Russian President Vladimir Putin says the EU has no reason to worry about potential Moscow aggression. He denies that the Kremlin is preparing for an attack and says that under US President Donald Trump, America began to “listen to Russia,” reports the pro-Kremlin outlet RIA Novosti.

Putin made these statements during a meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in China. 

On 31 August, he arrived in China, Russia’s main economic partner, which provides the Kremlin with unprecendent support during its war against Ukraine, on a four-day visit. It came just as US President Donald Trump’s deadline for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop the war has expired.

Trump’s deadline and Russia’s new attacks

Putin claims that any talk about Moscow planning to attack the EU is “Western fiction.”

“They are specialists in fairy tales and horror movies. Any rational person perfectly understands that Russia is not going to attack anyone,” he said.

Before the beginning of Russia’s all-out war on Ukraine in 2022, Putin also repeatedly denied any plans for an attack or invasion in his official statements. Russian officials consistently rejected accusations of preparing military actions against Ukraine, calling the buildup of troops near the border “unfounded tension-mongering.”

It was only on 22 February 2022, that Putin announced the start of the so-called “special military operation” on Ukrainian territory, effectively acknowledging the military actions that had already begun.

The war in Ukraine – “protection of its own interests”

The Russian ruler also justified aggression in Ukraine, claiming that Moscow is allegedly “forced to protect people who tie their fate to Russia.”

“Russia’s only goal in Ukraine is the protection of its own interests,” Putin added.

He also shifted responsibility for attacks on Ukraine on its authorities: “Moscow endured Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy for a long time and then began to respond seriously.”

Lies about EU integration and the Zaporizhzhia NPP

Putin assured that Russia has “never opposed Ukraine’s EU membership” but called Ukraine’s accession to NATO unacceptable. He also allowed for the possibility of a tripartite cooperation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant involving the US and Ukraine.

Experts emphasize that such statements are part of a Kremlin information operation aimed at the West and the Global South, intended to justify three years of aggression and attacks on civilians.

In addition, Putin praised the administration of US President Donald Trump, which refused to provide free aid to Ukraine and introduced no new sanctions against Russia. According to him, under Trump, America began to “listen to Russia,” a claim he said was confirmed by the Alaska summit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is once again lying about strikes on Ukraine. During a meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico at the summit in China, he claimed that Russia’s massive attacks were in response to Ukrainian assaults on Russian energy facilities, according to the pro-Kremlin outlet RIA Novosti.

Putin justifies attacks on energy infrastructure

“Moscow endured Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy for a long time, and then began to respond seriously,” Putin said.

Meanwhile, Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, calls his statements a blatant lie, as since 2022, Russia has systematically attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, especially during the preparation for winter and in winter itself.

Attacks on civilians continue

Once again, he tried to shift the responsibility for Russian aggression onto Ukraine, explained Kovalenko. 

“Putin is preparing an informational alibi for strikes on Ukrainian energy. In Beijing, he claimed that Russia ‘never hit energy’ and only responds to Ukrainian attacks on the oil sector. This is false,” he stressed.

Kovalenko added that the Russians strike during the lead-up to winter and directly in winter. This year, they also did not stop attacks on energy in regions bordering Russia.

Kremlin information operation

According to Kovalenko, Putin’s speech in Beijing is part of another Russian information operation aimed at the West and the Global South.

“It is an attempt to shift responsibility for terrorizing Ukrainians onto us,” he claimed.

The Russians were the ones who started the war and attacks on energy, and they have never stopped.

According to the UN, Russia’s war has killed more than 13,800 civilians in Ukraine. Attacks on Ukraine intensified, particularly in 2025, following the launch of peace initiatives by US President Donald Trump.

Russia was not punished with sanctions or any other measures. On the contrary, President Putin was invited to a meeting with Trump in Alaska.

Putin urges Europe to weaponize energy against Ukraine, praises Trump’s inaction

Also, during the meeting with Fico, Putin called “on his friends in Europe” to cut Ukraine’s fuel and electricity supplies, the Kremlin press service reports. The Russian ruler emphasized that Ukraine receives a significant amount of energy resources through its Eastern European neighbors.

“Shut off their gas supplies, shut off their electricity supplies, and they will immediately understand that there are limits to violating others’ interests,” Putin said in a conversation with Robert Fico.

He also praised the administration of US President Donald Trump, which refused to provide free aid to Ukraine and introduced no new sanctions against Russia. According to Putin, under Trump, America began to “listen to Russia,” a claim he said was confirmed by the Alaska summit.

Western sanctions against Russia are working and are already hitting the aggressor’s economy hard, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, which cited declines in key sectors. At the same time, the Kremlin is trying to offset its losses by looting temporarily occupied Ukrainian lands.

Sanctions squeeze the Russian economy

Business activity in Russia continues to fall. The manufacturing PMI, calculated by S&P Global, dropped to 48.7 in August out of 100 points, marking the third consecutive month in contraction territory.

Sunflower oil production in Russia also fell by 11% year-on-year. The coal sector is even worse off: 23 enterprises have halted operations due to the crisis, while 129 mines and open-pit sites, responsible for up to 85% of the country’s coal output, are seeking government support.

Coal and grain from occupied territories

Despite the crisis, Russia is trying to keep its economy afloat by plundering Ukrainian lands. New images from temporarily occupied Mariupol have shown how Russian forces are loading ships with stolen grain and coal. 

“Mariupol port. Two ships are being loaded at the same time… We expect the coal ship to head to the port of Temryuk for export clearance to Algeria, and the bulk carrier with grain to go to Egypt. Looting has predictably resumed,” reported Petro Andriushchenko, head of the Center for the Study of Occupation.

Stolen grain becomes the Kremlin’s business

According to the Center for National Resistance, Russia has turned stolen Ukrainian grain into a global business. Wheat that Moscow claims as “Russian” is purchased by 70 countries, including Egypt, Türkiye, and Iran. 

Russia has been preparing for war with Ukraine since 2007. Since then, Russia’s largest tank manufacturer, Uralvagonzavod, has been accumulating hundreds of units of foreign high-tech machinery to support Moscow’s aggression against Ukraine, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence or HUR reports. 

Foreign equipment strengthens Russia’s military-industrial complex

HUR has published new data in the “Tools of War” section of the War&Sanctions portal on over 260 machine tools, CNC processing centers, and other foreign-made equipment operating within the Russian military-industrial complex.

This portal documents entities and companies helping Russia wage the war against Ukraine. 

According to Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence chief, most of these purchases occurred during the rearmament of Russia’s defense industry ahead of the all-out war.

Sanctions and service restrictions – an effective limiting mechanism

This equipment requires regular maintenance, repairs, and software updates. Manufacturers can restrict the supply of spare parts, technical fluids, and CNC software, directly impacting the operation of Russia’s military machinery.

Production expansion during wartime

In 2024, Uralvagonzavod launched a new tank engine production line equipped with advanced CNC machinery from leading European manufacturers. While deliveries via third countries continue, they have become slower, more complicated, and more expensive due to sanctions.

Effectively limiting Russian aggression requires coordinated diplomatic efforts, investigation of violations, and blocking of circumvention schemes.

The Russian intelligence has assassination lists, which includes Ukrainian prominent politicians, officials, and public figures. Former Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Andrii Parubiy, who was killed in Lviv by a Russian agent, was in one of them even before the war, says deputy Iryna Herashchenko from his European Solidarity party, Radio NV reports. 

Ukraine investigates Russian link to assassination of politician who opposed Kremlin for 30 years

Moscow behind every attempt

“From the very first second, it was clear that Moscow was behind this. Whoever pulled the trigger, Moscow was controlling it,” says Herashchenko.

The first attempt on Parubiy’s life occurred in December 2014, when a grenade was thrown near the Kyiv hotel. In 2022, the Russians added him to a “hit list” targeting dozens of Ukrainian politicians.

