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Fire at Russian Oil Refinery Extinguished After Drone Attack

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A fire at Russia’s Ilsky oil refinery in the southern Krasnodar region was extinguished on Saturday after debris from a Ukrainian drone caused a blaze at the facility, local authorities said.

Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces had targeted both the Ilsky and Syzran oil refineries overnight, reporting fires at both sites. Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defences had destroyed 397 Ukrainian drones across several regions, while officials in the Samara region confirmed that drones had targeted an industrial facility without identifying it.

The attacks are part of Ukraine’s ongoing strikes against Russian energy infrastructure, which Kyiv says are aimed at disrupting resources used to finance Russia’s war effort. The Ilsky refinery has an annual processing capacity of more than 6 million tonnes of crude oil, while the Syzran refinery can process around 8.5 million tonnes. Reuters said it could not independently verify the claims from either side.

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Germany Warns of Russian Disinformation Ahead of State Elections

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German security sources say Russia has intensified disinformation campaigns ahead of next month’s state elections, with online content reportedly targeting political rivals of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Authorities believe the campaign aims to deepen political divisions and undermine Germany’s governing parties, including the CDU, SPD, Greens, and FDP.

German officials said the operation, known as the “Matryoshka” campaign, spreads fabricated videos on social media using the branding of well-known news organisations to make false allegations against politicians. While the Interior Ministry says the campaign has not gained significant online traction, it continues to monitor the situation closely, calling it a serious threat.

Russia’s embassy in Berlin rejected the accusations, describing them as “anti-Russian hysteria” and denying any interference in Germany’s internal affairs. German security officials, however, maintain that the campaign is centrally coordinated from Russia, adding that the country remains alert to foreign influence attempts ahead of the elections.

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Boris Nadezhdin Leaves Russia After Political Crackdown

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Russian anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin has announced that he is temporarily outside Russia after being labelled a “foreign agent” and barred from contesting the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections. In a video posted from Paris, with the Eiffel Tower in the background, Nadezhdin said he was “alive and free” and would share his future plans later.

The 63-year-old former lawmaker has been a vocal critic of Russia’s war in Ukraine while attempting to remain active within the country’s political system. His political ambitions were halted after the Justice Ministry designated him a “foreign agent” in July, followed by police questioning and a court fine over alleged display of extremist symbols on social media, accusations he rejected.

Nadezhdin’s departure adds to the growing number of prominent Kremlin critics who have either left Russia or been imprisoned since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022. Russian authorities say such measures are necessary to protect national security, while opposition figures argue they are part of a broader crackdown on political dissent.

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Moscow Court Orders Arrest of Boris Nemtsov’s Daughter

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A Moscow court has ordered the arrest in absentia of Zhanna Nemtsova, the daughter of slain Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, over her involvement with an organisation that Russia has designated as “undesirable.” Nemtsova, who has lived outside Russia since 2015, co-founded the Germany-based Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom, which was banned in Russia in 2024.

Responding to the ruling, Nemtsova dismissed the court’s decision in a social media post, noting that the foundation operates legally from Germany. Under Russian law, participation in or support for organisations labelled “undesirable” can result in prison sentences.

Boris Nemtsov, a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin, was assassinated near the Kremlin in 2015. Although five men were convicted for carrying out the killing in 2017, his supporters have long argued that those who planned and ordered the murder have never been brought to justice.

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Thousands Rally to Save Moscow’s Historic Elektrozavod Factory from Redevelopment

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A growing campaign to protect Moscow’s historic Elektrozavod factory from redevelopment has gained significant public support, with more than 21,000 people signing petitions to preserve the iconic Soviet-era industrial landmark. The neo-Gothic brick complex, known for its distinctive architecture and colorful mosaics, has stood in eastern Moscow for over a century but has remained vacant since a fire in early 2025.

Campaign organizers argue that replacing the site with high-rise buildings would erase an important part of the city’s industrial and cultural heritage. Historians and preservation advocates say the factory once employed around 23,000 workers and played a vital role in Soviet industry, producing electrical equipment, including lamps used for the Kremlin’s famous red stars.

