Exclusive

Ukraine’s missile crews are valuable targets now. Ukraine’s Neptunes and other long-range cruise missiles pose a growing threat. So Russia is targeting them on the ground.

Military

Ukraine strikes Russian underground chemical plant storing military explosives 1000+ km away. Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate targeted the Aleksinsky Chemical Plant storing pyroxylin powder used in ammunition and artillery systems.

Frontline report: Ukrainian tanks destroy Russian infiltrators point-blank after river crossing near Lyman. Geolocated footage captured the entire sequence as thermal drones monitored a Ukrainian tank systematically destroying each building where Russians had taken shelter

Ukraine hits oil refineries in Krasnodar Krai and Samara Oblast – General Staff. Ukrainian drones struck oil refineries producing 11.5 mn tons annually in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai and Samara Oblast overnight, with one facility suffering a 300-square-meter fire

Intelligence and technology

US approves possible sale of Patriot spare parts and Starlink services to Ukraine. Ukraine will receive $179.1 mn in Patriot air defense sustainment support, with an additional $150 mn authorized for Starlink satellite communications services.

International

Lithuanian forces install anti-tank “dragon teeth” barriers at Russian and Belarusian border crossings amid invasion threats. The Lithuanian initiative forms part of a broader regional strategy involving Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland, aimed at reducing land invasion threats following Russia’s 2022 full-scale aggression in Ukraine.

Trump doubts on near-term Putin-Zelenskyy meeting despite his previous optimism to end war quickly. The US president once again compared Russo-Ukrainian war to playground children who “have to fight for a little bit before you can get them to stop.”

Trump eyes mercenaries for Ukraine as European allies demand American backing. American contractors would build fortifications and protect business interests under emerging peace framework.

German Navy inspector warns of growing Russian aggression. Russian units are showing “increased aggressiveness” through drone overflights, infiltration attempts, and sabotage efforts targeting German military infrastructure, the country’s navy inspector warned

Poland deports 15 Ukrainians citing “threats to public safety”. Poland expelled 15 Ukrainian citizens and banned them from re-entering the country for five to ten years following convictions for theft, robbery, drug possession.

Poland works to regulate status of Ukrainians as Polish president blocks protection extension. Nearly 1 mn Ukrainian citizens in Poland face potential legal uncertainty after President Karol Nawrocki blocked legislation extending their temporary protection

Estonia extradites Estonian Russian who helped Russia buy electronics to the United States. An Estonian national accused of operating a complex procurement network for Russian military interests was transferred to US custody this week

Humanitarian and social impact

“No laws or morals in Russian army”: Ukrainian drones document alleged execution of unarmed civilian by Russian soldier near frontline Pokrovsk. Ukraine’s aerial reconnaissance captured the killing of an elderly man “clearly visible in civilian clothes and without weapons.”

Russia claims it only targets “military objects” in Ukraine. But recent Russian strike killed toddler born during war and her mom. Moscow’s assertion of targeting exclusively military and defense industry facilities in Ukraine contrasts with the death of civilians spanning ages from toddlers to elderly residents.

Zaporizhzhia blackout affects 25,000 residents after Russian strike. Power outages affected 25,000 subscribers in Zaporizhzhia following a Russian attack that killed one person and injured 28 others

Political and legal developments

Ukraine Parliament ex-speaker Parubiy shot dead in Lviv. Former Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy was shot and killed around midday on 30 Aug. in Lviv, with the assailant reportedly disguised as a delivery courier,

Read our earlier daily review here.

Lithuanian military forces have positioned concrete anti-tank obstacles known as “dragon’s teeth” at several border control points with Russia and Belarus as part of planned defensive measures.

The barriers were installed on roads at unused border crossing points, while at operational checkpoints the obstacles were placed in accessible locations nearby for rapid deployment when needed, according to Lithuanian news agency LRT, citing an announcement from the Lithuanian army.

The military stated that no modifications were made to existing road infrastructure, ensuring that current traffic conditions remain unaffected for residents.

“The installed barriers are only part of a large integrated picture,” said Lithuanian Armed Forces Commander General Raimundas Vaikšnoras. “We start from the tactical level — specific obstacles at the border — and then we will combine the entire engineering scenario into one conceptual system.”

Lithuanian military officials characterized the work as part of a scheduled implementation of counter-mobility measures designed for the planned Baltic Defense Line. This initiative represents a coordinated long-term strategy involving all Baltic states [Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia] and Poland aimed at reducing land invasion threats and limiting potential hostile actions on territory.

Lithuania’s relations with Russia in decline

Lithuania’s relations with Russia deteriorated sharply following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The country condemned the invasion, expelled Russian diplomats, closed the Russian consulate in Klaipėda, and imposed sanctions on Russia. Lithuania also temporarily blocked Russian cargo transit to an exclave of Kaliningrad and ceased purchasing Russian gas entirely.

Recently, Lithuania has also withdrawn from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines and plans to begin domestic production next year. Deputy Defense Minister Karolis Aleksa indicated the country will spend hundreds of millions of euros to produce tens of thousands of mines for defensive purposes, with plans to supply both Lithuania and Ukraine.

The country joins Finland and other Eastern European NATO members in exiting the treaty due to security concerns about Russia, which never signed the agreement. Officials stated the mines will be stored for rapid deployment if threatened rather than creating peacetime minefields.

President Trump doesn’t think Putin and Zelenskyy will sit down together anytime soon. The two leaders aren’t ready, he told the Daily Caller in a 29 August interview.

When asked whether trilateral negotiations involving himself, Zelensky, and Putin would proceed, Trump indicated that timing remains uncertain.

“Sometimes people are not ready for this,” the president stated, according to the Daily Caller report.

Trump employed his previous analogy comparing the two leaders to children in conflict, describing them as figures who “hate each other” on a playground, swinging and fighting until exhaustion forces them to stop.

“Sometimes they have to fight a little before you can make them stop. But this has been going on for a long time. A lot of people are dead,” Trump said.

This marks a shift from Trump’s earlier confidence. After meeting Putin in Alaska on 15 August, he “really thought” the war could end quickly. Not anymore. Ukraine and Russia may need to “fight a little more” first.

Earlier, Trump rated his three-hour meeting with Putin in Alaska a perfect 10 out of 10, despite no deal being reached to end the Russo-Ukrainian war. He emphasized that the meeting went well personally, saying, “We got along great,” but acknowledged that not all issues were settled and there was no agreement on reaching peace anytime soon. 

No American troops for Ukraine as security guarantee

The president also ruled out American boots on Ukrainian soil as part of any peace deal. But he outlined a different kind of commitment—possible air support to help end the fighting.

He noted that European forces would handle most operations, with American assistance. 

European officials are actively working on plans to deploy British and French troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees following any ceasefire, known as the “Coalition of the willing,” with about ten countries ready to participate.

The European plan involves two stages: initially, European troops would be stationed away from frontlines to train Ukrainian forces and provide reinforcements, acting as military advisors rather than a symbolic presence.

Next, the US would contribute intelligence sharing, border monitoring, additional weapons, and possibly air defense systems, continuing to supply military aid through European partners even without direct American troop deployment.

Zelenskyy previously rejected Trump’s playground metaphor with sharp words:

Putin is “a killer who came to this park to kill children.”

Fighters from Ukraine’s 1st National Guard Corps “Azov” have released drone footage showing what they describe as the execution of an unarmed elderly civilian by Russian forces in Pokrovsk district, Donetsk Oblast, on 28 August.

According to the Azov unit, aerial reconnaissance captured the incident in which a Russian soldier shot and killed an elderly man in his yard. The military unit published the video evidence on their official Telegram channel.

“It is clearly visible that the person was in civilian clothes and without weapons,” the Azov fighters stated in their announcement. 

The unit emphasized that the alleged act constitutes a direct violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons during times of war and armed conflict. 

The Ukrainian forces identified the alleged perpetrator as a serviceman from the 95th separate rifle regiment of the 5th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 51st army of the Russian Armed Forces, according to their intelligence.

The Azov unit characterized the incident as “another proof that for the Russian army there exist neither laws nor morals,” though this represents their assessment rather than an independent verification.

This incident fits within a documented pattern of executions carried out by Russian forces against both civilians and Ukrainian soldiers in frontline zones and occupied territories.

Russian soldiers have been recorded executing civilians often under suspicion of collaboration with Ukrainian forces or information sharing. These killings sometimes occur as collective punishment following attacks on Russian positions, with troops assuming local residents aided Ukrainian forces.

International observers have also documented hundreds of executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs), including footage showing captured soldiers killed shortly after surrender.

These documented executions serve multiple purposes according to military analysts, including intimidation tactics, retaliation against resistance, and attempts to undermine Ukrainian military and civilian morale. 

Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate conducted a nighttime attack on an underground explosives warehouse at the Aleksinsky Chemical Plant in Russia’s Tula Oblast on 30 August, according to various reports of Ukrainian news agencies.

The targeted facility stored pyroxylin powder, a smokeless powder used in small arms ammunition, artillery systems, and certain rocket engines, according to Hromadske.

Residents of Aleksin in Tula Oblast, located over 1000 km (621 miles) from Ukraine, reported hearing loud explosions before emergency services dispatched fire trucks and ambulances to the scene.

The regional governor confirmed “drone debris falling on the territory of an industrial enterprise” but stated there were no casualties or damage at the site.

However, the emergency response and reported explosions suggest the operation achieved its intended impact on the military supply facility.

The Aleksinsky Chemical Plant represents a repeat target for Ukrainian forces, having previously sustained attacks in January 2025. This pattern reflects Ukraine’s sustained campaign against Russian military supply infrastructure.

Oil refineries targeted on the same night

The 30 August chemical plant strike occurred alongside Ukrainian attacks on two Russian oil refineries the same night. Ukrainian defense forces targeted the Krasnodar refinery in Krasnodar Krai and the Sizran refinery in Samara Oblast using unmanned aerial vehicles, according to the General Staff of Ukraine.

The Krasnodar refinery, which produces 3 million tons of light petroleum products annually and “participates in supplying the Russian Armed Forces,” sustained damage to one technological installation and a fire covering approximately 300 square meters.

The Sizran refinery processes 8.5 million tons annually and produces gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation kerosene, fuel oil, and bitumen.

Russian army General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov announced that Moscow plans to continue delivering massive strikes “exclusively against military targets” in Ukraine, according to his summary of combat operations for the spring-summer period.

However, the pattern of near-daily strikes on Ukrainian cities has consistently resulted in missiles, drones, and their debris hitting civilian areas and non-military infrastructure, producing significant casualty tolls that include children.

“According to the General Staff’s plan, targeted massive fire strikes continue exclusively against military targets and military-industrial complex facilities in Ukraine,” Gerasimov stated.

He added that Russian forces conduct some attacks jointly with the Federal Security Service (FSB) and will continue offensive operations within their stated military objectives.

According to Russian military reports, the priority is given to facilities producing missile systems and long-range unmanned aerial vehicles. 

These announcements come as US President Donald Trump recently expressed optimism about potential diplomatic progress following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska in mid-August 2025. Trump indicated that Putin appeared interested in reaching a peace agreement regarding Ukraine, with many points reportedly agreed upon though no final deal was announced. 

Russian strike killed a little girl born during full-scale war

Russian diplomatic rhetoric contrasts sharply with the reality on the ground, as evidenced by the 28 August attack on Kyiv that resulted in 25 confirmed deaths, according to President Zelenskyy. Russian forces used 31 missiles and 598 drones in the overnight assault, with damage recorded across nearly all districts of the capital.

Among the casualties were four children, including two-year-old Anhelina and her 24-year-old mother Nadiia Yakymenko.

According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the youngest victim “was born under Russian shelling in October 2022 and died from Russian shelling in August 2025.”

Civilian lives Russian aggression took

Other victims included 14-year-old Nazariy Koval, a school student, and 17-year-old Maryna Gryshko, a college student.

