Putin visits Sakhalin Region and Kuril Islands amid military drills

Russian President Vladimir Putin conducted a working program in the Sakhalin Region, which included visiting the Kuril Island of Iturup to meet with Governor Valery Limarenko. During the visit, discussions addressed the impact of a strengthening ruble on regional export-oriented businesses. Additionally, Putin observed the final stage of Pacific Fleet drills in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, involving approximately 13,000 service members, 60 surface ships and submarines, and 30 aircraft to ensure security along Russia’s eastern borders.

In international developments, India has expressed readiness to cooperate with Russia’s Arkhangelsk Region regarding shipbuilding and ship repair. Meanwhile, reports indicate that US military aid deliveries to Ukraine dropped by over 50% in 2026, with monthly contract fulfillment falling from an average of $587 million in 2025 to $265 million this year. A ProPublica report also noted that a US Army-funded artillery plant near Dallas failed to produce usable 155mm shells despite $533 million in spending.

Regarding security and surveillance, the Russian Foreign Ministry criticized recent legislative moves in Germany and Japan that expand state surveillance capabilities. Finally, the IAEA was notified of a Ukrainian drone attack on the industrial zone of Energodar, which reportedly injured two employees of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant.