Finland won’t join NATO’s new weapons procurement program for Ukraine, opting instead to rely on its own defense industry. Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen has announced that his country is focusing on a domestic industrial program, Yle reports. 

“We have allocated our resources to an internal industrial program, under which we place orders for Ukraine from companies across Finland,” he states.

A decision to back local industry — and still help Ukraine

Häkkänen emphasizes that the program was developed in cooperation with Ukraine to provide “maximum support” and that other countries understand Finland’s approach, especially given its shared border with Russia.

“We continue to support Ukraine with strong commitment and energy, but now we are prioritizing production by domestic companies,” he adds.

Different approaches within NATO with one common goal

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Sweden, Norway, and Denmark had allocated over $500 million to buy weapons for Ukraine through NATO’s new procurement mechanism. Finland has chosen a different vector, but its support remains consistent and strategically vital.

NATO is preparing to act swiftly. During an official visit to the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) headquarters, General Alexus Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), declared that the Alliance is ready to address Ukraine’s weapon needs promptly. 

“We’re going to move as quickly as we can,” he emphasized.

NSATU coordinates international support for Ukraine, providing ongoing training and logistics. Under this initiative, over 300 personnel from 28 NATO countries work closely with the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Poland’s logistics hub — a lifeline for uninterrupted support

A key role in delivering military aid to Ukraine is played by the Logistics Enabling Node-Poland (LEN-P). Each month, this hub manages the shipment of about 18,000 tons of military equipment to Ukraine.

NATO’s representation in Ukraine notes that LEN-P is one of the most critical components of the training headquarters’ operations.

NATO warns: the war is close

Earlier, at the LANDEURO symposium in Wiesbaden, General Grynkewich stressed that “the war is already at our doorstep,” and NATO’s response must be rapid and resolute. 

Russia is losing petrodollars. In July 2025, Russia suffered a significant financial blow: oil-related budget revenues dropped by nearly 33% compared to the previous year, according to Bloomberg.

A official Russian Finance Ministry says that the country collected only $8.9 billion in oil-related taxes. Combined oil and gas revenues fell by 27%.

Price spike didn’t save profits from falling

Despite a short-term 71% increase in the price of Russian export oil in July, the first such jump in five months, petrodollars flowing into the budget declined. Global crude prices spiked sharply at that time due to warfare in the Middle East.

Benchmark oil prices, however, have dropped year-on-year, as Trump’s trade policies threaten to slow the global economy while OPEC+ ramps up production faster than expected.

The strengthening of the ruble also contributed to lower revenues, as revaluation means oil companies receive fewer rubles per barrel they pump and sell. In June, the ruble hit its strongest exchange rate in two years: 78.71 per dollar. This means oil and gas companies earn less in rubles for exports. In 2024, they earned 6,127 rubles per barrel, now only 4,711.

Subsidies slashed as budget runs short

However, lower global prices for crude and refined oil products have allowed the government to cut subsidies paid to Russian refineries.

These subsidies partially compensate for the price difference between domestic and export fuel, aiming to boost domestic gasoline and diesel supply. In July, the budget allocated 58% less for this purpose compared to the previous year.

Ukraine’s army is holding the line. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, has released staggering figures for Russian army losses in the first seven months of 2025 — 267,460 troops.

“Due to the coordinated and professional work of Ukraine’s Defense Forces, enemy losses since the beginning of the year total 267,460 personnel,” Syrskyi reveals.

In July alone, Russia lost more than 33,200 troops.

The war continues

As of 5 August, fighting rages in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and other fronts. Battles were ongoing in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Chernihiv oblasts. Ukrainian forces are eliminating approximately per day:

• 1,120 occupiers
• 2 tanks
• 12 armored vehicles
• 28 artillery systems
• 169 drones

Putin defies Trump’s ultimatum, escalates threats to Europe

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin shows no intention of complying with the US ultimatum to end the war in Ukraine. He insists on controlling Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson and demands that Ukraine renounce NATO membership and adopt neutral status.

Putin also confirmed plans to deploy new “Oreshnik” intercontinental missile systems in Belarus in the second half of 2025, a looming threat to both Ukraine and Europe.

Ukraine’s allies will spend millions of dollars for weapons for Kyiv. Sweden, Norway, and Denmark have jointly allocated over $500 million to purchase American weapons for Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announces.