The developer behind the project has stated that it plans to retain the factory’s historic facades while integrating them into a modern urban development. However, campaigners remain skeptical, citing concerns over recent changes to heritage protection laws that they believe could make it easier for historic sites to lose protected status and face redevelopment.

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France Orders Deportation of Russian Media Figure Xenia Fedorova

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France has issued a deportation order for Russian media personality Xenia Fedorova, the country’s Interior Ministry confirmed. Fedorova, the former head of RT France, has remained in the country since the Russian state-backed broadcaster was banned across the European Union in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

French officials have accused Fedorova of spreading Russian misinformation, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot among those criticising her public role. In recent years, she has become a regular figure on French media outlets CNews, Europe 1 and JDNews, all of which are owned by the CANAL+ and Lagardere groups.

The media companies said they were shocked by the deportation decision and pledged full support to Fedorova. According to reports, her lawyer plans to appeal the order. The case comes amid continued scrutiny of Russian-linked media activities in Europe and ongoing efforts by EU nations to counter disinformation.

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Finland Closes Airspace Near Russia Over Drone Risk

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Finland has temporarily closed part of its airspace and restricted maritime traffic along its southern coast near the Russian border due to the risk of stray drones entering the area. The Finnish military said the measures are intended to ensure authorities can respond safely if drones cross into the region and to protect the public.

The move follows several incidents this year in which military drones linked to the Ukraine-Russia conflict reportedly entered the airspace of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. These events have raised concerns that the ongoing war could increasingly affect NATO’s northern borders.

Finnish military officials declined to reveal the source of intelligence regarding the possible drone activity, citing operational security. While Ukraine and NATO have blamed Russian signal jamming for causing some drones to stray into neighbouring countries, Russia has accused Ukraine of deliberately directing drones across international borders.

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Pirlo Withdraws from Italy Coach Race

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Andrea Pirlo has announced that he is no longer a candidate to become Italy’s national football coach after facing criticism over his links to Russian betting company Fonbet. Although his appointment had not been officially confirmed, he was widely expected to take the role before political and public backlash intensified.

Several Italian politicians opposed Pirlo’s candidacy, citing his position as a global ambassador for Fonbet and his participation in events held in Russia alongside pro-Kremlin figures. In response, Pirlo said his involvement was purely commercial and sporting, rejecting claims that it reflected any political stance or personal beliefs.

The controversy has created uncertainty within the Italian Football Federation as it searches for a new head coach following Gennaro Gattuso’s departure. Italian media report that Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini are now among the leading candidates, while questions also surround the future of technical director Paolo Maldini.

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Five Bosnian Climbers Die on Mount Elbrus

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Five climbers from Bosnia and Herzegovina have been confirmed dead after being caught in a severe storm on Russia’s Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe. Rescue teams managed to evacuate two survivors, who were taken for medical treatment, while recovery efforts continue under difficult weather conditions.

Russian emergency authorities recovered the bodies of two climbers from an altitude of around 5,350 metres. The bodies of three more victims have been located, but poor weather and strong winds have delayed their evacuation from the mountain.

According to Bosnian media, the seven-member climbing expedition was from the town of Zenica and included a married couple and a female doctor. Mount Elbrus, standing at 5,642 metres near the Georgia border, is known for its rapidly changing weather, making rescue operations particularly challenging.

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Eight Killed in Strike on Holiday Camps in Russian-Held Zaporizhzhia

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Eight people, including two children, were killed in an overnight attack on holiday camps in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, according to Russian-installed authorities. The strike also injured 14 people in the resort area of Kyrylivka, located on the Azov Sea coast near Melitopol.

Russian-appointed governor Yevgeny Balitsky accused Ukraine of deliberately targeting civilians, claiming the attack was aimed at a holiday resort. Ukrainian officials did not immediately comment on the allegations.

Both Russia and Ukraine continue to deny intentionally targeting civilians during the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The latest incident adds to ongoing civilian casualties as fighting continues across the region.

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