Your smartphone probably has more computing power than the drone that woke Ukrainian families at 3 AM this morning. Yet these cheap weapons have become Putin’s most reliable tool for terrorizing Ukraine—and they’re multiplying faster than anyone expected.

Russia launched more than 728 drones in a single night attack on 9 July 2025. In June alone, 5,483 drones targeted Ukraine—16 times more than June 2024 and a 30% increase over the previous month. Compare that to September 2022, when Russia’s entire monthly arsenal was just 40 units.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia has launched 28,743 drones at Ukraine since February 2022. The escalation has been systematic: 40 drones in September 2022, increasing to 5,483 by June 2025—a 137-fold increase over 33 months.

What changed?

The Shahed transformation

The Shahed-136 represents a shift in modern warfare—establishing what defense analysts call asymmetric warfare through large-scale, low-cost swarm attacks. Iran’s HESA reverse-engineered a 1980s German design (the Die Drohne Antiradar) to create a flying bomb that carries 118 pounds (53 kg) of explosives over 1,000 miles (1,600 km).

Iran initially sent combat drones to Russia on 19 August 2022—both Mohajer-6 surveillance drones (200km range, two missiles per wing) and Shahed kamikaze units. Tehran and Moscow officially denied the transfers, but Iran later acknowledged them while claiming they predated the invasion.

In early September 2022, IRGC Commander Major General Hussein Salami noted that Iran was selling domestic military equipment to foreign buyers, including “major world powers,” and training them to use this equipment.

But the real game-changer came with Iran’s $1.75 billion technology transfer deal that gave Russia the blueprints, software, and production technologies to build its own versions. Shahed drones were previously built by Shahed Aviation Industries in Iran, where allegedly every drone factory has two backup sites in case of aerial attacks.

Inside the Alabuga factory boom

Russia’s drone production centers on the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan—more than 1,300 kilometers from Ukraine’s border and Russia’s most successful SEZ, accounting for 68% of total revenue. The facility produced 2,738 Shahed-style drones in 2023, then more than doubled to 5,760 units by September 2024.

Recent analysis suggests Russia produced over 10,000 drones in 2024 alone, doubling monthly production from 1,000 to nearly 2,000 units.

Satellite imagery shows at least eight new warehouse structures under construction. The Institute for Science and International Security estimates Alabuga now produces almost 20 drones per working day—double the original contract rate. Russia initially predicted production costs of $48,000 per Geran-2 (25% of the purchase cost), but by April 2024 this increased to around $80,000 due to upgrades. The original plan called for 310 drones per month with 24-hour operations, plus plans for an additional 6,000 drones per year after the initial contract.

The main structural components requiring sophisticated supply chains are the airframe (fuselage), engine, avionics (electronics), and combat unit.

Russia started with a three-phase plan:

Phase 1 was reassembling 100 drones per month from Iranian knock-down kits.

Phase 2 would produce their own airframes.

Phase 3 would produce another 4,000 drones by September 2025 with little Iranian help.

Alabuga Machinery LLC completed construction of production buildings in December 2022 and sent its first team of specialists to Iran for training in March 2023. In parallel, the process of assembling drones from Iranian machine kits continued.

But there were problems. About 25% of Iranian kits arrived damaged or broken—including one dropped during delivery.

Here’s the interesting part: leaked data shows 90% of Iranian Shahed-136’s computer chips and electrical components are manufactured in the West, primarily in the United States.

Iran initially helped Russia with direct connections. According to the US Treasury Department, Alabuga requested meetings with Mado Company officials (Iranian drone engine producers) and received detailed documents on the MD550 engine that powers the Shahed-136. Iran’s Defense Ministry also facilitated the supply of UAV parts, models, and ground stations to Alabuga through UAE-based Generation Trading FZE.

What makes this surge possible? A Chinese supply network that signed contracts worth 700 million yuan ($96 million) with Alabuga between September 2023 and June 2024. Thirty-four Chinese companies partnered with the facility during this period.

The Chinese engine pipeline

Here’s where it gets interesting. The heart of Russia’s drone program is a Limbach L550E engine—originally designed by German company Limbach Flugmotoren in the 1980s. Iran reverse-engineered this decades ago. Now, Chinese company Xiamen Limbach Aircraft Engine Co. manufactures these engines and ships them to Russian weapons factories.

Xiamen Limbach is wholly owned by Fujian Delong Aviation Technology Co., which also owns the original German Limbach Flugmotoren GmbH—one of the world’s leading manufacturers of aircraft piston engines engaged in both development and maintenance. The engines don’t go directly to Russia—they flow through intermediary companies that act as buffers between IEMZ Kupol and Chinese suppliers.

Between November 2023 and October 2024, Russian intermediary TSK Vektor LLC imported $32.8 million worth of components from Chinese suppliers: aircraft engines, computer parts, electrical equipment, transistors, electronic modules, connectors, plugs, sockets, spare parts, and components.

The broader Chinese supplier network with specific roles includes:

• Xiamen Limbach Aircraft Engine Co.: L550E engines through intermediaries (Redlepus TSK Vektor Industrial, Shenzhen Juhang Aviation Technology)
• Redlepus Vector Industry (Shenzhen): Avionics, electronic modules, mechanical components
• Shenzhen Juhang Aviation Technology Co.: Aviation components, axles, carburetors, engine parts ($36.3 million imported 2022-2023)
• Mile Haw Xiang Technology Co.: UAV engine development, production, marketing; DLE60 engines for Gerbera drones
• Skywalker Technology: Gerbera drone fuselages and components through third-party suppliers
• Souzhou Ecod Precision Manufacturing Co.: Precision components for drone assembly
• Shenzhen Jinduobang Technology Co.: Electronic and mechanical components
• Suzhou Shunxinge Import and Export Trade Co.: Import/export facilitation
• Shandong Xinyilu International Trade Co.: Electronic components and trade facilitation
• Fujian Jingke Technology Co.: Technical components and systems integration

Most label exports as “for general civil purpose” or “for general industrial purpose” to avoid detection.

When Reuters reported the Chinese engine connection in September 2024, the US and EU sanctioned several companies, including Xiamen Limbach. The EU also suspects Xiamen Limbach may have passed L550 engine drawings directly to Iranian Shahed-136 manufacturers.

But Beijing Xichao International Technology and Trade immediately took over L550E shipments.

Engines are shipped to Russian front company SMP-138 (registered under Abram Goldman), then forwarded to LIBSS. The contract explicitly states engines will be described as cooling units because of their sensitivity.

Russia’s drone variants

Russia hasn’t just copied Iran’s design. The Garpiya-A1 (“Harpy”), manufactured by IEMZ Kupol (part of Almaz-Antey), closely resembles the Shahed-136 but uses Chinese L550E engines and unique bolt-on fins. Russia’s Defense Ministry signed a 1 billion ruble contract ($10.9 million) with IEMZ Kupol in early 2023 to develop the drone factory.

Between July 2023 and July 2024, Russia produced more than 2,500 Garpiya-A1 UAVs. IEMZ Kupol signed a contract to produce more than 6,000 Garpiya drones in 2025, up from 2,000 in 2024, with more than 1,500 delivered by April 2025. Ukrainian intelligence reports about 500 Garpiya drones are launched monthly.

Russia has shifted from using Iranian “M” series Shaheds to producing its own “K” and “KB” variants since 2023, indicating full domestic production capability. Conflict Armament Research, a British weapons-tracking group, examined downed drones and confirmed Russia is now producing its “own domestic version of the Shahed-136.”

But Russia’s cleverest innovation is the Gerbera drone—a foam and plywood decoy that costs one-tenth the price of a real Shahed but appears identical on radar. It forces Ukrainian air defenses to waste expensive interceptor missiles on worthless targets while real attack drones slip through. Russia planned to produce 10,000 Gerberas in 2024—twice the number of actual attack drones.

Russia also produces the Geran-3, a jet-powered variant with higher speeds for faster targeting and better evasion of antiaircraft systems.

The exploitation workforce

How does Alabuga staff this massive operation? Through questionable recruitment that raises human rights red flags.

They planned for 810 staff working in three shifts to run the facility 24/7. The facility employs over 1,000 women from across Africa, recruited through Alabuga Start with promises of $550 monthly salaries, subsidized housing, and educational opportunities. The recruitment campaign in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, specifically targeted young female students. Management seizes passports to prevent workers from quitting—basically forced labor.

The factory also employs Russian students as young as 15 through local polytechnic colleges, including Alabuga Polytech. As of August 2023, several hundred 15‑year‑old students worked at Alabuga Polytech under “work experience programs,” with employers promising wages up to 70,000 rubles/month (around US $700)— roughly 20–30 % higher than typical monthly earnings in Tatarstan.

The Shahed builders were disturbed about building weapons for the war against Ukraine, so Alabuga keeps hiking salaries. Some workers now earn ten times the median Russian wage.

US Treasury sanctions specifically cited Alabuga CEO Timur Shagivaleyev for “exploitation of underage students to assemble these UAVs.”

How they evade sanctions

How does Russia pay for Chinese technology? Russia built a network that avoids the banking system and instead pays with gold bars, commodities, and barter deals.

Iran’s pricing changed through negotiations. Initially, Iran wanted approximately $375,000 per drone. Final deals settled at either $193,000 per unit for orders of 6,000 drones or $290,000 for orders of 2,000 units.

In February 2023, Alabuga Machinery allegedly transferred 2,067,795 grams of gold bars to Iranian proxy company Sahara Thunder as payment for components—more than 2 tons of gold signed off by CEO Shagivaleyev.

Sahara Thunder was later sanctioned by OFAC in April 2024 for supporting Iran’s Defense Ministry and facilitating UAV transfers. The company was identified as a front for Iran’s military, also shipping commodities to China and Venezuela.

The sanctions whack-a-mole problem

Chinese component supply shows the real problems with current sanctions. Despite China’s export control law supposedly preventing dual-use technology transfers, there are obvious gaps in prohibited classification codes that allow systematic workarounds. Export control measures don’t match actual dual-use risks, so Russian manufacturers keep getting critical technologies despite formal bans.

When the US and EU sanctioned Xiamen Limbach in October 2024, Beijing Xichao International Technology took over shipments within weeks. This rapid substitution suggests pre-existing networks designed to maintain supply continuity.

Chinese suppliers have developed sophisticated systems to disguise military components. According to European security officials, engines are shipped as “industrial refrigeration units,” electronic components as “general civil purpose” items, aircraft parts as “general industrial equipment.” This “cooling units” description enabled goods to be exported without alerting Chinese authorities.

Sanctioned entities include:

• Xiamen Limbach Aircraft Engine Co.: Sanctioned October 2024 for engine supply
• Redlepus TSK Vektor Industrial: Sanctioned for facilitating component transfers
• TSK Vektor LLC: Russian intermediary sanctioned for procurement activities
• IEMZ Kupol: Sanctioned December 2022 (EU), December 2023 (US)
• Sahara Thunder: Iranian company sanctioned April 2024 for supporting Iran’s Defense Ministry
• Timur Shagivaleyev: Sanctioned for exploitation of minors

Secondary sanctions targeting third-party companies have proven insufficient. Chinese companies face limited consequences for supplying Russian defense contractors, and new entities can be established faster than sanctions regimes can identify them.

What this means for the West

This collaboration shows how authoritarian states can create integrated defense partnerships that bypass Western sanctions. The partnership has built covert payment networks involving gold transfers and middleman countries that make enforcement harder.

A new Deng Xiaoping Logistics Complex being built near Alabuga will handle 100,000 containers annually via direct rail links between Russia and China, suggesting broader military cooperation.

The psychological impact goes beyond military effectiveness. These weapons target civilian infrastructure—power plants, hospitals, schools, apartments—designed to wear down Ukrainian society through constant air raids. Ukrainian families spend nightly hours in bomb shelters, kids sleeping in bathtubs to avoid strikes.

The weapons strain Ukrainian air defenses in critical ways. Ukraine intercepts most drones, but the cost equation favors attackers: a $500,000 interceptor missile destroys a $50,000 drone. If attacks continue at current intensity, this creates unsustainable resource imbalances that could overwhelm air defense systems through economic attrition rather than penetration.

The weapons represent cost-effective methods for sustained attacks against civilian infrastructure across Europe, potentially overwhelming air defense systems through sheer volume.

European officials have urged China to tighten export controls, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warning Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that Chinese firms’ support threatens European security. Beijing denies knowledge of military applications while maintaining its right to trade with Russia under international law.

The policy challenge

Current sanctions haven’t worked to stop this supply chain. China has become the key enabler—Ukrainian intelligence reports that every critical component (engines, navigation systems, control units) comes from Chinese manufacturers.

What needs to change:

Better coordination: Allies need to align sanctions policies targeting both Russian UAV manufacturers and Chinese suppliers. Right now, sanctions are scattered and don’t deter anyone.

Hit Chinese companies harder: Aggressive secondary sanctions against Chinese manufacturers and their parent companies who help transfer technology to Russia. This includes targeting banks that enable these deals.

Close export loopholes: Tighten control over dual-use technology exports from China, close gaps in prohibited classification codes that currently allow systematic workarounds. Better coordination between customs and intelligence agencies to catch evasion attempts.

Pressure Beijing financially: Enhanced diplomatic pressure on Beijing to stop Chinese firms from transferring critical technologies that enable weapons production. This includes targeting gold-based payment networks and commodity swap deals.

Share intelligence better: Better intelligence coordination between allies to track emerging supply chains and identify new middleman companies before they get established.

The drone attacks hitting Ukraine carry Chinese engines, Iranian designs, and Russian assembly. They’re a test case for whether economic isolation can work in a connected global economy. So far, determined state actors with willing partners can get around almost any restriction.

Whether Western governments can adapt their systems to match evasion network sophistication is still an open question. The answer will decide not just Ukraine’s fate, but whether economic tools can actually deter international aggression.

On the occupied peninsula, Russia’s repressive machine sees the Ukrainian flag as a greater threat than the swastika. According to the civil organization Crimean Process, in the past six months in occupied Crimea, there have been three times more court cases against supporters of Ukraine than against individuals promoting Nazi symbolism.

“People who demonstrate pro-Ukrainian views are not only prosecuted more frequently, but also subjected to humiliation, fabricated charges, and moral pressure through propaganda in the media,” the report states.

Discrimination in court: “Ukrainian cases” are punished more severely

Of 96 cases analyzed under Article 20.3 of Russia’s Code of Administrative Offenses, the largest share of charges were directed at Ukrainian sympathizers.

• Second were individuals with tattoos from a criminal subculture, 
• The third were Nazi propagandists.

26% of “Ukrainian” cases resulted in arrest, while none of the criminal subculture defendants were imprisoned. Nearly half of the cases against Ukrainians included additional charges, such as hooliganism or “discrediting the army.” In contrast, not a single case involving Nazi symbols included such add-ons.

Songs as crime, Nazis as tolerable: The logic of the occupiers

“Any manifestation of Ukrainian national identity, patriotism, or resistance to occupation is viewed by Russian authorities as a threat to ‘stability’ and ‘security,’” human rights activists say.

In addition, judges in “Ukrainian” cases more frequently violate procedural norms:

• Labeling symbols as “banned” without expert analysis
• Citing irrelevant legal acts
• Issuing baseless accusations

Human rights defenders stress: this is selective justice, where patriotism is punished more harshly than overt hate.

