Trending on X (6 p.m.): Kh.Nyambaatar’s livestream, Russian gas, city checkpoints, Romanian drones, TDB

Here are the 8 topics Mongolian users discussed most on X between 14:13 and 18:13 (Ulaanbaatar time) on October 18, ranked by the likes, reposts and views of the leading posts. Activity was relatively light on Sunday evening. The most discussed topics were the reaction to former mayor Kh.Nyambaatar’s livestream; a New York Times report that the US suggested Europe buy Russian gas as part of a peace plan; the decision to move the checkpoints inside the capital; Romania shooting down two drones; Trade and Development Bank’s system upgrade; the Erdeneburen hydropower plant; lawmakers’ views on the Oyu Tolgoi dividend; and international successes by Mongolian students and performers. Only 8 real, verified topics emerged in this window, so the list was not padded to 10. Posts about the “khuushuur” meetup, the tobacco law and the protests in France also appeared but brought no new developments since earlier roundups, so they were left out. Figures as of 18:29.

1. Reaction to Kh.Nyambaatar’s livestream: “#Nyambaa500BILLION” (update)

Kh.Nyambaatar, the former governor of the capital and mayor of Ulaanbaatar who has been charged on suspicion of abuse of power, held a livestream on his social media page today, and the reaction to it was the most discussed topic of this window. During the livestream he held up printed photos of several of his critics and talked about them, and screenshots of those moments spread quickly.

Civic activist G.Uyanga (@hariad_uyanga) shared a screenshot of him holding her photo with the hashtag “#Нямбаа500ТЭРБУМ” (Nyambaa 500 billion) and a joking caption, which was the most-liked post on the topic. Journalist @Enebish_ posted a collage of the photos he showed, mockingly calling them “Mayor Nyambaa’s evidence”, and @UvsUvsu criticised his remark that he would say next week when he will go to Mongolia, urging him to come back. In an editorial today, Sonin.mn criticised him for insulting citizens who raise corruption issues during the livestream, and noted that only a court will decide whether Kh.Nyambaatar committed a crime.

During the livestream Kh.Nyambaatar accused several named people and officials. These are one-sided, unverified claims, so they are not detailed here. Posts accusing or insulting him without evidence were also left out. No court has found him guilty.

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2. Ukraine: NYT says the US suggested Europe buy Russian gas as part of a peace plan (update)

Ukraine peace talks stayed in focus. According to a New York Times report on October 17, President Donald Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff floated the idea that, as part of a Ukraine peace plan, Europe could buy Russian gas again and Ukraine could restart its transit pipelines. European officials reacted negatively.

@uulee87 criticised Trump for once again “pushing Ukraine like a pawn on the map” into a deal, recalling that during his previous term he held up military aid to Ukraine. @tuul1234 shared the assessment of OSINT analyst Chris O’Vicki on the speed restriction placed on Starlink in Ukraine. In his view, it could deepen the concerns of countries that buy US weapons and create long-term problems for SpaceX and the US defence industry. AP and Axios have reported that Starlink terminals in Ukraine now cut out above roughly 160 km/h, which is affecting Ukrainian military operations.

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3. Checkpoints inside the capital to move to the city’s edge in 2027 (new)

Plans by B.Purevdagva, governor of the capital and mayor of Ulaanbaatar, to move the checkpoints inside the city drew attention. According to iKon.mn, the 127 km Bagakhangai–Khushigiin Khundii–Emeelt railway has been built, so dangerous cargo no longer passes through Ulaanbaatar, and an underpass built in place of the old Emeelt checkpoint opened on September 15. In 2027 the Nalaikh checkpoint will move into Tuv province and the Emeelt checkpoint to Argalant, so residents will no longer pay 5,000 tugriks each time they pass a checkpoint while travelling within the city.

4. Romania shoots down two drones that entered its territory (new)

@DawaaRadnaa shared the news that Romania had shot down two jet-powered drones that entered its territory. According to DW and the Kyiv Independent, Romania’s Defence Ministry said two F-16 fighters scrambled from the Borcea air base on the evening of October 17 and downed two drones over Romanian territorial waters in the Black Sea, about 20 km from Sulina, at 18:01 and 18:05 local time. The ministry said they were jet-powered Geran-type drones, the kind Russia widely uses against Ukraine, but did not officially name their country of origin. Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu said NATO’s North Atlantic Council will discuss the incident on Tuesday. Earlier this week, two chemical tankers were hit off Romania’s coast and seven crew members are missing.

5. Trade and Development Bank finishes its system upgrade early and launches a new app (new)

@TDBMongolia announced that its core banking system upgrade had finished ahead of schedule. It urged customers to download the new TDB app through the old TDB Online app, and warned them to avoid apps with other names or icons to stay safe from scams. According to the bank’s information published by iToim.mn, account numbers now have 10 digits, but old numbers remain valid, and the new app uses HID Approve two-factor authentication. User @zsonor, however, complained of server errors when trying to log in to the new app.

6. Prime Minister N.Uchral visits the Erdeneburen hydropower plant site (new)

@UBn_mn and @zasag_mn reported that Prime Minister N.Uchral worked at the construction site of the Erdeneburen hydropower plant today and pledged to resolve its problems quickly. According to UBN.mn, construction began in July 2025 and is now more than 40% complete, with over 600 domestic and foreign workers on site. Financing has been unobstructed since parliament passed the law on improving the use and efficiency of foreign loans in May 2026. The plant is scheduled to open in 2030, but chief engineer J.Luvsandandar said it could be finished earlier.

7. Oyu Tolgoi dividend: P.Sainzorig opposes a cash handout (update)

The debate over how to use the Oyu Tolgoi dividend continued. @Elch_mn shared a video of lawmaker P.Sainzorig saying that, to the members calling for the dividend to be handed out in cash, doing so would be “exactly like walking into a ravine blindfolded”. In positions compiled by Zuv.mn, P.Sainzorig said the dividend cannot be taken as cash but could be spent on education, health or housing, and that a cash handout would fuel inflation. Lawmaker Ch.Undram proposed investing it in energy projects, while Finance Minister Z.Mendsaikhan explained that cash payments are not possible and the money in citizens’ accounts can be used only after 10 years. The government is surveying citizens through e-Mongolia on how to spend the 3 trillion tugrik dividend.

8. A physics olympiad, logic puzzles and a Bamberg stage: Mongolians’ international successes (new)

According to Zogii.mn, all 10 Mongolian students at the 2nd Ahmad al-Farghani International Physics Olympiad (IAFPhO 2026), held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on October 10–17, won awards: one silver medal, seven bronze medals and two special prizes. The silver went to A.Achitbilguun of the National University of Mongolia’s Baigal Ekh lyceum. About 150 students from more than 20 countries took part.

According to Montsame, at the 33rd World Logic Puzzle Championship in Kolkata, India, A.Oyun-Erdene from Sukhbaatar province won silver and B.Jargalkhuu bronze in the under-18 category, while A.Nandin-Erdene placed fourth. @ZogiiMn also reported that Mongolia’s cultural ambassador, morin khuur player and khöömii singer D.Enkhjargal, performed with the Bavarian Philharmonic at the Konzerthalle in Bamberg, Germany.

Methodology: We ranked posts from about 200 major news and influential accounts found through X search, plus more than 50 keyword searches, by an engagement score (likes + 2× reposts + views/100), and checked the facts against news sites. Posts that could not be verified or that carried a risk of defamation were left out. Views expressed by individuals on X do not represent the position of egov.mn.