Telegram recruitment and psychological pressure

Herashchenko explained that Russian intelligence tried to recruit a suspect via Telegram, offering the body of Parubiy’s missing son as leverage, exploiting his emotional vulnerability.

“The person was easy prey for the FSB to execute this absolutely hellish plan,” she noted.

The European Solidarity faction is pushing for legislation to de-anonymize Telegram in Ukraine to prevent such crimes in the future.

Threats persist

Herashchenko also recalled threats during the Minsk negotiations, when Moscow-aligned actors warned Ukrainian participants.

“Do you think we don’t know where you live? Your house will be burned by the families of prisoners of war,” she repeats Russian threats to Ukrainian officials. 

Russia breached the Minsk agreements, which focused on reaching peace in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine, and started the all-out war in 2022.

Herashchenko emphasizes that such Russian tactics continue today, underscoring the ongoing dangers faced by Ukrainian politicians.

The Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense continues to demonstrate its strength, UNIAN reports. In temporarily occupied Crimea, several key Russian targets have been destroyed, including the RT-70 radio telescope, in a latest strike. 

Impressive results from the Phantoms special unit

According to HUR and the Ukrainian Navy, in August, fighters from the special unit “Phantoms” struck:

• the Utios-T radar system
• the RT-70 radio telescope
• the GLONASS satellite navigation system in its dome
• the coastal radar station MR-10M1 “Mys” M1
• the 96L6-AP radar of the S-400 missile system

“The radio telescope is truly unique. It was built during Soviet times to monitor satellite constellations. It is genuinely one-of-a-kind,” emphasizes Ukrainian Navy Spokesperson Captain 3rd Rank Dmytro Pletenchuk.

Strategy to thin out Russian air defenses

Pletenchuk noted that in Crimea, the enemy deployed a dense network of air defense systems to protect the Crimean Bridge and the peninsula’s military infrastructure. The layered air defense system also covers Novorossiysk, where the Black Sea Fleet’s missile carriers are based.

“Clearing a path to other Russian targets begins with the air defenses,” he stresses.

Disrupting Russia and destroying its key targets makes their restoration costly and difficult.

Impact on Russia’s defense capabilities

Destroying such targets significantly complicates the operation of Russian air defense, reducing its effectiveness against airstrikes, missile attacks, and drones. This is a strategic step in the demilitarization of temporarily occupied Crimea and in preparing for subsequent operations by Ukrainian forces.

The White House has urged European countries to follow the US and impose restrictive measures on India for its purchases of Russian oil, which fund the war in Ukraine, India Today reports. 

US tariffs on Indian goods

In August 2025, the US raised tariffs on goods from India up to 50%, criticizing New Delhi for supporting Russia’s economic machinery. At the same time, Washington has not imposed sanctions on China, the main sponsor of the war and Moscow’s key economic partner.

A Russian drone caught filming its own camera test in a Chinese factory before being shot down in Ukraine

Europe continues to buy Russian energy

India has criticized the US decision, pointing out double standards: Europe itself continues to purchase oil from Russia. EU–Russia trade in 2024 reached €67.5 billion in goods and €17.2 billion in services. Europe also imported a record 16.5 million tons of Russian LNG, the highest number since 2022.

Sanctions do not cover key Russian exports

Many critical Russian exports remain unrestricted, including palladium for the US automotive industry, uranium for nuclear power plants, fertilizers, chemicals, metals, and equipment.

Sources report that Trump also pressured India to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. After being rejected, he responded with tariffs. This has prompted India to strengthen its ties with China and reinforced so-called anti-American cooperation among the so-called “axis of upheaval” countries.

Today, the US administration seeks to have Europe join in sanction pressure on New Delhi if India does not stop buying Russian oil.

“Do not repeat the mistakes of World War II.” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called on international allies to act decisively and resist Russian aggression.

Remembering the lessons of history

Sybiha recalled that on 1 September 1939, Hitler attacked Poland, soon joined by Stalin, initiating the bloodiest war in history.

“Today it is extremely important to remember what led to that day: weakness and naive faith that territorial concessions would ‘appease’ the aggressor,” the Ukrainian foreign minister noted.

Responsibility for the World War II disaster

The minister emphasized that the Nazi Third Reich bears full responsibility for the war, but there were also those who “allowed this evil to grow stronger—avoiding difficult decisions and favoring weakness over strength.”

According to Sybiha, the best way to honor the memory of tens of millions of victims is not to repeat the same mistakes today.

Allies’ unity and support for Ukraine

Sybiga stressed that the unity of allies, pressure on the Russian aggressor, and consistent support for Ukraine are critically important for Europe’s security and long-term peace.

“Strength and determination today are the guarantee of future security and peace in Europe,” he added.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump proposed that Ukraine consider territorial concessions to Russia as part of ending the war. His proposal involved Ukraine relinquishing control over Donetsk Oblast to Russia, in exchange for Russia agreeing to freeze the front lines and halt further advances. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy firmly rejected any proposal to cede Ukrainian land to Russia. He emphasized Ukraine’s sovereignty and constitutional prohibition on surrendering territory to the occupier. 

“Getting used to war is the greatest victory of the empire of evil from the East.” At Westerplatte in Gdańsk, during the ceremony marking the 86th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz called on the world to remember the lessons of history and resist Russian aggression, PAP reports. 

Poland: Support for Ukraine is a matter of national security

Kosiniak-Kamysz reminded that Poles cannot ignore the war against Ukraine.

“People and children are dying there. Bombs are falling on nurseries, kindergartens, and hospitals,” said the minister.

According to him, beyond civilizational, humanitarian, and Christian reasons to support Ukraine, there is another — the security of Poland itself.

Historical experience and national duty

The minister recalled that throughout history, Poles have often paid a high price for freedom.

“Supporting Ukrainian soldiers is the Polish reason for existence, Poland’s national interest, and Poland’s security,” he declared.

Kosiniak-Kamysz acknowledged that sensitivity tends to fade over time, but the state duty cannot be destroyed by fatigue or despair. He stressed that this is also a debt to the memory of the Polish soldiers who defended Westerplatte.

For the first time in history, the Ukrainian company Kyivstar has entered the American NASDAQ stock exchange. Now the name of Ukraine’s capital resonates in the world’s financial center, with shares trading under the ticker KYIV, says Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov.

How the state changed the rules of the game

Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov emphasizes that this success became possible thanks to reforms in the telecom sector. In recent years:

• laws were adopted to speed up the allocation of land plots for networks;
• permits for mobile towers are now issued in 25 days instead of 2 years.
• base stations are kept running even during power outages.
• conditions were created for the launch of 5G and the EU-wide “roam like at home”,
• new frequency licenses were issued, connecting millions of Ukrainians to the internet.
• 4G coverage was expanded to more than 9,000 settlements.

Nasdaq and Kyivstar: a breakthrough for Ukrainian business

Now a Ukrainian company stands alongside giants — Apple, Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon. It sends a strong signal to global investors: even during war, Ukraine can carry out breakthrough business deals.

Investment boom in telecom

Kyivstar’s entry to Nasdaq is not the only milestone.

• Lifecell has attracted the French company NJJ Holding.
• Vodafone, together with Nokia and Finnvera, is investing tens of millions into networks and testing 5G.
• Kyivstar, in partnership with Starlink and SpaceX, is launching Direct-to-Cell, an advanced satellite communication technology.

Ukrainian telecom has proven that despite war, infrastructure losses, and constant shelling, it can develop and integrate into the global economy.

Ukrainian intelligence forces have delivered a powerful strike against the occupiers’ military infrastructure in temporarily occupied Crimea. The special unit Phantoms destroyed several expensive Russian air-defense and radar systems, the agency reports.