The Kremlin again threatens Europe with missiles. The Russian Foreign Ministry has announced that the country is lifting its self-imposed restriction on the deployment of land-based ballistic and cruise missiles with a range between 500 and 5,500 km, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 

Now, Moscow reverses course: it has lifted the restriction, blames the West, and claims a threat from American missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. The official reason: “steps by the collective West” that, according to the Kremlin, “destabilize the situation in border regions.”

“The Russian Foreign Ministry acknowledges the disappearance of conditions for maintaining the unilateral moratorium on the deployment of such weapons,” the statement says.

The US and NATO: Russia lied and violated the moratorium

Western states already claimed in 2019 that Russia had de facto violated the agreement — the main evidence being the 9M729 missile system, which, according to the US and NATO, has a range exceeding 500 km.

Moscow denies it, but reality suggests otherwise: the missiles exist, and now the Kremlin officially admits it is ready to deploy them. This move threatens to spark a new arms race and escalate security risks not only for Ukraine but for all of Europe.

Russia unleashes 9M729 “Oreshnik” missile on Dnipro in 2024

In November 2024, Russia launched a 9M729 missile at the city of Dnipro, marking the first confirmed combat use of the controversial system, also known by the codename “Oreshnik”. The missile was equipped with six warheads, each capable of independent targeting. The extent of damage remains undisclosed. 

A powerful explosion cut power to the Russian military base in Zaporizhzhia Oblast late on 3 August. The blast temporarily occupied the city of Berdiansk and destroyed a power substation that supplied electricity to the base located at the former Berdianski Zhnyvarky factory, UkrInform reports, citing its source in Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence. 

The energy strike triggered a fire, disabling a key element of the occupiers’s logistics infrastructure.

A blow to the heart of Russia’s military logistics

According to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, the explosion and ensuing fire disabled transformers that powered the facility where Russian troops repaired military vehicles and stored weapons.

“The final consequences of the explosion and the extent of the damage are still being clarified,” says Defense Intelligence source.

Local residents were the first to report the powerful blast, posting videos and photos on social media. The surrounding streets lost power, and social media posts confirmed the fire at the substation.

From harvester factory to pillar of the occupation army

After the capture of Berdiansk, Russian occupying forces converted the plant’s workshops into a repair hub, arms depot, and barracks. Damaged vehicles from the front were brought here for repairs before being sent back to the battlefield.

The destruction of the facility’s power supply seriously disrupts the occupiers’ logistics and hampers their ability to repair equipment.

Six individuals have been served with notices of suspicion for involvement in a corruption scheme involving the procurement of military equipment, reports the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU).

This is the first major report by Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies since a controversial law restricting their independence was signed and later reversed after street protests.

According to the report, among the suspects are government and military officials, as well as executives from drone manufacturing companies.

NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) say they have exposed a “large-scale corruption scheme in the procurement of UAVs and electronic warfare systems” operating during 2024-2025.

According to NABU, the suspects systematically embezzled funds from local government budgets that had been allocated to the Defence Forces.

President Zelenskyy has reportedly dismissed four officials from their posts since the notices were served.

NABU identified the six suspects as:

• a former head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration;
• an MP;
• the head of a city military administration;
• the commander of a National Guard military unit;
• the beneficial owner of a UAV manufacturing company;
• the director of the UAV manufacturing company.

On 2 August, 2025, NABU and SAPO reported their findings to Zelenskyy. The scheme allegedly involved a sitting member of Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party, whose faction membership was dismissed that day. Dismissals of the local government and military officials followed on the same day.

NABU and SAPO in the spotlight

This report comes shortly after attempts by the Ukrainian government to stifle the work of the national anti-corruption agencies. A controversial bill restricting NABU and SAPO’s autonomy was recently passed by parliament and signed into law by Zelenskyy.

This decision sparked nationwide protests. Within 4 days, Zelenskyy submitted a draft bill to reverse the restrictions and restore the agencies’ independence.

This is NABU and SAPO’s first major investigation report since this incident that brought renewed attention to the importance of Ukraine’s anti-corruption organizations.

Ukraine will take another step toward the safe de-occupation and clearing of war remnants. On 4 August, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense announced that sappers from the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the State Special Transport Service will be trained at the Regional School for Humanitarian Demining at the Lebanese Mine Action Center.

The program will be funded by the French government. Lebanon was chosen due to its extensive experience in post-conflict land clearance.

“We thank the Government of the French Republic and the French people for their support in the fight against the Russian aggressor,” says Colonel Ruslan Berehulia, head of the Main Department for Mine Action.

Ukraine and France agree on new cooperation areas

Agreements were reached during a Ukrainian delegation’s visit to France, where Defense Ministry representatives met with:

• Yves Marek, Ambassador for Mine Action
• Jean-Yves Siffreant, technical expert
• Emmanuel Aubry, Prefect of Haut-Rhin

They discussed:

• Risks of soil contamination by explosive remnants and chemical warfare agents
• Methods for assessing contamination levels
• Approaches to high-quality demining and monitoring residual threats

France to continue logistical and technical assistance

The French side confirmed its ongoing commitment to support Ukraine not only financially, but also through:

• Knowledge exchange
• Technical equipment
• Systematic approaches to mine action

This partnership strengthens Ukraine’s ability to clear liberated territories and reduce civilian risks in the long term.

Some 140 German investigators have conducted large-scale raids at Spinner, a high-precision machine tool manufacturer suspected of knowingly supplying equipment to Russia’s military industry. Three individuals have already been charged with violating sanctions.

German law enforcement searched Spinner Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik GmbH’s offices in several German cities and abroad. Eight prosecutors were involved in the investigation. 

According to the investigation, the company may have knowingly sold 20 machines to Russia for a total of €5.5 million, despite the sanctions.

Sanctions evasion is a criminal offense in the EU

Despite the company’s claims about “compliance systems” and “lack of knowledge” about the end user, investigators say otherwise. Sources indicate the deliveries may have gone through third countries, particularly Turkiye, Bloomberg reports. 

“Sanctions enforcement must work like this — with documents, equipment seizures, and court proceedings,” experts say.

Circumventing sanctions is now a criminal offense in the EU, meaning those found guilty could face prison time, not just fines.

India has started buying American, Canadian, and Middle Eastern oil, but has not abandoned Russian supplies. The country’s giant Indian Oil Corp has recently purchased 7 million barrels of oil, Reuters reports. 

Indian Oil Corp strengthens supplies from the West and the Middle East

According to the latest findings, India’s largest oil refining company has bought 4.5 million barrels of American oil, 500,000 barrels of Canadian Western Canadian Select, and 2 million barrels of Das crude from Abu Dhabi. The delivery is scheduled for September 2025.

These large purchases are connected to the country’s intention to replace Russian oil due to falling discounts and new EU sanctions on Russian energy.

Sanctions pressure and trade risks

Earlier, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said India was ready to meet its oil needs from alternative sources if Russia’s supplies are affected by secondary sanctions. 

In July, US President Donald Trump stated that countries continuing to buy Russian oil could face 100% tariffs if Moscow does not agree to a peace deal with Ukraine within at first, 50 days and then 10 days.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed that due to the new economic measures, countries, including India, could suffer losses if they continue to do business with Moscow. 

Western weapons production is under threat. China has cut off critical supplies to the US defense industry by restricting access to vital minerals. Companies are delaying deliveries, searching for new sources worldwide, and prices for some resources have skyrocketed 60-fold, The Wall Street Journal reports. 

China cuts off access to rare earth elements

In response to the escalating trade war with the US, Beijing tightened export controls on rare earth elements — essential for manufacturing weapons, from drones to fighter jets. Today, China controls about 90% of the global rare earth minerals market. American manufacturers have become dependent on Chinese suppliers.

Companies are already reporting major disruptions. One drone manufacturer had to delay shipments by two months while searching for non-Chinese magnets. Prices for samarium, a mineral needed for magnets that withstand extreme temperatures, have increased 60 times. The mineral restrictions highlight just how dependent the US military is on China.

Ban on germanium, gallium, and antimony hits night vision and munitions

Since December, China has officially banned exports to the US of germanium, gallium, and antimony — minerals used in machine guns, shells, and night vision devices. Manufacturers are already sounding the alarm.

The CEO of American firm Leonardo DRS stated that germanium reserves are at the limit. This element is critical for infrared sensors in missiles. The company is actively searching for substitutes and new sources.

The Pentagon has ordered a phase-out of Chinese rare earth magnets by 2027, but most companies only have a few months of stock left.

Chinese control: How one customs office disrupted US ammunition transit

Even alternative routes are failing. In April, Chinese customs in Ningbo detained 55 tons of antimony in transit, which the United States Antimony Corporation was shipping from Australia to its plant in Mexico. After three months, the cargo was forced to return to Australia. Upon arrival, seals were found damaged, and the company is now investigating whether the antimony was contaminated or counterfeit.

Without new sources of mineral extraction, production will inevitably shrink, defense industry representatives warn.

In today’s interconnected world, activists and journalists operating in conflict zones face unprecedented digital threats alongside traditional physical dangers. Modern warfare increasingly includes cyber operations, surveillance technologies, and information warfare tactics that specifically target media professionals and human rights defenders. This comprehensive guide provides essential security protocols and advanced digital defense strategies for high-risk individuals working in or reporting from conflict areas.

The digital battlefield: understanding modern threats

Conflict zones have evolved beyond conventional warfare to encompass sophisticated digital operations. Over 60 cyber activist groups launched attacks during the Israel-Palestine conflict alone, while the Russia-Ukraine war has demonstrated how mobile phone tracking can be “implicated in multiple incidents,” including targeted strikes on military personnel. For journalists and activists, this digital dimension creates new vulnerabilities that require specialized defensive measures.

Key threats in modern conflict zones include:

• State-sponsored surveillance using commercial spyware like Pegasus to target journalists, activists, and their sources
• Mobile device tracking through both military-radio methods and mobile network infrastructure
• Triple-extortion tactics combining data encryption, theft, and DDoS attacks to pressure targets
• AI-enhanced phishing campaigns designed to compromise devices and steal credentials
• Disinformation operations targeting journalists’ credibility and source networks

Establishing secure communications

End-to-End encrypted messaging

The foundation of secure communication lies in properly implemented end-to-end encryption. Signal remains the gold standard for private communications, with security experts consistently recommending it over alternatives like WhatsApp or Telegram for high-risk scenarios. However, Russia-aligned threat actors are increasingly targeting Signal accounts, making proper operational security crucial.

Best practices for encrypted messaging:

• Use Signal for all sensitive communications with sources and colleagues
• Create separate Signal accounts for different operational contexts
• Regularly verify safety numbers with frequent contacts
• Enable disappearing messages for sensitive conversations
• Use burner phone numbers when possible for initial source contact

Secure email systems

Traditional email platforms are inadequate for conflict zone operations. ProtonMail provides encrypted email services specifically designed for journalists and activists, offering Swiss legal protections and zero-access encryption architecture.

Professional email security setup:

• Establish Encrypted email accounts with strong, unique passwords
• Use two-factor authentication with hardware keys when possible
• Create separate email identities for different investigative subjects
• Implement proper email forwarding and auto-delete policies

Apply advanced VPN implementation

A quality VPN such as Astrill VPN or Proton VPN serves multiple functions beyond basic IP masking in conflict zones. Modern VPNs with threat protection can block phishing websites before users ever see them, while providing essential anonymity for research and communication activities.

Check out the following necessary features in a VPN provider:

• Providing strict No-logs policy
• Kill switch functionality to prevent data leaks during connection drops
• Multi-hop connections through servers in different jurisdictions
• Built-in threat protection against malware and phishing attempts
• Tor-over-VPN capabilities for maximum anonymity

Device security and operational security (OPSEC)

Mobile devices present the highest risk in conflict zones due to their tracking capabilities and constant connectivity. Mobile phones can be tracked through multiple methods including military-radio systems and cellular network infrastructure, making proper device security essential.

Look for Critical mobile security measures such use dedicated work devices separate from personal phones, disable location services for all non-essential applications and enable full-disk encryption with strong passphrases. It is also advisable to Implement remote wipe capabilities for devices that may be captured.

Computer security protocol

Work computers require specialized configurations for conflict zone operations. Dedicated work computers should sacrifice convenient features like Bluetooth and USB ports for enhanced security.

Follow the essential computer security setup:

• Full-disk encryption using FileVault (Mac) or BitLocker (Windows)
• Secure boot configuration to prevent unauthorized OS modifications
• Virtualization for risky activities like opening suspicious attachments
• Regular automated backups to encrypted, offline storage
• Application sandboxing to limit potential malware damage

Advanced digital defense techniques

Threat intelligence collection through open source intelligence 

Open-source intelligence has become an essential tool for identifying and responding to cyber threats in relation to geopolitical events, enabling activists and journalists to connect geopolitical events to actionable steps through the Event-Action Chain framework that links incidents to vulnerabilities, threats, risks, and responses. 

Professional threat intelligence involves analyzing reports from government agencies, international organizations, scientific publications, and credible media sources, while conducting thorough analysis of cybersecurity reports issued by government agencies, security consultancies, and cybersecurity organizations. 

Digital forensics implementation for evidence recovery and malware analysis

Forensic analysis employs four critical steps: write-blocking to prevent evidence tampering, mounting images for analysis, manual browsing through directories, and processing through professional forensics packages. Sandboxing provides an excellent method for analyzing malware behavior and observing outbound connections, processes running in background, registry changes, and other payloads downloaded in isolated environments. 

Advanced forensic techniques include reverse steganography and file carving to tap into hidden data through specialized International Organization for Standardization  guidelines, while forensic software identifies malware’s nature, functionality, and origins, providing vital intelligence on attackers’ techniques.

Operational security (OPSEC) risk management protocols

OPSEC is a risk-management process that identifies critical information and actively protects it from adversaries through five key analytical questions: what to protect, who to protect it from, likelihood of threats, consequences of failure, and acceptable security trade-offs. Implementation requires detecting sensitive information including client data, financial information, employee details, and intellectual property, then identifying potential threat matrices and analyzing vulnerabilities in security operations. Modern OPSEC strategies incorporate AI-powered risk scoring, continuous monitoring of user behavior, and identity-based access controls, with organizations using adaptive insider risk models.

Technical infrastructure hardening and attack surface reduction

Infrastructure hardening works by condensing attack surfaces to reduce security vulnerabilities, eliminating redundant programs, ports, applications, and access points to prevent hackers from penetrating systems easily. Systems hardening involves audit of existing systems using penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and configuration management tools, followed by strategic approaches that create phased remediation plans for biggest flaws

Data protection and backup strategies

Secure file storage and sharing

Traditional cloud storage services are inadequate for sensitive journalistic materials. Specialized services like GiraffeDoc provide enhanced end-to-end encryption with role-based access controls specifically for journalists.

