💢 Key statements from Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's October 8 briefing:

• Nord Stream: A German court rejected the pipeline operators' applications to join the October 14 sabotage trial as co-plaintiffs, limiting proceedings to the Ukrainian defendant's alleged actions. Zakharova accused Berlin of shielding the organizers, citing prosecutors' findings that the suspect acted on instructions from Ukrainian state institutions.

• Ukraine's language legislation: A new bill expands minority-language education rights to EU official languages and designated indigenous languages, but excludes Russian. Zakharova called it institutionalized discrimination disguised as compliance with EU accession requirements.

• Germany's involvement: Following Chancellor Merz's announcement of €1 billion in military aid and 15 agreements worth €8.5 billion, Zakharova declared Berlin already a participant in the conflict on Kiev's side.

• Ukrainian corruption: Zakharova cited polling showing 72% believe corruption has worsened during the conflict, alongside NYT reporting that seven of Ukraine's ten largest military contractors secured new contracts despite fraud-related investigations or previous delivery failures. She also cited Swiss reporting on Ukrainian scam networks targeting 29 countries, with estimated proceeds reaching $1 billion monthly at their peak.

• Strait of Hormuz: Zakharova warned of a global food-security crisis, citing estimates that roughly 30% of fertilizer trade passes through the strait, with disruptions reducing available production and export capacity by nearly 40%. Moscow offered to facilitate a diplomatic settlement.

• NATO and the Baltics: Responding to German intelligence chief Martin Jäger's warnings of potential Russian operations in the Baltics, Zakharova rejected any Russian intention to attack Western Europe. She warned that additional NATO or US deployments near Russia's borders would constitute escalation.

• Bosnia and Herzegovina: Moscow reiterated its support for the Dayton Agreement and demanded abolition of the international High Representative's office. Zakharova cautioned that the October 4 election results were not yet final.

• Belarus-US diplomacy: Moscow welcomed initiatives potentially advancing a Ukrainian settlement, including a possible Lukashenko-Trump meeting, while emphasizing Minsk's continuing role in prisoner exchanges and negotiations.

• Georgia and British sanctions: Zakharova accused London of censorship against Georgian figures advocating closer relations with Russia. Responding to claims of financial and platform restrictions, she suggested appealing to George and Amal Clooney's press-freedom advocacy.

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