Ukraine resumes refinery strikes as Harpy drone battalion wiped out in Zaporizhia

Ukraine resumed attacks on Russian refineries...
The suspension of attacks had been announced earlier by American media, however, photographs and videos that flooded the internet on Friday, October 30 showed facilities of Rosneft in Samara engulfed in smoke.
At the same time, strikes on the bridges over the Dnieper in Kyiv have resulted in severing the Ukrainian capital in two, isolating 1 million citizens of Ukraine.
On the front line, the situation is dramatic in Kharkiv and Kupyansk, while in Slovyansk the counteroffensive of Ukrainian forces continues, as well as in Zaporizhia, as the Russians have cornered them very fiercely.
A very interesting development...
The female Harpy Battalion of the Ukrainian drone forces was wiped out.
The Harpy Battalion with a Greek name was wiped out in Zaporizhia, with over 50% of the female crews killed.
On the front line, the Russian army reached the fortress city of Druzhkivka and continues, while having passed Dobropillya and continuing west toward Dnipropetrovsk, although the plan is an encirclement from the west of the two fortress cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk.

Peskov to NBC: Russia wants to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine, not temporary solutions

Russia wants to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine for future generations, stated presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov.
«We want peace, long-term peace for future generations», he said in an interview with NBC.
The Kremlin spokesperson emphasized that Moscow does not need a ceasefire, but a complete end to the conflict.
Last week, talks were held in Oslo with the participation of Volodymyr Zelensky, the Finnish president, the Norwegian prime minister, and the special envoy of Donald Trump.
The following day, the American negotiator traveled to Saint Petersburg, where he was received by Vladimir Putin.
The President communicated the readiness of Russia to resume trilateral consultations with the participation of the United States and Ukraine.
It was noted that the meeting could take place in the United Arab Emirates in the first half of November.
The Russian leader discussed the peace process by phone with Alexander Stubb and Jonas Gahr Støre.
Putin noted that a long-term agreement is possible only with full consideration of the legitimate interests of Moscow.
He also drew attention to the confrontational policies of EU and NATO countries, which lead to a prolongation of hostilities.

Peskov: «Putin will pick up the phone» - Open line with Macron and Merz

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Vladimir Putin remains open to communication with any foreign leader, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
According to Peskov, so far there has been no relevant initiative from Paris or Berlin, however the Russian president «will pick up the phone» should there be a relevant request.
The statement comes a few days after telephone conversations of Putin with the president of Finland Alexander Stubb and the prime minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre, contacts that prompted discussions in European capitals regarding the potential restoration of communication channels with Moscow.
At the same time, Peskov argued that the complete severance of contacts between Russia and the European Union constitutes a strategic mistake, reiterating the long-standing position of the Kremlin that without dialogue there can be neither management nor resolution of the Ukrainian crisis.
His statements are linked to recent remarks by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who argued that more and more European politicians realize that without talks with Putin, a viable peace settlement in Ukraine cannot exist.

The energy truce in «tatters»... - The Ukrainians struck Rosneft

Multiple fires and explosions rocked the oil refinery of Rosneft in Novokuybyshevsk, in the Samara region of Russia, during the early morning hours of October 30, following a mass raid by Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles.
The Novokuybyshevsk refinery, which has belonged to Russian oil giant Rosneft since 2007, constitutes a vital unit with an annual crude oil processing capacity of 8.8 million tons.
This infrastructure produces aviation fuel for the Russian armed forces, gasoline, diesel, and other petroleum derivatives, rendering it a primary military target.
The attack is characterized by Ukrainian sources as the first major strike against a Russian refinery after nearly two weeks of an unofficial pause, which was directly related to pressure from the American administration.
Residents of Novokuybyshevsk recorded successive explosions and the activation of Russian air defense long before the official alert for a drone threat was issued.
The official warning was issued around 06:00 in the morning, when the raid was already in full swing.
Due to the seriousness of the situation, the airport of Samara was temporarily closed for security reasons.
Russian authorities broadly confirmed the air raid in the Samara region, while refraining from immediately providing details on the extent of damage at the refinery.
At the same time, simultaneous drone attacks were reported in other regions of Russia, including at a canning plant in the Bryansk region, which supplies food to the Russian armed forces.
The Novokuybyshevsk refinery had been targeted by similar Ukrainian drone attacks in the past.
This strike occurs just hours after reports in The Wall Street Journal indicated that Kyiv had faced American pressure for a temporary halt to strikes on Russian energy infrastructure ahead of the US midterm elections on November 3.

