The Kremlin is considering two scenarios for the upcoming Alaska summit: an agreement without Ukraine or pressure through cutting aid. According to Corriere della Sera, Russian President Vladimir Putin is offering US President Donald Trump a “convenient way out of the situation,” Kremlin foreign policy adviser Dmitry Suslov says.

Scenario 1: Bilateral deal without Ukraine and Europe

The first option envisions adopting a Russia–US ceasefire plan for Ukraine, negotiated exclusively between Moscow and Washington.

The agreement could include:

• Withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the parts of Donbas they still control,
• Withdrawal of Russian forces from Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv oblasts, but keeping the current front line in other areas, 
• Ukraine is committed not to join NATO.

This would mean continued fighting in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

Suslov stressed that renouncing NATO membership is a “mandatory and inevitable condition,” and the final arrangements must include “Ukraine’s demilitarization and constitutional reform toward federalization.”

Scenario 2: Pressure through cutting assistance

Suslov said the second option is that Ukraine and its European partners reject the Kremlin’s proposals. In this case, he suggests Trump could completely end military aid to Kyiv and even halt weapons sales to European countries so they cannot transfer arms to Ukraine.

“This will speed up Ukraine’s defeat and its complete collapse,” he stated.

Suslov believes Trump might take such a step to avoid appearing weak after pressuring Brazil, India, and China to stop importing Russian oil under threat of secondary sanctions.

At the same time, according to the Kremlin adviser, successfully reaching a bilateral deal in Alaska would help ease tensions with China, India, and Brazil and give the US president the chance to claim a “historic achievement.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized that no country, except European states, provides Kyiv with real security guarantees, including financial support for the army, the foundation of the country’s defense. Therefore, European leaders must be present at key international meetings, UkrInform reports. 

Zelenskyy’s plan: ceasefire, negotiations, and security guarantees

The Ukrainian president has presented his simple and clear plan to end the war: first, a ceasefire, followed by negotiations mediated by the US with clear security guarantees from all parties.

“My plan is not that complicated. It is very simple: a ceasefire, and during the ceasefire we must discuss and resolve the issues… with clear security guarantees,” Zelenskyy stresses.

The importance of Ukraine’s participation in the upcoming negotiations

The president announced that on 13 August, there will be a series of online negotiations with European leaders, US and NATO representatives, ahead of the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska.

“Such sensitive issues concerning Ukraine must be discussed in Ukraine’s presence,” Zelenskyy emphasizes.

These negotiations aim to coordinate a common position regarding peace, security guarantees, and support for Ukraine in the ongoing diplomatic process.

Earlier, the study showed that Europe leads in military aid for Ukraine, surpassing the US. According to research by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy’s Ukraine Support Tracker, European countries have become the main donors of support to Ukraine, allocating over 35 billion euros for weapons procurement.

This sum is 4.4 billion euros more than the US has spent on the defense of Ukraine over more than three years of Russia’s aggression. 

The Belarus Defense Ministry has announced that Russia and Belarus will conduct Zapad-2025 joint strategic military exercises from 12 to 16 September.

Repeating the 2022 invasion preparation scenario

According to Valery Revenko, Head of the Department of International Military Cooperation at the Belarusian Ministry of Defense, the theme of the exercises is “the deployment of troop groups to ensure the security of the Union State.”

“The overall goal is to test the capabilities of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation in ensuring the military security of the Union State and readiness to repel possible aggression,” Revenko emphasizes.

Experts have previously noted that the Zapad-2025 scenario essentially repeats the preparatory measures under the cover of which Russia amassed troops near Ukraine’s borders in late 2021 – early 2022, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports. 

Russia is already deploying troops and equipment to Belarus

According to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russia has begun transferring the first units to Belarus — several hundred soldiers and dozens of pieces of equipment, as per Facty. 

Minsk assures that the exercises pose no threat to neighbors and will be conducted openly. Observers from nine NATO countries are involved.

NATO will respond harshly to possible aggression

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stressed that a new military conflict in Europe is currently unlikely but cannot be ruled out.

