News and analysis from across Europe.
More than 25 flights across Europe have been targeted by bomb threats this week, forcing emergency diversions, fighter jet escorts and security inspections. No explosives have been found aboard any of the affected aircraft.
Russian forces have resumed attacks in Ukraine’s Kherson region following the expiration of a six-day local ceasefire, Ukrainian authorities said. A Russian drone strike on a civilian car in Kherson wounded a 62-year-old woman and a 73-year-old man, while the Kremlin ruled out an immediate resumption of Russian gas transit to Europe through Ukraine.
Russia says Ukraine has resumed drone attacks on three oil refineries and a gas-chemical complex after a brief pause, despite US President Donald Trump’s pressure on Kyiv to halt strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
At least 14 people were reportedly killed in a Russian drone strike on a crowded railway station platform in Ukraine’s Dnipro on October 29. Additional Russian attacks killed civilians in Chernihiv and Kremenchuk, prompting Ukrainian officials and European Union leaders to condemn the strikes and call for increased pressure on Moscow.
Serbia has raised its terrorist threat level to the highest setting after a suspected ISIS supporter attacked a police officer guarding the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade. The officer returned fire, killing the attacker, while sustaining minor injuries. Authorities are investigating the incident as terrorism.
A UN commission says Russia’s systematic attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, warning of severe consequences for civilians as winter approaches. The report also accuses Russian authorities of human trafficking through the deceptive recruitment of foreign nationals from 29 countries to fight in Ukraine.
An 18-year-old man in the UK has been jailed for four years and two months for providing cybersecurity and cryptocurrency assistance to al-Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban (TTP).
Austria expels four Russian diplomats over suspected espionage, bringing the total number expelled since 2020 to 18. Moscow condemns the move and warns of retaliation.
Türkiye will host the first joint meeting of the R4 and E3 groups, bringing together Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, Britain, France and Germany to discuss Palestine, Yemen, Strait of Hormuz security and efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Russia’s FSB has arrested a German national accused of fighting for Ukraine as a mercenary. Russian authorities claim he previously fought in Afghanistan and Syria and served as a sniper in Ukraine.
The United Kingdom will deploy RAF Typhoon fighter jets to help defend Saudi Arabia against Iran-backed Houthi missile and drone attacks. British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the aircraft would perform defensive missions without striking Houthi targets, following deadly attacks on Riyadh airport and escalating fighting in Yemen.
An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna made an emergency landing in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Sunday after a bomb threat. Bulgarian MiG-29 fighter jets escorted the Airbus A320, carrying 51 passengers and six crew members. Security searches found no danger, and the flight later continued safely to Vienna. Austrian and Bulgarian authorities have launched an investigation.
