Germany has begun issuing a mandatory military service questionnaire to all citizens turning 18, marking a significant shift in defence policy more than a decade after conscription was suspended. While the government insists the measure stops short of a full draft, critics warn it effectively lays the groundwork for future compulsory service if voluntary recruitment fails. The move has reignited national debate around militarisation, youth consent, and Germany’s preparedness for a rapidly deteriorating European security environment.

Kyiv was struck by a major Russian drone and missile assault, with widely shared video footage appearing to show a drone hitting a residential building in the Ukrainian capital. The attack, described by Moscow as a “massive strike,” left at least one civilian dead, injured dozens more, and caused significant damage to homes and energy infrastructure. The escalation comes at a critical diplomatic moment, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets U.S. President Donald Trump today in Florida to discuss security guarantees, territorial issues in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, and a proposed roadmap for Ukraine’s future prosperity.