We Need to Create Strict Sanctions Control and Real Consequences for Those Who Break the Rules – President at the European Council Meeting

23 October 2025 – 14:34

When Vladimir Putin avoids diplomacy, bluffs, and escalates terror, there must be strong pressure on him to bring him back to reality. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his address to the participants of the European Council meeting in Brussels.

The Head of State emphasized that when Ukraine pushes for stronger sanctions, it is not only about protecting the lives of Ukrainians. According to the President, sanctions limit Russia’s war machine and put pressure on those who influence politics: corporations, Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, Russian oligarchs, and the entire state system. He stressed that thousands of influential people in Russia must clearly feel and understand that Vladimir Putin and this war are a deadly threat to them – to their lives, their money, and their future.

“We waited quite a while for the 19th sanctions package, but it is finally approved. Thank you for that. This is a great success, thank you so much, dear leaders. Now, it’s important to fully put it into action. And we will coordinate with Norway, Switzerland, and the UK, and others so they apply these strong EU measures in their own systems too. And we need to go further – the world should respect EU sanctions the same way it respects U.S. sanctions,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.

The Head of State proposed creating strong sanctions control, and real consequences for those who break the rules.

The President also highlighted the importance of yesterday’s U.S. decision to introduce new sanctions targeting Russia’s oil companies.

“We have been talking about this for a long time, and it will help, of course. And I want to thank President Trump for this decision. When Putin avoids diplomacy, when he bluffs or escalates terror – strong pressure must bring him back to reality,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded.

And here’s the video of his press conference followed by the official write up.

Since the Start of the Full-Scale War, Russia Has Killed 135 Media Workers – President

23 October 2025 – 19:38

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy began his press conference in Brussels by honoring the memory of journalist Olena Hubanova and cameraman Yevhen Karmazin, who were killed today by a Russian Lancet drone strike on their car.

The Head of State noted that special correspondent Oleksandr Kolychev was injured during the Russian drone attack on the media crew in Kramatorsk.

“Since 2022, Russia has killed 135 media representatives – simply because they were reporting the truth about what is happening in Ukraine, about this war, about Russian aggression,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The President thanked all members of the media for their professional work and support for Ukraine. According to him, truth and sanctions are the things that truly exert pressure on Russia. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also thanked the European Union and the United States for their recently adopted sanctions decisions.

“Pressure also means weapons and air defense – first and foremost, for us. During such massive attacks, air defense systems and missiles are extremely important,” the President emphasized.

First Lady Zelenska met with leaders of Norwegian higher education as Norway has now joined the Global Coalition for Ukrainian Studies. She also met with the President of the Storting, which is Norway’s parliament.

Norway Joined the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies – Olena Zelenska

23 October 2025 – 19:50

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, together with Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, took part in a meeting with rectors and leadership of Norwegian universities and organizations on the occasion of their accession to the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies.

“I am grateful for every initiative in support of Ukraine and for the efforts you make to expand knowledge about our country. Today, as Russian aggression continues to inflict damage on our education system every day – destroying schools, universities, and kindergartens – your assistance is especially important,” said the First Lady.

In particular, there is the UKRAINETT (Norwegian Network for Research on Ukraine) – a platform that brings together Norwegian researchers studying Ukraine and serves as a hub for Ukrainian scholars who were forced to leave their homes and move to Norway because of the war.

The Norwegian government has also launched the Nansen EDU and Program for Ukraina-kompetanse (UA-KOMP) initiatives, which deepen educational cooperation, support Ukrainian universities in recovery, and promote broader understanding of Ukraine within Norwegian society.

The KBT Vocational College facilitates the integration of Ukrainians into Norwegian society through vocational education and entrepreneurship training.

The UiT The Arctic University of Norway, a leading research center in Arctic studies and sustainable development, supports Ukrainian students, researchers, and academic initiatives related to Ukraine.

The University of Oslo offers thematic courses titled “Ukraine in Eastern Europe,” which more than 150 students have completed over the past three years.

Olena Zelenska expressed gratitude to these institutions for joining the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies, which now unites 20 leading educational and research institutions from ten countries – among them universities in Finland, South Africa, the Czech Republic, Austria, Canada, South Korea, the United States, Estonia, Italy, and Japan. Another 17 memorandums of accession are in the final stage of approval.

“Everyone who today chooses to learn about Ukraine and the Ukrainian becomes part of the great story of restoring justice and reaffirming humanity,” the First Lady emphasized.

Olena Zelenska also held a meeting with Masud Gharahkhani, President of the Storting (Parliament) of Norway.

“I thank both the Storting, where all nine represented parties support Ukraine, and the Government of Norway for their steadfast backing. We value Norway’s participation in air defense procurement initiatives for Ukraine and all the social, educational, and medical assistance provided to 80,000 of our people,” the First Lady said.

She also addressed the participants of the Ukrainian Women’s Congress.