“This girl was a gentle, bright and creative personality, open to the world and people. She knew how to give kindness, inspire those around her with her talent and sincerity. For her classmates and teachers, she will forever remain a bright ray of joy and kindness,” the college statement about Maryna’s death noted.

Yana Shapoval, whose family resided on the top floor of a five-story residential building that was destroyed in the bombardment, was also killed in the attack. Her husband was critically injured and required hospitalization while their 11-year-old son Maksym sustained a fractured arm.

The strikes also damaged multiple civilian and diplomatic facilities, including the European Union representation building, the British Council office, and media outlets including Ukrainska Pravda and Radio Liberty. Transportation infrastructure was also affected, with damage to postal facilities and railway equipment.

Following the attack, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the strike as “successful” while simultaneously claiming Moscow’s continued interest in peace negotiations. The European Union summoned Russia’s ambassador in response, and Ukraine called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting.

Donald Trump is negotiating with European allies to deploy American private military contractors to Ukraine as part of long-term security guarantees, offering a workaround to his campaign promise against stationing US troops in the country, The Telegraph reports.

The contractor plan forms part of a comprehensive European-led security framework involving thousands of troops, air policing missions, and Black Sea naval operations that European officials say cannot proceed without American intelligence, logistics, and command support.

Final details of the comprehensive security framework could be announced as soon as this weekend, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicating that specifics are imminent.

Any proposals are likely to face Russian objection, but Trump has reportedly told European leaders that Vladimir Putin is open to Western allies offering Ukraine security guarantees. 

American contractors could build Ukraine’s defensive lines

The Telegraph reported that US contractors would help rebuild Ukraine’s front-line defenses, construct new military bases.

The American president signaled willingness to support what could become one of the most significant overseas missions since the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Front-line fortifications and nearby bases would be built by American private military contractors using methods deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, The Telegraph reported, citing European officials.

“The principal aim is to demonstrate to the Ukrainians that we would be in the fight with you if Russia re-invades,” one official told the publication.

Multi-layered defense framework takes shape

The Telegraph outlined a comprehensive three-tier security structure under negotiation between Western allies.

The first line of defense would involve Ukrainian soldiers defending a reinforced border at frozen front lines, with discussions ongoing about a demilitarized buffer zone extending 20 kilometers on either side of the contact line. 

US intelligence support for both Ukrainian forces and any peacekeeping mission is considered highly likely, while NATO or US command of peacekeeping operations remains under negotiation.

Behind Ukrainian forces, a European-led peacekeeping force would provide secondary deterrence, with thousands of European troops stationed deeper in Ukraine. 

Ukrainian forces would continue receiving training from British, French, and other European militaries under arrangements considered highly likely to proceed.

The final backstop would involve US fighter jets and missiles positioned in neighboring countries like Poland or Romania to deter Russian attacks against forces in Ukraine. 

American heavy-lift aircraft would transport European equipment into Ukraine, while a staged approach would reopen Ukrainian airports from west to east as confidence in ceasefire arrangements builds.

European peace plan still needs US backing

The contractor deployment forms part of a broader European-led security framework that includes air policing missions, naval operations in the Black Sea, and training programs moved to Ukrainian soil.

European officials said the presence of American contractors would provide a “major boost” because it puts American passport holders on the ground, creating a deterrent effect against Russian attacks due to fear of US retaliation.

A Whitehall source told The Telegraph that private American contractors “puts American ‘boots’ […] on the ground, which is then effectively the deterrent to Putin.”

The European reassurance force was previously discussed as a 30,000-troop deployment but has been scaled back due to resource limitations and concerns it could appear “too muscular” to Putin, sources said.

US support requirements expose European gaps

Despite European leadership of the security framework, American support remains essential for intelligence, logistics, and command structures. 

European nations lack the satellite capabilities needed to monitor any ceasefire and require US heavy-lift aircraft to transport equipment and troops.

The Pentagon has discussed positioning US General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s top commander, to oversee deployments under the peace plan. 

The White House has already approved his involvement in military planning, which European allies view as one of the greatest signs of Trump’s support for security guarantees.

European governments have requested Trump station fighter jets and missiles in neighboring Poland or Romania to respond to Russian aggression against their forces in Ukraine. 

“The prospect of an American military response is an entirely different prospect to a European response,” one source said.

Business interests drive contractor discussions

The contractor talks coincide with the signing of a joint US-Ukraine deal to extract Ukraine’s vast rare earth mineral wealth. 

Using private contractors would allow Trump to champion another business deal while addressing concerns among his supporters who oppose foreign military intervention.

Russian opposition threatens framework implementation

Russia dismissed Western security guarantee proposals as “one-sided” and “designed to contain Russia” on Friday, adding to European skepticism about Moscow’s willingness to agree to any ceasefire.

Many European officials believe Putin is misleading Trump and prolonging the war to gain more territory, according to The Telegraph. 

Putin’s reluctance to agree to a ceasefire led Trump to withdraw economic incentives previously offered to Russia, including access to Alaska’s natural resources and sanctions relief.

The comprehensive peace plan details could be announced as soon as this weekend, following weeks of diplomatic activity sparked by Trump’s Alaska talks with Putin.

Exclusive

Ukraine’s missile crews are valuable targets now. Ukraine’s Neptunes and other long-range cruise missiles pose a growing threat. So Russia is targeting them on the ground.

Ukraine’s railway crisis threatens EU reconstruction investments. Passengers boarding Ukrainian trains this autumn encounter women-only compartments, accessibility-friendly carriages, and railway-branded merch.

Military

Another “Triumf” fails: Ukrainian drone turns Russian air defense radar in occupied Crimea into scrap. The 91N6E radar, part of Russia’s S-400 anti-air missile system, was hit last night in the Russian-occupied peninsula.

Reuters: Ukraine’s drone strikes force Russia’s Ust-Luga oil port to halve operations in September

. Pipeline damage limits the terminal to 350,000 barrels per day, according to two Reuters sources.

Intelligence and technology

Denmark to spend about $ 1.6 bn this year on weapons production by Ukrainian defense industry. Danish Defense Minister announced $1.6 bn in Ukrainian weapons contracts, favoring manufacturers who deliver “in months, not years” over European competitors.

New Finnish and Polish “green” strategy could sink Russian tanks before they even cross borders. As Russia builds conventional forces, NATO allies discover their most effective barriers might be wetlands that disappeared decades ago.

International

Russia still demands Ukraine’s total elimination, despite Trump’s deadline for Moscow, which expires in three days. While Trump promoted his ability to quickly negotiate peace, Moscow’s identical capitulation terms suggest Putin views the deadline as irrelevant to his war objectives.

Merz: Ukraine war could last “many months” as Putin blocks two-week summit plan. Vladimir Putin is employing his characteristic delaying tactics to avoid Ukraine peace talks, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said

Merz and Macron call for secondary sanctions against Russia’s supporters

. Germany and France announced plans to target companies from third countries that support Russia’s war machine through oil purchases

Trump cuts $ 5 bn foreign aid without Congressional vote, Ukrainian art program included. A $1.5 mn program promoting Ukrainian women’s artwork sits among nearly $5 bn in foreign aid programs that President Trump moved to eliminate.

Zelenskyy details three-pillar security framework as Ukraine pushes West for concrete guarantees. Military support, NATO backing, and sanctions define security requirements; Russia objects.

Yermak meets Trump envoy Witkoff in New York, discusses Ukraine war crimes. Andriy Yermak extended an invitation for Trump’s special representative Steve Witkoff to visit Ukraine following their talks in New York

Humanitarian and social impact

Ukraine convenes emergency meeting of UN Security Council due to deadly Russian attack on Kyiv. Ukraine has convened an emergency UN Security Council meeting for tonight following a Russian attack on Kyiv that killed 23 civilians, including 4 children

Over 10,000 bodies of fallen defenders returned to Ukraine this year. Ukraine’s network of 23 specialized laboratories has begun the complex task of identifying over 10,000 bodies of fallen defenders repatriated in 2025, requiring up to 14 months of forensic work

Kherson’s mayor who survives dog attacks and mock executions, reveals how he stayed loyal to his homeland in Russian captivity

. While Russia presented collaboration as survival, Mykolaienko refused to do it, despite enduring torture three times per day.

Kyiv rescue teams free 17 from rubble as Russia launches massive attack, 8 missing. Rescue operations concluded in Kyiv after 30 hours following a Russian missile strike that killed 23 people, including four children

Political and legal developments

For first time, Ukraine legally defines rashism as totalitarian ideology combining Russian communist and Nazi practices. The legislation provides legal tools other democracies could adopt to counter authoritarian influence operations, transforming ideological warfare from propaganda to prosecutable crime.

Russia rejects Western security guarantees for Ukraine as “strategic provocateur” threat. Moscow warns European proposals risk escalating conflict days before Ukraine finalizes comprehensive framework with allies.

Secret document exposes Hungary’s government-level scheme to export Russian aircraft as European. While Orbán publicly frames his positions as peace advocacy, leaked documents reveal systematic coordination with Russia’s military-industrial complex.

Read our earlier daily review here.

Day 1283

On 29 August, the biggest news comes from Ukraine.

Russians are sending their infiltration groups across the river, threatening a breakthrough that Russian commanders had long sought after. However, before they could receive orders to hit Ukrainians from behind, Ukrainian tanks rolled up and started annihilating Russian assault units point-blank.

The main Russian goal here is to take control of the town of Lyman, as the strategic location will serve as a stepping stone for future operations. If captured, Lyman would serve as a forward operating base for three major offensives: a pincer to trap Ukrainian forces along the Oskil river, a southern strike to outflank Siversk, and a push deeper into Donetsk toward the last Ukrainian stronghold of fortified settlements before the terrain opens into vulnerable plains.

To do any of this though, Russia first needs to breach Ukrainian positions east of Lyman and secure a reliable crossing point over the Zherebets River, as the battles for Torske and Zarichne unfold. Russian forces have advanced on two settlements from three sides: using small unit infiltration tactics rather than large-scale assaults. Larger attacks have ended in disaster like a recent 25-strong motorcycle charge near Torske, which was destroyed by artillery and drones. The result is a series of grinding Russian probing assaults, with Russian troops attempting to sneak across terrain and establish a foothold before being detected. Ukrainian forces have responded with an active defense, flexible positions, mobile counterattacks, and deliberate withdrawals to avoid major casualties. As a result, Torske is currently a grey zone where no side holds full control, Ukrainian commanders are prioritizing maintaining long-term combat strength over a static defense.

Both sides have key advantages here, as Russian units have managed to establish a stable infiltration corridor through the Serebryanskyi forest, which allows small detachments to cross into the area around Zarichne with some level of cover.

Meanwhile, Ukraine maintains an advantage through its rapid reaction capabilities, allowing it to strike back before Russian units can consolidate. Thermal drones monitor positions, and armored units are held ready for quick strikes once a Russian presence is detected, with Russian drone operators unable to quickly respond and intercept.

Geolocated footage shows how Russian troops infiltrated through the forest and entered houses on the edge of the village. Ukraine responded by dispatching a tank to eliminate the group, firing four high-explosive shells in direct fire to blow up each of the buildings and any Russians inside. Ukrainian thermal drones monitored the entire exchange, and no follow-up footage was released, suggesting the tank successfully eliminated the entire group.

Based on the size and number of the infiltrated buildings, and the standard size of Russian groupings that gather before committing to assaults, between 20 and 30 Russians were likely killed. The tactic of rapid armored response under thermal cover is extremely effective, exactly because Russian drone and artillery units do not have enough time to rapidly respond and destroy the tank.

Ukrainian forces have also laid down layered passive defenses, including razorwire barriers, and these are meant to delay infiltrators just long enough for drone operators to locate and eliminate them with strikes of their own. In one recent incident, a Russian soldier became entangled in Egoza-type razorwire and was eliminated by a drone while immobilized, illustrating how Ukraine pairs static defenses with real-time drone surveillance and immediate strike responses, keeping most Russian infiltrators from ever establishing a foothold.

