President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that Ukraine will intensify its strikes on Russian oil refineries in response to a new tactical doctrine from Moscow. According to the Ukrainian president, Kyiv has obtained intelligence documents indicating that Vladimir Putin has authorized a broader campaign of military attacks targeting civilian infrastructure, including logistics networks, roads, hospitals, schools, and populated areas, ahead of the winter season. Zelenskyy stated that the goal of this Russian operation is to pressure the population into abandoning Kyiv and other major cities. Despite this escalation, the Ukrainian president emphasized that his country would not target civilians in its retaliatory efforts. Kyiv is currently working on enhancing its jamming capabilities and developing interceptors for Shahed drones and ballistic missiles capable of reaching Moscow.
Meanwhile, in Latvia, recent parliamentary elections have signaled a continued pro-European and pro-Ukrainian stance. Exit polls showed Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs’s centrist United List party leading with 36.5% of the vote as of the latest count. The campaign was heavily influenced by concerns over the cost of living and anxieties regarding neighboring Russia. While Kulbergs has pledged to maintain defense spending at 5% of GDP and increase anti-drone capabilities, he explicitly ruled out cooperation with pro-Russian political factions, warning that economic ties with Moscow would weaken Latvia. Conversely, populist rivals, including the Latvia First party, which holds 13.0% of the vote, have campaigned on shifting focus toward cost-of-living issues and reducing aid to Ukraine.
These political developments occur against a backdrop of regional warnings. Baltic nations have cautioned for months that Russia is conducting a campaign of hybrid attacks, including sabotage and cyber operations, intended to undermine European support for Ukraine. While some Western officials remain skeptical of Russia’s capacity for a direct assault on NATO members, the threat remains a central focus of Baltic defense policy.
Kyiv working on better jamming capabilities, interceptors for Shahed drones and ballistic missiles that can reach Moscow. What we know on day 1,684
