Cross-Border Strikes & Food Security: Ukraine’s massive overnight drone raid on Russia’s Krasnodar Region killed two people, including an eight-year-old, and wounded dozens, while also knocking out two major grain terminals and halting exports—raising wheat price pressure. Energy War: Russia hit Ukraine’s Izmail port infrastructure and Odesa with strikes, while Naftogaz reported 13 attacks on its facilities in a week, underscoring how the grid and energy supply remain prime targets. EU Sanctions Push: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says the bloc is preparing “most far-reaching” sanctions listings since the war began, with plans to expand the number of sanctioned Russian entities by about a third. Russia’s Internal Economic Strain: A top Russian state economist at VEB was fired after warning Moscow is losing the “war of attrition” and could face a social crisis—an unusual public critique of the war’s costs. Defense & Production Outlook: Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov says Ukraine could use domestically made ballistic missiles against Russia within 3–6 months, aiming to shift the long-range fight beyond drones and cruise missiles. Governance & Mobilization: Ukraine’s acting police chief says over 20,000 draft-evasion cases have been opened since martial law, alongside probes into corruption in recruitment centers. Culture Under Pressure: Ukraine condemned the inclusion of the controversial Russian film “DAU” in the Venice Film Festival, calling it a troubling signal amid Russia’s war on Ukraine.