Mixed martial arts fighter Ibragim Islamov, known by the nickname "Nikarkho," sustained a gunshot wound from a non-lethal (traumatic) pistol during an altercation in the center of Vladikavkaz. Two people were injured in the incident, both of whom were hospitalized. The North Ossetia branch of the Russian Interior Ministry has opened a criminal case, and one of the individuals involved has been detained.

On October 18, Azerbaijan celebrates the Day of the Restoration of Independence. It was on this date in 1991 that the republic’s Supreme Soviet adopted a Constitutional Act, formalizing the country’s departure from the Soviet system and the restoration of its state sovereignty.

In the third quarter of 2026, monthly internet traffic to educational websites in Karachay-Cherkessia was 1.3 times higher than in the first quarter. Among users aged over 55, the figure increased fivefold, according to a study by telecommunications operator MegaFon and the Skillbox educational group.

More than 3 billion rubles have been paid out to residents of Dagestan affected by spring floods. Fyodor Shchukin announced this on October 15 while speaking at a session of the republic’s People’s Assembly. On the same day, deputies elected him as the head of the region, following which he took the oath of office and assumed his duties.

Dagestan’s People’s Assembly today confirmed Fyodor Shchukin as head of the republic for a five-year term. Of the 87 deputies who took part in the vote, 78 supported the former chairman of Dagestan’s Supreme Court, who had been serving as acting head of the region since May. Four votes went to parliament’s deputy speaker, Kamil Davdiev, and another four to Samir Abdulkhаlikov, head of the Communist Party faction. One ballot was declared invalid.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Baku on 14 October, ahead of the Asian Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures (CICA) summit scheduled for the following day. Following the meeting, the two sides announced their intention to strengthen bilateral relations and discussed the regional situation.

The Supreme Court of Russia has designated the international "Community of Followers of Batal-Khadzhi Belkhoroev" (known as the Batal-Khadzhintsy) a "terrorist organization" and banned its activities within the country. The ruling was issued on October 14 following a lawsuit filed by the Prosecutor General's Office; the hearing was held behind closed doors.

Between October 5 and 11, 361 mines and 624 pieces of unexploded ordnance were discovered in territories that have come under Azerbaijan's control. Local media reported this, citing the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA).

A 35-year-old local woman has been detained in Kabardino-Balkaria; the FSB suspects her of plotting an armed attack on parishioners at a religious institution. According to the agency, the woman was acting under the direction of Ukrainian special services. The regional FSB directorate announced this on October 9, and local media outlets disseminated the information.

A makeshift memorial dedicated to journalist Anna Politkovskaya has been destroyed outside the Moscow building on Lesnaya Street where she lived and was killed. The memorial had appeared the previous day, on the 20th anniversary of her murder.