Maria Villarroel

Leaked messages attributed to former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev reportedly discuss Russia’s right to attack commercial vessels carrying cargo for hostile countries and threaten operations beyond the Black Sea. The claims emerged alongside a major Ukrainian drone, missile and sea-drone strike on Russia’s naval base and port facilities at Novorossiysk, which Kyiv said targeted air defences and infrastructure. Russian officials reported more than 500 intercepted drones, civilian deaths and injuries, while Ukraine maintains that its attacks have significantly restricted Russia’s Black Sea fleet. The report also highlights alleged Russian preparations for further mobilization and increased missile and drone production, as well as the strategic importance of Novorossiysk’s oil terminal to Kazakh exports involving Chevron and ExxonMobil.

President Donald Trump claimed to release new evidence of alleged 2020 election fraud during a primetime address, directing the public to the White House website, which crashed shortly afterward. The address focused on assertions of vulnerabilities in the election system and calls for measures such as strict voter ID requirements. Networks including ABC and NBC chose not to air the speech live, instead offering it on streaming platforms. The speech followed ongoing tensions with Iran and continued Trump’s emphasis on long-discredited claims about the 2020 election.