In brief

• Polish Rzeczpospolita, Bankier.pl and defence24.pl, citing among others the dpa agency, report a fire that destroyed three construction machines on the site of a Rheinmetall project at Kassel-Calden airport in Hesse. Police suspect arson and do not rule out a political motive, while the Ukrainian NV, citing Der Spiegel, reports that a drone testing centre worth over 260 million euros is to be built there.
• Ukrainian Європейська правда, citing the DPA agency, writes that Chancellor Friedrich Merz estimated the cost of the rise in energy prices caused by the US war with Iran at over 100 billion euros for Europe and called on the parties to the conflict to seek a diplomatic solution.
• Ukrainian Європейська правда, citing Deutsche Welle, reports that the youth initiative Gen-Z regelt called for protests in 23 German cities over the weekend of 31 October – 1 November, and that about 134 thousand people had registered on its website.
• Ukrainian Українська правда, citing Tagesschau, reports that after the arrest of former BND German intelligence chief August Ganning, American services warned the BND that their existing cooperation would be subject to a detailed review.
• Polish Business Insider Polska, citing the German daily Handelsblatt, reports that last year almost 5 thousand German citizens decided to move to Poland.

Polish press

Polish Rzeczpospolita reports that in Hesse, Germany, on a site where a new logistics centre and a test range for unmanned aircraft of the Rheinmetall group are being built, three construction machines caught fire (Ogień na terenie inwestycji giganta niemieckiej zbrojeniówki. Podejrzewają podpalenie – Rzeczpospolita). According to this daily, citing the dpa agency, police consider the possibility of arson and are checking whether a political motive could have been behind it.

The Polish portal Bankier.pl, citing the dpa agency, reports that during the night from Thursday to Friday in Hesse, near Kassel-Calden airport, three construction vehicles burned on the Rheinmetall group's investment site. According to the same source, police suspect arson. (Pożar w Rheinmetallu. Płonęły maszyny na budowie centrum dronów – Bankier.pl) The Ukrainian portal NV, citing the German Der Spiegel, covers the same incident and indicates that a drone testing centre worth over 260 million euros is to be built there. (Подозревают поджог. В Германии на строительной площадке Rheinmetall сгорели три машины – NV)

According to the Polish portal defence24.pl, on Friday shortly after 3 a.m. a fire broke out on the Rheinmetall construction site in Calden, Hesse, which destroyed the machines, while equipment and vehicles nearby were damaged; the emergency services quickly brought the fire under control (Pożar na placu budowy Rheinmetallu w Hesji. Policja podejrzewa podpalenie – defence24.pl). The same portal reports that police suspect arson and are looking for witnesses who may have noticed anything suspicious in the area. The investment, worth over 260 million euros, is to become a logistics centre and test range for unmanned systems, and according to defence24.pl the facility is to be completed by the end of 2027. The Ukrainian portal NV, citing Der Spiegel, describes the same fire and mentions a possible political motive, so both reports concern the same location and the same investment.

Polish RMF24 reports that on Friday shortly after 3 a.m. a fire involving vehicles was reported on a construction site near Kassel-Calden airport in Hesse, where a logistics centre and a drone testing centre are being built (Nocny pożar przy niemieckim lotnisku. Możliwy sabotaż – RMF24). The portal reports that firefighters extinguished the blaze and that police are pursuing the case with a possible political background, that is, possible sabotage, and recalls earlier suspicious incidents in Munich and Leipzig. The Ukrainian portal NV, citing Der Spiegel, described the same fire on land belonging to Rheinmetall, which shows that the story reached several media outlets.

According to the Polish portal tvrepublika.pl, Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany has already been discharged from the medical facility where he was taken after suddenly feeling unwell during a reserve team training session (Kompany opuścił szpital. Znamy przyczynę zasłabnięcia trenera Bayernu – tvrepublika.pl). As the same portal reports, director Max Eberl stated that the cause was an inflamed membrane surrounding the brain, and the Belgian coach is now to rest at home and take medication. Tvrepublika.pl adds that Bayern does not intend to speed up his return, and that the club had from the outset expected an absence of several weeks, although no date for his return to work with the team has been given.

