Click to see full-size image. (Russian Ministry of Defense)

In the Sumy direction, assault units of the “North” grouping have taken Malaya Rybitsa and continue to advance near Khoten, Ulanovo and Tolstodubovo. In the Kharkiv direction, Russian units are expanding control along the border; Grachyovka and Serdobino have come under control, and an attempt to break the encirclement ring east of Volchansk has been repelled. In the Zaporozhye direction, fighting continues near Orekhov, the highway between Omelnyk and Preobrazhenka has been cut, and an offensive is developing south of the Konka River. In the Slavyansk direction, Russian units are fighting heavy battles for Novopavlovka, Raipol, Sergeyevka and Belozerskoye, while on a number of sectors the front has entered the stage of a meeting engagement. Meanwhile, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš stated that Europe would be better off directing 377 billion euros toward the reconstruction of Ukraine rather than the conflict.

Sumy direction  

Assault units of the “North” grouping continue to advance deeper into the Sumy region with the support of aviation and artillery. Ukrainian units have taken no active actions and have concentrated their efforts on attacks against civilian objects in the border regions.

In Sumy district, assault groups of Russian units have taken Malaya Rybitsa and continue to advance on other sectors. In Shostka district Russian units are consolidating on the captured lines; aviation and heavy flamethrower systems actively worked against Ukrainian positions. In Krasnopolye district there are no significant changes.  

Kharkiv direction  

Fierce fighting continues on all sectors of the front in the Kharkiv region. The most active operations are under way in the area of the encirclement of the Ukrainian grouping east of Volchansk. Ukrainian units have not abandoned attempts to break the encirclement ring from the outside.

In the Liptsy direction Russian assault troops are conducting small-arms fighting near Alisovka. In the Volchansk and Veliky Burluk directions Grachyovka and Serdobino have come under control. Assault groups of Russian units are advancing near Reznikovo, Prikolotnoye, Kupino and Annopolye. Overall progress reached up to 700 metres.

The Ukrainian side made an attempt to break the encirclement ring from the outside. For this purpose two combat groups of up to platoon strength on two “Kazak” armoured fighting vehicles were employed. One armoured vehicle struck a mine, the second was destroyed by drone strikes. The surviving personnel scattered on foot into the tree lines and were subsequently destroyed by comprehensive fire strikes.

On the Volchansk sector Russian units continue offensive actions, breaking through Ukrainian defensive lines. In Olkhovatka Russian units have consolidated; dense fire is being delivered against identified centres of resistance. In Rublene and Nesterne assault groups have overcome the main defensive lines of Ukrainian units.  

Zaporozhye direction  

The southern sector of the front, the Orekhov direction, remains one of the most dynamic. Fighting is under way on the northern and western outskirts of Orekhov. Russian units are preparing assault actions to finish off the Ukrainian side in this area. At the same time the envelopment of the Orekhov grouping continues. Fighting is under way in Omelnyk; the highway between Omelnyk and Preobrazhenka has been cut.

The “Dnepr” grouping continues to exploit the problems of the Ukrainian side on this line and is advancing north toward Zaporizhzhia. South of the Konka River, between the Dnieper and the Konka, an offensive operation has begun. This concerns Lukyanovskoye, Pavlovka, Novoyakovlevka, Zapadnoye and Magdalinovka. There are successes in Primorskoye — fighting is under way in the southern part of the settlement. Russian forces are attempting to take Lukyanovka and consolidate in Novoyakovlevka. All of this is occurring against the background of ongoing fighting to envelop Orekhov.

On the northern sector Russian assault troops are increasing pressure west of Zorevka, in the areas of Malinovka, Velikomikhaylovka, Ternovka and Tersyanka. Northwest of Zarnitsa they are driving deeper into Ukrainian defenses, capturing new strongpoints.

West of Lesnoye Russian units are methodically dismantling the fortified Ukrainian defense and advancing westward. West of Rovnoye and Kopani they have concentrated efforts on disrupting the drone control system of Ukrainian units. Russian assault units continue to tear through Ukrainian defenses, developing the advance in a westerly direction.  

Slavyansk direction  

In the zone of responsibility of the “Center” grouping heavy fighting continues for Novopavlovka. Russian forces are attempting to finish off the Ukrainian side in the area of Raipol. The outcome of these battles will largely determine the possibility of entering Novopavlovka for a third time and consolidating there in order to move further.

There are grounds to believe that Sergeyevka can still be taken in October. This is a large settlement whose importance for further advance toward Mezhevaya, as well as for the battles for Dobropolye and Belozerskoye, is difficult to overestimate. The grouping of Ukrainian units in the area of Dobropolye is already encircled. Units of the 51st Army have reached the southern and south-eastern outskirts of Belozerskoye.

Fighting is also under way near Raiskoye and Verolyubovka. In Verolyubovka Russian units have positions, although control is not yet complete. Relying on Novodmitrovka, attempts are being made to consolidate in Belokuzminovka. On the outskirts of Aleksandrovka the Ukrainian side cannot gain a foothold — its small groups are being destroyed. In the area of Krivaya Luka it also has no successes. The 3rd Army is conducting both defensive and offensive fighting here, including in the direction of Nikolayevka.

Over the past two weeks the Ukrainian side has had no significant results here. It is mainly engaged in mopping up previously captured territory — Shandrigolovo, Zelenaya Dolina, Redkodub, Novoye. The situation is turning into a meeting engagement. As reserves arrive, Russian units are beginning active offensive actions. The 20th Army, relying on the lines near Zarechnoye and Yampol, is attempting to return to Liman and create problems that will force the Ukrainian side to abandon the offensive.  

Conclusion  

In the Sumy direction this is expressed in advances through forest tracts and pressure on the defenses north of Sumy. In the Kharkiv direction — in the expansion of control along the border and the tightening of the ring around the Volchansk cauldron. In the Zaporozhye direction — in the envelopment of Orekhov and the cutting of supply routes. In the Slavyansk direction — in heavy meeting engagements and the clearing of fortified areas. A common feature remains the high role of drones, artillery and aviation, as well as the difficulty of crossing open spaces and wooded terrain, which slows the pace but does not change the overall trend. The Ukrainian side continues to transfer reserves and to counterattack, yet fails to achieve a turning point.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, speaking at an election rally in Lipník nad Bečvou, stated that Europe would be better off allocating money to the reconstruction of Ukraine rather than to the conflict. “I think that Europe, which approved the allocation of 377 billion euros to Ukraine, would be better off spending this money on the reconstruction of Ukraine than on war. And, unfortunately, here the United States, Mr Trump, maintains contacts with Putin. Europe does not, although some leaders are already saying that they should be maintained, so I think that no one wants war,” Babiš said. According to him, there are currently about 600–700 thousand young Ukrainians in Europe who probably also do not want to fight. “Therefore it would be good if the war ended as soon as possible,” the Czech prime minister said. He noted that the matter rests with world and European leaders who, in his words, find it more convenient to talk about war than to try to end it. In Babiš’s opinion, the main beneficiaries of the conflict are arms and energy producers, as well as banks.  

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Click to see full-size image. (Russian Ministry of Defense\TASS)

Russian tank crews and helicopter units held separate combat drills at a military training range in Tajikistan on October 3, practicing attacks on simulated enemy forces and troop deployment in mountainous terrain, as part of the Center-2026 strategic exercise.

At the Lyaur training range in Rudaki District, about 35 kilometers from the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, crews of T-72B3M tanks from Russia’s 201st Guards Military Base engaged simulated enemy targets, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

The ministry said that the crews used a tactic known as a “fire carousel,” moving between prepared firing positions while using terrain and concealment to limit their exposure to simulated reconnaissance.

They fired their 125 mm guns from concealed positions before supporting assault groups and engaging simulated enemy reserve columns in conditions of limited visibility.

In a separate drill at the same range, Russian Mi-8 transport helicopters and Mi-24 attack helicopters practiced striking a simulated concentration of enemy personnel before landing a tactical airborne unit, according to the ministry.

The helicopter crews approached at very low altitude and conducted simulated attacks using unguided rockets and 30 mm aircraft guns. They then carried out an evasive maneuver while releasing flares against a simulated threat from portable air defense systems.

In the final stage, an Mi-8 deployed the tactical airborne unit under the cover of Mi-24 helicopters. The exercise scenario called for the troops to reach the rear of the simulated opposing force and launch a surprise attack.

The 201st Guards Military Base is Russia’s main permanent military formation in Tajikistan and operates from facilities in Dushanbe and Bokhtar.

The drills at Lyaur involved units of the 201st Guards Military Base and formed part of the wider Center-2026 exercise, which concluded October 3 after running from September 28.

More than 47,000 military personnel took part in operations at 11 training ranges and in the Caspian Sea, with contingents from several countries including China, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan and Tajikistan.

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North Korea launched an intermediate-range strategic missile from its east coast on October 3, claiming it had been equipped with artificial intelligence technology that allows it to change course while flying at low altitude, state-run Korean Central News Agency reported.

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said her brother personally supervised the firing drill. She noted that South Korea and Japan tracked the missile and reported flight distances of more than 700 kilometers and 680 kilometers, respectively, calling the figures “interesting numbers.”

“We have already witnessed similar announcements four times and, finally, we came to the conclusion that the superiority of the special flight mode applied to the missiles in our possession has been verified in practice,” Kim said.

She claimed the “enemy” failed to track the targets from their initial skip points when the missile used a wave-like flight trajectory. She also said extending the trajectory during the downward stage produced distances similar to those reported by South Korea and Japan.

“They should acknowledge the speed of the missile,” Kim said, adding that “they would be well advised” to remember previous announcements that the missile is capable of “changing its flight orbit at a low altitude and AI was introduced into it.”

“There is no way to avoid this attack,” she stressed.

Kim added that representatives of the Missile Administration had reported that the newly introduced technology could allow the missile to use at least four different flight-orbit modes depending on its purpose and target.

Kim Jong Un said no other country in the world “could have access to such technology for at least several years,” according to the North Korean statement.

The launch came 13 days after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles from the Wonsan region on September 20. The two missiles were launched within hours of each other toward the East Sea, according to Anadolu Agency’s report.

“We are aware of the missile launch and are consulting closely with our allies and partners,” the U.S. military’s Pacific Command wrote on X.

“Based on current assessments, this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies,” the command added, while pledging to defend the United States and its allies in the region.

The October 3 launch follows a cluster of North Korean missile tests in September, including multiple short-range ballistic missile launches on September 12 and two more on September 20.

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Accusations that Iran was behind a suspected security incident near RAF Fairford have intensified despite the absence of explosives in the suspects’ vehicles and the decision to release all six people arrested in the case on police bail.

A New York Times report published on October 3 added new details to an investigation that has generated increasingly strong claims about Iranian involvement while leaving key questions unanswered.

The newspaper reported that United States, British and Israeli intelligence agencies had received warnings in September of a possible Iranian-backed attack on American facilities in Britain and Europe. But the warnings were general, without a firm date or specific target, and officials interviewed by The New York Times acknowledged that the full picture remained unclear.

The incident began in the early hours of September 27, when police responded to reports of three vans near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, a British-owned base used by the U.S. for bomber operations against Iran. Five British men from London, aged 23 to 25, were arrested on suspicion of explosives offenses and preparing a terrorist act. About 85 homes were evacuated while bomb disposal specialists examined the vehicles.

The initial response suggested that authorities believed they might have intercepted an attack in progress. But the evidence made public since then has been far less conclusive.

Counter Terrorism Policing said after extensive examinations by military and forensic teams that no improvised explosive devices were found in the vans. Investigators recovered only a quantity of petrol. The five men were released on police bail after extensive interviews and inquiries and remain under investigation under strict conditions.

The later developments have not strengthened the publicly disclosed explosives case. A 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national was arrested in London on October 1 on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts in connection with the Fairford investigation.

A second British man was also questioned under caution. On October 3, police announced that the dual national had likewise been released on bail.

The circumstances surrounding the original arrests have also become more complicated. The New York Times reported that one of the five suspects called Britain’s emergency number before the police operation, while a local farmer separately alerted authorities after seeing the vans and masked men.

Investigators have not publicly explained why the suspect made the call. Police have also not disclosed what they have learned from the suspects’ phones and other seized material.

Despite those uncertainties, the political accusations have grown. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on September 28 that the incident “clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor,” without identifying the country or presenting public evidence for the claim.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said the suspects might be connected to Iran and expressed surprise that they had been released on bail.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham went further on September 30, saying there were “strong indications” that Iran had played a part in what happened at Fairford. He did not provide details, citing the continuing investigation.

The United Kingdom’s counterterrorism police have themselves stopped short of announcing that Iran was responsible, saying they are examining multiple possibilities, including the use of proxies or people acting knowingly or unknowingly on behalf of a foreign state.

That distinction matters because the evidence that has been disclosed publicly so far establishes neither an Iranian command structure nor a completed bombing plot. The arrests were triggered by suspicious vehicles and people near a strategically important base, but the vehicles contained no explosive devices, the suspects have not been charged, and all six people detained in connection with the case are now outside custody on bail.

In July, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any British base used to launch attacks against Iranian territory would be considered a “legitimate target,” explicitly identifying RAF Fairford after U.S. bombers operated from the base. Britain responded by saying its armed forces were prepared to defend the country.

The NYT reported that the September warnings were part of a wider intelligence picture in which Israeli, U.S. and British officials were concerned about a potential Iranian-backed operation against American facilities.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu subsequently said Israel had provided Britain with intelligence about what he described as an Iranian-sponsored attack. British authorities have not publicly released the intelligence or independently detailed what it contained.

The buildup has therefore produced a striking gap between the mounting political accusations and the weak evidence available to the public.

Iran has repeatedly denied involvement. Its embassy in London said the allegations linking Tehran to the arrests were unfounded, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the British accusations. Tehran has also protested diplomatically over the claims.

With the latest NYT report, the whole affair appears more like a false-flag operation, or at best a greatly exaggerated minor incident. The purpose is, however, becoming more and more clear, which is to frame Iran for plotting an attack on British territory, setting a new stage of escalation against the Islamic Republic, just as Trump is hinting that war could return after the upcoming midterm elections in the U.S.

The UK, which helped the U.S. and Israel lay the political ground for the first stage of the war by restoring international sanctions against Iran over unproven nuclear accusations, seems back at work again. The only difference is that Britain could this time take a more direct role in the fighting, with the Fairford affair of course serving as the excuse for the British public.

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Fighting intensified across Yemen’s southwestern province of Taiz on October 2 and 3, with the Houthis (Ansar Allah) reportedly advancing on four fronts as government forces launched strikes.

The reported Houthi gains stretched from the southern Taiz countryside to Same’ district, Jabal Habashi and the western outskirts of Taiz city, signaling a widening offensive across the province.

In southern Taiz, the Houthis reportedly took the heights of Jabal Rasan and Jabal Jardad, along with nearby villages including Rasan, Bani Mohammed, al-Za’azi and al-Kuwayrah. The reports also said the Houthis had captured Daba al-Dakhil and Jabal Ahem, while fighting continued around Asha and Samdan. Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces retained control of Mafraq al-Safiyah and the western Taiz-Aden road.

Further southeast, Houthi forces reportedly captured Hawrah and surrounding villages in Same’ district with the support of local tribes. Control of the area’s high ground reportedly gave the Houthis positions overlooking the al-Silu front and intensified pressure toward al-Turbah.

In Jabal Habashi, the Houthis also reportedly made gains after repelling an attack by a government-aligned armed faction. Maj. Gen. Mohammed Salem al-Khawlani, chief of staff of the Emergency Forces of Yemen’s Interior Ministry, was also killed on the al-Kadha front, according to the ministry and an October 2 report by Anadolu Agency.

The Houthis then reportedly expanded their positions in al-Zatan, Bani Bakari and Madhafah and captured al-Maqatin, Anaqib and al-Arari.

Near Taiz city, the Houthis reportedly took al-Han height, which overlooks the western approaches to the provincial capital and routes used by opposing forces.

Meanwhile, the Yemeni government announced on October 3 that its forces had carried out 71 operations against Houthi positions, military buildups and reinforcements across Taiz.

Col. Majed Abdullah al-Nuzaili, a spokesman for the government forces, said the operations hit areas including Jabal Rasan, Jabal Jardad, Same’ and Bani Bakari.

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The recent Houthi advance in Taiz came after Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia was preparing an offensive that could begin within weeks against the Houthis. According to the report, the operation would rely on more than 100,000 Yemeni government troops overseen by Riyadh and supported by Saudi strikes, with the campaign aimed in part at reversing Houthi gains along the Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky knows he could face widespread hostility at home after the end of the conflict and has prepared options for leaving the country, according to a senior Russian lawmaker.

Alexander Borodai, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots, made the comments in an interview with the Russian state news agency TASS that was published on October 3.

“Zelensky and the vast majority of his inner circle fully understand that if some form of peace is established, he will not only cease to position himself as president of Ukraine but will no longer be able to live in Ukraine. He will become a figure of utter loathing, cursed by the population, and it would be unsafe for him to remain in the country; naturally, therefore, he has prepared fallback options for himself. His cronies in this high-risk business have done the same,” Borodai said.

Borodai went on to reveal that the Ukrainian president had long made arrangements for a potential future residence in Europe and Israel.

The Russian lawmaker added that, as the business continues to generate income for Zelensky and his associates, they have little interest in any agreements being reached.

His comments followed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s remarks on October 2 that Moscow wanted to end the conflict through peace negotiations. Putin said Russia was seeking a settlement addressing what he described as issues concerning Ukraine, including the Russian language, the church and security guarantees.

Zelensky has continued to reject calls for elections while the conflict remains active. Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has publicly called for Ukraine to develop a mechanism for holding elections during the conflict, reopening a politically sensitive debate that the Ukrainian president has rejected.

Borodai’s latest revelations, together with Zelensky’s opposition to holding elections, paint a very different picture of the popularity of the Ukrainian president and his escalatory policies than the one portrayed daily in Western media.

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• Russian Drones Hit Another Kyiv Bridge as Dnipro Traffic Disruption Widens (Videos)

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Smoke was reported over Riyadh on October 3 after satellite monitoring detected unusual thermal activity at an Aramco refinery, amid unconfirmed reports that the Houthis had attacked the Saudi capital.

NASA’s FIRMS detected higher-intensity thermal activity at the refinery, while NASA Terra imagery appeared to show a large fire and thick smoke drifting across northern Riyadh. Videos posted to social media also indicate that a massive fire broke out at the facility.

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Click to see full-size image. (X(=)

Saudi authorities and Aramco had not commented, and the Houthis had not claimed responsibility. The group usually announces such attacks within 24 hours.

The reported incident came amid an intensification of fighting in Yemen. The Houthis reported Saudi strikes on the capital, Sanaa, and the provinces of Saada, Taiz and Amran, while Yemen’s internationally recognized government claimed that its warplanes carried out 20 strikes against Houthi positions and forces in Taiz on October 2.

The escalation followed reports of Houthi advances on several fronts in Taiz, where the group has been seeking to expand its positions and cut routes linking government-held areas.

Yemeni military officials have disputed some Houthi claims of territorial gains, and the front lines in Taiz remained contested.

The developments also came shortly after Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia was preparing an offensive against the Houthis that could begin within weeks. The operation would reportedly rely on more than 100,000 Yemeni ground troops overseen by Riyadh and supported by Saudi strikes, with the campaign aimed in part at reversing Houthi gains along the Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

All recent developments indicate that the war in Yemen is about to heat up even further. Efforts to de-escalate do not appear to be moving forward.

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The Russian military struck Kyiv’s Southern Bridge again on October 2 and hit the Ukrainian capital’s Northern Bridge the following morning, extending a campaign against the city’s main Dnipro crossings and leaving traffic heavily disrupted across the river.

The Southern Bridge, already closed after earlier drone attacks, was hit again on the afternoon of October 2, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Black smoke rose from the crossing, although the extent of any additional structural damage was not immediately clear.

Later, on the morning of October 3, a drone strike targeted the Northern Bridge. The impact damaged the roadway and the overhead trolleybus network, forcing authorities to halt traffic from the left bank toward the right bank. No casualties were reported.

The recent attacks appear to have involved Russia’s Geran-4 Seeker one-way attack drones. The jet-powered drone is reported to be capable of speeds exceeding 500 kilometers per hour and a range of more than 850 kilometers. It is also equipped with an artificial intelligence-powered optical targeting system.

Russia’s 50th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade, known as Varyag, released fresh footage showing some of the strikes.

Commenting on the recent strikes on the Northern Bridge, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that the crossing is being used to “transport troops and supplies military cargo for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.”

The damage has left Kyiv operating with a much-reduced capacity to move people and vehicles between the two banks of the river.

The Southern Bridge remains closed to both road traffic and metro service. Following the Northern Bridge strike, buses 21, 73, 101 and 114 returned to their regular routes but were running with delays, while trolleybus routes 29, 30, 31 and 47 were split between the two banks because their overhead network on the bridge was damaged.

Other crossings on the Dnipro are carrying the diverted traffic under strict restrictions introduced after the earlier drone attacks.

During air-raid alerts, traffic is restricted on the Metro Bridge from the left bank to the right, while the Podilskyi crossing and the Paton Bridge are also subject to directional restrictions. The Darnytskyi Bridge has remained the principal unrestricted crossing outside those alert-related measures.

The closures have produced severe congestion. The Associated Press reported that traffic in Kyiv was so heavy late on October 2 that one resident took 45 minutes to travel about 4 kilometers. The traffic jam continued on the morning of October 3.

The latest strikes broaden the disruption from the Southern Bridge to another major crossing rather than leaving the impact confined to a single structure. More than a third of Kyiv’s roughly 3 million residents live on the Dnipro’s left bank, while most government institutions and many workplaces are on the right bank, making the remaining crossings critical to daily movement.