Phantoms strike at Russia’s defenses

According to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate, the elite unit continues systematically dismantling Russia’s air-defense network. The Phantoms are tasked with precision strikes against radar complexes, logistics hubs, and enemy military infrastructure.

What has been destroyed?

Ukrainian forces knocked out unique Russian systems, including:

• radar complex “Utyos-T”;
• the giant radio telescope RT-70;
• GLONASS satellite navigation system (Russia’s equivalent of GPS);
• coastal radar MR-10M1 “Mys” M1;
• 96L6-AP radar from the S-400 air-defense system.

Consequences for the occupiers

The loss of these systems seriously complicates the work of Russian air defense on the peninsula. Without key radars and navigation, the occupiers are left far more vulnerable to strikes by Ukrainian missiles, aircraft, and drones.

“The demilitarization of temporarily occupied Crimea continues!” Ukraine’s military intelligence emphasizes.

The Russian private military company Wagner is experiencing serious setbacks in Mali: around two thousand fighters failed to improve security or control resources as they did in the Central African Republic. Instead of fighting jihadists, the mercenaries clashed with the Malian army, which only increased violence, reports the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine. 

Goïta junta and Kremlin plan failures

After the 2021 coup, power in Mali was seized by a junta led by Assimi Goïta, who hoped for effective cooperation with Russian mercenaries. Instead, the JNIM network (Al-Qaeda in the Sahel) continues to strengthen its position in the region, and civilian casualties rose from 736 per year to over 3,000 in 2022–2024. Notably, 80% of deaths were caused not by jihadists but by the local army and Wagner forces.

Internal conflicts: violence, disobedience, and racism

Relations between Russian mercenaries and Malian forces sharply deteriorated: reports show disobedience to orders, equipment theft, and acts of racism. In August, repression targeted dozens of officers who disagreed with Wagner methods. Civilians subjected to terror refuse to cooperate with the mercenaries.

Kremlin fails to control resources

Unlike in Sudan and the CAR, Russia did not gain access to mineral resources, including gold mines. Goïta rejected Moscow’s demands and is seeking alternative partners for security and resource extraction.

Armin Papperger, head of German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall, said Ukraine will soon receive its first ammunition from a new plant in Unterlüß, Lower Saxony, Deutsche Welle reports. 

First deliveries and 2026 plans

This year, 25,000 shells will be sent to Ukraine. The factory could produce 150,000 or more next year.

“We will increase production to 350,000 for Germany and Ukraine. Next year, we can deliver at least 100,000, and later possibly 200,000 shells to Ukraine,” Papperger noted.

Ukrainian plant: plans and challenges

Rheinmetall is building a similar factory in Ukraine, but bureaucracy is slowing the process.

“I discussed this with Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal. I told him: it can be done in 14 months. Currently, the civilian part isn’t ready; a concept is needed,” the CEO explained.

He added that the plant could be ready in 12–14 months if organizational issues are resolved.

Drones in Ukraine

The company also plans to invest in drone production — not small quadcopters, but larger, high-tech systems.

“If there are opportunities — we will do it,” Papperger added.

Instead of peace: parades, missiles, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in China on a four-day visit, RBC reports. 

He was invited by Xi Jinping to a military parade marking the anniversary of the end of World War II. This comes just as US President Donald Trump’s deadline for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop the war is expiring.

Trump’s deadline and Russia’s new attacks

The American president gave Putin two weeks to decide on negotiations.

SCO Summit in China: Who’s attending?

Beyond the parade, Putin will participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, scheduled from 31 August to 1 September in Tianjin. The SCO includes Russia, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus.

More than 20 world leaders are expected. The Kremlin dictator plans to meet with Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A Russian drone caught filming its own camera test in a Chinese factory before being shot down in Ukraine

India between China and the US

Earlier, Trump imposed tariffs on India over its imports of Russian oil, which fuels Moscow’s war machine. This sparked outrage in Delhi, which pointed out that Europe continues buying Russian oil without facing sanctions.

According to The New York Times, Trump also pressured India to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. After Delhi refused, he retaliated with tariffs.

Against this backdrop, India may strengthen cooperation with Russia and China, both key players in the oil and gas market, and part of the “axis of upheaval”, the growing anti-American collaboration between the nations. 

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.

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. 

Support our media in wartime your help fuels every story

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.

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.”

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

 

Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets commented on Russia’s intention to withdraw from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture. He stressed that such a move demonstrates the Kremlin’s disregard for human rights and paves the way for even greater crimes against Ukrainians.

Russia leaves the convention: what it means

Recently, Moscow has announced its withdrawal from the European Torture Convention, which not only prohibits torture but also provides for monitoring of places of detention. Previously, this was carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture.

According to Lubinets, this decision has several dangerous consequences:

• avoiding international monitoring of torture in prisons and in temporarily occupied territories;
• the loss of legal and judicial mechanisms of pressure on Russia;
• the effective removal of responsibility before the Council of Europe.

“The aggressor state shows that it does not care about human rights and no longer recognizes European norms,” the Ukrainian ombudsman stated.

Threat of mass human rights violations

Russia, which for years has carried out arbitrary detentions, torture, and violence against prisoners of war and civilians, is now officially refusing even its formal international obligations.

Ukrainian journalist abducted from his garden in 2022 returns from Russian captivity weighing less than 45 kg

Lubinets stressed that impunity only breeds new crimes and creates a threat to the global rule of law.

“Such actions by Russia create risks of widespread human rights violations, especially during armed conflicts,” he noted.

What the world must do

Despite Russia’s withdrawal, other international mechanisms remain. Lubinets emphasized the importance of:

• using the UN Convention against Torture;
• cooperating with the International Committee of the Red Cross;
• documenting Russia’s crimes and transferring them to the International Criminal Court;
• imposing sanctions against those involved in torture.

“Torture is part of Russia’s state policy,” Lubinets concluded.

The European Union is developing new sanctions to increase pressure on Russia’s weak war economy, Politico reports. However, the upcoming measures will not target Russian energy sales, which continue to finance Moscow’s war against Ukraine.

Focus on “shadow fleet” and sanctions evasion

European diplomats say the 19th package, expected next month, will target ships of the “shadow fleet” and companies helping Russia bypass existing sanctions.

Secondary sanctions against firms or countries doing business with Moscow could have the greatest impact, but their effectiveness will depend on US cooperation.

US pressure and Trump’s role

Experts note that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to talks with US President Donald Trump in Alaska after the US imposed high tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. Next steps could include tighter restrictions on Russia-China trade. Trump hinted at possible “massive sanctions or tariffs” if Moscow does not support peace negotiations.

EU constraints and upcoming summit

“We don’t expect there will be much room for any material Russian oil sanctions in the EU’s 19th sanctions package,” said ICIS analyst Ajay Parmar.

 EU foreign ministers will meet at an informal summit later this week to discuss additional economic measures. While Slovakia and Hungary oppose expanding sanctions, diplomats are confident a unified stance can be achieved.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot has announced his country will provide Ukraine with batch of F-16 fighter jets in coming months, Novini.Live reports. 

Belgium has pledged 30 F-16s by 2028—more than any other single donor. These American-made aircraft symbolize Ukraine’s modernization and its fight to reclaim the skies.

Yet as of mid-2025, none have been delivered. Officially, the delay is due to Belgium’s own transition from F-16s to newer F-35s. 

Ukraine support from Benelux

Prévot’s statements came at the Ukraine–Benelux meeting in Odesa on 26 August with foreign ministers from Belgium, Luxembourg, and a representative from the Netherlands. During the event, the leaders reaffirmed support for Ukraine and emphasized the importance of holding a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression.

Belgium’s contribution: F-16s, drones, and demining

Prévot also said Belgium has trained more than 3,000 Ukrainian military personnel and technicians, provided drones, allocated €20 million to the Ukrainian Grain Initiative, and plans to complete Black Sea demining by 2029.

