Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Regnum] Two men died in a bear attack in the Irkutsk region. The press service of the regional Investigative Committee's Main Investigative Directorate reported this on Monday, October 12.
According to the agency, one of the victims, a 56-year-old man, was found near the Tareya River in the Bratsk Reservoir. He had multiple wounds consistent with a bear attack.
The remains of a second man were discovered approximately 15 kilometers from the village of Kaimonovo in the Nizhneilimsky District. Investigators later determined that they belonged to a 47-year-old resident of the village of Rechushka, who had also been attacked by a predator. He had been living in a winter hut since mid-September. One day, he went hunting and did not return, leading to his being listed as missing.
Local investigators have begun conducting pre-investigation checks.
Earlier in October, a bear attacked a 15-year-old boy in a forest in the Altai Krai region. The boy survived and was hospitalized. Doctors diagnosed him with brain swelling following the attack.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Korrespondent] 22.57 On the evening of October 12, a series of loud explosions were heard in Kyiv. An airstrike due to a missile threat was declared after the first reports of explosions. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko reported that a missile hit a transport infrastructure facility in the Dnipro district. Emergency services are heading to the scene.
22.29 Russian forces have again attacked an oil depot owned by Austrian fuel company Amic Energy, located in Ukraine. Amic Energy noted that the facility had already suffered significant damage in the first weeks of Russia's full-scale invasion. The company is documenting damage, which is estimated to exceed UAH 300 million, and is continuing to operate its Ukrainian gas station network.
22.06 Russian troops attacked Kharkiv on the evening of Monday, October 12, delivering three strikes to the Kholodnohirsky district. The Banderola hit caused a fire, damaged more than six private houses, and injured two people.
21.47 Russian troops attacked the production complex of the Roshen confectionery corporation in Vinnytsia. According to the corporation, after the air raid alert was announced, the company's employees were quickly evacuated. Roshen also denied allegations that its factories were allegedly producing drones. They emphasized that the factories produce confectionery products, and the production complex in Vinnytsia is a civilian facility.
21.28 Two people were killed and seven others were injured in a Russian strike on a 25-story apartment building in the Darnytskyi district of Kyiv. As reported by the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office, as of 21:00, it was known about the death of a 59-year-old woman. The body of another person was found in a car near the house. Among the seven injured is a 17-year-old girl. The people received shrapnel wounds, bruises and cuts.
The attack set fire to apartments on the fourth and fifth floors of the building. The fire also destroyed at least 12 cars and two motorcycles.
21.09 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced the preparation of important negotiations with the European Union regarding the financial needs of the state for this and next years. According to him, the Ukrainian side has discussed key positions in detail and continues coordination with the European Commission and leaders of European countries.
Separately, the president reported on the report of the negotiating team following the meetings in the United States and communication with the team of the President of the United States. According to Zelensky, Ukraine is ready for real solutions and steps for de-escalation, which could bring the end of the war closer. However, Russian troops continued to attack Ukrainian energy infrastructure on the eve and on the day of the US President's statement.
19.43 A Russian drone hit a high-rise building in one of the districts of the capital on Monday evening. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported on the details of the attack.
The KMVA reported the death of a woman as a result of a Russian attack.
Also, according to the mayor, there are preliminary reports of four victims. Doctors are currently examining the victims.
19.23 A court sentenced a 35-year-old man to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property for sabotage and unauthorized abandonment of a military unit. This was reported by the Vinnytsia regional police.
"The 35-year-old convict agreed to "easy" money from the aggressor's special services and set fire to a relay cabinet within the Vinnytsia urban territorial community. In addition to sabotage, the man was found guilty of committing another crime - unauthorized abandonment of a military unit," the report noted.
In March last year, law enforcement officers identified and detained the convict.
19.05 Last night, Ukraine did not attack any energy facilities in Russia, instead, the Russian Federation hit gas stations, energy infrastructure, and other facilities. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with Fox News, quotes from which were published on the head of state's Telegram channel.
18.34 The Ukrainian Defense Forces were able to significantly stabilize the front line. This was stated by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Alexus Hrynkevich, at the Warsaw Security Forum, Ukrinform reported.
