Russia Threatens Nuclear Test Comeback
Russia’s top parliament bosses are set to debate scrapping a treaty banning nuclear tests. The move sparks fears of a fresh global arms race. Last Thursday, President Vladimir Putin hinted Russia could restart nuclear testing for the first time since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.
Putin said Russia’s nuclear doctrine—the rules for using nukes—would stay the same but stopped short of confirming a test resumption. He also suggested pulling out of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), a pact signed but not ratified by the US.
Vyacheslav Volodin, head of Russia’s Duma, vowed to bring the topic to parliament’s next big meeting. Meanwhile, Russia’s envoy to the CTBT Organisation declared Moscow would revoke its treaty ratification, a decision slammed by Washington as a dangerous blow to global nuclear norms.
Ukraine Under Fire as Conflict Escalates
In a brutal twist, Russian forces shelled Ukraine’s southern Kherson region on Sunday. At least two were killed, with dozens more injured, Ukrainian officials reported. Kyiv claims its forces are pushing forward on the eastern front in a fierce counteroffensive.
Ukraine’s military repelled Russian attacks across five sectors along a 600-mile front, a key defensive success amidst the chaos.
Russian Drone Strikes to Rise This Winter
Ukraine braces for a spike in Russian drone attacks this autumn and winter. Air force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat revealed Moscow’s use of Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones surged in September, crushing last year’s monthly records with over 500 deployed.
Last winter, Ukraine suffered crippling strikes on energy facilities, leaving millions without power or hot water. Despite ramped-up air defences, experts warn another brutal campaign may hit as Ukraine’s grid remains vulnerable from last year’s devastation.
