The assessment shows a critical gap in U.S. military capabilities as Russia deploys hypersonic missiles against Ukraine and China rapidly advances its own arsenal.
"From the explosions that just occurred — a ballistic missile attack is ongoing. Missiles one after another, air defense is active," Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said.
The move follows growing frustration among American airlines, which have been barred from flying over Russia since 2022, while Chinese carriers continue to use the route.
The MiG-31, a twin-seat supersonic aircraft capable of carrying Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, has been widely used by Russia to strike targets deep inside Ukraine.
Oil prices dropped slightly on Oct. 9 after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza, easing concerns about continued fighting in the region. Prices had risen just a day earlier in response to stalled peace talks in Ukraine.
Serbia's largest Russian-owned oil company, Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), announced on Oct. 9 that it had not received an extension of its U.S. sanctions waiver, Reuters reported.
While Moscow framed the assistance as "centuries-old brotherhood" and praised "the close ties between our countries and peoples," the move underscores Serbia's ongoing balancing act between its EU aspirations and longstanding ties with Russia.