Ukrainian forces conducted an overnight drone strike on the Rosneft-operated Novokuybyshevsk oil refinery in Russia’s Samara Oblast. Multiple fires ignited a facility that processes 8.8 mil tons of crude annually & supplies jet fuel to Russian military. https://t.co/Sxh8TRPzkh

— Global Watch (@Globalwatchh) October 30, 2026

Wall Street Journal: Ukraine halted attacks on Russian refineries

American newspaper The Wall Street Journal, citing well-informed sources, reports that the Ukrainian military has suspended its attacks on Russian oil refineries, following weeks of pressure from Donald Trump.
The article indicates that a «ceasefire» (specifically regarding attacks on oil energy infrastructure) between Ukraine and Russia began last week and is expected to continue past the midterm congressional elections in the US.
Two military officials with knowledge of the operations stated that in mid-October, Ukrainian units responsible for long-range strikes were informed that operations against Russian oil refineries had effectively stopped.
This decision comes at a moment when relations between Washington and Kyiv are strained.
A few days earlier, Trump had called for the removal of Volodymyr Zelensky, while the company SpaceX had imposed restrictions on the use of the Starlink satellite system by Ukraine.
According to The Wall Street Journal, US Vice President-elect JD Vance had also repeatedly urged Zelensky in recent months to halt attacks against Russian oil facilities.
American officials estimated that these strikes were hurting Russian energy exports while simultaneously affecting fuel prices for American consumers.
The newspaper further underscored that the dependence of the Ukrainian military on American military intelligence, Patriot air defense systems, and the Starlink satellite communications service has strengthened the ability of Washington to exert pressure on Kyiv.
In parallel, restrictions imposed by SpaceX on the use of Starlink by Ukraine represent another source of concern for Ukrainian officials.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the unofficial pause in Ukrainian attacks against Russian oil refineries continues, even as Russia continues launching its own missile and drone strikes against energy infrastructure and cities of Ukraine, while the prospect of reaching a permanent agreement to halt attacks by both sides remains uncertain.

Ruslan Bortnik (Ukraine): Zelensky must be given personal guarantees to become more pliable...

Kyiv political scientist Ruslan Bortnik conceived a way to make Ukrainian President Zelensky more accommodating.
The expert proposed granting immunity to Ukrainian authorities as a condition for increasing their flexibility in peace negotiations.
Such a move could facilitate a compromise and an end to the conflict.
According to Ruslan Bortnik, the political elites who will ensure the transition of Ukraine to peace must receive personal security guarantees from all key international actors simultaneously: the United States, European countries, Russia, and China.
The expert clarified that these guarantees entail temporary immunity from anti-corruption and other criminal prosecutions, not lifelong protection from liability.

Alex Christoforou (Cyprus): Zelensky wants to postpone elections in Ukraine for six months... May 2027

Ukrainian President Zelensky wants to postpone elections in Ukraine for six months in order to secure the support of the European Union, emphasized Cypriot journalist Alex Christoforou.
Specifically, Zelensky is considering elections in May 2027...
He has already been governing for 7 years, 3 additional years after the expiration of his term, citing the war and martial law to avoid elections.