"The Ukrainians have done an incredible job over the past few months and, in particular, throughout 2026. The front line has been largely stabilized. And this is a huge credit to the fighting spirit of the Ukrainians, their innovative spirit, and what they have managed to do on this front line, despite the difference in personnel numbers and the difference in available resources," the general said.
18.05 US President Donald Trump defended his agreement with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to purchase diesel fuel. He wrote about this on the social network Truth Social.
17.49 Three people were injured as a result of the Russian attack on the Dnipro. The number of wounded in Pavlohrad also increased. This was reported by the head of the Dnipropetrovsk OVA Oleksandr Ganzha.
"Two men are currently in the hospital for examination, a 27-year-old woman received assistance on the spot and is being treated at home," he noted.
Meanwhile, in Pavlohrad, the number of injured has increased to three people. All the men have been hospitalized. According to Ganzha, one injured person is in serious condition.
17.46 Russian invaders are strengthening in the Hulyaipil direction. This is related to the task of occupying the left bank of the Zaporizhia region, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
17.43 On October 12, the Council of the European Union adopted additional sanctions against 1,569 Russian companies and their executives linked to the Russian military-industrial complex. This is the largest package of personal sanctions adopted by the EU since the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. As reported by the press service of the Council of the EU, 826 Russian companies and 743 individuals who hold the positions of CEOs of these enterprises were added to the sanctions list.
The sanctions cover not only direct arms producers, but also companies that supply the necessary components for their production. The restrictions include asset freezes, a ban on the provision of funds and economic resources, and for individuals, a ban on entry into the European Union.
17.19 In Vinnytsia, a Russian drone hit a civilian infrastructure facility. This was reported by the head of the Vinnytsia Regional Administration Natalia Zabolotna.
She noted that all relevant services have arrived at the scene. Information about the consequences is also being clarified.
16.34 Three people, including a 13-year-old girl, were killed and four others were injured as a result of a Russian strike on the village of Cherkaske, Kramatorsk district, Donetsk region. This was reported by the head of the Donetsk OVA, Vadym Filashkin.
The regional prosecutor's office clarified that three family members died : a 36-year-old woman, a 62-year-old grandmother, and her 13-year-old granddaughter.
16.06 European countries need to be more active in countering Russian disinformation and protecting democratic elections from external interference. Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius suggested in this context asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to step up attacks on data centers in Russia. The head of the Lithuanian government said this during the Warsaw Security Forum at the discussion panel "Strategic Moment for Europe in a Fractured World."
16.01 Russian troops on Monday carried out another attack on Pavlohrad, in the Dnipropetrovsk region. As a result of enemy shelling, a man was seriously injured. This was reported by the head of the OVA, Oleksandr Ganzha.
"A 50-year-old man was injured in the Russian attack on Pavlohrad. He is currently in the hospital. His condition is serious," the head of the OVA noted.
15.31 Russian troops struck Sloviansk. The head of the city's military administration, Vadim Lyakh, reported on the consequences of the attack.
In total, the enemy carried out three MLRS strikes on the city.
At least 44 private homes and cars were damaged and destroyed as a result of the attack.
A 77-year-old woman was also injured.
On July 15, the European Union imposed sanctions against 77 individuals over the "elections" to the Russian State Duma in the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) of Ukraine. The Council of the EU reported this.
The list of individuals included candidates running for various parties in the so-called "DPR" and "LPR", Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, as well as in Crimea and Sevastopol, and members of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
14.33 Russian leader Vladimir Putin would be ready to give instructions not to strike on election day in Ukraine if Kyiv decides to hold them, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
He also reported that contacts regarding a possible energy truce are continuing.
14.01 The supply of diesel fuel to the US should be negotiated with Ukraine, not Russia. President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in his address to the Warsaw Security Forum.
It is Ukraine that influences whether refineries in Russia operate, as well as whether ships can transport diesel, the head of state recalled.
13.55 The Security Service has blocked new attempts to register Starlink satellite terminals for Russian armed groups. Four Russian agents who were engaged in illegal verification of Internet communication stations were detained in different regions of Ukraine. The suspects were recruited remotely by Russians when they were looking for "easy" earnings in Telegram channels.
