KYIV, Ukraine (FNN) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Friday that Russia has deployed approximately 170,000 troops in the eastern Donetsk region, escalating its efforts to seize the strategic city of Pokrovsk amid one of the war’s fiercest battles.

“The situation in Pokrovsk is difficult,” Zelenskyy said during a media briefing in Kyiv, dismissing Russian claims that the heavily damaged city is completely surrounded after more than a year of relentless combat. He acknowledged that some Russian units have infiltrated parts of the city, but emphasized that Ukrainian defenders are actively eliminating enemy forces.

“There are Russians in Pokrovsk,” Zelenskyy stated. “They are being destroyed, gradually destroyed, because we need to preserve our personnel.”

Zelenskyy’s remarks underscore Ukraine’s defensive struggle as its troops face manpower shortages against Russia’s larger, well-equipped army. In past battles, Ukrainian forces have strategically withdrawn from certain areas to conserve resources and minimize casualties.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to assert that Ukraine cannot withstand Russia’s military dominance. Western officials, particularly from the United States, have been urging Moscow to consider peace negotiations — appeals Putin has resisted while touting Russia’s expanding nuclear capabilities and defending his country’s “legitimate war aims.”

Ukraine Targets Russian Oil Infrastructure in Counterstrikes

As Russian forces intensify their offensive in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv has expanded its counteroffensive strategy by striking deep inside Russian territory. Ukrainian officials say the goal is to disrupt Russian military logistics and bring the consequences of the war closer to Russian civilians.

According to Vasyl Maliuk, head of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), Ukraine has launched over 160 successful long-range attacks on Russian oil extraction and refining facilities since the start of the year.

“In September and October alone, Ukraine conducted 20 strikes on Russian oil facilities,” Maliuk told reporters, highlighting that these attacks aim to weaken Russia’s war economy and limit its capacity to fuel ongoing military operations.

The escalating operations from both sides mark a critical phase in the nearly four-year-long war, as global powers monitor whether the conflict could broaden — or finally push both nations toward negotiations.

LONDON (FNN) – In a historic and unprecedented decision, King Charles has stripped his younger brother, Prince Andrew, of all royal titles, including “Prince,” effectively removing him from the public and formal life of the British monarchy.

Buckingham Palace confirmed Thursday, October 30, 2025, that Andrew, 65, will no longer be referred to as His Royal Highness or by any of his former peerages. Instead, he will be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

“His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles, and Honours of Prince Andrew,” Buckingham Palace said in an official statement. “Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.”

Royal Titles and Honors Revoked

Andrew, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, had held the title of Duke of York since 1986, as well as Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh, all granted on his wedding day to Sarah Ferguson. Those titles, along with his honors as a Knight of the Garter and Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, have now been revoked.

The move also affects his long-term residence. Andrew has been ordered to surrender his lease at Royal Lodge in Windsor, where he has lived for decades.

“His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence,” the palace said. “Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease, and he will move to alternative private accommodation.”

The statement emphasized that these measures were necessary “notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.”

Epstein Scandal and Royal Family Reaction

The decision comes amid renewed scrutiny of Andrew’s association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and ongoing public backlash over past allegations of misconduct. While Andrew continues to deny all accusations, palace insiders say the King’s decision reflects concerns about the monarchy’s integrity and public image.

“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse,” the statement concluded.

According to royal sources, King Charles used his Royal Prerogative—a power allowing the sovereign to manage royal titles and honors without parliamentary approval—to finalize the move. The decision reportedly has the support of Prince William and other senior members of the royal family.

The last time a British royal was formally stripped of a title was in 1917, when Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, lost his titles under the Titles Deprivation Act after swearing allegiance to Germany during World War I.

With this move, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor becomes the first modern royal to be fully divested of all royal status by a reigning monarch.

OSLO, Norway (FNN) — The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced on October 10, 2025, that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 has been awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado “for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”

In delivering its verdict, the committee lauded Machado as a “brave and committed champion of peace” who continues to keep “the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.”

Machado, 58, is a veteran opposition figure who has long resisted the Maduro regime’s crackdown on political dissent. She was barred from running in the contested 2024 presidential election and has since been living in hiding due to threats, yet remained in the country rather than leaving.

Shortly after the announcement, Machado dedicated portions of the award to the Venezuelan people and to former U.S. President Donald Trump, praising his “decisive support” for Venezuela’s democratic cause.
Trump, who had long campaigned for a Nobel Peace Prize, was not selected for the honor. The Nobel Committee affirmed that its decision was finalized before any potential Israel–Gaza peace deal could influence the 2025 award.

The selection of Machado is widely viewed as a moral boost for Venezuela’s suppressed opposition movement and a sharp symbolic rebuke to authoritarian regimes in the region. Analysts suggest the prize amplifies international pressure on the Maduro government and offers renewed hope to Venezuelans enduring economic collapse, human rights abuses, and mass exodus.

The Nobel ceremony will be held in Oslo on December 10, 2025, where Machado is expected to accept the medal, diploma, and the monetary award of roughly 11.1 million Swedish kronor.

1. Award Justification & Nobel Rationale
The Nobel Committee cited Machado’s “tireless work promoting democratic rights” and her efforts for a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.

2. Political Context & Struggles
Machado was disqualified from the 2024 presidential race by Venezuela’s authorities, forced into clandestinity, and faces constant threats, yet has remained a vocal symbol of opposition.

3. Dedication & Relationship with Trump
Although the prize went to Machado, she dedicated it in part to President Trump, citing his support for Venezuela’s opposition and praising his role in the region.

4. Trump’s Campaign & Nobel Snub
Trump and his allies vigorously lobbied for the Nobel Prize, especially highlighting peace deals in the Middle East. But the Nobel Committee stated the decision was made before potential deal outcomes could influence the process.

5. Implications & Aftermath
The award raises the international profile of Venezuela’s opposition, intensifies pressure on Maduro’s government, and underscores the global importance of defending democratic norms in repressive states.

What’s Next for President Trump (Re: Nobel Peace Prize Ambitions)?

1. Continue Emphasizing Peace Diplomacy
   Trump may double down on presenting himself as a global peacemaker, especially in ongoing or future conflict zones (e.g. Middle East, Eastern Europe), to build a case for future Nobel consideration.

2. Lobbying & Public Relations Campaigns
   His team may intensify campaigns to influence public opinion, seek endorsements, and promote narratives that frame his foreign policy moves as peace-making efforts.

3. Leverage the Snub in Messaging
   The “Nobel snub” may be used politically as proof of establishment bias or to appeal to his base, with claims that he was unfairly rejected or that the Nobel Prize has become politicized.

4. Target the 2026 Prize Consideration
   If Trump can engineer a breakthrough peace deal in 2025–2026 that has global impact, he may try to time it so the talk sways the Nobel Committee for the 2026 award cycle.

5. Counter Narratives & Scrutiny over Policy Complexity
   He will likely face heightened scrutiny over whether his “peace deals” are substantive or symbolic. Critics may stress that lasting peace requires political reconciliation and structural changes—not just temporary ceasefires.

In short: Trump’s path to a future Nobel Prize would hinge on securing a widely recognized, credible peace achievement and shaping the global narrative to highlight his role in it.