Latest News in Russia (as of October 17, 2025)

Based on recent reports, here's a roundup of the top stories related to Russia, focusing on ongoing geopolitical tensions, the war in Ukraine, and domestic developments. I've drawn from major outlets like The Independent, Sky News, The Guardian, Kyiv Independent, and Meduza for the most up-to-date context.

1. Ukraine-Russia War Escalations

• US Pushes NATO to Boost Firepower Amid Trump-Zelensky Talks: The US has urged NATO allies to increase military support for Ukraine ahead of a White House meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump, after a recent phone call with Vladimir Putin, emphasized the need to "get Russia done" but expressed caution about depleting US resources. Putin convened Russia's Security Council following the call, signaling heightened diplomatic maneuvering. (Sources: The Independent, Sky News – reported within the last 24 hours)


• Russia's Threats Over US Tomahawk Missiles: Moscow has warned of consequences if the US supplies long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, with Trump noting he's "sort of made a decision" on the matter. This comes amid ongoing Ukrainian strikes deep into Russian territory, including a recent drone attack on the Bashneft oil refinery in Ufa (1,400 km from the border), highlighting "no safe places in Russia’s deep rear." (Sources: The Independent, The Guardian – updated 2-3 days ago)


• Prisoner and Body Exchanges: Russia has handed over bodies of its soldiers in a recent exchange with Ukraine. Separately, Moscow proposed swapping POWs for Ukrainian children, though details remain unconfirmed.

2. European Security Concerns

• Germany Warns of 'Hot Confrontation': German officials have cautioned that Russia is preparing for potential direct military clashes with Europe, amid broader NATO discussions on bolstering defenses. The EU has renewed sanctions against Russia over the 2014 Crimea annexation, further straining relations. (Source: Kyiv Independent – 3 days ago)


• Irish and French Support for Ukraine: Ireland is ready to contribute to Ukraine's security guarantees, while France and Ukraine have launched joint drone production initiatives.

3. Domestic Russian News

• Economic Pressures: Russia's state-owned Rosneft reported a 68% plunge in net income, and the budget deficit may widen further this year due to war costs and sanctions. Prices are rising, and divorces are increasing, as noted in state media. (Sources: Reuters via X posts, TASS)


• Putin's Meetings and Internal Affairs: Putin recently met with Syria’s interim leader, discussing regional stability. Domestically, there's a push for a "cut-out-and-keep prayer book" supporting the war effort, and discussions on what Trump's US presidency means for Russia – including speculation that keeping Russia in the G8 might have prevented the Ukraine conflict. (Sources: TASS, BBC via X posts)


• Other Oddities: Reports include a strange court case involving a sheep, crackdowns on online pop-ups, and investigations into suspicious vehicle plates. Meduza's daily digest also covers FSB perspectives and North Korean debris linked to the conflict.

4. Broader Context

• The war in Ukraine remains the dominant story, now on day 1,327, with no major breakthroughs. Zelensky has called on Trump to replicate Middle East peace successes in resolving the conflict. Russian media highlights energy trade disruptions and political repressions.