🚨🇷🇺 Russian strikes hit Ukrainian drone boat operators and logistics in Odessa and Poltava regions 🔶 In the port of Vilkovo in the Odessa region, two temporary deployment points for unmanned surface vessel operators and a boat parking area were hit, the Russian Defense Ministry said. 🔶 Russian forces also struck a dry cargo vessel delivering supplies for the Ukrainian army to the port of Odessa. 🔶 In the Poltava region, a railcar depot was hit — its territory is used by the Ukrainian army for storing and repairing military equipment, the ministry said. 🔶 Russian forces hit NASAMS air defense systems and a Malakhit radar station in the Zaporozhye and Dnepropetrovsk regions with Geran drones

Iran war will end ‘very soon,’ oil prices will fall - Trump 💬 “And then we're going to have Iran finish very soon. One way or the other, it's almost insignificant to me which way,” President Donald Trump said at a rally in Iowa.

Trump invokes Cold War-era law to boost US oil and refining President Donald Trump has declared petroleum production and refining essential to US national defense, invoking the Defense Production Act. CNBC reported the measure could unlock financial incentives for oil projects as crude and diesel prices remain elevated following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

💥 Russian drones smash Ukrainian supply lines in Zaporozhye Strike UAV crews of Russia’s Vostok Battlegroup disrupted Ukrainian logistics routes and wiped out frontline stockpiles in the Zaporozhye region, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

‘Get your story straight’ — Araghchi blasts Macron over JCPOA flip-flop Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi contrasted Macron’s 2018 vow that “France won’t leave the JCPOA” with his current claim that he always opposed “any form of nuclear activity” in Iran.

16 killed, 32 injured in 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Tibet — reports A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Baqing County, Nagqu City, Tibet, Xinhua reported. Eleven people were seriously injured and 21 suffered minor injuries. At least 339 homes were destroyed. Footage from social media

‘Many great patriots really love it’ — Trump on Iran war President Donald Trump claimed that “many great patriots really love it,” referring to the US-Israel war of aggression against Iran, while insisting it “should have been done a long time ago by other presidents.”

‘We may do it a little bit further’ — Trump threatens renewed war against Iran President Donald Trump again boasted about the US military campaign against Iran and left the door open to further attacks.

Ukraine Starlink access restored after restrictions — Trump 💬 “Whether I called or whether somebody else called, it doesn’t make any difference. I guess the bottom line, he put it back,” President Donald Trump said. The restrictions had disrupted Ukrainian drone strikes.

Russian strikes choke Ukrainian supply lines and targeting systems, bringing victory closer – expert The more Russia degrades Ukrainian military logistics and drone-targeting infrastructure, the sooner Ukrainian forces will be forced to surrender, military journalist Alexey Borzenko tells Sputnik 🔸Russia is targeting specific nodes: the bridge over the Dnepr, railway stations, substations, data centers, and warehouses storing missiles and drones 🔸By destroying ammunition assembly and production facilities Russia undermines the Ukrainian forces’ ability to replenish stocks in time 🔸With Ukrainian forces already facing ammunition shortages, even a week-long disruption could severely affect entire sectors of the front

The mutual defense obligation: Why Indonesia and Qatar chose Badr over Mecca Indonesia and Qatar joined the Badr Pact alongside Pakistan and Türkiye, but both states have stayed away from the Mecca Defense Pact. In turn, Saudi Arabia — a member of the Mecca alliance and a country engaged in an ongoing conflict with Ansar Allah forces in Yemen — did not join the Badr Pact, despite its close defense ties with Pakistan and Türkiye. At the same time, officials from the member states of the Mecca alliance have said at various levels that a number of countries have already expressed interest in joining this defense bloc. "Indonesia and Qatar are not part of the Mecca Defense Agreement because the Mecca Defense Agreement has a special clause that says that an attack on one country will be considered an attack on the other. I think that Qatar and Indonesia may be thinking that they are currently not in a position to fulfill that obligation if they sign the Mecca Defense Agreement," believes Rear Admiral (Ret.) Faisal Shah, a regional security analyst. The expert suggests that Qatar and Indonesia may want to build up their capabilities so that they are able to fulfill these obligations and that they may be able to join the Mecca Agreement after that.