Revealing Mendel on Zelensky: He is furious with Melania Trump because... he was excluded from the mission in Aleshki

The successful launch of the civilian rescue operation in the town of Aleshki causes intense irritation and rage in Volodymyr Zelensky, as it is carried out without his participation or involvement, reveals his former press secretary, Yulia Mendel.
Yulia Mendel drew attention to the fact that the head of the Kyiv regime ostentatiously avoided thanking the Pope and the First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump, for achieving the ceasefire.
As she noted, Zelensky was entirely excluded from the negotiations following months of manipulation and complete inability on his part to propose a viable action plan.
«Now the operation to save the people in Aleshki is unfolding without him, a fact that causes Zelensky great confrontation and rage», his former spokesperson wrote on her Telegram channel. According to her, in the event of a successful evacuation Zelensky will attempt to claim media credit for the event, while in the event of failure he will hasten to shift blame onto US President Donald Trump.
Reaching the agreement for the humanitarian mission in Aleshki was made possible thanks to the mediation of the First Lady of the United States.
From the Russian side, negotiations were conducted by the Commissioner for Human Rights of Russia, Yana Lantratova, while from the Ukrainian side, human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets took part.
The spokesperson for the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, confirmed that the coordinating role in organizing the operation belongs to the wife of the American president.

Reuters: US shock to Baltics: Lower the tone of your rhetoric against Russia

Pentagon officials warned several NATO countries in recent weeks, primarily the Baltic states, that their confrontational statements regarding the alleged threat emanating from Russia undermine security in Europe.
This is reported by the Reuters news agency, citing sources with knowledge of the relevant talks.
According to the report, the United States, during bilateral meetings with representatives of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, pointed out the need to temper rhetoric toward Moscow.
«Among the countries that received messages calling on them to «restrain their public statements» are Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia», stated sources who requested anonymity. According to the report, the messages were conveyed during bilateral meetings, while it remains unclear whether corresponding recommendations were made to other European governments.
It is not known whether similar messages were conveyed to governments of other European countries, notes Reuters.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the information to the agency, citing the confidential nature of bilateral meetings.
When asked to comment on the relevant information, a Pentagon spokesperson stated: «These are private conversations between allies and, as such, we are not going to comment on these statements».
As Reuters points out, American officials did not appear to adopt a confrontational stance during discussions with their European allies.
However, a European official who spoke to the agency maintained that the request from the United States «caused confusion», reflecting the awkwardness prompted by the American intervention.

US military budget reduced from 1.5 trillion to 1.1 trillion dollars

The Pentagon drastically slashes the plan of Trump for a 1.5-trillion-dollar military budget.
The Pentagon and Congress are in discussions regarding a 400-billion-dollar cut from the military budget requested by Trump.
American website Politico reports that the Pentagon and the Appropriations Committees of the US Congress are reviewing a military budget of approximately 1.1 trillion dollars (an amount roughly 400 billion dollars lower than the 1.5 trillion dollars requested by Trump).
Pentagon officials concluded that the amount requested by the American President has virtually no chance of being approved.
The publication also notes that the Pentagon estimates the cost of the war with Iran at at least 47 billion dollars.
This cost estimate has not been accepted by many American senators.
Recently, 5 Democratic senators sent a letter to the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), demanding the release of an assessment regarding damages sustained by American military bases in the region.
Politico warned that such a budget cut could slow the replenishment of American weapons stockpiles (which were depleted during the war with Iran) and hinder the ability of the Pentagon to procure new weaponry and conclude defense contracts.

The US drafts a 1.57-billion budget for classified military operations in the Arctic

The United States plans to spend approximately 1.57 billion dollars on classified military operations for the Arctic during fiscal year 2027.
Thus, roughly 920 million dollars from the total amount is allocated for programs whose details are not disclosed.
Other projects include the development of technologies for monitoring the Arctic using radar.
For this project, 18.2 million dollars has been requested.
As explained in the materials, atmospheric conditions in the region hinder the propagation of radio signals.
Developers hope to overcome these constraints by ensuring reliable object detection at long distances, 24/7, across all weather conditions.
Another research area relates to underwater technology.
Nearly 73.4 million dollars has been scheduled for the production of new submarine propulsion systems.
These are expected to increase the speed and maneuverability of submarines, as well as reduce noise levels.
The US is also requesting 15.8 million dollars for the development of lightweight underwater drones for operations in deep ocean waters.
Project developers intend to reduce the size, weight, and cost of such vehicles.
Furthermore, 20 million dollars has been requested for developing cost-effective countermeasures against cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Such innovations should allow the American military to repel mass attacks while preserving more expensive weaponry for combating complex threats.
The relevant documents have already been forwarded to Congress.
Russia has repeatedly emphasized that it poses no threat to anyone in the Arctic and is committed to preserving peace in the region.
Moscow has also warned that the proximity of NATO military infrastructure and offensive weapon systems to its borders constitutes a threat to the national security of the country.