To Ensure Women Can Be Themselves, Unlock Their Potential, and Fulfill It to the Fullest, We Must Create Opportunities for Them – Olena Zelenska in an Online Address to the Ukrainian Women’s Congress 2025

23 October 2025 – 10:41

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska addressed the participants of the Ukrainian Women’s Congress 2025 online. The event’s slogan was “The Courage to Be Yourself,” and it focused on stories of women whose courage is transforming Ukraine every day.

“When we see women changing professions – installing solar panels, mastering machinery, assembling drones, driving heavy vehicles – is it only about the new responsibilities brought on by the war, or also about self-realization? In my view, whenever a person takes a brave and conscious step, they always take it toward themselves. Being yourself is not something static – it is constant growth,” Olena Zelenska emphasized.

The event included four discussion platforms: “The Courage to Be First” – focusing on youth, innovation, and technology; “The Courage to Be Visible” – about women in communities and business; “The Courage to Be in Power” – on political participation and leadership; “The Courage to Be Different” – on diversity and inclusion.

The First Lady noted that, according to statistics, this year the world reached its best indicators of gender equality since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The global gender gap index decreased to 68.8%. Ukraine ranks 62nd, having closed 73% of the gap, reflecting the progress the country has made in addressing related challenges.

“But there are still gaps to close. Therefore, for women to truly be themselves, to unlock their potential and fulfill it fully, we must create opportunities – a comfortable infrastructure. Guaranteed kindergartens, safe schools with shelters, accessible healthcare, transport, housing, attention to their needs, and care. To be yourself in a way that makes life around you better – that is the ideal formula both for a person and for a country. And Ukrainian women are already making it a reality,” the First Lady concluded.

Not sure why she dressed like a pilgrim as Thanksgiving is still a month away.

Georgia:

Rustaveli Avenue now, on day 330 of uninterrupted protests in Georgia. 🇬🇪

Yesterday, Georgian Dream arrested ~41 people. Most of them stood right here and were dragged away from the sidewalk. Still, more people showed up today.

[image or embed]

— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 1:03 PM

In the morning, illegitimate PM Kobakhidze declared the protests over since yesterday people were forced off the road and abducted from the pavement, for the first time in 329 days.

Today, it’s sufficient people that the pavement can no longer contain them. The road’s closed “naturally.” 1/2

[image or embed]

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 1:47 PM

They will, however, still jail people, just like they fined people EUR 1,800 in around January/February for “artificially closing the road” even when thousands were out.

This is a small but encouraging win. Steady stubbornness.

#TerrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests Day 330

2/2.

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 1:47 PM

‪The regime police F-ed off. ‬

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 1:49 PM

High turnout on Rustaveli Avenue tonight despite mass arrests yesterday.

Day 330 of uninterrupted protests in 8+ cities across Georgia.

[image or embed]

— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 1:06 PM

The sidewalk in front of parliament is packed — it’s hard to move — yet police won’t let protesters step onto the street. Students have tried to block it with their hands raised.

Day 330 of uninterrupted protests in Georgia.

[image or embed]

— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 1:35 PM

Once again, protesters in Georgia have tried to block the Rustaveli Avenue, risking arrest. GD arrested ~41 people yesterday. Most protesters are staying behind on the sidewalk.

[image or embed]

— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 1:41 PM

Rustaveli Avenue has been blocked for 20 minutes already. ✅

The sidewalk is packed. More people have stepped onto the road than yesterday. This is despite mass arrests in the last few days (~70 activists in total).

Day 330 of uninterrupted #GeorgiaProtest.

[image or embed]

— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 1:53 PM

At great personal risk to the activists, Rustaveli Avenue has been blocked for the 330th consecutive day.

Yesterday, it was only blocked for a few minutes before police stormed in and arrested dozens. #GeorgiaProtests

[image or embed]

— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 2:02 PM

Georgian protesters are fearless! Today, they blocked Rustaveli Avenue despite several attempts by police to stop them, and despite dozens of arrests yesterday.

The sidewalk is packed, and the avenue remains blocked. Day 330 of uninterrupted protests.

📷 Mo Se, Netgazeti

[image or embed]

— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 2:17 PM

Georgian activists reopened the Rustaveli Avenue themselves. It was blocked for about an hour.

Day 330 of uninterrupted, nationwide protests.

[image or embed]

— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 2:31 PM

Georgian police still wait for protesters to exit Rustaveli Avenue, searching them for face masks — then filing reports to later sentence them to up to 15 days in jail.

📷 Netgazeti

[image or embed]

— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM

This is how the police arrested protesters yesterday: they were standing on the sidewalk, but were arrested for blocking the road.

#GeorgiaProtests
#TerrorinGeorgia

Video: Formula TV

[image or embed]

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 4:13 AM

Judge Zviad Tsekvava imposed a 14-day imprisonment on Afgan Sadigov, an Azerbaijani journalist, for “illegally blocking the road”. He was arrested yesterday, on October 22.

#TerrorinGeorgia

[image or embed]

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 7:54 AM

[image or embed]

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 4:27 AM

7 people altogether prosecuted over “hindering the journalistic work” of propaganda outlets TV Imedi, Rustavi 2, and Public Broadcaster on October 4.

#TerrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests

[image or embed]

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 12:24 PM

GD is determined to make it harder for Georgian youth to study abroad—first by abolishing the 12th grade (effectively cutting Georgia off from the Bologna process), and now by shutting the International Education Center, which has provided scholarships to hundreds of Georgian students since 2014.

— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM

Georgia has always been Russia’s testing ground. From secessionism to embargoes and outright invasion,

the current takeover is actually a step further, it’s what Russia aims to do with Ukraine eventually.

Helping Georgians means crushing Russia’s playbook for the future.

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) August 30, 2025 at 12:49 PM

The EU:

lethal sanctions 😁

[image or embed]

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 10:51 AM

The PRC:

Interesting 👀

[image or embed]

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 9:19 AM

Back to Ukraine.

Ukrainian military evacuates civilians from the combat zone.

[image or embed]

— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 3:10 AM

In Kazakhstan, fragments of a Ukrainian drone were found.

The debris was discovered on the outskirts of the city of Aksai, located about 30 km from the Russian border. The UAV was likely downed by Russian electronic warfare systems.

[image or embed]

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 12:31 PM

“Madjar” addressed Hungarians on the anniversary of the 1956 revolution, wishing them to free themselves once again from Russian influence.

t.me/c/1680956281…

[image or embed]

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 12:47 PM

Today, 1,000 bodies – claimed by Russia to be Ukrainian servicemen – were repatriated. Ukrainian law enforcement and forensic experts will soon conduct examinations and identification procedures.

[image or embed]

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 6:27 AM

Kramatorsk:

Awful news. Olena Hubanova and Yevhen Karmazin, Ukrainian journalists working for TV channel Freedom, were killed in a Russian Lancet drone attack in Kramatorsk, according to the city’s mayor and local media reports.

This makes three deaths of journalists in eastern Ukraine just this month.

[image or embed]

— Christopher Miller (@christopherjm.ft.com) October 23, 2025 at 5:49 AM

Slobozhanske, Kharkiv Oblast:

A 68-year-old tractor driver was killed in Kharkiv Oblast when a russian FPV drone struck his vehicle near the village of Slobozhanske.

[image or embed]

— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 8:12 AM

Kupyansk, Kharkiv Oblast:

In Kupiansk district, russia carried out a double-tap strike — hitting rescuers who had arrived to extinguish a fire after a drone attack.

One rescuer, Yurii Chystikov, was killed and five others injured.

[image or embed]

— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 1:45 AM

Kherson Oblast:

I’m glad Grandma Lora, who was murdered by a russian drone while walking with her two goats, is at least being remembered.

Today, Russia killed another elderly woman the same way, in the same city. In Kherson.

[image or embed]

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 2:33 PM

Kharkiv:

Police have released bodycam footage from the first moments after yesterday’s Russian strike on a kindergarten in Kharkiv.

In it, officers are seen evacuating terrified children from the basement. The kids are visibly shaken. their building had just exploded above their heads.

[image or embed]

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 11:03 AM

Watch it with the sound on, even if you don’t understand the language. Every human can recognize the terrified screams of a child and the desperate cry of “Mama!”

Towards the end, a little girl asks the officer carrying her to safety, “I’m not going to die, am I?”

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 11:03 AM

He comforts her, and she replies, “Thank you very much” with a composure only a child raised in war could possess.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 11:03 AM

Kyiv:

In Kyiv, police recovered two unexploded drones, one from an apartment and another from a balcony, after they crashed into residential buildings 😱

The Shahed drones failed to detonate; police safely removed them and transported them to a testing range for disposal.

[image or embed]

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 7:54 AM

Bakhmut:

Russian troops shot civilians in Zvanivka, Bakhmut district. On Oct 20, a family hiding in a basement was attacked after interrogation. One occupier returned and killed the father and two sons. The wounded mother escaped to Ukrainian-held territory, where prosecutors documented her testimony.

[image or embed]

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 11:05 AM

Russia:

Putin threatens “serious” and even “overwhelming” response if Ukraine will be provided with long-range missiles to strike deep into russian territory.

Will undead warlord strike another kindergarten or hospital? Or maybe ✨️invade our country✨️?

[image or embed]

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 12:46 PM

Ryazan Oblast, Russia:

Ryazan oil refinery last night 🔥
Ukrainian sanctions in action 💪

[image or embed]

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 8:03 AM

Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia:

Aftermath of the explosion of the Russian military plant near Chelyabinsk. Artillery shell fragments are visible throughout the area. 10 factory workers confirmed dead, 12 more missing. So total number of casualties is likely ~22.

[image or embed]

— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 12:29 PM

Stavropol Krai, Russia:

HUR eliminated three Russian paratroopers in Stavropol, Russia.

On October 22, 2025, during a successful HUR operation supported by the Caucasus Liberation Movement, at least three servicemen of the 247th Caucasian Cossack Airborne Regiment were killed.

[image or embed]

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 12:12 PM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

There are no new Patron skeets or videos today. Here’s some adjacent material.

Stop asking me if I run this account

[image or embed]

— Mira of Kyiv 🇺🇦 (@reshetz.bsky.social) October 23, 2025 at 8:14 AM

Open thread!