Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

Sweden will allocate an additional EUR 5 million to the Ukraine Transport Support Fund (UTSF).

The Lithuanian organization Blue/Yellow has raised EUR 1.3 million to support the air defense of Ukraine and Lithuania; these funds will be used to purchase interceptor drones: 80% of the amount will go to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and 20% – to the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union.

Vietnam has provided Ukraine with a humanitarian aid package worth $500,000.

The US Department of Homeland Security has stated that migrants from Ukraine can currently retain their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the country and that their immigration protections will remain in effect for now.

“We are actively working on the next package of sanctions against russia. So, the question is when this will happen, not whether it will happen at all,” said European Commission Chief Spokesperson Paula Pinho.

Restricting the issuance of visas to russian citizens has remained a priority for the European Commission and the European Union since 2022, said official representative of the European Commission Markus Lammert.

Nine European countries have called on the European Commission to limit support for international sports organizations that make concessions to russia and belarus.

According to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, in response to russian attacks in the Black Sea, the European Union must step up its efforts in three areas: ensuring Ukrainian agricultural exports, strengthening maritime security, and increasing international diplomatic pressure on russia.

UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is calling on European Union countries to use EUR 210 billion in frozen russian assets to finance Ukraine.

Chancellor of the FRG Friedrich Merz has warned Europeans against underestimating the threat from russia, emphasizing that putin seeks not only to defeat Ukraine but also to undermine democracy in Europe.

“It is difficult to talk about making final decisions without Ukraine’s participation. Therefore, while there can be many different formats for meetings, I cannot imagine any format other than one involving Ukraine and European states that would guarantee stability and peace for Ukraine,” said Minister of National Defense of Poland Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

The EU has developed a strategy to strengthen its presence in the Arctic amid competition between russia and the United States in the region. “It (the strategy) aims to address the region’s most pressing challenges – from accelerating climate change to growing tensions in security and geopolitics – and outlines how Europe should respond to them,” said the EU’s Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Sikel.

Starting November 1, the French company CLS will cease processing satellite data via the Argos system, which had been used to track the migration of animals and birds within russia.

The discount on russian gas, which China purchases via the “sila sibiri” pipeline launched seven years ago, will reach unprecedented levels this year. On average for the year, “gazprom”’s price for the Chinese market will be $247.9 per thousand cubic meters. Meanwhile, the company’s other customers in distant foreign markets will pay $562. Thus, the discount will amount to $315 per thousand cubic meters, or 56%. Compared to last year, the discount for China will increase by 15%.

Disruptions at Black Sea ports have led to a reduction in the supply of russian steel billets on the global market by approximately 200,000 tons per month.

The russian steelmaker “severstal” has decided not to pay dividends based on its results for the first nine months of 2026.

Based on results for the first nine months of 2026, six new foreign brands entered the russian market – nearly half as many as a year earlier. This is the lowest figure in recent years. The decline in activity among foreign brands is attributed to risks associated with sanctions and a general decline in consumer activity. russian brands are also in no hurry to enter the market. Since the beginning of 2026, only one domestic brand has entered the russian market, whereas as of October last year, there were seven new brands.

russia will simplify the procedure for disconnecting utility services for those who do not pay their bills, said member of the state duma committee on housing and utilities and the commission on ensuring citizens’ housing rights marat nuriev. In his view, this will help collect arrears for housing and utility services, which as of April 1 had reached 975.9 billion rubles, an increase of nearly 11% compared to last year.

russia’s regions have failed to complete the construction of up to 80% of new landfills. Under current economic conditions, it is extremely difficult to find funding for projects that cost an average of about 2 billion rubles.

Migrant workers from countries far abroad continue to be brought into russia amid a labor shortage that has worsened due to the war. From January through September, the ministry of internal affairs issued approximately 215,300 work permits to foreign citizens, which is by 21% more than during the same period in 2025.

According to a report by “rostrud”, only half of the “veterans” of the so-called “special military operation” who applied to employment services in 2025 were able to find work.

MPs in samara region cut the subsidy for New Year gifts for children by 55.4 million rubles, while increasing funding for the regional duma by 28 million rubles.