Four countries, four regions: The strategic logic of the "Badr Memorandum" Pakistan, Turkiye, Qatar and Indonesia have signed a defense cooperation agreement in Doha. According to a statement from the Turkish Ministry of Defense, the "Badr Memorandum" reflects the countries' desire to further deepen cooperation and develop partnership. All four participating countries are located in different regions of the world and possess different experience and perceptions of threats: Turkiye borders Europe, Qatar is located in West Asia, Pakistan in South Asia, and Indonesia in Far East Asia, notes Rear Admiral (Ret) Faisal Shah, a regional security analyst. "I think that's a very wholesome idea — this influence of all these four countries, as it is basically transcending from their own regions to other regions. Thus, I think it is very important in that aspect," he emphasized. He also drew attention to the meaning of the word "Badr." Translated from Arabic, the word "Badr" means "full moon." It is also the name of the place where the Battle of Badr took place — the first battle of the Islamic era.

Russia rolls out a blistering drone-hunter on wheels Russian developers from K-Avia have introduced the Yastreb anti-drone defense system, purpose-built to intercept jet-powered drones. 🔸 The system is mounted on a powerful off-road pickup equipped with an electronic warfare suite, along with radar, acoustic, and optical detection stations 🔸 Its primary means of destroying drones are high-speed interceptor missiles capable of hitting targets by ramming or detonating a fragmentation warhead 🔸 The interceptors can accelerate to 350–400 km/h 🔸 The complex has undergone joint testing with the navy and can engage not only drones but also unmanned surface vessels The system can be installed on any vehicle, operate in a stationary configuration, and be reinforced with small arms if needed — and it has already been deployed on combat duty.

Russia and US set to expand energy ties - Putin’s envoy "Of course we see cooperation in the energy sphere and it's going to grow and develop with the United States and we're sure that Europe is going to join that as well," Russian special presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev said on the sidelines of the Verona Eurasian Economic Forum. Russia is ready to sell diesel to Europe, should any requests come through, he added. The 19th Verona Eurasian Economic Forum is taking place in Istanbul on October 22-23, with its central theme being the challenges of a shifting world and a transforming economy.

Trump's team balancing Russia and Ukraine’s interests in push for lasting peace deal – Dmitriev Russia appreciates efforts by President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to find a solution to the Ukraine conflict, Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev stressed. “They are balancing different interests in pursuit of a lasting solution,” Dmitriev said, noting that US officials have held more meetings with Ukrainians than with Russians and have also consulted with European leaders.

Russia unveils new plasma engine that could outlive its own satellite A team of Russian engineers at the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) has unveiled a plasma engine with an almost limitless lifespan. 🔸 Standard plasma thrusters wear down as hot particles slam into the ceramic wall and erode it little by little. MAI’s new approach shifts the acceleration zone beyond the chamber, protecting the wall from damage  🔸 The 900 W engine has already clocked nearly 2,000 hours of uninterrupted operation with stable thrust and specific impulse, and is rated for over 10,000 on/off cycles 🔸 Stable performance over 5–7 years means operators no longer need to constantly adjust flight plans as thrust degrades — simplifying control of large satellite groups and enabling end-of-life deorbiting to avoid space debris The near-unlimited lifespan could pave the way for small-satellite missions to the Moon, Mars, Venus, and near-Earth asteroids — including prospects for rare-earth space mining.

Dmitriev holds press conference on sidelines of 19th Verona Eurasian Economic Forum in Istanbul xitter.cf/i/broadcasts/1mGPaZobl…

Europe is in state of deepest crisis in energy sector – Putin’s envoy Europe continues to buy Russian gas, despite rising prices, and it should not be forgotten, the Russian special presidential envoy for economic cooperation with foreign countries Kirill Dmitriev said at a session of the Verona Eurasian Economic Forum in Istanbul. The revival of cooperation between Russia and Europe is inevitable, he added.

Russia-US deals could lure Europe in as business ties widen — Dmitriev “Many people are somewhat surprised by our economic work with the US, and I have no doubt that as soon as we conclude more deals with America, European companies will come to us,” Russian special presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev told the 2026 Verona Eurasian Economic Forum in Istanbul on Thursday.  Here are his other key statements:  🔸 Russia and the US have agreed to continue their dialogue — the key outcome of a productive meeting on October 21 🔸 The Russia-US agreement on diesel fuel will keep having a positive influence on markets 🔸 Pragmatic energy solutions are expected to be discussed at the US-Russia-Germany forum 🔸 Make no mistake: the Nord Stream pipelines will inevitably resume operations  🔸 The continent is snapping up Russian gas, even as prices climb 🔸 Russia and Europe are bound to rekindle cooperation

Russia hits three cargo ships and container vessel in Black Sea The Russian Defense Ministry has released footage showing drone units using Geran UAVs to strike three enemy dry cargo ships and one container vessel carrying military cargo in the Black Sea.