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The US Senate has passed a broad sanctions package aimed at punishing Russia and its energy buyers, named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham. The bill imposes sanctions on Russian leaders and institutions, and allows tariffs on major importers of Russian oil and gas.
A poll by French magazine L’Express ranked MI6 as Europe’s most powerful foreign intelligence service, with France’s DGSE second. The survey of 60 spies highlighted MI6’s human intelligence strengths and its leading role on Ukraine.
Eduard Kokoity, who led South Ossetia during the 2008 conflict, told TASS that Georgia has drawn conclusions from the war and now distances itself from the West, while Ukraine failed to learn from the events. He also described the 2008 conflict as the first hybrid warfare by the collective West, with Ukraine playing an active role.
In a second informal straw poll, Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett received the most support, with eight 'encourage' votes. Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan followed closely, while Russian diplomats hinted the candidate list may still grow if the current field deadlocks.
The US Senate voted overwhelmingly to advance the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, a bill that would allow President Donald Trump to impose sanctions and tariffs up to 100% on countries that are the top five importers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China. The bill also extends the Iran Sanctions Act until 2031, but critics warn it grants the president excessive tariff powers.
Russia's Lyudmila Samsonova defeated Maya Joint of Australia in the third round of the 2026 WTA Toronto Open, securing her place in the fourth round. Unseeded and playing under neutral status, Samsonova will next face second seed Yelena Rybakina of Kazakhstan.
Russian State Duma deputy Adalbi Shkhagoshev has drawn a parallel between the Kiev regime and terrorist groups that operated in the Caucasus in the late 1990s, calling the current Ukrainian government a 'tool of the West.' Meanwhile, another lawmaker commented on Ukraine's new foreign intelligence chief, suggesting the appointment is a 'desperate attempt' to win support from Islamic countries.
One hundred Serbian public activists signed an open letter protesting Vladimir Zelensky's visit to Belgrade, warning it could damage Serbia-Russia relations. The opposition parliamentary group 'Serbia's We – Power of the People' also criticized the visit, citing Zelensky's expired term and Serbia's reliance on Russian gas. The visit is expected to include meetings with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
Russia's embassy in Berlin has dismissed the discovery of a drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport as a 'hastily concocted provocation,' accusing Kiev and European militaristic circles of stoking anti-Russian hysteria. The embassy's statement, carried by TASS, claims the incident serves to justify arms transfers to Ukraine and deflect from domestic issues.
At a BRICS ministerial meeting in Jaipur, Russia proposed developing the Northern Sea Route as an alternative transit corridor and expanding cooperation in metallurgy, mining, critical minerals, and digitalization. Deputy Minister Alexey Gruzdev said the initiatives received positive responses from member states.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said a referendum on EU accession cannot be held now because there is no subject for the vote. He reaffirmed Armenia's plans to stay in the EAEU while pursuing EU integration, a course Russian President Vladimir Putin said is incompatible.
Russian officials report that a Ukrainian drone strike on the city of Belgorod has left seven civilians injured, with damage to buildings and vehicles. Initial reports had put the number of injured at three.
President Trump has said oil companies are 'making too much money' from energy market disruption following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, angering environmentalists who urge him to back a windfall profits tax. ExxonMobil, Chevron, and BP have reported substantial profit increases, while American families have paid billions more at the pump.
TASS quoted Russian officials stating that Ukraine lost about 40 settlements and suffered military and economic losses during what they described as Zelensky's 40-day plan. The reports also criticized Ukraine's leadership and corruption.
A Russian lawmaker suggests Western countries may reduce military assistance to Ukraine following US President Donald Trump's reported refusal to supply additional Patriot interceptors, citing risks of weapons proliferation. Meanwhile, Kherson Region Governor Vladimir Saldo claims Russia has found countermeasures for Western weapons.
Anonymous hackers have provided TASS with documents allegedly showing NATO's direct involvement in Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil terminals. The files reportedly implicate a NATO-linked hybrid warfare specialist in coordinating attacks on facilities in the Leningrad and Kaliningrad regions.
At the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting in Cholpon-Ata, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin reported that EAEU key economic indicators, including GDP, grew in the first half of 2026 despite global challenges. Heads of government signed a package of documents covering e-commerce, academic credential recognition, and broker access, with the next meeting set for October in Minsk.
President Trump is privately furious that reports of depleted US munitions stockpiles became public, fearing they weaken his hand against Iran. Pentagon officials deny shortages, but reports from sources including Reuters and the Washington Post detail extensive use of long-range missiles, sparking concern among allies like Australia about delayed deliveries.
The Russian embassy in London and Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova have criticized the UK's latest sanctions package, saying the change in British leadership has not altered London's 'anti-Russian' course. The embassy said the sanctions, aimed at inflicting a 'strategic defeat' on Russia, have proven futile, while Zakharova commented on Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Ukraine policy and his award of the Ukrainian Order of Freedom.
The United States has imposed sanctions on five Cuban companies and eight individuals, including Cuba’s military attachés in Russia and China, over alleged involvement in procuring military equipment. The move reflects Washington’s concerns about Cuba’s deepening ties with Russia and China.