Ministry of Defence

Ukraine's defence ministry announced a week of long-range strikes on Russia's fuel and energy sector, saying six strategic oil refineries were hit, some up to 1,600 kilometres behind the front line. Kyiv described the targeted facilities as key suppliers of fuel to Russia's defence industry and framed the campaign as an answer to continued Russian attacks on Ukraine.

Russia's defence ministry says it carried out strikes on military infrastructure and vessels in Ukraine, according to reporting carried by Reuters and multiple US outlets. The claim comes as the war continues and follows repeated Russian attacks on Ukrainian military targets. Details on casualties, locations or the scale of damage have not been confirmed, and Ukrainian officials have not commented in the available reports.

Russia's defence ministry said on Sunday that its forces carried out overnight drone strikes on Ukrainian logistics centres, port and transport infrastructure, communications facilities, and vessels. Moscow claims the targets supported Ukrainian military operations, though the full extent of damage and any casualties has not been independently confirmed.

Russia's finance ministry has announced tax increases aimed at shoring up the country's military budget, as the war in Ukraine continues to strain public finances. The move signals Moscow's willingness to place more of the tax burden on businesses and households to sustain defence spending. Observers see it as evidence that the costs of the conflict are increasingly being passed on to ordinary Russians.

Poland has simplified the rules allowing its pilots to open fire on Russian aircraft. Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk said the defence ministry is scrapping the current requirement that pilots must visually identify a target, in addition to analysing radar data, before shooting. The change comes amid repeated Russian drone and missile incursions into Polish airspace, which have strained NATO's eastern air defences.

An unidentified aerial target entered Romanian airspace overnight, prompting air raid alerts in a border county and the scrambling of fighter jets, Romania's Ministry of Defence said. The incident follows repeated drone and debris incidents near the Ukrainian border, and observers are watching closely for details on the object's origin.

A farmer's tip-off reportedly helped thwart a suspected terrorist plot targeting RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England. The airbase, a key NATO facility regularly used by US forces, was said to be the target. Authorities have not confirmed details, but the story is spreading quickly, with many praising the farmer's vigilance and awaiting official statements from police and the Ministry of Defence.

India's Defence Ministry has decided to divide the induction of the Zorawar light tank into two variants, a move intended to speed up deployment of the vehicle. The tank, developed for high-altitude operations, is a priority for the Army given tensions along the China border. Defence watchers are debating whether the split ordering will genuinely accelerate induction or complicate production and logistics.

The UK Ministry of Defence is taking legal action to stop a former SAS soldier from disclosing details of counter-terrorism operations. Yahoo News UK reports that the case centres on protecting sensitive operational information about terror missions. The dispute has drawn attention to the limits of secrecy owed by special forces veterans after they leave the military.

Australian defence contractor Electro Optic Systems (EOS) has signed a letter of intent with the Netherlands Ministry of Defence covering high energy laser weapon technology. The agreement marks a step toward potential cooperation on directed-energy systems for the Dutch armed forces, as European militaries step up investment in counter-drone and air defence laser capabilities.

The US Defense Logistics Agency and the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence have signed a statement to expand their strategic logistics partnership. The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation on supply chain support between the two militaries, building on longstanding transatlantic defence logistics collaboration.

Russia's Defence Ministry has confirmed the loss of a Tu-95MS strategic bomber, with six crew members reported dead. The claim, circulating in Ukrainian war commentary, notes the aircraft was reportedly carrying no munitions at the time. If confirmed, it would mark another setback for Russia's long-range aviation fleet during the war.