The war they play: Russia’s militarization of Ukrainian children

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Rival rallies mark start of Hungary’s election season as Orban faces his strongest challenger yet
Europe

Rival rallies mark start of Hungary’s election season as Orban faces his strongest challenger yet

Hungarian election season has begun on Oct. 23 with two large scale demonstrations hinting at potential confrontation and a growing political divide. Viktor Orban, the country's longest-serving prime minister, sees his 15-year-long rule challenged by an upstart — Peter Magyar. And the rallies that took place in Budapest on a national holiday commemorating Hungary's 1956 anti-Soviet uprising shed some light on the divide between the two camps. "We don't want to die for Ukraine," read a banner c
Analysis: After two refinery blasts, Russian propaganda reports a fake one — blaming Ukraine

Analysis: After two refinery blasts, Russian propaganda reports a fake one — blaming Ukraine

Editor's note: This article was published as part of the Fighting Against Conspiracy and Trolls (FACT) project, an independent, non-partisan hub launched in mid-2025 under the umbrella of the EU Digital Media Observatory (EDMO). Click here to follow the latest stories from our hub on disinformation. With Ukraine heavily reliant on Western backing, Russian disinformation is laser-focused on driving a wedge between Kyiv and its allies. After explosions at Russian-linked refineries in Romania and
Ukraine war latest: France announces more Mirage fighter jets, Tomahawk negotiations still ongoing, Starmer says
 (Updated:  

Ukraine war latest: France announces more Mirage fighter jets, Tomahawk negotiations still ongoing, Starmer says

Hi, this is Jared Goyette reporting from a foggy Kyiv on day 1,339 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today's top story so far: French President Emmanuel Macron on Oct. 24 announced that his country would provide Ukraine with "additional Aster missiles, new training programs, and new Mirage" fighter jets in the coming days, without providing further details. The Aster is a surface-to-air missile used in the SAMP/T air defenses. France has previously supplied Ukraine with the air defe
Ukraine calendar: What will happen this week
 (Updated:  KI Insights

Ukraine calendar: What will happen this week

Editor's note: This article is a shortened on-site version of KI Insights' public newsletter, The Week Ahead, covering events from October 27 - November 2. Sign up here to start your week with an agenda of Ukraine-related events delivered directly to your inbox every week. Donald Trump is embarking on a trip to Asia, visiting Malaysia and Japan, and concluding next week in South Korea, where a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping is expected. U.S. attention next week will focus on negotiating
'Putin is playing with nuclear fire' — Zaporizhzhia power plant blackout ends, but experts warn risks are far from over

'Putin is playing with nuclear fire' — Zaporizhzhia power plant blackout ends, but experts warn risks are far from over

A month-long blackout at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant ended on Oct. 23, after suspected Russian sabotage disconnected it from Ukraine’s power grid. But experts have told the Kyiv Independent it could have been repaired by Moscow in days, warned of serious future risks, and said Moscow could be planning further sabotage in order to connect it to Russia's power grid. Russian troops reportedly struck a power line on Sept. 23, severing the plant’s connection to Ukraine’s e
Russia has upgraded its already devastating glide bombs
 (Updated:  

Russia has upgraded its already devastating glide bombs

Russia has begun using long-range glide bombs, known as KABs, to hit residential areas deep behind the front line. In the last week, Moscow has, for the first time, targeted Mykolaiv, Poltava, and the city of Lozova in Kharkiv Oblast with these weapons. Lozova, located 150 kilometers (93 miles) from the front line, was hit by a UMPB-5R bomb on Oct. 18 that struck a residential neighborhood, injuring five civilians and destroying multiple homes. On Oct. 24, Odesa was reportedly attacked by KABs
Ukraine wants freedom to use EU loan from frozen Russian assets for US weapons
 (Updated:  Russian assets