Comprehensive backup strategy:

• 3-2-1 backup rule: Three copies of data, on two different media types, with one stored offline
• Encrypted external drives stored in secure, separate locations
• Geographic distribution of backups to prevent total loss during conflicts
• Regular backup testing to ensure data integrity and recoverability

Source protection protocols

Protecting source identity and information requires specialized procedures beyond standard encryption. Digital Security Labs can provide forensic analysis if source protection may have been compromised. Advanced source protection includes:

• Anonymous file submission systems like SecureDrop for initial contact
• Burner devices for high-sensitivity source meetings
• Data compartmentalization to limit exposure if one system is compromised
• Regular security audits of all systems handling source materials

International legal framework and rights

International humanitarian law provides specific protections for journalists in conflict zones under Article 79 of Additional Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions. These protections require that journalists be treated as civilians and protected accordingly, provided they take no direct part in hostilities. Key legal protections includes civilian status protection under international humanitarian law, freedom of expression rights under Articles 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and UN Security Council Resolution 2222 extending protections for media workers

However, extensive research reveals no binding and enforceable laws specifically addressing journalists’ digital rights, creating gaps in protection that make technical security measures even more critical.

Emergency response and incident management

Threat assessment and risk management

Effective risk assessment involves analyzing five key questions: What am I protecting? Who am I protecting it from? How likely are these threats? What are the consequences of failure? How much trouble am I willing to go through?

Comprehensive threat modeling should consider the following factors:

• Physical security risks including detention, violence, and equipment seizure
• Digital threats from state actors, criminal groups, and hostile non-state actors
• Source protection requirements and potential compromise scenarios
• Communication security needs for different operational contexts
• Data security requirements based on story sensitivity and legal exposure

Incident response procedures

When security incidents occur, rapid response is crucial. Organizations like the Associated Press use real-time alerting systems to protect journalists in conflict zones, demonstrating the importance of systematic incident response.

Apply the following Essential incident response steps:

1. Immediate isolation of compromised devices from networks
2. Evidence preservation for potential forensic analysis
3. Secure communication with support networks and legal counsel
4. Source notification if their security may be compromised
5. System restoration using clean backups and verified secure configurations

Conclusion

Digital defense in conflict zones requires a comprehensive, layered approach combining technical security measures with operational discipline and legal awareness. With over 50% of journalist killings occurring in crisis and conflict zones, and digital threats increasing exponentially, robust cybersecurity is no longer optional, it’s essential for survival and operational effectiveness.

The investment in digital security infrastructure pays dividends not only in personal safety but in maintaining the integrity of journalism itself. Every year, hundreds of journalists are killed or imprisoned for their reporting, with thousands more facing surveillance and censorship. By implementing these digital defense strategies, journalists and activists can continue their critical work while minimizing risks to themselves, their sources, and their organizations.

Day 1257

On 3 August, the biggest news comes from Eastern Europe.

Here, a Shahed-type drone flew directly into Lithuanian airspace and passed over the capital, marking a serious escalation in Russia’s aerial provocations against Nato’s eastern flank. Poland’s air force is already on a nightly high alert, and now the rest of the Baltics are joining in, raising what increasingly resembles an iron Curtain in the air.

Recently, a Russian Shahed-like drone crossed into Lithuanian airspace from Belarus and flew over the outskirts of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, close enough for civilians to see and film the device in flight. Initial fears suggested a live munition had entered Nato airspace, as Shaheds are often fitted with fragmentation, thermobaric, incendiary, or delayed-fuse warheads to cause maximum casualties and damage to civilian property.

Fortunately, upon further inspection of the video footage, the object was identified as a Gerbera decoy drone, a visually similar platform Russia uses for both reconnaissance and saturation purposes during their daily strikes on Ukrainian cities.

While unarmed, the drone crossed directly over a Nato capital, far from any logical flight path to Ukraine, making it clear that this was no accident.

Instead, it was a calculated decision to test Nato’s reaction time, radar coverage, and political tolerance for such direct aerial threats and provocations, and critically, Lithuanian forces did not intercept.

Poland, meanwhile, has entered a state of routine high alert, with Polish and Nato forces scrambling jets and raising radar systems every time Russia launches a large-scale assault on Ukraine, which happens every night and now often even during the day as well. Nato partners, including Swedish Gripens, are now joining Poland in maintaining a high alert status during Russia’s large-scale drone and missile attacks on Ukraine, reinforcing joint readiness across the eastern flank. While these alerts are precautionary, they have become the new norm, as the Polish border lies directly behind the approach paths of Russian missiles and drones targeting western Ukrainian cities. This proximity means any technical malfunction or mid-course deviation could result in a direct violation of Polish airspace, as seen in previous incidents, including when debris from Russian missiles entered Polish territory in 2022, or when a Ukrainian air defense missile landed on a Polish field, killing two farmers.

Unlike the calculated provocation over Vilnius, Poland faces a more constant strain of nightly threats, scrambling fighters, activating radar grids, and maintaining alert in civilian areas without knowing whether each launch might cause military objects to cross into its airspace. Across the Baltics, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have long depended on Nato’s Baltic Air Policing mission, with Hungary, Italy, and Spain being part of the current rotation, maintaining quick-reaction alert status and integrated into Nato’s broader air defense system.

However, the unchallenged drone over Vilnius shows the limits of deterrence alone, and Lithuania is now accelerating the deployments of Ukrainian-developed acoustic drone detection systems, seeking to fill gaps in its early warning networks exposed by the most recent airspace violation.

At the same time, the Baltic states are reinforcing their readiness for both air-to-air and ground-to-air engagements by expanding joint training protocols, adapting quick-reaction procedures, and integrating new detection systems designed to counter the threat of low-flying unmanned platforms.

And across all three states, radar tracking, jamming incidents logs, and drone incursions are now analyzed with a single assumption: that any aerial anomaly could be the opening in a broader conflict. The emerging posture is no longer passive monitoring; with new drone detection systems, joint alert protocols, and revised civilian flight corridors, it is becoming forward-leaning, reinforced, and increasingly closed, an Iron Curtain in the air.

Overall, Russia’s latest airspace violations are increasingly escalating and reshaping Nato’s eastern defenses through repeated, calculated provocations that expose gaps, test thresholds, and force reaction. The incursion over Vilnius is a template for how Moscow may continue to pressure Nato’s eastern flank, trying to provoke member states into triggering an open conflict. As Poland’s nightly alerts become routine and Baltic air defenses are forced to harden, the question is no longer whether Nato will respond, but how far that response will go, and as this pattern deepens, the skies over Eastern Europe are no longer a buffer, they are becoming the front line.

‍

Ukraine has unleashed hell on the occupiers. During the night of 4 August, Ukrainian drones launched a powerful strike on a Russian-occupied airbase in Crimea. One of Russia’s most advanced tactical fighter jets was completely destroyed, and four more aircraft were hit, the Security Service (SBU) reports. 

What did the SBU destroy?

The target of the operation was one of Russia’s main airbases in temporarily occupied Crimea, the Saky military airfield, from which enemy planes take off to strike southern Ukraine and ships in the Black Sea. The base hosts strategic bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. The airfield lies nearly 70-80 kilometers from Ukraine-controlled territory. 

The SBU’s “Alpha” Special Center used drones to deliver precision strikes on Russian equipment. As a result of the special operation:

• One Su-30SM fighter jet was completely destroyed
• One more Su-30SM was damaged
• Three Su-24 strike aircraft were hit

A warehouse containing aviation munitions was incinerated. 

Russian losses: Tens of millions of dollars go up in smoke in Crimea

The Russians lost at least one Su-30SM, valued at $50 million. These fighters can carry up to 8 tons of bombs and missiles and have a combat radius of up to 1,500 km.

Several Su-24 aircraft were also damaged. These are used for precision strikes on ground targets, with a combat radius of around 560 km. Russia’s losses may reach tens of millions of dollars.

“Occupiers will never feel safe”

The Security Service of Ukraine confirmed the strike, emphasizing that the operation is a key part of the strategy to destroy enemy logistics and combat capabilities in Crimea.

“Occupiers must remember they will never feel safe on our land!” the SBU stated.

Thanks to your incredible support, we’ve raised 70% of our funding goal to launch a platform connecting Ukraine’s defense tech with the world – David vs. Goliath defense blog. It will support Ukrainian engineers who are creating innovative battlefield solutions and we are inviting you to join us on the journey.

Our platform will showcase the Ukrainian defense tech underdogs who are Ukraine’s hope to win in the war against Russia, giving them the much-needed visibility to connect them with crucial expertise, funding, and international support.

We’re one final push away from making this platform a reality.

Join us in building this platform on Patreon

Russia’s position on Ukraine remains unchanged. The Kremlin states it does not rule out a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy but only after extensive preparatory work at the expert level, UNIAN reports. 

De-facto capitulation of Ukraine 

“Putin is ready to meet with Zelenskyy after preparatory work at the expert level. However, that work has not been carried out yet,” Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, told Russian media.

Russia’s demands, unchanged since summer 2024, include: official recognition of annexed territories, guarantees of Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, and a pledge not to join NATO. Moscow insists that only after these conditions are met can any serious talks take place.

Putin shrugs off Trump’s ultimatum and says he’s ready to wait until Kyiv agrees to his conditions to end war

Currently, global observers are watching closely to see whether US President Donald Trump will impose sanctions after the Kremlin refused to comply with his ceasefire ultimatum on Ukraine.

Meanwhile, tentions between Washington and Moscow continue to escalate

After former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s claims, referencing the Soviet automatic nuclear strike system “Dead Hand” in the context of threats against the US, Trump ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines. Medvedev’s threats came following Trump’s announcement of a 10-day ultimatum that the US gave to Russia to end its war.

This exchange significantly escalated nuclear rhetoric between the two powers, underscoring the growing intertwining of the Ukraine war with nuclear deterrence.

President Donald Trump revealed on 3 August that American nuclear submarines have moved into position near Russian waters, confirming the deployment he ordered just days earlier in response to escalating threats from Moscow.

“They are in the region, yeah, where they have to be,” Trump told reporters when asked about the submarine positioning, according to The Hill.

The submarine deployment represents Trump’s most direct military response yet to what he called “highly provocative statements” from Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president who now serves as Deputy Chairman of the Security Council.

What triggered the submarine deployment

The military positioning follows Trump’s 10-day ultimatum to Russia over the Ukraine war. Trump threatened tariffs and sanctions unless Moscow shows progress ending the war.

Medvedev fired back, accusing Trump of “playing a game of ultimatums with Russia.” The Russian official warned that “every new ultimatum is a threat and a step toward war” – targeting not Ukraine, but Trump’s “own country.”

On 31 July, Trump told Medvedev to “watch his words” and calling him a “failed former President of Russia, who thinks he’s still President.”

“He’s entering very dangerous territory!” Trump declared, noting that “Russia and the USA do almost no business together. Let’s keep it that way.”

Medvedev responded by invoking Russia’s “Dead Hand” nuclear system and telling Trump to “remember his favorite zombie movies.”

On 1 August, Trump announced his submarine deployment on Truth Social: “I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that.”

Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances,” he added.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov downplayed the submarine news, telling Russian media that “American submarines are already on combat duty anyway. This is a constant process.”

But Peskov stressed Russia’s careful approach to nuclear rhetoric: “We are very careful about any statements related to nuclear issues. Russia takes a responsible position.”

When pressed about Medvedev’s inflammatory statements, Peskov deflected: “In every country, members of the country’s leadership have different views.” He emphasized that “President Putin” formulates Russia’s foreign policy.

What happens next

Trump confirmed his special envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Russia this week – either 6 or 7 August for talks ahead of planned new sanctions.

The diplomatic mission comes as nuclear-armed submarines patrol near Russian waters, creating a complex backdrop of military pressure and negotiation attempts.

Global tech giants come to Kyiv.  Deputy Defense Minister Serhii Boiev has held talks in Kyiv with Axon founder and CEO Rick Smith and head of Dedrone by Axon, Aaditya Devarakonda, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry reports.

The main topic has been the joint fight against enemy UAVs (drones), technology exchange, and scaling production of electronic warfare tools and drone interceptors.

“We are most interested in electronic warfare (EW) technologies and drone interceptors,” says Boiev.

During the meeting, Axon CEO Rick Smith told the Ukrainian officials that “our offer is not about business but about protecting people.”

Axon and Dedrone move to cooperate with Ukrainian manufacturers

Axon is a US leader in public safety, known for TASER stun guns, body cameras, digital platforms, and evidence analysis software, used by police and security agencies in many countries.

Dedrone by Axon specializes in airspace protection from unauthorized drones. Its technology operates in over 50 countries — in prisons, stadiums, airports, and even military units.

Dedrone uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect, track, and neutralize drones. The system integrates data from radars, radio frequencies, and video cameras into a unified C2 platform — either local or cloud-based. 

Ukraine as a hub for new military solutions

Kyiv already cooperates with domestic companies to ramp up production of drone countermeasure systems, but according to Boiev, they “continue searching for new solutions.”

Authorities in Sochi detained two girls and a young man who filmed a video against the backdrop of a burning oil depot, according to the Krasnodar Oblast Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The detainees traveled to Sochi from Nizhny Tagil, the ministry reported. Officials issued a protocol against one of the detained individuals under the article concerning “failure to comply with rules of conduct in case of emergency situation or threat of its occurrence.”

This violation carries penalties ranging from a warning to fines between 1,000 and 30,000 rubles ($12-$375).

Adler oil depot in Sochi, southern Russia, burned after Ukrainian drones struck overnight on 3 August, igniting a 2,000 cubic meter fuel tank around 530 km from the frontline. The strike forced a halt to flights at Sochi airport.

Telegram channels reported, citing eyewitnesses, that approximately 20 explosions were heard in Sochi. The oil depot includes 41 tanks with a combined capacity of around 31,200 cubic meters.

Russia is establishing drone launch infrastructure at the airport in occupied Donetsk City to reduce Ukrainian air defense reaction time, according to satellite imagery analysis by Ukrainian intelligence sources.

A Ukrainian Telegram channel reported on 2 August that July 2025 satellite images show Russian authorities have “partially cleared the fortifications on the runway and started construction work at the parking lots, possibly in preparation for the installation of fuel tanks” at the northern Donetsk City airport.

Ukrainian open-source intelligence group CyberBoroshno analyzed the imagery and reported that Russian occupation authorities are constructing “closed storage areas near the destroyed airport terminal and are preparing manual drone control points, warhead unloading areas, air surveillance posts, and a runway.”

CyberBoroshno assessed the infrastructure development aims to launch “Shahed-type strike drones, Gerbera-type decoy drones, and possibly Geran (Shahed) jet-powered drones.” The group noted that positioning launch sites closer to the frontline will reduce reaction time for Ukrainian air defenses.

The construction comes as Russia dramatically escalated drone attacks in July 2025. Russian forces fired 6,297 Shahed-type kamikaze drones and Gerbera-type decoy targets at Ukraine during the month, according to OSINT analyst Kyle Glen’s analysis of official Ukrainian Air Force reported. Glen called this figure “an absolute monthly record since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.”

The July numbers represent a 1,378% increase from July 2024, when Russia launched 426 drones. Glen said that July’s attack volume “equals the total number of drones launched over ten months of 2024 — from January through October inclusive.”

July marked the first month with more than 6,000 drones reported by Ukrainian Air Force, following June when more than 5,000 were reported for the first time, according to Glen. The analyst said that “July also had periods of relative calm when Russia held off on major launches (likely due to poor weather).”

Glen attributed the escalation to “Russia’s expansion of drone production facilities in the second half of 2024 and early 2025.” Ukrainian air defense forces now face attack volumes that “constantly increase in complexity due to evolving enemy tactics.”

