Russia
Russia closing the trap as its forces expand control of Pokrovsk
The stronghold city of Pokrovsk in the heart of the Donbas now risks “becoming a graveyard for Ukraine’s finest,” Euromaidan Press reports as Russian forces expand their control and threaten to encircle hundreds of Ukraine’s best troops.
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Russia automotive output slumps to levels of first months of Ukraine war as demand slumps
Russia’s automotive industry — once a symbol of the country’s industrial ambitions — has entered another sharp downturn, reversing the fragile recovery seen in 2023 and early 2024.
MOSCOW BLOG: Western coverage of the Ukraine war turns negative
After more than three years of throwing their support behind Kyiv’s defence of Ukraine following Russia’s invasion and pushing a narrative of “stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes,” the Western press has turned starkly negative in recent weeks.
Russia’s manufacturing PMI falls to its lowest level since May 2022 in October
Russia’s manufacturing sector saw a deeper contraction in October, with output, new orders, and business confidence all weakening, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data from S&P Global, published on November 1.
Russia launches Khabarovsk nuclear submarine designed to deploy nuclear-capable Poseidon drones
Russia has launched a new strategic nuclear submarine, the Khabarovsk, which is capable of carrying a dozen of the Kremlin’s recently unveiled nuclear-powered Poseidon torpedo—a next-generation weapons system that Putin called "unstoppable."
Ukraine’s elite HUR forces turn the tide in the battle for Pokrovsk, as Russia’s effort to capture key logistics hub fails
The battle for Pokrovsk became intense early on November 1and it looked like the fall of the key logistics hub to Russia was imminent. But a bold counterattack by Ukraine’s elite HUR forces seems to have turned the tide.
US prepares attack on Venezuela as Maduro begs Putin for aid
The Trump administration has reportedly drawn up a list of potential military targets within Venezuela as part of its intensifying pressure on President Nicolás Maduro, who has turned to Moscow seeking urgent military assistance.
Bulgaria suspends fuel exports to EU after US sanctions Lukoil
Bulgaria has temporarily suspended exports of petroleum products to European Union countries after the United States imposed sanctions on Russian oil giant Lukoil.
Russia faces $50bn annual losses from oil sanctions as Lukoil exits international assets
Russia is expected to lose at least $50bn annually due to oil-related sanctions, as Moscow’s largest private oil producer Lukoil agrees to sell its international assets and Germany considers nationalising operations owned by state-run Rosneft.
Situation critical in Ukraine’s frontline key logistics hub Pokrovsk
Russian infantry units have breached Ukrainian defensive lines and entered the key eastern logistics hub of Pokrovsk, sparking intense street fighting and threatening to encircle Ukrainian forces as the situation becomes "critical."
Trump–Xi dialogue in Busan aims to cool tariff dispute
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping began direct discussions on October 30, marking their first in person meeting since Trump returned to the White House.
Russia tests nuclear-powered Poseidon torpedo, Putin says
Speaking during a hospital visit with soldiers wounded in Ukraine, Putin said the device was launched from a submarine and that its onboard nuclear power unit had been successfully activated.
COMMENT: EU's LNG import ban won’t break Russia, but it will render the sector’s further growth fiendishly hard
The European Union’s nineteenth sanctions package against Russia marks a pivotal escalation in the bloc’s energy strategy, which will impose a comprehensive ban on Russian LNG imports beginning January 1, 2027.
Russia withdraws from Cold War plutonium disposal pact with US
Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally withdrawn from a key arms control agreement with the United States governing the disposal of weapons-grade plutonium, as the few remaining nuclear security accords between the two powers vanish.
The Arctic and Antarctica record "off the charts" heat as polar warming accelerates
Parts of both the Arctic and Antarctic have experienced historically high temperatures in recent weeks, with weather stations in East Antarctica recording record-breaking warmth for the month of October, alarming climate scientists.
Ruble strengthens as sanctioned oil companies repatriate cash
The Russian ruble strengthened after the Trump administration imposed oil sanctions on Russia’s leading oil companies, extending a rally that began after the Biden administration imposed oil sanctions on Russia in January.
Zelenskiy allows the start of controlled arms exports
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy ordered Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence to begin the controlled export of domestically produced weapons starting in November for the first time in the hope of boosting production and attracting investment.
Russia's central bank cuts rates by 50bp to 16.5%
The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) cut rates by 50bp on October 24 to 16.5% in an effort to boost flagging growth despite fears of a revival of inflationary pressure due to an upcoming two percentage point hike in the planned VAT rates.
COMMENT: Sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil are symbolic and won’t stop its oil exports
The Trump administration’s sanctions on Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil, announced on October 22, may appear decisive at first glance, but they are not going to make a material difference to Russia’s export of oil, says Sergey Vakulenko.
KSE: Ukraine is facing a $53bn budget shortfall, but economy is stable for now
Ukraine is in urgent need of additional financing from partners as the continuation of the war drives up defence spending and reconstruction needs, jeopardizes budget financing, weighs on the balance of payments, and slows economic growth.