In 2024 alone, the LNG tanker fleet of the Glasgow-registered Seapeak Maritime lifted 7.56 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas from Russia’s Yamal Peninsula—more than a third of all cargoes the giant Arctic plant exported last year.

At prevailing gas market prices, those shipments were worth roughly £2.9 billion ($3.7 billion), generating an estimated £127 million ($163 million) in corporate income tax for the Russian state.

A closer look at Seapeak shows a multinational war profiteering scheme with the involvement of seemingly incompatible partners: Canada, the UK, the US, and China. The governments of the first two constituencies have the killswitch in their hands, and they can close down the scheme if they want to walk the talks on supporting Ukraine and confront the Russo-Chinese dirty energy sprawl in the Arctic.

A loophole big enough for an icebreaker

Seapeak’s seven Arc-7 ice-class carriers, managed from an ordinary office block in Glasgow, Scotland, shuttle Russian LNG from the port of Sabetta through the Barents and Norwegian Seas to EU terminals such as Zeebrugge, Bilbao, and Montoir. Their cargoes are then off-sold under long-term contracts to buyers including France’s Total Energies, Germany’s SEFE, and Spain’s Naturgy, quietly feeding European gas grids even as Brussels vows to wean itself off Kremlin energy and London claims to be “clean on gas”.

The UK banned direct imports of Russian LNG from 1 January 2023, yet it still allows British-managed or British-insured vessels to haul Putin’s gas for third parties and continues to buy gas from TotalEnergies, Novatek’s key partner in the LNG export business. Worse, Seapeak’s ships have been linked to the presence of Russian FSB special service operatives on board—an obvious counter-intelligence threat for NATO states whose ports they frequent.

The six Arc-7 icebreaking LNG carriers managed by Seapeak Maritime – Eduard Toll, Rudolf Samoylovich, Vladimir Voronin, Nikolay Urvantsev, Georgiy Ushakov, and Yakov Gakkel – operate year-round and export millions of tons of Russian gas from the Sabbeta port at the Yamal peninsula.

Based on average prices for Russian LNG during 2024, the estimated value of the LNG deliveries carried by these vessels in 2024 was around £2.9bn (€3.44bn / $3.72bn), which represents a significant portion of the Yamal LNG total revenue. The LNG volumes carried by the Seapeak fleet directly generated revenue for the Yamal LNG plant, which is located in and operates in Russia, and is subject to taxation under the Russian tax code.

What is Seapeak — and who owns it?

Until early 2022, the company traded LNG at global markets as Teekay LNG Partners, part of the Canadian-founded Teekay Group headquartered in Vancouver. That January, New York private-equity house Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners bought it for US $6.2 billion and re-branded it Seapeak LLC. The Glasgow subsidiary, Seapeak Maritime Ltd, manages the Yamal LNG fleet and books revenue in Britain’s financial system.

When we look into the ownership of the Arc7 tanker fleet, the vessels themselves, things get even more complicated. Seapeak LLC co‑owns the six Arc‑7 LNG carriers in a joint venture with China LNG Shipping Holdings Limited – TC LNG Shipping LLC, which is a Marshall Islands entity established in April 2014. China LNG Shipping Holdings Limited is a major Chinese LNG shipping company incorporated by a consortium of COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation Co., Ltd. and China Merchants Energy Shipping Co. Ltd., which collectively belong to China’s State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council. 

Then, in early 2022, US-based investment firm Stonepeak took over the business. 

Stonepeak’s investors include North American pension funds and Canadian public-sector institutions; the parent company itself remains registered in Bermuda offshore. This opaque structure means profits extracted from Yamal transit flow through a thicket of tax havens before re-emerging as dividends for western investors, all while Ukraine picks through the increasingly dense, deadly showers of missile and drone attacks made possible by Russian tax receipts.

National security, not business as usual

If the United Kingdom is serious about enforcing its sanctions regime, leaving Seapeak to continue uninterrupted business with Russians and Chinese is no longer tenable. Westminster already has precedent: it has sanctioned entire fleets of Russian-controlled oil tankers and pledged to lead the fight to dismantle Moscow’s “shadow fleet”. Extending that approach to vessels that facilitate Russian LNG exports is a logical next step — yet action against the management entity itself would be swifter and more comprehensive.

Canada, too, has skin in the game. Teekay’s historical ties to Vancouver mean Ottawa retains leverage via the Special Economic Measures Act. By taking control of Seapeak’s Canadian holdings, Canada can ensure its pension funds are not, however indirectly, bankrolling Russian aggression. A joint UK-Canadian move would also close the insurance loophole: once the ships are state-controlled, renewals with London P&I clubs could be halted overnight.

The Kremlin’s Trojan horse

Corporate ownership is only part of the story. Glasgow is today home to a vibrant Ukrainian diasporic community; yet the city’s largest shipping firm remains an unwitting enabler of the Kremlin’s Arctic ambitions. The profits Seapeak generates upstream help Russia’s gas giant Novatek—half-owned by Putin loyalist Leonid Mikhelson—expand LNG mega-projects whose carbon footprint outstrips several EU member states combined. Downstream, those same profits support Russia’s vast propaganda ecosystem and its espionage networks inside Europe’s ports.

Journalist investigations showed that Novatek has been directly implicated in supporting Russia’s military actions in Ukraine by recruiting mercenaries through its private security company, Saturn-1.

Therefore, Russia’s leading LNG exporter’s role in the war of aggression extends beyond finance to direct participation on the battlefield.

A call to act—now

Pulling the killswitch—nationalizing Seapeak’s Arc7 vessels (which has precedent with Germany’s action in 2022 against Gazprom Germany)—would not be a hostile act against free enterprise; it would be a wartime necessity on a par with the seizure of oligarch superyachts and cutting schemes that fund war crimes. It would deprive Russia of hundreds of millions in tax revenue, shut down a strategic export route through the Arctic’s melting ice, prevent further Russo-Chinese expansion in the Arctic, and send an unmistakable signal that allied democracies will choke off every last revenue vein feeding Putin’s war machine.

The alternative—allowing a Canadian-heritage company owned by Wall Street financiers to keep moving Arctic gas for the benefit of Russian warmongers and Chinese crooks, while Ukrainian civilians count the cost—should shame every lawmaker in Westminster and Ottawa.

Each cargo Seapeak lifts from Sabetta is another cheque signed over to the Kremlin. The governments of the UK and Canada must investigate Stonepeak’s entanglements with Russia and China. While the EU is taking the course to wean itself from dependency on Russian LNG, it’s about time to nationalise the fleet that is carrying it. This could prove that when Ukraine asks its friends and allies to close a loophole measured in megatonnes of Russian gas and billions of dollars, they will answer with deeds, not declarations.

Oleh Savytskyi

Oleh Savitskyi is a world-class climate and energy policy expert. Oleh has ten years of experience in the field – from youth climate activism to consulting the Ministry of Environment of Ukraine to managing international advocacy campaigns at Razom We Stand. Oleh is a fellow of the Michael Succow Nature Conservation Fund and an alumnus of the Agora Energiewende EnerTracks training program for energy transition professionals.

Editor’s note. The opinions expressed in our Opinion section belong to their authors. Euromaidan Press’ editorial team may or may not share them.

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Russia and Belarus are training for an attack on Poland, and this is more than just military exercises — it’s drills for striking a neighboring country. Prime Minister Donald Tusk warns that Polish forces are ready to respond to any provocations. Diplomacy will continue, but in the event of a threat, serious measures will be taken.

According to Defence24, part of the exercises will also take place near Ukraine’s border, similar to what happened shortly before the 2022 invasion.

Unconventional tactics in focus

This year, exercises will include:

• simulated counter-air operations,
• advances supported by mechanized forces,
• active use of electronic warfare, with emphasis on communications and transport,
• mass involvement of reservists, and mobilization of local authorities.

Russia and Belarus could stage provocations along Ukraine’s border, aiming to “force Kyiv to disperse its forces.”

Poland prepares to deter aggression

Tusk stressed that preparations are underway to counter any aggression.

“We are preparing appropriate responses together with our allies to the aggressive maneuvers that Russia and Belarus are conducting near our borders. They are already aggressive; they simulate an attack, not defense. Let’s not deceive ourselves,” Tusk says.

Poland keeps a close watch

Tusk emphasizes that Poland is working with European partners to convince the US of the real threat. Recently, Polish President Karol Nawrocki has reached an agreement with US President Donald Trump: US support is available, but “nothing comes for free.”

Provocations will not go unanswered

Polish authorities are monitoring airspace violations and other provocations by Belarus and Russia.

“For Poland, there are dangers, as we border Belarus. We will consult and respond to provocations. Those who carry them out will face serious consequences, both diplomatic and kinetic,” Tusk adds.

While the “kinetic consequences” remain undisclosed, the Polish prime minister assures that Poland has “special measures” in place to protect the country.

Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service has reported that Russia has about 13.2 billion tons of economically viable, proven oil reserves, enough for roughly 25 years of production.

At the same time, 96% of the subsoil fund has already been allocated, indicating near-full utilization of available fields.

Investors losing interest

According to the results of 2024 auctions, one-time payments for hydrocarbon extraction rights amounted to only $50 million, with half the revenue from placer gold mining, a sector less significant for the budget.

This signals a sharp decline in investor interest in Russia’s oil and gas industry.

Technology and resources at the limit

Ukraine’s intelligence notes that over the next 10–15 years, the potential for further exploration of existing fields in Russia will be exhausted. Limited funding and a lack of technology to develop hard-to-reach, geologically complex, and remote regions undermine Russia’s energy and economic security, casting doubt on the long-term stability of its oil and gas sector.

Earlier, Euromaidan Press reported that Ukraine disabled 17% of Russia’s oil refining capacity through a wave of recent drone strikes targeting key infrastructure.

The attacks, carried out over the past month, have disrupted fuel processing, sparked gasoline shortages, and hit the core of Moscow’s war economy as Washington seeks to broker a peace deal.

New Delhi is taking a step in defiance of American demands. Bloomberg reports that India has officially confirmed that it will continue buying Russian oil despite the 50% US tariffs on Indian goods.

In doing so, New Delhi ignored US President Donald Trump’s demand to stop importing Russian oil, prompting renewed public criticism from him. 

“Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!” Trump wrote in a social media post, adding a photo of the three leaders together at Xi Jinping’s summit in China.

Volumes of Russian oil declining

Meanwhile, Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, has reported that Russian oil shipments to India fell from 1.8 million barrels per day in 2024 to 1.1 million in September 2025.

“Delhi is demanding additional discounts and payments in non-convertible rupees. US tariffs on Indian goods for Russian oil have already reached 50%,” he says. 

He adds that the US and EU sanctions have limited Moscow’s oil trade, and now India and China are dictating the terms.

China increases purchases on its terms

At the same time, Kovalenko reveals that China has increased its purchases of Russian oil, from 50,000 barrels in August to 420,000 barrels in September, but also only under conditions of significant discounts, which are $5–6 below Brent. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called Ukraine’s goal of joining the European Union its “legitimate choice” and commented on the events of 2013–2014 in this context, UNIAN reports. 

Putin admits: Ukraine’s accession to the EU is a “legitimate choice”

Putin said it is Ukraine’s lawful right to decide how to build its international relations, how to safeguard its economic interests, and with whom to form alliances.

“The problem for us at that time, when Yanukovych was president, was that Ukraine’s integration into the European system of economic relations created certain economic difficulties for us.

Ukraine was part of a free trade zone, our customs borders were open, and for us, this had certain consequences,” said Putin.

The consent of all current EU members is required for Ukraine to join the European Union. However, Hungary and Slovakia, Russia’s allies in Europe, oppose Ukraine’s accession. Moreover, it remains unclear how realistic Ukraine’s EU entry is during wartime.

Hungary remains the main obstacle

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already responded to Putin’s remarks. He stated that in a situation where even the Russian leader does not oppose Ukraine’s EU membership, the position of “Russia’s friends,” particularly Hungary, on this issue looks strange, according to UkrInform. 

“Finally, we hear a signal from Russia that they already accept Ukraine’s membership in the European Union. It’s a pity that they recognize reality with such a delay.

Since 2013, Russia has been moving toward this simple idea, but now some of Russia’s other great friends in Europe also need to hear it,” Zelenskyy said.

He added that if even Putin does not object, the positions of some countries, especially Hungary, regarding negotiation clusters look really strange.

Ukraine has done its homework for EU accession 

Zelenskyy also said he is ready to meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on this matter.

Hungary remains the only EU member state blocking the opening of the first cluster in negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, while the other 26 leaders at the 26 June summit supported the move. Opening these clusters is intended to align Ukraine with European standards.