Overall, the battle for Lyman continues to evolve, and Russia’s goals are clear: take the city and turn it into a launchpad for a tri-pronged offensive across northern Donetsk. For now though, Russia is struggling to even cross the Zherebets River in enough force to make a dent. Ukrainian forces are using active defense tactics, armored counters, and thermal drone coverage to keep the front fluid and prevent Russian forces from consolidating gains. As road conditions worsen heading into autumn, Russia’s window for launching a full-scale assalt is narrowing.

In our regular frontline report, we pair up with the military blogger Reporting from Ukraine to keep you informed about what is happening on the battlefield in the Russo-Ukrainian war

Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, Inspector of the German Navy, has warned of “increased aggressiveness” from Russian units and their potential consequences, according to Spiegel as reported by Evropeyska Pravda.

“There are drone overflights, we have infiltration attempts, sabotage attempts,” Kaack said, Deutschlandfunk reported on 30 August. He added that Bundeswehr soldiers are being specifically contacted outside of duty hours, alongside threats to maritime infrastructure.

The warning comes after The New York Times reported that Russia or Russian supporters are using reconnaissance drones to monitor routes in eastern Germany used by the US and allies to transport military cargo to Ukraine, citing sources from US agencies and other Western states.

Kaack emphasized the risk of unintended escalation. “All this also carries the danger that there could be an escalation by accident,” he said. The navy has significantly strengthened its security measures in response, with precise rules of engagement designed to prevent such scenarios.

“We are working to better protect these bases in the air, underwater and above water, including with our own drone systems,” the inspector stated. Reports about increased flights of Russian spy drones serve as “a small wake-up call that we need to do more,” according to Kaack.

“The services assume that by 2029 at the latest, a potential adversary would be ready to cause trouble,” the Vice Admiral said, referring to intelligence findings. “And we want to prevent that by being defense-ready and capable of deterrence.” This applies to the Baltic Sea region as well.

In recent months, underwater cables have been repeatedly damaged by ships dragging anchors across the seabed. Ships from Russia’s so-called shadow fleet are primarily blamed for such incidents, though Chinese vessels have also faced accusations.

The German military has documented escalating drone activity throughout 2024. In February, German forces detected suspicious drones over a base where Ukrainian soldiers were training and investigated possible espionage. In May, unofficial reports indicated unknown drones circled near a German police patrol vessel in the North Sea that was monitoring a Russian cargo ship.

By early July, German government agencies finally began acquiring countermeasures against unknown drones occasionally spotted near sensitive facilities. In early August, reports indicated that 536 drones were detected over important facilities in Germany between January and March of this year.

Kaack praised the planned military service model approved by the cabinet on Wednesday. He expressed confidence that the planned voluntary military service solution would massively help the navy address its recruitment problems. “The new military service will be the game-changer,” Kaack said.

The inspector acknowledged being “always a friend of military conscription” but noted that the time since conscription was suspended in 2011 cannot be undone. The Bundeswehr will need time to restore capabilities abandoned at that time. The goal is to develop into a training navy that massively and regularly inspires large numbers of young people to commit for longer periods. “And that also takes time,” he said.

The German Navy is also investing in new equipment for enhanced security. The first Boeing Poseidon P-8 reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled for delivery in September, Kaack announced. Eight aircraft of this type have been ordered so far, with four additional orders under discussion. The navy will also soon have an underwater drone at its disposal.

However, Kaack warned that complete protection would never be possible.

Former Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) Andriy Parubiy was shot and killed in Lviv on 30 August, according to confirmation from Lviv Oblast Governor Maksym Kozytskyi.

The victim died at the scene from his injuries, police confirmed. The National Police reported that the shooting occurred around noon in the Sykhiv district of the city at 12 pm.

“Sincere condolences to the family of the deceased,” Kozytskyi wrote.

The assailant who shot at Parubiy was dressed as a delivery service courier, Suspilne sources report.

The manhunt for the shooter continues across the Lviv Oblast, with all security services mobilized for the search operation.

President Zelenskyy confirmed Parubiy’s death, with Interior Minister Klymenko and Prosecutor General Kravchenko briefing on the initial circumstances of the killing.

The incident marks another high-profile killing in Lviv, following the July 2024 assassination of former MP Iryna Farion in the same city.

The 54-year-old politician served as Speaker of Ukraine’s parliament from April 2016 to August 2019 and played a key role during the 2014 Ukrainian revolution as Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council. 

Parubiy gained prominence during the 2013-2014 Euromaidan protests as commandant of the tent camp and head of self-defense detachments. During the February 2014 revolution, after the ousting of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, Parubiy led forces that took control of the government quarter in Kyiv, including the Verkhovna Rada, Presidential Administration, Cabinet of Ministers, and Interior Ministry buildings.

Poland’s border guard has expelled 15 Ukrainian nationals from the country, citing repeated criminal convictions and threats to public order, according to RMF 24 and official statements from Polish authorities.

The expelled citizens had been repeatedly convicted of theft, robbery, and driving under the influence, reports the border guard service. 

“The persons covered by the procedure were repeatedly punished for crimes and misdemeanors. These include possession of narcotic and psychotropic substances, theft, robbery, forgery, driving vehicles while intoxicated, as well as organizing illegal crossing of the Polish border,” the border guard reported in an official communication.

One individual was already listed in the registry of persons whose stay in Poland is considered undesirable, according to the border service announcement. The authorities placed all expelled individuals on this registry and imposed re-entry bans ranging from five to ten years.

The Ministry of Interior Affairs defended the deportations through spokesperson Karolina Gałecka, who emphasized Poland’s stance on law enforcement regardless of nationality.

“Poland is a country friendly and open to foreigners. However, there is no and will never be consent to breaking the law by them, regardless of the country of origin. The Ministry of Interior Affairs services will firmly respond in cases of violations of our legal order,” Gałecka said.

The deportations represent part of a broader enforcement pattern. Since the beginning of 2025, 1,100 foreigners have been forcibly expelled from Poland, the ministry reported.

The border guard cited national security concerns as the primary justification for the expulsions, pointing to the individuals’ criminal histories spanning drug possession, property crimes, document fraud, and human trafficking activities related to border crossings.

As of February, the Office for Foreigners reported nearly 1 million Ukrainian citizens, predominantly women and children, using temporary protection in Poland. A total of 1.55 million Ukrainians held valid residence permits.

Ukrainians represent the largest foreign population in Poland, comprising 78% of all foreigners who have settled in the country, according to official data.

The State Department has approved a potential $179.1 million Foreign Military Sale to Ukraine for Patriot Air Defense System sustainment equipment and services, according to an announcement from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency on 29 August.

The package includes classified and unclassified spare parts, maintenance support, software updates, system modifications, test equipment, and communication accessories. Additional components cover integration services, repair capabilities, technical assistance, training programs, and engineering support.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” the State Department stated in its transmittal notice.

The deal aims to enhance Ukraine’s air defense capabilities through sustained operational readiness of existing Patriot systems. RTX Corporation of Arlington, Virginia, and Lockheed Martin of Bethesda, Maryland, will serve as principal contractors for the program.

Implementation requires approximately five US Government representatives and fifteen contractor personnel to travel to US European Command for training and coordination meetings. The State Department emphasized that “there will be no adverse impact on US defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.”

In a separate approval, the State Department authorized a $150 million sale of Starlink satellite communication services and related equipment to Ukraine, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announcement.

The Patriot sustainment package represents ongoing US efforts to maintain Ukraine’s defensive systems rather than expanding its arsenal.

Actual costs may be lower than the estimated $179.1 million depending on final requirements and budget authority. The State Department indicated that “Ukraine will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”

The announcement specified that no offset agreements are currently proposed, though any such arrangements would be negotiated between Ukraine and the contractors. Congress received the required certification notice as part of the standard Foreign Military Sale process.

Poland’s Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed on 29 August that work is underway on new legislation to regulate the legal status of Ukrainian citizens following President Karol Nawrocki’s veto of an amendment that would have extended temporary protection.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Maciej Duszczyk met with Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar on 29 August at the Ukrainian side’s initiative, according to ministry spokesperson Karolina Gałecka.

“The minister informed the Ambassador that the Polish side is working on a bill to regulate the legal situation of Ukrainian citizens. He also presented the Ukrainian side with a schedule of work on the bill,” Gałecka told PAP.

The meeting followed Ambassador Bodnar’s Facebook post stating that “the rights of Ukrainians to stay, work, education, social assistance and medical care in Poland will be guaranteed also after 1 October 2025.”

Bodnar emphasized that Polish officials assured him “the rights of Ukrainian citizens to stay, work, education, social assistance and medical care will be guaranteed also after 1 October 2025,” though some practical issues would require clarification.

The ambassador said that legal uncertainty surrounding Ukrainian lives in Poland had generated significant response in both countries. He added that “Ukrainian citizens who legally reside in Poland will still remain within the legal framework of this state and the entire EU. Even in the case of no new law, transitional solutions will be adopted that will allow avoiding a legal vacuum.”

However, the Polish ministry spokesperson cautioned that “what the legal situation of Ukrainian citizens will look like after 1 October, we will know after the decision of President Karol Nawrocki,” according to PAP.

Presidential veto triggers legislative scramble

President Nawrocki vetoed the amendment to Ukraine assistance law on 25 August. The blocked amendment would have extended temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees until 4 March 2026.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that blocking the legislation could have destructive consequences for Polish companies, reports PAP.

The stakes are considerable for Poland’s economy. According to TVN24, Ukrainian citizens living in Poland contributed approximately 18.7 billion zloty to the Polish budget in 2024 through taxes and insurance contributions. Their presence also boosted Poland’s GDP by over 2% – nearly 99 billion zloty.

Despite the economic impact, polling conducted for Onet portal showed majority Polish support for Nawrocki’s veto decision.

Ukrainian presence in Poland by numbers

As of February, the Office for Foreigners reported nearly 1 million Ukrainian citizens, predominantly women and children, using temporary protection in Poland. A total of 1.55 million Ukrainians held valid residence permits.

Ukrainians represent the largest foreign population in Poland, comprising 78% of all foreigners who have settled in the country, according to official data.

Estonia handed over to the United States an Estonian citizen accused of illegally supplying strategic goods to Russian defense enterprises and government agencies, according to ERR.

Estonian police and border service transferred Estonian citizen Andrey Shevlyakov to the US on 28 August 2025, who faces charges of illegally transporting strategic goods from the US to Russia using complex supply chains and networks of shell companies.

The US has charged Shevlyakov with 18 counts related to acquiring and supplying US electronics to Russia in violation of sanctions. The charges stem from his alleged role in helping Russian government and military entities procure American-made electronics through deceptive practices.

Shevlyakov was added to the Entity List in 2012, after the US government identified him as a procurement agent charged with pursuing US technology for Russian government and military end users. The designation prohibited him from exporting any goods from the US without proper licensing.

According to the report, Shevlyakov was detained in March 2023 in a joint operation by the FBI and Estonia’s Constitutional Protection Service. He remained under electronic surveillance from May 2024 until his extradition. Legal proceedings against Shevlyakov are ongoing in the United States.

Authorities allege Shevlyakov used false names and a web of front companies to evade Entity List restrictions, misleading suppliers and circumventing federal Department of Commerce restrictions and US export controls. The scheme allegedly involved travel between Russia, Estonia and Finland to make deliveries.

When apprehended in Estonia, authorities found inbound shipments that included about 130 kilograms of radio equipment, demonstrating the scale of the alleged operation.

The extradition represents part of Estonia’s broader security efforts. In late May, Estonia expelled and transferred to Ukrainian authorities a Ukrainian citizen who maintained contacts with the Russian FSB. In July, Estonian internal security services expelled a Russian citizen who potentially posed a security threat to the country.

Ukrainian defense forces struck two Russian oil refineries overnight on 30 August using unmanned aerial vehicles, targeting facilities in Krasnodar Krai and Samara Oblast, according to the General Staff of Ukraine.

The strikes hit the Krasnodar refinery in Krasnodar Krai and the Sizran refinery in Samara Oblast. Ukrainian forces conducted the operations “within the framework of reducing the Russian offensive potential and complicating fuel supplies to occupying forces’ military units,” the General Staff reported.

The Krasnodar refinery produces 3 million tons of light petroleum products annually, including gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel, and “participates in supplying the Russian Armed Forces,” according to the General Staff. The facility sustained damage to one technological installation and a fire covering approximately 300 square meters, regional emergency services reported.

According to the regional operational headquarters, due to falling drone debris on the territory of the Krasnodar refinery, one of the technological installations was damaged, a fire occurred over an area of about 300 square meters.

The Sizran refinery was struck for the second time, military officials said. The facility produces gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation kerosene, fuel oil, and bitumen, with processing volumes reaching 8.5 million tons annually as of August 2025, the General Staff reported.

A Ukrainian Neptune cruise missile battery tried to strike targets in southern Russia’s Krasnodar Krai region on Thursday. The strike failed as Russian S-300 air-defense missiles rose to intercept the incoming Neptunes—and then the Russians struck back.

A surveillance drone spotted a truck-mounted Neptune launcher, apparently the same launcher that targeted Krasnodar Krai. An Iskander ballistic missile streaked down, damaging if not destroying the Ukrainian launcher.

The hit on the Neptune battery underscores the risk to Ukrainian forces as they induct new and harder-hitting drones and missiles and escalate their deep strike campaign bombarding Russian factories, air bases, oil refineries and other strategic targets.

Russian troops and key war-industry workers are in growing trouble as the Ukrainian munitions strike farther and harder. But the Ukrainian missile and drone crews aren’t immune to harm. Russia is responding to Ukraine’s deep strike campaign with a counter deep strike campaign.

It’s unclear what the Ukrainian Neptune battery was trying to hit in Krasnodar Krai. There’s no shortage of targets, including air bases, air-defense sites and others. In any event, Russian surface-to-air missile batteries were ready, for once.

While the Russians “can’t defend everywhere,” according to retired US Army general Mark Hertling, they managed to defend Krasnodar Krai on Thursday. Four S-300 long-range SAMs spiraled into the air, swatting down the salvo of Neptunes.

It’s hard to say whether the Neptunes in the attempted raid were the standard 300-km version of the made-in-Ukraine missile or the new 1,000-km “long” version. The Ukrainian navy used standard Neptunes, which are capable of anti-ship and land-attack strikes, to sink the Russian navy cruiser Moskva in April 2022.

Since then, Ukraine has expanded its deployment of the subsonic missile, which packs a 150-kg warhead and may feature satellite and inertial navigation and a radar or infrared seeker. And it has added an even more powerful missile: the Flamingo, which ranges a staggering 3,000 km with a massive 1,000-kg warhead. Its guidance and seeker may be similar to the Long Neptune’s.

Ukraine strikes back

With scores of cruise missiles and thousands of one-way attack drones a month, “Ukraine is increasingly taking the war to Russia now,” American-Ukrainian war correspondent David Kirichenko wrote in a new essay for The Atlantic Council. Drone and missile attacks on Russian oil refineries in recent weeks have throttled Russia’s refining by as much as 14%.

Russia is also waging a deep strike campaign, of course—and with more drones and missiles. But Russia’s drone and missile attacks mostly targets Ukrainian cities in a country of just 233,000 square miles. Ukraine’s drones and missiles target military and industrial targets in a country of 6.6 million square miles.

Between them, the Long Neptune, the Flamingo and Ukraine’s best attack drones should be able to hold at risk roughly half that area.

Ukraine’s air defense problem is hard but simple. Ukrainian defenses must contend with nearly daily raids involving potentially hundreds of drones and missiles, but they can concentrate around the biggest cities that are the Russians’ main targets.

By contrast, Russia’s air defense problem is hard and complex. “The Kremlin simply does not have enough air defense systems to protect thousands of potential military and energy targets spread across 11 time zones,” Kirichenko wrote. In that context, the successful interception of the Neptunes streaking toward Krasnodar Krai may have been an outlier.

And it makes sense for the Russians to target Ukraine’s best cruise missiles “left of the boom.” to borrow a US Army term. It’s better to blast a missile launcher, and kill or injure its crew, than to risk missing a missile after it launches.

Ukrainian missileers should know they’re being hunted. Every time they roll out for a launch, Russian drones will be looking for them—and Russian ballistic missiles will be ready to take aim.

Explore further

Ukraine’s missiles could cut off the $ 9 billion Putin uses to pay soldiers

Two weeks are ticking down. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reminded that US President Donald Trump’s deadline for Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a trilateral meeting is ending this Monday, on 1 September. 

US, Ukraine, and Russia: Will the meeting happen?

During his Washington visit on 19 August, Trump said his administration was ready to organize talks between Zelenskyy and Putin to reach an agreement on ending the war.

“At that time, the president said, ‘We will be ready in a couple of weeks.’ That means two to three weeks from our conversation. I want to remind that two weeks are up on Monday,” Zelenskyy emphasized.

Meanwhile, Putin refuses to engage in negotiations. According to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in this case Russia’s war against Ukraine could continue for “many months.”

Merz: Ukraine war could last “many months” as Putin blocks two-week summit plan

Kyiv under attack: no sign of peace

There is no evidence that Moscow seeks peace. Despite talks of negotiations, Russia continues massive attacks on Ukraine. In the latest strike on Kyiv, all types of weapons were used: Shahed drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. A total of 629 targets targeted the Ukrainian capital. The strike lasted nine hours and killed 25 people, including four children. 

Moscow’s conditions: ultimatum, not peace

Despite the warm Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska, Russia’s demands regarding Ukraine have not changed. Today, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova outlined what Russia calls “peace conditions”:

• Demilitarization of Ukraine,
• Denazification,
• Neutral, non-aligned, and nuclear-free status,
• Recognition of occupied territories,
• Guarantees of rights of the Russian language and the Russian-speaking population, 
• End to persecution of canonical Orthodoxy.

Moscow supposedly offers “security guarantees” only after these conditions are met. In reality, these demands are mutually exclusive and would mean the elimination of an independent Ukraine.

For the first time in history, Ukraine has legally defined “rashism.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed the Law “On the Fundamentals of State Policy of National Memory of the Ukrainian People,” which officially defines the concept behind Russia’s military aggression. 

The document establishes the legal foundations for preserving national memory and countering the ideology of the aggressor state.

What is rashism under Ukrainian law?

According to the text, rashism is a type of totalitarian ideology and practice that forms the basis of Russia’s Nazi-style totalitarian regime. It includes traits of Russian chauvinism, imperialism, as well as the practices of both communist and Nazi regimes.

Other key definitions

The law also defines terms such as “War for Ukraine’s Independence,” “crimes against the Ukrainian people,” and “historical anti-Ukrainian propaganda.” This provides a legal framework for clearly interpreting historical events and crimes committed against Ukraine.

National memory strategy

The document stipulates that the Cabinet of Ministers will approve a State Strategy for the Restoration and Preservation of National Memory and an Action Plan for its implementation every five years. The law also regulates rules for naming legal entities and property: names may only be changed after at least 10 years, with certain exceptions.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warns that Russia’s war against Ukraine could continue for “many months” as Vladimir Putin refuses to engage in negotiations, Guardian reported on 29 August.

Merz made these comments during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, questioning Putin’s commitment to peace talks. The German chancellor said that initial discussions centered on organizing a bilateral summit between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy within two weeks, but the Russian leader “clearly unwilling” to proceed with this timeline.

“Frankly, this doesn’t surprise me, because it’s part of the Russian president’s strategy to proceed in the same way,” Merz said.

The chancellor emphasized the need for coordinated action within what he termed the “Coalition of the Willing” to increase pressure on Russia and force Moscow to return to the negotiating table.

Merz’s assessment builds on his recent statements regarding Russian tactics. On 26 August, he suggested that Moscow was deliberately stalling by linking any potential Putin-Zelenskyy meeting to specific conditions. The following day, the German chancellor argued that Ukrainian capitulation would only provide Putin time to prepare for future conflicts.

The comments reflect growing European concern about the prolonged nature of the war and questions about Russian willingness to engage in meaningful diplomatic efforts.

Finland and Poland are considering an unusual but quite real weapon against possible Russian aggression. The countries are planning to restore restore the long-lost boggy floodplain in strategy to create a shield from troops and tanks, while also helping to fight climate change by renewing carbon sinks, Politico reports. 

Bogs as a trap for Russian equipment

Restored peat bogs could stop the advance of Russian armored vehicles and infantry.

“When waterlogged, this terrain represents a dangerous trap for military trucks and tanks,” the report says. 

In a tragic example in 2025, four US soldiers stationed in Lithuania were found dead when they drove their 63-ton M88 Hercules armored vehicle into a bog. 

They disappeared during military exercises at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground in Pabradė, a town located less than 10 km (6 miles) from the Belarusian border.

NATO gains a new natural line of defense

Most European peatlands are concentrated along NATO’s border with Russia and Belarus — from the Finnish Arctic through the Baltic states to eastern Poland. Scientists emphasize that restoring part of the bogs would be a relatively cheap and simple step that combines environmental and defense goals.

Finland and Poland launch pilot projects

Finland’s defense and environment ministries will already begin negotiations this fall on a pilot project to restore peatlands. Poland is also interested in bogs as a barrier: here the initiative fits into the large-scale “Eastern Shield” program, which envisions strengthening the eastern border with networks of fences and obstacles.

Denmark will invest approximately 1.4 billion euros ($1.6 bn) in Ukrainian defense companies this year under the so-called “Danish model,” European Pravda reported on 29 August.

Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced this figure while advocating for expanded implementation of the financing mechanism.

The Danish model involves allied nations funding weapons production needed by Ukraine through Ukrainian enterprises rather than purchasing from their own defense contractors. According to Poulsen, Denmark allocated 600 million euros ($702 mn) in such contracts last year.

“Ukrainian defense industry works very quickly compared to European companies. They can do this in months, not years. And secondly, it is financially efficient,” Poulsen said.

The minister expressed optimism about broader international adoption of this support format. “Today we heard a lot of words of support for doing more through the ‘Danish model,’ so I’m pleased to see that,” he added.

Poulsen emphasized Ukraine’s continued need for increased military assistance, describing it as an urgent requirement. 

The Danish approach represents a shift from traditional military aid models. Instead of donating existing weapons or purchasing equipment from Western manufacturers, participating countries finance production contracts directly with Ukrainian defense firms.

Former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov indicated in June that assistance to Ukraine under the Danish model would reach 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 bn) in 2025. Ukraine regularly calls on partners to increase investments in its defense industrial complex.

The model allows Ukraine to scale up domestic production capabilities while providing allies with a potentially more cost-effective means of supporting Ukrainian defense needs. Danish officials cite the speed of Ukrainian manufacturers as a significant advantage over European alternatives.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans for secondary sanctions targeting companies from third countries that support Russia’s war effort, as European leaders grow impatient with the stalled peace negotiations.

The initiative emerged from a meeting of German and French cabinet members on 29 August, according to Bloomberg. Both leaders called for measures to undermine Russia’s ability to finance its military operations through oil sales.

“We will continue to exert pressure for additional sanctions to be imposed by ourselves — and we are prepared to do so — but also by the US, to force Russia to return to the negotiating table,” Macron said at a joint press conference with Merz at Fort du Cap Brun near Toulon.

The timing reflects mounting frustration with President Donald Trump’s approach to ending the war. Trump’s latest two-week deadline for progress is close to expiring with little visible advancement toward a peace deal. Instead, the Kremlin launched one of its heaviest drone and missile assaults of the year this week, hitting apartment buildings and killing at least four children.

Merz specifically referenced potential US tariffs as a model for action. “In America, right now they’re discussing further tariffs,” he said. “I would welcome it very much if the American government could make a decision on enforcing those on other nations whose purchases of oil and gas finance a large part of Russia’s war economy.”

The Franco-German statement outlined plans to “further extend and develop effective and robust sanctions” through cooperation within the European Union and with Group of Seven partners. The stated goal is to “exert maximum pressure on Russia.”

The EU has already begun preparing secondary sanctions aimed at Russia’s energy sector. These measures target third countries that help the Kremlin circumvent existing penalties, with additional steps planned for Russia’s oil, gas, and financial sectors.

“We are working on the next package, there are several options on the table,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. “Of course, what will hurt them the most is any sanctions on energy and secondary sanctions.”

The EU adopted an anti-circumvention tool in 2023 that prohibits exports, supply, or transfers of certain goods to third countries considered to aid sanctions evasion. However, the bloc has not yet deployed this instrument.

The EU has avoided secondary sanctions, particularly given recent criticism from the Trump administration about such policies. The current push suggests European leaders believe they have reached the limits of direct sanctions against Russia.

Merz has become increasingly vocal about the lack of diplomatic progress. The German leader said on 28 Augusthe no longer expects a meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, despite Trump’s previous suggestions that such talks were possible.

Beyond sanctions, France and Germany agreed to provide Ukraine with “credible security guarantees” that would allow the country to maintain a military “without any limitations” to deter Russia. They also committed to closer defense cooperation and standardizing military equipment between their nations.

The two countries plan to discuss including France’s nuclear weapons in Europe’s overall security architecture, though they postponed a final decision on the troubled FCAS fighter-jet project until year-end.

Kallas indicated broad support among EU defense ministers for expanding the mandate of EU training missions after a ceasefire, allowing training to occur inside Ukraine rather than just outside its borders.

Zelenskyy said he and European leaders will “connect” with Trump next week to discuss security guarantees during meetings where he seeks legally binding commitments from allies as part of peace negotiations.

Macron and Merz plan separate calls with Trump over the weekend, according to Bloomberg.

President Donald Trump moved to cancel nearly $5 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid and peacekeeping spending using a rare “pocket rescission” mechanism not employed for 48 years, The New York Post reported on 29 August.

On 28 August, Trump said Congress of his request to cancel the funds, which had been frozen in a court case until earlier that day. The DC Circuit Court of Appeals lifted an injunction, clearing the path for the first attempted pocket rescission since 1977.

A pocket rescission allows the president to present a cancellation request to Congress so late in the fiscal year that it takes effect regardless of congressional approval. The current fiscal year ends on 30 September.

The cancellation targets $3.2 billion in United States Agency for International Development (USAID) assistance, $322 million from the USAID-State Department Democracy Fund, $521 million in State Department contributions to international organizations, $393 million for peacekeeping activities, and $445 million in separately budgeted peacekeeping aid.

The spending had been designated for nonprofits and foreign governments but was paused earlier this year by the White House Office of Management and Budget, then stuck in legal proceedings following a lawsuit by the Global Health Council.

The Trump administration highlighted what it considers wasteful spending items. These include millions for “climate resilience” in Honduras, for South Africa’s Democracy Works Foundation, and for promotion democracy among LGBT people in the Western Balkans.

The cuts also eliminate $1.5 million designated to market paintings by Ukrainian women.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined three core requirements for Ukraine’s security guarantees on Friday, specifying military support, NATO-level backing, and sustained sanctions against Russia as essential components of any post-war arrangement.

The framework reflects Ukraine’s escalating pressure on Western partners to provide concrete security assurances. Ongoing negotiations with the US and European leaders focus on defining exactly what protections Ukraine would receive and how they would deter future Russian attacks. 

Ukraine defines security architecture

Speaking at a press briefing on 29 August, Zelenskyy detailed the three “key blocks” that must underpin Ukraine’s security framework. 

The first centers on maintaining current military force levels and ensuring weapons supplies through Ukrainian, European, and American production capabilities.

The second pillar focuses on NATO-level agreements with partner countries, establishing their readiness to support Ukraine in case of renewed Russian aggression. 

The third component involves continued sanctions against Russia and the utilization of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts.

Moscow unlikely to accept multilateral protection efforts

Earlier today, Russia signaled flat rejection of current Western security guarantee proposals, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claiming such arrangements would turn Ukraine into a “strategic provocateur” on Russia’s borders. 

Her statement that security guarantees “must take into account Russia’s security interests” effectively demands Moscow have veto power over Ukrainian defense arrangements.

Ukraine has initiated an emergency session of the UN Security Council following Russia’s massive attack on Kyiv and other cities, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha.

The meeting is scheduled for 29 August at 10:00 pm Kyiv time. Ukraine requested the session with support from its partners as a response to the wave of Russian missile and drone strikes that resulted in dozens of civilian casualties, including children.

“The meeting is a response to another massive wave of Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine. These strikes resulted in dozens of casualties among the civilian population, including children,” Sybiha said.

The Foreign Minister called on Security Council members to use the session to express support for Ukraine against Russian terror and increase pressure on the Russian aggressor.

“Only pressure, including new harsh sanctions, can force Moscow to stop imitating diplomacy and join real efforts aimed at ending the war,” according to Sybiha.

The emergency session follows a massive combined strike by Russian occupiers on the capital during the night of 28 August, which killed 23 people, including 4 children, reports the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Former Kherson mayor Volodymyr Mykolaienko, released from Russian captivity on Ukraine’s Independence Day, on 24 August, in a 146-for-146 prisoner exchange, gave his first interview to MOST.

He recounted his abduction, torture, life in prisons, and how the occupiers tried to make him “governor” instead of Volodymyr Saldo, Russia’s collaborator. 

“You can take Saldo’s place”

Mykolaienko was kidnapped in 2022. He was held in Kherson for 16 days before being transferred via Crimea to Voronezh Oblast.

“The main goal was to force me to cooperate. Saldo wasn’t even the ‘governor’ yet. They said, ‘You can take this place,’” he recalled.

FSB officers tried to make him recognize the occupation authorities: “Well, haven’t changed your mind? If not — you’ll go to Sevastopol, reconsider in a month or two, and recognize the new government.” But Mykolaienko refused.

Torture and broken ribs

In detention, he suffered systematic beatings: “Broken ribs. They broke them three times: once on Good Friday, second on Pioneer Day, third when we were ‘settling in’ Pakino.”

“Shockers and batons, boards they beat with — that’s all their prosecutors and lawyers,” he said.

The first days of captivity were the worst: “Three times a day consistently: morning inspection, evening inspection, and during the day either a dog bites or you get beaten in the bath.”

“I fulfilled my family duty”

The occupiers staged a mock execution.

“They lined me up against the wall and said, ‘We’re going to execute you now.’ I said, ‘Go ahead.’ They asked if I was scared. I said, scared, don’t want to die, but I fulfilled my family duty — I have two grandchildren,” said Mykolaienko. 

 

One of the Russians started shooting into the wall but others stopped him. 

He and other prisoners lived in complete informational isolation. Only from new prisoners did they learn about Kherson’s liberation.

“I said in the cell: ‘Kherson is Ukrainian.’ Everyone cheered,” he recalled.

 

Guilt and gratitude

The politician admits he feels discomfort surviving while others remain captive: “You can try to console yourself however you want, but the discomfort is still there. You get exchanged, and the same people remain.”

At the same time, he acknowledges that in Russian captivity, he “didn’t know if I would survive another year there.”

Only to discover they still can’t find available tickets due to the same structural problems that have plagued the system for years.

This shows Ukraine’s broader challenge with state enterprise reform: companies like railway operator UZ excel at customer-facing modernization while struggling with deeper institutional governance. The mismatch between good PR and bad governance shows the limits of surface-level reforms in transforming Soviet-era institutions.

This pattern carries stakes beyond Ukraine’s borders.

Western partners have earmarked billions for Ukrainian infrastructure reconstruction, with the EU alone pledging €50 billion ($58 billion) through 2027. If Ukraine’s largest state enterprises can’t solve fundamental capacity problems while excelling at public relations, it raises questions about whether reconstruction funds will address real inefficiencies or create more impressive-looking dysfunction.

For EU integration, Ukraine must prove its institutions can deliver results, not just better customer experiences.

Modernization meets Soviet-era constraints

Meanwhile, UZ—world’s sixth largest rail passenger transporter and world’s seventh largest freight transporter—has accelerated customer improvements during wartime rather than postponing them. CNN reported last year that the railway operates 55 accessibility-adapted passenger cars, while over 10,000 employees received disability awareness training. In 2023, following social media campaigns, UZ introduced women-only compartments on four main routes.

These changes represent genuine modernization. UZ opened its first merchandise shop in November 2022 at Kyiv’s Central Station, followed by a second at Lviv’s main station in late 2023.

The company also has an online shop selling model trains, traditional tea cup holders, mugs, railway-branded clothing, and travel utensils—moves that signal UZ’s confidence in its public image and commitment to European-style customer service.

These financial pressures compound UZ’s governance problems beyond ticket shortages. In 2022, anti-corruption prosecutors charged three officials with embezzling 103 million hryvnias ($2.5 million) through diesel fuel procurement schemes, manipulating prices to overpay by 10% on 55,000 tons of fuel.

This was followed in 2024 with charges against the former chairman and eight employees for equipment contract fraud.

This pattern reflects a broader challenge across Ukrainian state enterprises.

In March 2024, then-First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko argued that companies like UZ, the postal service Ukrposhta, and energy transmitter Ukrenergo demonstrate successful reform through supervisory boards and professional management.

That may be the case, but governance reforms remain fragile while customer-facing improvements prove more sustainable. UZ successfully modernizes the passenger experience because those changes require operational adjustments on a lower organizational level rather than systemic institutional transformation.

Wartime performance vs. institutional problems

The railway’s wartime operational record illustrates this tension well. According to company data, UZ transported 25 million long-distance passengers in 2023, including 2 million to EU countries, while handling 14 million tons of freight by November—a 34% increase in freight volume from the same period in 2022. These operational successes occurred alongside governance failures.

UZ’s approach—prioritizing visible customer improvements over trickier changes in structural governance—may reflect wartime pragmatism rather than reform strategy.

Or the avoidance thereof.

Yet this creates sustainable gaps between public perception and institutional reality. Successful branding can mask persistent governance problems, potentially complicating future reform efforts when customer satisfaction remains high despite ongoing structural issues.

In other words, the public and those who have to make these decisions may shrug off the need for any reform by asking: Why change something that works? Even if it doesn’t.

The pendulum problem

Ukraine faces an urgent choice because reconstruction funding is available. The country can continue this hybrid approach—excellent customer service masking structural dysfunction—or tackle the harder institutional reforms that would solve capacity problems.

Western partners evaluating billions in infrastructure investments must know which path Ukraine will choose.

Surface modernization creates good headlines and satisfied international observers.

Still, it won’t solve the underlying problems that make passengers hunt for tickets on existing trains, but it can’t expand capacity to meet demand.

It’s whether Ukraine’s institutions can evolve beyond Soviet-era constraints while maintaining their wartime operational success. So far, they’ve proven adept at one but not the other.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday that Western security guarantee proposals would turn Ukraine into a “strategic provocateur” on Russia’s borders, signaling Moscow’s rejection of multilateral efforts to protect Kyiv from future aggression, according to Reuters.

Russia’s response comes as Ukraine prepares to formalize its security guarantee framework next week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday following discussions with European partners. Ukrainian officials consider robust security guarantees essential to prevent Moscow from exploiting any future ceasefire to regroup militarily before launching new offensives. 

Zakharova outlined Moscow’s position that “security guarantees must be based on reaching a common understanding that takes into account Russia’s security interests,” she told reporters Friday during a news briefing in Moscow. 

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman dismissed current Western proposals as “one-sided and clearly designed to contain Russia.” 

She warned that such arrangements would assign “Kyiv the role of a strategic provocateur on Russia’s borders, increasing the risk of the [NATO] alliance becoming involved in an armed conflict with our country.”

Zakharova’s statement that security guarantees “must take into account Russia’s security interests” effectively demands Moscow have veto power over Ukrainian defense arrangements – precisely what Ukraine and its allies have rejected in previous negotiations.

Moscow’s “security concerns”

Zakharova’s language about “strategic provocateurs” echoes familiar Russian talking points used to justify the 2022 invasion. Moscow has consistently opposed any security arrangements that would constrain its ability to attack Ukraine again.

The rejection seems to contradict recent signals from Russia’s chief negotiator Kirill Dmitriev, who indicated in April that “some security guarantees in some form may be acceptable.” Friday’s statement suggests Moscow’s position has hardened as Western proposals gained substance.

Ukraine’s comprehensive security framework taking shape

Ukraine’s European allies have been working to develop security guarantees that would be more robust than the failed 1994 Budapest Memorandum. 

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte promised last week there would be “no repeat of the Budapest Memorandum,” outlining dual-layer protections including military strengthening and deterrence guarantees.

Separately, Ukraine has been discussing a proposed $90 billion US weapons package that could fund 4.5 years of military support, while military chiefs from over 30 countries have been meeting in Paris to coordinate potential peacekeeping arrangements.

Ukraine plans to complete its security guarantee framework by early next week. Moscow’s rejection suggests the Kremlin will continue opposing Western efforts to establish credible deterrence mechanisms. 

A secret document has exposed Hungary as the Kremlin’s “Trojan horse” inside the EU, say InformNapalm investigators. They have obtained a letter revealing the so-called “Ansat” project, a scheme discussed at the level of the Hungarian government with Russia’s state-owned Helicopters of Russia.

The plan was to use Hungary as a platform for legalizing and assembling Russian military equipment, which would then be exported under a “European” brand.

“While most EU countries stand with Ukraine and comply with sanctions, Budapest has become a gateway for Moscow to bypass restrictions and advance its military-industrial interests,” says InformPalm. 

How Hungary helped the Kremlin bypass sanctions

The document confirms that:

• The project was presented to Hungary’s Ministry of Finance and discussed at the government level.
• A joint working group was created with Hungarian officials, including a deputy state secretary of the Finance and Economy Ministry.
• Coordination was entrusted to Armitech Industries Ltd. in Budapest, a company openly lobbying for Russian interests.

Sanctions did not stop Moscow

The evidence shows that even after sanctions were imposed, the Kremlin actively built channels inside the EU to circumvent them. Hungary turned out to be one of its links, willing to shield Russia’s defense projects.

Orbán and political blockades in the EU and NATO

“Every time Orbán blocks EU aid to Ukraine or vetoes NATO decisions, remember: this is not just politics but direct collusion with Russia’s defense industry,” InformNapalm stresses.

Earlier, Hungary banned a top Ukrainian drone unit commander from entering the country and the Schengen zone after strikes on the Druzhba oil pipeline.

Hungarian officials called the pipeline vital for their country’s as Hungary is still receiving Russian oil and financing Moscow’s war machine against Ukraine, despite the fourth year of Russia’s all-out war. 

Hungary bans Ukrainian commander over Russian pipeline hit — latest sign of Budapest acting as Kremlin’s proxy in EU

Exclusives

This American-made missile is Ukraine’s cheap refinery smasher. Ukraine needs harder-hitting deep-strike munitions. Lots of them. The American ERAM might be just the thing.

Military

Massive Russian missile attack on Kyiv: 21 killed, 63 injured. 2-year-old among three children killed as residential buildings destroyed across the capital city.

Russia uses new jet-powered Shahed drones in Kyiv attack, killing 18 people

. Russian forces deployed rocket-propelled Shahed drones in the Kyiv assault, reaching 300-500 km/h and proving harder to intercept than standard models.

Russia’s main oil terminal to lose 50% of exports due to Ukrainian drone attacks. Industry sources confirm Russia’s Ust-Luga oil terminal will process 350,000 barrels daily in September following Ukrainian attacks on pipeline infrastructure

Frontline report: Ukraine blew up Russia’s only nitrocellulose plant—no backup for gunpowder supply. A Ukrainian drone strike destroyed the Kotovsky plant in Tambov, Russia’s sole source of nitrocellulose powders for shells and rockets.

HUR drone strike damages Russian warship carrying cruise missiles in Azov Sea. The Main Intelligence Directorate reported successful hits on a Russian missile carrier that serves as a platform for Russia’s Kalibr cruise missile system in Azov Sea waters.

Intelligence and technology

Russia strikes Bayraktar drone factory in Kyiv for fourth time in six months. A nearly-complete Turkish drone factory in Kyiv sustained serious damage in its fourth Russian attack since February, threatening millions in investment and months of personnel training just weeks before planned production launch.

Ukraine’s defense tech leader challenges western strategic assumptions

. FPV drones kill up to 70% of Ukrainian troops, yet NATO armies plan readiness for 2031.

International

46% of Americans believe that the US does not help Ukraine enough – poll. 52% of Americans believe Washington should help Ukraine reclaim occupied territories even if it extends the war, while 45% prefer a quick resolution that might require territorial concessions,

Zelenskyy: Ukraine security guarantee framework ready next week. Türkiye offers involvement in Black Sea security following deadliest Russian attack in weeks targeting diplomatic facilities from multiple countries.

Kellogg: Russia’s brutal attack threatens Trump peace plans. Donald Trump’s special envoy called Russia’s attack on Kyiv the second-largest since the invasion began, warning it threatens the president’s peace initiatives.

China hosts 26 world leaders for WWII anniversary as Xi, Putin, Kim unite in rare gathering. The Serbian President and Slovak Prime Minister will be the only representatives from the EU countries as they were at Russia’s Victory Day parade in May.

Hungary bans Ukrainian commander over Russian pipeline hit — latest sign of Budapest acting as Kremlin’s proxy in EU

. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó claimed recent Ukrainian strikes on the Druzhba pipeline allegedly harmed Hungary and Slovakia more than Russia.

60% of Poles support presidential veto on Ukrainian assistance – poll. Three in five Polish adults back President Karol Nawrocki’s veto of legislation extending aid to Ukrainian citizens, with strongest support coming from younger adults

Humanitarian and social impact

Estonian special forces veteran dies fighting as volunteer in Ukraine. Olev Roost, a former member of Estonia’s Special Operations Forces who served in Mali, died fighting with Ukraine’s elite 3rd Separate Special Purpose Regiment after voluntarily joining the war in 2023.

Kharkiv opens 7 underground schools, converts metro stations into classrooms for 6,000 students. Kharkiv is among first countries to extensively use metro stations as schools during wartime, creating unique model of underground education to protect children from constant Russian attack

Russian strike hits EU and UK diplomatic buildings in Kyiv night attack. Belgium’s FM confirmed damage to EU and British Council buildings in Kyiv, saying Russia “chooses terror, destruction and lies instead of dialogue” after the overnight attack killed 13 people in the Ukrainian capital.

Political and legal developments

US extends authorization to import some diamonds of Russian origin despite sanctions. Nearly 3 years after G7 nations restricted Russian diamond trade, the Office of Foreign Assets Control has extended US import permissions for specific Russian gems through September 2026.

Read our earlier daily review here.

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency HUR has released a video showing a night-time drone strike on a key Russian radar installation in occupied Crimea. The destroyed radar was part of the S-400 Triumf air defense system—Russia’s most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile complex designed to detect and shoot down aircraft, drones, and missiles at ranges up to 400 km.

Ukrainian drone disables long-range Russian radar in Crimea

According to HUR, the operation took place in the early hours of 28 August and targeted a 91N6E radar complex—an essential component of the S-400 system responsible for long-range target detection. The strike was carried out by the Department of Active Operations of HUR. A short video released by the agency shows the drone approaching and striking the installation.

Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi reports that the radar’s antenna array—its most vulnerable part—was directly hit by an aircraft-type drone. The outlet notes the installation was likely disabled as a result. HUR mocked the loss, saying another “Triumf” of the occupiers had gone blind, calling it a “fiasco.”

Russia’s radar shield in Crimea is steadily crumbling

Earlier this month, the unit destroyed several radar stations belonging to the Russian 3rd Radio-Technical Regiment, based in the Ai-Petri mountain area on Crimea’s southern coast. Russia had attempted to protect these radar systems by hiding them under Soviet-era radio-transparent domes. However, Ukrainian drones still managed to hit the Nebo-SVU, Podlet K-1, and the rare 98L6 Yenisey radars.

The Yenisey radar is a next-generation system developed for use with the future S-500 missile platform.

Ukraine creates blind zones for deeper drone strikes

The goal of these strikes, according to Militarnyi, is to carve out “blind corridors” in Russian radar coverage over occupied territory. These gaps have allowed Ukrainian long-range drones to carry out additional raids.

In the past month, HUR and the SBU conducted attacks that damaged up to six Russian fighter jets at the Saky airfield. At Kirovske airbase, Ukrainian drones also hit Mi-8 and Mi-26 transport helicopters and a Mi-28 attack helicopter.

The recent Ukrainian drone strikes have forced Russia’s Ust-Luga oil export terminal on the Baltic Sea coast to cut operations by half for September, Reuters reports. The disruption follows earlier drone attacks on pipeline infrastructure, and has triggered emergency rerouting of crude exports to other ports.

Damage affects flows to key terminal

Two industry sources told Reuters that Ust-Luga will operate at about 350,000 barrels per day—roughly half its normal capacity. The slowdown comes after Ukrainian drone strikes earlier in August targeted the Unecha pumping station in Russia’s Bryansk Oblast. Unecha is a crucial node in the pipeline system that feeds Ust-Luga and is also linked to the Druzhba pipeline.

The drone attacks have affected crude flows not only to Ust-Luga but also through the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Belarus, Slovakia, and Hungary. Slovakia said on 28 August that initial supplies via the Druzhba line had resumed in test mode.

Crude redirected as repair work begins

The Reuters sources did not clarify which pipeline was damaged but said that repair work was underway. However, there is no clear timeline for when full capacity at Ust-Luga will be restored. To limit export losses, oil volumes are being redirected to Russia’s Primorsk and Novorossiisk ports.

Rescue workers in Kyiv concluded operations at the site of a Russian missile strike on a residential building in the Darnytskyi district after more than 30 hours of work, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on 29 August.

Emergency services dismantled the main structural debris of the destroyed building to ensure no people remained trapped under the rubble. Some bodies have not yet been identified, and 8 people remain out of contact with their relatives, according to officials.

The Russian attack killed 23 people, with 22 deaths resulting from the direct hit on the Darnytskyi district building, authorities confirmed. Four children were among the victims, including a two-year-old girl who was the youngest casualty.

Emergency workers rescued 17 people from the debris, including 4 children. A total of 53 people were injured across the capital during the strike.

Emergency restoration work continues to allow residents of undamaged apartments to retrieve their belongings as quickly as possible, officials said.

The attack occurred during the night of 28 August, when Russian forces launched nearly 600 drones and 31 missiles at Ukraine, including Kinzhal and Iskander missiles. Kyiv recorded two direct missile hits on residential buildings.

The Kyiv City Military Administration described the consequences as record-breaking, with damage recorded in all city districts across 33 locations. The Darnytskyi and Dniprovskyi districts suffered the most damage, with one strike completely destroying an entrance to a five-story building.

The attack damaged offices of Ukrainska Pravda, Radio Liberty, the European Investment Bank, the EU mission, and the British Council.

White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt said President Donald Trump was “not satisfied, but not surprised” by Russia’s attack on Kyiv.

