Russian Ministry of Defense
The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation is the federal executive body responsible for military policy, the administration of the Russian Armed Forces, and mobilisation planning. It is headed by a minister appointed by the President of Russia and is headquartered in Moscow.
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Humanitarian mission opens in occupied Oleshky under local Russia-Ukraine ceasefire
A local Russia-Ukraine ceasefire enabled a joint humanitarian mission in occupied Oleshky, with routes cleared of mines, a convoy prepared, and civilians scheduled to receive aid and safely evacuate. The operation is mediated and coordinated by US First Lady Melania Trump and involves Ukrainian, Russian and US delegations.
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Ukrainian drones strike reported Russian ammunition depot near Khrustalny
Ukrainian drones attacked a Russian ammunition depot near the occupied city of Khrustalny in Luhansk Oblast on the night of October 27, reportedly triggering a strong fire and secondary explosions that lasted about an hour. Ukrainian forces also struck ammunition and equipment depots and troop concentrations across Luhansk, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.
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UN commission: Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure are war crimes
A UN investigative commission concluded that Russia’s deliberate, systematic attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. It also found evidence that Russian authorities engaged in human trafficking to recruit men from 29 countries for the armed forces.
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ISW: Russia begins winter energy strike campaign earlier than usual to pressure Ukraine into capitulation
The Institute for the Study of War assessed on October 4 that Russia has started its seasonal campaign of strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure earlier than in previous years, ahead of the 2026–2027 heating season. ISW said the goal is to make civilian life unbearable and force Ukraine to capitulate, and that the Russian Ministry of Defence's claims of retaliating for Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilian objects are pretextual. The assessment comes as Russia has already struck energy facilities in multiple oblasts and bridges in Kyiv repeatedly in early October.
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Ukraine strikes Moscow oil refinery and logistics complex in largest drone attack on Russian capital
In the night of 19–20 September 2026, Ukraine launched a massive drone and missile attack on Moscow and Moscow Oblast, hitting the Gazpromneft Moscow Oil Refinery in Kapotnya and a warehouse complex in Sofyino. Fires broke out at both sites. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin called it the largest drone attack ever on the Russian capital. At least two people were killed and six injured across Moscow Oblast, and more than 400 flights were cancelled or delayed at Moscow airports. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the operation involved the SBU, Unmanned Systems Forces, SSO, HUR and Foreign Intelligence Service.