Polish Business Insider Polska, citing the German daily Handelsblatt, reports that more and more Germans are moving to Poland. According to this information, last year almost 5 thousand German citizens decided on such a step. One of Handelsblatt's interlocutors describes an unusual atmosphere of new beginnings and general optimism in Poland. ("Warszawa prawie jak Frankfurt". Coraz więcej Niemców wybiera Polskę – Business Insider Polska)

According to the Polish Puls Biznesu, the German economy grew in the third quarter faster than analysts had expected, both year on year and compared with the previous quarter. Year on year, it was the strongest result in four years. The portal does, however, point to a decline in investment, which it describes as worrying. (Wzrost gospodarczy Niemiec największy od czterech lat. Przekroczył prognozy – Puls Biznesu)

Czech press

According to the Czech iDNES.cz, McDonald's in Germany is withdrawing the legendary McRib burger from its menu after 37 years. The portal also reports that there is speculation about concessions to Muslims, but notes it only as conjecture. (McDonald’s v Německu vyřadil burger McRib. Spekuluje se i o ústupcích muslimům – iDNES.cz)

Ukrainian press

According to the Ukrainian Європейська правда, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed the conviction that only a woman should become the new President of Germany, replacing Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Although she did not name specific female candidates, she stressed that in the 77-year history of Germany no woman has held this office. Discussions among conservatives about potential candidates are underway in Germany, and the election of the new president is to take place on 30 January. (Меркель хоче, щоб наступним президентом Німеччини стала жінка – Європейська правда)

According to Ukrainian Європейська правда, the traditional "family photo" will not be taken at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul explained that this decision results from the presence of the Russian minister Sergei Lavrov and the context of Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine. Wadephul stressed that wrong visual signals must not be sent, and that relations with Russia are currently impossible to normalise (На зустрічі G20 не буде спільного фото міністрів, у Німеччині кажуть, що через Лаврова – Європейська правда).

Ukrainian media report that Germany and the Netherlands have ordered 69 new Schakal infantry fighting vehicles, of which 35 will go to the Bundeswehr. These vehicles combine the mobility of the Boxer 8×8 platform with the BMP Puma combat module, which is intended to facilitate joint training and logistics. The total cost of the order is several hundred million euros, and deliveries are planned for 2032–2033, according to NV (Шакал на восьми колесах. Германия и Нидерланды получат 69 новых БМП с противотанковыми ракетами MELLS – NV).

According to Ukrainian Європейська правда, citing the German Spiegel, on the morning of 30 October in Bad Oldesloe in Schleswig-Holstein, a bus with about 20 children on board crashed into a building wall. Police report that several passengers and the driver were injured, the exact number of casualties is not yet known, and the driver was reportedly trapped in the cab. The accident happened at around 7:20, and its causes are not yet known. (У Німеччині автобус із 20 дітьми на борту врізався у стіну будинку – Європейська правда)

The Ukrainian portal NV, citing the German Der Spiegel, reports that on Friday, 30 October, several construction machines burned on a construction site belonging to the arms group Rheinmetall, near Kassel airport in Hesse. According to NV, a drone testing centre is to be built on this site, and the group together with the state announced an investment worth over 260 million euros; police suspect arson, speak of a "possible political motive," and the case has been taken over by the Northern Hesse State Criminal Police Office. The same incident is also described by the Polish Rzeczpospolita, citing the dpa agency, which shows that the fire on the Rheinmetall investment site reached several regional media outlets. Also, Європейська правда, citing Spiegel, writes that three machines burned and other vehicles parked nearby were damaged, while the authorities did not want to comment on the scale of the losses on Friday morning; the portal adds that on the same day an explosion occurred at a plant producing ammunition for Ukraine in southern Spain, that in Munich unknown perpetrators threw incendiary devices onto a construction site in front of the headquarters of an arms company, and that Danish intelligence warned of growing threats of Russian sabotage against the defence industry (У Німеччині розслідують імовірний підпал на будівельному майданчику Rheinmetall – Європейська правда).