“Plus $500 million — the total amount from our friends in Northern Europe… This will be implemented under NATO coordination,” Zelenskyy says.

According to the new mechanism, Ukraine compiles a list of priority needs in packages of approximately $500 million. Then, the partner countries can:

• provide their own weapons from the list and immediately purchase the US equivalent — bypassing bureaucracy,
• or order weapons directly from the US or through NATO.

This approach significantly speeds up logistics and replenishment of allied arsenals.

Unity of arms and action

The Ukrainian president has thanked the prime ministers of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for their concrete support that “increases Ukraine’s capacity to protect lives.”

“This will be a good example for other NATO countries… to guarantee protection against Russian strikes,” Zelenskyy emphasizes.

The PURL initiative becomes a new bridge between America and Europe in the defense sector, and another signal to Moscow: Western support is not weakening but growing.

More than deliveries

The Ukrainian president has stressed that such projects strengthen Ukraine’s own defense production as well as joint defense initiatives with partners. This builds a new architecture of European security based on powerful cooperation.

“Russia will never turn Europe into a continent of war… we guarantee that peace will prevail,” Zelenskyy states.

In just two days, Ukraine received nearly $1 billion in international arms aid — after €500 million from the Netherlands, another half a billion came from Northern Europe.

Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence “Timur” Special Unit has crashed Russia’s advance on Sumy Oblast. The fighters have eliminated eight Russian companies in Sumy Oblast, the agency reports. 

“The enemy’s advance has been halted. Their food and ammunition supply lines have been cut,” explains Ukraine’s military intelligence.

The operation involved 11 combat detachments under the Timur Special Unit. As a result of the mission: 

• At least 334 Russian troops were eliminated
• Over 550 were wounded

Russians refuse to fight

According to the Defense Intelligence, Ukrainian soldiers executed a series of swift raids deep into Russian-controlled territory, effectively deploying FPV drones, artillery, grenade launchers, and small arms in close-quarters combat.

“Based on intercepted communications, Russian soldiers gave fabricated excuses to avoid storming positions within the Timur Unit’s area of operation,” says the agency.

A retaliatory strike against terror: Sumy under constant attack

In early August, Russia intensified its assaults on the Sumy front, launching frequent artillery, missile, and air strikes. In July alone, 23 civilians were killed, and over 140 were wounded, according to Oleh Hryhorov, head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration.

“In July, there were 2,700 Russian attacks on Sumy Oblast, with more than 800 air-dropped bombs, 250 kamikaze drone strikes, and 52 missile strikes,” Hryhorov says.

Amid the growing threat from Russia, the German government is launching an ambitious rearmament program. But a recent poll shows: nearly 60% of Germans say they would “probably” or “definitely” not defend Germany in the event of an attack, The Telegraph reports. 

Only 16% expressed full willingness to bear arms, while another 22% said they would “probably” defend the country, according to a survey commissioned by broadcaster RND. 

These figures come as a blow to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who is spearheading a large-scale reform of the Bundeswehr in hopes of transforming it into a pillar of European security after decades of chronic underfunding.

Berlin changes its defense approach

In July, Pistorius presented a plan to recruit 40,000 young people annually until 2031. Under the proposal, all 18-year-old males would receive mandatory questionnaires, followed by medical examinations to assess their fitness for service.

The goal: increase the Bundeswehr’s size from 182,000 to at least 260,000 soldiers by 2035, and expand the military reserve from 60,000 to 200,000. Without internal motivation among citizens, this initiative may prove futile. 

The Russian threat is real: Germany has no time for doubt

German intelligence chief Bruno Kahl has also warned of Russian provocations and Moscow’s ambition to push NATO back to its 1990s borders. Against this backdrop, the unwillingness of German citizens to defend their country may pose serious concerns in Berlin. 

Ukraine has discovered Indian electronics in Iranian-designed Shahed drones used by Russian forces to attack civilian areas. Indian media report that Kyiv raised the issue with both India and the EU, citing specific Indian-made components embedded in these weapons.

Ukraine flags Indian electronics in Russian drones

Hindustan Times reports that Ukrainian authorities identified parts made or assembled in India inside Shahed 136 unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs). These drones have been used by Russia in mass strikes on Ukrainian cities since 2022.