Ukraine wants freedom to use EU loan from frozen Russian assets for US weapons

When Deputy Head of Ukraine's Presidential Office Iryna Mudra suggested to European partners in 2022 that Russia’s frozen assets be used to compensate Ukraine, she says she was met with little enthusiasm. But over the last month, European leaders have begun voicing support for a potential reparations loan for Kyiv — a plan that could provide Ukraine with up to 140 billion euros backed by Russian assets frozen at the start of the full-scale invasion. "It hasn’t been as quick as we would have li
Ukraine war latest: 'Another rumble in Russia' — HUR claims 3 paratroopers killed in Stavropol
 (Updated:  

Ukraine war latest: 'Another rumble in Russia' — HUR claims 3 paratroopers killed in Stavropol

Hi, this is Chris York reporting from Kyiv on day 1,338 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today's top story so far: An operation by Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) killed three Russian paratroopers in the Russian city of Stavropol, the agency claimed on Oct. 23. The operation took place on Oct. 22. HUR gave no specific details of how they were killed, saying only that the "loud event" at a military checkpoint in the city. A video accompanying the post — filmed from nearby and
EU leaders delay Ukraine loan using Russian assets as Belgium stalls effort

EU leaders delay Ukraine loan using Russian assets as Belgium stalls effort

BRUSSELS, Belgium —  At a fraught EU summit on funding for Kyiv, leaders asked the European Commission to draw up legal options for a reparations loan backed by Russia's frozen assets, with a final proposal expected by the end of the year. The news follows weeks of political debate over how the reparations loan — which could eventually end up lending up to 140 billion euros to Ukraine, backed by Russian frozen central bank assets — could become a reality. The lack of a breakthrough now pushes
Investigation: After occupying their land, Russia trains Ukrainian children for a lifetime of war
 (Updated:  

Investigation: Russia militarizes Ukrainian children from occupied territories, training them for a lifetime of war

Editor's note: Some names including Oksana's have been changed for security reasons. Oksana was just 14 when Russia occupied her village, and only 16 when Russian forces began training and indoctrinating her to fight against Ukraine. At a camp outside Moscow, what was sold as a short vacation was in fact three weeks of intensive military training. "Sometimes I fainted," she said. "They gave me smelling salts, I got up and kept running with the gun. "My mom didn’t believe me until I sent her
'Major shift' — Ukraine embraces much-awaited US sanctions against Russia after prolonged frustration

After months of frustration, Ukraine sees much-anticipated US sanctions against Russia as 'major shift'

Days after U.S. President Donald Trump frustrated Ukrainians by retreating from plans to supply Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, officials in Kyiv are welcoming new U.S. sanctions on Moscow as a sign Washington may be ready to put real pressure on the Kremlin. For the first time since Trump took office, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Moscow, targeting two Russian oil giants, Lukoil and Rosneft, as well as their subsidiaries. "This is very pleasant and unexpected… Trump has finally moved from words
Trump's war mediation: 8 months of shifting between Ukraine, Russia

Trump's war mediation loop: 8 months of shifting between Ukraine, Russia

U.S. President Donald Trump's role in mediating Russia's war against Ukraine appears to be stuck in a loop — one defined by reversals, contradictions, and shifts in tone between Kyiv and Moscow. After meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky in September, the U.S. president appeared confident that Ukraine could reclaim its Russian-occupied territories. "I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and win all of Ukraine back in its original form," Trump wrote
Europe must walk the walk on Ukraine
Opinion

Europe must walk the walk on Ukraine

On Sept. 9, Russia violated Polish airspace with multiple drones. Four days later, they menaced Romania with a similar incursion. Since then, we’ve seen Russian fighter jets in Estonian skies and unidentified drones above airports in Oslo and Copenhagen, all while Moscow is escalating bombings of Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure. These intrusions should be a wake-up call for Europe and the free world. U.S. President Donald Trump is right to argue that Europe’s continued energy purchases
Russian drone hits kindergarten in Kharkiv
 (Updated:  

Russian drone hits kindergarten in Kharkiv

Russia attacked Kharkiv with drones on Oct. 22, damaging a kindergarten and killing one person, injuring at least six, local authorities reported.