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• Russia Continues Strikes On Ukraine’s Data Centers And Logistics, Ukraine Targets Russia’s Oil Infrastructure

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Click to see full-size image. (Russian Ministry of Defense)

In the Sumy direction, Russian assault units of the “North” grouping continue to advance deeper into the region with heavy fighting, having taken Malaya Rybitsa and expanding positions near Tolstodubovo and Ulanovo. In the Kharkiv direction, Russian troops are expanding control along the border on the Liptsy sector, have taken Vysokaya Yaruga and are tightening the ring around the Volchansk cauldron, where Rublene, Nesterne and Shabelnoye have come under control. In the Kupyansk direction, Russian motor-rifle units are advancing inside the city and attacking Kupyansk-Uzlovoy; fighting continues for Kovsharovka and Novoosinovo. In the Slavyansk direction, fierce fighting is under way in the residential areas of Nikolayevka; Russian assault groups are clearing the industrial zone of Rai-Aleksandrovka and expanding the zone of control between Markovo and Fyodorovka. In the concluding part, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated that Ukraine will not be able to join the EU on 1 January 2027, as there are no discounts or privileges in the process.

Sumy direction  

On all sectors of the front assault units of the “North” grouping continue to advance deeper into the Sumy region with heavy fighting. The Ukrainian side has taken no active actions and is strengthening the defenses of Sumy. Assault units of the 15th Tank Regiment drove Ukrainian servicemen of the 119th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade and the 21st Separate Mechanized Brigade out of Malaya Rybitsa.

North of the regional centre, positional fighting is under way in the areas of Mogritsa, Kiyanitsa, Pisarevka and Khoten. On the sector near Udanovo and Tolstodubovo Russian units are expanding their positions. Earlier Tolstodubovo in the Glukhov direction and Ulanovo were taken. Russian troops are gradually pushing Ukrainian units off the salient that had deeply penetrated Bryansk and Kursk regions.

In Sumy district, assault groups of Russian units continue to advance near Khoten. In Shostka district Russian assault troops are clearing tree lines near Tolstodubovo. In Krasnopolye district TOS-1A “Solntsepyok” systems of the “North” grouping actively worked against Ukrainian positions.  

Kharkiv direction  

Russian troops continue to expand the line of control westward along the border on the Liptsy sector. In the course of a successful advance fighters of the “North” grouping drove Ukrainian units out of Vysokaya Yaruga, after which Russian troops advanced, crossing the highway into the area of Bugayevka.

In the area of the Volchansk cauldron Russian troops continue to tighten the ring; Rublene, Nesterne and Shabelnoye have been taken. Fighting is under way for Lukashovo, Reznikovo, Serdobino, Kupino and Grachyovka. In the Liptsy direction Russian assault troops took Vysokaya Yaruga and are advancing near Alisovka. In the Volchansk and Veliky Burluk directions Russian troops took Rublene and Nesterne and continued to tighten the encirclement ring. There is progress near Varvarovka, Lobanovka and Prikolotnoye. Overall advance reached up to 1,000 meters.

Some time ago reports arrived of Russian units entering Vysokaya Yaruga. Later this was confirmed by footage showing fighters of the “North” grouping raising state flags in various parts of the village. Russian units are now developing attacks toward neighboring Alisovka. Its capture will make it possible to take the large forest tracts located on this sector and push Ukrainian units back into the fields on the approaches to Bolshiye Prokhody.  

Kupyansk direction  

On the Kupyansk sector motor-rifle units of Russian troops are advancing inside the city in a southerly and south-westerly direction. On the Kupyansk-Uzlovoy sector fighters of Russian units continue to attack from the north and from the east.

Further south fighting continues for Kovsharovka: the village is half under the control of Russian units, yet scattered groups of the Ukrainian side remain present in the area of multi-story buildings. Fighting is under way for Novoosinovo, where clashes continue for the center of the settlement. East of Glushkovka Russian troops continue to defend the pocket and strongpoints located north-east of the village; the positions of the Ukrainian side and of Russian units here are intermingled.

Fighting continues for the bridgehead near Oskol and in the area of the Kupyansk agglomeration. Clashes persist near Novoosinovo and on the approaches to Glushkovka. The Ukrainian side is undertaking counter-attacking actions on the sector between Zapadnoye and Kondrashovka. North of Kupyansk Ukrainian units are attempting to disrupt the supply of Russian groups operating on the right bank of the Oskol.  

Slavyansk direction  

Fierce fighting continues in the residential areas near Nikolayevka. From here and from Starodubovka the Ukrainian side constantly attempts to send reserves for attacks toward Krivaya Luka and Rai-Aleksandrovka and conducts sorties into the nearest tree lines. There is data on the work of Russian assault groups inside Nikolayevka itself.

Fighting is under way for Piskunovka. Part of the territory is under the control of Russian units. The Ukrainian side has not abandoned attempts to penetrate Krivaya Luka, including from the river. Meeting engagements are under way near Rai-Aleksandrovka. Ukrainian units have not abandoned attempts to infiltrate this settlement. On the southern side of Rai-Aleksandrovka, in the industrial zone, work is under way to clear the territory.

Clearing of the territory near Lipovka also continues. Here the Ukrainian side is actively moving along the perimeter from point to point, which complicates rapid elimination. In the area of Orekhovatka Ukrainian units have increased pressure on Russian positions with the aim of breaking through toward Rai-Aleksandrovka. The Ukrainian side regularly conducts counterattacks toward Vasilyevskaya Pustosh, Vasyutinskoye and Pershomaryevka. Russian units have expanded the zone of control in the north between Markovo and Fyodorovka.