The Institute for the Study of War reported that Russian forces have installed thermal imaging cameras on some Shahed drones to improve strike accuracy. Previous reports indicated Russia prepares thousands of strikes daily.

Russian forces have used occupied Ukrainian territory for long-range drone launches, and continued occupation will “increasingly threaten Ukraine and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) states,” according to the Ukrainian Telegram channel report.

Drone attacks on transport and energy infrastructure in Russia’s Volgograd Oblast have disrupted rail traffic and power supply, with five passenger trains delayed after strikes on railway facilities in Frolovo district.

Volgograd Oblast Governor Andrey Bocharov reported what he called a “massive attack” by drones targeting transport and energy facilities across the region. The strikes caused infrastructure damage and service interruptions but resulted in no casualties.

In Frolovo, firefighters responded to a blaze at a “technical building” at Archeda railway station, according to Bocharov’s statement. The incident shattered windows in two nearby residential buildings, though passenger infrastructure at the station remained undamaged.

Railway operations faced significant disruption after an unexploded drone landed on the tracks. “To eliminate the drone that did not explode, train movement on the railway tracks is temporarily restricted, sappers are working,” Bocharov said. The Privolzhskaya Railway confirmed the suspension of train services.

Five trains experienced delays due to the disruption.

Power infrastructure also sustained damage in the Ilovlinsky district, where debris from a fallen drone severed a high-voltage power line. Energy workers are restoring electricity supply to the settlement of Ilovlya and surrounding communities, Bocharov said.

Russia’s Defense Ministry reported shooting down 61 drones during the night of 4 August. The ministry’s breakdown showed 18 drones over Black Sea waters, 12 over Voronezh Oblast, 11 over annexed Crimea, eight over Belgorod Oblast, six over Volgograd Oblast, two each over Bryansk and Rostov oblasts, and one each over Moscow Oblast and Ryazan Oblast.

Amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, Ukraine has been targeting Russia’s military, defense-industry, logistics, and fuel facilities deep inside Russia in order to cripple Moscow’s war machine. Recently, Ukraine resumed the attacks on the oil refineries and depots in Russia after a few-month pause.

Exclusive

While missiles hit Kyiv, the OSCE throws itself a birthday party. Fifty years on, the OSCE lets Russia bomb, kidnap, and veto. Time’s up—kick Moscow out or close the doors.

Whatever you do, don’t march with two landmines strapped to your back while Ukrainian drones patrol overhead. Russian engineers are literally telling their troops to walk 20km carrying two anti-tank mines each. Ukrainian drone footage shows what happens next.

Russia built a billion-ruble nuclear submarine—Ukraine just took its secrets. The Knyaz Pozharsky is no longer a mystery to Ukrainian defense intelligence.

Forget steel: Ukraine’s new tank armor is rubber and spikes. Steel once defined tank protection. Now, under constant drone attack, Russia bolts spikes onto its armor while Ukraine wraps vehicles in rubber—a complete rethink of how to survive on the battlefield.

Military

Ukraine reports infant in critical condition after multi-region Russian assault. Russian night attack killed a 45-year-old man in Kherson Oblast and injured three people in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, including an infant in serious condition

Frontline report: 100,000 Russian troops almost had Pokrovsk. Almost.. Russian infiltrators slipped into Pokrovsk, but drones and rapid-response units cut them off before Moscow’s 100,000 troops could join the fight.

Russia tries “total infiltration” in Pokrovsk — Ukraine boosts fortifications inside the city, Syrskyi says. The top Ukrainian general says Russian attempts to slip inside were crushed fast.

Ukraine appoints new Air Forces chief after F‑16 losses and intensified Russian attacks

. Anatoliy Kryvonozhko takes command of Ukraine’s Air Forces after a year in an acting role, amid rising missile and drone strikes.

Rosneft’s southern oil hub on fire: drones set Russia’s Adler depot ablaze overnight. A 2,000 cubic meter fuel tank lit up the night sky as drones struck Russia’s Black Sea hub.

Intelligence and technology

Frontline report: NATO’s AWACS are mapping every radar pulse over Russia’s Kaliningrad. Each flight builds a radar profile of Russian systems near the Suwalki Gap, preparing NATO for potential strikes.

Putin was shocked: US showed it can hit anywhere, anytime, says Ukraine’s intel chief. They could’ve launched from Europe. Instead, they flew tens of thousands of kilometers.

Azov’s 12th Brigade turns British “Bulldog” into armored battlefield guardian

. White paint, oxygen tanks, stretcher rails — and a diesel heart.

International

Trump’s special envoy Witkoff to visit Moscow as 8 August ceasefire deadline looms. As Trump’s 8 Aug. Ukraine ceasefire deadline approaches, the US Middle East envoy will meet with Russian officials who requested the talks amid threats of sanctions and 100% tariffs

The Hill: US senators chose a break, leaving Russia sanctions power in Trump’s hands. Lawmakers walked away from a sweeping sanctions bill, leaving Trump to decide how to confront Moscow this month.

Humanitarian and social impact

Damaged but still stands: Russians bombed vehicular bridge in Kherson

. The attack ripped a hole in the deck and cut off the Korabel micro-district from the city center.

Nightly assaults become routine as Russian drones swarm Ukrainian skies, injuring civilians. City after city woke to fires, debris and shattered windows as attacks stretched across the map.

Political and legal developments

Ukraine’s anti-corruption strike: National Guard officers and a Servant of the People MP caught taking bribes for drones. Anti-graft agencies briefed the president on a scheme that threatens both trust and battlefield supply.

Read our earlier daily review here.

Russian forces launched a night assault on Ukraine using missiles, drones and guided aerial bombs, according to Air Force data.

Three people were injured in Russian shelling of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, including a 4-month-old infant who remains in critical condition, Dnipro Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak said.

Nikopol, Marhanets, Myrivska, Pokrovska communities were under Russian fire.

According to Lysak, Russian forces shelled the Nikopol area with artillery, attacked with FPV drones and dropped ammunition from UAVs. A transport company in Marhanets was damaged during the assault.

The attacks extended beyond Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. In Kherson Oblast, one person died in Russian artillery fire on Antonivka village.

“From early morning, Russians cut short the life of a Kherson Oblast resident, for a man born in 1979,” Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.

 In Odesa, a strike on a radio market sparked fires that destroyed dozens of trading pavilions containing electronics and household appliances, the State Emergency Service reported. A separate fire erupted at an abandoned dormitory.

The Russian military regularly attacks Ukrainian oblasts with various types of weapons, killing civilians and destroying hospitals, schools, kindergartens, energy and water supply facilities.

The Ukrainian authorities and international organisations qualify these strikes as war crimes by the Russian Federation and emphasise that they are of a targeted nature.

President Donald Trump announced that his Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff will likely visit Russia on Wednesday or Thursday, according to remarks made to journalists in New Jersey reported by CBS News.

Trump told reporters that Witkoff may visit Russia “possibly on Wednesday or Thursday” (6-7 August). The president added that the Russians “asked for a meeting” with Witkoff.

When journalists asked what would happen on 8 August, if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire, Trump responded that “there will be sanctions.” However, he acknowledged Russia’s ability to circumvent economic restrictions.

“There’ll be sanctions, but they [the Russians] seem to be pretty good at avoiding sanctions,” Trump said. “They’re wily characters and they’re pretty good at avoiding sanctions, so we’ll see what happens.”

Trump reiterated his position that Russia’s war against Ukraine is claiming many lives. “It’s a terrible war,” he said, adding: “We stopped many wars… India and Pakistan, many countries. And we will stop this war too. Somehow we will stop it.”

The announcement follows Trump’s previous ultimatums to Moscow. On 14 July, he threatened to impose “tough tariffs” of “around 100%” on Russian goods if no agreement to end the war in Ukraine is reached within 50 days. On 31 July, he threatened Russian leader Vladimir Putin with sanctions if no agreements to end the war are reached by 8 August.

Russian Deputy Security Council Chairman Dmitry Medvedev responded to the shortened deadline by threatening the United States with war. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham subsequently advised Russia to contact countries that purchase Russian oil and gas, supporting Russia’s military machine, to determine whether they share the Kremlin’s dismissive position on sanctions.

Today, the biggest news comes from the Baltic region. NATO surveillance flights over Kaliningrad and live-fire drills in Estonia show that Europe is no longer treating the Russian exclave as a passive threat. Instead, Kaliningrad is being studied and tracked, while its neighbors quietly prepare for a worst-case scenario.

Recently, Germany’s military counterintelligence service reported that Russian espionage cases nearly doubled over the past year. Officials say Moscow’s operatives are using more aggressive cover strategies and entering Europe via third countries like Serbia and Türkiye to evade detection.

Cyber strikes and political meddling hit Baltic states

At the same time, cyberattacks and political interference campaigns have surged across the Baltic states. In just the last month, Lithuania reported GPS spoofing on its commercial aircraft, Estonia flagged coordinated hacks on state infrastructure, and Russian-linked groups funded several political rallies in Latvia.

These are not isolated provocations. They mirror the early warning signs that preceded Russia’s invasions of Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in both 2014 and 2022. The pattern is familiar, and its central node is Kaliningrad. Nearly every signal-jamming incident, radar incursion, or drone probe in the region traces back to the Russian exclave, making it the catalyst for any new escalation.

Why Kaliningrad is suddenly back in focus

That threat is not new, but its urgency is. Kaliningrad is a heavily militarized Russian enclave wedged between Poland and Lithuania, and has long served as a launchpad for threats against NATO. Home to Baltic Fleet warships, Iskander missile systems, and advanced air defense, it gives Moscow a constant forward presence inside EU territory.

During previous standoffs, Russia used Kaliningrad to simulate nuclear strikes, stage snap exercises, and threaten shipping routes in the Baltic Sea. But in recent months, it has also become a nerve center for hybrid operations, coordinating cyber-attacks, transmitting jamming signals, and testing NATO’s airspace readiness with frequent high flyovers.

Kaliningrad turns into a battlefield node

In short, Kaliningrad is no longer just a base; it is a battlefield node already in use. Now Europe is pushing back. NATO AWACS surveillance aircraft have begun continuous flights over Poland and the Baltic Sea to monitor Kaliningrad’s military activity.

Meanwhile, Estonia has just held its first-ever live fire drills using US-supplied HIMARS, part of a six-unit acquisition aimed at boosting long-range strike capabilities. The exercises focused on targeting simulated hardened positions, such as fortified bunkers and missile launch pads, the exact type of assets concentrated in Kaliningrad.

NATO expands long-range strike capabilities

Poland, which has received dozens of HIMARS systems from the US, is preparing similar capabilities. For frontline NATO members facing the brunt of Russian pressure, these drills serve a clear dual purpose: readiness for counterforce missions and visible deterrence against Kaliningrad’s offensive potential.

While no official scenario has been disclosed, these drills are being interpreted by analysts as a dry run for serious interdiction missions aimed at Russia: detecting, targeting, and disabling missile launch platforms inside the enclave.

Border defenses tighten as NATO plans ahead

In parallel, Poland has expanded troop deployments near the border, and Lithuania is accelerating work on reinforced border barriers. If NATO were to actually confront Kaliningrad militarily, the opening move would likely be a coordinated cyber and electronic warfare push, aimed at blinding Russian communications and radar coverage.

This would be followed by continuous aerial reconnaissance through AWACS and high-altitude drones to confirm positions. Long-range precision strikes would then target key installations: Iskander launchers, air defense nodes, and Baltic Fleet command centers.

A hypothetical battle plan sends a clear signal

HIMARS batteries in Estonia and Poland could disable fixed missile sites, while German and US aircraft execute follow-on suppression missions. Naval forces would blockade Kaliningrad’s key port at Baltiysk to prevent reinforcement. Meanwhile, NATO ground units, already repositioned near the Suwalki Gap, would be tasked with containing any attempted Russian breakout into Poland or Lithuania.

This is a hypothetical scenario, but it is now being actively rehearsed, with each exercise aligning more closely to an actual operational sequence. Overall, the Kaliningrad threat that Russia spent two decades cultivating may be turning against it. Europe is no longer treating the enclave as a static deterrent but as a live vulnerability that can be tracked, targeted, and potentially neutralized. For the Kremlin, this shift carries enormous risks: losing Kaliningrad would not only be a massive strategic blow but also a symbolic collapse of Russia’s forward posture in Europe. And for NATO, the message is clear: the era of passive containment is over.

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

Thanks to your incredible support, we’ve raised 70% of our funding goal to launch a platform connecting Ukraine’s defense tech with the world – David vs. Goliath defense blog. It will support Ukrainian engineers who are creating innovative battlefield solutions and we are inviting you to join us on the journey.

Our platform will showcase the Ukrainian defense tech underdogs who are Ukraine’s hope to win in the war against Russia, giving them the much-needed visibility to connect them with crucial expertise, funding, and international support.

We’re one final push away from making this platform a reality.

Join us in building this platform on Patreon

More than a thousand guests from different countries arrived in Helsinki on 31 July. Exactly half a century ago, this city hosted the signing of the Helsinki Final Act – a crucial step toward reducing East-West tensions and détente in the Cold War.

But here’s what makes this anniversary particularly grim: while diplomats gathered to celebrate 50 years of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Russian missiles were raining down on Kyiv.

The timing reveals everything wrong with international institutions today. As rescue workers dug bodies from rubble in Ukraine’s capital, officials in Helsinki discussed reforms needed for an organization that can’t even secure the release of its own kidnapped staff members.

The fundamental contradiction

The OSCE emerged from the 1975 Helsinki Accords, establishing key principles including:

• territorial integrity
• non-use of force
• peaceful settlement of disputes
• and respect for human rights.

Today, one OSCE member state – Russia, assisted by another member, Belarus – has systematically violated every single Helsinki principle.

Moscow has seized and illegally annexed one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory, killed hundreds of thousands, kidnapped tens of thousands more, and reduced hundreds of villages to ruins. Russian forces have systematically raped Ukrainian women and men, while deporting and forcibly adopting Ukrainian children.

According to data from the ZMINA Human Rights Center and the Media Initiative for Human Rights, between 5,000 and 6,000 Ukrainian citizens face politically motivated persecution by Russia, including both military personnel and civilians. Occupation authorities prosecute them for crimes they didn’t commit – or for things that shouldn’t be crimes at all.

Explore further

Deportation in the 21st century: what you need to know about Russia’s crime in Ukraine

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister recently stated that “a country that has violated all ten fundamental principles of the Helsinki Act should not hold a place in this organization.”

Among the victims: three OSCE staff members themselves.

When the organization abandons its own

Russians kidnapped three representatives of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission – translator Maksym Petrov and security assistants Dmytro Shabanov and Vadym Golda – in April 2022 in Donetsk and Luhansk, where they were performing duties under a mandate granted by all 57 OSCE member states.

In September 2022, Petrov and Shabanov were charged with “treason” and sentenced to 13 years in prison following a sham trial in occupied Luhansk. Golda was found guilty of “espionage” by a “court” in Donetsk in July 2024 and sentenced to 14 years.

All three endured torture, inhumane detention conditions, and denial of proper medical treatment. The OSCE itself acknowledged that they were imprisoned on fabricated charges.

And yet? Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov – representing the country that kidnapped these OSCE employees – continued receiving invitations to OSCE meetings.