Ukraine and Moldova have already fulfilled all the requirements to start accession negotiations under the clusters “Fundamentals,” “Internal Market,” and “External Relations.”

This is the first block, “Basics of EU Membership,” the most important cluster concerning Ukraine’s participation in the EU internal market, and the block dealing with foreign and security policy.

Earlier, Putin said that if Western forces appeared on Ukrainian territory, they would have become legitimate targets for Russia. His statement came the day after a Russian ballistic missile deliberately struck an unarmed Danish demining mission, killing two people and wounding eight in Chernihiv Oblast.

Meanwhile, the “Coalition of the Willing” countries have reportedly agreed that ten of the 21 states, which are ready to work on security guarantees for Ukraine, are willing to send their soldiers to Ukrainian territory after the fighting ends.

The US is ready to create a buffer zone in Ukraine to contain Russia, but it is unclear whether Putin will stop the war. If a peace agreement is reached, the US plans to take a leading role in monitoring a large demilitarized buffer zone on Ukrainian territory, NBC News reports. 

It would separate the Russian and Ukrainian areas after the fighting ends. The US drones, satellites, and other intelligence tools would help ensure security compliance, while American troops would not be deployed within the zone.

International oversight and security

Troops from one or more non-NATO countries, such as Saudi Arabia or Bangladesh, could secure the buffer zone.

Meanwhile, Turkiye would be responsible for the safe movement of goods and services in the Black Sea, controlling the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. Previously, Turkiye attempted to ensure the safety of the maritime corridor for exporting Ukrainian grain. However, Russia continued its strikes on Ukraine’s Odesa port anyway. 

Security guarantees and economic protection

Some security guarantees from allies are planned to be based on the plan, which avoids the use of NATO forces and Article V to avoid crossing Russia’s “red line.”

Additionally, bilateral agreements between Ukraine and its allies would provide security and economic support. The US is discussing with Ukraine a deal worth around $100 billion, which would include weapons supplies and the exchange of intellectual property rights for Ukrainian developments as part of security guarantees. 

Still, it is not clear how Kyiv will get back Ukrainian children stolen by Russia and how the issue of war reparations will be solved. 

Europe’s every move to try and force Putin into a peace deal is dogged by the US president’s flip-flopping on Russia, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley

If Western forces appear on Ukrainian territory, they would become legitimate targets for Russia, declared Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, according to UNIAN.

Putin threatens the West

“If any troops appear in Ukraine, especially now during ongoing hostilities, we proceed from the assumption that they will be legitimate targets for strikes,” said the Russian president.

This means the potential mission should be significantly protected from Russian strikes. 

Coalition of the willing and European guarantees

On 4 September, a meeting of the “coalition of the willing” took place in Paris. It was agreed that out of 21 countries willing to work on security guarantees for Ukraine, ten would agree to send their soldiers to Ukrainian territory after the fighting ends.

Countries prepared to take this step include the United Kingdom, France, the Nordic countries, the Baltic states, the Netherlands, and Australia. Preliminary estimates suggest that the European mission in Ukraine could number 25–30 thousand troops. These security guarantees are meant to take effect once peace is established in Ukraine, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports. 

Meanwhile, Donald Trump, the leader of the US, traditionally considered the major protector of the Western world, has stated that he does not plan to send troops to Ukraine, has not imposed the promised sanctions on Moscow, and is not providing Ukraine with new aid packages. As a result, the situation in Ukraine is at a deadlock.

A deadlock for Ukraine

According to Putin, security guarantees should apply not only to Ukraine but also to Russia.

At the same time, the dictator claimed that Russia “will fully comply with peace agreements regarding Ukraine once they are reached.”

According to Putin, no one has yet discussed such agreements with Russia “at a serious level.”

Putin also stated that he is allegedly willing to engage with Ukraine, but sees “little point” in such talks, claiming it is impossible to reach an agreement.

Earlier, he suggested meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Moscow, despite seven countries offering their cities for such a meeting and the risks it would pose for Zelenskyy.

Zelensky urges the West to implement guarantees without waiting for peace

Amid discussions over security guarantees, the question arises: What is preventing the West from implementing security guarantees now?

According to Rai, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that security guarantees for Ukraine must take effect immediately without waiting for a cessation of hostilities.