“I remember the drawings Ukrainian children gave me in Rome. They remind us that this struggle is not just about borders but also the dreams and dignity of a new generation,” Prévot stated.

Joint statement on “grain corridors”

Following the meeting, the officials confirmed in a joint statement:

• Assistance in rebuilding schools, hospitals, and energy infrastructure in Ukraine;
• Financial, military, and humanitarian support “as long as needed”;
• Protection of grain routes in the Black Sea, vital for global food security.

Russia may help China prepare for a new war. Moscow is transferring technologies to Beijing to develop a command-and-control system for amphibious operations, codenamed Sword. DefenseMirror reports that analysts believe this could be a part of preparation for a Taiwan invasion and an attempt to stretch Western forces to different conflicts across the globe. 

Rosoboronexport’s contract with China

In June 2024, Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport signed a €4.284 million contract with China’s CETC International.

Moscow is supplying technical documentation for a troop management system covering both hardware and software: command-and-staff vehicles, communications systems, field command posts, amphibious combat vehicles, and personal equipment.

Real-time coordination

The system is designed to ensure seamless data transfer and real-time coordination at all levels, from corps command to individual soldiers.

Sword will be integrated into Chinese CSK131A Dongfeng Mengshi armored vehicles. It will display friendly and enemy positions and direct artillery and air support via digital tablets.

Training the PLA

According to the leak, prototypes are being built and tested at training grounds. Meanwhile, 60 PLA soldiers are undergoing instruction: 152 hours of lectures, 130 group sessions, and 150 practical exercises with R-187VE, R-188E, and InmarSat-BGAN Explorer 727 radios. Part of the training is held at the Tulatotchmash plant, using simulators.

Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence has uncovered major corruption scheme in Russia’s 83rd Guards Air Assault Brigade. Commanders fabricated wounds and military awards, siphoning off nearly $2.5 million.

Dozens of Russian soldiers killed in the war against Ukraine remain officially listed as “missing in action.”

“This allows Russia’s defense ministry to withhold compensation from their families. Meanwhile, senior officers enrich themselves through falsified heroics and staged injuries,” the intelligence agency explains.

Fake wounds, fabricated valor

One of the most striking cases concerns Lt. Col. Konstantin Frolov, head of a special operations group. Records state he was wounded four times and awarded four Orders of Courage and two Medals “For Valor.” Russian state media even broadcast stories of his “bravery.”

In reality, Frolov was deliberately shot by his comrades in non-vital areas to sustain fake wounds.

Another 30 Russian soldiers also claimed sham injuries to avoid frontline duty and secure benefits.

Profit above all

While officers enjoyed hospital stays, collecting salaries, bonuses, and illegal payouts, families of the dead were left without support, the intelligence agency adds. For Russia’s commanders, war became a business, built on fabricated feats and counterfeit wounds.

As of 2.20 PM, all miners are now being brought to the surface. Power has been restored, and people are being evacuated from two mines. 

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian shelling cut power to the mines of the Dobropillia community. 148 miners remain trapped underground, says Mykhailo Volynets, head of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine.

Dobropillia — the industrial heart of Donbas

Dobropillia, located in Pokrovsk district of Donetsk Oblast, is an industrial center of a major coal region. The city is known for some of the largest coal deposits in Ukraine and gained city status in 1953.

War and infrastructure destruction

During Russia’s aggression, Dobropillia became a zone of active combat. Regular shelling has damaged residential areas, social infrastructure, water supply, and power networks, making life difficult for local residents.

Miners underground: critical situation

Due to the power outage, the mines remain without electricity. According to DTEK, Ukraine’s top energy company, the Russian attack hit a mine, killing one person and injuring three people. 

Tensions have flared between Moscow and its key ally, the one that has given unprecedented support in the killing of Ukrainians. During the Iran–Israel war in June 2025, the Kremlin passed information to Israel about Iran’s air defense centers, says Seyyed Mohammad Sadr, a member of Iran’s Expediency Council, Al Arabiya reports.

Alliance cracking at seams

“This war proved the uselessness of the strategic alliance with Moscow,” Sadr claims, stressing that the Kremlin essentially failed to support Tehran during its conflict with Israel.

Even when Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Moscow on 23 June requesting air defense systems and assistance for nuclear facilities, Russia limited itself to verbal condemnation of Israel’s attacks, according to Asriran. 

Support our media in wartime your help fuels every story

The visit happened during the Russia-US negotiations over Ukraine and when US President Donald Trump’s administation regarded Moscow as potential partner, which could secure Iranian nuclear technology. 

Russia emerges as potential mediator in Trump’s new Iran nuclear deal talks

Putin and Pezeshkian: strategic partnership on paper

In January 2025, the presidents of Russia and Iran, Vladimir Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian, signed a “strategic partnership” treaty in Moscow, which the Kremlin called “groundbreaking.”

However, during the war with Israel it became clear that Moscow was not ready to actually defend its ally. Moreover, back in 2024, Israel destroyed all Russian S-300 systems in Iran, while the promised S-400s were never delivered.

InformNapalm and Militant Intelligence experts have uncovered evidence of cooperation between a Polish aircraft plant and Russia’s defense-industrial complex. They have obtained documents confirming schemes to bypass sanctions, international contracts, and Moscow’s financial operations.

---

Plant in Łódź under scrutiny

At the center of the scandal is the Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze nr 1 aircraft plant in Łódź. The enterprise specializes in the repair and modernization of Soviet-era helicopters Mi-2, Mi-8 (17), Mi-14, and Mi-24. In recent years, it has also worked with equipment from Western manufacturers such as Sikorsky, AgustaWestland, and Eurocopter.

The plant services both the Polish Armed Forces and private clients, making it an important player in the European aviation sector.

---

€1.2 million transferred to Russia

According to the disclosed documents, on 20 January 2022, the enterprise transferred more than €926,000 to the account of the Russian company “Russian Helicopters” via Sberbank.

Just days later, on 26 January, another payment of over €319,000 followed. In total, Russia received nearly €1.2 million, less than a month before its all-out war against Ukraine.

---

Sanctions violations and support for the Kremlin

Experts emphasize that even if the payments were intended for the purchase of specific helicopter components used by NATO countries, such cooperation effectively supported Russia’s defense sector.

The transferred funds became direct financial assistance to the Kremlin’s defense industry, which was already preparing for a major war against Ukraine.

Ukraine moves closer to a $50 million drone deal with the US. On 25 August, Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal met with US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg in Kyiv to discuss the frontline situation, weapons production, and joint defense projects.

Drone deal: 10 million drones per year

Ukraine proposed joint drone production with the US worth $50 billion over five years. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the deal envisions producing 10 million drones annually, making it one of the largest defense initiatives worldwide.

The deal includes not only bulk procurement of Ukrainian drones but also the development of joint technologies to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities. The political decision was made by Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump in Washington, Glavcom reports.

Recently, Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk has confirmed plans to finalize the landmark deal: Ukraine will sell its domestically developed drones and, in return, receive advanced US weapons. Kyiv offers partners unique technologies, security products, and defense expertise.

Support our media in wartime your help fuels every story

US support and NATO cooperation

Defense Minister Shmyhal thanked General Kellogg and the American for leadership and support, emphasizing that “it helps save lives and brings a just peace closer.”

He also praised the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List initiative, which allows NATO countries to rapidly supply critical US weapons and technology.

Boosting production and security guarantees

Shmyhal also briefed Kellogg on Ukraine’s defense priorities: ramping up ammunition and drone production to halt the aggressor’s offensive. Joint projects in this area help more efficiently equip Ukrainian soldiers.

They also discussed creating reliable security guarantees to prevent future aggression against Ukraine, developed in close cooperation with international partners.

Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office reports it has completed the pre-trial investigation and sent an indictment to the High Anti-Corruption Court against ex-Defense Ministry officials and representatives of a private company. They are accused of stealing millions of dollars in a large military procurement scheme. 

Case details

According to Ukrainian prosecutors, in August 2022, the officials, together with representatives of the enterprise, concluded a state contract to purchase 100,000 mortar rounds.

The full contract, amounting to over $36 million, was transferred, but the supplier delayed delivery, while the required weapons have never reached the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Crime classification

The actions of the accused individuals have been qualified under Part 5, Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which is misappropriation of another’s property on an especially large scale, committed by an organized group.

Details regarding two other suspects were separated into individual proceedings due to their being at large.

Investigation and oversight

The pre-trial investigation was conducted by the Main Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine with operational support from the SBU’s Department for the Protection of National Statehood.

A Ukrainian political prisoner burst into tears after his return home after seven years in a Russian colony. Kostiantyn Davidenko finally set foot on Ukrainian soil on 24 August as part of the 68th prisoner exchange.

Serving such a long sentence is remarkable, as many prisoners die in Russian captivity within a year or two due to lack of medical care, torture with electric shocks, and the absence of adequate food.

Long captivity and an unjust sentence

On 11 February 2018, the Russian FSB detained Davidenko in Simferopol. On 6 June 2019, the so-called “Supreme Court” of Crimea sentenced him to 10.5 years in a high-security colony, accusing him of spying for Ukraine, UkrInform reports.

Russian intelligence claimed he was allegedly gathering information on the activities of Russian National Guard units and FSB personnel.

A vital signal for other political prisoners

“This is an important signal for others who have lost hope and waited for years — you will come home,” Ihor Kotelyanets, head of the NGO Association of Relatives of Kremlin Political Prisoners, emphasizes. 

He adds that hundreds of Ukrainians imprisoned in Russia since 2014 still need to be rescued, including Hennadiy Lymeshko, Halyna Dovhopola, Valentyn Vyhivskyi, Volodymyr Yakymenko, Victor Shur, and the Abdullaiev brothers.

Davidenko’s words upon return

Stepping onto Ukrainian soil, Davidenko said, “Ukraine is bringing its people home. But many others, imprisoned in Russia since 2014, 2015, or 2016, are still there. They need to be here.”

This exchange is further proof that Ukraine is systematically working to return its citizens from captivity, including those unlawfully imprisoned before the all-out war.

Ukraine’s new guided bomb was spotted at the Defence Cooperation Forum. Future Warfare held in Kyiv on 24 August. As Ukrainian authorities were showing their latest innovations to their Western allies, the compact aerial bomb attracted attention from Defense Express experts.

Domestic innovation on the international stage

President Volodymyr Zelensky and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney attended the presentation, reviewing the newest developments from Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex.

The experts noted that the new bomb closely resembles the Turkish MAM-L, long used with Bayraktar TB2 drones.

Features of the Ukrainian air bomb

• Stabilizers and control surfaces are similar to the MAM-L.
• A protruding top section, likely for pylon attachment.
• The rear section includes a unique module absent in the Turkish version.
• The texture of the body and stabilizers suggest the possibility of 3D printing production.

Specifications still under wraps

Detailed technical data remain unknown, but analysts expect the new munition to significantly enhance the effectiveness of Ukraine’s airstrikes.

Ukraine once again becomes the center of global security. On Independence Day, August 24, the Defence Cooperation Forum. Future Warfare was held in Kyiv, according to the Ukraine’s Defense Ministry. 

The significance of this event for Ukraine is underscored by the fact that the main session was chaired by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy with the participation of international partners. The forum was held in a shelter. 

World leaders on the future of war

The defense ministers of Denmark, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Sweden, representatives of the United Kingdom, Estonia, and the Czech Republic, as well as delegates from the EU and NATO, attended the forum. 

Key issues of modern defense were discussed:

• digitalization of the military sphere,
• innovations,
• The use of artificial intelligence in warfare.

Ukraine as part of Europe’s collective security

“We will be part of the European Union and an integral part of joint security strategies. It is now important to more closely integrate our defense industries to solve common tasks,” Ukraine’s Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal emphasized. 

Build in Ukraine: a new format of cooperation

Ukraine called on partners to join the Build in Ukraine program, which provides for the creation of:

• factories and service centers,
• production lines,
• joint projects with domestic manufacturers — from co-design to licensed production.

“We are strong because we are together. United by goals and values, we will win, defend Ukraine and the free world,” the defense minister stated.

“This is the end of Starlink internet for Ukraine.” Poland’s Digital Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski has sharply criticized President Karol Nawrocki’s decision to veto a law on assistance to Ukrainians who fled Russia’s war. 

According to Gawkowski, the president’s veto effectively blocks providing Ukraine with internet access via Starlink and halts support for storing data from the Ukrainian state administration in secure Polish data centers.

“Karol Nawrocki is shutting down the Internet for Ukraine with his decision… This is the end of Starlink internet, which Poland provides to Ukraine, waging war.

This is also the end of support for storing Ukrainian administration data in a safe place,” says Gawkowski. 

“A gift to the Kremlin”

Gawkowski has stressed that this step plays into Russia’s hands. 

“I can’t imagine a better gift for Putin’s troops than cutting off Ukraine from the internet, which the President has just decided,” he claims. 

Politics versus security

The deputy prime minister appealed to the president, urging him to stop using veto power as a political weapon.

“Mr. President – you must stop blindly throwing punches at the government in the name of political fighting. You are harming people who are fighting for their independence and at the same time helping Russia,” Gawkowski concludes. 

Earlier, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said Kyiv tested the revolutionary Starlink Direct to Cell technology for the first time.

It allows smartphones to connect directly to satellites without special antennas or equipment. The technology could keep communications running even during massive attacks and blackouts. 

Kyiv sends first wartime text via new Starlink’s tech — no Russian-made blackout can interrupt it

A strike at the heart of Russia’s gas empire! Ukrainian forces hit a gas processing complex in Russia’s Ust-Luga, Leningrad Oblast, a strategic facility of the aggressor country in the Baltic region, according to Armiia TV. 

Target and consequences of the strike

“Ukrainian drones struck the gas processing complex of Novatek, the largest liquefied gas producer in Russia. The hit targeted the cryogenic fractionation unit for gas condensate/gas, which is the ‘heart’ of the facility’s technological processes,” the sources say.

https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPress/status/1959687499850330484

This is the second successful attack on the Ust-Luga port in 2025, the first occurring in early January.

Support our media in wartime your help fuels every story

Strategic importance of Ust-Luga’s object

“Ust-Luga is Russia’s largest maritime hub in the Baltic. Shadow fleet, sanctioned oil — everything passes through there,” Lieutenant Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, stated. 

Thanks to precise drone strikes, the operation disrupted the work of a key Russian logistics hub supplying liquefied gas and oil to external markets.

Key takeaways:

• Ukrainian forces have regained control over Novomykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast, driving out the occupiers and consolidating their positions.
• The operation was carried out by units of the Active Measures Department of the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the special unit “Artan,” and the 2nd Assault Battalion of the Third Assault Brigade
• Ukrainian flags are returning to the territory under Ukrainian control.

Novomykhailivka is under the Ukrainian flag again! Ukrainian forces restored control over the settlement in Donetsk Oblast, expelling the Russians and securing strategic positions.

Although according to British intelligence assessments, the village has limited military significance, it is a key point on the way to more important targets such as Kurakhove and Kostiantynivka. The prolonged battles for Novomykhailivka lasted several months, during which Russian forces suffered heavy losses in personnel and equipment.

According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine (HUR), the successful offensive operation was carried out by units of the Active Measures Department of HUR, including the special group “Artan,” as well as the 2nd Assault Battalion of the Third Assault Brigade.

