Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is facing a critical situation

On Sept. 30, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been cut off from the electrical grid for seven days in a row — the longest outage since the start of the full-scale war. In his evening address, he described the situation as "critical," noting that Europe’s largest nuclear plant is relying entirely on diesel generators after Russian strikes destroyed its external power lines. He stressed that the generators were never meant to run for such an extended period and confirmed that one has already failed.

Zelensky accused Moscow of blocking repairs through continued shelling, calling the crisis "a threat to absolutely everyone." He directed Ukraine’s government and diplomats to escalate the issue internationally. Russia, which captured the facility in 2022, claimed last week that it has been providing backup power since an attack it blamed on Ukraine. Although the six reactors have been shut down since the occupation, the plant still requires electricity to maintain cooling systems and prevent a nuclear disaster.

Russians conducted a daytime drone attack on the downtown of Dnipro

On September 30, 2025, Russia launched a rare midday drone attack on Dnipro, a key industrial hub in central Ukraine, around 15:30 local time, using Shahed-type kamikaze drones in a brazen daylight assault that killed one man and injured at least 20 others, including two children.

The strikes targeted civilian areas, hitting a hospital, dental clinic, museum, lyceum, office buildings, and residential neighborhoods, causing fires and widespread damage to about 20 structures, with hundreds of windows shattered and emergency services battling blazes in the city center.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned it as a "brazen attack in broad daylight" on Telegram, sharing footage of heavy smoke and calling for intensified international sanctions against Russia, while Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov reported rescuers and police on site, with all injured receiving care—some at home—and no immediate fatalities beyond the one confirmed.

This was one of the few daytime drone raids on a major city, deviating from Russia's typical nighttime patterns to overwhelm air defenses during peak hour.

The attack underscores Russia's escalating tactics amid stalled frontline advances, with Dnipro's role as a logistics node for eastern Ukraine making it a prime target, though Ukrainian air defenses downed several drones en route.

Casualty figures rose to 28 by evening, per local reports, with damage assessments ongoing, including to educational facilities and medical centers, prompting evacuations and power disruptions in affected districts.

Zelenskyy linked the strike to broader Russian aggression, noting similar drone incursions damaged infrastructure in Chernihiv and Sumy, and urged allies to bolster Ukraine's defenses, as the midday timing—unusual since the war's start—signals Moscow's intent to heighten psychological pressure on civilians while testing NATO resolve amid recent airspace violations.

Taiwan is now the world's largest importer of Russian oil

Despite sanctions and public support for Ukraine, Taiwan emerged as the world’s largest importer of Russian oil in the first half of 2025, funneling billions of dollars into the Kremlin’s war chest.

A joint international report found that Taiwan purchased $1.3 billion worth of Russian oil in just six months, nearly six times its 2022 monthly average. Since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, Taiwan has imported 6.8 million tons worth $4.9 billion, making it the third-largest buyer worldwide. In stark contrast, Taipei has sent only $50 million in aid to Ukraine while paying Russia over $11.2 billion for energy—220 times more than its Ukraine aid.

The imports also sidestepped Western sanctions. About 88% of shipments came via vessels owned or insured by countries in the G7-led “price cap” coalition, yet Russian oil often sold above the $45 per barrel cap. In September 2025, a delivery from a sanctioned refinery was valued at $43.8 million, underscoring systematic violations.

The report estimates these sales delivered $1.7 billion in extraction tax revenue to Moscow—enough to finance production of 170,000 “Geran” attack drones that Russia uses against Ukraine.