The Ukrainian portal NV, citing Lad Bible, reports on a 62-year-old teacher at a vocational college in Wesel, Germany, who had not come to work since 2009, although for 16 years she was on sick leave and received full pay. NV reports that the woman allegedly presented the school with forged medical certificates, and the institution's losses amounted to nearly 250 thousand euros. According to NV, the woman is suspected of fraud, and investigators noted that during her sick leave she went diving. (В Германии обвиняют в мошенничестве преподавательницу, которая 16 лет не выходила на работу, но получала зарплату – NV)

The Ukrainian portal Espreso, citing Європейська правда (Europejska Prawda), reports that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, during his visit to South Korea, stated that the US war with Iran, together with the rise in energy prices, cost Europe over 100 billion euros. Merz appealed to the parties to the conflict that it cannot be resolved by force, and that Germany together with its partners is conducting diplomatic talks to end it as quickly as possible. Espreso also relays reports from American media that Donald Trump held a rare personal meeting with the highest military commander on further steps regarding Iran. As Espreso writes, media also reported a plan by American and Israeli military to carry out a week of massive strikes on Iran's leaders, energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities if no agreement is reached. (Війна США проти Ірану коштувала Європі понад 100 млрд євро, – Мерц – Espreso)

The Ukrainian NV writes that the head of the German ice hockey federation (DEB), Frank Lutz, sharply criticised the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne to reinstate Russian national teams in international tournaments. According to NV, the federation believes that Germany, as host of the 2027 World Championship, must analyse the situation and hold talks with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), because admitting Russia carries serious consequences for the country's security, politics and economy. NV reports that the DEB maintains its opposition to the return of Russian teams and announces further steps after consultations with the IIHF. («Серьезные последствия для безопасности». Германия жестко осудила возвращение Росси в хоккей – NV)

The Ukrainian Українська правда reports, citing the DPA (via Європейська правда), that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz assessed the additional cost to Europe of the rise in energy prices caused by the war in Iran at over 100 billion euros. According to this publisher, Merz appealed to the parties to the conflict for a diplomatic solution, saying that it cannot be settled by force, and that Germany and its partners are coordinating diplomatic efforts. Українська правда notes that the statement was made at the end of Merz's visit to South Korea, shortly after reports by American media about a rare meeting between Donald Trump and the highest military commander. (Мерц оцінив додаткові витрати Європи на енергоносії через війну в Ірані у понад 100 млрд євро – Українська правда)

The Ukrainian Європейська правда, citing the DPA, reports that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a diplomatic resolution of the conflict with Iran in the face of speculation about new American strikes. According to this publisher, Merz stated that the rise in energy prices has already cost Europe over 100 billion euros, that the conflict cannot be resolved by force, and that Germany and its partners are coordinating diplomatic efforts through various channels. The same editorial office reports that, according to American media, Donald Trump held a rare personal meeting with the highest military commander about the next steps in the war, and that Washington reportedly warned Persian Gulf states of a short, intense campaign after the Congressional elections. (Мерц заявив, що війна США в Ірані обійшлася Європі у понад 100 млрд євро – Європейська правда)

The Ukrainian Європейська правда, citing Spiegel, reports that the German rail operator Deutsche Bahn is examining whether reducing the number of trains could improve punctuality, and has commissioned this analysis from an independent group of experts. According to this publisher, Enak Ferlemann from the supervisory board of DB InfraGO stated that with the current state of the tracks, too many trains run, and as a possible example he pointed to less frequent intercity services between Berlin and Hamburg, once an hour instead of every 30 minutes. Європейська правда also relays Ferlemann's words that people would prefer fewer trains if all of them ran on time. (У Німеччині розглядають скорочення кількості поїздів з метою підвищення пунктуальності – Європейська правда)

