Russia has enacted a series of sweeping new laws aimed at strengthening domestic defences against Ukrainian drone attacks and sabotage operations, signalling the Kremlin’s preparation for a prolonged conflict. President Vladimir Putin authorised the deployment of reservists to guard critical energy infrastructure, including refineries repeatedly hit by Ukrainian drones, without declaring a new mobilisation. The measures also include tighter penalties for sabotage, with life sentences for those involving minors and the lowering of the criminal responsibility age to 14. Additionally, new electronic restrictions such as a 24-hour mobile network blackout for returning travellers have been introduced to prevent drones from exploiting civilian networks. Analysts say these steps reflect Moscow’s growing anxiety over Ukraine’s ability to strike deep inside Russian territory and its effort to condition the public for a semi-militarised existence. Despite official claims of openness to peace talks, Russia shows no sign of de-escalation, while domestic propaganda urges citizens to accept greater sacrifices amid economic stagnation and Western sanctions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone conversation focused on key Middle East issues, the Kremlin announced. The discussion covered the ongoing situation in Gaza, Iran’s nuclear program, and developments in Syria. According to the Kremlin, Putin initiated the call, while Netanyahu’s office confirmed it was part of a series of recent communications between the two leaders. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office described the talks as addressing regional matters but did not provide further details. The conversation reflects ongoing diplomatic engagement between Moscow and Jerusalem amid heightened tensions and shifting alliances in the Middle East. Both leaders have maintained periodic contact to coordinate positions on regional security and strategic concerns, particularly regarding Iran and Syria, where Russia plays a major role.

A senior Ukrainian intelligence official has claimed that Russia intends to manufacture up to 120,000 glide bombs in 2025, including 500 new long-range models capable of reaching targets up to 200 kilometers away. Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, said Russia is currently firing 200–250 glide bombs daily, a sharp increase from previous months. The weapons, cheaper and more abundant than missiles, have caused widespread destruction in Ukrainian cities such as Kharkiv and Kherson. Skibitskyi also estimated that Russia will produce about 70,000 long-range drones this year, including 30,000 Shahed models used to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. He warned that these developments pose a growing threat, allowing Russia to strike deep into Ukrainian territory without crossing front lines. Skibitskyi further noted that North Korea has supplied Russia with millions of artillery shells since 2023 but that deliveries have recently declined as Pyongyang’s stockpiles dwindle. North Korea has also begun producing its own battlefield drones, reportedly learning from the conflict.

Russia has temporarily suspended around 2% of its global oil supply following a Ukrainian strike on the Sheskharis oil terminal in Novorossiysk, a key Black Sea port in Krasnodar Krai. The attack caused fires and damage to coastal facilities, leading to a halt in exports of approximately 2.2 million barrels per day, according to Reuters. Local authorities confirmed that a civilian vessel was also hit, injuring three crew members. Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Novorossiysk due to its strategic importance to Russia’s energy infrastructure. Kyiv considers Russian oil refineries and petrochemical plants legitimate military targets, arguing they fund Moscow’s war effort. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently stated that Russia’s oil production and refining have declined this year, with projected losses of at least US$37 billion in oil and gas revenues. The strike coincided with a large-scale Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv that killed six people and injured 14 others.

Russia’s first domestically produced AI-powered humanoid robot, named AIdol, fell during its public debut at a Moscow tech showcase, highlighting the country’s struggles in robotics amid Western sanctions. The robot, developed by startup Idol, lost balance shortly after walking onstage and was quickly removed by event staff. CEO Vladimir Vitukhin attributed the mishap to calibration issues caused by lighting interference with the robot’s stereo cameras. Despite the fall, AIdol reportedly sustained no damage and later stood upright with assistance. The robot can walk, manipulate objects, and communicate for up to six hours autonomously, with 77% of its components made in Russia. Idol aims to increase domestic content to 93% in future production. The incident underscores Russia’s lag behind global leaders like the U.S. and China in advanced robotics and AI development.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has asserted that Western powers’ efforts to strategically defeat and divide Russia have completely failed. Speaking at a Council on Interethnic Relations meeting on Wednesday, Putin said that so-called international organizations and “pseudo-national centers” operating outside Russia are in fact tools of an ongoing information war against the country. These groups, he claimed, are promoting the idea of “decolonizing Russia” — an attempt to fragment the Russian Federation and push it toward so-called “strategic defeat.”

Putin accused these organizations of advancing the concept of a “post-Russia,” portraying the nation as divided and deprived of sovereignty. He warned that provocations aimed at sowing discord among Russian citizens must stop immediately, alleging that many such operations are orchestrated by foreign intelligence services.

According to Putin, Russia’s adversaries exploit various social and political issues — including migration and daily events — to inflame tensions, even using extremist groups that employ terrorist tactics. Despite centuries of Western attempts to destabilize Russia, he emphasized, all such efforts have failed. Putin also supported the proposal to designate 2026 as the “Year of Unity of Russia’s Peoples,” reaffirming the nation’s resilience and cohesion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed his ministers and security officials to prepare proposals for possible nuclear weapons testing, warning the United States of a reciprocal response if it resumes nuclear tests. The move follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent order to lift the 1992 moratorium on nuclear testing and instruct the Pentagon to restart tests immediately.

During a Security Council meeting on November 5, Putin said that if the U.S. or any signatory of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty resumes testing, Russia will be compelled to respond in kind. He instructed the Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, intelligence agencies, and civilian institutions to collect information and develop coordinated plans prioritizing nuclear readiness.