“Novomykhailivka is under Ukrainian control!” the intelligence agency reports. 

The announcement came on Ukraine’s Independence Day, on 24 August. 

Tactics and outcome of the operation

According to intelligence, the enemy was caught off guard. Ukrainian units coordinated the use of assault groups, heavy equipment, and drones. As a result, the occupiers lost about a company of personnel and were forced to redeploy reserves from other parts of the front.

“Thanks to the coordinated actions of assault units and heavy equipment, as well as the use of drones, Ukrainian forces improved their tactical position and strengthened defense in the area,” the intelligence agency notes.

Earlier, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Ukrainian defenders successfully conducted counterattacks in Donetsk Oblast, liberating three settlements from the occupiers – Mykhailivka, Zelenyi Hai, and Volodymyrivka.

“I once again express my deep gratitude to our brothers- and sisters-in-arms for their actions during these critical, decisive days,” he said.

Former Kherson Mayor Volodymyr Mykolaienko has returned from Russian captivity as part of a prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia on Ukraine’s Independence Day, Suspilne reports. 

His release coincided with the day before his mother’s birthday, making it especially significant for the family.

“It’s the greatest celebration we could have. We are all crying with joy and happiness. We can’t calm down, answering all calls,” his niece, Hanna Korshun-Samchuk, shared. 

Mykolaienko immediately called his wife, and his first words were: “Glory to Ukraine.”

Time behind bars 

Russian forces abducted Mykolaienko on 18 April 2022, following threats from local collaborators. For a long time, his whereabouts were unknown until the International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed his detention.

Mykolaienko served as Kherson’s mayor from 2014 to 2020 and was active in local Euromaidan protests supporting Ukraine’s European integration.

---

Heroic decision in captivity

According to Andrii Yermak, Head of the President’s Office, Mykolaienko had the chance to return from captivity in 2022 but refused to save a critically ill cellmate first.

“Many young people break under this pressure. People of older age survived much, and the main task of the Russian authorities is to destroy us physically and morally. They are succeeding at it,” Mykolaienko said in his first address to the public after the release. 

Meanwhile, another Kherson mayor is still captive in Russia

After Volodymyr Mykolaienko, who served as Kherson’s mayor before the all-out war, Ihor Kolykhaiev was elected as the city’s mayor. He led Kherson until the Russian occupation in 2022, after which he was abducted by Russian forces.

Former Russian prisoner reveals he saw kidnapped Kherson mayor in FSB prison

On 25 April 2022, Russian forces seized the Kherson City Council building, and by 26 April, they installed their own “city government.” Kolyhaiev remained in the city, working remotely until his kidnapping on 28 June 2022.

Several reports have indicated that Ihor Kolykhaiev has serious health problems and is being subjected to torture while in Russian captivity, according to Kavun. He spent over a year in Taganrog, according to the Coordination Headquarters, before being transferred deeper into Russia. This is the latest information on the mayor as of February.

Ukraine brings heroes home

On 24 August 2025, Ukraine, on its Independence Day, completed a combined prisoner exchange, returning both military personnel and civilians. According to Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for Prisoner Affairs, the United Arab Emirates assisted in the release of civilians.

Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said that Ukraine was also involving Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in efforts to accelerate the return of illegally deported Ukrainian children stolen by Russian forces. 

“Thank you to the UAE for their help. Thank you to everyone whose work makes it possible for our people to return,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated. 

Who has been returned? 

• As agreed in Istanbul, Ukrainian forces and eight civilians were released, including:
• Soldiers from the Air Assault, Air Force, and Navy units
• Defenders from the Territorial Defense, the National Guard, and the Border Service
• Enlisted and NCO personnel, most of whom spent over three years in captivity
• Two journalists: Dmytro Khilyuk and Mark Kaliushk
• Medic Serhii Kovaliov of the “Hospitallers” battalion.

   

• Former Kherson mayor Volodymyr Mykolaienko

“Also returning home is the former mayor of Kherson, Volodymyr Mykolaienko, who refused to collaborate with the occupiers,” the coordination headquarters added.

According to the Russian military, 146 Russian soldiers returned to Russia in exchange for 146 Ukrainian soldiers. In addition, 8 residents of the Kursk Oblast also returned to Russia, the ministry specifies.

Where did they serve?

The returning personnel had defended strategic locations across Mariupol, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, Sumy, and the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, with many coming from temporarily occupied territories and Crimea.

Reintegration and support

Released persons will receive medical care, examinations, treatment, state benefits, rehabilitation, and societal reintegration. Special thanks were extended to the UAE for facilitating the release of civilian citizens.

The Coordination Headquarters adds that it will continue working to locate and return every Ukrainian held in Russian captivity.

Earlier, Ukraine brought back home the last defender of Zmiinyi or Zmiinyi (Snake) Island. Vitalii Hyrenko returned home after spending more than three years in Russian captivity.

The defenders of Zmiinyi Island in the Black Sea became known in 2022 for the now-iconic phrase: “Russian warship, go f*ck yourself.” Ukrainian border guards stationed on the island received a demand to surrender from Russian warships.

---

Russia’s Rubicon drone unit emerges as major threat to Ukraine

Over the past year, Russia’s elite Rubicon electronic warfare and drone-hunting unit has grown into one of the most dangerous adversaries for Ukraine, says Mariia Berlinska, a Ukrainian military volunteer. 

How does Rubicon operate?

Launched in August 2024 with only a few hundred specialists, the unit has scaled quickly and is projected to reach 5,000–6,000 members by fall 2025.

Its strength lies in systematic organization and heavy investment:

• selective recruitment of top personnel,
• extensive training and supply,
• modern radio-controlled systems able to bypass Ukrainian EW (electronic warfare),
• abundant financing that fuels rapid growth.

Already, Rubicon drones are striking Ukrainian convoys, armored vehicles, and supply depots, disrupting frontline logistics.

Ukraine’s options for response

Analysts argue that Kyiv must act urgently:

1. Create an “Anti-Rubicon” unit to directly hunt Russian drone crews.
2. Adopt and replicate enemy methods, just as Russia has copied Ukrainian FPV drones, fiber-optic systems, and air-defense concepts.
3. Appoint “technology managers” in every brigade, tasked with collecting, analyzing, and disseminating the most effective innovations, both domestic and captured.

Setback but ongoing threat

In August 2025, Ukrainian forces struck “Rubicon’s” command post and a large ammunition depot in Donetsk region, dealing a blow to its operations. However, the expert warns the unit remains a systemic threat. 

“This is a system. And on most Ukrainian fronts, we still have chaos,” notes Berlinska.

Without urgent reforms and better coordination, Ukraine risks losing more of its highly skilled drone operators — a loss that no amount of hardware can replace.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has categorically dismissed the idea of involving China as a potential security guarantor for Ukraine. Liga reports that he believes a state that effectively helps Russia wage war cannot take on obligations to protect Kyiv. 

Zelenskyy: “China did not help stop the war”

“First of all, China did not help us stop this war from the very beginning,” Zelenskyy stressed, recalling that Beijing took no action in 2014 when Russia occupied Crimea.

The Ukrainian president also added that China supplied drones to Russia, which Moscow has used against Ukraine.

Ukraine needs guarantees only from genuine allies

“We do not need guarantors who have not helped Ukraine, and who did not help when it really mattered after 24 February,” Zelenskyy said.

He emphasized that security guarantees can only be provided by countries willing to offer real assistance—military, economic, and political.

China and Russia: Partners in war against Ukraine

China is currently Russia’s largest trading partner. Up to 90% of components for Russian high-tech weapons are supplied by China. This weaponry has already claimed the lives of over 13,800 Ukrainian civilians.