13.41 On Monday night, Russian aggressors attacked a gas production facility in the Kharkiv region. Naftogaz reported this. A fire broke out as a result of a jet drone strike. Critical equipment at the facility was damaged.
13.36 China supports all efforts for a peaceful resolution of Russia's war against Ukraine, including a dialogue on an energy truce. This was stated by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, commenting on a recent proposal by US President Donald Trump, Ukrinform reports.
12.47 Russian drone debris fell in several districts of Kyiv. In Darnytsia district, UAV debris was recorded falling on a private house. In Solomyansky district, UAV debris fell in an open area near private houses.
12.43 In Kharkiv, the number of people injured as a result of Russian strikes on the Kyivskyi district has increased to 19 people. This was reported by the press service of the regional prosecutor's office.
The Russians carried out a series of strikes with drones, initially of the Geran-2 type.
Apartment buildings and private residential buildings, as well as a sports complex, were damaged.
As of now, 19 victims are known, including a 10-year-old boy.
12.41 EU foreign ministers have approved almost 1,600 new sanctions positions targeting the Russian military-industrial complex, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaia Kallas announced on the X social network on Monday.
More than half of the new items on the sanctions list are related to the ballistic missile production chain in the Russian Federation.
12.22 Russian troops struck the Dnieper. The blast wave damaged the windows of a multi-story building, killing one person.
The Russians also struck the Dnipro district. One of the floors of a shopping center was occupied.
12.15 Ukraine has only one oil refinery, so in the matter of an energy truce, the key for it is to stop Russia's attacks on power plants and energy networks. The American team is well informed about this. President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in his address to the Warsaw Security Forum.
11.54 Russian forces use sea-based missile carriers against Ukraine on average three times a month, according to the spokesman for the Ukrainian Navy, Dmytro Pletenchuk.
According to him, the Ukrainian Navy has not detected Russian warships and submarines in the open sea for the past five months.
The Russians are trying to preserve the remnants of their fleet in temporarily occupied Crimea. But it cannot be considered a threat, since these are either decommissioned combat units or an auxiliary fleet, Pletenchuk noted.
11.21 On Monday morning, six regions of Ukraine experienced new power outages due to Russian attacks on civilian energy infrastructure and bad weather. Ukrenergo reported this. Emergency restoration work is already underway wherever security conditions currently allow.
10.59 This morning, Russian UAVs hit high-rise residential buildings in the Kyivskyi district of Kharkiv. A total of five hits were recorded, said the city's mayor, Igor Terekhov.
10.44 The holding of elections in Ukraine depends on an end to the war waged by Russia, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaia Kallas said in Luxembourg before the start of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting.
"If pressure is put on Russia to stop the war, I am sure that elections will take place in Ukraine," Kallas said.
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos also expressed her position on the Ukrainian elections. She emphasized that the decision on the country's future belongs exclusively to Ukraine.
"Ukraine is a sovereign state, and only Ukraine itself will decide the issues of elections and its future," Kos said.
10.40 Counterintelligence officers have prevented the fourth terrorist attack that the Russian special services have been preparing in Rivne since the beginning of 2026. The SBU reported this. The terrorists tried to blow up an entire unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during its departure to a permanent deployment point.
10.35 In Sheptytskyi, Lviv region, an unknown man attacked a serviceman of the CCC alert group and stabbed him, probably with a knife, in the neck, after which he fled. Other members of the alert group provided first aid to the victim and called an ambulance. The wounded man is currently in intensive care.
10.21 The investigation into representatives of pro-Russian structures who, with the support of the Russian Federation, tried to create the so-called "Odessa People's Republic" in Odessa has been completed.
Prosecutors have sent an indictment to the court against three representatives of pro-Russian structures who tried to create the "Odessa People's Republic" and were involved in organizing mass riots on May 2, 2014. Among the defendants are the head of a pro-Russian public organization, the secretary of the UOC diocese, and the head of the Anti-Maidan movement group on Kulikovo Field.
10.00 The Russian Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missile has problems with targeting accuracy, and in 2026 Russia significantly reduced the volume of its state defense order. At the same time, Russia is working on a modification of the Kinzhal with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead.