“It is important that the security guarantees promised by the countries forming the ‘coalition of the determined’ begin to operate immediately, without waiting for the end of the fighting,” the Ukrainian president said.

Zelenskyy added that this refers not only to military support for Ukraine but also to economic guarantees. According to him, 26 countries have expressed readiness to support Ukraine’s security, and this is “an important step forward.”

Trump has thus far declined to commit American forces to any peacekeeping effort in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a September 5 briefing that US President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with European countries continuing to purchase Russian gas and oil, thereby supporting Russia’s military machine. Hungary and Slovakia are among such countries, according to Zelensky.

European Council President António Costa emphasized that the EU has already reduced purchases of Russian energy resources by 80%. A significant portion of the remaining 20% falls on Hungary, which is currently blocking Ukraine’s EU accession.

Hungary explains this position by stating it disagrees with accepting Ukraine into the EU during wartime. But in that case, peace must be accelerated and the war stopped, Costa stressed.

“And for this it is necessary to continue supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine, not to block the use of the Ukraine Facility fund. On the other hand, as President [of the US Donald] Trump said — it is very important to stop allowing the Russian Federation to continue waging this war by buying oil and gas,” Costa said.

Costa reported he will visit Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the near future. President Zelensky also assured that contacts exist between Kyiv and Budapest.

Zelensky stated he sees no foundation for Hungary’s accusations but emphasized that Ukraine is ready for dialogue.

“We are ready to meet with Orban. To discuss what else they are dissatisfied with. And how else we can help so that they are finally satisfied. President Trump heard a signal from our side regarding the blockade. America and President Trump said they would work to unblock this process, to help Ukraine with this,” Zelenskyy said.

Costa emphasized that Ukraine must meanwhile continue working on EU accession.

“The negotiation process continues. Ukrainian authorities continue working with the European Commission. We cannot lose this path. We must continue working on reforms, because in any case this must be done. We don’t need to wait for Hungary, or anyone, to continue our work. Because Ukraine’s future is in the EU,” he said.

Costa believes the Russian-Ukrainian war will end before Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations conclude, so “there are no reasons to waste time in this process.”

“If even Putin does not object [to Ukraine’s EU membership], then the positions of some countries, especially Hungary, really look strange,” Zelenskyy said.

EU membership process

All 27 EU member states have given the “green light” to begin negotiations with Ukraine on joining the bloc, however, Hungary is blocking them.

Last year Budapest presented Ukraine with a list of 11 demands to unblock the path to the European Union. All are aimed at strengthening protection of national minority rights in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian side traveled to Budapest with additional proposals for resolving the entire complex of issues. Ukraine and Hungary then agreed from 12 May to organize regular consultations to work on the stated demands. However, Budapest postponed such consultations due to the Security Service of Ukraine’s detention of Hungarian spies in early May.

Hungarian authorities conducted a so-called consultative referendum in their country regarding Ukraine’s EU membership, based on which they announced that 95% of votes were against. Orban himself claimed that Ukraine’s EU membership would mean “destruction of the European Union” and war with Russia on EU territory.

Lithuania proposed starting negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on the first chapter of EU membership without Hungary’s consent. It is proposed that after approval by 26 member states, negotiations would take place at a technical level, de facto, and later an official agreement would be reached legally when all 27 EU states approve it, if Viktor Orban’s position or that of the entire Hungarian government changes.

Ukraine’s state power operator finished building physical barriers around key equipment just as Russia continues targeting energy facilities nationwide.

Supervisory board member Yuriy Boyko announced Thursday that Ukrenergo has completed the first phase of passive protection construction for critical equipment at its substations, with the second phase set to finish by the first quarter of 2026.

The milestone comes as Ukraine races to physically shield its power infrastructure from relentless Russian attacks that have destroyed 70% of the country’s generating capacity since February 2022.

According to Boyko, the company has completed the first phase. It is now actively constructing the second phase, with over 80% of the second phase scheduled for completion by year’s end during a briefing at the Media Center of Ukraine in Kyiv.

Engineering protection for 20-70 hectare sites

The passive protection focuses on the most critical equipment at Ukrenergo’s massive substations spanning 20-70 hectares each. Boyko explained that it’s impossible to cover entire substations, and therefore, resources must concentrate on the most critical elements, particularly autotransformers, which the Russians actively targeted in the war’s first year.