If anyone decides that an attack on Poland or any of our allies will go unpunished, they will face the full force of the alliance, Rutte warned.

Europe leads military aid for Ukraine, surpassing the US. According to research by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy’s Ukraine Support Tracker, European countries have become the main donors of support to Ukraine, allocating over 35 billion euros for weapons procurement.

The Ukraine Support Tracker project monitors military, financial, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine based on open data. It covers 40 countries, including the G7 members, as well as Australia, South Korea, Türkiye, Norway, New Zealand, Switzerland, China, Taiwan, and India. 

Europe spent more on military aid than the US

From the start of the full-scale war until June 2025, Europe allocated at least 35.1 billion euros for Ukraine’s armaments — 4.4 billion euros more than the US. Importantly, a significant portion of weapons are purchased directly through the defense industry rather than taken from existing stockpiles.

The study highlights that Germany provided the largest bilateral aid package of five billion euros. Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK, and Denmark also provided significant aid packages.

The US supports, but Kyiv must finance purchases Itself

In May 2025, Trump’s administration approved large arms exports to Ukraine, but the country must finance these purchases independently.

Ukraine’s financing through international mechanisms

A significant part of Ukraine’s financial support is currently provided through the ERA loan mechanism, created by the G7 and the European Commission. A total of 45 billion euros is planned to be provided, partly financed by frozen Russian assets.

Experts warn that whether donors can maintain this level of assistance in the long term remains uncertain.

Russian propaganda threatens Azerbaijan with war over support for Ukraine. Pro-Kremlin media have intensified anti-Baku rhetoric, escalating accusations against the country of being “Western sellouts.” 

On 11 August, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree allocating $2 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine following Russian strikes on the state-owned SOCAR’s oil depot in Odesa Oblast and a gas compressor station that transports Azerbaijani gas to Ukraine.

The funds will be used to purchase electrical equipment for Ukraine.

“The Russian propaganda has launched a new wave of harsh anti-Azerbaijani rhetoric, ranging from accusations of being ‘Western sellouts’ to direct threats of war,” says the Center for Countering Disinformation under Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council.

Moscow is losing control over the South Caucasus 

As explained by the Center, the Kremlin is increasingly losing influence over Azerbaijan and can no longer impose its political or economic will. Therefore, Kremlin propaganda intensifies pressure through threats and war rhetoric to rally its domestic audience.

“Moscow can no longer dictate its political or economic will to Azerbaijan. Thus, propaganda tries to compensate for the loss of real leverage with threats,” the Center notes.

Azerbaijan strengthens its fight against Russian propaganda

Baku is actively freeing itself from Russian dominance: recently, the “Russkiy Dom” was closed, and the activities of Russian propaganda media have been restricted in the country.

The “Russkiy Dom” in Baku was a Russian information and cultural center functioning as a representative office of the agency engaged in strengthening Russia’s humanitarian influence abroad, in Azerbaijan. The center faced accusations of espionage activities disguised as cultural work.

Ukraine has tested the revolutionary Starlink Direct to Cell technology for the first time. It allows smartphones to connect directly to satellites without special antennas or equipment. The technology could keep communications running even during massive attacks and blackouts, says Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko.

How Starlink Direct to Cell works?

Unlike traditional Starlink, smartphones connect to satellites like they would to a mobile tower, using standard LTE or 5G.

“Ukraine has become one of the first countries in the world where Starlink Direct to Cell works — direct satellite connection without antennas or additional hardware, requiring only 4G and a SIM card,” explains Svyrydenko.

The technology offers global coverage, from mountains and steppes to remote villages and even the ocean. As early as autumn 2025, Kyivstar plans to launch the first stage, enabling SMS messaging from anywhere in Ukraine-controlled territory.

Why is it critical during wartime? 

From 2022 to 2025, Russia destroyed around 73% of Ukraine’s thermal power plants. Continuous strikes on energy and communications infrastructure have caused long rolling blackouts.