The GUR has published data on 58 Russian enterprises involved in production cooperation to create the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missiles. According to intelligence, 22 of them are still not under sanctions by any of the countries of the sanctions coalition.
9.41 Russian troops attacked railway and energy infrastructure in the Korosten district of Zhytomyr region. Rescuers quickly extinguished the fires that resulted from the attacks. There was no information about victims or injuries.
9.36 On the night of October 12, Russia attacked Ukraine with a Kh-59 guided missile and 121 strike drones of various types. Among the drones were 76 Shahed jets, the Ukrainian Air Force reported.
The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, as well as mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces.
9.18 In Kharkiv, a Russian strike drone hit a multi-story residential building. The attack caused significant damage to the upper floors. In one of the entrances, floors 7 to 9 were destroyed. A fire broke out at the scene. Five people are known to have been injured. Search and rescue operations are ongoing.
8.39 On the night of October 12, Russian troops attacked Izyum, Kharkiv region, according to preliminary data, with a loitering munition of the S-8000 Banderol type.
The impact was recorded on the road surface in the north of the city, near a residential area. As a result of the attack, 15 private residential buildings and one apartment building were damaged by the blast wave and debris. The power grid was also damaged, causing the power to go out on several streets. In addition, an internet line was damaged. One person was injured as a result of the shelling.
8.20 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy must make "very responsible and very difficult decisions" to stop the war. That is why US leader Donald Trump called for the replacement of the Ukrainian head of state. This was stated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
"Trump said that he believes it's time for a new president. Why? Because the president of Ukraine has to make very responsible and very difficult decisions to stop this war," the Russian ruler's press secretary said.
Peskov also added that so far Zelensky "has not shown the political will" to take such actions.
"Either Zelensky takes on such responsibility, shows such political will, or he does not," the Kremlin spokesman said.
7.13 From February 24, 2022 to October 12, 2026, the total combat losses of Russian troops on the territory of Ukraine amounted to approximately 1,554,310 people (+1,470 per day).
5.58 World oil prices fell on Monday, October 12. The changes came amid hopes for increased Russian fuel supplies after US President Donald Trump announced an energy truce between Ukraine and Russia, Bloomberg news agency reported.
5.45 Military exercises of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) countries will be held in Belarus. The military of the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Belarus will participate in them. This is reported by the CSTO website.
3.46 The NZNP oil terminal continues to burn in the Rostov region of the Russian Federation after a drone attack on the night of October 10. This was reported on Telegram by the Russian publication Astra, which positions itself as independent.
Local Russian publics, publishing videos of the fire, claim that it is "burning reeds (reeds)."
However, Astra's OSINT analysis indicates that it is the oil loading terminal of the Novoshakhtyn Oil Products Plant, attacked on the night of October 10, that is still burning.
2.58 Europe should strengthen support for Ukraine in response to Russian hybrid attacks against the continent's states, said General Alexus Hrynkevich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Bloomberg reports.
2.35 Russia's losses in the war against Ukraine in September reached more than 50,000 people, 28,000 of whom were killed, and this significantly exceeds the losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This was reported by Bloomberg, citing a NATO military representative.
0.58 Seven US senators – both Republican and Democratic – have issued a statement regarding US President Donald Trump's decision to allow imports of Russian diesel fuel. They said that the States "should not give Putin a financial lifeline." This is evidenced by the text of the statement.
0.41 Three people were killed in a Russian missile strike on the village of Pisochyn in the suburbs of Kharkiv on Sunday evening. Among them was a 16-year-old boy, and 25 others were injured. The National Police of Ukraine reported this on Facebook.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[NewsFront] 20:31 During the day, from 8:00 to 20:00 Moscow time, air defense forces on duty intercepted and destroyed 33 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) flew over the Belgorod, Kursk, Oryol, and Bryansk regions. 17:27 Today in the afternoon the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continued application strikes by unmanned aerial vehicles on logistics centers, port infrastructure facilities in Ukraine, and sea vessels involved in the delivery of military cargo to Ukraine.
As a result of the strike in the Nikolaev region, the following were damaged:
in the village of Ternovka, the Nova Poshta logistics center is used for storing dual-use cargo intended to supply the Ukrainian Armed Forces;
A dry cargo ship delivering military cargo to the port of Nikolaev was hit while crossing the sea.
In addition, a dry cargo ship delivering military and dual-use cargo to the port of Odessa was damaged during sea transit.
16:10 In close proximity to the Russian border in the area of the village of Dibrova SeveryaneopenedA well-camouflaged enemy 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled gun position was detected. The first wave of FPV drones took out the defenses, while the second struck the artillery mount itself.
15:44 Crews of the Molniya-2 UAV of the Volga region special forces unit of the Center group dropped propaganda leaflets at enemy positions in encircled Dobropillia.
Each of them calls on Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers to lay down their arms and voluntarily surrender in order to save their lives.
14:37 Sailors of the Northern Fleet conducted an exercise to clear a seaport from illegal armed groups in the Arctic. Dudinka Port, Krasnoyarsk Krai.
A naval infantry assault group, using a UAV, cleared the port's administrative building, after which the Kondopoga landing craft landed troops on the Yenisei River coast in three Vityaz all-terrain vehicles.
13:56 Operators of attack UAVs of the Vostok group destroyed artillery guns of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Zaporizhzhia region.
12:15 Summary of the Russian Ministry of Defense on the progress of the Special Military Operation (as of October 12, 2026)
Units of the "North" military group in the Khar'kov region are tightening the encirclement and expanding the external control zone.
Within the encirclement, battles are being fought to liberate the settlements of Nikolaevka, Varvarovka, Nefedovka and Chernoye in the Khar'kov region.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces' losses in the encirclement ring over the past 24 hours amounted to over 55 servicemen, a vehicle, and five ground-based robotic systems.
The external control zone is expanding. Fighting continues for the control of the villages of Prikolotne, Kotovka, and Gogino in the Khar'kov region.
Also in the Khar'kov region, manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades, a motorized infantry brigade, an assault regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and a territorial defense brigade were damaged in the areas of the settlements of Svitlichnoye, Slatino, Martovoye, Shiroke, Bugayevka, and Velykyi Burluk in the Khar'kov region.
In the Sumy region, two mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and three territorial defense brigades were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Yuryevo, Barilovka, Radkovka, Velyka Rybitsa and Olshanka in the Sumy region.
In total, in the area of responsibility of the North group of forces, the enemy lost over 295 servicemen, an armored personnel carrier, two combat armored vehicles, eight cars and a field artillery gun.
Units of the "West" force grouping improved their position along the forward edge and defeated the manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades, an assault brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and a territorial defense brigade in the areas of the settlements of Volchiy Yar, Berezovka, Blagodatovka, Tamarganovka, Osinovo, Maleevka, and Grushevka in the Khar'kov region.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 220 servicemen, two armored combat vehicles, nine cars, and two electronic warfare stations.
Units of the Southern Group of Forces have taken up more advantageous positions and lines. Formations of two mechanized brigades, a mountain assault brigade, an unmanned aerial systems brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and a naval infantry infantry brigade have been defeated near the settlements of Yasnogorka, Belenke, Nikolaevka, Vasilevskaya Pustosh, Druzhkovka, Semenovka, Kramatorsk, and Slavyansk in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The enemy lost up to 195 servicemen, an armored combat vehicle, 23 vehicles, two artillery pieces and an electronic warfare station.
Units of the Center group of forces, as a result of active operations, liberated the village of Lidino in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The manpower and equipment of three mechanized, ranger, and airborne brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and three National Guard brigades were damaged in the areas of the settlements of Staroraiske, Novoandreevka, Maryevka, Novoyavlenka, Svyatogorovka, Belozerske, Veselaya Gora of the Donetsk People's Republic, Andronovka, and Tarasovka of the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Near the village of Dobropillya in the Donetsk People's Republic, assault groups of the 51st Army advanced into the central and northwestern parts of the city. Naval infantry units continued clearing the western districts of the city and the Dobropilskaya mine.
An attempt by the enemy, using platoon-sized forces without armored vehicles, to unblock encircled Ukrainian Armed Forces units was thwarted.
Within 24 hours, 216 buildings were liberated, including four industrial facilities, and up to 35 Ukrainian servicemen were killed.