According to the documents reviewed by the outlet, a Vishay Intertechnology “bridge rectifier E300359” assembled in India was found in the drone’s voltage regulator. A signal generator chip AU5426A by Aura Semiconductor was located in the satellite navigation system.

The report states that Ukraine raised the issue with India’s external affairs ministry on at least two occasions. Ukrainian diplomats also brought it up with EU sanctions envoy David O’Sullivan during his mid-July visit to New Delhi.

India’s foreign ministry responded that its dual-use exports follow international non-proliferation rules and domestic regulations. Vishay Intertechnology did not respond to the paper’s request for comment.

Aura Semiconductor, whose AU5426A chip was identified in the drones, said in a statement that it complies fully with export control laws and is “deeply disturbed” by the possibility of its components being misused. It added that its chip is plug-and-play, making user tracing difficult, and that an internal audit yielded no conclusive findings.

India says electronics was exported to West Asia

Hindustan Times cites unnamed sources saying some Indian components were legally exported to West Asia, then diverted to Russia or Iran.

Ukraine’s HUR defence intelligence agency has also found electronics from US and Chinese firms in Russian weapons.

Ajay Srivastava from the Global Trade Research Initiative told Hinndustan TImes that tracing dual-use items post-export is almost impossible, and said better exporter awareness is needed. He warned that no export control system can guarantee full oversight once items cross national borders.

The Netherlands was the first country to contribute to the Nato Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative

Panama has banned oil tankers and bulk carriers over 15 years old from registering under its flag. This move will directly impact vessels linked to Russia’s shadow fleet. The Panamanian Maritime Authority (AMP) announced the decision on 1 August 2025 to reduce detentions and prevent non-compliant ships from what is called the “ghost fleet” from entering the registry.

Panama enforces age cap to block risky vessels

The Panamanian Ship Registry updated its regulations to exclude tankers and bulk carriers aged over 15 years. According to AMP, the move aims to improve operational standards and limit the risks associated with older vessels. The registry update is part of the revised MMN 11/2024 directive, which defines the Precheck process for flagging eligibility.

A key element of the Precheck involves evaluating risks tied to sanctions and vessel operations. The General Directorate of the Merchant Marine found that between 2023 and mid-2025, 71% of all ship detentions involved older oil tankers, bulk carriers, or general cargo ships.

Panama’s registry, holding the Guinness World Record for the largest number of registered vessels, is taking additional steps to ensure compliance.

Authorities will now require extra inspections every three months for vessels classified as deficient. These checks will be conducted by the Recognized Organization responsible for issuing statutory certificates. In addition, there will be further verification of the Ship’s Safety Management System (SMS Certificate), particularly if non-conformities are detected.

The AMP stated the changes are meant to reduce detentions and increase overall safety. While the announcement did not name Russia directly, it referred to the so-called “ghost fleet” — a term widely used for Russia’s shadow fleet of old tankers used to bypass sanctions and transport oil covertly.

Ukraine’s allies continue flowing billions of dollars into oil trade with Russia. The Indian government, in response to US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum, which threatens secondary sanctions against countries importing Russian energy, says that “the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia.”

“India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer… It is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia,” says the Indian government. 

The West keeps trading with Russia: The numbers are striking

India points to the Western blatant double standards.

• In 2024, EU–Russia trade in goods reached €67.5 billion.
• In 2023, services trade totaled €17.2 billion.
• In 2024, Europe imported a record 16.5 million tonnes of Russian LNG, the highest volume since 2022.

Many critical Russian exports remain unsanctioned, including:

• Palladium for the US auto industry
• Uranium for nuclear power plants
• Fertilizers, chemicals, metals, machinery, and equipment, all of which the US continues to import from Russia.

India rejects restrictions

India emphasizes that its decisions are driven by economic necessity, not political alignment.
New Delhi is ready to defend its energy security, even if new sanctions are imposed.

“The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” the Indian government claimed. 

Effectively, India has held up a mirror to the US and Europe: stop your own trade with Russia before demanding the same from others.

Russia will pay. Ukraine’s national energy company, Naftogaz, has announced it has received official approval from the Vienna District Court to initiate forced enforcement of the largest arbitration award against Russia, worth over $5 billion.

Due to the Kremlin’s refusal to pay voluntarily, Naftogaz has launched procedures to seize Russian assets worldwide.

A blow to Russia in the heart of Europe

Based on the Austrian court decision, more than 20 pieces of Russian state-owned real estate in Vienna have been seized, with a total value exceeding €120 million.

