Exclusives

Blast refineries, raise gas prices: a job for Ukraine’s new missiles. Russia’s oil industry is already hurting. Now imagine what a Ukrainian cruise missile with a 1,000-kg warhead can do.

Russians captured him, cut his throat, and left Ukrainian POW to die. He survived and wants revenge for tortured comrades. National Guard soldier Vladyslav was dragged into a basement near Pokrovsk and watched how the Russians tortured seven Ukrainian defenders before they slashed his own throat and dumped him in a pit with their bodies, thinking he was dead. He was not.

2 million workers gone: Russia’s war economy slides toward collapse. With 73% of businesses understaffed, defense plants are breaking under labor shortages and falling output.

Military

Major pipeline explosion halts Moscow fuel supplies after Ryazan blast

. The main Ryazan-Moscow oil pipeline exploded on 26 August, disrupting fuel supplies to Russia’s capital and prompting Transneft to assess damages from the incident.

Frontline report: Ukrainian drones strike 1,300 kilometers deep into Russia, torching Shahed storage depots in Tatarstan. The Yelabuga factory has become too dangerous to staff, with few technicians willing to work at Russia’s largest Shahed assembly plant under repeated Ukrainian strikes.

FT: West plans 3-layer defense system for post-war Ukraine with NATO forces. Approximately 10 countries are prepared to send troops to Ukrainian territory after the war ends with Britain has proposed deploying Typhoon fighter jets in western Ukraine

Intelligence and technology

Russia builds air defense towers around drone factory as Ukraine deep strikes intensify, partisans report. The Yelabuga facility in Russia’s Tatarstan, which produces over 5,000 Geran-2 drones monthly, has sustained repeated attacks throughout 2025.

International

Yermak, Kyslytsia, Umerov to represent Ukraine in New York talks with Witkoff.

Most Germans believe that Ukraine can cede territory for peace – poll

. Far-right AfD supporters drive German sentiment toward Ukrainian territorial concessions, with 72% backing land-for-peace deals compared to just 43% of conservative voters

Trump envoy: Russia submits Donetsk peace plan Ukraine “may not take”. A Russian peace proposal involving Donetsk Oblast sits before Ukrainian negotiators as President Trump continues pressing both sides toward a settlement.

US envoy sets Ukraine talks for this week, reveals daily Russia contact. A Ukrainian delegation will meet with US envoy Steve Witkoff in New York this week, as the official revealed he maintains daily contact with Russian officials and believes a peace agreement is “already on the table.”

Ukrainians contributed $ 5 bn to Poland’s budget in 2024 as refugee protection faces uncertainty. New figures reveal 1.55mn Ukrainians generated $5 bn for Poland’s budget in 2024, coinciding with President Nawrocki’s veto of refugee protection extension.

Humanitarian and social impact

Ukrainian woman who fled war in Ukraine was stabbed to death in the US. Her suspected killer was arrested but the cause of the murder is still unknown.

Russian drones target civilian energy infrastructure across six Ukrainian regions causing power outages. Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy described the strikes as “another act of energy terrorism aimed at the civilian population.”

Ukrainian POW returns from 7-year Russian imprisonment with his cat

. Stanislav Panchenko, 25, returned to Ukraine with 84 other released prisoners. Unlike the others, Panchenko brought home his cat Myshko, whom he had rescued and raised during 4 years in Russian captivity.

Russian forces kill civilian, injure three in morning attacks on Kherson. An 81-year-old woman died and three men sustained injuries ranging from burns to traumatic brain injury during Russian attacks on Kherson

Political and legal developments

Scandal-hit Odesa chemical giant goes up for sale. Privatization aims to restore facility crucial for feeding Ukraine and the world.

Ukraine allows men aged 18-22 to travel abroad amid conflict over army recruitment versus demographic crisis. Military commanders argue the country cannot afford to let healthy young men leave when frontline units desperately need fresh recruits, while civilians contend that travel restrictions have accelerated family emigration and severed homeland ties for an entire generation of Ukrainian youth abroad.

New developments

Ukraine’s western regions see tourism boom. Tourism tax revenues surge 35% as mountain resorts and cultural cities defy wartime expectations.

Minneapolis school shooter wrote “I am terrorist” and “Kill yourself” in Russian on weapon magazines and listened to Russian rappers. Westman mixed desperate Russian phrases with violent English fantasies, writing “I have had thoughts about mass murder for a long time” before targeting his former elementary school where his mother worked and killing two children.

Read our earlier daily review here.