For four consecutive years now, Maksym Petrov, Dmytro Shabanov, and Vadym Golda remain in Russian captivity. Their names are regularly mentioned at various OSCE meetings. The Russian Federation often sits in the hall, continuing with particular cynicism to ignore calls for the release of OSCE workers.

Explore further

OSCE demands to free its Ukrainian workers sentenced in Russian proxy “republic” for “treason”

The consensus trap

This raises the fundamental question hanging over international institutions today: How can a country that systematically violates every key principle of an organization remain a member? And how can OSCE base its work on consensus when that same violator holds veto power?

The answer should be clear: Russia must be expelled from the OSCE.

The OSCE’s founding documents contain no procedure for expelling a state that undermines the organization’s foundation. This isn’t an oversight – it’s a feature that made sense during détente but has become a fatal flaw in an era of revanchist authoritarianism.

The implications extend far beyond Europe. When institutions designed to maintain international order prove incapable of responding to systematic violations, it signals to other potential aggressors that the rules-based system has no teeth.

China watches how the West responds to Russia’s war. Iran observes whether international law has enforcement mechanisms. North Korea notes whether treaties mean anything.

The Ukrainian laboratory

Ukraine has become an unwitting laboratory for testing whether international institutions can function against determined spoilers. The results are sobering:

• the UN Security Council remains paralyzed by Russian vetoes,
• the International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants that go unserved,
• and the OSCE continues operating under consensus rules that allow violators to block accountability measures.

Yet Ukrainian civil society continues working within these frameworks, understanding that abandoning international institutions entirely would leave smaller nations even more vulnerable. Organizations like the Ukrainian Helsinki Group, founded after the 1975 accords, used Helsinki principles to monitor human rights and demand Soviet compliance. That patient work contributed to the USSR’s eventual collapse.

The question now is whether international institutions can evolve fast enough to remain relevant.

Reform or irrelevance

The Civic Solidarity Platform – representing over 100 human rights organizations from the OSCE region – released a manifesto during the Helsinki anniversary that bluntly acknowledged reality:

“The OSCE is in crisis due to such key factors as its inability to prevent and stop Russian full-scale aggression against Ukraine” and “abuse of the consensus principle limits effective decision-making.”

Even civil society advocates admit the system is broken. But manifestos won’t save kidnapped OSCE workers or stop Russian missiles.

If the OSCE’s foundational documents lack procedures for addressing fundamental violations, perhaps it’s time to consider refounding the organization under new rules.

The manifesto calls for states to “use all appropriate OSCE tools, including the Moscow Mechanism, wherever large-scale violations of the Helsinki principles occur” and urges the organization to “strengthen its institutions” while being “open to civic scrutiny and participation.” But these recommendations assume good faith from systematic violators.

The broader lesson extends beyond any single institution. When faced with actors who systematically abuse international frameworks while claiming their protections, those frameworks must adapt or become irrelevant.

As rescue workers in Kyiv cleared rubble from Russian strikes during OSCE’s anniversary celebration, the organization’s existential crisis became impossible to ignore. Institutions that cannot protect their own staff members – or respond meaningfully to the largest European war since 1945 – may have outlived their usefulness.

The choice facing the OSCE, like other international institutions, is stark: reform to address systematic violators, or preside over the gradual erosion of the rules-based international order they were designed to protect.

Tetiana Pechonchyk

Tetiana Pechonchyk is head of the board at the Ukrainian human rights NGO ZMINA, a member of the 5 AM coalition initiative to document Russian war crimes.

A Ukrainian-language version of this op-ed was initially published on Zmina.info

Explore further

How Russia could be removed from the UN Security Council

Kherson bridge suffered heavy damage after a Russian airstrike hit the city on 2 August. A guided bomb targeted the crossing that connects central Kherson with the Korabel micro-district, leaving the area cut off from vehicular supplies and prompting evacuation calls from officials.

Kherson bridge hit by two guided bombs in evening attack

Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration Oleksandr Prokudin reported on 2 August that Russian aircraft dropped two guided bombs on the city around 18:00. One of the bombs hit the Kherson bridge, tearing a large hole through the deck and cutting the only direct route into the Korabel micro-district. The bridge remains standing, but vehicle movement is now unsafe.

The explosions also damaged three single-family homes and a multi-story building near the bridge. A gas pipeline was hit, cutting gas supplies to the isolated district. Prokudin urged people to evacuate to safer areas of Kherson where temporary housing and support are available. 

Officials warn of isolation and disrupted supplies

Liga reports that Yaroslav Shanko, the head of the city military administration, explained on Ukrainian television that the damaged bridge was the only route for vehicles into Korabel. He confirmed that the attack had not collapsed the structure, but destroyed the road surface.

Prokudin noted that the damage has disrupted logistics, food deliveries, and essential supplies to the district. Without the bridge, moving goods and aid into Korabel will be difficult.

Specialists are inspecting the Kherson bridge to assess the scale of the damage.

A dramatic video, captured by the Ukrainian 225th Assault Regiment’s Black Swans drone unit and translated by Estonian analyst WarTranslated, depicts an increasingly common phenomenon: Russian soldiers exploding after a nearby drone strike cooks off the ammunition the soldiers are carrying.

The blast apparently took place somewhere in Sumy Oblast in northeastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian brigades have been slowly pushing back an incursion by Russian infantry.

Infantry self-immolation is one of the second-order effects of the accelerating “de-mechanization” of the Russian armed forces as Russia’s wider war on Ukraine grinds into its 42nd month. The Russians have written off more than 20,000 combat vehicles and other heavy equipment—far more than they can immediately replace through new production and the reactivation of increasingly scarce stored vehicles.

With only a few exceptions, Russian troops now march into battle in Ukraine—or ride on motorcycles. Even cargo trucks are in short supply, meaning the troops themselves are the supply line. But in carrying bullets, grenades and mines on their persons, they risk self-destruction from drone near-misses.

American analyst Andrew Perpetua noted Russia’s human supply lines while scrutinizing the battlefield just south of the eastern city of Pokrovsk earlier this year. 

Perpetua recently identified, in one shocking video, around 150 destroyed Russian trucks on a two-mile stretch of one of the several roads threading west from the Russian stronghold of Selydove toward the village of Shevchenko, a few miles south of Pokrovsk. That’s a wrecked Russian truck every 70 feet.

Roads of death

That “road of death,” which the Russians persist in using—with predictably bloody results—was patrolled by the drone team supporting one particularly aggressive Ukrainian battalion that held the line around Shevchenko and, in December, waged a successful campaign against a Russian force 20 times its size. The Ukrainian campaign halted the grinding, yearlong Russian advance on Pokrovsk—although temporarily.

The Ukrainians “moved these drone units down to this area and that’s when they started setting up their kind of drone superiority, where they took complete control of the sky,” Perpetua recalled.

“The Russians basically couldn’t fly drones,” he added. “Their drone would take off, Ukraine would shoot it down and then attack the drone pilots—and they couldn’t fly drones. The Russians were complaining of, like, a 10-to-one or worse drone ratio.”

“That drone advantage is what eventually led to this stopping the Russian attack through shutting down all of these roads,” Perpetua said. The Ukrainian drone pilots “had this policy, where they wanted to first take out the Russian drones and then—once those drones were taken out—go for the supply routes.”

Heavy hexacopter “vampire” drones fitted with night-vision gear and carrying loads of grenades or mines, many of them flown by the famed Ukrainian Birds of Magyar drone group, inflicted the most damage on the roads to Shevchenko.

The Russians are adept at downing the 50-pound vampires with two-pound first-person-view drones that blow up on contact. But having suppressed the Russian drone teams around Shevchenko, the Ukrainian drone teams could fly their vampires with impunity.

Smaller FPV drones joined the vampires, including some fiber-optic models. After blasting every Russian supply truck in sight, the drones ranged farther south and east—and located the depots where the Russian regiments were storing the trucks and other vehicles that remained.

“They went to every vehicle depot and just blew them all up so they had, like, no tanks, no BMPs,” Perpetua mused. “They took out all their MRAP [armored trucks] and then they just shut down every single road, so they starved out the Russians.”

To reinforce Shevchenko, the Russians had to walk … for kilometers. “Their engineers were saying, ‘We have to build a minefield, but we can’t bring any trucks up. So everyone has to carry two mines,’” Perpetua laughed. “So there’s these videos of infantry marching up and, you know, they’re being told that you have to march 20 kilometers. You have to bring all of the food and ammo to last two weeks and you have to carry two landmines.”

The practice is now widespread in the de-mechanized Russian military. Already harried by Ukrainian drones, artillery and mines, Russian infantry now have another problem: their own explosive baggage. 

Explore further

Russia’s last tank yards go dark as every inch in Ukraine demands more sacrifice

Thanks to your incredible support, we’ve raised 70% of our funding goal to launch a platform connecting Ukraine’s defense tech with the world – David vs. Goliath defense blog. It will support Ukrainian engineers who are creating innovative battlefield solutions and we are inviting you to join us on the journey.

Our platform will showcase the Ukrainian defense tech underdogs who are Ukraine’s hope to win in the war against Russia, giving them the much-needed visibility to connect them with crucial expertise, funding, and international support.

We’re one final push away from making this platform a reality.

Join us in building this platform on Patreon

American B-2 strategic bombers flew tens of thousands of kilometers from US airbases to Iran, carried out strikes on targets, and returned. This demonstrative action was intentional, aimed at showing the world that the US remains the unquestionable military leader, Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s Intelligence Defense chief, told Nataliia Moseichuk.

“The US has now regained unquestionable military leadership in the world. They showed everyone: we can do it, if we decide to,” claimed Budanov. 

Strike from the US: more expensive, but symbolically stronger

Budanov emphasized that the US had simpler options — to launch strikes from bases in Europe or the Middle East. But they deliberately chose the longest route — from their own territory, accompanied by tankers and fighter jets.

“It would have been cheaper economically, logistically easier, tactically easier… But they made a demonstrative move — the most powerful one. At one moment, B-2s took off from US airbases… They flew in from the States, bombed the targets, and returned,” he explained.

“No one else can”

When asked whether this maneuver impressed Putin, Budanov replied directly: yes, and very much so. The US showed that it can strike any point on the globe.

“It made a deep impression on him. Very deep. No one had done anything like this before. And frankly, no one else can,” said Budanov.

Thanks to your incredible support, we’ve raised 70% of our funding goal to launch a platform connecting Ukraine’s defense tech with the world – David vs. Goliath defense blog. It will support Ukrainian engineers who are creating innovative battlefield solutions and we are inviting you to join us on the journey.

Our platform will showcase the Ukrainian defense tech underdogs who are Ukraine’s hope to win in the war against Russia, giving them the much-needed visibility to connect them with crucial expertise, funding, and international support.

We’re one final push away from making this platform a reality.

Join us in building this platform on Patreon

Anti-graft agencies have exposed a scheme of drone bribery involving a ruling party MP and National Guard officers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that those responsible will face justice after investigators revealed how vital military supplies were turned into a source of personal profit.

Anti-graft bodies uncover bribery network in drone supplies

On 2 August that the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) briefed Zelenskyy about a large scheme involving inflated contracts for drones and electronic warfare systems. This was reported by NABU and Zelenskyy.

A source from law enforcement told Liga that the MP implicated is Oleksii Kuznietsov from Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party.

Zelenskyy confirmed in a statement that “a deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine,” heads of local administrations and National Guard servicemembers were caught taking bribes connected to drone contracts.

He called such behavior immoral and damaging, adding that full accountability is necessary. Zelenskyy said he thanked the anti-corruption agencies for their work and said that he expected fair verdicts in the case.

Servant of the People party suspends Kuznietsov

Servant of the People announced that MP Oleksii Kuznietsov’s membership in the faction will be suspended for the duration of the investigation into the exposed drone bribery scheme.

Internal investigation targets National Guard officers

Zelenskyy also said that Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko had started an internal investigation in the National Guard after the exposure of the scheme. Klymenko announced that only combat officers will lead logistics units from now on. He promised to make the results public. According to Klymenko, the commander of the National Guard Oleksandr Pivnenko has already suspended servicemembers allegedly involved in the drone bribery scandal.

Klymenko assured that new safeguards will be introduced in the National Guard to prevent such schemes. He said that a new internal control unit will monitor service activity, working independently and professionally. The team is being formed from specialists who passed checks for integrity and professional competence.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has officially appointed Lieutenant General Anatoliy Kryvonozhko as the new Commander of the Ukrainian Air Forces.

The appointment comes as peace talks with Russia remain stalled and missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities intensify. Hundreds of strikes in recent weeks have overwhelmed air defenses, damaged infrastructure and killed civilians, putting the Air Forces at the center of Ukraine’s defense strategy.

A year as acting commander

Kryvonozhko has been acting commander since 30 August 2024, following the dismissal of Mykola Oleschuk.

Zelenskyy removed Oleschuk a day after the Air Forces reported that on 26 August 2024, during a massive Russian attack, Ukrainian pilot Oleksii “Moonfish” Mes was killed—the first time Ukraine lost an F-16 fighter jet. As of August 2025, open sources report that four F-16s have been lost: three pilots killed and one who managed to eject.

In January 2025, after controversy over reassignment of Air Force specialists to infantry units, Zelenskyy instructed Kryvonozhko to ensure that the Air Forces retained all essential personnel.

His official confirmation was announced on Air Forces Day, a symbolic gesture intended to recognize the importance of those defending Ukraine’s skies.

Zelensky’s call for stronger air defense

Announcing the appointment, Zelenskyy emphasized closer coordination between all branches of Ukraine’s defense:

“It’s crucial that Ukrainian combat aviation and air defense develop in a coordinated way with the military, partners and experts who want strength and victory for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.

Who is Anatoliy Kryvonozhko?

• Commanded “Center” Air Command since 2015
• Hero of Ukraine: Awarded the Golden Star by Zelenskyy after Russia’s full-scale invasion
• Proven record: Oversaw the downing of hundreds of Russian missiles and drones

His experience managing air defenses during some of the heaviest Russian strikes of the war has made him a key figure in Ukraine’s military leadership.

Why this appointment matters

With Russian airstrikes intensifying and diplomatic negotiations stalled, the confirmation of a permanent Air Forces commander strengthens Ukraine’s ability to respond. The Air Forces will continue to play a decisive role in protecting civilian infrastructure and countering missile and drone attacks as the war enters another challenging phase.

The British “Bulldog” has become a guardian angel on the front line. The 12th Azov Brigade soldiers have given the FV432 armored personnel carrier (APC) a second life, not as a combat vehicle but as a high-tech medical evacuation unit.

But to make it more than just a “box on tracks,” it took skilled hands and sharp minds, exactly what the Azov fighters brought.

“We got these vehicles that we can drive to the front line and quickly evacuate the wounded,” says driver-mechanic, known as Bielyi. 

A “super project” built from scratch: from shell to mobile hospital

The Bulldog was initially empty, just old, unsecured seats. The soldiers completely rebuilt the interior for medical use.

“We turned to the guys, and they helped us build what I’d call a super project,” Bielyi says.

They stripped the lining and painted it white to better detect blood and dirt. They added tourniquet organizers, stretcher mounts, an autonomous diesel heater, an oxygen concentrator, lighting, and surveillance cameras with a better angle than the standard periscope.