The so-called Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) has been officially recognized as affiliated with a foreign religious organization whose activities are banned in Ukraine. The decision, issued by the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience, follows an investigation that confirmed the structure’s continued ties to the Russian Orthodox Church.

On 27 August, Ukraine’s State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) adopted a formal decision to classify the Kyiv Metropolia of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as affiliated with a foreign religious organization whose activities are prohibited in Ukraine. The designation was issued under Article 3 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Sphere of Religious Organizations.”

The decision came after a detailed investigation into the nature of the Metropolia’s connections. Authorities found clear indicators of affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church — a body already banned in Ukraine for its role in undermining national sovereignty and serving Russian state interests under the guise of religion.

The finding constitutes a direct violation of Ukraine’s Law “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations.” In response, the DESS issued an official instruction ordering the Kyiv Metropolia to eliminate this violation.

Moscow’s clergy refused to comply

Last month, DESS found that the UOC is still affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church despite claims to the contrary. The service warned the head of the UOC MP, Metropolitan Onufrii, that unless his church showed clear, official proof of cutting ties with Moscow by 18 August—including formal decisions, public rejections, and a complete break in practice—it would be treated as still under Russian control, as investigators had already found it continues to follow Moscow’s rules, liturgy, and leadership despite its claims of independence.

Onufrii, reportedly issued a letter stating his refusal to comply with the order. This open defiance removed any basis for revising or withdrawing the official warning under Ukrainian law.

In accordance with Part 15 of Article 16 of the Law, and in the absence of evidence that the violation was corrected or that the order was mistakenly issued, the DESS moved forward. It officially recognized the Kyiv Metropolia of the UOC as affiliated with a foreign religious organization whose activity is banned on Ukrainian territory.

Legal action formalized

The final ruling was sealed in Order No. Н-127/11, signed by DESS head Viktor Yelenskyi. The order is legally grounded in Article 5-1 and Part Seventeen of Article 16 of the Law “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations.” The basis for the order is a memo submitted by the Head of the Religious Affairs Department, dated 27 August 2025.

The order mandates that the organizational and communications department publish the decision on the official DESS website within three days.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications and Ministry of Foreign Affairs have condemned the presence of the Russian flag at the Venice Film Festival and called for its removal, according to a statement from the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications.

The ministries reported that while the Russian flag remains displayed at the festival, Russian forces continue committing war crimes. On 28 August, Russia attacked Kyiv, killing 23 people including 4 children.

“While Russia has the freedom to choose how to continue killing civilians in Ukraine, providing it with an international cultural stage is not freedom of art, but hypocrisy, indifference and support for even more terror,” the ministries said in their statement.

The Ukrainian ministries called on the Venice Film Festival to eliminate Russia’s presence and the Russian flag from the event.

The Venice International Film Festival, founded in 1932 as part of the Venice Biennale on the initiative of Italian political figure and fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, is the world’s oldest film festival. The 81st Venice Film Festival featured the world premiere of the documentary “Songs of a Land That Burns Slowly” by Ukrainian director Olga Zhurba.

The 82nd Venice Film Festival runs from 27 August to 9 September. Film critic Sonya Vselyubska from UP.Culture has been accredited for the event and will provide coverage.

The statement emphasized that the festival opened with what it described as “the first tragicomedy of its own authorship.” The ministries noted that under the Russian flag, Russian military forces are currently committing war crimes.

The Ukrainian officials stated that even on the same day, Russia carried out attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, killing at least 21 people, including 4 children. The statement criticized festival organizers for choosing to ignore these actions and further damaging the festival’s reputation.

“The only thing the Venice Film Festival should do now is get rid of Russia’s presence and the Russian flag,” said in the statement, using the hashtag #NoStageForRussia while Russia conducts war against Ukraine.

A forest fire reportedly sparked by drone debris has spread to 41.5 hectares near the village of Krynitsa in Russia’s Krasnodar Oblast, with one fire center burning less than one kilometer from a winery linked to Vladimir Putin.

Local authorities reported the blaze on the morning of 28 August after Ukrainian drone fragments fell in the area, according to Gelendzhik mayor and the regional emergency ministry. The fire has expanded from its initial size overnight, reaching 41.5 hectares by 29 August morning.

“More than 330 people are fighting the fire, about 80 units of equipment are working, as well as a helicopter and aircraft of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations,” Krasnodar Oblast governor Veniamin Kondratiev said.

The village of Krynitsa sits just 10 kilometers from Putin’s palace on Cape Idokopas, Agency reported. Russian media Important Stories reported that the fire center may be 3-4 kilometers from the presidential residence.

The Insider said that another fire source burns less than one kilometer from Putin’s “Krynitsa” winery. NASA FIRMS mapping data shows this blaze located just 850 meters from the winery facility.

The winery gained attention in a 2021 investigation by the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), where it appeared under the name “Old Provence.” The film detailed luxury purchases for the facility, including “gilded Italian toilet brushes,” according to the FBK documentary about Putin’s palace.

The drone attack occurred as part of broader Ukrainian strikes on 28 August. Russian authorities reported drone attacks across multiple oblasts, with local residents documenting fires at two oil refineries and a railway junction.

The Gelendzhik area has strategic significance due to its proximity to Putin’s reported Black Sea residence, which has been the subject of extensive investigative reporting and opposition scrutiny.

The Trump administration has approved an $825 million sale of 3,350 Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) missiles to Ukraine, marking the first major new weapons sale to Kyiv under the current administration, CNN reported on 28 August.

ERAM may provide Ukraine a new, affordable, and precise standoff strike capability with a range up to around 400 km, helping Ukraine engage targets deeper behind the front lines while reducing the risk to its aircraft. Details regarding potential restrictions on the missiles’ use remain unclear.

According to the report, the missiles could be delivered later this year if the sale proceeds as expected. The ERAM missiles have a range of 150-280 miles and will be accompanied by 3,350 GPS/INS navigation systems.

The State Department announced the proposed sale on 28 August, following meetings between President Donald Trump and both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this month. The announcement came after a night of deadly Russian strikes on the Ukrainian capital.

“Ukraine will use funding from Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway and Foreign Military Financing from the United States for this purchase,” the State Department notice reported. The department emphasized that “the ERAM is an example of working together with our NATO allies to develop a capable and scalable system capable of being delivered on a fast timeline.”

While the Trump administration has previously approved sales of equipment to maintain existing weapons systems, this represents the first major arms sale of new weapons to Ukraine announced by the administration, according to CNN.

The State Department justified the sale by noting it “will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.”

The timing of the announcement coincides with ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict that have yet to produce results.

According to European media reports cited by CNN, the missiles could arrive in Ukraine within six weeks of the sale’s completion.

According to a new report by Tech Force in UA and the Better Regulation Delivery Office, 88% of Ukraine’s defense tech companies sell directly to military units, compared to 64% that fulfill traditional government contracts.

The shift demonstrates a development cycle unfamiliar to most Western defense establishments: direct battlefield feedback driving rapid product iteration, often outpacing traditional procurement processes.

From garage startups to professional operations

The numbers, contained in the new and first-ever report on Ukrainian defence tech producers titled aptly “War-driven: The rise of Ukrainian defence tech and the private industry behind it,” released on Thursday at the “Joint Ventures, Joint Defence” forum in Lviv, paint a picture of an industry that shouldn’t exist according to traditional defense doctrine.

Nearly three-quarters of the Ukrainian defence tech companies were founded or pivoted to military technology after Russia’s 2022 invasion, creating an entirely new ecosystem from scratch.

“The war itself decides which weapons are best,” says Vadym Yunyk, president of Tech Force in UA, representing nearly 80 defense companies producing everything from attack drones to electronic warfare systems.

The data shows these aren’t the garage tinkerer stereotype Western officials might expect. According to the fresh report, 73% of companies have undergone independent financial audits—making them professionally managed companies in all the thinkable ways.

Three-quarters collect soldier feedback daily through messengers, QR codes, and online forms, enabling product updates measured in weeks rather than decades-long development cycles. Some companies have made over 100 revisions to flagship products in the past year alone.

Speed and resilience by design

The operational model is equally revolutionary. Companies maintain multiple production sites across different regions to mitigate missile strike risks, with 42% operating five or more facilities.

The median time to establish a new production site is just three months.

Most employ flexible workforce models, common in Ukraine’s IT sector, mixing traditional employees with gig specialists and individual contractors.

Building supply chains Europe lacks

The industry could also solve problems that Europe can’t. Initially dependent on Chinese components for rapid scaling, companies systematically shift to EU and US suppliers as security demands have increased.

Now 28% source at least half their parts domestically—building exactly the resilient supply chains European policymakers keep promising to create. This localization has strengthened innovation and supply chain resilience, creating a virtuous domestic capability-building cycle.

The capacity paradox

There’s a strategic irony: Europe desperately wants these battle-tested technologies, yet Ukrainian export restrictions and EU bureaucratic barriers prevent the apparent solution.

The disconnect extends beyond capacity to capability. Ukrainian producers have mastered asymmetric warfare technologies that NATO militaries struggle to understand, let alone procure.

Traditional defense contractors are still delivering incremental improvements on Cold War platforms, while Ukrainian startups iterate monthly through generations of drone and electronic warfare systems.

Investment appetite meets political barriers

The financial appetite is clearly there. With €4 billion in projected revenue for 2025, these companies are attracting investment interest, though they’re selective about funding sources. Smaller firms seek R&D financing through convertible instruments, while larger companies focus on scaling production through debt or joint ventures.

Company size significantly influences financing preferences, reflecting growing sophistication in capital strategy.

Ukraine has accidentally built the defense industry of the future.

Whether Western governments will streamline procurement processes to access these battle-tested technologies remains uncertain. The strategic opportunity to partner with Ukraine’s defense innovation ecosystem may not persist indefinitely as global competition for these capabilities intensifies.

Ukraine is escalating its attacks on Russia’s oil refineries, hitting 10 of them in recent days and throttling the Russian oil industry’s refining by more than a million barrels per day. That’s 14% of output.

But refineries can be repaired. And Russia’s sprawling oil sector has excess capacity that could help it compensate for damage from Ukrainian raids. “Russia has a lot of these inactive refineries, and Russia is able to switch to some of them if needed,” Finnish analyst Joni Askola noted.

To make lasting dent in Russia’s most important industry, Ukraine needs to strike more often with more damaging weapons. At present, most oil raids and other deep strikes are carried out by slow, propeller-driven drones ranging fewer than 1,000 km with warheads weighing just 50 kg or so.

The drones that Ukraine has been using are just not enough because they’re quite easy to shoot down and also their warheads are quite small, as well,” Askola pointed out. It’s crucial for Ukraine to get more and better munitions “with enough range, but with a bit bigger warheads.”

The harder-hitting munitions are coming. Ukrainian companies have developed at least two new cruise missiles—the 6,000-kg Flamingo and the approximately 1,000-kg Long Neptune—that could extend the reach and effect of the oil raids. The Americans are helping, too, with a mysterious new cruise missile called the Extended Range Attack Munition.

The enormous Flamingo, traveling as far as 3,000 km with a 1,000-kg warhead, would hit the hardest and farthest targets. Right now, Ukrainian firm Fire Point is building one Flamingo a day. It aims to ramp up production to seven missiles a day by October.

The Long Neptune, ranging 1,000 km with a 150-kg warhead, is for closer and less durable targets. It’s unclear how many of the missile the Luch Design Bureau can build.

Smallest missile

The American ERAM is the smallest of the bunch. It weighs just 1,100 kg and ranges at least 400 km. But in the short term, it may also be the most numerous. The administration of the former US President. Joe Biden launched the ERAM program in 2024, and the administration of the current US President. Donald Trump recently gave final approval for Ukraine to receive 3,350 of the small missiles. Deliveries should start in the coming weeks.

We don’t know much about the ERAM except that, in contrast to the ground-launched Flamingo and Long Neptune, the American munition is air-launched. The Ukrainian air force’s ex-Soviet Sukhoi and MiG jets, ex-European Lockheed Martin F-16s, and ex-French Dassault Mirage 2000s are all compatible with an array of precision munitions.

