Germany prepares for potential Russian attack; Ukraine addresses prisoner issues and child recruitment

Germany's military leadership, including army chief Christian Freuding, anticipates a potential Russian attack on NATO countries by late 2029, prompting accelerated weapon production. Meanwhile, the United States has become the world's leading oil exporter, surpassing Saudi Arabia and Russia, amidst a US-Iran conflict impacting Saudi exports. In Ukraine, Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets clarified his initial meeting with Russian ombudsman Yana Lantratova aimed to establish dialogue, not immediately address her alleged role in child deportations from Kherson. Ukrainian law enforcement has documented six cases this year where Russian special services allegedly recruited underage girls for contract killings of Ukrainian military personnel, according to National Police Head Ivan Vyhivskyi. Human rights expert Boris Zakharov emphasized that the release of approximately 20,000 prisoners and civilian detainees should precede any negotiations, noting a recent exchange included only one civilian among 186 Ukrainians returned.

Sources: Радіо Свобода, Громадське, Українська правда