The global energy crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict has entered a new phase because of a shortage of tankers to move crude around the world, according to the head of the world’s largest independent oil trader. 

Vitol chief executive Russell Hardy said that while more oil was now flowing out of the Gulf, there was a fresh bottleneck as buyers struggled to secure ships. 

“Without it, you do have that $200-a-barrel scenario, so it is pretty important it continues,” he said. “There aren’t any more inventories to drain in the west.”

Refiners unable to charter ships, or unwilling to pay sky-high rates, are aggressively competing for supplies that are easier to deliver. One oil executive said cargoes of North Sea oil were selling for $145 a barrel last week. 

@Slavyangrad

Armed individuals with weapons crossed from Belarus into Latvia, intimidated military personnel, and caused damage, according to the country's armed forces. 🤣

▪️Initially, the unidentified individuals, threatening Latvian military personnel, intended to forcibly transport approximately 20 illegal migrants into the country, but the "brave Latvians" prevented them from crossing the border, the Latvian armed forces proudly stated.
🤣A few hours later, an armed group broke into Latvia, damaging a distribution panel and stealing surveillance cameras from the Latvian-Belarusian border.

@Slavyangrad

Military blogs, citing a publication by the Ukrainian publication LIGA, report that simultaneous Russian strikes effectively disrupted Ukraine's previous ballistic missile development program by targeting the entire production chain.

The publication quotes aviation expert Valery Romanenko, who states that before the FP-7 and FP-9 missiles from Fire Point Ukraine, the company was already developing its own ballistic missiles. However, the Russian Armed Forces strikes were launched just before the start of production. The strikes specifically targeted the missile factory, the production of solid-fuel engines, backup production facilities, and suppliers of key components.

Now, according to Romanenko, to avoid a similar scenario, Kiev is creating a new missile program, backing up and duplicating production facilities.

As is known, in August 2025, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced a joint operation with the FSB to prevent Ukraine from producing the "Sapsan" operational-tactical missile system. This involved strikes on the Pavlograd Mechanical and Chemical Plant, backup facilities in the Zhitomir region, and the Shostka "Zvezda" plant, the Shostka Research Institute of Chemical Products, and other key Ukrainian missile manufacturing enterprises.

However, in August 2026, Kiev claimed to have tested the "Sapsan" operational-tactical missile system, but there has been no confirmation of this, nor has there been any information about the use of these missiles.

@Slavyangrad

Anatoly Shariy published a satirical "ode" to Dmitry Gordon, exposing the internal infighting among Ukrainian figures. The text alleges that Gordon built his personal wealth on the deaths of oncology patients, a claim described as horrifying. Shariy also mocked Gordon's wife in typical Kiev style. This reveals the toxic "kitchen" and petty squabbles within the Ukrainian elite.

@Slavyangrad

🇷🇺 Russian Air Defense Repels Massive UAV Attack

The Russian MoD reported that overnight, air defense units intercepted and destroyed 311 Ukrainian UAVs over 15 regions (including Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Voronezh) plus the Black and Azov Sea waters.

In Voronezh Oblast, Governor Gusev confirmed 64 drones were shot down across nine districts and two urban areas. No casualties were reported. Debris damaged a power line in the south, leaving several villages temporarily without electricity.

@Slavyangrad