These assets will be sold, and the proceeds transferred to Ukraine as part of the compensation awarded in The Hague.

“This is another practical step towards collecting over $5 billion from Russia for the illegal seizure of Naftogaz Group’s assets in Crimea. Russia will pay for everything,” says Naftogaz CEO Serhii Koretskyi.

Arbitration in action

Naftogaz is represented in Austria by the DORDA law firm. The team includes partner Alexander Karl, lead counsel Robert Keimmelmayr, and Therese Stingl.

The seized property includes shares in gas pipelines, equipment, licenses for subsoil use, and over 675 million cubic meters of gas in underground storage, all of which Russia seized during the occupation of Crimea.

Naftogaz was a key player in Crimea’s gas market, responsible for exploration, production, transportation, processing, and distribution of gas.

Ukrainian refugees work permits are set to expire, leaving many families in legal limbo, CBS News reports. Dozens who fled war and rebuilt their lives in Iowa may soon lose the right to work.

Iowa town that welcomed refugees now fears for their future

CBS News reports that Liana Avetisian and her family fled Ukraine in 2023 and resettled in DeWitt, Iowa, where over 75 refugees found jobs and housing with help from locals like Angela Boelens and her group Iowa Nice.

Avetisian, once a real estate agent in Kyiv, took a job at a window company. Her employer, Sam Heer, told CBS News he values Ukrainian workers and wants more Ukrainians, he said, after hiring Avetisian, her husband, and her cousin—until their permits expired.

“These people are hard to come by. […]  When people do the right things and follow the rules, they should be rewarded,” he added.

Though Heer supported President Trump in 2024, he now urges the administration to reconsider. 

No safe return as war continues in Ukraine

Most European countries have renewed work permits for Ukrainian refugees. But the Trump administration froze all immigration applications from Ukraine and Latin America earlier this year.

Boelens says many more permits will soon expire, pushing families to the edge.

“It’s not safe to go back to Kyiv,” she told CBS News.

Avetisian agrees. Her mother sends her daily videos of Kyiv under attack.

“Every day, every night, it’s bombing,” she said.

Refugees like Avetisian say they only want to stay and keep working in the communities they’ve come to call home.

Ukraine’s Rarog Regiment has destroyed a TOS‑1A thermobaric system near the front line, Defense Express reports. The rare Russian launcher was located and eliminated after it exposed its thermal signature by firing a salvo.

Ukrainian drones destroy TOS‑1A thermobaric system in frontline night strike

Drone pilots from Ukraine’s Rarog 427th Regiment tracked and struck the Russian TOS‑1A thermobaric rocket system during a night operation. The system had launched its rockets just moments before drones detected its heat and visual trail.

Defense Express notes the system was reduced to burnt wreckage, eliminating one of the Russian army’s most feared battlefield weapons. These systems have previously been used to target frontline units and civilians due to their destructive blast pressure and heat.

After the launcher revealed its position, a Ukrainian FPV kamikaze drone was deployed. The drone struck the TOS‑1A, disabling its movement or defenses. Immediately following the initial hit, Vampire bomber drones carrying explosive payloads were used to finish the job. The payloads were dropped with high precision, leaving the system completely destroyed.

Defense Express also highlighted a previous strike by the Kryma reconnaissance group of the 14th Separate UAV Regiment. That team guided a HIMARS strike onto a North Korean Koksan self-propelled gun used by Russian forces. The operation destroyed the weapon and killed six crew members.

Thermobaric weapons

A thermobaric munition, also called aerosol or vacuum ammunition, is a type of explosive that works by dispersing an aerosol cloud of gas, liquid, or powdered explosive before igniting it. It uses the effect of a volumetric explosion of an aerosol cloud of flammable substance. These weapons are designed to produce enhanced temperature and pressure compared to conventional explosives and are often referred to as fuel-air explosives.

Russia's move follows Trump's nuclear messaging

The Dutch government has committed €500 million in Dutch funding for Patriot missile systems and components for Kyiv, becoming the first NATO country to directly purchase US-made weapons for Ukraine’s defense. The move, announced by Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans on 4 August, comes as Russia escalates its ongoing air attacks on Ukrainian civilians.

