Arrival in Chekhov, gas rationing, and another army expansion: the top news of the night
In Chekhov, a Ukrainian drone struck an apartment building, and tires caught fire at a local factory. Meanwhile, residents of Lake Baikal blocked a ferry crossing, and the Altai Republic introduced strict new fueling regulations.
Attack of drones on the Moscow region
A Ukrainian drone struck an apartment building in Chekhov, Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov reported. Furthermore, a rubber fire broke out at the Chekhov Recycling Plant, as reported by Mikhail Sobakin, head of the Chekhov Municipal District.
In addition, according to official government information, air defense forces destroyed several dozen drones over Domodedovo, Podolsk, Ramenskoye, and Kolomna.
Protests on Lake Baikal and gas stations on a timed schedule in Altai
Meanwhile, residents of Olkhon Island on Lake Baikal blocked the entrance and exit to the MRS-Olkhon ferry crossing. The protest was prompted by the islanders' lack of priority access. As a result, not only visiting vacationers but also local residents are forced into hours-long and even days-long traffic jams during peak tourist season.
However, an attempt to resolve the conflict at a meeting at the administration the day before yielded no results—officials stated that the preferential queue would only be introduced next year.
At the same time, the Altai Republic introduced a mandatory 24-hour interval between refuelings per vehicle. Previously, limits were updated precisely at midnight, leading drivers to refuel shortly before and immediately after midnight, filling up two quotas in a row and creating overnight queues. Now, gas station operators enter vehicle license plates into a unified system, and the 24-hour countdown is calculated individually, starting from the last visit to the station.
Increase in the size of the army and pressure on lawyers
Vladimir Putin, in turn, increased the army's authorized strength for the third time this year—this time by 27,000 personnel. This expansion is due to the creation of military construction units. Consequently, the total authorized strength of the army now stands at 2,426,130 personnel, of which 1,535,000 are active duty personnel.
Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, called the current crisis "ideal" for Russia, as it strengthens sovereignty and unites society. Speaking at the "Territory of Meaning" forum, the Kremlin spokesman noted that external challenges have instantly imbued the country with unity, regardless of political views.
Furthermore, in Kaliningrad, the regional court removed lawyer Ilya Sidorov from defending political prisoner Maria Bontsler at the request of the prosecutor's office. The reason for the dismissal was the lawyer's refusal to review case materials containing state secrets. However, Sidorov and Bontsler herself objected to this decision, noting that reviewing classified documents is not a lawyer's responsibility and could result in a ban on leaving Russia.
Visa regime in Montenegro
Finally, Montenegro will introduce a visa regime for citizens of Russia and Belarus starting November 1, 2026. The country is thus harmonizing its national legislation with EU visa policy as part of its accession process. However, Russian citizens can still enter Montenegro visa-free for stays of up to 30 days until October 31.
