Nov 2, 2026, 07:00 AM UTC

Russian military authorities have conducted logistics exercises testing their readiness for a potential new mobilization wave following the September State Duma elections, according to media reports citing Western intelligence and news outlets.

The drills, which included exercises in the Kaliningrad region, focused on housing, equipping, and supplying potential recruits. Although President Vladimir Putin has not formally announced a draft, Russia has established the necessary legal and technical framework, including an electronic registry for military-eligible citizens and updated corporate record-keeping rules.

The preparatory measures come amidst mounting pressure on Russian manpower reserves due to sustained frontline casualties and the rising cost of recruiting contract soldiers. Analysts note that additional forces may be sought ahead of anticipated offensives in eastern Ukraine, particularly near Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Western officials project that intense military operations could persist through 2027.

Sources: Belsat, NEXTA, The Insider

Russian bombardments targeted five districts across Ukraine's central Dnipropetrovsk region over a 24-hour period, leaving five people dead and 16 others injured, according to local emergency personnel.

Russian forces launched nearly 60 attacks against the region. The heaviest casualties occurred in Kamianske district, where shelling killed three individuals and wounded five. Strikes in Pavlohrad claimed two lives and left seven people injured, while additional casualties were recorded in Nikopol district following artillery fire. Emergency services deployed across the affected localities to extinguish blazes, clear structural debris, and assist survivors.

Sources: Ziarul de Gardă

The United States has completed the withdrawal of its military forces from Iraq, ending a deployment spanning more than twenty years. US President Donald Trump announced the final departure on social media, describing it as a "great day for America" and stating that local forces are equipped to maintain security.

Although security experts note that Iraq is currently more stable than during the previous 2011 drawdown, opinions remain divided on the regional impact. Some analysts warn that the full departure could embolden insurgent groups and strengthen Iranian regional influence. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is evaluating its wider military posture in the Persian Gulf after recent strikes targeted American bases in the area.

Sources: Defence24, Portal obronny, Rzeczpospolita, TVP info

Following an administrative recount in Berlin's Spandau district, an election transmission error was corrected, reassigning a direct mandate from Christian Democratic Union candidate Bettina Meßner to Alternative for Germany (AfD) candidate Tommy Tabor. The recalculation reduces the Berlin Abgeordnetenhaus by five seats due to modified overhang seat distribution.

Concurrently, polling data from Forsa indicates Die Linke leads ahead of the state election at 22 percent, driven significantly by strong support among younger voters. In contrast, voter participation among residents with a migration background remains comparatively low in areas such as Neukölln. Additionally, reporting highlights that some young voters of Turkish origin are increasingly drawn to the AfD due to concerns over public safety, economic stability, and migration.

Sources: Correctiv, DW, FAZ, Die Zeit, Tagesschau

Swedish law enforcement and social authorities are taking urgent measures following a surge in juvenile crime tied to digital networks and violent subcultures. Reports from the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention highlight how criminal gangs lure minors online with promises of money before exerting intense pressure on them to commit offenses. Police have identified over 70 youths seeking tasks from criminal networks on digital platforms.

Concurrently, officials are responding to online subcultures where teenagers romanticize mass killers, a trend linked to recent violent incidents. Following a stabbing at a school in Växjö, local social services placed a 13-year-old suspect into emergency locked care, citing his high potential for violence. Separately, a Swedish court ordered the detention of a teenager suspected of planning a school attack to prevent evidence tampering and further crimes.

Sources: 8 Sidor, Dagens Nyheter, Svenska Dagbladet, SVT, Sydsvenskan