Russian War Budget & Mobilization: Putin signed a decree raising Russia’s armed-forces personnel on paper to 2.44 million and is set to spend a record 17.1 trillion roubles on the 2027 military, while analysts warn this signals no move toward ending the war. Russian Strikes on Ukraine: Glide bombs hit Sumy, killing at least two and injuring others, while Kyiv and other regions saw renewed attacks including on civilian and infrastructure sites. Kyiv’s Air-Defense Push: Zelenskyy says Ukraine approved October long-range operations, is preparing to bolster F-16s, and is working on Shahed interceptors; Belgium will deliver three F-16 jets by year-end, and Ukraine received NASAMS plus missiles. War on Communications: Russia is expanding strikes on Ukrainian data centers and mobile networks as jet-powered drones complicate interception. EU Politics & Funding Conditions: The European Commission reiterated EU money is conditional on Kyiv reforms, while EU states push farm-aid cuts to fund military buildup. Frozen Assets Debate: Ukraine urged the EU to use immobilised Russian assets to cover a looming $78bn gap. Domestic Accountability & Governance: Kyivstar created a COO role to strengthen operations amid wartime resilience. Public Life & Memory: Zelenskyy marked the 85th anniversary of Babyn Yar, linking remembrance to today’s Russian terror. International Diplomacy: NATO’s Rutte said hostile acts won’t stop support for Ukraine; US-Russia contacts continued via envoy Kirill Dmitriev talks on possible energy initiatives.