Companies from Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are involved in a large-scale scheme to supply fuel to Russia's shadow fleet, having carried out 286 refueling operations. This activity is a gross violation of the sanctions regime, undermining the effectiveness of Western restrictions.
The detainees acted on behalf of Russian special services, preparing terrorist attacks and sabotage. The suspects set fire to a defense-related object and conducted reconnaissance of other important objects.
Operation Matador, involving Europol and law enforcement agencies from six countries, exposed an international group that stole premium cars in the EU. Searches were conducted in Ukraine, evidence was seized, and individuals involved in the theft of Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi E-tron, and other cars were identified.
Two Russian aircraft, a Su-30 and an Il-78, violated Lithuanian airspace for 18 seconds, flying 700 meters near Kybartai. The country's security level has not changed, and Lithuanian services and NATO allies reacted appropriately.
Lithuania and eight other NATO countries are organizing the training and equipping of a Ukrainian brigade in Poland, supplying weapons and equipment. The initiative involves training servicemen according to NATO standards and strengthening support for Ukraine in long-range operations.
Ukraine's allies are seeking to strengthen its position ahead of Trump-Putin talks, fearing a bad deal. They are preparing a support package that includes funding, weapons, and new sanctions against Russia, and plan to involve Zelenskyy in any negotiations.
Cyprus criminalizes the provision of economic resources to sanctioned individuals, which may include accounts in sanctioned Russian banks for Russians with Cypriot passports. This is the implementation of a European Parliament directive, which only seven EU countries had implemented by May 20.
Military support for Ukraine from Western countries has significantly decreased, especially from the United States. Europe partially compensated for the deficit, but the volume of aid decreased by 57% in the summer.
On October 17, 2025, the Latvian State Security Service opened criminal proceedings against its citizen for a verbal attack on a Ukrainian family in Switzerland. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expressed gratitude to Latvia for its prompt reaction to the incident.
Military aid to Ukraine in July and August decreased by 43% compared to the first half of the year. This is due to a change in the structure of support, with most aid now coming through the PURL program.
Ukraine, together with nine Scandinavian and Baltic countries, is launching an initiative to train and equip Ukrainian military personnel. The program provides for the training of units, the supply of weapons, and the strengthening of defense cooperation.
Finland is the only country in Europe where bomb shelters are available for almost all citizens, with 50,500 bunkers accommodating 4. 8 million people. They are located 20 meters deep and can protect even during a nuclear strike.
The 11th meeting of the IT Coalition in Stockholm will accelerate technology procurement for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and increase funding for digital projects. Since September 2023, the coalition has raised over 1.2 billion euros for the development of technological capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Kremlin applies the same narratives to the Baltic states as it did to justify invasions of former Soviet republics. This creates conditions for possible Russian aggression against NATO in the future.
Dragan Stojković resigned as head coach of the Serbian national team after a 0-1 loss to Albania in the World Cup qualifiers. This defeat was the second in a row for the Serbs, who are now in third place in Group K.
841 Russian citizens must leave Latvia by October 13 due to not submitting an application for long-term EU resident status. Staying in the country after this date will become illegal, which may lead to deportation.
In recent months, at least ten European countries have reported drone incursions into their airspace, raising concerns and leading to increased security measures. Romania, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, France, Germany, Lithuania, Estonia, and Belgium have witnessed these incidents, some of which are linked to Russia.
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are developing emergency action plans that include the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people in the event of a Russian military buildup or attack. This is a response to Russia's massive military spending and its invasion of Ukraine.
The Prime Minister of Latvia is not convinced that the idea of a drone wall along NATO's eastern border is promising and good. She called it "raw."
The European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning Russia's violations of EU airspace and interference with infrastructure, demanding coordinated action and sanctions. The resolution calls for the creation of a European Defense Union and cooperation with Ukraine.
The Government of the Republic of Korea and UNDP handed over nine vehicles worth $555,000 to Ukraine. They will help communities in Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions provide essential services to local residents.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Anatolii Kutsevol from the post of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Latvia. Kutsevol held this position since December 2022, and before that worked in the Cabinet of Ministers and the Presidential Administration.
Polish and Baltic officials sharply reacted to statements by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who, in their opinion, partially blamed them for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Merkel pointed to the refusal of Eastern European countries to engage in direct negotiations with Putin in 2021.
Five tankers from Russia's sanctions-evading armada have left oil slicks off the coast of Europe. This highlights the continent's inability to curb Moscow's shadow fleet.
Prosecutor General of Ukraine Ruslan Kravchenko, during his visits to London and The Hague, emphasized the need to bring the highest leaders of the Russian Federation to justice for the crime of aggression. He discussed issues of the Special Tribunal, extradition, asset forfeiture, and sanctions circumvention.
On Saturday evening, the airspace over Vilnius International Airport was restricted, likely due to spotted balloons. Flights are being diverted to alternate airfields in Kaunas, Riga, and Gdansk.
The G7+ group held an urgent meeting due to Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Over 100 representatives from countries and international organizations discussed the consequences of the strikes and the immediate needs for recovery.
In the second quarter of 2025, renewable energy sources generated 54% of the EU's clean electricity, surpassing last year's figure. Solar energy became the largest source of electricity in the EU in June 2025.
President Zelenskyy announced the receipt of funding for 4 aid packages for the purchase of American weapons within the framework of the PURL initiative. The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Canada have contributed a total of over $2 billion.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt plans to change the rules for combating drones, allowing the destruction of drones by the armed forces in the event of an immediate threat. This includes strengthening penalties for illegal entry into airport territory and expanding technical measures.
