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Ville Kostian

@kostianv.bsky.social
3.1K followers 404 following 14K posts

Geopolitics, geoeconomics and military.

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Reposted by Ville Kostian
Euromaidan Press @euromaidanpress.bsky.social · 11h
Ukraine’s private factories can make more artillery ammo than the state budget can buy, said Vladyslav Belbas, CEO of Ukrainian Armor He added that they could produce the same amount for export, yet this year’s state procurement took months euromaidanpress.com/2026/10/15/u...
euromaidanpress.com
Ukraine’s shell factories outpace state orders, arms company chief says: Kyiv spent five months buying from them this year, leaving six to produce
Private plants were built under Russian fire with no state investment, says the head of Ukrainian defense maker Ukrainian Armor
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 12h
⚡️Russian drone strikes leave portions of Kyiv without power, fires burning. Damage to energy facilities in the Kyiv region has also reduced water pressure in areas of the capital on the Dnipro River's right bank, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
kyivindependent.com
Russian drone strikes leave portions of Kyiv without power, fires burning
Damage to energy facilities in the Kyiv region has also reduced water pressure in areas of the capital on the Dnipro River's right bank. Emergency specialists are switching power supplies to water pum...
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
Dr. Michael MacKay @michaelmackay.bsky.social · 12h
In the north of Kharkiv region, the russian fascist invaders attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders 16 times in the areas of Izbyts'ke, Starytsya and Chuhunivka as well as towards Buzove and Rad'kivka. 1/2
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
AmplifyUkraine 🔱🇺🇦 @amplifyukraine.eu · 5h
Ukraine's Patriot interceptor stocks again reach critically low levels, media reports #Ukraine
kyivindependent.com
Ukraine's Patriot interceptor stocks again reach critically low levels, media reports
Ukraine's supply of Patriot interceptor missiles has reached a critical low, multiple media outlets reported on Oct. 15 citing Ukrainian officials, as Russia intensifies attacks on energy infrastructure ahead of the upcoming winter months.
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
Kristian Kiehling @kristiankiehling.bsky.social · 2h
The US government has lied yet again. A Reuters investigation has revealed that the order to restrict Ukraine’s Starshield military-grade satellite communications system, which is essential for battlefield operations and defense, came directly from the White House.
kyivpost.com
White House Behind Ukraine Starshield Restrictions as Russia Attacks
The restrictions disrupted Ukrainian drone defenses as Russia intensified attacks, raising questions about Washington’s pressure on Kyiv.
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
AmplifyUkraine 🔱🇺🇦 @amplifyukraine.eu · 1h
Zelenskyy meets Macron in Brussels on strengthening Ukrainian aviation #Ukraine
en.interfax.com.ua
Zelenskyy meets Macron in Brussels on strengthening Ukrainian aviation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday; the leaders discussed strengthening Ukrainian aviation and the European anti-ballistic program.
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
Dr. Michael MacKay @michaelmackay.bsky.social · 11h
In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled six attempts by the russian fascist invaders to advance towards Druzhelyubivka and Ol'hivka in Kharkiv region and Lyman in Donetsk region. One battle is ongoing. 1/2
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 11h
⚡️Zelensky meets Belgian Prime Minister De Wever, but silence reigns on Russian assets. The talks apparently failed to yield a breakthrough on the fate of €200 billion ($227 billion) in Russian assets frozen by Euroclear under Belgian jurisdiction.
kyivindependent.com
Zelensky meets Belgian Prime Minister De Wever, but silence reigns on Russian assets
The talks apparently failed to yield a breakthrough on the fate of €200 billion ($227 billion) in Russian assets frozen by Euroclear under Belgian jurisdiction.
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 13h
Nearly 48 hours after Ukraine's Starshield terminals started mysteriously malfunctioning, nobody in Washington, nor at SpaceX, has taken responsibility for the apparent decision to hobble Ukrainian military communications.
kyivindependent.com
No one's owning up to throttling Ukraine's military Starlink, and that's telling
Nearly 48 hours after Ukraine's Starshield terminals started mysteriously malfunctioning, nobody in Washington, nor at SpaceX, has taken responsibility for the apparent decision to hobble Ukrainian mi...
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 2h
These are the indicative estimates of Russia’s combat losses as of Oct. 16, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
Jake Broe @realjakebroe.bsky.social · 7h
Ukraine launched a drone strike on Sberbank's $1 billion data center in Balakovo. Bring on the banking crisis!