Netherlands funds US Patriots as Russia escalates air strikes

On 4 August, Brekelmans posted on X that “Ukraine needs more air defence and ammunition now,” and stated the Netherlands would supply “as the first NATO ally” a €500 million package of US-made weapons, including Patriot missile components and ammunition. The minister said this would help Ukraine defend itself and the rest of Europe against Russian aggression.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the decision, saying it would “help save lives.” He discussed the aid with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and linked the move to practical outcomes of the recent NATO summit held in The Hague.

“This is the first such step among NATO countries at a time when Russia is trying to scale up its strikes. It will definitely help protect the lives of our people,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram.

Zelenskyy praises timing and scale of Dutch funding for Patriot

Zelenskyy described the €500 million deal as a “substantial contribution” and thanked the Netherlands for contributing to a stronger “air shield” for both Ukraine and Europe. He said his conversation with Prime Minister Schoof confirmed Dutch leadership on military aid to Kyiv.

The president also thanked NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for what he called “determination to strengthen our defense.” He added that Ukraine was expecting Schoof to visit soon.

The US, China, and Russia are competing to build the first nuclear reactor on the Moon. If Beijing and Moscow succeed ahead of Washington, they could declare parts of the Moon a “restricted zone,” potentially limiting American access, warned US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, The New York Times reports. 

China and Russia are planning to install the reactor by the mid-2030s as part of a joint effort to construct a permanent lunar base.

NASA accelerates its lunar nuclear program

In response, Washington is ramping up efforts to deploy its own nuclear power plant on the Moon. According to a new NASA directive:

• A program leader must be appointed within 30 days.
• A request for commercial proposals must be issued within 60 days.
• The reactor must generate at least 100 kilowatts of electricity — enough to power ~80 American homes.
• Target operational date: end of 2029.

Why nuclear?

A single lunar “day” lasts about 28 Earth days, which means 14 days of light, followed by 14 days of complete darkness. This makes solar power unreliable, especially for continuous life-support operations. A nuclear reactor offers constant, reliable energy, even during the long lunar night.

In 2022, NASA signed three $5 million contracts for early nuclear reactor prototypes, but the new directive calls for faster, larger-scale development.

What’s next?

The first Artemis crewed landing is tentatively scheduled for 2027, though many experts are skeptical about that timeline. Many of the essential components, including the lunar landing module Starship, which SpaceX is developing, have not yet been tested. The Trump administration wants to transition to using commercial rockets and spacecraft instead of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule, which NASA has been working on for over a decade.

A reactor would be useful for long-term stays on the Moon, especially during the two-week-long nights, but NASA’s plans do not specify when a lunar base might be built. 

Thousands of lives at stake. In a column for The Washington Post, Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office Andrii Yermak asserted that this week, US political will could bring end to Russia’s war — by targeting its energy and financial lifelines.

Yermak called for immediate and forceful sanctions against Russia, stressing that US President Donald Trump’s recent ultimatum, reducing the window for a peace deal from 50 to 10 days, was a clear and powerful message to the Kremlin.

“These signals need to be followed up with decisive action for the war to end,” Yermak said, emphasizing Ukraine’s support for Trump’s firm stance on peace through strength — “the only language Putin understands.”

Sanctions needed: Rosatom, Gazprombank, and the shadow fleet 

Yermak detailed a series of urgent sanctions Ukraine is calling for:

• Rosatom and Roscosmos: Strategic instruments of war that must face full-scale sanctions.
• Gazprombank: Still connected to SWIFT — must be cut off, alongside other smaller banks helping Russia evade restrictions.
• Microchips and Electronics: An embargo on components Russia obtains via China and Central Asia, fueling its drone and missile production.
• The Shadow Fleet: Sanctions on tankers and operators circumventing oil price caps — a crucial step to collapse Putin’s war financing.

“The tools to stop Russia exist. What is needed is the political will to use them with precision and force,” Yermak stated.

He highlighted the urgent need for targeted pressure, noting that the global community has the levers to stop the Kremlin’s military machine but only if wielded with precision and bold leadership.

US Trump’s oil tariffs rattled the Kremlin

Yermak praised Trump’s move to raise tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, calling it “a great first step” that caused panic in Moscow, and stressed that more must follow.

He also voiced support for the bipartisan bill by Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, which would impose secondary sanctions on third-country firms aiding Russia’s war economy.

“Thousands of lives depend on the success of what follows,” Yermak concluded.