Boyko noted that work progresses more slowly in frontline regions where air raid alerts and military risks create extended pauses.

Three levels of protection against attacks

Ukraine has developed multiple protection levels for its energy system. The first level involves gabions—wire cages filled with rocks or sandbags—and sandbags protecting 90 facilities across 21 regions from debris.

The second level uses concrete structures around Ukrenergo’s primary network, covering 22 substations and 63 autotransformers in 14 regions as of January 2025.

The third level protects against direct missile strikes. In 2023, the United States provided 20,000 tonnes of reinforcing steel through USAID, and by January 2025, third-level protection had begun at 22 sites.

Strategic push for decentralization

The protection construction aligns with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent directive to National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov to coordinate additional short and medium-range air defense procurement while increasing funding for drone manufacturers.

Ukraine’s energy strategy now emphasizes replacing large, vulnerable power plants with hundreds of smaller distributed generators. In 2024, Ukrenergo purchased 600 MW of auxiliary generation services, and almost 500 MW from new facilities will come online by 2026.

The main pyramid at Burning Man festival in Nevada featured Ukrainian symbols including sunflowers, wheat, and blue and yellow colors through an AI-generated video created by director Olha Navrotska, Suspilne Culture reported on 4 September.

The audiovisual animation was conceived by philanthropist and initiator of educational projects “Skarb” and “War Diaries: Unheard Voices of Ukrainian Children” Khrystia Khranovska and displayed on the festival’s central pyramid structure used for projections, performances and light shows.

“My idea was to make Ukraine visible even in the middle of the Nevada desert. With this video, I wanted to show our country as modern, noble, intelligent, authentic, unique and understandable to the world. We must be heard everywhere,” Khranovska said.

Director Olha Navrotska brought the concept to life using artificial intelligence. The video incorporated Ukrainian cultural symbols: blue sky colors, sunflowers as signs of life, wheat ears and horses as images of freedom and fertility, along with figures of Ukrainian women and brave men.

The musical component features an ethno-house track “Skarb” by Fahot, leader of the band TNMK.

“This video is another opportunity to remind the world about ourselves, and to do it at a huge international festival. We chose yellow-blue colors both because it’s our flag and because it’s an incredibly powerful color combination that should immediately be associated with us and create a bright picture in the night,” Navrotska explained.

According to Suspilne Culture, the animation on Burning Man’s main pyramid served as a tribute to the 34th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.

Burning Man, an annual eight-day independent art event in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, runs from 24 August to 1 September under this year’s theme “Tomorrow Today.” Organizers define it as an experiment in creating a community of radical self-expression, culminating in burning a massive wooden human statue on the final day.

Forbes reported that Ukraine was represented by five artworks at the festival: “Black Cloud” by Oleksiy Say, “The Point of Unity” by Mykola Kabluka, “Death Conquered Death” by Volodymyr Semkiv, “Merman” by Merman Team, and “Blue Bull” by “Workshop of Wonders.”

Pragmatika reported that an additional installation called “HeyDay” by Kharkiv artist Volodymyr Ponomarenko – a mirrored flower made of stainless steel.

Say’s original installation was destroyed by a storm on the festival’s first day, leading the artist to transform it into a new work titled “No Fate” – shortened from the phrase “No fate but what we make,” borrowed from Sarah Connor’s line in the “Terminator” franchise.

The new installation continues the message “Get Ready!” from “Black Cloud”: invisible threats are real, but the future is not predetermined and remains in human hands, emphasizing the choice to resist threats rather than become accustomed to them.

Ukraine has already redefined modern warfare with Operation Spiderweb. In the course of the mission, Kyiv used drone swarms, surprisingly unleashed from trucks in Russia, to destroy its aircraft. Now, it has gone even further in its technological developments. 

In Donetsk Oblast, at an old Soviet warehouse, Ukrainian engineers are assembling ground-based unmanned systems. They deliver ammunition, food, and medical supplies, evacuate the wounded, and carry out assault operations, Forbes reports. 

Drones resilient to Russian jammers

Teams are upgrading standard drones with digital communication channels, such as Starlink and LTE, which allow them to bypass Russian electronic warfare systems.

“The conditions on the ground dictate their own rules, and we have to convert all drones to digital control,” explains engineer Oleksandr.