Official data show that trade between Moscow and Beijing reached $125.8 billion from January to July 2025 alone.

China has already responded through Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, who referred to the war against Ukraine as a “crisis” while avoiding labeling Russia as the aggressor.

“China has always held an objective and just position … China stands ready to play a constructive role to that end,” she said.

Colonel Markus Reisner, head of the Officer Training Institute at the Theresian Military Academy, says that over the past three and a half years, the European defense industry has produced nothing comparable to Ukraine’s FP-5 “Flamingo” cruise missile, UkrInform reports. 

FP-5 combined with FP-1 drones

Reisner emphasizes that for true effectiveness, the missile must be equipped with electronic countermeasure systems and decoys to bypass Russian air defense systems. Its maximum speed is 950 km/h, the cruising speed is 850–900 km/h, and the wingspan is 6 meters.

At the same time, it should be deployed alongside massive FP-1 drone strikes, which help penetrate Russian air defenses.

Mass production of Ukraine’s new FP-5 Flamingo missiles — reportedly with a 3,000 km range and a 1,000 kg warhead.

Channel5UA pic.twitter.com/lclbyN0NZJ

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) August 21, 2025

Ukraine plans to produce 3,000 FP-1 drones per month, roughly 100 units per day, matching Russia’s daily output of Geran-2 drones. Due to its lightweight, low-cost design, each FP-1 costs €50–60k, which is relatively cheap. 

Support our media in wartime your help fuels every story

“Flamingo” sends strategic signal to the Kremlin amid peace talks

According to Reisner, Ukraine is signaling its readiness to seize the initiative ahead of potential new rounds of negotiations.

“The message to Russia is clear: we will soon deliver massive strikes deep inside Russian territory,” the expert adds.

A cargo ship flying the Russian flag, Port Olya 4, transporting ammunition and drone equipment from Iran, partially sank after a Ukrainian drone strike on 14 August, the UK Ministry of Defense reports, citing satellite imagery.

 

The targeted vessel, identified as Port Olya 4, was reportedly loaded with Shahed-type drone components and ammunition.

Support our media in wartime your help fuels every story

Ukraine strikes deep into Russia

Analysts note that the successful attack on a vessel located approximately 640 km from Ukraine demonstrates the effectiveness of regular deep-drone strikes carried out by Ukrainian forces into Russian territory.

Russian air defenses face difficulties in protecting both military and industrial targets from Ukrainian drones.

Iran supplies drones and ammunition to Russia

According to British intelligence, Iran has supplied Russia with artillery shells, ballistic missiles, and combat drones, as well as supported domestic UAV production. However, in 2025, Russia’s reliance on Iranian assistance likely decreased due to the growth of its own drone production.

Ukrainian forces destroy the “brains” of Russia’s elite drone unit Rubicon in Donetsk Oblast. Kyiv troops delivered a precise strike on the unmanned aerial command post of the unit, destroying a large ammunition depot, the General Staff of the Armed Forces reports. 

Ukrainian forces struck a number of important Russian targets in Donetsk Oblast

A command post of the Russian elite “Rubikon” UAV unit and a large ammunition depot were targeted General Staff pic.twitter.com/6lsE53FJ71

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) August 22, 2025

“Rubicon” — Kremlin’s elite drone project

The Rubicon unit was created only in August 2024, but quickly became one of Russia’s most dangerous high-tech formations. It brought together the most skilled personnel, effective command, and virtually unlimited funding.

Russia has been deploying Rubicon with several hundred to several thousand fighters, aiming to expand its operations across the entire frontline, according to Army Inform. 

Azov commander: “After Rubicon appeared, it got tougher”

The commander of the Azov Brigade’s unmanned systems battalion, call sign Bud, told Radio NV:

“They caused us obvious problems, primarily with logistics. I think when they entered this direction, their clear mission was to hit our supply lines as much as possible.”

Since Rubicon’s appearance, the situation for Ukrainian units has become more complicated, as the Russians actively target transport and supply routes.

A strategic success for Ukraine

Experts note that the loss of Rubicon’s command post could significantly slow the development of this Russian project.

“The combat work of missile troops and artillery continues constantly,” the General Staff emphasized.

Earlier, Forbes reported that Rubicon significantly weakened Ukraine’s drone advantage in Russia’s Kursk Oblast by inflicting serious losses on logistics and destroying equipment.

Additionally, Rubicon employs advanced radio-control systems capable of bypassing Ukrainian electronic warfare defenses. As a result, Ukrainian logistics suffered heavy damage from drone attacks, with hundreds of Ukrainian vehicles destroyed, including supply trucks, M2 Bradleys, and MaxxPro armored vehicles.

On the first day of operation of the new Ukrainian mobile app, the UNITED24 App, users from 45 countries donated 1 million hryvnias, or $24,263, to support Kyiv’s top drone units. Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov has revealed that the largest contributions came from the US, Ukraine, Germany, the UK, and France.

According to Fedorov, donors from any country can, in just a few clicks, contribute to a specific unit, track in real time how their donations are used, maintain direct contact with the Drone Army units, learn about their needs, and receive thanks directly from the military.

The app also features gamification elements for the donors to feel like part of their chosen units. 

• digital avatars
• call signs
• rankings
• awards for donations

Supporting Drone Army units

Through the app, users can already donate directly to five units:

• 20th Unmanned Systems Regiment “K-2”
• 429th Regiment “Achilles”
• 427th Regiment “Rarog”
• 414th Brigade “Birds of Madyar”
• “Phoenix” UAV unit of the State Border Guard Service

Features of the UNITED24 App

Users can choose a Ukrainian or English interface, make direct donations, personalize their profile with a call sign, and track donor statistics and rankings. The app also offers content from the frontlines: reports, videos, and soldiers’ stories.

UNITED24 has been operating since 2022 and has already raised over $1.8 billion for Ukraine’s needs.

The NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has revealed that Western security guarantees for Kyiv have two layers: a peaceful settlement with the strengthening of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, and guarantees from the US and Europe, which should deter the Kremlin from renewed aggression, Ukraine’s Presidential Office reports.

He also underlined that “the situation with the Budapest Memorandum will not be repeated.”

On 22 August, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit and held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

He said he is glad to be in Kyiv after an “important meeting in Washington.” Rutte emphasized that during the last 3.5 years of Russia’s war, Ukraine has remained strong, adding that “your NATO partners and friends remain with you” and that their support is unwavering and “will continue.”

NATO is investing in Ukraine’s defense industry and coordinating support

Rutte recalled that Alliance members are not only supplying weapons but also investing in Ukraine’s defense industry. This both strengthens security and supports the economy, UNIAN writes. 

“We are also cooperating through NSATU in Germany to ensure the Ukrainian army has everything it needs,” the NATO Secretary General noted.

NSATU is the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine, a NATO command that coordinates the provision of military equipment and training for Kyiv.

PURL program has already raised $1.5 billion

During the meeting, Zelensky announced that the new PURL program, which allows the purchase of US weapons with partner funds, has already collected $1.5 billion from European countries.

“The most important things are diplomacy, security guarantees, and weapons for our warriors. And we already have $1.5 billion from European countries,” the Zelenskyy stressed.

Zelensky: Russia itself is the source of threat

The President stated that he does not understand what kind of security guarantees could be given to Russia, since Moscow itself started the war.

“I don’t quite understand what guarantees an aggressor needs. The only trigger of this war is Russia itself,” Zelensky emphasized.

He noted that Ukraine’s partners want to ensure that the war does not repeat, but Russia’s aggression is the main problem. As an example, the Ukrainian leader pointed to the situation with air support: the available F-16s cannot fully guarantee air security. This issue depends on production capacity and financing.

Rutte, for his part, reminded that US President Donald Trump in Washington set the priority of showing Putin that the US is part of the security guarantees. 

