Norway's King Harald Dies at 89
Norway’s King Harald, Europe’s Oldest Monarch, Dies at 89
Norway’s 89-year-old King Harald has passed away following a recent hospitalization in Oslo.
Continue readingRussian officials increasingly discuss nuclear option as Ukraine talks stall
A growing number of Russian officials believe President Vladimir Putin could eventually consider tactical nuclear weapons as a last resort in Ukraine.
Continue readingCIA Director makes unannounced Moscow visit, delivers warning to Kremlin
CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow on Tuesday for an unannounced visit aimed at warning Russia against further escalation, according to information independently confirmed by Faytuks Network.
Continue readingParliament approves Yevhenii Khmara as Ukraine’s new Defense Minister
Ukraine’s parliament approved Yevhenii Khmara as the country’s new defense minister Wednesday, formally installing him after the removal of Mykhailo Fedorov last month.
His nomination was backed by 312 lawmakers in the Verkhovna Rada, well above the 226 votes needed for the appoinment.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy nominated Khmara for the post after Mykhailo Fedorov was removed as defense minister in July. Khmara had served as interim defense minister following Fedorov’s dismissal before being nominated for the permanent role.
Khmara takes charge of the Defense Ministry as Ukraine continues its war against Russia and amid political fallout from Fedorov’s removal, which prompted protests in Kyiv.
Who is Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara?
Before joining the SBU, Khmara served with the Ukrainian National Guard’s Omega special forces and specialized in mines and explosives, according to Ukrainian media reporting based on people who served with him. He joined the SBU’s Alpha special operations unit in 2011, initially working as a breacher, a specialist trained to force entry during assault operations. He later led a specialized team within Alpha that was formed in 2014.
Khmara’s rise through the ranks predates Russia’s full-scale invasion. A 2019 presidential decree identified him as an SBU lieutenant colonel and awarded him the Medal for Military Service to Ukraine for service to national security. Zelenskyy promoted him to brigadier general in August 2023 and to major general in June 2024.
After Russia invaded in February 2022, Khmara took part in fighting around Kyiv and later in the eastern cities of Sievierodonetsk and Rubizhne. He also directed the special operation to retake Snake Island in the Black Sea in 2022, according to accounts from former SBU colleagues. Zelenskyy appointed him to lead the SBU’s Alpha center in April 2023, putting him in charge as the unit increasingly expanded its use of drones and other technology for strikes against Russian forces.
Despite his senior roles, Khmara has maintained a notably low public profile. Much of his career remains classified, and publicly available records do not give his age, birthplace, education or details about his family. He became acting head of the SBU in January 2026 before moving to the Defense Ministry in July.
Report maps 10 Russian drone bases near NATO’s eastern flank
Satellite imagery and leaked documents reviewed by The Telegraph identified at least 10 Russian drone bases and 59 new launch rails in western Russia.
Continue readingMorocco Disperses Migrant Gathering Near Ceuta
Moroccan security forces used tear gas and helicopters as hundreds gathered near Spain’s Ceuta border following online calls for another large-scale crossing attempt.
Continue readingEurope Prepares for Rare Total Solar Eclipse
A total solar eclipse will cross Greenland, Iceland, Spain and northeastern Portugal Wednesday, while much of Europe sees one of its deepest partial eclipses in decades.
Continue readingUnited States, Allies Demand Warning Before Ballistic Missile Launches
Forty governments called for at least 24 hours’ advance notice of ICBM, SLBM and space launches after recent Pacific tests lacked standard notifications.
Continue readingPoland, Baltic states tighten infrastructure security over fears of Russian attack
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are strengthening security around critical infrastructure amid intelligence warnings that Russia could stage sabotage using Ukrainian-made drones to sow confusion over who was responsible.
Continue readingThe War That Stopped Moving
Four and a half years in, Russia and Ukraine are fighting a different war than the one most people stopped following. The front has almost frozen. The fighting that matters has moved to the sky, to Russia’s refineries — and to an American missile shortage caused by a different war entirely.
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