Maria Zakharova
Maria Zakharova is a Russian diplomat who has served as Director of the Information and Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation since 2015. She is known for her regular press briefings and outspoken public statements on Russian foreign policy.
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Montenegro detains and expels founder of Russian propaganda network 'Rybar' and four associates
On 9 October, Montenegrin police, working with the country's National Security Agency, detained Mykhailo Zvinchuk, the founder of the Russian propaganda network "Rybar," along with his wife Valeriia Zvinchuk and three other Russian citizens in the town of Risan. All five have been ordered expelled on national-security grounds and had their residence permits revoked. The operation comes as "Rybar" is already under EU, UK and US sanctions, with the US State Department offering up to $10 million for information on its associates.
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German Chancellor Merz makes surprise Kyiv visit, announces €1.3+ billion support package and 15 bilateral agreements
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv by special train on 4 October for an unannounced solidarity visit, accompanied by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and roughly ten business leaders from the defence and energy sectors. He and President Volodymyr Zelensky honoured fallen Ukrainian defenders at the memorial on Maidan Nezalezhnosti, visited the National Academy of Sciences building hit by a Russian drone on 28 September, and announced a new German support package worth more than €1.3 billion alongside 15 bilateral agreements valued at over €8.5 billion. Merz called on Vladimir Putin to stop the war and announced that Germany, France and the UK would host a Coalition of the Willing meeting in Berlin in winter.
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Turkey and UN to mediate new Russia–Ukraine Black Sea ceasefire talks in early October
Turkey and the United Nations are organizing a new round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine on a ceasefire in the Black Sea to protect grain and food exports. Meetings are scheduled for early October, with the Swiss NGO Center for Humanitarian Dialogue acting as mediator. The initiative, launched in September, seeks to recreate the 2022 Black Sea Grain Initiative and was discussed at a closed meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly attended by officials from Turkey, the US, European countries, India and Egypt.
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Russia hits Poland-Ukraine border crossing with drone strike
Russia launched a drone strike on an international road checkpoint on the Poland-Ukraine border, according to reported information. The attack targeted a border crossing with a NATO and EU member state, raising escalation concerns.
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Germany accuses Russia of Leipzig drone attack on Ukrainian cargo plane; two suspects identified
On 1 September Germany formally accused Russia of orchestrating the 4–5 August drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport targeting a Ukrainian An-124 cargo aircraft. Investigators have identified two suspects: a Russian-born man with a Latvian passport linked to Russian intelligence, and a Belarusian-Russian citizen who entered the EU on an Italian tourist visa. Berlin announced retaliatory measures, and EU foreign ministers meeting in Ireland discussed tightening visa rules for Russian nationals.
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Germany accuses Russia over Leipzig airport drone, announces diplomatic measures
Germany officially accused Russia of being behind a drone incident at Leipzig airport that struck a Ukrainian transport aircraft, and announced a set of punitive measures. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany will revoke the agreement with the "Russian House" in Berlin, close Russia's consulate in Bonn by September 18, summon the Russian ambassador, tighten checks on Russian citizens entering the country, and step up pressure on the Russian shadow fleet. The Russian Embassy in Berlin will remain Moscow's only diplomatic mission in Germany.