Also, fully robotic assaults have already been recorded on the Ukrainian front lines. The battle took place near the village of Lyptsi, north of Kharkiv, in 2024. During the clash, Russian positions were destroyed solely by unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and FPV drones.

A robot under fire instead of a soldier

Ground drones act as communication relays and even as platforms for electronic warfare.

“The drone drives up to a trench or dugout, releases the load, and leaves,” he adds.

Ukraine — a global leader in military robotics

According to Army Technology, up to 80% of Russian losses on the battlefield are now caused by drones. Russia is also developing its own systems, but Ukraine is ahead due to volunteer initiatives and decentralized solutions.

“Ukrainian engineers are creating the future of warfare, not just for Ukraine, but for the world,” emphasizes Liuba Shypovych, CEO of Dignitas Ukraine.

For decades, China held a monopoly on strategic metals. But now a new player, Georgia, has found 240 million tons of manganese ore on its territory, already being called “the new lithium,” The Diary 24 reports. 

A colossal discovery in Chiatura

In the Chiatura region, reserves of manganese ore amounting to 240 million tons have been confirmed. Manganese is increasingly seen as an alternative to lithium for electric vehicle batteries. It allows the creation of cheaper and more reliable cathodes, which could radically change the balance of the global market. 

Georgia between China and the West

At the same time, the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party holds power in Georgia. As is known, China is Russia’s main economic partner, which sponsors its war against Ukraine. In addition, about 20% of Georgia’s territory is currently controlled by Russia, something Moscow can use as leverage for blackmail.

The current government has effectively stalled Georgia’s accession to the European Union. This reduces the country’s chances of democratization and, therefore, hinders alliances with Western nations.

A chance for the West and a challenge for China

The emergence of a competitor like Georgia has become an unexpected challenge for China, which has dominated strategic resources for decades. The US and other Western countries are already considering cooperation with Tbilisi to reduce dependence on Beijing.

Ukraine may have replenished its fleet of MiG-29 fighters with aircraft from Azerbaijan, The War Zone reports. A photo appeared on social media showing a single-seat Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 with a camouflage pattern characteristic of Azerbaijani jets.

“The date and location of the photo are unknown, but the jet appears to be on a combat mission, with a full armament…While it remains possible that the photo has been manipulated, there is presently nothing to indicate that it’s not genuine,” the report says. 

Azerbaijani aircraft in Ukraine

Back in the summer of 2022, another photo appeared on Twitter showing three Azerbaijani MiG-29s undergoing repairs in Lviv. After the start of the all-out war, they remained in Ukraine and likely entered service with the Air Force.

“It seems the aircraft (or at least one of them) survived the March 2022 Russian attack on the Lviv State Aviation Repair Plant, which we reported on at the time,” the report says.

The plant was a key facility for overhauling MiG-29s not only for Ukraine but also for foreign clients, including Azerbaijan.

Traces of Baku’s support

There are also suggestions that Azerbaijan may have provided Ukraine with other “unofficial” assistance — precision bombs, mortars, and fuel. Azerbaijan’s MiG-29 fleet itself originally came from Ukraine: in 2007, the country acquired about 15 aircraft after major overhaul and modernization.

“Between 2015 and 2017, Azerbaijani MiG-29s took part in joint exercises with the Turkish Air Force, representing one of its closest military allies, and, starting in 2017, Fulcrum overhauls were conducted in Lviv,” the journalists recall. 

The coincidence of the evidence emerging now, alongside rising tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia, only adds intrigue. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin told the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok that he was ready for contact with Ukraine but questioned whether Kyiv has the political will to reach agreements on key issues, according to Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation.

Putin claimed Ukraine had previously excluded direct contacts with Russia but now “asks for them.” He dismissed peace negotiations in a third country as an “excessive request from Kyiv” and suggested Moscow as the preferred meeting location.

“Ukraine wants a meeting, I’m ready, come, we will provide working conditions and security,” Putin said at the forum.

The Russian leader declared that Russia would consider any foreign troops on Ukrainian territory “legitimate targets for destruction.” He added that security guarantees for both Ukraine and Russia had not been seriously discussed with Moscow at a high level.

Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation said Putin’s statements confirmed he rejects peace proposals while using rhetoric about readiness to negotiate as a stalling tactic.