Evacuation under fire: the key is saving lives

According to Bielyi, the key advantages are the tracked chassis and strong armor, which can withstand RPG fire. This makes it possible to evacuate the wounded under dangerous conditions without getting stuck in mud.

“The machine is as simple as a bicycle. To learn to drive it takes about 7 to 15 minutes,” he jokes.

He concludes that evacuation will be more efficient, faster, and higher-quality, which means one thing: more lives will be saved.

Today, there are important updates from the Pokrovsk direction. Here, Russian sabotage units slipped through a gap in Ukrainian defenses on the outskirts of Pokrovsk, taking control of buildings and launching ambushes on Ukrainian units passing by. However, Ukrainian rapid reaction forces responded immediately, clearing the infiltrators before Russia could exploit the breach.

Infiltration from Zvirove fails despite temporary gaps

To the south of Pokrovsk, Russian sabotage and reconnaissance units managed to infiltrate the outskirts of the town through Zvirove, exploiting a momentary Ukrainian infantry shortage that created a large gap on the frontline. Leveraging local terrain such as the terrikon area, these infiltrators staged ambushes, targeting passing Ukrainian patrol vehicles, and dug themselves in in several houses throughout Pokrovsk.

However, the Ukrainian command responded swiftly by deploying rapid reaction units, urgently initiating clearance operations to neutralize the infiltrators and swiftly deal with this sudden threat. Nevertheless, small enemy groups continued their attempts at infiltration, primarily at night, aiming to secure positions within the town perimeter until reinforcements arrived.

Ukrainian drones target infiltrators on key routes

To counteract these persistent threats, Ukrainian forces have intensified drone surveillance over key infiltration routes, with the 47th Separate Assault Brigade releasing footage showing drone strikes successfully neutralizing enemy infantry near Zvirove.

Russians miss window for assault on Pokrovsk

Following this infiltration, the Russians appeared briefly poised for a direct assault on Pokrovsk, yet their reaction was curiously delayed. They were not ready to exploit the sudden break in the lines, causing them to miss the brief window of Ukrainian vulnerability. By the time Russian forces assembled for an organized push, Ukrainians had reorganized the defense, and they had to start from scratch with preliminary probing attacks.

Motorbike raids and mechanized push destroyed

One such attempt involved an infantry assault group mounted on motorcycles departing from Shevchenko, but Ukrainian FPV drone operators swiftly detected and eliminated them before they could even leave their staging area.

Undeterred, Russian commanders attempted a mechanized assault, the first in months for this area, again originating near Shevchenko, employing three armored vehicles. Ukrainian artillery and drone teams swiftly responded, obliterating the advancing armor in open terrain, exploiting their vulnerability without cover.

Desperate use of TOS-1 thermobaric system ends in destruction

The Russians were also desperate enough to move up a TOS-1 thermobaric artillery piece near the frontline, an immensely powerful artillery system, but suffering from a short range of under 4 kilometers, allowing Ukrainians to easily destroy such a powerful Russian asset.

Ukrainian strikes cripple Russian logistics and command

A significant factor contributing to these disorganized and ineffective Russian attempts lies in Ukraine’s strategic operational targeting, which has severely disrupted Russian logistics and command structures. Ukrainian HIMARS missile strikes systematically target troop concentrations in and around Donetsk city, effectively thinning out Russian frontline manpower long before troops even deploy forward.

Such attacks drastically reduce Russian operational readiness and create logistical nightmares, leaving commanders scrambling to find soldiers for assaults.

Precision strike decapitates Russia’s 8th Guards Army command

Further deepening Russian disarray, Ukrainian forces recently executed a devastating follow-up precision strike on the headquarters of Russia’s 8th Guards Combined Arms Army in Donetsk. As you remember from a previous report, the first successful strike took out the only Russian commander who made any real gains for Russia in the past year.

Now the second strike effectively decapitated the Russian local command by killing the newly appointed commander, along with more than 10 other high-ranking officers, including his potential successor.

Battle for Pokrovsk intensifies

Ukrainian military officials confirmed these strikes aimed to cripple Russian command-and-control capabilities, with the new Russian commander being at the head of Russia’s most important offensive, who hasn’t planned it, and might not be qualified to lead 100,000 soldiers in a multidirectional offensive spanning from Velyka Novosilka to Pokrovsk. The latest Ukrainian attack also targeted the command post of Russia’s 20th Motorized Rifle Division, causing additional damage to the Russian command structures.

Overall, Russian forces did manage to identify a weak spot on Pokrovsk’s southwestern perimeter, briefly infiltrating it with sabotage units. However, rapid Ukrainian reactions combined with continuous drone coverage effectively neutralized these threats before Russia could capitalize on any gains. Although initial direct assault attempts were swiftly repelled, the battle for Pokrovsk has decisively begun and will likely intensify significantly.

Recognizing the massive Russian buildup in the region, over 100,000 troops strong, Ukrainian commanders have proactively targeted troop concentrations and command structures. These measures aim to disrupt Russian operational cohesion and decisively weakened their massive force deployment, laying the groundwork for continued successful defense that could break Russian forward momentum.

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

Thanks to your incredible support, we’ve raised 70% of our funding goal to launch a platform connecting Ukraine’s defense tech with the world – David vs. Goliath defense blog. It will support Ukrainian engineers who are creating innovative battlefield solutions and we are inviting you to join us on the journey.

Our platform will showcase the Ukrainian defense tech underdogs who are Ukraine’s hope to win in the war against Russia, giving them the much-needed visibility to connect them with crucial expertise, funding, and international support.

We’re one final push away from making this platform a reality.

Join us in building this platform on Patreon

Adler oil depot burned after Ukrainian drones struck overnight, igniting a 2,000 cubic meter fuel tank near Sochi, southern Russia, around 530 km from the frontline. The strike forced a halt to flights at Sochi airport while emergency crews worked through the night to contain the blaze. The attack targeted Rosneft’s Kubannefteproduct oil depot on Aviatsionnaya Street in Adler, right next to the airport.

The oil depot includes 41 tanks with a combined capacity of around 31,200 cubic meters.

Ukrainian drones strike Adler oil depot again

In the early hours of 3 August, Ukrainian strike drones hit the Adler district of Sochi in Krasnodar Krai. Telegram channels Astra and Exilenova+ reported that the drones struck the Rosneft-Kubannefteproduct oil depot, causing a powerful fire. Local authorities confirmed the fire and the suspension of flights. The depot sits not far from the Sochi airport, which led to an immediate halt to flight operations.

Mayor Andrii Proshunin of Sochi, Krasnodar Krai Governor Veniamin Kondratiev, and Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed a drone attack on the depot, and the fire. They claimed that falling debris from destroyed drones caused a single tank to ignite. Footage from the site, however, shows two ignition points at the facility.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations said the fire broke out in a fuel tank with a volume of 2,000 cubic meters. They also claimed that debris from drones damaged five garages in a cooperative and a shop, which also caught fire. Governor Mikhail Kotyukov said,

“In Adler district, drone debris hit a fuel tank, causing a blaze. 127 personnel and 35 units of equipment have been deployed to eliminate the consequences of the fire.”

Flights disrupted at Sochi airport

The strike forced the closure of Sochi airport for more than two hours overnight. Airport services later announced that disruptions would continue for at least a day.

“Together with airlines, we are doing everything possible to stabilize the regular schedule as soon as possible, but it will take 1–2 days,” airport representatives said.

Drones reach Voronezh and other areas

On the same night, drones also targeted other areas. Governor Aleksandr Gusev of Voronezh Oblast claimed that 15 drones were downed over Voronezh city and Liskinsky district. Russian officials said debris from drones caused fires and damaged single-family homes. Explosions and fires were reported across Voronezh.

Exilenova+ reported that the activity of electronic warfare systems led to several dorne crashes and fires across Voronezh.

A separate fire was reported at the Kstovo oil depot in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast after a drone threat was announced in the area, though it remains unclear whether that was a result of a Ukrainian strike.

Second strike on Adler oil depots in weeks

This attack marks the second major strike on oil infrastructure in Adler in recent weeks. On 24 July 2025, Ukrainian drones struck the Lukoil-Yugnefteproduct depot, which likely supplies Sochi International Airport. That strike caused a large fire at the site.

Drone attacks on 2 August across Russia

The Adler oil depot follows a wave of Ukrainian drone attacks on 2 August across Russian territory.

• On that day, drones attacked oil refineries in Ryazan and Samara Oblast’s Novokuybyshevsk.
• Ukrainian sources confirmed that earlier attacks on Penza damaged the Elektropibor and Radiozavod plants, which produce radio-electronic equipment for the Russian armed forces.
• Ukrainian drones also struck a radar complex for monitoring space objects near Feodosia in Russian-occupied Crimea.
• The same day, drones attacked the Likhaya-Zamchalovo railway power substation in Rostov Oblast, which Russia uses to supply its occupying forces in Ukraine, and an airfield in Prymorsko-Akhtarsk that launches Shahed drones.
• Separately, on 2 August, an explosion occurred on the Central Asia–Center gas pipeline in Volgograd Oblast near the village of Dynamivske in Nekhaivsky district. The blast disabled the pipeline, and gas transit was stopped indefinitely, according to Militarnyi, citing sources in special services.

Nightly Russian drone attacks again battered Ukraine as missiles and Shaheds rained down on several cities, causing injuries and damage. Local authorities said explosions and fires struck homes and infrastructure across the country as power outages and destruction mounted.

Nightly Russian drone attacks cause destruction across Ukraine

In the late evening of 2 August, Russian forces launched missiles on Mykolaiv and Kherson. The State Emergency Service reported that in Mykolaiv explosions destroyed single-family homes and damaged apartments, igniting fires in a residential district.

The head of Mykolaiv Oblast, Vitalii Kim, said seven people were injured, with four treated on site and three hospitalized. A 57‑year‑old man and a 74‑year‑old man were hospitalized in moderate condition, and a 32‑year‑old man received outpatient care. Kim confirmed that three houses were destroyed, 23 more were damaged, and 12 apartment buildings, six vehicles, a postal branch and a building materials store were also hit. After the attack, parts of Mykolaiv Oblast lost electricity. The head of Kherson Oblast, Oleksandr Prokudin, also reported power outages after evening missile explosions.

Russian forces struck Kharkiv in the night with two Shahed drones. Oleg Synehubov, the head of Kharkiv Oblast, reported that a central district of the city was hit. Mayor Ihor Terekhov said one explosion damaged warehouse buildings near residential areas, with no injuries there. Another drone fell in a forest without detonating.

Synehubov said that explosions in Chuhuiv and Balakliia caused fires in detached homes. In Chuhuiv, Mayor Halyna Minaieva said three women suffered acute stress reactions, and houses had windows and roofs damaged. In Balakliia, city military administrator Vitalii Karabanov said more than ten drones struck one street, setting over ten homes on fire. He confirmed at least one injured person. Casualty numbers there are still being clarified.

In Kyiv, city military administration chief Tymur Tkachenko confirmed a missile strike during the night, with details still unknown.

Lithuanian volunteer organization Blue/Yellow says that Russia’s previous attack on 31 July destroyed its Kyiv warehouse. Lithuanian broadcaster LRT reported that a Shahed drone completely demolished the building used for storing humanitarian aid before shipment to the front. The organization said the warehouse contained mainly helmets and protective vests and that surrounding buildings were also damaged.

Heavy Ukrainian air defense effort

The Air Force of Ukraine reported that between 19:00 on 2 August and early 3 August, Russia attacked with 76 Shahed and decoy drones, and seven missiles, including an Iskander‑M ballistic missile, five S‑300/S‑400 surface‑to‑air missiles used for ground attacks, and one Kh‑22 cruise missile.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down or suppressed 61 air targets: 60 drones and one ballistic missile. Despite this, six missiles and 16 drones struck eight locations, with debris falling in two more places. Air defense units, aviation, radio‑electronic warfare systems and mobile fire teams all took part in repelling the assault.

Casualties from artillery in Kostiantynivka

On the morning of 3 August, Russian forces used artillery against Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast. City military administrator Serhii Horbunov reported that shells hit residential areas, killing one person. He said that Russian troops struck civilian infrastructure and confirmed that the attack resulted in at least one death.

US lawmakers skipped a Russia sanctions vote and left the sanctions in Trump’s hands as his 8 August deadline approaches. The Hill says the Senate left Washington for its August break without advancing a sweeping sanctions bill aimed at Moscow, leaving the president to decide how to confront Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.

Senate exits after Trump’s ultimatum to Russia 

The Hill reports that Trump warned that Putin has until 8 August to stop the war in Ukraine or face tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil. As a preview of this pressure, he imposed a 25% tariff on India, a major buyer of Russian energy. That is far below the 500% tariffs proposed in the stalled bill. Some senators admit that leaving the bill untouched puts the responsibility entirely on the president for now.

Republican senators say they expect Trump to act decisively. Republican Senator Mike Rounds said to The Hill that Trump is now disappointed in Putin. Democrats doubt that Trump will go as far as needed, though they acknowledge that his tone has grown tougher. Trump earlier described Russia’s air attacks on Ukraine as disgusting and said his team is ready to impose sanctions.

Submarines, tariffs, and diplomacy

In response to threats of nuclear weapons from Russia’s former President Dmitry Medvedev, Trump ordered nuclear submarines to the region. Trump told reporters that his envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Russia after a trip to Israel. He stressed that he will impose sanctions but admitted he is unsure if they will change Moscow’s behavior. 

Senate hawks frustrated by inaction on Russia sanctions

The blocked bill was designed to hit Russia’s oil revenues hard by imposing tariffs on countries that keep buying Russian crude. Analysts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies argue that oil revenue is key to funding Moscow’s war. Supporters of the bill say a missed opportunity weakens the message.

Democrat Senator Richard Blumenthal, coauthor of the bill with Republican Lindsey Graham, said he would see it as a success if Trump imposed even a part of the planned tariffs. 

Early signs of impact

Indian oil refiners have already paused imports of Russian oil after Trump’s 25% tariff announcement. 

Graham said Trump has now adopted the idea of targeting countries that buy Russian oil. He added that Trump can act either through executive action or with the help of the bill if it passes later.

Exclusive

Forget steel: Ukraine’s new tank armor is rubber and spikes. Steel once defined tank protection. Now, under constant drone attack, Russia bolts spikes onto its armor while Ukraine wraps vehicles in rubber—a complete rethink of how to survive on the battlefield.

PrivatBank finally beat its own billionaires—but only 2,100 km from Kyiv. It took London and eight years to bring to justice Ukraine’s richest men who siphoned off 1.5% of its GDP

Military

Partisans: Russia’s 247th Air Assault Regiment crumbles amid desertions in Zaporizhzhia Oblast

. Desperation grows as Russia treats locals like expendable pawns.

“Stadium of death near Toretsk”: Russia lost 50,000 troops but failed to break Ukrainian defenses. “Only battle kangaroos and penguins missing,” says Ukrainian officer on the relentless fight.

Central Asia gas route to Russia disrupted after Volgograd explosions. A major gas pipeline supplying Russian military plants was knocked offline by explosions in Volgograd Oblast, cutting supply to ammunition and aircraft manufacturers.

Lithuanian military recovers mysterious drone 100km from Belarus border after five-day search. The drone that triggered Lithuania’s air defense warnings on July 28 has been found at Gajžiūnai training ground, resembling a Russian decoy aircraft.

SBU drones strike Shahed depot in Krasnodar used to launch attack drones against Ukraine. Ukraine launched simultaneous drone strikes on a Russian drone storage base in Krasnodar Oblast and a military factory in Penza – targets located 1,000 kilometers apart.

Ukrainian drones spark massive fires at Russian oil refineries, force Samara airport and defense factories shotdown

. Multiple Russian governors confirmed drone strikes on petroleum and defense facilities, with attacks spanning from Samara to Ryazan oblasts

Intelligence and Technology

Ukraine redirects $ 192 mn to drone units that eliminated 22,700 targets in one month. Six Ukrainian drone units that destroyed 22,700 Russian targets in July will receive over $190 mn in emergency funding

Russia won’t change after Putin, Ukraine’s spy chief says. Russia’s totalitarian system is built to outlive its leader, ensuring the war and threats to Europe won’t end with Putin.

US and NATO launch new $ 500 million tranche system to fast-track weapons deliveries to Ukraine. NATO countries will negotiate among themselves to fund American weapons for Ukraine under a new $10 billion mechanism that bypasses traditional arms sale procedures, Reuters reported

International

NATO unleashes new $10 billion “combat wallet” for Ukraine as Putin’s increses attacks on civilians. The West scrambles to meet Ukraine’s demands while the Kremlin eyes total capitulation.

US, Russia may prepare for show of force as Trump raises stakes with nuclear submarines. The stakes skyrocket as diplomacy falters.

“They broke all 10 rules”: Ukraine calls to eject Russia from OSCE. Moscow blocks European security watchdog’s operations to hide atrocities.

Ukrainian foreign minister says 70% of Russia’s shadow oil fleet passes under NATO’s nose. As Warsaw assumes regional leadership, Ukraine calls for bold action on Kremlin oil tankers.

Trump deploys nuclear submarines near Russia after Medvedev’s threats

. The United States repositioned nuclear submarines near Russia following escalating online threats between President Trump and a former Kremlin official over the war in Ukraine.

Republican lawmaker to “friends in Russia”: Trump “will not be trifled with” amid escalating nuclear tensions. Following President Trump’s decision to deploy two nuclear submarines after Russian threats, Senator Lindsey Graham warned Russia it is “overplaying your hand” with Trump

Humanitarian and Social Impact

Tortured Ukrainian reporter Victoria Roshchyna honored with highest state award after death in Russian captivity. Roshchyna, who bore knife wounds and electrical torture scars before dying in Russian detention, received Ukraine’s Order of Freedom posthumously from President Zelenskyy for her “civic courage.”

Ukrainian teenagers escape Russian “reeducation camps” and forced military conscription. Maria wore traditional Ukrainian vyshyvanka to Russian school and argued with teachers about Ukraine, resulting in classmates calling her “ukropka” and beating her while teachers threatened her mother with loss of parental rights.

Read our earlier daily review here.

Russia’s total infiltration in Pokrovsk has failed as Ukraine’s top general Syrskyi says Russian attempts to slip inside were stopped fast. The commander-in-chief described how the army adapts to this tactic on several threatened directions and why the Pokrovsk sector in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast remains one of the most difficult areas.

Ukraine blocks total infiltration in Pokrovsk

Syrskyi wrote on Facebook on 2 August that Russian forces try a tactic of the so-called “total infiltration,” aiming to push through defenses without a large assault. He said these efforts include hidden movements toward Pokrovsk and other parts of Donetsk Oblast. According to him, these infiltration moves have been crushed before they reach their targets.

Syrskyi explained that he spent the day visiting all command posts of the Armed Forces and National Guard units holding the Pokrovsk direction. He said he met the commander of drone forces, corps commanders, and brigade commanders. During these meetings, they reviewed the battlefield conditions and planned how to strengthen defenses in areas where Russian pressure is growing.

The general said the situation is currently most dangerous on Pokrovsk, Dobropillia, and Novopavlivka directions. Russian forces seek weak spots, intensify their activity, and try to capture important Ukrainian urban areas. Syrskyi said Ukraine is countering total infiltration with special mobile reserves, whose role is to search for and destroy these teams before they can create problems inside the lines.

He stressed that the focus remains on improving fortifications. Syrskyi discussed with commanders how to reinforce positions with engineering work, minefields, barriers, and underground structures that protect against drones. He said this work continues but must be more active, broad, and complex.

Advancements

The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted in its 2 August daily reports that “Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Novopavlivka and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and Russian forces recently advanced near Toretsk.”

Thanks to your incredible support, we’ve raised 70% of our funding goal to launch a platform connecting Ukraine’s defense tech with the world – David vs. Goliath defense blog. It will support Ukrainian engineers who are creating innovative battlefield solutions and we are inviting you to join us on the journey.

Our platform will showcase the Ukrainian defense tech underdogs who are Ukraine’s hope to win in the war against Russia, giving them the much-needed visibility to connect them with crucial expertise, funding, and international support.

We’re one final push away from making this platform a reality.

Join us in building this platform on Patreon

NATO launches a new “combat wallet” for Ukraine. Washington and Brussels are creating a new weapons supply mechanism for Ukraine that will accelerate support amid rising civilian casualties, Reuters reports.

This setup bypasses complex US procedures and enables faster delivery of air defense systems, missiles, artillery, and other critical weapons. This is a voluntary initiative coordinated by NATO, says a senior Alliance official.

How the new aid mechanism works

Under the plan, NATO will create a special account where member states will contribute funds. These funds will then be used to procure or transfer US weapons to Ukraine. 

Ukraine will submit lists of priority weaponry (PURL) worth about $500 million per tranche, and allies will determine who contributes to what. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will coordinate the distribution.

Trump steps up pressure on Moscow and allies

President Donald Trump, initially cautious in his rhetoric, has adopted a tougher stance on the war. According to sources, he condemned Russia’s growing civilian death toll and gave the Kremlin a deadline — show progress in ending the war by 8 August, or face new US tariffs. 

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia does not plan to stop the war against Ukraine. His statements came on 1 August, the day after Russian missiles killed 31 civilians in Kyiv. Putin claimed Russia is ready to wait until Ukraine agrees to its conditions to end the war, which mean de-facte the capitulation of Kyiv. 

US lawmakers seek to formalize the scheme in law

Congress has introduced the PEACE Act, a bill that would create a dedicated fund within the US Treasury to collect European contributions and replenish US weapons stockpiles sent to Ukraine. Negotiations on the first tranche are ongoing, but the exact timeline and aid volumes remain unclear.

The US raises the stakes amid Russia’s threats. In response to Moscow’s threats, American President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines closer to Russia. The Times reports that this is not just a show of force but a personal message to Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

This exchange significantly escalated nuclear rhetoric between the two powers, underscoring the growing intertwining of the Ukraine war with nuclear deterrence.

US nuclear submarines head toward Russia

The American president responded in his trademark style — tough and theatrical. In a Truth Social post, Trump announced the relocation of two nuclear submarines to relevant regions.

This move is not just a military maneuver but a strategic political signal. Trump is responding less to Medvedev’s rhetoric and more to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rejection of Trump’s ceasefire proposal in Ukraine.

After the strike on Kyiv that killed 31 people, including five children, Putin confirmed that Russia’s conditions for ending the war, announced back in summer 2024, remain unchanged. He added that Russia is ready to wait until Ukraine agrees to Moscow’s conditions. 

Among them are:

• The withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia
• Ukraine’s refusal of NATO membership
• Ukraine’s non-nuclear status
• Sanctions’ lift

What does the submarine deployment mean?

The US possesses 71 nuclear-powered submarines, including 14 Ohio-class ballistic missile subs, each capable of carrying up to 20 Trident II nuclear warheads. At any given moment, 8 to 10 of them are at sea. The White House said that this is not provocation but deterrence.

Sanctions, tariffs, and the energy war

In addition to military signals, Trump threatens secondary sanctions against buyers of Russian energy. India is already feeling the heat — partial tariffs of 25% have been imposed. In the danger zone are China and Brazil, which remain key importers of Russian gas.

These statements show that Trump’s policy toward Russia is rapidly changing, and the US pressure against Moscow is also increasing. 

Russia will maintain stability even as its president’s health declines. Even if Vladimir Putin leaves office, Russia’s power structure will not undergo significant changes because it is built as a strong system ensuring regime continuity, Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence chief, told TV presenter Natalia Moseichuk.

Putin’s health is worse than Russia’s power system 

Budanov said that Putin’s physical condition is significantly worse than the power system he created.

“No, his health is worse than his system. But with the leader’s departure, nothing will change there,” Budanov explained.

He added that Russia has prepared the system so that Putin’s successor, whoever it may be, will operate within the same paradigm with only minor adjustments.

A problem for democracy 

Budanov emphasized that Russia’s system is a rigid and entrenched regime, similar to North Korea’s, where power transfers occur within a strict structure that prevents evolutionary change.

“A totalitarian regime falls but does not change gradually,” he said, citing Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Un as examples of such system durability and strength.

Russia’s younger generation is a complicated reality

Budanov also noted that in talks with Russian prisoners, he saw a generation of people who cannot imagine life other than under Putin’s regime. They grew up and live within this system, and many have already died for it.

“For us, unfortunately, this means the system is quite strong and will last a long time,” he concluded.

Russian soldiers from the 247th Air Assault Regiment in the temporarily occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast are deserting en masse, according to Atesh, the Crimean-Ukrainian partisan movement.

According to its reports, the highest number of desertions is occurring in one particular battalion of the regiment. The main reason is the forced conscription of residents from occupied territories, particularly Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea.

“Lawlessness, incompetent command, refusal to register reports, intimidation, and constant front-line losses only fuel the desire to flee,“ notes Atesh.

The Russian army is collapsing from within

This is not an isolated incident. Earlier, Russia’s Defense Ministry sent a commission to the 1196th Motorized Rifle Regiment stationed in occupied Kherson Oblast. The reason? Soldier suicides and sabotage of watercraft. All of this signals demoralization and disintegration within the occupying forces.

Russia cynically exploits the occupied territories

The desertion of those forcibly mobilized from occupied areas once again proves: Russia doesn’t view residents of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, or Crimea as its citizens, but as cannon fodder.

Locals are conscripted by force, without basic rights — no contracts, no legal status, no rotations.
Wounds aren’t documented, discharges are ignored, and complaints lead to persecution. At the same time, occupied territories are being turned into military bases for further aggression against Ukraine. 

How much of Zaporizhzhia Oblast does Russia control?

As of August 2025, Russia controls about 60% of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Major occupied towns include Melitopol, Berdiansk, Tokmak, and Enerhodar.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Enerhodar poses the largest nuclear threat in Europe. Russia has mined the facility, uses it as cover for shelling, and deploys troops there. 

Moscow is blocking the organization’s work, which was supposed to monitor its war crimes in Ukraine.  Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha states that Russia should no longer be a member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), UkrInform reports. 

“A country that has violated all ten fundamental principles of the Helsinki Act should not hold a place in this organization,” Sybiha emphasizes.

What are the Helsinki Act principles?

The Helsinki Act of 1975 is not a legally binding treaty but a political document containing key norms of international law that form the basis of European security. The ten principles include:

• Sovereign equality of states
• Refraining from the threat or use of force
• Inviolability of frontiers
• Territorial integrity of states
• Peaceful settlement of disputes
• Non-intervention in internal affairs
• Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms
• Equal rights and self-determination of peoples
• Cooperation among states
• Fulfillment of obligations under international law

Russia has systematically violated these principles since annexing Crimea in 2014, conducting the war in Donbas, and, since 2022, waging all-out war. These violations include illegal use of force, breaches of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, interference in internal affairs, and gross human rights abuses, including war crimes.

Ukraine insists on reform

Sybiha reminds that the OSCE was created in very different geopolitical circumstances during the Cold War, but today, Russia has turned the organization into a tool for advancing its own interests.

In 2022, Russia blocked the extension of the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, which had previously operated in Donbas. Since then, the OSCE supports Ukraine through other programs but without a direct presence in combat areas.

“It cannot be that one country blocks the work of the entire organization, which aims to enhance security. Russia is the main cause of instability in Europe,” the minister stresses.

Ukraine insists on reforming the OSCE and expelling the aggressor country from its membership to restore the organization’s trust and effectiveness.

A bulky, lumbering Russian vehicle that recently appeared along the 1,100-km front line of Russia’s 42-month wider war on Ukraine boasts the qualities of Russia’s “turtle tanks” as well as the qualities of its more recent “porcupine tanks.” That is: layers of shell-like metal sheeting and, atop that, metal quills that project outward. 

The quills help to detonate incoming first-person-view drones before they strike the tank itself. The plating blunts the impact of any drones that get through.

As ugly and ungainly as the hybrid turtle-porcupine tank is, it might actually work under the right circumstances. Examples abound of up-armored vehicles absorbing dozens or even scores of FPVs, which normally weigh just a few pounds and lack explosive power.

If there’s a downside to all this add-on armor, it’s that it almost certainly impedes the vehicle’s mobility by heaping weight onto its original 40- or 50-ton chassis. The extra protection surely also obstructs the driver’s visibility—and probably makes it extremely difficult for the three crew and any infantry passengers to climb onto and off of the vehicle.

This dismount speed can be a matter of life and death when an up-armored tank comes under attack—and any passengers need to get off the vehicle and spread out.

One Russian “porcupine tank”—one of two involved in an assault on Ukrainian defenses outside the ruins of Toretsk, in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast, on or before 9 July—survived more than 70 drone strikes before finally succumbing. “It was very difficult to find a weak spot,” the Ukrainian Deep State analysis group noted.

And yes, the infantry riding on that tank and other vehicles struggled to dismount as Ukrainian drones rained down. “After several hits, the tanks tried to disperse along the forest belts to safely land the infantry among the greenery,” the Ukrainian army’s 28th Mechanized Brigade reported. “In the end, there was almost no one to land. And those who still managed to escape … were eliminated.”

The rubber Stryker

Ukrainian forces have deployed their own super-armored vehicles, albeit with a different armor mix. Open-source analyst Andrew Perpetua recently noted the latest example of a drone-proof Ukrainian vehicle—potentially an American-made Stryker wheeled fighting vehicle.

“There was a Russian video attacking a Ukrainian Stryker that Ukraine turned into an invincible tank,” Perpetua observed. “This Stryker ate every single … drone Russia sent at it without even taking a scratch.”

“The armor plan was this,” Perpetua added. “You take a Stryker with the slat armor on top. On top of the slat armor you apply a thick layer of rubber. All over. Whole vehicle is now rubber. Then, take slat armor and put that over the rubber.”

“It went: Stryker, slat, rubber, slat.”

The downside, as always, is all the extra weight on top of the 19-ton basic vehicle. “This had to be the heaviest … Stryker to ever stryke,” Perpetua quipped.

To be clear, the base vehicle may not have been an 11-person Stryker, Perpetua conceded. It may have been a Soviet-style BTR weighing 18 tons and accommodating 10. In any event, “that little porker probably weighs as much as a [69-ton, four-person M-1] Abrams [tank]. But it ate drones like no tomorrow.”

Of course, add-on armor is no panacea. Yes, the most heavily up-armored vehicles stand a decent chance of surviving a few—or even a lot—of drone strikes. Most vehicles remain extremely vulnerable not just to drones, but to all the myriad dangers along the front line. Mines. Artillery. Missiles.

It’s not for no reason that the Russians have parked most of their surviving vehicles—and now mostly attack on foot or on motorcycles. Under the cover of drones, of course. Meanwhile, the Ukrainians usually defend with infantry sheltering in trenches. Also under the cover of drones.

Explore further

The Russians creep toward Siversk, losing tanks on the way

Thanks to your incredible support, we’ve raised 70% of our funding goal to launch a platform connecting Ukraine’s defense tech with the world – David vs. Goliath defense blog. It will support Ukrainian engineers who are creating innovative battlefield solutions and we are inviting you to join us on the journey.

Our platform will showcase the Ukrainian defense tech underdogs who are Ukraine’s hope to win in the war against Russia, giving them the much-needed visibility to connect them with crucial expertise, funding, and international support.

We’re one final push away from making this platform a reality.

Join us in building this platform on Patreon

The Russian military has been throwing troops at the Toretsk direction for over six months, but each time they are crushed by Ukrainian defenses. Russians have lost about 50,000 soldiers on this front, with more than 20,000 irreversible casualties, Army TV reports.

“50,000 people — that’s a good-sized European stadium filled to the brim. But the Kremlin regime didn’t bring these people for football. It brought them to die near Toretsk,” Major Serhii Khominsky, Ukrainian press officer of the 100th Separate Mechanized Brigade, says.

A fortress holding out for over a year

Khominsky stresses that the 100th Brigade has held this crucial front line for over a year. Despite repeated Russian attempts to break through from Horlivka toward Kostyantynivka, they have only reached the outskirts of Toretsk and failed to advance further.

“This is one of the front sectors where the enemy has made the least progress. It frustrates them, but they can’t change anything — thanks to the heroism of our fighters,” he emphasizes.

Ukrainian defenders have faced nearly every form of Russian tactics here: from massive armored assaults to nighttime infantry storm attacks.

“You could say the only things we haven’t seen are battle kangaroos and penguins. Everything else has been tried,” Khominsky adds with bitter irony.

Russia deploys robots in battle

The officer also reveals that Russia has started using ground robotic combat systems. However, these machines proved nearly powerless in the devastated urban environment.

“High-rise buildings turned into thousands of tons of rubble. These ruins are hard to pass even for a human, let alone a robotic system,” Khominsky explains.

Thanks to your incredible support, we’ve raised 70% of our funding goal to launch a platform connecting Ukraine’s defense tech with the world – David vs. Goliath defense blog. It will support Ukrainian engineers who are creating innovative battlefield solutions and we are inviting you to join us on the journey.

Our platform will showcase the Ukrainian defense tech underdogs who are Ukraine’s hope to win in the war against Russia, giving them the much-needed visibility to connect them with crucial expertise, funding, and international support.

We’re one final push away from making this platform a reality.

Join us in building this platform on Patreon

Europe has a chance to strike at the Kremlin’s lifelines, if it dares to act. Around 70% of the “shadow fleet” transporting Russian oil sails through the Baltic Sea, said Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha at a joint press conference with Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, UkrInform reports. 

“Let me remind you that about 70% of the shadow fleet that transports Russian oil passes through the Baltic Sea. There’s still untapped potential here, in my view, among our European partners — particularly the Baltic Sea states,” Sybiha emphasized.

Sanctions must target not just oil, but war criminals too

Sybiha also urged Western partners to impose targeted individual sanctions on Russian officials involved in the abduction of Ukrainian children and unlawful sentences against Ukrainian POWs.

Poland’s leadership role in the Baltic region

With Poland set to chair the Council of the Baltic Sea States, Sybiha said Warsaw has a chance to spearhead efforts to dismantle the Kremlin’s shadow oil network.

“Now is the time for active diplomacy, pressure, and accountability,” he stressed.

The informal gathering of the Ukrainian and Polish foreign ministers took place at Sikorski’s residence in Kobylniki, in Poland’s Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. Discussions covered a wide range of topics, from international support for Ukraine to humanitarian issues and protecting Ukrainian citizens.

The Central Asia-Centre gas pipeline system has been taken out of service following explosions in Russia’s Volgograd region on 2 August, Ukrainian media hromadske reported, citing a source in law enforcement structures.

The pipeline system, owned by Gazprom, transports natural gas from Turkmenistan through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to Russia. 

Local residents report that law enforcement agencies and repair crews are present in the area of Dinamovskoye village in the Nekhayevsky district of Volgograd Oblast to eliminate the consequences of the explosion, according to the source.

This pipeline reportedly provides energy to such objects of Russia’s military-industrial complex as Demikhovsky Machine-Building Plant, Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG (production complex No. 1), ammunition manufacturing plant Magnum-K and others.

These complexes are key components of Russia’s military-industrial complex, with the pipeline supplying them reported to provide energy to support their operations.

Representatives of the Russian gas transportation company that supplies the Russian army are currently calculating damages, the report said. Gas transportation through the Central Asia-Centre main pipeline in Volgograd Oblast has been suspended indefinitely.

A drone that crossed into Lithuania from Belarus on 28 July has been located at the Gajžiūnai military training ground in Jonava district, the Belarusian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.

Lithuania’s Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene confirmed the discovery to the Baltic News Service (BNS). 

The unmanned aircraft was discovered more than 100 kilometers from the Belarusian border. The drone resembles the Russian “Gerbera” decoy drone, designed to deceive air defense systems by mimicking the Iranian Shahed combat drone, according to earlier reports.

Military investigators and bomb disposal experts are working at the site where the drone was found.

On the morning of 28 July, Lithuanian police warned citizens about the intrusion of an unidentified unmanned aircraft from Belarusian territory. Darius Buta, chief advisor of the National Crisis Management Center (NKVC), told the news portal Delfi that the drone was detected at an altitude of approximately 200 meters and was last seen near Vilnius.

Drone incidents

On 10 July, State Border Service personnel spotted an unknown object in the air flying at approximately 100 meters altitude at 50-60 km/h speed. Within minutes, it crashed near the closed Sumskas checkpoint, about one kilometer from the Belarus border. The object was identified as a Russian “Gerbera” type drone.

On 28 July, Lithuanian police reported detecting an unidentified drone type that entered the country from Belarus territory. Social media footage showing the drone suggests it resembles a Shahed or its Russian imitation “Gerbera,” according to Delfi, though the drone type is still being determined.

Belarus is a key ally of Russia, primarily due to their deep military, political, and economic cooperation. The country allowed Russian troops to use its territory for military operations, including during the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and hosts some Russian tactical nuclear weapons.

Lithuania will deploy a Ukrainian-developed acoustic drone detection system starting in 2026, the country’s Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Raimundas Vaiknoras announced to LRT.

The deployment announcement comes after another incident involving a drone entering Lithuanian airspace. When asked whether Lithuania would have an acoustic drone detection system, Vaiksnoras confirmed that budget funds have already been allocated for purchasing the systems.

According to the Armed Forces chief, testing will be conducted by the end of the year, and next year there will be more intensive implementation of these systems.

“They have been known since last autumn, but procedural issues were somewhat delayed because this is a Ukrainian system, one could say, which had to be adapted to our implementation of American systems due to sensitive issues,” Vaiksnoras said.

The general noted that two drones that flew into Lithuania the day before “are not a coincidence.”

“It seems to me that we sometimes forget that we actually live very close to the combat zone. Belarus is used as a platform for Russia’s attack on Ukraine, so drones moving through our territory are the same thing that Poles, Romanians, and Latvians experience. This situation will not change while Ukraine is under attack by Russia,” the Armed Forces chief added.

Exclusives

London court does what Kyiv wouldn’t: PrivatBank wins $ 2bn fraud case against oligarchs. A ruling 2,100 km from Ukraine highlights the cost of oligarchic power over national justice systems.

Inform Napalm: Hungary joins Kazakhstan in shadow network to repair Russian helicopters. A leaked document shows spare parts flow in secret, bypassing EU restrictions.

Inside Zelenskyy’s failed coup against Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies. Parliamentary manipulation, fake security crises, and Telegram warfare met Ukrainian teenagers.

Wounded, cut off and alone: Ukrainian grenadier spends three days in Russian positions and brings back a captive. A 54-year-old fighter survived wounds from shrapnel and being knocked unconscious before crossing back with a captured enemy soldier.

Military

Trump claims Russia has lost nearly 14 times more soldiers than Ukraine in 2025. Russia has lost over 112,500 soldiers since the start of 2025.

Only three of eight Iskander-K missiles were shot down — but why did most slip through Kyiv’s air defenses?. The clock ran out as missiles flew low and fast from the border.

Satellite images show Kamchatka earthquake tears Russia’s submarine stronghold. The pier shifted at a “terrifying angle” as waves crashed into the Pacific Fleet’s dock.

July records 96 Russian drones flying from Ukraine into Belarus, Belsat says

. Belarus airspace saw the heaviest month of Russian drone presence yet.

Intelligence and technology

Ukraine’s Azov member named Europe’s top combat medic after innovative drone rescue. A battlefield transfusion under fire rewrites what’s possible in military medicine.

International

Russian oil floats in limbo as EU sanctions trap tankers near India. The Achilles and Elyte sit stranded, while pressure mounts on Delhi to choose sides in a wartime economy.

Trump promises new sanctions on Russia, Witkoff heads to Moscow as Senate readies a massive bill

. The envoy will return to Moscow while senators prepare a sweeping package.

Humanitarian and social impact

Kharkiv bleeds daily under Russian fire as €10 billion in damage leaves 160,000 homeless. The city hasn’t had a single quiet day since 2022.

Ukrainian man, buried alive between floors, stays conscious for hours after Russian Iskander-K strike. Rescuers tunneled through concrete and chaos, keeping voice contact with the trapped man as debris pressed on his chest for hours.

Death toll from yesterday’s Russian air assault on Kyiv reaches 31 with a 2‑year‑old among victims as city mourns. Crews work nonstop in the Sviatoshynskyi district to reach those trapped beneath tons of rubble.

Young Kyiv woman survives 9th-floor fall as Russian missile flattens another high-rise, killing 16

. A missile hurled 23‑year‑old Veronika from her apartment. She lived; her parents were killed in the building collapse.

Political and legal developments

Ukraine’s government demands lie detector test from its anti-corruption chief candidate. Tsyvinsky passed the tests, won the contest, but now must pass a polygraph.

Putin shrugs off Trump’s ultimatum and says he’s ready to wait until Kyiv agrees to his conditions to end war. His conditions haven’t changed since 2024 — only the body count has.

Kyiv burns in Putin’s calculated act of humiliation against Trump’s peace efforts, says diplomat. As sanctions loom, Russia doubles down on violence, mocking US efforts to end the conflict.

New developments

Ukraine cuts inflation forecast to 9.7% despite ongoing war. Country defies economic patterns typically seen in countries fighting for survival

Read our earlier daily review here.

Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) drones struck a military airfield storing Iranian-made “Shahed” drones in Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Krasnodar Oblast, during the night of 2 August, the SBU press service reported.

The SBU said that the Primorsko-Akhtarsk military airfield became the first target for long-range UAVs. “Storage and launch sites for Shaheds that attack Ukraine were hit on its territory,” the service announced. Fires broke out in the airfield area following the drone strikes.

A second target was the Elektroprilad plant in Penza city, with the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff confirming the strike. The facility produces equipment for the Russian military-industrial complex, manufacturing gear for digital networks in military command systems, aviation devices, armored vehicles, ships, and spacecraft, according to the SBU.

“SBU drones successfully hit the target, with smoke observed in the explosion area,” the security service reported regarding the Penza strike.

The attacks represent a continuation of Ukrainian strikes on Russian military infrastructure. On 31 July, drones had previously targeted a radio plant in Penza, with the SBU later confirming responsibility for that operation as well.

The coordinated strikes demonstrate Ukraine’s expanding capability to conduct long-range operations against military targets deep within Russian territory, specifically targeting facilities involved in producing or storing weapons used against Ukrainian cities.

Multiple Russian oblasts reported explosions and fires at industrial facilities during overnight drone attacks on 2 August, with air defense systems activated across several areas, according to Russian Telegram channels.

Samara Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev confirmed strikes on Novokuybyshevsk. Social media footage showed a large fire at what appeared to be the Novokuybyshevsk Oil Refinery.

Witnesses reported loud explosions near Dyagilevo airfield in Ryazan Oblast. Another oil refinery in Ryazan city was reportedly struck.

Residents of Lipetsk and Voronezh oblasts also reported UAV attacks and air defense activity during the night.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence has redistributed 8 billion hryvnias ($192 million) for urgent needs of unmanned units, following a decision by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s headquarters, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

The funding will support military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine involved in the “Drone Line” project and strengthen unmanned systems in newly formed units.

“This will allow for immediate financing of urgent needs of such units as ‘Madyar’s Birds’, K2, ‘Rarog’, ‘Achilles’, ‘Nemesis’, ‘Black Forest’,” Shmyhal said. These units demonstrated high effectiveness, destroying 22,700 Russian targets in the past month alone.

The government allocated an additional 1 billion hryvnias ($24 mn) for anti-drone protection of evacuation and logistics routes.

The funding comes as part of broader defense budget increases. On 31 July, the Verkhovna Rada approved amendments to the state budget, increasing defense sector expenditures by 412.3 billion hryvnias ($10 bn). Of this amount, 115 billion hryvnias ($3 bn) will fund monetary support for servicemembers across all Defense Forces.

Ukraine’s Defense Minister said earlier this week that the country is very close to obtaining its own ballistic missiles. The announcement came after former Deputy Defense Minister Anatoliy Klochko said in June that Ukrainians would soon hear “more concrete statements” about Ukrainian ballistics, as the country had made “serious progress” on the issue.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has posthumously awarded journalist Victoria Roshchyna with the Order of Freedom, according to a presidential decree.

The document states the award recognizes her “civic courage, patriotism, selfless defense of sovereignty and independence of the Ukrainian state, constitutional rights and human freedoms.”

“Today we honor Victoria Roshchyna posthumously. She is awarded the Order of Freedom. For unwavering faith that freedom will overcome everything. Honor and bright memory to Victoria Roshchyna,” Zelenskyy wrote.

Roshchyna disappeared on temporarily occupied territories on 3 August 2023. Russia first confirmed holding her in captivity only in May 2024. This marked her second abduction by Russian forces – she had previously been kidnapped in March 2022 but was released after ten days.

News of her death emerged on 10 October 2024, when Russian officials informed her father Volodymyr, with Ukrainian authorities later confirming the information.

The Media Initiative for Human Rights reported that Roshchyna was held in at least two detention facilities: correctional colony №77 in Berdiansk and detention center №2 in Taganrog, Russia. The Taganrog facility is known as “one of the most brutal detention places for Ukrainians on Russian territory,” according to the organization.

Roshchyna’s body was returned to Ukraine in late February, though this information was first made public on 24 April. Journalists learned that she was initially held in Enerhodar and later transferred to Melitopol.

A cellmate described finding multiple scars on Roshchyna’s arms and legs, as well as knife wounds. The journalist told her she had been tortured with electricity, after which “she was all blue,” according to the cellmate’s account. Roshchyna later began losing weight dramatically, refusing food until she weighed around 30 kilograms.