Russia

Olena Semykina, the owner of a village shop in east Ukraine, voted for President Volodymyr Zelensky five and a half years ago, hoping the fresh-faced political newcomer would end the fighting unleashed by Russian proxy forces in 2014.

Türkiye arrested over 100 suspected members of the ISIL this week, authorities said Friday, the latest mass detention targeting the terror organization.

Türkiye has been hit by several major attacks claimed by ISIL, including a 2017 nightclub shooting that killed dozens of people.

Serbia is purchasing 12 new Rafale fighter jets from France in a deal valued at 2.7 billion euros. The announcement was made during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Belgrade. These French jets will replace the Serbian Air Force's outdated fleet of Russian MiGs.

Kyiv has confirmed the death of a Ukrainian F-16 pilot, who was killed in air combat on August 26, according to a statement from the Ukrainian Air Force. The fighter jet was downed while attempting to counter a Russian missile attack, marking the first loss of an F-16 delivered to Ukraine.

Josep Borrell, the head of European diplomacy, has urged Ukraine's allies to remove restrictions on the use of weapons provided to Kyiv for attacks on Russian targets. Borrell's call comes as the EU foreign ministers convene in Brussels, reported the Associated Press.

Ukraine’s recent unexpected military operation in Russia’s Kursk region may have caused concern in Moscow, but Russian President Vladimir Putin likely has reasons to celebrate this weekend.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is set to request approval from member states to use supplied weapons for deep strikes on military targets within Russia. Speaking ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, Kuleba emphasized the importance of obtaining permission to target what he termed "legitimate military targets" deep inside Russia.

Russia has imposed entry bans on 92 US nationals, including more than two dozen journalists, as announced by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday. The sanctions come in response to what Moscow describes as the Biden administration's "Russophobic policy" aimed at inflicting a "strategic defeat" on Russia, according to state media TASS.

Russia has alternative routes for supplies to European countries, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Aug. 28, commenting on the Ukrainian authorities' refusal to extend the agreement on Russian gas transit.

There are alternative routes, there are plans to create a hub in Türkiye, this work is in progress" Peskov said, TASS reported.

Ukrainian forces have reportedly secured new positions in Russia's Kursk region, as announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky. This marks a significant expansion of Ukrainian-controlled territory along the border. While the president did not provide specific details, he confirmed that more Russian prisoners of war had been captured, potentially to be used in future exchanges.