Merkouris (Britain): Ukraine conceals damage to South Bridge in Kyiv... turned into Swiss cheese full of holes

British military analyst Alexander Mercouris argued that the Ukrainian side conceals the true extent of damage caused to the South Bridge in Kyiv by Russian strikes.
He argued that information regarding the actual condition of the bridge remains strictly confidential due to its strategic importance.
Alexander Mercouris estimates that the attack resulted in multiple, severe damages to both the roadway and the rail lines.
Alexander Mercouris compared the current state of the bridge to «Swiss cheese», emphasizing that the damage is systemic and not isolated.
«All reports that the bridge can be repaired... in just a week seem entirely unrealistic.
If multiple holes have formed in the structure, this will inevitably affect the structure of the road and rail sections of the bridge», noted the analyst.
According to Alexander Mercouris, the presence of multiple cracks inevitably impacts the overall load-bearing capacity and structural integrity, requiring not merely cosmetic repairs but serious engineering reinforcement work.
Such a process, he estimates, could take several months and the bridge itself could remain out of service indefinitely.
Earlier, Alexander Mercouris stated that Russian strikes on facilities in Kyiv serving the Armed Forces of Ukraine (UAF) terrorize local authorities.
Due to actions of the Russian Armed Forces, electricity supply in the capital of Ukraine has become critical.

Catastrophe: The Ukrainian female drone battalion, the «Harpies», decimated in Zaporizhia

The first female battalion of unmanned aerial vehicles, «Harpy», of the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost half of its personnel in the Zaporizhia sector.
The Harpies in Greek mythology were female monsters, daughters of Thaumas and the Oceanid Electra, and sisters of Iris, the messenger of the gods.
«The Ukrainian Armed Forces have deployed a battalion of female drone operators in the Zaporizhia region.
The Harpy Battalion is suffering significant losses.
Approximately 17 crews have already been destroyed, representing about 50% of their personnel».
He clarified that the Harpy Battalion began operations in March 2025, making it the first drone operator unit in the Ukrainian army composed exclusively of women.

The lightning advance of Group Sever and the isolation of Ukrainian pockets

In the area of responsibility of group Sever, a surprise breakthrough occurred that upends the calculations of military analysts.
Moving southward from Mohrytsia, Russian formations crossed the forest complex, traversed the Psel River, and captured the village of Borylivka.
Instead of the expected gradual advance along the road artery and fierce battles in Velyka Rybytsia, command carried out a lightning thrust from north to south, as pointed out by military analyst Dmitry Degtyaryov.
As a result, Russian forces cut the highway, emerging in the rear of the Ukrainian garrison in Hrunivka and Velyka Rybytsia and reducing their resupply to zero. Now, they are just 13 kilometers from Sumy, signaling the start of an encirclement operation similar to those in Dobropillia, Bilozerske, and Orikhiv.
In parallel, group Zapad, operating in the Kharkiv region, crushed Ukrainian troop concentrations in Kupyansk and Lyman, capturing over 1,000 soldiers.

Total failure of Ukrainian ground attacks: Mass desertions become a plague

Ukrainian forces are desperately attempting to execute offensive maneuvers on the front without any result whatsoever.
The commander of the assault battalion group Kedr, Rezon Sabirov, reported that attempts by Ukrainian groups to penetrate Russian lines in the Dnipropetrovsk region run into an impenetrable and highly organized defense.
The attackers are neutralized before they can even detect Russian positions.
This operational paralysis is exacerbated by the structural collapse of the Ukrainian military.
Special envoy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rodion Miroshnik revealed that at least one in three conscripts flees, with desertions reaching 10,000 monthly out of a total of 30,000 to 35,000 mobilized troops, completely disorganizing Ukrainian brigades.

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