Belarus
The former People's Deputy of the IX convocation is accused of collaboration and large-scale fraud, which entails life imprisonment. He enriched himself by UAH 14.5 million using a scheme for supplying fertilizers and spreading pro-Russian narratives.
Lithuania and Russia are negotiating the extension of the gas transit agreement to the Kaliningrad region, which expires in December 2025. Lithuania receives approximately 12 million euros in revenue annually for gas transit.
In Zhytomyr region, the circumstances of two explosions of ZIL and UAZ cars in the border zone with Belarus are being investigated. As a result of the incidents, five people aged 19 to 65 died, and three more were injured.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia's shadow fleet numbers more than 1,500 vessels, of which 340 are key, and 65 require immediate sanctions. Canada, Britain, Australia, Japan, and the EU are helping with this by reducing imports from the Russian Federation.
Lithuanian authorities temporarily closed the airspace over Vilnius due to balloons from Belarus, which was the sixth such incident in October. This led to two flights being turned back and increased control at the border with Belarus.
New Zealand imposes sanctions on 65 more shadow fleet vessels and entities from Belarus, Iran, and North Korea.
Ukraine supported Lithuania over Belarusian provocations and airspace incursions, which caused disruptions to civil aviation. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called Lukashenka's actions hybrid attacks by the Russian Federation against Europe.
Lithuania is temporarily closing two border crossings with Belarus, Medininkai and Šalčininkai, for a month, starting on Wednesday. Exceptions will apply to diplomats, EU citizens, and other categories, while Šalčininkai will be completely closed and Medininkai partially open.
The European Union has condemned Belarus for provocative actions after balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes forced Lithuania to close airports. The EU warned of possible further sanctions but refrained from directly accusing the Lukashenka regime due to Hungary's objections.
Russia's Oreshnik complex with hypersonic missiles to be deployed in Belarus in December.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the consideration of opening the Bobrowniki-Berestovitsa and Kuźnica-Bruzgi crossings, which were closed in 2023 and 2021. This decision is "trial" and possible due to enhanced border security.
This refers to the corporate rights of OJSC "Gomselmash" in three Ukrainian companies - LLC "Trading House Gomselmash-Ukraine", LLC "Trading House MTZ-Belarus-Ukraine" and LLC "Promin-Yug".
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó was in Minsk on Tuesday, where he used Russian in his speech during the Eurasian conference. The Budapest representative met with the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, after which he announced Russia's openness to a summit with the United States.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv is ready for peace talks with Russia, ruling out any territorial concessions. He emphasized that negotiations could take place anywhere except Russia or Belarus.
20,502 foreign students study in Ukrainian higher education institutions, most of them from China and Azerbaijan. Over 400 Russian citizens also receive education in Ukrainian universities.
The European Union has supported Lithuania in connection with regular flights of contraband balloons from Belarus. President of the European Council António Costa assured of full solidarity with the people of Lithuania and called on Belarus to cease hybrid activities.
Lithuania calls on the EU to impose new sanctions against Belarus after the flight of contraband balloons. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys called it part of the Belarusian regime's hybrid warfare.
Lithuania will start shooting down smuggler balloons from Belarus that have repeatedly violated the country's airspace. This decision was made after Vilnius airport was closed four times due to such incidents.
Lithuania has temporarily closed the "Šalčininkai" and "Medininkai" border crossings with Belarus due to balloon flights. Vilnius International Airport has also suspended operations until morning.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda stated the need to consider restricting transit to Kaliningrad and a long-term closure of the border with Belarus. This is a response to a hybrid attack against Lithuania, which included the shutdown of airports due to balloons from Belarus.
On the evening of October 24, Lithuania closed two of its largest airports and border crossing points with Belarus. This happened due to air balloons flying from the Belarusian side.
Russian troops attacked Odesa region for the first time with modernized KABs with jet engines. Military expert Vladyslav Selezniov stated that Kyiv is not currently under threat, but the situation could change.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that the country is working on how to circumvent US sanctions against Russian oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft.
Electronic Arts has restricted access to its games for users in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia regions and Crimea. The reason given is sanctions and embargoes, although the cities of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are controlled by Ukraine.
The Official Journal of the EU has published the content of the 19th sanctions package, adopted on October 23. The restrictions apply to 116 vessels of the "shadow fleet" and 44 legal entities from various countries, including Russia, Hong Kong, China, India, and Thailand.
Two journalists, Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli, imprisoned in Belarus and Georgia, have been awarded the 2025 Sakharov Prize. They were recognized for their freedom of thought and for speaking out against injustice while imprisoned on fabricated charges.
Traffic at Vilnius Airport was temporarily suspended on October 21 due to dozens of balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes from Belarus. Eight flights were diverted to Kaunas and Warsaw.
The Council of the International Ski Federation (FIS) has banned athletes from Russia and Belarus from participating in qualifying competitions for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. This decision makes their participation impossible even in a neutral status.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reports that Russian and Belarusian athletes who visited the occupied territories of Ukraine continue to participate in international competitions under a neutral status. Among them are Elena Kirillova, Alsu Minazova, Alina Harnasko, Yana Sotieva, Regina Shaidullina, and Anastasia Romanova.
Officers of the Podlaskie Border Guard Unit of Poland discovered an underground tunnel under the barrier on the Polish-Belarusian border. The tunnel started on the territory of Belarus and ended 20 meters from the border on the Polish side.