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
François Heisbourg @fheisbourg.bsky.social · 2h
SITREP 🇺🇦 DAY 1696 1. Hghi time to use 🇷🇺 frozen asstes (200 bn €); Zelensky meets.🇧🇪.PM de Wever 2.other front: Greenland 🇬🇱 rejects until 2029 US request to do deep water mining 3. Daytime bombing: 125/138 strike drones down/out (79 jet propelled) yesterday
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
OSINT Mirror Feed @osint-mirrors.bsky.social · 2h
Source: @osint613 on X IDF: Mohammed Mohammed Abd al-Khalek Hala, a Hamas commander in the weapons production division who took part in the October 7 attack, was killed in a strike in northern Gaza on Thursday. A second strike in Khan Younis killed PIJ operative Ahmad Jabrin Tawfiq Dalha.
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 2h
For Pakistan, the most worrying possibility is small, relatively cheap drone systems falling into the hands of terrorist groups. buff.ly/XDkNuJJ
buff.ly
The Afghan Taliban’s Growing Drone War Against Pakistan
For Pakistan, the most worrying possibility is small, relatively cheap drone systems falling into the hands of terrorist groups.
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
SPRAVDI - Stratcom Centre @stratcomcentre.bsky.social · 2h
Updated Top Countries Supporting Ukraine By GDP
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AmplifyUkraine 🔱🇺🇦 @amplifyukraine.eu · 1h
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,561,020 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022 #Ukraine
kyivindependent.com
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,561,020 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
The number includes 1,790 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
Tim White @twmcltd.bsky.social · 9h
Two more airports are closed in Russia. They are Penza and Saratov. It takes the total unable to operate to ten, including all 4 in Moscow. The departures board at the largest airport, Sheremetevo, is a sea of red.
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Ville Kostian @kostianv.bsky.social · 3h
" #BlackSea drone attacks enter #NATO country's territorial waters for first time" arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026...
arstechnica.com
Black Sea drone attacks enter NATO country's territorial waters for first time
Suspected Russian drones attack chemical tanker within Romanian waters.
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Ville Kostian @kostianv.bsky.social · 3h
"Are student protests being manipulated ahead of #France 's presidential election?" www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Are student protests being manipulated ahead France’s presidential election?
France's prime minister has suggested that student anger is being weaponised, as the unions and other protesters prepare to take to the streets too.
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Ville Kostian @kostianv.bsky.social · 3h
"Ship attack reports near #Hormuz reach record high as #oil exports slow" www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Ship attack reports near Hormuz reach record high as oil exports slow
BBC Verify analysis of data from a UK maritime agency shows 12 vessels were struck in a week.
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
Chatham House @chathamhouse.org · 3h
The Houthis have learned that even limited strikes on Saudi Arabia can impose significant costs. This gives the Houthis leverage that Saudi Arabia's conventional military has struggled to overcome.
chathamhouse.org
The Yemen war is not just Saudi Arabia’s problem. It’s the Gulf’s too
The renewed conflict in Yemen exposes the limits of Saudi Arabia’s military options and the vulnerabilities of the Gulf states. A unified Gulf Cooperation Council strategy on Yemen and a credible poli...
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 7h
5/ The Iraqi Parliament voted on October 15 to approve some Iranian-backed Iraqi militia actors to fill three vacant ministerial roles and a deputy prime minister position during its session to complete Iraq’s government formation.
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 7h
4/ The Houthis have continued their attempts to capture Taiz City by securing positions on advantageous terrain and roadways on the city’s western outskirts.
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 7h
NEW: The Houthis attacked Yemeni government-controlled cities with missiles and drones, likely to weaken the Yemeni government’s legitimacy and possibly to disrupt government counteroffensives. + 3 maps 🧵 (1/5) Read more: isw.pub/IranUpdate10...
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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 6h
6/ Ukrainian forces recently advanced north of Kupyansk and southwest of Orikhiv. Read more: isw.pub/UkrWar101526
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 6h
5/ Ukrainian forces likely struck the Ryazan Oil Refinery in Ryazan Oblast overnight on October 14 to 15. Russia launched two Kh-59 cruise missiles and 580 drones against Ukraine overnight on October 14 to 15 and 138 drones during the day on October 15.
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 6h
NEW: Ukrainian forces reportedly regained unrestricted access to Starshield on October 15, following in-motion speed restrictions on SpaceX’s Starshield communications network over Ukraine. 🧵(1/6) Read more: isw.pub/UkrWar101526
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
Christian Thiels @christianthiels.eurosky.social · 3h
"Iran's navy said monitoring teams patrolling the eastern sector of the Strait of Hormuz detected the tanker ablaze in the restricted area, according to a statement cited by the Mehr news agency." @euronews.com www.euronews.com/2026/10/15/a...
euronews.com
Another tanker ablaze near Hormuz after two ships sunk in attacks
Iran said monitoring teams found the unnamed vessel ablaze after it entered a prohibited zone with its tracking systems disabled, two days after the container ship GFS Pride sank following a fire and ...
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
Kristian Kiehling @kristiankiehling.bsky.social · 15h
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal: "The faster russian refineries are blown to smithereens, the better!" "Stop issuing visas to russians, please! You don't want them near your houses!" The Baltic states get it. When will you? www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnpt...
youtube.com
"Blown to Smithereens, the Better": Estonian PM on Russian Refineries | Europe | Global News
YouTube video by Valence News
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
The Insider @theins.press · 13h
Russia’s FSB says it has detained a Swedish citizen who fought for Ukraine The man has been charged with illegally crossing Russia’s border and is facing allegations of “participating in a terrorist organization” and “mercenarism.”
theins.press
Russia’s FSB says it has detained a Swedish citizen who fought for Ukraine
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) says it has detained a Swedish citizen for illegally crossing the Russian border on Thursday. The security service…
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
AmplifyUkraine 🔱🇺🇦 @amplifyukraine.eu · 7h
Ukraine war briefing: Starlink access restored, says UK’s Streeting, as Zelenskyy rallies support in Brussels #Ukraine
theguardian.com
Ukraine war briefing: Starlink access restored, says UK’s Streeting, as Zelenskyy rallies support in Brussels
UK defence secretary says Pete Hegseth assured him satellite communications system back up and running in Ukraine. What we know on day 1,696
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
Dr. Michael MacKay @michaelmackay.bsky.social · 10h
In the Hulyapole sector of the battlefront, in Zaporizhzhya region, Ukrainian defenders repelled 17 attacks by the russian fascist invaders towards Rizdvyanka, Dolynka and Hirke. 1/2
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Ville Kostian @kostianv.bsky.social · 13h
#Yemen - "Houthi missile attack on Yemeni presidential palace kills two, minister says" - #Houthis #Iran www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Houthi missile attack on Yemeni presidential palace kills two, minister says
Yemen's information minister says the prime minister and other ministers were unhurt when ballistic missiles hit al-Maashiq Palace.
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
Ukrainska Pravda 🇺🇦 @pravda.ua · 22h
⚡️ Starshield operation at speed has resumed on front line, Defence Ministry sources say
pravda.com.ua
Starshield operation at speed has resumed on front line, Defence Ministry sources say
Ukrainian units are reporting that Starshield terminals are working again while moving following SpaceX's speed limit, and the Defence Ministry is looking into the cause.
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
U.S. Naval Institute @usni.org · 15h
North Korea Tests First Submarine-launched Cruise Missile in Nearly 3 Years — USNI News news.usni.org/2026/10/15/n...
news.usni.org
North Korea Tests First Submarine-launched Cruise Missile in Nearly 3 Years - USNI News
North Korea fired two submarine-launched cruise missiles on Wednesday in the Sea of Japan, the first public disclosure of a SLCM test firing in nearly three years. North Korea’s Missile Administration...
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Ville Kostian @kostianv.bsky.social · 14h
#MidEast : " #Houthis target #Yemen government palace in Aden" www.dw.com/en/middle-ea...
dw.com
Middle East updates: Houthis target Yemen government palace in Aden
Houthi rebels said they targeted Saudi military assets in a rare attack on the interim seat of internationally-recognized Yemen's government. Meanwhile, vessels are again under fire near the Strait of...
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
Meduza in English @meduza.io · 15h
As winter approaches, Ukraine has run out of Patriot missile interceptors, CNN reports. Its defenses failed to stop almost any ballistic missiles in a Russian attack on power plants in Kyiv and energy infrastructure in Kharkiv. meduza.io/en/news/2026...
meduza.io
Kyiv has run out of missiles for its Patriot air defense systems, CNN reports — Meduza
Ukraine has run out of missiles for its U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems, CNN reported, citing a source familiar with the situation.
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ChrisO_wiki @chriso-wiki.bsky.social · 16h
1/ German far-right politician Alice Weidel, the co-leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, says that Ukraine has "already lost" the war with Russia and should sue for peace. She wants to end German support for Ukraine and expel all Ukrainian refugees. ⬇️
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Meduza in English @meduza.io · 17h
Russia has nearly completed construction of a major new base for launching jet-powered drones near the Ukrainian border. meduza.io/en/news/2026...
meduza.io
Russia builds new base for launching jet-powered drones near Ukraine’s border in just six weeks — Meduza
Russia has nearly completed construction of a major new base for launching jet-powered drones near the Ukrainian border in just six weeks, Reuters reported, citing satellite imagery.