“In wartime, when the Russians deliberately target energy and communications, this technology is a matter of security. Ukrainians will be able to stay connected even in the most remote locations,” Svyrydenko stresses.

Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov has confirmed, “We successfully exchanged our first text messages via satellite directly from smartphones.”

When Starlink Direct to Cell will launch?

The technology is being rolled out in partnership with the US, Australia, Japan, Canada, and New Zealand. Beta testing is underway, and an official launch in Ukraine is planned for the fall of 2025.

Russians forcibly conscript Ukrainians, coercing them into fighting against their own country. The Russian 132nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade is now fully staffed by residents of the temporarily occupied parts of Donetsk Oblast and illegal migrants, according to the DeepState project. 

According to the report, the 132nd Brigade has long been predominantly staffed by residents of the occupied settlements of Donetsk Oblast. Recently, it has been massively reinforced with illegal migrants, mainly from Central Asian countries.

This information is particularly alarming amid ongoing US-Russia negotiations. US President Donald Trump openly states that a peace deal would include some “swapping” of territories with Russia. This means that Russia can further conscript more people from occupied territories to the war against their relatives, friends, and other Ukrainians. 

“The Russian command has set the task to reach the eastern outskirts of Dobropillia in the near future,” analysts say.

The invaders aim to capture Dobropillia because it is the last major city before Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, where Russia has concentrated nearly 100,000 soldiers. Taking Dobropillia would allow them to shell logistics routes to Pokrovsk and open the way for further attacks on Kostiantynivka.

DeepState also emphasizes that the 132nd Brigade has historically consisted mainly of marginal elements and criminals from the occupied districts of Donetsk since 2014, while the command has come directly from Russia.

At the Yaroslavl Shipbuilding Plant in Saint Petersburg, modern Russian naval tugboat Kapitan Ushakov capsized and partially sank alongside the Baltic Shipyard’s pier. The event caused flooding in the auxiliary machinery spaces, the Russian Western Interregional Investigative Directorate for Transport reports. 

According to the agency, no injuries were reported. However, the extent of the damage is still being assessed. The agency is investigating potential safety violations during the construction work.

The tugboat was launched on 14 June 2022, but it was under final construction and outfitting for another three years in Saint Petersburg. It is designed for towing ships in icy and open waters, escort operations, firefighting at sea, and refloating grounded vessels.

It measures nearly 70 meters in length, 15 meters in width, and 3,200 tons in displacement. The tug can sail up to 3,000 nautical miles with a 30-day autonomy and features a helipad.

Earlier, Russia canceled its main naval parade of the year in Saint Petersburg. The parade cancellation might have been linked to the military leadership’s fears due to real losses suffered by the fleet. An event meant to demonstrate Russia’s power risked having the opposite effect, causing discouragement and fear.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has firmly rejected US President Donald Trump’s proposal to exchange part of Ukraine’s territory in return for peace. Trump’s suggestion, which did not specify which areas might be swapped, struck a nerve with many Ukrainians, The New York Times reports.

Zelenskyy’s direct refusal risks angering, who has made brokering a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow one of the central goals of his foreign policy, even if the deal would disadvantage Ukraine.

“Peace as trap”: Ukraine may face pressure from US and Russia to accept Kremlin’s demands, says diplomat

This could leave Ukraine vulnarable to concessions it may need to make amid Kyiv’s dependency on Western aid and weapons in the struggle against Russia. 

Trump pushes for concessions

Trump has previously accused Ukraine of making excessively tough demands for a ceasefire. This time, he stated that some territories would need to be swapped and returned. There will be an exchange of territories for the benefit of both sides, he said. His vague comments sparked widespread outrage among Ukrainians.

Ukraine refuses to give up land

Zelenskyy’s stance reflects the overwhelming sentiment in Ukrainian society: territorial concessions are unacceptable. A Kyiv International Institute of Sociology poll found that over half of Ukrainians believe the country should not cede any land “even if this makes the war last longer and threatens the preservation of independence.”

Military experts warn that such a deal would mean abandoning a key fortified defensive line in northern Donetsk Oblast, between Sloviansk and Kostiantynivka, which has so far held back Russian advances.

Peace talks in Alaska and Moscow’s advantage

Trump has agreed to hold peace talks next Friday in Alaska. For now, Moscow’s approach, not Kyiv’s, appears to have the upper hand on the diplomatic front.

Lithuania may have become the target of a Russian underwater drone, right off its own coast. In early August, near the resort town of Nida, the drone likely entered Lithuanian territorial waters from the direction of Russia, Delfi reports.

Locals noticed the unusual behavior of a border patrol boat. A coast guard vessel was seen chasing an unidentified object in the Curonian Lagoon, an area where active operations are rarely conducted.

Underwater provocation near Nida

Aistė Žalneraitienė, senior specialist at the State Border Guard Service, confirmed the incident: on 2 August, a suspicious object was indeed detected in the reported place and is currently being examined by the Criminal Investigation Department.

Preliminary assessments suggest the drone may have been launched from Russia’s Kaliningrad Oblast, which is one of the main hubs of Russian military activity near NATO borders.

“Gerbera” strikes again

This is not the first incident involving Russian unmanned systems in Lithuania. On 1 August, debris from a Gerbera drone, widely used in Ukraine’s war, was found at the Gaižiūnai military training ground in the Jonava District. The drone was likely launched from Belarus. The incident was confirmed by Lithuania’s Minister of National Defense, Dovilė Šakalienė.

A week earlier, another drone of the same type crashed near the closed Šumskas border checkpoint, almost directly on the Belarusian border.

In July, a Russian drone also violated Lithuanian airspace near Vilnius. It flew at an altitude of 200 meters and remained in Lithuanian airspace for about half an hour.

Following this series of violations, Lithuanian armed forces will implement additional security measures.

Earlier, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service Head, Sergey Naryshkin, warned that Poland and the Baltic states would be the first to suffer in the event of a war between Moscow and NATO. In 2025, Russia plans to train and station up to 150,000 additional troops in Belarus.

Russia may attempt to recapture Kherson. Moscow forces are relentlessly shelling Kherson, while Western media warn that Moscow may be preparing an airborne assault on the liberated city within weeks, in a move to reverse its 2022 liberation.

On 2 August, Russians launched a powerful strike on a strategically important bridge connecting the island district of Korabel to the main part of Kherson city. The strike also damaged three private homes and an apartment building. The invaders had previously targeted the bridge, forcing about 1,800 residents to leave their homes.

Civilians injured as Russia strikes Kherson again

On 8 August, Russian troops launched artillery strikes on central Kherson, critically wounding an elderly woman. She suffered a concussion, multiple shrapnel injuries, and lost an arm. Doctors say her condition is life-threatening, the regional administration reports.

The same day in Antonivka, a suburb of Kherson, Russian drones dropped explosives on two men, aged 33 and 36. Both suffered blast injuries, says the Kherson City Council. 

One of the most shocking attacks involved a 13-year-old boy who was struck by a drone while walking down the street, according to regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin. 

“He sustained a blast injury and shrapnel wounds to his arm and leg,” he said. 

The child was hospitalized and is receiving medical care.

Also in the district suffering the most from attacks, Korabel, due to Russia’s attack on the power grid, water supply will be provided for only two hours per day. 

CNN: Russia could launch an airborne operation in Kherson

According to the report, the Kremlin may be preparing to land troops in Kherson in the coming weeks to reclaim the city that Ukraine liberated in 2022.

Roughly 72% of Kherson Oblast remains under Russian occupation, mostly the left bank of the Dnipro River. The Ukrainian-controlled right bank includes the city of Kherson itself. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military analysts say a Russian amphibious operation in Kherson would be highly risky and unlikely to succeed.

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From frontline to warehouse. New Pentagon memo allows redirecting weapons meant for Ukraine back to the US, despite US President Donald Trump publicly endorsing a new supply plan, CNN reports. 

This could mean “that anything short of the president saying go ahead might not get through,” the person said.

Previously, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth already halted a large weapons shipment to Ukraine. Although Trump announced a deal with NATO whereby Europeans would pay for US weapons bound for Ukraine, the Pentagon can be depended on the decision of one person. 

Under the new memo, equipment designated for Ukraine may never reach the front. This includes intercept missiles, air defense systems, and artillery shells, all which is critically needed by Ukraine’s military.

The USAI program, which has reliably supplied Ukraine with arms since 2016, recently received $800 million in new funding under the National Defense Authorization Act. But even that is now in question as sources aren’t sure the weapons will actually reach Kyiv.

“But it’s unclear whether the weapons produced with that money will ultimately go to Ukraine under the new Pentagon policy,” sources told CNN.

 

Separately from USAI, the Pentagon still holds $4 billion in authorized funds to ship weapons directly from US stockpiles.

In Congress, Republicans Roger Wicker and Jim Risch have introduced a bill to establish a special fund that allies can contribute to in order to replenish US weapons sent to Ukraine.

At the same time, the US and NATO are developing a new mechanism — a NATO bank account — where allies would deposit funds specifically to buy American weapons for Kyiv. 

NATO allies have already begun filling the account: according to Secretary General Mark Rutte, more than $1 billion has been allocated, with the total expected to reach $10 billion. But even that may not guarantee the weapons will reach Ukrainian soldiers, not if the Pentagon decides to replenish its own stockpiles first.

Ukraine remains in dangerous limbo. The Pentagon memo could change the course of the war — if the word “go” never comes.

Former Ukrainian Ambassador to the US Valerii Chaly believes that Russia’s agreement to negotiations is an information operation to buy time and avoid sanctions. Chaly emphasizes that Russia’s ceasefire memorandum has long been published, and the Kremlin’s positions remain largely unchanged, Radio NV reports. 

In August 2025, Putin declared that the conditions for a ceasefire in Ukraine remain:

• Ukraine must fully withdraw its troops from the so-called Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, which Russia claims as its own,
• Ukraine must renounce NATO membership and adopt a neutral, non-aligned, and non-nuclear status,
• The Kremlin demands the lifting of Western sanctions imposed due to its aggression.

Ukraine and its international partners reject these demands as unacceptable since they imply capitulation.

“Russia understands it can still buy time… it’s simply a stunt,” says diplomat Chaly.

However, he admits some Russian demands may have softened, such as Ukraine’s neutrality or the official status of the Russian language.

A trap for Ukraine — US pressure to accept unpopular decisions

Chaly warns that the Americans, as mediators, may pressure Kyiv to accept terms unsupported by Ukrainian society.

“Trump is already out of the game, we are left alone with the Russians, and Ukraine is essentially blamed for breaking agreements. Then the war goes on Russia’s terms, no sanctions, and existing sanctions start to be lifted. That’s the trap,” he says. 

Thus, the Kremlin could achieve the legalization of occupation.

Russia may offer “commercial” concessions

The diplomat suggests Russia might offer the US joint access to natural resource development as a bargaining chip to pressure Kyiv.

“The Russians present it as a ‘gift’ in exchange for American pressure on Ukraine to accept maximum Russian ultimatums,” Chaly adds.

He stresses Ukraine must remain vigilant against such traps, as “Russians are skilled at setting them,” and that it is premature to expect a genuine peace process.

One such trap would be Ukraine accepting the de facto recognition of occupied territories as Russian.

Ukraine needs strong allies at the negotiation table

Chaly underscores the risk of isolation if European countries are absent from peace talks.

“If Europe is not present, who will stand with us at the table?” he asks.

Ukraine must avoid empty formalities in negotiations.

“Because while Russia pretends to negotiate, it continues ballistic missile strikes on the front lines,” Chaly warns.

The idea of a ceasefire in the air with Russia seems elusive. Russia almost instantly breaks any agreements, says Serhii Zgurets, the Defense Express head, Espreso reports. 

During the war, Ukraine signed the Minsk agreements aimed at ending the conflict in Donbas. The goal was to halt hostilities and establish peace, but the implementation was violated by Russia during its all-out war.

In 2025, Russia also announced the so-called “Eastern truce,” which lasted only 30 hours in Ukraine. During that brief period, Ukraine recorded at least 2,000 violations and attacks along the front lines.\

Witkoff to brief Ukrainian and NATO officials on meeting with Putin – media reports

“A ceasefire with the enemy is quite ephemeral… any ceasefire will be broken literally the next day due to their treacherous actions,” Zgurets says. 

He notes that negotiating a halt to strikes with Russia is almost impossible given Russia’s tactics.

Drone and cruise missile strikes continue unabated

In theory, there could be agreements banning strikes using cruise missiles and drones, but in practice, this is unlikely as:

• Russia continues active use of strike systems of various types and ranges,
• Ukrainian attacks are also increasing in number and effectiveness

Dnipro Osint reports that after the facility in Yelabuga was established, the number of attacks using Shaheds began to increase systematically. For example, until July 2024, Russia launched up to 500 drones per month, while by March 2025, this figure had reached nearly 4,200 units.

In July 2025, the UN documented that Russian forces launched ten times more missile strikes and drone attacks than in June 2024. The experts reported 232 civilian deaths and 1,343 injuries, marking the highest monthly casualty toll in three years. 

Also, in just the last two weeks, drone strikes on Russia-occupied Crimea have also been recorded repeatedly. The Russian military is also losing critical logistics routes from Ukrainian assaults: Rostov, Volgograd, and the Donbas railway.

“This is a new chapter in the operation of our drone systems, which have significantly expanded their capabilities and are now blocking the use of the railway as a key logistical resource for Russian defense,” emphasizes Zgurets. 

A ceasefire will not change the war’s dynamics

Even if drone strikes pause temporarily, stockpiling will continue.

“When the ceasefire is broken, these systems will again be used massively,” the expert stresses.

Thus, an aerial ceasefire is unlikely to alter the overall frontline situation. Drones will remain a key weapon and influential factor in the war.

Earlier, the Main Intelligence Directorate reported that in Russia, production of Shaheds and their imitators reached about 170 units per day as of May 2025. By the end of the year, the figure is planned to increase to 190 drones per day.

Russia has created a website to sell Ukrainian orphans. The website features faces, descriptions, and filters by eye and hair color, just like in a product database, reveals Mykola Kuleba, founder and head of the organization Save Ukraine.

“Russia has created an online catalog for the ‘sale’ of Ukrainian children,” he says.

According to him, since 2014, Russia has systematically taken children from occupied territories, Luhansk, Donetsk, and Crimea, to various regions of Russia. But now this scheme has transformed into digital child trafficking.

Filters, personal characteristics, and human dignity 

Kuleba reports that the site allows users to “choose” a child by appearance.

“You can literally select a child by photo, with uncovered faces. They describe the children like products: ‘obedient’, ‘calm’, and so on,” he says.

He emphasizes the disturbing ability to sort children by gender, eye color, and hair color, calling the process nearly indistinguishable from slave trading.

Evidence found on official Russian websites

“Most of the children in this catalog were born before the occupation of Luhansk and had Ukrainian citizenship. Some of their parents were killed by the occupying authorities. Others were simply issued Russian documents to legalize their abduction,” Kuleba explaines.

He highlights the absurdity of Russia’s actions. 

“When Russians demand lists of abducted Ukrainian children during negotiations, they could simply hand over the database from their own Luhansk ‘Ministry of Education’ website. The entire evidentiary base of their crimes is right there on their official resources,” he continues. 

Kuleba pledges that Save Ukraine will do everything possible to rescue these children and return them to “what matters most — home, family, and country.” 

“Children of War”: 325 photos of Ukrainian children to be shown in Kyiv

The Kremlin’s financial foundation for war is cracking. According to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Russia’s federal budget revenues from oil and gas dropped by 19% in January–July 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, down to $69.2 billion. 

The drop in energy revenues underscores Russia’s growing vulnerability to external pressure, the agency emphasizes.

A double blow to the Kremlin

The average price for Urals crude fell by 18.4%, to $60.37 per barrel. At the same time, the ruble was artificially strengthened by 45%, from 113.71 to 81.25 per USD, undermining export earnings in foreign currency.

Gas exports to the EU plummeted by 50% to just 9.93 billion cubic meters, continuing Russia’s steady loss of energy foothold in Europe.

Ministry of Finance in panic

The Russian government has already revised its oil and gas income forecast for 2025, now expecting only $104.4 billion instead of the previous $137.3 billion, which is a 24% drop from earlier projections.

To partially offset the shortfall, the Kremlin is cutting fuel subsidies under the “fuel damper” mechanism and tapping into the National Welfare Fund.

The Ukrainians will not surrender. A resounding 76% of Ukrainians firmly reject Russia’s so-called “peace plan”, which would require Ukraine to capitulate and surrender its territories, according to the results of a new survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in summer 2025.

Support for the “US plan” grows slightly, but is still rejected by the majority

At the same time, the share of Ukrainians willing, albeit reluctantly, to consider a “conditional US plan” has grown: 39% now support it, up from 29% in May. Still, nearly half, 49%, say this option remains unacceptable.

The so-called US plan envisions Russia retaining occupied territories, the US recognition of Crimea as Russian and European, but not American, security guarantees for Ukraine.

The joint Europe-Ukraine plan is the only one with the biggest support

The only proposal supported by a majority is a joint peace plan between Europe and Ukraine, backed by 54% of Ukrainians. Just 30% oppose it, down from 35% in May. 

That plan envisions Ukraine continuing its path toward EU membership, the maintenance of sanctions against Russia, and no recognition of Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territory.

KIIS concludes: Even with a slight increase in willingness to consider compromise, peace on the Kremlin’s terms remains entirely unacceptable to most Ukrainians. Russia’s plan is capitulation, and Ukrainian society understands that clearly, the sociologists emphasize.

Russia is likely preparing for new tests of the nuclear-powered missile Burevestnik, one of the five “superweapons” announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018. This missile, which the US has called “flying Chornobyl”, has never had a successful test flight, while its development remains hazardous to the environment, the Moscow Times reports. 

Ukrainian expert: Russia is trying again to “shake something in front of the world”

According to NV, retired Ukrainian colonel and pilot-instructor Roman Svitan believes that the rumors of Burevestnik tests are a Kremlin information operation aimed at intimidating the world.

He thinks the Kremlin uses this topic amid US internal politics and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s talks with Putin on ending the war in Ukraine to showcase its nuclear might.  

He points out serious technological failures not only with these missiles but also with the Oreshnik and Sarmat missiles.

“Russia is as far from the USSR as Kyiv is from a crawling beetle,” Svitan emphasizes.

Increased activity at the test site and radiation monitoring from the US

Nuclear weapons expert Decker Evelet reports increased activity at the Pankovo test range on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago — the primary testing ground for Burevestnik.

Simultaneously, the US deployed the WC-135R radiation reconnaissance aircraft to the region, indicating possible preparation for new missile tests.

According to Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists, these developments are a worrying sign.

The dark history of Burevestnik

The US intelligence data shows that as of October 2023, Russia conducted 13 tests of the missile, all of which failed. The longest flight lasted only two minutes with a maximum range of 35 km. A 2019 accident in the Barents Sea caused an explosion during a recovery operation, killing seven people, including nuclear scientists from the Sarov center.

The resulting radioactive contamination spread across northwest Russia and Scandinavia.

By 2030, Ukraine aims to become one of the world’s top three leaders in artificial intelligence technology. Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov says the launch of AI Factory, an advanced state hub for building AI infrastructure, is a major step toward this ambitious goal. 

AI Factory: The start of Ukraine’s new digital era

“Our mission is to rank among the top 3 countries in AI development and implementation by 2030,” Fedorov said at the project presentation.

According to him, AI Factory will be Ukraine’s first large-scale project for AI tech infrastructure.

Soon, Ukraine will have cutting-edge hardware and software that will enable the training of AI models and the creation of national AI solutions, from public services to defense systems.