In total, in the area of responsibility of the Center group of forces, the losses of Ukrainian armed forces amounted to 330 servicemen, four combat armored vehicles, eight cars, a field artillery gun, two electronic warfare stations, and an electronic reconnaissance station.
Units of the "East" group of forces continued to advance deep into the enemy's defenses, and through decisive actions liberated the village of Nikolskoye in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The manpower and equipment of the mechanized unit, two airborne assault brigades, an assault regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and a naval infantry brigade were damaged in the areas of the settlements of Ivanovka, Podgavrilovka, Kolomiytsy, Orestopol, Skotovatoe in the Dnipropetrovsk region, Vasinovka, Ternovka and Volnyanka in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost over 275 servicemen, an armored combat vehicle, and 12 vehicles.
Units of the Dnipro Forces Group have taken up more advantageous positions and lines. Formations of the mechanized and mountain assault brigades and assault regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been defeated near the settlements of Orekhov, Kushugum, Zapasnoye, and Preobrazhenka in the Zaporizhzhia region.
More than 40 Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen, an armored combat vehicle, 19 vehicles, and two electronic warfare stations were destroyed.
11:22 152mm 2S5 Giatsint-S crews of the Vostok group burned UAV control points, as well as field warehouses with ammunition and equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Zaporizhzhia region.
09:49 "Geraniums" struck four locomotives used in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the populated areas of Odessa, Kryvyi Rih and Pyatikhatki in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
08:31 Tonight, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continued application strikes by unmanned aerial vehicles on Ukrainian port infrastructure facilities, as well as on sea vessels deployed in the interests of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
As a result of the strike, a dry cargo ship was damaged while in transit, delivering military cargo to the port of Odessa.
08:25 During the past night, from 20:00 Moscow time on October 11 to 8:00 Moscow time on October 12, air defense forces on duty intercepted and destroyed 151 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles of the aircraft type over the territories of the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, Kursk, Rostov, Smolensk, Tver, Tula, Yaroslavl regions, the Moscow region, the Republic of Crimea and over the waters of the Black Sea.
07:33 Changes on map over the past 24 hours:
Settlements of Reznikovo and Kupino were liberated (+12.8 km2)
Settlement of Petrovka was liberated (+22.8 km2)
Advance in the area of the settlement of Khar'kovka (+1.7 km2)
06:31 Tankers of the 44th Army Corps of the North group destroyed strongholds, firing points and manpower of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Sumy region.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited by Svyatoslav Lisitsyn
[Regnum] The Ukrainian book industry, already not exactly a shining example of success, is losing its last resource.
On the night of October 7th, a warehouse belonging to the Knigolav publishing house burned down in Kyiv's Podil district. It was brand new: the previous one had burned down on July 19th, along with 250,000 books and some non-book "cargo." The new warehouse had managed to store new releases and reprints of books lost during the summer. Now, tens of thousands of copies have disappeared here too.
This summer, the same thing happened to Petrovka, the country's main book market near Kyiv's Pochaina metro station. On June 15, most of the stalls there burned down, selling books, antiques, and souvenirs. A nearby, thousand-square-meter photo studio burned to the ground.
On August 16, the market was hit again. Pavilions, the office of the Nash Format publishing house, and the warehouses of the Laboratoriya, which hadn't managed to remove its inventory, were damaged. On August 1, 2026, in Kharkiv, a strike on the logistics center of the Ranok publishing house and the distribution center of the KnigoLand chain destroyed approximately 8 million books.
In total, for just two months, this is about 33% of the annual production volume.
The Ukrainian Publishing Association public union is calling for a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) and for the government to develop mechanisms for compensation and restoration of the destroyed print runs. The reaction was predictable. Head of the Presidential Office, Kyrylo Budanov *, compared the attacks on printing houses to the Valuev Circular and stated that "no circulars or decrees have been able to destroy the Ukrainian word."
Viktor Kruglov, director of the Ranok publishing house, put it even more bluntly: "We know from history that the Nazis burned books." And he's absolutely right: it was local Nazis who started the enormous book bonfire in Ukraine. They just did it much earlier.
UNNECESSARY LITERATURE
In 2014, tens of millions of copies of a wide variety of literature were still entering the Ukrainian book market, thanks to the inertia of prosperous times.
