News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe

The initiative will focus on resilient communications, navigation, and onboard autonomy, as Sine Engineering specializes in producing satellite-independent navigation software, enabling drones to fly without relying on GPS.

The number includes 1,980 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

According to satellite imagery from NASA FIRMS, the Taman substation in Russia's Krasnodar Krai — a key energy node supplying electricity to Crimea —was damaged in an overnight attack.

"People keep talking about it's a war in Ukraine. ... It's about one region of the country," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

The president made the comment in an interview with ABC News two days after U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff praised Vladimir Putin as "a humanitarian." Hours later, Russia struck Kyiv with ballistic missiles and cluster munitions.

In a public letter, Democratic Senators and Representatives listed five questions concerning Starlink restrictions impacting Ukrainian forces, addressed to Musk. The demand comes as Ukrainian forces continue to experience severe problems operating Starlink military systems.

Restrictions were placed on incoming and outgoing flights in Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky airports, Russian civilian aviation authority Rosaviatsiya reported.

Metro AG responded, saying it did not approve the donations. On Sept. 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree placing the Russian subsidiary of Metro AG under the Kremlin's control.

The move comes amid increased attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis in the city, which over the past weeks has gained international attention, including from Pope Leo XIV.

The peace discussions will begin at the technical level with negotiation teams, Zelensky said. If those efforts prove productive, then meetings between Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and U.S. President Donald Trump will be held.

A ship called the Agioi Fanendes, which had just left Russia's Baltic Sea port of Primorsk, was carrying 40,000 metric tons to New York and had been traveling westwards through the Baltic Sea ever since.

Companies will still be able to request higher exemption quotas if needed to maintain operations, while the government plans to introduce a new system allowing full exemptions for businesses that help recruit employees for military service.

"Russia's war keeps putting Moldovan lives at risk," President Maia Sandu said, calling it Russia's "latest dangerous act."