Oct 26, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC

The European Union has extended sanctions against Russia following a missile attack on a train near the Ukrainian border with Poland. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned the strike, characterizing it as an effort to intimidate European allies and sow division within the bloc.

Meanwhile, hostilities persist across the region despite claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that Russia and Ukraine agreed to pause strikes against energy infrastructure. Recent Russian shelling in Ukraine's Kherson region killed two people and wounded 14 others. In retaliatory actions, Ukrainian drone strikes targeted Russia's Belgorod region and the coastal city of Sochi, injuring seven people.

In Kyiv, domestic political shifts continued as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a presidential decree dismissing the country's state prosecutor general.

Sources: CDM (Cafe del Montenegro).

Russian forces launched overnight drone strikes targeting Kyiv, injuring one resident following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's address to the United Nations General Assembly. Russian military officials confirmed an ongoing campaign aimed at destroying Ukraine's energy infrastructure ahead of winter. In response to Ukrainian retaliatory strikes against Russian oil refineries, Moscow has been forced to import petroleum products to satisfy domestic demand.

Simultaneously, security concerns rose within the European Union after German authorities identified two suspects with ties to Moscow regarding explosive drone incidents in Leipzig. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the bloc "will not tolerate attacks" on member states and indicated that defensive responses are prepared.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have unsealed an indictment charging five alleged Russian intelligence agents with conspiring to conduct assassinations and sabotage across North America and Europe. According to the US Department of Justice, the network recruited and paid operatives globally to surveil and attack individuals and assets aligned with Ukraine, including a June 2024 operation in Prague.

In a related development, Denmark’s Security and Intelligence Service reported that Moscow has carried out physical sabotage targeting Danish defense companies providing military supplies to Kyiv. Danish authorities categorized the incidents as an escalation in Russian hybrid warfare tactics. All five suspects named in the US court filing remain at large.

Sources: BBC News, France24, OCCRP, Sweden Herald, The Guardian.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his government's rejection of a 15-point Gaza peace proposal backed by US President Donald Trump.

Addressing his cabinet in televised remarks, Netanyahu insisted that Israeli forces "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed." The statement formalizes a growing policy rift between Washington and Jerusalem over the administration's framework, which Hamas had previously endorsed.

Despite the political disagreement, the Israeli military has scaled back strikes in Gaza following diplomatic pressure from the United States. Netanyahu's firm stance comes as he prepares for national elections scheduled for 27 October, balancing pressure from far-right coalition partners who oppose concessions with demands from Washington for progress toward a ceasefire.

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

Former Slovenian national team captain Aleš Čeh and forward Jan Mlakar have reflected on their career trajectories and the dynamics of domestic football. Čeh, who captained Slovenia's golden generation under manager Srečko Katanec, transitioned into coaching following his playing career. He spent over a decade as Katanec's assistant, including seven years working in Asia, while maintaining strong ties to former clubs Olimpija Ljubljana and Grazer AK alongside respect for rival NK Maribor.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Ljubljana native Jan Mlakar has returned to NK Maribor for a third spell, expressing confidence in the club's leadership as he pursues his first league title with the team. Mlakar addressed the upcoming derby against Olimpija Ljubljana, noting that despite Olimpija's recent struggles, form matters little in derby matches where underdogs "can only gain."

Sources: Delo, Siol.net