Book shopping was a favorite pastime not only for Kiev residents, who had the huge Petrovka market, but also for residents of Donetsk, who went to Mayak, Odessa, where you could buy almost anything at Knizhka, and certainly order any book, Kharkov with its Knizhnaya Balka, and Dnepropetrovsk.
There was quite a collapse in Lviv, on Podvalnaya Street, near the monument to the first printer Ivan Fedorov.
However, the times of “patriotism” have arrived, and already in 2015 the first campaign to combat the harmful influence of reading was announced.
In August 2015, the Ukrainian Customs Service published the first list of Russian books banned from import. In 2016–2017, a permit system was put into effect: commercial imports from Russia required special permission, and books were inspected by the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting to ensure they did not "promote the Russian world." Ordinary citizens were allowed to import no more than 10 copies of books per person from Russia in carry-on or checked luggage for personal use, not for sale.
In June 2022, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law banning the commercial import of books from Russia and Belarus, as well as the publication in Ukraine of books by Russian authors. The restrictions took full effect in 2023.
All this was carried out under the pretext of ensuring national security and protecting domestic producers. The consequences were immediate. The market lost a huge amount of familiar literature, and publishers were forced to urgently restructure their product range and supply chains. The ban did not automatically create new Ukrainian writers, nor additional demand for their books, nor did it generate any money for readers.
By 2015, the market had already dropped to 36.4 million books, then, due to administrative measures, gradually leveled off to 50-60 million per year by 2019, and then fell again in 2020 to 30 million. In 2025, the Book Chamber of Ukraine registered 15,069 book and magazine titles with a total circulation of 33.2 million copies.
A telling statistic: foreign translated literature accounts for 80-90% of titles in the portfolios of major publishing houses. For example, the Kharkiv-based publishing house Vivat published over 260 books in 2025, 32 of which were by Ukrainian authors, or approximately 12% of its portfolio.
That year, "language" activists staged a spectacular protest at the Petrovka market: people in disinfectant suits called for the removal of Russian-language literature and forcibly confiscated approximately 50 kilograms of "enemy literature."
"There's a moratorium in Kyiv prohibiting the sale and distribution of Russian-language products. We expected sellers to consciously refuse illegal merchandise. However, most of them deliberately stayed away to avoid inspections; others hid the books or refused to hand them over," reported the organizers of the "language inspection."
And on Constitution Day, June 28, the Kyiv bookstore "Smysl" gave customers a copy of the Constitution with the section of the article that deals with the Russian language and guarantees of its protection crossed out.
But by that time, Russian books were generally rarely available anywhere: even Ukrainian circulation had fallen to 1%.
REVENGE ON DOSTOEVSKY
At the same time, libraries were cleared of the “infection of the Russian world.”
Now there is no longer any need to conduct any kind of expert analysis; it was enough that, in principle, Russian classics and some publications exist in the language whose protection was removed from the Basic Law.
In February 2023, Verkhovna Rada Deputy Yevheniya Kravchuk reported that approximately 19 million Soviet and Russian-language books had already been removed from library collections. Yes, this is not a slip of the tongue; 8 million books were guilty simply of having been published in the USSR. Among them was even a Russian translation of Taras Shevchenko's "Kobzar."
In May 2025, a video circulated on social media showing "activists" tearing up books by Pushkin, Lermontov, Dostoevsky, and Chekhov. In January 2026, producer Elena Mozgovaya launched the "Burn a Book - Warm Your Home" flash mob, suggesting using the works of Russian classics to heat apartments.
A significant portion of the written-off items was sent for recycling, and the proceeds were used to meet the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces or to purchase new books.
Meanwhile, on September 1, 2020, the remaining public and private Russian-language schools in Ukraine transitioned to Ukrainian as the language of instruction. After February 2022, most Russian and Soviet authors were removed from the school curriculum for foreign literature.
And here's a curious coincidence: in the summer of that same year, 2020, Petrovka's retailers were informed of plans to close in order to build a nine-story shopping center on the site. Even though the retailers had recently paid for the renovations themselves, expecting to continue operating. By 2024, Petrovka had become largely a flea market, with the former bookstore districts shrinking to a fraction of their original size.
