupyansk along the Oskil River and made gains near Lyman. In contrast, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed to capture settlements approaching Sumy, while Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov publicly refuted reports of Ukrainian success in Zaporizhzhia. Separately, strikes targeted ammunition facilities in the Kyiv region.

Sources: The Insider, Радіо Свобода, Українська правда

Russian bombardments across Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region left five civilians dead and 16 others injured over a 24-hour period, according to local emergency services. Russian forces launched nearly 60 individual attacks across five districts, striking residential neighbourhoods and critical infrastructure.

The heaviest losses occurred in Kamianske district, where three people died and five sustained injuries. In Pavlohrad, two residents were killed and seven others wounded. Additional casualties and localized fires were reported in Nikopol district following repeated artillery and missile shelling. Emergency crews deployed throughout the affected areas to extinguish structural blazes, search through debris, and deliver urgent medical assistance as officials evaluated the overall destruction.

Sources: Ziarul de Gardă.

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has urged parliament to draft a legal foundation for post-war elections, even as national voting remains suspended under martial law. Dismissed by President Volodymyr Zelensky in July, Fedorov emphasized that early legislative preparation is critical to resolving complex administrative and logistical obstacles before hostilities conclude.

Supporters of the initiative contend that establishing guidelines now will help protect the democratic rights of millions of displaced Ukrainians and active service members on the frontline. Although the Ukrainian constitution prohibits holding elections during wartime, advocates argue that preliminary planning will prevent organizational hurdles and ensure a transparent democratic process once security conditions allow voting to resume.

Sources: Le Monde

Iran has shifted to a "completely offensive" military posture following the failure of peace negotiations with the United States, senior officials reported. The move comes as a 60-day memorandum of understanding to negotiate a permanent peace agreement expired without progress. Iranian armed forces stated they will not back down until achieving the "complete defeat" of US forces in the region.

In response, Washington announced it will not extend the temporary ceasefire. Tensions escalated further in the Strait of Hormuz, where US Central Command confirmed striking five Iranian oil tankers and sinking one after Iranian forces targeted an American warship. Analysts warn that growing economic pressure on Tehran and escalating maritime clashes significantly increase the risk of a broader regional conflict.

Sources: Adevărul, Digi24, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă.