A day after the scheduled Putin–Trump summit was postponed, Russia carried out a large-scale nuclear exercise involving intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of striking the United States. The Kremlin released footage of military chief General Valery Gerasimov briefing President Vladimir Putin on the drill. The move comes as tensions over the Ukraine war remain high and NATO conducts its own nuclear deterrence drills. While the White House confirmed there are currently no plans for a Putin–Trump meeting, both sides stressed the need for serious preparation. Reports suggest Russia has told Washington that full control of Ukraine’s Donbas region is a condition for peace — rejecting Trump’s ceasefire proposal. Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine exchanged heavy missile strikes overnight, causing deaths and power outages. European defense stocks rose after the meeting delay, while Ukraine urged allies for more energy aid ahead of winter to prevent a humanitarian crisis.

Ukraine carried out a major missile strike on Russia’s Bryansk Chemical Plant on October 22, using British-made Storm Shadow missiles. Ukrainian military officials described the operation as a “successful strike,” claiming the attack penetrated Russian air defenses and targeted a key facility in Russia’s military-industrial complex. The plant reportedly produces gunpowder, explosives, and rocket fuel components, which are allegedly used by Russian forces in attacks on Ukrainian territory. Russia has not yet issued an official response. Kyiv maintains that targeting facilities critical to Moscow’s war machinery is necessary to weaken Russia’s offensive capabilities. The strike coincides with European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, announcing plans to intensify pressure on Russia’s economy and defense industry until President Vladimir Putin agrees to peace negotiations. Early Wednesday, Russia launched another air raid on Kyiv, highlighting the ongoing conflict, which began in February 2022 and continues to involve territorial disputes including Crimea.

Israeli air and ground assaults continue in Gaza, intensifying concerns about the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Hamas. The Palestinian Civil Defense reported four people killed in two separate incidents in the Al-Shifa area, while Israeli forces claim they targeted militants crossing the designated “yellow line.” Residents say widespread destruction makes the line nearly impossible to identify. Both Israel and Hamas accuse each other of violating the ceasefire. At least 42 people, including children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on October 19, which Israel calls retaliation for the killing of two soldiers by Hamas, a claim the group denies. Humanitarian aid delivery faces delays due to multiple checkpoints, despite Israel announcing a partial resumption of the ceasefire. U.S. envoys, including Steve Whitlock and Jared Kushner, have met with Israeli officials, while Vice President J.D. Vance is scheduled to visit. Discussions on Hamas disarmament and Gaza administration reforms remain contentious.

Russia launched massive missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s northern regions on Monday, severely damaging energy infrastructure and causing widespread power outages. Several areas in Chernihiv province, which receives electricity from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, were left without power after energy facilities were hit. It remains unclear whether the Chernobyl plant itself was targeted. In nearby Slavutych, about 45 kilometers from Chernobyl, parts of the city lost electricity, though emergency systems kept water supplies running. Local authorities and emergency crews are working to restore power. Reuters could not independently verify the attacks, and Moscow has made no comment. The strikes come amid escalating assaults on Ukraine’s energy sector, while Ukraine has responded with drone attacks on Russian oil and gas facilities. Over a million people across Ukraine have faced blackouts this month due to repeated Russian attacks.

Israeli forces launched new airstrikes and opened fire in Gaza despite an ongoing ceasefire, killing several Palestinians and sparking fears that the fragile truce could collapse. According to Al Jazeera, four civilians were killed in the Al-Shaaf area of Gaza City when they returned to inspect their destroyed homes. The Israeli army claimed they fired on militants who had crossed a boundary known as the “yellow line,” established under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire on October 10. Since then, Gaza authorities report at least 97 Palestinians killed, with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement. Last Sunday, Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed 42 people, including children. Hamas denied Israeli claims of attacks near Rafah and accused Israel of seeking excuses to restart the conflict. Despite threats to block humanitarian aid, Israel later confirmed it would maintain the truce. The UN said aid deliveries to Gaza have resumed.

Although a ceasefire officially took effect in Gaza last Friday, Israeli attacks have persisted, resulting in at least 97 Palestinian deaths and over 230 injuries, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office and Al Jazeera. The office reported that Israel has violated the truce agreement 80 times since it began. Israel claims its recent strikes were in retaliation for alleged ceasefire violations by Hamas, but Hamas has denied the accusations. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the ceasefire remains in effect and that Washington is ensuring the situation stays calm. French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held talks urging immediate humanitarian relief for Palestinians and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces. Both leaders emphasized working together toward a two-state solution. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed over 68,000 Palestinians and injured more than 170,000.

Following intense airstrikes across the Gaza Strip that left at least 45 Palestinians dead, Israel has announced the reinstatement of a ceasefire. According to the Times of Israel, Israeli forces launched heavy attacks throughout Sunday (October 19) after claiming that two soldiers were killed and three seriously wounded in a Hamas assault near Rafah. Hamas, however, denied any involvement in the incident. Despite that, Israeli forces continued bombings in several parts of Gaza. Later in the day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared that the ceasefire was being re-enforced based on “political-level instructions” following a series of operations in Gaza. Meanwhile, Gaza’s media office reported that since the ceasefire began on October 10, Israeli forces have violated it at least 80 times, killing 97 Palestinians and injuring over 230. Gaza’s Health Ministry states that since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed 68,159 Palestinians and injured 170,203 others.

Hamas has accused Israel of multiple violations of the ceasefire in Gaza, claiming that Israeli attacks have killed at least 46 Palestinians and injured over 130 since the truce was implemented. Half of the victims are reportedly children, women, and the elderly, including the entire Abu Shaban family. Hamas described these violations as deliberate targeting of civilians and an effort to undermine the ceasefire. The organization also claims Israel continues to block essential supplies such as food, medical equipment, and construction materials, while delaying the release of women and underage prisoners. Despite the challenges, Hamas says it remains fully committed to the truce and calls on mediators to ensure Israel adheres to the agreement. The ceasefire was brokered on October 10 as part of a phased U.S.-proposed plan, including prisoner exchanges and Gaza reconstruction.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will remain closed until further notice, sparking concern over the fragile ceasefire in the besieged Palestinian territory. According to reports, Israel has violated the truce 47 times since it was declared, resulting in the deaths of at least 38 Palestinians. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces continue military activities in areas such as Shejaiya, al-Tuffah, and Khan Younis, while Palestinians are still barred from Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun. Netanyahu claimed the border cannot reopen because Hamas has yet to return the bodies of all Israeli hostages. Palestinian groups argue the decision breaches the ceasefire agreement, which included reopening Rafah and allowing humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. Hamas warned that continued border closures could delay the handover of hostages’ remains, further complicating the already strained truce.

Israel has resumed airstrikes on Gaza, breaking the recently established ceasefire agreement, according to reports from Al Jazeera. The attacks targeted Rafah and several areas in southern Gaza, following what Israeli sources described as “exchanges of fire” with Hamas fighters. Israeli media claimed the strikes were a response to “terrorist activities” in Rafah, where two Israeli soldiers were reportedly killed in a vehicle explosion. Meanwhile, Hamas issued a statement rejecting recent U.S. accusations that it was preparing new attacks, calling the allegations “a reflection of Israeli propaganda.” The group accused Israel of arming criminal gangs involved in looting aid trucks and attacking civilians, saying such crimes are already documented by Israeli media. Hamas urged the U.S. to stop echoing Israeli narratives and to pressure Tel Aviv to uphold the ceasefire. The statement reaffirmed Hamas’s commitment to protecting Palestinian civilians and maintaining stability in Gaza.

Just eight days after a ceasefire took effect, Israel launched a deadly attack in Gaza, killing 11 members of the Abu Shahban family, including seven children and three women. The assault occurred in Gaza City’s Zeitoun area, where an Israeli tank shell struck their civilian vehicle as they were returning home to assess damage. Gaza’s Civil Defense reported that two children remain missing, likely dismembered by the explosion. The attack has drawn condemnation from Hamas, which labeled it a “massacre” and urged international mediators, including U.S. President Donald Trump, to pressure Israel to respect the ceasefire. Gaza’s media office further revealed that at least 38 Palestinians have been killed since the prisoner exchange began, while essential aid such as food and medicine remains severely restricted. This renewed violence threatens to derail fragile truce efforts and deepen the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

A missile attack struck an oil tanker off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden on Saturday, igniting a massive fire aboard the vessel, according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center. The incident occurred about 210 kilometers east of Aden while the ship, sailing under the flag of Cameroon, was en route from Sohar, Oman, to Djibouti. Maritime security firm Ambrey reported that the crew issued a distress call from about 60 nautical miles south of Yemen’s Ahwar coast, with rescue operations currently underway. Although the Houthi rebels have not claimed responsibility, the attack follows a series of similar strikes on Israel-linked ships in the Red Sea. Ambrey noted that the targeted tanker was not among the vessels usually attacked by the Houthis. Investigations into the cause and source of the missile are ongoing.

An Iranian news agency, Mehr, has reported that hacker collective Handala has released the identities and personal information of 17 senior Israeli military scientists. The group described this act as an “unprecedented leak,” claiming these individuals—both men and women—are the core architects of Israel’s “Zionist war machine.” According to Handala, the scientists are not unknown employees but designers of weapons that have caused immense suffering and death among innocent civilians. The hackers published the confidential details as part of what they call a campaign for accountability and resistance against Israeli military aggression. As of now, Israeli authorities have made no official comment, and the authenticity of the leaked information has not been independently verified. The revelation has drawn significant attention amid ongoing cyber confrontations linked to the Israel–Iran conflict.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have extended their ceasefire ahead of peace talks between their official representatives, scheduled to begin in Doha, Qatar, on October 18. The move comes after a series of deadly clashes and airstrikes, including Pakistan’s October 9 strike in Kabul that killed TTP leader Noor Wali Mehsud and several other top commanders. Retaliatory attacks by Afghan forces on Pakistani border posts between October 11 and 14 left more than 200 Taliban fighters and 23 Pakistani soldiers dead. After an initial 48-hour ceasefire on October 15, airstrikes in Kandahar and Paktika killed nearly 50 people and injured over 150. Following this escalation, both nations have agreed to extend the ceasefire to allow peace talks to continue and prevent further civilian casualties.

Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban government are set to hold high-level talks in Doha, with Qatar mediating efforts to resolve growing tensions over cross-border militant activity. The meeting aims to address Pakistan’s security concerns about Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other groups allegedly operating from Afghan soil. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Islamabad is ready for dialogue if Kabul shows sincerity in curbing terrorism. Both sides recently agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire after deadly clashes along the border left several casualties. Pakistan warned its patience is wearing thin, accusing India of backing recent attacks. Doha and Riyadh have stepped in to defuse tensions, as Pakistan maintains that further hostilities could resume unless Kabul takes concrete action against militants. Border crossings at Torkham and Chaman remain closed, heightening fears of wider conflict.