Russian military

Budget documents obtained by Reuters show Russia plans to increase its military spending by 27% in 2027. The figures point to a continued major commitment to defence funding despite the war in Ukraine and pressure on the Russian economy. The report is likely to fuel debate about Moscow's long-term war footing and defence production plans.

Ukraine has carried out its largest attack to date on Moscow, according to CNN reporting. A military expert offered analysis of the strike, its scale, and what it signals about Ukraine's deep-strike capabilities as the war continues. The attack marks a significant escalation in Ukraine's campaign against targets in the Russian capital region.

Attention is turning to the real scale of Russian military deaths in the war in Ukraine. Official Kremlin figures are widely believed to understate casualties, and analysts, journalists and independent researchers continue to estimate losses based on battlefield reporting, leaked documents and cemetery data. The true toll remains one of the war's most contested questions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree, effective immediately, raising the size of the Russian armed forces to 2,441,630 personnel, including 1,550,500 military personnel. The decree replaces all previous staffing decrees and marks the seventh increase in Russia's military strength since the invasion of Ukraine, continuing a steady pattern of force expansion.

Russia's economy is showing mounting problems, from high inflation and interest rates to a weakening ruble, yet the Kremlin shows no sign of winding down its war in Ukraine. Reporting from Moscow highlights the tension between a strained household economy and continued military spending. Observers are asking how long ordinary Russians will absorb the costs before the pressure becomes politically significant for the Kremlin.

Lithuania is holding its largest-ever military exercises, Vyčio skliautas 2026, running until October 3. Authorities are rehearsing the evacuation of Vilnius and regions near the Belarusian border in the event of a military threat from Minsk. The drills underscore rising concern in the Baltic state over regional security and are drawing wide attention across Russian-language media.

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 says its forces carried out strikes on Ukrainian military targets, while Ukraine reports hitting a Russian drone launch site. The duelling claims come as the war continues with both sides targeting infrastructure and military assets deep behind the front lines. Neither claim could be independently verified, and the fuller operational impact of the reported strikes remains unclear.

Ukraine says its third-phase counteroffensive, Operation Vivaldi, has reclaimed 51 square kilometres of territory. Kyiv claims Russian forces suffered roughly 2,000 casualties, with a further 250 troops taken prisoner. The figures come from Ukrainian military sources and have not been independently verified, as the operation continues along the front.

This is a trending YouTube video by analyst Preston Stewart titled 'Europe on Alert as Russia Escalation Creeps Toward NATO.' It appears to discuss rising tensions between Russia and European NATO members, based on the headline alone. The video has drawn over 535,000 likes, indicating strong viewer interest in analysis of the security situation in Europe. The specific claims and details covered in the video are not clear from the available evidence.

Russia's military casualties in its war against Ukraine increased by more than 2,000 over the past day, according to Ukrainian figures reported by Ukrinform. The daily toll highlights the continued intensity of fighting along the front lines, with Ukraine regularly publishing Russian losses in personnel as part of its wartime updates.

President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukrainian forces neutralized more than 10,600 Russian military personnel at the front over the past week. He made the claim in one of his regular addresses on the course of the war. If accurate, the figure would point to continued heavy fighting and high Russian casualty rates along the front line, though independent verification of wartime casualty claims from either side is difficult.

Washington is pressing for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, but Moscow shows little interest, continuing to bet on gains on the battlefield. As US diplomacy intensifies, Russian officials and analysts argue their military strategy is working and see no reason to compromise, leaving the prospects for peace talks uncertain.

Russia lost 1,690 troops in its war against Ukraine over the past day, according to Ukrainian military reporting carried by Ukrinform. The figure is part of Kyiv's regular daily updates on Russian personnel and equipment losses, which continue to run high more than three years into the full-scale invasion.

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.

Roughly 250 Russian soldiers have surrendered to Ukrainian forces in the northern Donbas as part of what Ukrainian military commentator Yuriy Ponomarenko calls Operation Vivaldi. If confirmed, the mass capitulation would be one of the larger POW takings of the war and a sign of mounting pressure on Russian positions in the sector. The claim is circulating widely on Russian-language channels, with debate over how the surrender unfolded and what it means for the front line.

Ukraine's General Staff says Russia has lost 1,531,060 troops since the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022. The figure comes from Kyiv's daily battlefield estimates, which are based on its military intelligence and cannot be independently verified. Moscow rarely discloses its own casualty numbers, and Western assessments have generally placed Russian losses below Ukrainian figures but still in the hundreds of thousands.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says North Korea is preparing to deploy another 10,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russia. If confirmed, the deployment would significantly expand Pyongyang's involvement in the war, after earlier reports of North Korean troops aiding Russian forces. The claim has drawn attention as Ukraine presses allies for continued military support while Moscow's offensive pressures Ukrainian defences.

Ukraine's General Staff figures say Russian combat losses have climbed by more than 2,000 personnel over the past day. Cumulative Russian casualties since the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022 are now estimated at around 1,531,060 killed or wounded as of September 28, 2026. The daily tally is among the higher figures reported recently and underscores the continued intensity of fighting along the front lines.

Donald Trump has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to scale back attacks on Russian oil refineries. The request, which touches on Ukraine's most effective long-range strikes against Russia's energy sector, has drawn attention as Washington pushes for negotiations while Kyiv weighs the military and economic value of targeting Russian oil infrastructure.

Ukraine's General Staff says Russia has lost 1,528,970 troops since the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022. The figure comes from Kyiv's daily casualty updates, which Western analysts treat as estimates, as Russia does not publish its own military losses. The claim underscores the scale of attrition in the war, now in its fourth year.

Ukraine's General Staff says its forces struck a Russian defense plant that produces components for missiles. The attack targets Russia's military-industrial capacity as the war continues. Further details on damage or casualties were not immediately provided, and Russia has not yet commented on the strike.

Finland and Sweden have jointly scrambled fighter jets against a Russian aircraft for the first time, marking a historic milestone in military cooperation between the two Nordic countries. The joint response reflects their deepening integration into NATO's air defense posture following both countries' recent accession to the alliance and heightened concern over Russian air activity near their airspace.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree raising the official size of the Russian armed forces to 2,441,630 personnel, according to Russian state agency TASS. The increase continues a pattern of expansion since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and signals Moscow's intent to sustain a prolonged military campaign.

New intelligence assessments have raised alarm in European capitals about the possibility of a Russian attack. The reports, circulated this week, suggest the threat picture facing NATO's European members may be more serious than previously understood. Officials and security analysts across the continent are now debating what the findings mean for defense planning, military readiness, and the ongoing support effort for Ukraine.