“Putin continues to stall, putting forward deliberately unacceptable demands for negotiations, but almost no longer hides that he does not intend to agree on anything. Sanctions and pressure on Russia must be strengthened,” the Center concluded.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded that Putin pretends he does not need peace or agreements, but global pressure can shape Russia’s interest in ending the war.

Zelenskyy reacted to Putin’s Moscow invitation, saying: “If you want there to be no meeting, invite me to Moscow.”

Recent diplomatic developments include Donald Trump’s 25 August statement that he would observe for two weeks before intervening “very decisively” in potential Zelenskyy-Putin talks. On 4 September, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 countries would provide peacekeepers or assistance as part of security guarantees for Ukraine.

Trump said he plans to speak with Putin soon after his conversation with Zelenskyy, calling Russia’s war against Ukraine “the most difficult of everything” for him.

Day 1289

On 4 September, the biggest news comes from the Russian Federation.

Here, the Russian war effort has reached a breaking point, forcing the state to adopt measures once thought unthinkable to keep its military machine running. With millions of casualties mounting and the labor force collapsing, Russian teenagers are now rapidly being pulled into the war economy to fill the gaps.

In recent weeks, reports have begun to emerge about significant shifts within Russia’s defense sector. What makes the reports especially alarming is that one of the first confirmed cases of underage labor has emerged at the Alabuga complex, where teenagers are now being used to assemble drones. Some are recruited from technical schools, while others are brought in with minimal training. Most live in guarded dormitories and work under surveillance, with punishments for errors and accounts of forced overtime.

The danger is not only the working conditions themselves, but also the fact that Alabuga has always been a high-priority target for Ukraine. Since the Shahed production line supports Russia’s long-range strikes, the entire complex is now a legitimate military target, and the students inside are, in effect, being placed on the frontline.

The situation reflects the broader collapse of Russia’s manpower base, and after more than 1 million wartime losses, including dead, wounded, captured, and discharged, there is no longer enough adult labor to sustain both the military and the economy. Key industries, such as construction, transportation, and manufacturing, are now overstretched, particularly in military zones. The conditions at Alabuga are likely not unique, as similar facilities across the country face pressure to maintain output with a shrinking workforce and rising demand. The same pattern is likely repeating elsewhere: quiet expansions, untrained labor, and no safety net.

Before resorting to underage labor, Moscow attempted to compensate through foreign recruitment, launching large-scale efforts to bring in workers from Central Asia, South Asia, and Africa; however, the results fell short. Most recruits were poorly integrated, lacked relevant training, and faced growing hostility from Russian society.

That pressure has also opened doors for Ukrainian intelligence, as some of Russia’s most destructive drone and airfield losses, including the strike that destroyed a third of its long-range bombers in one day, were made possible by operatives exploiting these weak points from inside the labor system. Several were even redirected to combat support roles. These scandals, combined with public resentment, undermined the entire approach. Today, foreign recruitment still exists but is no longer seen as a sustainable solution.

Russia’s reliance on teenagers is not just a labor problem; it is structural, as Russia’s war machine is burning through manpower faster than it can replace it, but instead of scaling back, it just widens the net: first migrants, then prisoners, now pupils. The goal is always the same: sustain the output, whatever the cost. That is why classrooms are turning into dormitories, teachers are being sidelined for production quotas, and students are being taught to wire warheads instead of learning math.

However, these adaptations come with a price, as civilian infrastructure is repurposed for military use, the dividing line between civilian and combatant becomes blurred. By militarizing industrial sites and filling them with untrained minors, Russia is exposing them to direct retaliation.

If a drone factory becomes a military hub, then civilian workers, including students, are placed in the line of fire. The shift toward mass militarization of society is not strengthening Russia; it is exposing its core, and with every adaptation, that vulnerability grows.

Overall, the use of teenage workers in drone factories is not a temporary fix; it is a warning sign. Russia has run out of spare labor, exhausted its foreign recruitment options, and is now facing a shortage of internal resources. If the war effort now depends on minors to keep production lines moving, it indicates that Russia has exhausted its reserve labor capacity, a sign of accelerating internal depletion. As Russia expands its system to maintain wartime output, the likelihood increases that Ukraine will escalate its deep-strike campaign, targeting not just supply lines, but the very infrastructure and labor model sustaining Russian production.

Exclusives

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Read our previous report here.