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

On October 8, EU Ambassadors are expected to approve the addition of approximately 1,650 new individuals and entities to the sanctions list against russia, most of whom are linked to the russian military-industrial complex. This package, proposed by the European External Action Service (EEAS), will be the largest list of entities and individuals added to the sanctions list since the start of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The European Commission’s College plans to approve on October 28 “roadmaps” for EU accession for the four most promising candidate countries – Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, and Moldova. The College has already adopted a package of proposals to amend policies ahead of future EU enlargements (pre-enlargement policy reviews), which will allow for the admission of new members into the European Union.

The European Union’s authorities have proposed limiting member states’ use of the veto during votes on sanctions, tax violations, and the admission of new states to the Bloc. This was announced by EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos.

On the eve of the EU-China talks in Beijing, the European Parliament adopted recommendations on relations with China, calling, in particular, for increased pressure on Beijing over its support for russia’s war against Ukraine and for expanded restrictions against those who help russia circumvent sanctions. The resolution was supported by 454 members of the European Parliament.

Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset has assured that European institutions are already “working to prepare for elections for the day when it becomes possible to hold free and fair elections in Ukraine.”

“The current attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea carrying wheat are absolutely unacceptable. The fact that russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine is also being waged in the Black Sea poses serious threats to maritime security and freedom of navigation,” said European Commission Spokesperson Christian Wiegand, emphasizing that the European Union considers russia’s recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea to be unacceptable.

Hungary has unblocked clusters 2 and 3 in the negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU.

Ukraine has received an additional EUR 1.2 billion from the European Union under the Ukraine Support Loan program. The funds will be used to meet the most urgent needs in the defense sector.

The number of Schengen visas issued to russians may decrease in 2027. A review of visa requirements for russians is planned for the European Council meeting on October 15–16. The General Secretariat of the Council of the EU has prepared a draft proposal on this matter.

Over the past week, Ukraine’s energy sector received equipment purchased with funds from the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the EU, Australia, and Denmark, totaling more than EUR 7.6 million.

The government of Latvia has supported the provision of humanitarian aid to Ukraine from the Latvian healthcare system, such as  medical equipment for patient care and the provision of emergency medical care.

Azerbaijan has sent 10 heavy-duty trucks to Ukraine to deliver another shipment of humanitarian aid, including energy equipment to restore and support the Ukrainian power grid ahead of and during the heating season.

Moldova plans to join the European Union’s sanctions against russian fertilizers. This was announced by the country’s Minister of Agriculture  Eugeniu Osmochescu.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has issued a final arbitral award in favor of PrivatBank against russia and ordered the rf  to pay more than $327 million in compensation for damages caused by the “unlawful expropriation of assets” of PrivatBank in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Margus Tsahkna has pointed out  that putin celebrated his birthday “in the only way he knows how: by launching yet another wave of drones and missiles at Ukraine”.  “Faced with a stalemate on the battlefield, putin is compensating by intensifying his barbaric attacks on the civilian population. This is a strategy born of desperation,” he emphasized.

Sweden is deploying the Patriot air defense system in Poland to strengthen the defense of NATO’s eastern flank amid russian threats.

The German environmental organization BUND plans to seek an immediate halt to the expansion of the nuclear fuel production plant in Lingen through the courts, as the project could pave the way for cooperation with the russian state corporation “rosatom”.

The USA has urged its citizens to leave russia immediately due to an outbreak of pneumonic plague there.

Amid reports of a suspected case of pneumonic plague in irkutsk region, several countries have revised their health and quarantine control measures. Kazakhstan has introduced enhanced health and quarantine controls at border crossings but assesses the risk of the infection being brought into the country as low. Kyrgyzstan has placed its border health and quarantine checkpoints on high alert, conducting inspections of citizens, vehicles, and cargo, while Uzbekistan has increased the readiness of its specialized services to prevent bringing in  especially  dangerous infections.

The Czech Republic is closely monitoring the situation regarding a possible outbreak of pneumonic plague in russia, as it is not certain of the accuracy of the information being disseminated by russian authorities. This was stated by the Republic’s Minister of Health, Adam Vojtěch.

Lithuania may restrict the transit of russian citizens through its territory if reports of pneumonic plague cases in russia are confirmed and the disease poses a threat to the country. This was stated on Wednesday by Minister of Health of Lithuania Linas Kukuraitis.

As of October 1, 2026, the liquid assets of russia’s national wealth  fund had fallen to 3.8 trillion rubles, or $45 billion (1.6% of GDP).

In the first seven months of 2026, one in three large and medium-sized companies in russia reported losses. The share of loss-making organizations rose to 33.4%, while  the number of industries in which losses exceeded profits nearly quadrupled – from three to 11.

Investment in commercial and residential real estate in russia from January through September 2026 fell by one-third compared to the same period last year.

Residents of dozens of russian cities remain without heat in their homes, despite the official start of the heating season and nighttime frosts. This situation is observed in chelyabinsk, perm, and nizhny novgorod regions, as well as in the krasnoyarsk territory and omsk.

Since the beginning of the year, the number of lifts installed in russia has fallen by 49% compared to last year. This is due to a slowdown in residential construction.

In evenkia, authorities have declared a state of heightened readiness due to disruptions in food supplies. Supplies of vegetables, fruits, milk, and eggs in the region are limited.

In September 2026, 217 new trucks from the minsk automobile plant were sold on the russian market – by 10.7% fewer than in September 2025. For the entire year of 2025, the company sold 3,274 trucks in russia, compared to 5,719 in 2024 – a 1.7-fold decline.

Also in September, the belarusian-Chinese manufacturer “BelGee” sold 4,861 new Belgee-brand cars in russia. This is by 41.8% fewer than in the same month of 2025.