A sudden flare-up in Ukraine’s drone war has again rattled Central Asia’s energy nerves. This episode opens with a look at how Russian refinery shutdowns are rippling across the region. When the Novokuybyshevsk plant went offline after an October 19 strike, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which are both reliant on Russia for more than 90 percent of their fuel, were left scrambling. Petrol rationing in Bishkek and mounting anxiety among traders reveal just how vulnerable those supply chains remain. And with Kazakhstan freezing domestic fuel prices to contain inflation, even its neighbours can’t count on emergency help. What begins as a refinery fire in Samara ends up exposing the region’s deeper dependence on Moscow’s infrastructure.

The episode’s centrepiece turns from crisis to creativity, featuring Marzhan Tajiyeva, Education Projects Coordinator at CAPS Unlock, on the launch of the Turn It Around! Central Asian Climate Cards, developed with UNESCO’s regional office. Created by young people from across six countries, the cards combine art and education to bring climate change into everyday lessons, in Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Uzbek, Russian, and even English. Tajiyeva explains how a child’s drawing of the Aral Sea can spark empathy, critical thinking, and even policy reflection, turning students into messengers of shared responsibility. The project, part of a global initiative led by Arizona State University, now anchors a growing regional alliance for climate education.

The final segment turns to football and politics. In Turkmenistan, the Asian Football Confederation has reportedly barred local clubs from hosting home games after inspectors condemned Arkadag’s flagship stadium, a supposed symbol of modernity, as unfit for play. The contrast with Almaty’s recent hosting of Real Madrid could hardly be sharper: FC Kairat’s Champions League adventure has become both a civic celebration and a study in political rehabilitation, as the club’s rise intertwines with the fortunes of its powerful backers. Even sport, it seems, can’t escape Central Asia’s habit of blending national pride with image-building and control.

LINKS:CAPS Unlock statement on Turn It Around! Central Asian Climate Cards - https://capsunlock.org/news/caps-unlock-and-unesco-unveil-central-asian-climate-cards-to-bring-climate-change-into-classrooms/Fergana News report on Arkadag Stadium and AFC ban – https://fergana.agency/news/141688/

Reuters reporting on Orenburg strike - https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-drones-cause-fire-russian-gas-plant-governor-says-2025-10-19/

Symbol of Science journal paper portraying Arkadag FC as a showcase of Turkmenistan’s modernisation drive - https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/arkadag-fc-turkmenistans-rapid-rise-in-football

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