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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 5h

5/ Ukrainian forces advanced near Siversk and Novopavlivka. Russian forces advanced in eastern Zaporizhia Oblast; the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka and Dobropillya tactical areas; and near Borova, Lyman, and Velykomykhailivka.

Read more: isw.pub/UkrWar101025

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 5h

4/ US First Lady Melania Trump announced that she assisted efforts to return seven Ukrainian children that Russia abducted.

Ukraine’s European partners continue to allocate aid to Ukraine and deepen cooperation with the Ukrainian defense industrial base (DIB).

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 5h

3/ Putin also continued to threaten the West as part of his reflexive control campaign aimed at preventing the US from selling Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine and portraying Russia’s continued adherence to the New START treaty as a meaningful concession in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 5h

2/ The Kremlin continues parallel efforts to curry favor with the United States while deflecting blame onto Ukraine and Europe for stalling negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine.

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 5h

NEW: Russian forces launched a large, combined drone and missile strike against Ukraine on the night of October 9 to 10, primarily targeting energy infrastructure and civilian targets.

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 10, 2025: isw.pub/UkrWar101025 (1/5)

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 8h

3/ The US Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act on Oct. 10, which included a bipartisan amendment to repeal two laws authorizing the use of military force (AUMF) in Iraq in 1991 & 2002. The House has already passed it and now President Trump must sign the bill before it becomes law.

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 8h

2/ The United States sanctioned two Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF)-owned commercial entities, three Iraqi bank executives, and three Kataib Hezbollah officials on October 9. Iran has long used partners in Iraq to circumvent US and international sanctions.

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 8h

NEW: Israel & Hamas implemented a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 10. The ceasefire agreement does not address outstanding issues that were initially included in President Trump’s peace plan for the Gaza Strip.

Iran Update, Oct. 10, 2025 : isw.pub/IranUpdate10...

More Key Takeaways ⬇️ (1/3)

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 10h

2/ The PLA has expanded one of its “mock Taipei” training grounds in Inner Mongolia. The expansion of that site reflects PLA efforts to make military exercises increasingly realistic and better prepare the force for combat around Taipei in particular.

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 10h

NEW: The PRC may have provided targeting intelligence via satellite to support a recent, large-scale Russian strike on Ukraine. This support could provide the PLA with some critical operational experience that it currently lacks. (🧵1/2) 

Read more: isw.pub/ChinaTaiwanU...

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Reposted by Institute for the Study of War

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: EU and NATO states continue to take steps to increase European defenses against covert and overt Russian attacks. FT reported on October 9 that four NATO officials stated that NATO states are discussing more forceful responses to Russia’s increasingly provocative actions. isw.pub/UkrWar100925

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

3/ Kremlin officials continue to indicate that US-Russian relations are deteriorating to levels similar to those during the Biden admin.

Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK Valerii Zaluzhnyi highlighted a Russian cognitive warfare effort to spread false information about future Ukrainian elections.

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

2/ The Kremlin continued its reflexive control campaign aimed at deterring the US from selling Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, including by threatening to deploy missiles to Cuba. The Kremlin is trying to invoke memories of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis to threaten the United States.

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: EU and NATO states continue to take steps to increase European defenses against covert and overt Russian attacks. FT reported on October 9 that four NATO officials stated that NATO states are discussing more forceful responses to Russia’s increasingly provocative actions. isw.pub/UkrWar100925

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

3/ A coalition of anti-government Druze militias in Suwayda Province aims to regain control over government-held territory in Suwayda Province, possibly through diplomatic engagement with the international community rather than through military action.

Read the full update: isw.pub/IranUpdate10...

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

2/ Hamas and Israeli officials have not yet discussed key outstanding aspects of the US plan, including governance over the Gaza Strip and Hamas’ disarmament. It remains unclear if the Hamas-Israel ceasefire will impact how Hamas’ partners in the Axis of Resistance engage with Israel.

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: Hamas and Israel agreed on October 8 to the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan for peace in the Gaza Strip. The Hamas-Israel ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is a framework ceasefire agreement and not a comprehensive agreement to end the war. (1/3)

Full update: isw.pub/IranUpdate10...

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

6/ Russian developers are fielding new countermeasures against Ukrainian drone interceptors, chiefly via newly integrated radio detectors.

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

5/ Russian forces are pursuing moving targets in the near rear with Shahed (Geran) and Gerbera UAVs with integrated cameras and radio control capabilities.

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

4/ Russian developers reportedly introduced fiber-optic FPV UAVs that can function as repeater drones for other strike and reconnaissance UAVs, extending Russian tactical drone ranges to up to 60 kilometers.

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

3/ Russian forces are trying to scale the production of fiber-optic UAVs to increasingly intercept Ukrainian heavy bomber drones.

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

2/ Russian developers are integrating fiber-optic cables into cheaper drones to scale Russian forces’ ability to conduct drone strikes at farther ranges.

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: Russian forces have been increasingly targeting Ukrainian logistics routes and positions in the near rear using mothership UAVs, particularly motherships based on variants of the Orlan and Molniya fixed-wing drones, since at least August 2025. (🧵1/6)

Read More: isw.pub/ForceGenUpda...

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

2/ This year’s internship offerings consist of geospatial intelligence, intelligence analysis, cognitive warfare, and communications. Don’t wait, apply ASAP to be fully considered!

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

ISW reviews internship applications on a rolling basis. Spring 2026 internships applications close November 14, 2025. To learn more about our four internship opportunities across all ISW teams, click here: understandingwar.org... (1/2)

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