On the Seversk direction meeting engagements are under way near Malinovka and Vasilyevskaya Pustosh. Ukrainian units are attempting to enter Rai-Aleksandrovka from the west; Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups are also recorded further south near Lipovka, yet they fail to consolidate. Further north the Ukrainian side is counterattacking from the direction of Starodubovka; fighting is under way in Piskunovka. In Krivaya Luka Russian fighters are destroying Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups.

In the Krasny Liman direction units are in deep defense along the Zherebets River, in Zarechnoye and Yampol, grinding down elite Ukrainian infantry units. 

Conclusion  

In the Sumy direction this is expressed in advances through forest tracts and pressure on the defences north of Sumy. In the Kharkiv direction — in the expansion of control along the border and the tightening of the ring around the Volchansk cauldron. In the Kupyansk direction — in the advance through urban areas and fighting for key nodes. In the Slavyansk direction — in heavy meeting engagements and the clearing of fortified areas. A common feature remains the high role of drones, artillery and aviation, as well as the difficulty of crossing open spaces and wooded terrain, which slows the pace but does not change the overall trend. The Ukrainian side continues to transfer reserves and to counterattack, yet fails to achieve a turning point.

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated that Ukraine will not be able to join the European Union on 1 January 2027, as there are no discounts or privileges in the process. “The date of 1 January 2027 was set by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Accession is based on the principle of merit: it is obvious that this date is impossible,” Kos said in an interview with the newspaper Corriere della Sera. According to her, in Kyiv and other countries Ukraine’s accession to the EU is viewed as a security guarantee. She noted that the conflict in Ukraine has changed geopolitics in Europe. “And one of the consequences is that enlargement has once again become a priority — not only for Ukraine, but also for other countries,” the commissioner stated. Kos emphasized that there will be no privileges or discounts for Ukraine in the accession process; however, according to her, the EU must take into account the situation in which the country finds itself. “In the accession process there are neither privileges nor discounts, but we must take into account that Ukraine is waging a war for survival, and therefore it is also our duty to help it,” she said, expressing the hope that as many negotiation chapters as possible with Ukraine will be opened by the end of the year.  

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Illustrative image. (U.S. Air Force photo by William R. Lewis)

Saudi Arabia is preparing a large-scale offensive against the Houthis (Ansar Allah) in Yemen that could involve more than 100,000 Yemeni troops and seek to retake the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Reuters reported on October 2, citing regional and Western officials familiar with the preparations.

The operation could begin in the coming weeks and would be carried out primarily by Yemeni government forces overseen by Riyadh, with Saudi air support, according to six people familiar with the plans.

Saudi officials are considering either a concentrated assault around Bab el-Mandeb or a wider campaign involving simultaneous attacks in Al-Bayda, Marib, Taiz and Al-Jawf.

The planned offensive would aim to reverse the Houthis’ gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and restore control over Bab el-Mandeb, which links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is a major shipping route between Asia and the Mediterranean. The strait has taken on greater importance as the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed during the conflict with Iran, Reuters reported.

The timing has not been settled. Sources cited by Reuters gave possible dates ranging from within a week to a period after the United States midterm elections in early November.

Saudi and Western officials told the news agency that Riyadh does not consider renewed peace talks with the Houthis viable while the group retains control of Bab el-Mandeb.

The U.S. is providing military advisers and intelligence, including targeting information, to support Saudi air operations, according to a Western diplomat cited by Reuters. Direct U.S. combat involvement is not expected, however.

Turkey and Pakistan have also supplied military equipment for Saudi operations in Yemen. Pakistan sent four cargo aircraft to Aden last month carrying air defense systems, light artillery, drones and counter-drone equipment, according to a Pakistani official.

Pakistani military advisers are operating alongside Saudi counterparts, while Turkish drones previously purchased by Riyadh have been deployed over Yemen.

Saudi Arabia is also seeking to protect its oil infrastructure and other strategic sites from Houthi missile and drone attacks.

Pakistan has deployed between 30,000 and 40,000 troops to Saudi Arabia for border protection and assistance with missile and drone interceptions, although Islamabad has not decided to send those forces into Yemen for combat, a Pakistani official told Reuters.

Any ground campaign would rely heavily on Yemeni factions backed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates during earlier stages of the civil war. Divisions among those forces remain a significant factor as Riyadh considers a broader offensive.

An offensive of such scale would put some serious pressure on the Houthis. However, the group faced such pressure in the past and prevailed. In addition, Saudi Arabia could face a major response, not just from the group, but also from its allies, including Iran and Shia armed factions in Iraq. Such a move could even ignite a regional conflict.

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Click to see full-size image. (Russian Ministry of Defense)

President Vladimir Putin on October 2 observed the main practical phase of Russia’s Center-2026 strategic command-and-staff exercise at the Chebarkulsky training ground in the Chelyabinsk region, where Russian and foreign forces staged assaults on fortified positions, used ground and aerial drones in combat scenarios, conducted long-range air strikes and practiced naval operations in the Caspian Sea.

The exercise, which began on September 28 and is scheduled to continue through October 3, involves more than 47,000 servicemen operating at 11 training grounds and in the Caspian Sea, according to Russian officials.

The wider drills involve about 2,000 weapons and military vehicles, 90 aircraft and helicopters and 77 warships and support vessels.

The Chebarkulsky phase involved about 6,000 troops, roughly 700 pieces of equipment, more than 600 drones and more than 60 robotic systems. The Center-2026 drills are being held alongside the Collective Security Treaty Organization’s Interaction-2026 exercise at the same training ground.

Command and Objectives

Putin said the exercise is being conducted according to Russia’s military training plan and is intended primarily to improve the ability of commanders and staff to control forces during a response to external aggression.

The Russian president also noted that troops were also putting new weapons and equipment into practical use and that the scenarios had been developed with experience from Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine in mind.

“The main goal of the exercise is to improve the skills of the leadership of staff at all levels in controlling troops while repelling external aggression,” Putin said.

He added that the participants were applying new weapons and equipment in practice and that “all tasks are being solved taking into account the experience of the special military operation.”

Defense Minister Andrei Belousov informed Putin that the exercise involved forces from Russia’s Central Military District, the Aerospace Forces, Airborne Forces, centrally subordinated units and the Caspian Flotilla.

The minister said seven countries had sent military contingents, the Republic of the Congo had sent an operational group and 51 countries were represented by observers. The international component includes forces from a number of Russia’s CSTO partners as well as other participating states in the broader Center-2026 exercise.

Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, the deputy defense minister overseeing the exercise, also briefed Putin on the organization of the drills and the role of foreign forces.

Russian officials said particular attention was being given to the operation of foreign contingents at command posts, their deployment in concentration areas and their use in small tactical groups during combat scenarios.

The exercise was also described by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as important for Russia’s military construction plans, while he stressed that the maneuvers were planned in advance and were not linked to current challenges on Russia’s borders.

During his visit, Putin inspected an exhibition of weapons and military equipment that included armored vehicles, robotic systems, drones, electronic warfare equipment and the new jet-powered Geran-4 and Geran-5 one-way attack drones.

More than 300 items were displayed, according to Russian reporting. The Geran presentation was among the more detailed briefings Putin received.

Officials told him that the Geran-4 had a top speed of about 350 kilometers per hour, a 50-kilogram warhead and a reported range of 750 to 800 kilometers. For the larger Geran-5, they cited a speed of about 450 kilometers per hour, a 90-kilogram warhead and a range of up to 900 kilometers.

Putin also met with foreign military attachés who had come to observe the exercise, linking the visit to the broader international component of the maneuvers rather than treating it solely as a demonstration of Russian weapons.

The Russian president thanked them for attending and emphasized the military value of exchanging experience between the armed forces of different countries.

“Dear friends, it is nice to see you. I am sure that your meeting, your joint work was useful. I hope it was also interesting,” Putin told the group, adding that cooperation between military personnel could strengthen both professional ties and trust between the countries they represented.

Ground Assaults and Robotics

The largest set of scenarios at the Chebarkulsky training ground involved ground forces assaulting positions held by a mock enemy.

Russian and foreign troops practiced attacking from several directions, moving through prepared gaps in engineering obstacles, capturing defensive positions and preventing the simulated opposing force from regrouping.

FPV drones provided support for assault units, while artillery and armored vehicles were used against positions identified through reconnaissance.

A separate CSTO scenario ended with special forces clearing a settlement after the attacking units had broken through and secured the surrounding positions.

Foreign troops were integrated directly into the assault scenarios rather than being limited to observation. Belarusian troops were shown capturing mock enemy positions, while forces from Mongolia and Tajikistan operated with Russian tank crews after moving through passages cut through engineering barriers.

Russian officials said the units were tasked with reaching firing positions from which they could engage aerial and armored targets, personnel and other elements of the mock enemy while blocking its advance.

D-30 artillery batteries provided fire support and engaged simulated mortar positions identified by reconnaissance during the exercise.

Russian assault units also practiced an infiltration method especially designed to bypass the opposing force’s forward defenses.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the troops moved through an underground water-main route and a previously prepared underground passage to reach the rear of a mock enemy strongpoint. Strike drones provided fire support during the movement, while ground robotic systems equipped with combat modules accompanied the assault force. The exercise presented the underground movement as a way to cross the area between the opposing positions without exposing the assault groups to direct observation on the surface.

Drones were used extensively in the ground operation. Unmanned tanks provided direct fire support to assault troops, while Chelnok robotic systems were used to establish bridge crossings through engineering obstacles.

Russian Army Commander Andrei Mordvichev told Putin that Russian forces had developed tactics for employing robotic platforms, with the exercise demonstrating their use alongside manned armored vehicles rather than as isolated experimental systems.

The Airborne Forces added another robotic component by parachuting unmanned ground systems into the exercise area. The Omich-2 and Courier complexes were dropped from an Il-76 transport aircraft to support assault groups operating behind the mock enemy’s lines. Their use formed part of a broader effort during the exercise to combine airborne insertion with unmanned ground vehicles, drones and assault troops rather than employing the systems separately.

The exercise also featured T-14 Armata and T-90M Proryv tanks using a rotating firing tactic known as a tank carousel. Notably, the T-90M made use of the Arena-M active protection systems.

Russian officials said the armored vehicles were supported by the Spiridon tank-support combat vehicle and Derivatsiya-PVO air-defense system, while unmanned tanks were used to provide additional fire support to advancing assault units. The combination placed manned and unmanned armored vehicles within the same tactical formation.

Another newly demonstrated system was the Izdelie 347 ground-launched missile complex, which Russian officials said was employed for the first time during the exercise. The system used a modified LMUR missile to strike artillery positions that had been detected in advance through aerial reconnaissance.

Russian reporting described the firing as one of the main demonstrations of newer precision weapons during the practical phase at Chebarkulsky.