Earlier, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine’s security guarantees are expected to be formalized on paper within the next 7–10 days. Speaking at a briefing in Washington, he said the document will include a US weapons package worth $90 billion.

At the same pace of weapons supply, this funding could last for 4.5 years of military support in the event of a new attack. The package may include aircraft, air defense systems, and other weaponry. He added that more details on the future agreements will emerge daily. 

Chinese refineries have boosted their purchases of flagship Russian crude, taking advantage of discounted cargoes that India refused, while Washington is stepping up trade tariffs against New Delhi, Bloomberg reports. 

India is one of Russia’s main economic partners, after China. Moscow continues to profit from oil supplies to India, accounting for nearly 35% of the country’s imports. Moscow’s energy exports remain its leading source of revenues, which it uses to fund its war against Ukraine.

According to Kpler, in August, Urals crude shipments from the Baltic and Black Sea ports to China averaged nearly 75,000 barrels per day. This is almost twice the year-to-date average of 40,000 barrels per day. At the same time, exports to India fell to 400,000 barrels per day from an average of 1.18 million barrels per day.

Analysts note that Chinese refineries are currently in a favorable position to continue buying Russian oil, unlike their Indian counterparts.

China buying Urals for storage

Data from Kpler and Energy Aspects suggest Chinese refineries have likely purchased 10–15 shipments of Urals for delivery in October–November.

Experts predict that Chinese buyers could acquire more cargoes in the coming days if prices remain attractive.

At present, at least two Urals tankers are idling off the Chinese coast, with several more expected to arrive in the coming weeks. Indian refiners are staying on the sidelines.

Without Chinese purchases, Russian crude may have to be sold at a discount to attract new buyers.

A relative of a State Duma deputy from the party of Russian ruler Vladimir Putin has died in the war in Ukraine. According to the pro-Kremlin outlet RBC, Oleksandr Milonov, brother of “United Russia” party’s deputy Vitaly Milonov, serving in Luhansk Oblast has been eliminated by Ukrainian troops.

He had volunteered for reconnaissance with the so-called “LNR”, the Russian-backed entity illegal in Ukraine. 

Death of a relative of a Putin deputy in Donbas

Oleksandr Milonov had been fighting against Ukraine for over a year. During the battles, he was wounded and transferred to medical service, another Russian propaganda outlet Fontanka reports. However, it is reported that his injuries “caused a sudden deterioration in his health.”

Funeral in Saint Petersburg

After being wounded, Milonov was hospitalized, but his condition worsened, and he died. His funeral took place on 19 August at a cemetery in the Pushkin District of Saint Petersburg.

Since the beginning of 2025, Russia’s war has killed four humanitarian workers and wounded 32 in Ukraine, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

“Over 100 attacks on humanitarian activity”

More than 100 incidents have been recorded in which humanitarian staff, offices, and property were affected, reflecting the growing risks faced by aid workers trying to help those in need, the UN statement says.

Two of the fatalities occurred while staff were carrying out their duties.

Worst year on record for humanitarian work

In 2024, more than 380 humanitarian staff worldwide were killed or injured, which is the highest figure ever recorded in humanitarian statistics. The UN warns that 2025 could be even worse.

Civilian casualties: worst figures since 2022

In July alone, the UN Monitoring Mission documented 286 civilians killed and 1,388 injured — the deadliest month since May 2022.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the UN has documented at least:

• 13,883 civilians killed, including 726 children,
• 35,548 wounded, including 2,234 children.

The UN stressed that Ukrainian civilians and humanitarian workers live under constant threat of attacks and destruction of critical infrastructure.

Ukraine strikes the heart of Russia’s funding machine of war. In August 2025, Ukrainian drone attacks hit Russian refineries, halting at least four major plants and depriving Russia of about a seventh of its refining capacity, The Moscow Times reports.

Drones paralyze key refineries

• On 2 August, a UAV strike stopped Novokuibyshevsk Refinery of Rosneft with a capacity of 8.3 million tons per year.
• On 11 August, the Saratov Refinery, producing 5.8 million tons of oil was hit.
• On 15 August, drones paralyzed Volgograd Refinery of Lukoil, generating 14.8 million tons of oil and Samara Refinery of Rosneft, which brings 8.5 million tons of oil.

Additionally, half of Ryazan Refinery’s capacity of Rosneft, which produced 6.9 million tons of oil was halted on 2 August. Over three weeks, Russian refineries lost 44.3 million tons of annual capacity—about 13.5% of the country’s total.

Sanctions complicate repairs

Repairs at Ryazan and Novokuibyshevsk refineries will take around a month. Samara Refinery is expected to remain offline at least until the end of August. Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilyov has explained that EU sanctions have delayed delivery of necessary equipment.

“For example, a four-month repair was planned, but some equipment was delayed or not delivered,” he said.

Gasoline prices hit record highs

Due to the lack of refined oil, Russia is facing a new gasoline shortage. Prices for A-92 and A-95 fuels have risen 40% and 50% respectively since the start of the year, reaching historical records of 71,970 and 81,337 rubles per ton. Analysis shows that Ukraine’s drone strikes not only hit Russia’s economy but also undermine the Kremlin’s ability to finance its war machine. Earlier, Euromaidan Press reported that the Druzba pipeline, Russia’s key oil export artery to Europe, fully halted operations following a Ukrainian drone strike that disabled a key pumping station. The Ukrainian General Staff officially confirmed the pipeline’s shutdown, marking a major blow to Russia’s fuel exports, and a hard cutoff for its EU clients, including Hungary and Slovakia.

Russia has turned stolen Ukrainian grain into a global business. Moscow is selling so-called “Russian” wheat in 70 countries, including Egypt, Turkiye, and Iran, according to the Center for National Resistance.

Kyiv has recently revealed that Russia owns 42 ships transporting stolen Ukrainian grain and coal. Every ship carrying oil or grain brings Moscow’s more funds to support its military operations. The Ukrainian Intelligence says that over 1,000 ships and 155 captains are involved in transporting weapons and stolen goods from temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories. 

Russia is stealing Ukrainian wheat from occupied Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. Ukrainian officials estimate that by 2025, Russia has illegally exported around 15 million tons of grain, mostly wheat, from these territories.

“In the new season, the Kremlin is again trying to maintain its market dominance—at the expense of temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories,” says the Center for National Resistance. 

Russia collects and exports wheat from occupied Ukrainian lands under the guise of Russian origin.

“This is large-scale grain plundering—a crime for which all involved will be held accountable, from officials to international intermediaries,” adds the agency. 

Previously, Euromaidan Press reported that Ukraine plans to appeal to the EU to impose sanctions on Bangladeshi companies importing wheat from Russian-occupied territories. Intelligence reports indicate that over 150,000 tons of such grain have already been shipped from the Kavkaz port.

The Ukrainian embassy has sent multiple notes to Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry requesting the rejection of shipments containing stolen grain, but officials in Dhaka have ignored these appeals.

Russian ruler Vladimir Putin has proposed holding a meeting with US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Moscow, Agence France-Presse reports. According to one source, Zelenskyy has declined to travel to Russia’s capital.

Editorial: The summit that peacewashed genocide

 

Negotiations without preconditions

On 18 August, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy arrived at the White House, where he was welcomed by US President Trump. The leaders first held a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office, followed by talks with European leaders and NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte. 

The discussions focused on security guarantees for Ukraine, details of which remain largely undisclosed, though they may include a $90 billion US package for air defense systems and aircraft.

Zelenskyy stated that he is ready for a bilateral meeting with Putin without any preconditions.

Russia does not reject talks

Following the meetings, Trump announced that preparations had begun for a potential meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin. He later called Putin directly, TASS reports. Subsequently, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared that Russia does not refuse either bilateral or trilateral negotiations with Ukraine regarding peace.