According to the Ukrainian portal Європейська правда, citing the German Deutsche Welle, the youth initiative Gen-Z regelt called for protests in 23 German cities over the weekend of 31 October – 1 November, and about 134 thousand people registered on its website. The portal reports German politicians' concerns that the demonstrations could resemble the protests in France and Italy, where they turned into looting; CDU politician Alexander Throm, as the same portal reports, warned against the participation of left-wing extremists and criminals from migration circles. The portal also recalls that in France students and pupils have been protesting for over a month, and the authorities have announced 70 thousand officers for Saturday. (Молодь закликає до протестів на вихідних у 23 містах Німеччини – Європейська правда)

The Ukrainian Espreso, citing the German Spiegel and police, reports that at 3:15 on 30 October three machines burned on the Rheinmetall construction site in Germany, and the fire also damaged other vehicles standing nearby. According to the portal, police do not rule out a political motive, which is why the case was taken over by the Staatsschutz unit, and the spokesperson did not give the amount of damage. Espreso reports that a logistics and training centre and a drone testing centre are to be built at Kassel-Calden airport, and that in August Rheinmetall and the state of Hesse announced an investment of over 260 million euros. The portal also recalls a series of incidents at European arms plants, including explosions in Bulgaria and Italy in August and the arson of the Milrem Robotics company in Tallinn, which Estonia links to Russia. (У Німеччині на майданчику Rheinmetall згоріли три машини. Поліція не виключає політичного мотиву – Espreso)

The Ukrainian Українська правда, citing the German Tagesschau, reports that after the arrest of former BND German intelligence chief August Ganning, American services warned the BND that their existing cooperation would be subject to a detailed review. According to this report, the warning came several days after the arrest, and in urgent cases, for example concerning possible terrorist attacks, the US intended to continue passing information to Germany. Українська правда recalls that Ganning, arrested about three weeks before publication, is suspected, among other things, of espionage and treason. (ЗМІ: У США погрожували зменшити співпрацю з німецькою розвідкою після арешту її ексглави – Українська правда)

The Ukrainian Українська правда, citing DW, reports that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Panmunjom, the village in the demilitarised zone separating North and South Korea, and expressed hope that the two Koreas would unite, as Germany did. Speaking to journalists, he recalled the reunification of Germany 36 years ago, and during the visit to Seoul he was asked about experiences from that process. As the publisher writes, North Korea has in recent years abandoned dialogue with the South, removed provisions on reunification from its constitution, and called the South a "hostile state" (Мерц сподівається, що дві Кореї об’єднаються за прикладом Німеччини – Українська правда).

Russian press

The Kremlin propaganda outlet Wiesti.ru (propaganda media) presents the words of the German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who, as quoted by Wiesti.ru from Bild, does not intend to avoid joint photos with Sergei Lavrov at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting and believes that the content of the talks matters. Wiesti.ru (propaganda media) also reports that Lavrov arrived in Atlanta on 30 October, and that earlier European finance ministers refused a joint photo if the Russian deputy prime minister Anton Siluanov were to be in it. (Bild: Вадефуль готов на совместное фото с Лавровым на G20 – Wiesti.ru (media propagandowe)) The Ukrainian Jewropejska Prawda (Європейська правда), by contrast, writes that at the G20 meeting in Atlanta there will be no traditional joint photo of the ministers, and Wadephul justifies this by Lavrov's presence and Russia's war against Ukraine, which is linked to the described dispute over joint photographs. Wiesti.ru (propaganda media) writes similarly, reporting that Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova ironically commented on this threat on her Telegram channel, recalling that a month earlier Wadephul himself had sought talks and posed for photos, and that now, as she put it, he had made a "360-degree turn" (Захарова с иронией отнеслась к угрозе главы МИД ФРГ – Wiesti.ru (media propagandowe)).

The position of Russian propaganda media: the Russian Izvestia (propaganda media) reports that on 30 October Volkswagen halted work on the fully electric Golf at its main plant in Wolfsburg, as part of a cost-reduction programme. Izvestia (propaganda media) notes that this electric model is known as the ID. Golf and was to be one of the first models of this series. (Volkswagen приостановил разработку электрического Golf – Izvestia (media propagandowe))

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• Three construction vehicles burned at Rheinmetall site near Kassel; police suspect arson and examine political motive