From "Car Safaris" in Kharkiv to 7,000 Monkeys in the Kremlin

The US compromise proposals for Donbas in Abu Dhabi, FPV drone terror in Kharkiv, Ukraine's near-space missile tests, Trump's midterm fallout, the Nvidia spy scandal, and Kremlin longevity research

A gloomy Defense Minister walks in, approaching the desk timidly: — Vladimir Vladimirovich, intelligence reports: the Western embassies are staying put, drinking coffee, ignoring the air raid sirens, and not packing their bags.

The "strategist" slams his fist furiously on the table: — The audacity! Tell the VKS (Aerospace Forces) commander: until these foreigners personally confirm in their reports that they have no water, no electricity, and no pulse, consider that the special military operation is proceeding strictly according to plan!

Yet while the Russian dictator dreams of the complete destruction of Ukraine and "victories on schedule," the reality on the front lines is forcing allies to seek other solutions. During the negotiations in Abu Dhabi, the United States is attempting to sketch out its own intricate compromise scenario—specifically through the creation of a purely "paper" victory for the Kremlin.

 The "Paper" Donbas & Abu Dhabi Peace Talks (The Economist)

English Summary: US negotiators in Abu Dhabi are floating a potential territorial compromise between Ukraine and Russia: altering the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts so the Kremlin can claim a symbolic victory over Donbas while key cities held by Ukraine remain under Kyiv's control. Additional ideas include returning Russian energy to European markets and providing NATO Article 4/5 style security guarantees. However, Ukrainian officials doubt Donald Trump's commitment to such guarantees, while Moscow continues to demand Ukrainian neutrality, troop reductions, and a pivot toward broader European security negotiations to delay a ceasefire.

"Human Safari": FPV Drone Terror in Kharkiv (ABC News / HRW / UN Reports)

English Summary: Amid ongoing diplomatic efforts, Russian forces have escalated strikes on Kharkiv's energy infrastructure and residential areas. International observers, human rights organizations, and Western journalists highlight a horrific tactic termed "Human Safari"—the deliberate, systematic targeting of civilian cars, buses, and municipal vehicles using high-resolution FPV drones in neighborhoods like Pivnichna Saltivka and along border highways.

Exo-Atmospheric Missile Shield & Space Autonomy (The Guardian)

English Summary: Ukraine has conducted at least three successful tests of exo-atmospheric missile interceptors designed to destroy Russia's Oreshnik ballistic missiles in near space before they deploy individually targeted warheads. Driven by recent Starlink speed restrictions and Russia's deployment of its Rassvet satellite array, Ukraine is accelerating its space independence—marked by the late-October launch of the Obria Nano satellite in partnership with Denmark's GomSpace, laying the groundwork for a planned 245-satellite network.

Trump’s Midterm Defeat & Shift in Ukraine Leverage (Neue Zürcher Zeitung)

English Summary: NZZ analyst Andreas Rüesch argues that the Republicans' defeat in the US midterm elections significantly undercuts Donald Trump's ability to force a "dictated peace" on Ukraine. Despite his constitutional foreign policy powers, Trump enters his final two years as a diminished "lame duck." The shift is already visible as Kyiv resumes night strikes on Russian oil refineries despite White House objections, while Democrats in Congress prepare new support packages for 2027.

Nvidia Spy Scandal & Kremlin Longevity Experiments (NYT / Bloomberg)

English Summary: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang faces intense scrutiny after US intelligence linked him to former Megaspeed executive Alice Huang (Huang Le), suspected of spying for China's Ministry of State Security to bypass US chip exports. Meanwhile, close Putin ally Mikhail Kovalchuk revealed at a Moscow forum that the Kurchatov Institute is conducting aging research on over 7,000 primates to extend human lifespan, reflecting the Kremlin's obsession with longevity amid ongoing wartime degradation.

Read more in the Ukrainian edition....