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
Kate from Kharkiv @kateinkharkiv.bsky.social · 17h
Russian airstrike on Sloviansk in Donetsk Region killed 2 people, damaging a private home and a three-story apartment building and trapping residents under the rubble‼️ While clearing the debris of the private house, emergency workers recovered human remains, which
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Dr. Michael MacKay @michaelmackay.bsky.social · 20h
Russian/North Korean losses, 24 Feb 22 - 15 Oct 26: 1,559,230 personnel 12414 tanks 25537 armoured vehicles 51233 artillery 2216 MLRS 1707 air defence 443 aircraft 356 helicopters 2955 ground robots 564897 UAVs 5130 cruise missiles 35 ships/boats 2 submarines 163324 vehicles 4830 special equipment
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Sven-Erik Volberg @volberg.bsky.social · 17h
Syrian authorities have arrested Mihrac Ural (also known as Ali Kayyali), the former leader of the pro-Assad Syrian Resistance group. Ural is implicated in numerous atrocities, including targeted massacres and bombardments directed at Sunni civilian communities.
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Ukrainska Pravda 🇺🇦 @pravda.ua · 16h
‼️ UK provides Ukraine with additional long-range Storm Shadow missiles
pravda.com.ua
Bloomberg: UK provides Ukraine with additional long-range Storm Shadow missiles
The UK is sending Ukraine more long-range Storm Shadow missiles to disrupt Russian military operations targeting civilian infrastructure before winter.
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Critical Threats Project @criticalthreats.bsky.social · 18h
MORE | CTP-ISW assessed in early September 2026 that recent US efforts, including airstrikes on Iranian coastal radars, appeared to have some success in disrupting Iran’s ability to attack ships in the strait.
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EUvsDisinfo @euvsdisinfo.eu · 17h
‘Russia is not the enemy‘ That's the message of a pro-Kremlin campaign targeting European audiences. Meanwhile, Russian state TV openly threatens Europe, while Moscow's hybrid operations target its infrastructure, institutions and security.
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ChrisO_wiki @chriso-wiki.bsky.social · 16h
1/ Russian warbloggers are furious at the news that a Ukrainian missile has destroyed between 4 and 6 Su-34 jets on the ground at a Russian airfield. How is it possible, they ask, that the Russian air force is still parking aircraft close together without protection? ⬇️
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U.S. Naval Institute @usni.org · 14/10/2026
VIDEO: F-35C Lands on New Navy Aircraft Carrier Class for First Time — USNI News news.usni.org/2026/10/14/v...
news.usni.org
VIDEO: F-35C Lands on New Navy Aircraft Carrier Class for First Time - USNI News
A fifth-generation fighter landed on the Navy’s new class of aircraft carriers for the first time on Tuesday. An F-35C Joint Strike Fighter Lightning II trapped on the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-...
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
U.S. Naval Institute @usni.org · 18h
Report to Congress on North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons and Missile Programs — USNI News news.usni.org/2026/10/15/r...
news.usni.org
Report to Congress on North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons and Missile Programs - USNI News
The following is the Oct. 13, 2026, Congressional Research Service report, North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons and Missile Programs. From the Report Over the past decade, the Democratic People’s Republic of...
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Reposted by Ville Kostian
U.S. Naval Institute @usni.org · 17h
UPDATED: Chinese Carrier Strike Group Heads to South China Sea After Philippine Sea Drills — USNI News news.usni.org/2026/10/14/c...
news.usni.org
UPDATED: Chinese Carrier Strike Group Heads to South China Sea After Philippine Sea Drills - USNI News
The People’s Liberation Army Navy Liaoning Carrier Strike Group conducted drills in the Philippine Sea on Wednesday before sailing towards the South China Sea on Thursday, according to Japan’s Joint S...
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Ville Kostian @kostianv.bsky.social · 16h
"Frustrated with #Trump, voters overwhelmingly want change in Washington, an AP-NORC poll finds" apnews.com/article/2026...
apnews.com
Frustrated with Trump, voters overwhelmingly want change in Washington, an AP-NORC poll finds
A new AP-NORC poll finds that a strong majority of voters believe President Donald Trump is falling short at home and abroad, and they want major change in the upcoming midterm elections.
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