Air Operations and Drone Defenses

Russian aviation conducted several separate missions during the exercise, combining long-range bombers, tactical aircraft and fighter escorts.

Tu-22M3 bombers carried out a simulated strike against ground infrastructure belonging to the mock enemy, while another mission involved the same aircraft searching for and engaging a formation of mock enemy warships in the Caspian Sea.

The maritime mission lasted about four hours and was supported by Su-35S fighters. Russian officials said the flights over the Caspian were conducted in accordance with international airspace rules.

The ground-support aviation scenario centered on Su-34 fighter bombers, which attacked simulated enemy positions, while Su-57 stealth fighter jets provided protection against mock opposing aircraft. Russian officials presented the pairing as an example of how fifth-generation fighters could provide air cover for strike aircraft during a larger combined operation.

Drones played a role on both sides of the exercise scenario. More than 600 drones were used at Chebarkulsky, according to Russian officials, covering reconnaissance, attack and other battlefield tasks. The practical phase also emphasized the defense of ground forces against drones, with several different systems assigned to different engagement ranges.

The Zarya laser complex was demonstrated against medium and heavy mock enemy drones at ranges of up to 6 kilometers.

Russian officials said additional systems were used against drones at closer distances, including the Kalitka-KA robotic complex, Citadel, ZAK-57-MSK and S-60M antiaircraft systems, as well as the Anklav machine-gun system. The layered arrangement was presented as a way of engaging unmanned aircraft at several distances rather than relying on a single counter-drone weapon.

The exercise also served as a public demonstration of Russia’s expanding family of attack drones. Alongside the Geran-4 and Geran-5 aircraft shown to Putin, the military display included interceptor drones and electronic warfare systems.

Caspian Naval Operations

The maritime phase focused on the Caspian Flotilla, which conducted scenarios involving both conventional naval forces and unmanned surface vessels.

Flotilla crews practiced repelling an attack by mock enemy naval drones and destroying the unmanned boats, while other elements of the exercise simulated attacks on formations of opposing warships. Russian officials described the activities as part of a broader effort to rehearse military security in the Caspian maritime zone.

The maritime strike scenario was integrated with the Aerospace Forces rather than conducted as a separate naval demonstration. Tu-22M3 bombers operating over the Caspian searched for the mock enemy ship formation and carried out a simulated attack. That scenario was conducted alongside the flotilla’s own response to unmanned surface vessels, combining air and naval responses within the same broader exercise.

In Conclusion

Taken together, the scenarios at Chebarkulsky and the other training areas presented a Russian exercise centered on the integration of conventional formations with drones, robotic ground vehicles, electronic warfare and new precision weapons.

The practical phase also gave foreign military contingents a direct role in assault and command scenarios, while the Kremlin framed the maneuvers as part of Russia’s scheduled military training and as an effort to incorporate experience from the special military operation in Ukraine into future operations.

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File image.

Yemen’s Houthis (Ansar Allah) released nearly five minutes of video on October 1 showing their snipers killing at least 17 personnel along the border with the Saudi province of Jizan. 

The Houthis’ military media said those targeted included Saudi soldiers, Yemeni government fighters and mercenaries from Sudan.

The video was released as the Houthis continued missile and drone attacks against targets across Saudi Arabia, including in Jizan.

On October 1, Saudi Arabia said its air defenses intercepted two ballistic missiles and four drones launched toward the kingdom. One missile was intercepted over Jizan and the other over Khamis Mushait, where debris from the interception caused limited damage to buildings and vehicles. All four drones were reportedly intercepted over Khamis Mushait.

Saudi authorities also disclosed on October 1 that an investigation had concluded that the Houthis were responsible for a drone strike on the Taiba power distribution station in Medina on September 29. The strike put one transformer out of service but did not disrupt the wider electricity network. The Houthis denied responsibility.

Later on October 2, Saudi Arabia reported another interception, saying a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis toward Khamis Mushait was destroyed before reaching its target.

The latest attacks close to the border may be a sign of an imminent Houthi offensive there. The group has in the past carried out large-scale cross-border raids into the kingdom.

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File image.

Iran has been launching about 30 drone attacks and 10 anti-ship missile attacks each week against commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the beginning of August, according to a New York Times report published on October 2, citing confidential data provided by a Western security official.

The attacks have largely gone unpublicized, according to the report, which notes that at least four commercial ships were struck by Iran during the past 10 days.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps appeared to acknowledge the attacks for the first time earlier this week, saying it was striking targets in the Strait of Hormuz every 24 hours.

“We prevent them from passing, but for some time now, America has not responded,” a Revolutionary Guard spokesman said on September 30.

The scale of the attacks is also reflected in a British Navy monitoring group’s tally. It recorded at least 13 ships, most of them oil tankers, hit by projectiles or projectile debris since September 10. The reports rely on voluntary accounts from ship crews and may be incomplete, and they do not identify the perpetrators in every case.

The attacks have continued even as Middle Eastern oil exports have recovered toward prewar levels. The report said a U.S. military operation protecting commercial vessels has encouraged additional shipments from major exporters including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Some vessels have been traveling through Omani territorial waters along the U.S. Navy-guided route, with U.S. fighter jets and attack helicopters providing protection.

But the increase in oil flows does not necessarily reflect a return to normal shipping through the strait. Cargo-tracking company Kpler said a significant portion of the additional exports is moving along routes that bypass the Strait of Hormuz altogether.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a key route for global oil and gas exports, giving Iran a means of disrupting maritime traffic even as more cargo has begun moving through the region. The Islamic Republic clearly still has the means to exert control over the waterway.

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