Ukrainian drones struck several targets across Russia in the early hours of 28 August, causing fires at two oil refineries and disrupting rail traffic. Confirmed attacks hit the Kuibyshevsky refinery in the city of Samara about 1,000 km from the frontlines, the Afipsky refinery in Krasnodar Krai around 300 km behind the lines, and a locomotive depot in Petrov Val, Volgograd Oblast. A railway station in Samara Oblast was also reportedly targeted, leading to service delays. 

Strike hits Samara’s Kuibyshevsky refinery

According to Russian Telegram news channel Astra and Ukrainian Exilenova+, a drone attack caused fires at the Kuibyshevsky oil refinery in Samara in the early hours of 28 August. Both channels shared footage of the attack and the subsequent fires.

Local residents began reporting UAV flights over the city and explosions near the facility shortly after 03:00. According to both channels, initial confusion led many locals to believe the Novokuibyshevsky refinery had been hit again after an attack weeks ago. 

Exilenova+ posted follow-ups referencing public speculation about the number of drones involved, writing that “the excited local crowd counted 17 drones, lost count.” The same channel later claimed, without confirmation, that both the Kuibyshevsky and Novokuibyshevsky refineries had been struck.

In response to the attack, the governor of Samara Oblast announced temporary flight restrictions at Samara airport and mobile internet outages “for citizens’ safety.” Emergency services and air defense systems were reportedly activated during the incident.

Afipsky refinery also targeted in Krasnodar Krai

Exilenova+ also shared footage of fires at on the Afipsky oil refinery in southern Russia’s Krasnodar Krai. Russian authorities confirmed the attack, but attributed damage to “falling drone debris” that caused a fire at one of the refinery’s units in the settlement of Afipsky.

The attack affected a gas and condensate processing unit, previously targeted in earlier strikes, according to Exilenova’s geolocation of the footage. The channel geolocated and published video evidence of the fire. Emergency crews were deployed to the scene, with 21 personnel and eight vehicles extinguishing the 20-square-meter blaze. Officials stated there were no casualties.

Petrov Val train depot attacked again

The city of Petrov Val in Volgograd Oblast experienced a repeat drone strike, just five days after a previous attack on 23 August. Exilenova+ shared videos showing fires at the facility, claiming the attack targeted the TChE-7 locomotive depot. According to Astra, a drone impact led to a fire at one of the technical buildings of the depot in the city. Governor Bocharov stated that the fire was quickly extinguished and that there were no injuries.

Rail traffic disrupted in Samara Oblast

In addition to refinery and depot attacks, drones reportedly also targeted Kryazh station in Samara Oblast. Astra quoted Kuybyshev Railway as saying that drone debris damaged the contact network between Kryazh and Lipiahy stations.

The incident led to train disruptions: six long-distance and four suburban trains were delayed, with the maximum delay reaching 2 hours and 14 minutes. Three suburban trains were canceled.

Russia claims 102 drones downed overnight

Despite the widespread damage, Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed its air defenses destroyed 102 Ukrainian drones overnight. According to the ministry, 22 drones were intercepted over the Black Sea, 21 each over Rostov and Samara oblasts, 18 over Krasnodar Krai, 11 over occupied Crimea, three each over Voronezh and Saratov oblasts, two over Volgograd Oblast, and one over the Sea of Azov.

As always, the Russian ministry’s claims have not been independently verified.

Russian authorities have constructed a Pantsir air defense tower adjacent to a drone manufacturing facility in Yelabuga, according to the partisan movement ATESH, which claims the measure reflects damage from Ukrainian strikes.

ATESH agents working at the factory documented the defensive installation near the facility, the group announced via Telegram on 26 August.

The organization characterized the construction as evidence that Ukrainian drone attacks have already inflicted damage on the plant.

Ukrainian forces conducted their most recent drone strike against the Yelabuga facility on 25 August. The facility has faced multiple Ukrainian attacks throughout 2025, with documented strikes occurring in April, June, and August.

The Elabuga installation represents part of a broader pattern across Russia. The group’s agents have documented similar tower constructions in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and other cities. These structures feature modules designed for Pantsir air defense systems and are being erected to counter Ukrainian drone operations.

ATESH maintains that these defensive measures will prove insufficient against future attacks.

“The Kremlin can build new towers and cover factories with ‘Pantsirs,’ but this won’t save them from retribution,” the group stated, adding that “for every ‘Shahed’ launched at Ukraine, a just strike will come.”

The organization has called for intelligence regarding similar defensive installations, air defense systems, or military facilities in Russia and occupied territories, offering compensation for reliable information.

Yelabuga factory allegedly produces more than 5000 drones monthly

In July, Russian state media broadcast aired two propaganda films showcasing Geran-2 drone production and deployment capabilities, particularly at the Yelabuga manufacturing complex, positioned over 1,300 km (807 miles) from Ukrainian territory. 

