The Verkhovna Rada adopted a bill that removes Russian and Moldovan languages from the list of languages protected by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. This prevents political manipulation and undermining the status of the Ukrainian language.
Vladimir Putin signed the state national policy strategy until 2036, which provides for the formation of a homogeneous civic identity and the integration of occupied Ukrainian territories. The document is aimed at large-scale Russification and the elimination of Ukrainian national consciousness.
Russia's international reserves fell by $5. 0 billion in a week, and Russian companies' losses sharply increased in 2025. The share of unprofitable coal enterprises reached 68.1%, and passenger car production decreased by 46.7%.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Volodymyr Tolkach from the post of Ukraine's Ambassador to Serbia. Oleksandr Lytvynenko, who previously headed the Foreign Intelligence Service and served as Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), has been appointed to this position.
The sanctions coalition imposed restrictions on over 500 entities in Russia's energy sector, including oil tankers and financial institutions. This led to a decrease in the price of Russian oil and a reduction in its exports, forecasting significant losses for the Russian budget.
Ukrainian intelligence reports that Russia is facing a significant increase in the cost of gasoline and diesel fuel due to a change in the pricing mechanism. The government plans to abandon the link to inflation, switching to a composite index that takes into account a wider set of factors.
Surveys show a worsening financial situation for Russians, with only 8% reporting an increase in wealth, while 23% report a deterioration. Only 24% hope for an improvement in their financial situation in the coming year.
Russia plans to significantly increase fines for 36 types of economic offenses, including illegal entrepreneurship and tax evasion, to replenish the budget. Fines will increase several times, reaching up to $61.5 thousand for significant damages from tax evasion.
Belarus acknowledges a deficit in foreign exchange reserves to cover debt payments in 2026, with only $5. 3 billion available for operational payments out of $13.7 billion on paper. The Ministry of Finance plans to attract additional resources from Russia to cover the deficit.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the heads of the defense and security sector. The situation at the front, Russia's plans, and the internal situation in Russia were discussed.
In 2025, trade between Russia and China decreased by 9. 4% to $163.6 billion. This strengthens the Russian economy's dependence on Beijing due to energy and metal exports.
The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine reported an increase in recessionary trends in the Russian economy, with a noticeable deterioration in the manufacturing industry. In the first three quarters of 2025, a decrease in production volumes was recorded in 70% of the main types of economic activity.
In October, 15. 97 million tons of oil were exported from Russian ports by 140 tankers, 84 of which belong to the "shadow fleet". The main destinations for supplies were India, China, and Turkey.
According to the intelligence report, for the first time since the beginning of the war, a noticeable decrease in Russian oil production and refining has been recorded. By the end of the year, Russia will lose at least $37 billion in budget oil and gas revenues.
The planned increase in VAT in Russia to 22% from 2026 will not provide the expected revenues, but on the contrary, will lead to a decrease in revenues by 6. 1 billion US dollars. This will increase inflationary pressure, reduce domestic demand, and increase the cost of government borrowing.
The President of Ukraine dismissed Serhiy Demediuk and Andriy Kononenko from their positions as Deputy Secretaries of the National Security and Defense Council. Demediuk had held the position since October 2019, and Kononenko since April 2024.
This indicates a sharp decline in scientific literacy and a rise in belief in pseudoscience, noted the Ukrainian foreign intelligence.
The Russian authorities are preparing the population for a sharp deterioration in living standards due to a record budget deficit, which will reach 5. 74 trillion rubles in 2025. The Kremlin plans to raise taxes, cut social programs, and shift responsibility for unpopular decisions to governors and senators.
38. 9% of enterprises reported payment delays, 34% recorded a decrease in demand, and 32.4% experienced a shortage of working capital.
Firewood prices have almost doubled, queues have stretched for months, and local authorities are only promising symbolic compensation.
Russia is experiencing a growing shortage of primary care doctors, ambulance personnel, and mid-level medical staff. Trade unions report widespread overwork and low wages, leading to high staff turnover.
The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine reported that Russia is concealing the real scale of forest fires that are destroying hectares of forest. In the first six months of 2025, fire covered about 9.5 million hectares of forest, while only 2.7 million hectares were officially recognized.
The Russian economy is entering a phase where official statistics no longer conceal the scale of problems, losing its ability to generate profits in traditionally strong sectors. The net profit of enterprises for the first eight months of 2025 decreased by 8.3%, and the share of problem borrowers among legal entities reached 23%.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy approved the main directions of further sanctions work against Russia after a meeting with the heads of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the SBU, and the Foreign Intelligence Service. He instructed to rectify the absence of sanctions against Russian enterprises involved in weapons production and to work more actively with international partners to synchronize sanctions.
Head of the SBU Vasyl Maliuk reported that one of the three "Oreshnik" was destroyed by the forces of the HUR, SBU, and SZRU. The destruction took place at "Kapustyn Yar."
The Russian authorities plan to create a so-called register of "white hackers" under the control of the FSB and with mandatory state registration.
The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine reported that Russian authorities are directing funds from local budgets to reward recruiters, cutting funding for social programs. This leads to cuts in spending on medicine, education, and housing programs in the regions.
The company offers experienced workers "part-time work": for 32 hours - about 16 thousand rubles, for 40 - up to 32 thousand. However, only "selected" ones receive money.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Law No. 4648-IX on increasing state budget expenditures for national security and defense by UAH 324.7 billion. The funds will be directed to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, weapons procurement, the National Guard, the State Special Communications Service, and other law enforcement agencies.
On October 21, the Verkhovna Rada will begin considering amendments to the draft law on the State Budget-2026, and on October 22, it is expected to adopt it as a basis. General fund revenues are projected at UAH 2.8 trillion, with a priority on defense and security.