It’s possible the ERAM is broadly similar to the Powered Joint Direct Attack Munition developed by US defense giant Boeing. The PJDAM takes a standard satellite-guided bomb and adds pop-out wings and a tiny Kratos-TDI-J85 turbojet engine. At the low cost of just $30,000, a 220-kg PJDAM ranges as far as 500 km. Most of the PJDAM’s weight is explosive fill, making it much more damaging than Ukraine’s current deep-strike drones.

It would make sense for the US to provide Ukraine with an ERAM based on the PJDAM, as Ukraine already possesses freefalling JDAM bombs and gliding JDAMs with pop-out wings. Adding a small engine to the same basic munition shouldn’t significantly change its compatibility. Any Ukrainian jets that can carry JDAMs should also be able to carry ERAMs.

To strike Russian refineries with the same intensity that Russia strikes Ukrainian cities, Ukrainian forces need to launch hundreds of munitions several times a week. They can’t all be Flamingos and Long Neptunes, which might cost hundreds of thousands of dollars apiece. Nor should they all be the cheaper, but lighter, attack drones that are most common today.

Cheap but powerful, the ERAM is the middleweight missile Ukraine needs to intensify attacks now. The wrinkle is that the US Defense Department under Trump has reportedly barred Ukraine from striking Russia with certain American-made long-range munitions, extending similar bans put in place by Biden.

It’s unclear whether that policy would also ban deep strikes with ERAMs.

Explore further

This American-made missile is Ukraine’s cheap refinery smasher

Nearly half of Americans think the United States is not doing enough to support Ukraine, according to a new Gallup poll.

The consulting firm found that 46% of respondents believe US assistance falls short, while 25% said America is doing too much and 27% consider current support adequate.

The survey revealed that Democratic voters believe the US should increase its support for Ukraine, while Republican voters are split between considering current aid sufficient or excessive.

Since Donald Trump’s administration took office, the polling data shows significant shifts in public opinion across party lines. Among Democrats, the percentage who view aid as insufficient jumped from 48% in December to 77%. Independent voters also showed increased concern, with those calling aid inadequate rising from 32% to 44%.

Republican attitudes moved in the opposite direction. The share of Republicans who consider aid excessive dropped from 67% to 40%, while those rating current support as sufficient increased from 20% to 42%.

Some 52% believe Washington should support Ukraine in returning occupied territories, even if this prolongs the war, the poll found. Meanwhile, 45% favor a quick end to the war, even if Ukraine would have to give up some territory.

The Gallup survey was conducted from 1-15 August, before the US-Russia leadership summit in Alaska. The polling firm did not specify the number of respondents or methodology used.

Recent diplomatic developments have intensified focus on Ukraine policy. On 25 August, reports emerged of an upcoming meeting between American and Ukrainian teams to prepare for possible negotiations between President Zelenskyy and the Russian leader.

The Financial Times reported on 26 August that the US is prepared to provide Ukraine with intelligence resources and aviation battlefield control as part of security guarantees after fighting ends.

Bloomberg reported on 27 August that Ukrainian officials Yermak and Umerov are heading to the United States to discuss security guarantees with Witkoff.

Estonian Defense Forces announced on 28 August the death of Estonian volunteer Olev Roost, who was killed while fighting in Ukraine’s war against Russia.

“With deep sadness, we announce that Estonian volunteer Olev Roost has died fighting for Ukraine’s freedom,” Estonia’s Special Operations Forces said in a statement.

Roost joined Estonia’s Special Operations Forces in 2017 after passing selection and participated in an overseas operation in Mali in 2020. He remained with the unit until 2023, when he voluntarily left service and traveled to Ukraine as a volunteer fighter.

According to the Estonian forces, Roost served with Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Special Purpose Regiment. “He went abroad to protect peace in his homeland, risking his life and giving everything so that war would not reach us. We highly honor his memory and will never forget his contribution,” the statement said.

ERR reports that at least six Estonian volunteers have been killed fighting for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

The announcement follows recent reports of other foreign volunteer casualties. Italian volunteer Luca Ciecca, who fought alongside Ukrainian Defense Forces against Russia, was killed in recent fighting. In July, reports emerged of a Hungarian volunteer’s death and the wounding of two Romanian volunteers.

Estonia has been among Ukraine’s strongest supporters, providing military aid and hosting Ukrainian refugees since the war began.

Today, there are interesting updates from the Russian Federation. Ukrainians are depriving the Russian armed forces of ammunition, crucial for every aspect of warfare. By targeting every step in the production chain, from the very first stage of gunpowder production to ammunition depots near the frontline, Ukraine is making sure the Russians won’t have enough shells, rockets, and drones to launch.

Massive explosion at Ryazan gunpowder plant

Ukraine has dealt another devastating blow to Russia’s war machine with the destruction of one of its largest gunpowder factories. A massive blast ripped through the Elastic plant in Ryazan Oblast following a Ukrainian drone strike, obliterating four major buildings, including critical powder storage facilities. The strike reportedly destroyed around 300 tons of artillery powder and hundreds of 152 millimeter shells.

The destruction was compounded by heavy casualties among the staff, who worked around the clock in non-stop shifts to sustain Russia’s artillery demands. Footage from locals showed huge flames and the complete annihilation of the workshop where the explosion originated.

Tambov’s Kotovsky gunpowder plant destroyed

In Tambov, another Ukrainian drone strike destroyed the Kotovsky gunpowder plant, a facility under Rostec that manufactures critical powders for weapons and ammunition. This site was especially significant, as it is the only factory in Russia capable of producing certain nitrocellulose-based powders. Its loss is irreplaceable in the short term, compounding Russia’s growing shortages of artillery and rocket propellants.

Systematic strikes on Russia’s war economy

With two of Russia’s main gunpowder factories reduced to rubble, Ukrainian forces have demonstrated a strategy aimed not just at the battlefield but at the very foundations of Russia’s war economy.

By targeting gunpowder plants, chemical facilities, and depots, Ukraine is systematically dismantling the production cycle that feeds the Russian war effort. Without powder, explosives, or propellants, even the most advanced missile or artillery system becomes useless.

Drone strike on Moscow’s Chemical Research Institute

One of the most notable attacks took place in Moscow Oblast, where Ukrainian drones struck the Research Institute of Applied Chemistry in Sergiyev Posad. This enterprise produced thermobaric warheads for Shahed drones and incendiary mixtures for Russia’s notorious TOS-1 thermobaric artillery systems.

Ukraine targets missile propellant factories

Ukrainian forces also targeted the Krasnozavodsky Chemical Plant, a critical facility that produced oxidizers and propellants for S-300 and S-400 air defense systems, as well as Iskander and Buk missiles.

In Tula Oblast, Ukrainian drones hit the Azot chemical plant for a second time in recent months, sparking fires at a site tied closely to Russia’s defense production.

Explosions at Nevinnomysskiy Azot plant in Stavropol Krai

Further south, Ukrainian drones pummeled the Nevinnomysskiy Azot plant in Stavropol Krai with 20 explosions, targeting nitric acid production essential for high explosives like octogen and hexogen. Reports confirmed the facility was still burning after the attack, also its second in two months.

Strikes near Belgorod and Donetsk

Similarly, near Belgorod, the Selena chemical reagent plant in Shebekino was struck, igniting fires and disrupting yet another component of Russia’s supply chain.

Even when ammunition makes it through the production process, Ukraine continues to hunt it down before it can be deployed. Ukrainian drones struck occupied Donetsk, igniting an ammunition depot, while another operation targeted Russian jets and storage sites at the Saky airbase in Crimea.

Melitopol depot erupts in massive secondary explosions

In Melitopol, footage emerged of a Russian depot erupting in massive secondary explosions, underscoring Ukraine’s relentless pursuit of enemy munitions at every stage of their way to the front.

Ukraine’s strategy weakens Russia long-term

Overall, the Ukrainian campaign is systematic, devastating, and long-term in vision. By hitting gunpowder factories, chemical plants, and ammunition depots, Ukraine is ensuring that Russia faces a mounting supply crisis that will cripple both its offensive and defensive capabilities.

Ukrainians target facilities that cannot be easily replaced, as restarting production at destroyed plants will take months, if not years, to restore. For Russia, this means fewer shells, fewer rockets, and fewer options to pressure Ukraine both at the front and in the rear. For Ukraine, it is a decisive strategy, dismantling the enemy’s war machine one critical explosion at a time.

In our regular frontline report, we pair up with the military blogger Reporting from Ukraine to keep you informed about what is happening on the battlefield in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Russian forces deployed rocket-propelled Shahed drones during the overnight attack on Kyiv on 28 August, according to Yurii Ihnat, head of the Communications Department of the Ukrainian Air Force Command.

These modified drones exhibit flight parameters resembling cruise missiles, Ihnat told Hromadske.

The Ukrainian Air Force first documented these jet-powered strike drones during summer operations. Ihnat explained that while cruise missiles typically reach speeds of 700 km/h, the rocket-propelled Shaheds operate at 300-500 km/h.

“They are difficult to shoot down,” the military official added.

Russia has not yet deployed these modified drones en masse, according to Ihnat.

“Previous times we recorded eight units. This time there were also some, but not many,” Ihnat said, declining to specify the exact number of rocket-powered drones launched against Kyiv during the 28 August attack.

During the latest attack on Kyiv, Russian forces employed various weapons and different drone types. Beyond conventional and rocket-propelled Shaheds, Russia deployed decoy drones, which they have also begun equipping with explosive warheads.

Russian forces launched 31 missiles and 598 drones against Ukraine during the overnight attack on 28 August. Current casualty reports indicate 18 dead and nearly 40 injured from the nighttime bombardment, including children.

The Russian strikes damaged the European Union representation building in Ukraine and the British Council office in Kyiv. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha declared the diplomatic facility attacks constitute direct violations of the Vienna Convention, emphasizing such strikes require condemnation from the EU and the international community.

Additional damage occurred to the offices of Ukrainska Pravda and Radio Svoboda media outlets, a Nova Poshta sorting depot where three people were injured, Ukrzaliznytsia’s high-speed train park, and other facilities. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces targeted a residential building in Kyiv with two missiles, destroying the structure.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday discussed comprehensive security guarantees for Ukraine, including Türkiye’s potential defense involvement in Black Sea security arrangements.

The diplomatic push came hours after Russian forces killed 21 people including four children in Kyiv in a massive overnight assault on Ukraine using over 30 missiles and around 600 drones. 

“Ukraine is ready to engage in the format of leaders, as this is the only effective format. Unfortunately, it is Russia that avoids this and continues its war,” Zelenskyy reported on X following the call.

Thursday morning’s attack struck diplomatic facilities including the Turkish embassy, EU delegation, and British Council, as well as several residential buildings in the capital city. “This is Putin’s response to all the efforts by Ukraine, the United States, and our European partners to stop the killings,” he wrote. 

“We also discussed security guarantees extensively. National security advisors are now working on every specific component, and the entire framework will be set out on paper next week,” he added in the post.

Türkiye’s mediator role amid security guarantee deadlock

Türkiye has positioned itself as the primary mediator in Ukraine-Russia peace efforts, with President Erdoğan consistently pushing for direct talks between leaders while declaring that “European security without Türkiye is unthinkable.” Bloomberg reported in March 2025 that Türkiye is evaluating potential peacekeeping missions in Ukraine as Europe scrambles to fill gaps left by reduced US commitments under Trump. 

However, security guarantees remain the central obstacle to any peace deal. Zelenskyy has consistently argued that “security guarantees without America are not real security guarantees,” emphasizing European guarantees alone would be ineffective without US involvement. 

Ukraine maintains that any ceasefire must include “clear security guarantees” to prevent future Russian attacks, while Trump has pressured Ukraine to accept deals without such protections.