A similar story unfolded in Odessa—all that remains of the once-large marketplace is its name. Now, selling currency and imported sweets brings in more for vendors than books. And this can hardly be called a victory for national publishing: book sales have been replaced by products that require no authors, editors, or literary tradition.
But on the “language” field – an unconditional victory.
The publishing industry has managed to increase the production of Ukrainian-language publications, and the share of Ukrainian-language books in total circulation reached 92.5% in 2024. However, these products are not in demand. Print runs of 1,000-3,000 copies are used, which means the price of a book can reach 1,000 hryvnias (approximately 1,800 rubles), a significant sum for most buyers.
The cost is also affected by rising prices for paper, energy, fuel, and logistics, and after the impact on production and warehouses, costs only increase.
Publications with circulations of 50,000-70,000 are considered anomalies, and are usually associated with well-promoted publications abroad. There are some rather curious cases, such as the bestsellers "Gone Without a Goodbye" by actress Reese Witherspoon and professional thriller writer Harland Coben.
In late 2024, Kharkiv-based publishing house Vivat, apparently without even reading the text, rushed to purchase the translation rights, which typically cost between $5,000 and $20,000. It later turned out that the key plot events take place in Moscow, on Rublyovka, and the book is full of Russian characters.
The publisher, fearing a scandal or even a ban on the book in Ukraine, decided not to print this bestseller, which had topped the sales charts in neighboring Poland.
Well-known Ukrainian authors are few and far between, and the counterfeits of these new-fangled hacks, constantly striving to seize the political agenda, are of no interest to anyone. Meanwhile, a foreign author who has already achieved success in a major market comes with a ready-made sales history and marketing support.
It's easier for a publisher to buy the rights to a potential hit than to invest in an unknown Ukrainian writer whose book is unlikely to break even. Moreover, according to market participants, the preparation and printing of a single book can cost between 200,000 and 500,000 hryvnias (375,000 and 1 million rubles).
Accordingly, there's nothing to replace the void left in school libraries after the book bonfires they've created. This is especially true when printing houses and warehouses are used for military purposes (for example, a territorial defense training center was established at the Press of Ukraine publishing house in Kyiv in 2022).
However, the book-burning metaphor doesn't necessarily mean "hits." Something else proved more terrifying for the industry: Ukrainian book culture was destroyed when stores and markets closed, libraries disappeared, books became a luxury item, and local authors could only offer ideological garbage.
Former Education Minister Liliya Hrynevych reported in September 2026 that 45% of Ukrainian 15-year-olds do not reach a basic level of reading literacy.
So the ashes from Petrovka are a symbol of self-destruction, which became the “conscious choice” long before the current events.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Regnum] Britain and Europe are developing plans to blockade the Baltic Sea and the straits leading to it. This was announced on Monday, October 12, by Nikolai Patrushev, aide to the Russian President and Chairman of the Maritime Collegium.
"Western countries are trying to intercept our ships. London and Brussels are developing plans to blockade the Baltic Sea and the straits leading into it," Patrushev noted during talks with Chinese Transport Minister Liu Wei.
He noted that maritime logistics is of great importance for Moscow and Beijing.
On September 13, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski stated that NATO should intensify military exercises near the Kaliningrad region. In response, the Russian Foreign Ministry sent a note to NATO warning of Moscow's readiness to resort to the use of its entire arsenal, including nuclear weapons, in the event of an attempt to blockade the Kaliningrad region.
President Vladimir Putin noted that Western politicians are actively discussing preparations for a conflict with Russia and a possible blockade of Kaliningrad. On October 1, the head of state stated that in the event of a direct attack on Russia, including the Kaliningrad region, the use of all available Russian weapons would immediately be on the agenda.
On October 1, Patrushev stated that the Russian Federation would respond quickly and adequately if NATO attempted to implement its threats to the Kaliningrad region.
#1
The UK with 2 operational destroyers and 3 operational frigates is going to blockade the entire Baltic Sea. For the 4-5 days before the first of those ships develops mechanical issues.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
BREAKING: Israel says pilot tried to hijack flydubai flight to Tel Aviv that diverted, landed in Saudi Arabia
