Nov 12, 2026, 01:00 PM UTC

Intense combat persists along the Ukrainian frontline, with over 150 engagements recorded in a single day, concentrated heavily along the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka axes. According to the Institute for the Study of War, Ukrainian counterattacks have stalled Russian offensive progress near Kupyansk and Sloviansk. However, Russian forces expanded their presence south of Dobropillia and claimed control over a village in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Simultaneously, extensive Russian air strikes targeting Ukraine's energy grid triggered widespread blackouts, impacting over 600,000 residents in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and 250,000 in Kharkiv Oblast, alongside heat disruptions in Kyiv and Zhytomyr Oblast.

Meanwhile, several Russian regions instituted fuel sales restrictions to address local deficits following a series of targeted Ukrainian drone attacks against eight major Russian oil refineries over a two-week span.

Sources: Belsat, NEXTA, The Insider, Радіо Свобода, Українська правда.

American mediators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have concluded two days of trilateral security negotiations in Abu Dhabi involving U.S., Russian, and Ukrainian representatives. Kushner stated that the talks aimed to evaluate previous failures and create a "new framework of reference." Following the sessions, the U.S. delegation travelled to Moscow to brief Russian President Vladimir Putin before heading to Dublin to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is attending an informal European gathering.

Separately, a breach of Russia's statistical agency Rosstat by Ukrainian and Belarusian hackers reportedly exposed records indicating that 412,576 Russian soldiers have died in the conflict. Meanwhile, Italian officials reaffirmed that Rome's ongoing assistance to Ukraine will focus exclusively on defensive equipment and electricity generators, explicitly excluding further missile deliveries for the Samp/T air-defence system.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, Il Sole 24 Ore, La Repubblica

Baltic nations have stood down air raid alarms following an overnight incident where NATO fighter jets were deployed to respond to several drones entering regional airspace. The intrusions occurred during extensive Ukrainian long-range strikes against Russian infrastructure, prompting Finland to temporarily implement precautionary maritime and airspace border restrictions before restoring normal operations.

The regional tensions coincided with a overnight Ukrainian drone strike targeting the Kirishi oil refinery near St. Petersburg, which ranks as Russia's second-largest fuel processing facility. Local officials reported multiple explosions that ignited a blaze at the plant, which firefighters later brought under control. Authorities confirmed one woman died near the facility after being struck by fragments from a downed drone.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

Following Spain's recent general strike, political figures and business organizations remain sharply divided over its overall impact and law enforcement's response. Former minister Irene Montero criticized the actions of security forces during demonstrations, pointing to injuries such as "cabezas abiertas, costillas rotas y ojos hinchados" among participants.

Conversely, the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE) downplayed the mobilization, describing participation levels as falling to historic lows. The employer group cited a slight 4.7% decrease in nationwide electricity demand to support its assessment, estimating the overall economic cost of the work stoppage at 1.7 billion euros. Mainstream unions emphasized youth involvement centered on rising housing costs, whereas political commentators framed the strike's timing as an effort to influence the political climate ahead of potential governance shifts involving right-wing parties.

Sources: Canarias7, El Mundo, La Vanguardia, Marca

Severe maritime disruptions continue in the Strait of Hormuz following several reported explosions involving commercial oil tankers. According to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), two large tankers carrying more than four million barrels of crude oil exploded after striking naval mines in the waterway's southern sector. Additional reports indicated up to three vessels caught fire, including one ship that encountered an incident while under U.S. military escort.

State media in Tehran downplayed reports of direct missile strikes on Iranian territory, such as Qeshm Island. Meanwhile, Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei warned Tehran would target U.S. bases in Europe if they are utilized for strikes against Iran. The statements follow comments from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who asserted that military operations against Iran remain incomplete amid ongoing political shifts in Washington.

Sources: Cyprus Mail, Daily Sabah, France24, Sweden Herald, Trend News Agency.