Intelligence reports indicated the facility manufactures more than 5,000 Geran-2 units monthly, with 18,000 drones completed during the first six months of 2025.

The propaganda rollout followed Russia’s record-breaking single-day bombardment on July 9, when Moscow deployed 741 drones and missiles in a 24-hour period.

In the aftermath of the 24 August drone strike, the Syzran oil refinery in Russia’s Samara Oblast about 1,000 km from Ukraine is no longer operational due to the destruction of its most critical equipment. Russian Telegram channel Astra, citing sources in the emergency services, reported that the facility lost the AVT-6 primary processing unit, the L-35-6 secondary unit, and the pump station — all essential for continued refinery operations.

Core refinery units rendered inoperable

According to Astra, five drones exploded on site on 24 August, three of which directly struck key infrastructure. Five more drones were reportedly shot down on approach. No injuries were reported, as all 240 employees had sheltered during the attack.

Previous strike on Syzran refinery occurred weeks ago

The refinery, owned by Rosneft, is one of Samara Oblast’s largest oil-processing enterprises, producing a wide range of petroleum products and supplying fuel to central Russian oblasts and military units. Following earlier drone strikes on 15 August, the facility had already suffered major damage and had suspended crude oil intake and processing.

The 15 August attack struck the ELOU-AVT-6 unit, designed for desalting and primary crude oil distillation, and also damaged several storage tanks.

Explore further

Russia says 13 drones destroyed — but Syzran refinery burns and videos show fire raging at military-linked fuel plant

Systematic drone campaign deepens energy crisis

The refinery has also been targeted multiple times this year, with incidents in February and March causing fires. 

According to Reuters, Ukrainian drone strikes in August have disabled 17% of Russia’s oil refining capacity.

The situation has contributed to worsening fuel shortages across Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories, particularly in Crimea, Zabaykalsky Krai, Vladivostok, Buryatia, and Primorsky Krai.

Ukrainian forces launched a coordinated drone assault on Russian territory overnight, targeting critical infrastructure including the Ust-Luga port in Leningrad Oblast and the Syzran oil refinery in Samara Oblast, according to regional governors.

Strategic port generating war funding revenue comes under attack

Leningrad Oblast Governor Alexander Drozdenko confirmed that air defenses allegedly destroyed 10 drones over the Ust-Luga port facility, located around 2000 km away from Kyiv, on the morning of 24 August.

This port serves as a crucial hub for Russia to bypass Western sanctions while exporting oil, gas, and coal that generate revenue for military operations. 

The attack resulted in debris causing a fire at a NOVATEK terminal, with Drozdenko stating that “firefighters and emergency services are working to extinguish the fire.”

A specialized fire train carrying over 183 tons of water and 5 tons of foam concentrate was dispatched to assist in firefighting operations, according to the October Railway company.

Oil refinery producing resources for Russian war effort faces repeated strikes

The Syzran oil refinery in Samara Oblast, over 1700 km away from Kyiv, came under drone attack, with local residents reporting approximately 20 explosions throughout the night.

Samara Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev acknowledged the strike on what he termed “an industrial enterprise facility.”

This marks the fourth attack on the Syzran refinery in 2025, following previous strikes in February, March, and earlier in August.

Drone attack affects civilian flights

The overnight attacks caused significant disruptions to civilian air traffic, with Pulkovo airport in St. Petersburg suspending aircraft operations.

The airport operated under imposed restrictions for approximately 18 hours, resulting in dozens of delayed flights and passengers sleeping on mats in terminal areas, according to the facility’s press service.

The Russian Defense Ministry subsequently reported that air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 95 Ukrainian drones across 12 Russian regions, Tatarstan, and occupied Crimea during the night. Regional authorities reported no casualties from the attacks on both targeted facilities.

[Update as of 11 p.m. on 24 August]

The Ukrainian General Staff officially confirmed the coordinated attack on Ust-Luga port and the Syzran oil refinery.

The targeted Syzran refinery has a design capacity of 8.5 million tons of oil annually, representing approximately 3.08% of Russia’s total oil refining volume, and specializes in producing gasoline, diesel fuel, and aviation kerosene supplied directly to Russian occupying forces.

Ukrainian forces also struck a gas condensate fractionation and transshipment unit at the Ust-Luga marine terminal with a capacity of 6.9 million tons of raw materials per year.

The General Staff confirmed that Ust-Luga serves as “one of Russia’s key logistics hubs in the Baltic Sea, actively used for exporting energy resources using the so-called shadow fleet to bypass international sanctions.”