Defense Minister Andrei Belousov stated that the U.S. move significantly heightens the military threat to Russia, emphasizing the need to maintain Russia’s nuclear deterrence. Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov also warned that delaying action could cost Russia its strategic advantage.

Analysts say the renewed nuclear testing rhetoric between Moscow and Washington—both major nuclear powers—marks a dangerous escalation, threatening to further undermine global arms control efforts already weakened by geopolitical tensions over the Ukraine war and sanctions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially annulled the long-suspended plutonium disposal agreement with the United States by signing a new law on October 27. The agreement, originally signed in 2000, required both nations to eliminate 34 tons of weapons-grade plutonium each — enough to make about 17,000 nuclear warheads — in a way that made it unusable for military purposes. Russia had already suspended the deal in 2016, accusing Washington of violating the terms by adopting an alternative plutonium disposal method. Moscow also cited U.S. “hostile actions” and NATO’s expansion as reasons for the final withdrawal. Analysts warn that the move marks another blow to the fragile framework of nuclear disarmament and may escalate tensions between Moscow and Washington, especially as the New START treaty approaches its 2026 expiry, raising concerns over renewed nuclear arms competition and global security instability.

Russia has successfully conducted a test of its nuclear-powered intercontinental cruise missile Burevestnik, President Vladimir Putin announced on Sunday. The test, completed on Tuesday, marks a major milestone in Russia’s advanced weapons program. According to Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, the missile covered approximately 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) and stayed airborne for 15 hours. Putin hailed the missile as a “truly unique weapon” that no other nation possesses, highlighting the country’s growing technological and military prowess. Burevestnik, known to NATO as SSC-X-9 Skyfall, first drew attention in 2019 after a failed test caused fatalities in the Arctic. Analysts say the latest success strengthens Russia’s long-range strike capability and advances its nuclear modernization efforts amid rising global tensions.

Russia’s nuclear envoy Mikhail Ulyanov has blamed Israel and the United States for complicating the ongoing Iran nuclear issue, ahead of the next IAEA Board of Governors meeting. He noted that, for the first time in a decade, discussions on Iran’s nuclear file will not be under the monitoring framework of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which recently lapsed. Ulyanov stated that the IAEA Director General will present only a report on Iran’s implementation of the Additional Safeguards Agreement, attributing this limited scope to aggressive U.S. and Israeli actions. The historic 2015 JCPOA had limited Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanction relief, but the U.S. withdrawal in 2018 and subsequent European mechanisms failed to deliver promised economic benefits. Ulyanov described the current situation as a direct consequence of these aggressive policies, further complicating Iran’s nuclear issue.

More than 20 pro-Ukraine nations have pledged to phase out Russian oil and gas from global markets to curb funding for President Vladimir Putin’s war efforts. Following the “Coalition of the Willing” summit in London, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said allies are working to “cut off financing for Russia’s war machine.” The UK and US recently sanctioned Russia’s two biggest oil companies, while the EU targeted its LNG exports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that mounting pressure is the only way to stop the war, though no new missile supply deal was announced. U.S. President Donald Trump has declined to send Tomahawk missiles for now, while Putin warned of a “devastating” response if Russian territory is attacked. The EU will continue financial aid for Ukraine but has yet to decide on using €140 billion in frozen Russian assets.

Kirill Dmitriev, adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has announced that Moscow is “very close” to reaching a diplomatic settlement with Washington and Kyiv to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. Speaking to CNN after arriving in Washington for meetings with U.S. officials, Dmitriev confirmed that a planned meeting between Putin and President Donald Trump has not been canceled and will take place at a later date. He emphasized that discussions continue despite new U.S. sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector. European diplomats indicate that the EU is preparing a new ceasefire proposal consistent with previous frameworks, keeping the U.S. as the main mediator. Dmitriev also highlighted that Ukrainian President Zelensky’s acknowledgment of frontline realities could help build a bridge between the conflicting parties. He warned that sanctions might inadvertently raise gasoline prices in the U.S.

In the span of a single week, Russian forces have taken control of ten new settlements across Ukraine’s Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia provinces, according to a statement by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 24. The ministry reported that during the same period, Russian troops destroyed 22 depots containing Ukrainian weapons and military equipment. Ukrainian forces attempted several airstrikes targeting Russian positions but were reportedly repelled, resulting in the loss of one Su-27 fighter jet, four cruise missiles, 18 guided aviation bombs, 15 HIMARS rockets, and 1,441 drones. Over the past three years, Russia has occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson provinces, covering about 10% of Ukraine’s territory. Ukraine continues efforts to reclaim these regions, with no immediate sign of the conflict ending.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Russia will never yield to U.S. pressure, following sanctions imposed on state-owned oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil, along with their affiliates. The sanctions, introduced by the Trump administration, aim to cut funding for Russia’s war in Ukraine and could raise global oil prices by up to 5%. While Putin admitted the measures may cause “some damage” to Russia’s economy, he dismissed them as a failed attempt to coerce the country. He warned that any attacks on Russia using U.S.-supplied weapons to Ukraine would trigger a strong, though limited, response. Meanwhile, China and India, Russia’s largest oil buyers, are reportedly reducing imports in reaction to the sanctions. The planned Trump-Putin summit in Budapest may also be canceled, though Putin stressed he remains open to dialogue.

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.