Ukrainian AI will begin with Diia and expand to medicine

The AI Factory will serve as the technical backbone for key national projects, including:

• An AI assistant in Diia, used by millions of Ukrainians,
• An AI tutor in the Mria educational ecosystem,
• Future initiatives in defense, science, and healthcare.

The development is being led by the WINWIN AI Center of Excellence, a team that builds and implements innovative AI solutions for the public sector.

What will Ukraine’s AI Factory include?

The project will consist of four key components:

• Technology base: GPU clusters, water-cooled data centers, data storage, and server rooms,
• Software stack: Full infrastructure for model training, deployment, automation, and monitoring,
• Training data: A system will be built for accessing high-quality, up-to-date data,
• Human expertise: Training programs for AI specialists who will drive the ecosystem’s growth.

The Russians may be preparing a new assault on Kherson. The occupiers may be attempting to isolate the Kherson neighborhood of Korabel by striking a key bridge and organizing a foothold for a possible landing operation, CNN reports. 

On 2 August, Russians launched a powerful strike on a strategically important bridge connecting the island district of Korabel to the main part of Kherson city. The strike also damaged three private homes and an apartment building. The invaders had previously targeted the bridge, forcing about 1,800 residents to leave their homes.

However, Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, noted that some families return almost immediately after evacuation. But the authorities once again urge Korabel residents to relocate to safer areas.

Russia aims to divide the city 

The strategy reportedly is to target the bridge and land forces to recapture the city. Meanwhile, Vladyslav Voloshyn, the Southern Defense Forces spokesperson, says that the possibility of this scenario is low, RBC-Ukraine reports.

He explains that in this case, the Russians would have to cross several water channels and islands where Ukrainian forces actively destroy any assault groups.

“To reach our shore, the Russians need time. And we use that time to detect and destroy them while they’re still approaching,” he emphasizes.

Regarding a possible air assault, Voloshyn stressed that “enemy helicopters will be immediately detected and destroyed,” recalling the Russians’ failure at Hostomel in 2022. Then, the Russian assault troops failed to land at the airfield, which broke all their operational strategy in Kyiv Oblast. 

Kherson under fire: drones, aerial bombs, destruction

The situation on the southern front remains tense. In one day, Russians carried out 280 attacks using kamikaze drones, nine airstrikes with guided bombs on Kherson, and employed drone munitions such as “Molniya,” “Lancet,” and “Privit-82.”

Russian drones constantly operate over Kherson, shelling continues, and battles are ongoing on islands in the Dnipro delta, specifically on Bilohorodivskyi and Velykyi Vilkhovyi islands. Active fighting is also reported near the Antonivski bridges.

Civilians continue to suffer. The central hospital in Kherson is treating 25 wounded. CNN shares the story of 62-year-old Oleh, who was injured while running to help neighbors after a drone strike. 

“It’s dangerous there, you have to listen carefully. A double tap. That’s how they operate. They destroy a house, it burns. A minute later, another one comes, checking whether the house is burning or someone is trying to extinguish it. And then they kill and destroy further,” he says. 

Before the war, Kherson Oblast was an important tourist and agricultural region of Ukraine. In 2021, the region welcomed 4.8 million tourists. Its coastline stretched for over 200 kilometers, featuring sandy beaches and a well-developed resort infrastructure.

Along the shore, there were numerous guesthouses, children’s camps, and sanatoriums offering therapeutic treatments based on thermal springs, salt, and mud.

Kyiv has found the murderer of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who was tortured to death in Russian captivity. Ukraine has charged Alexander Shtuda, the head of Detention Center No. 2 in the Russian city of Taganrog, with organizing the torture of the journalist, the Prosecutor General’s Office reports.

According to the investigation, a targeted system of repression operates in the Taganrog detention center against Ukrainian citizens held there, including civilians.

“Among its victims is well-known Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna. She was detained by Russian forces in temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast and transferred to this detention center,” the report says.

Torture of the journalist confirmed: forensic evidence proves physical abuse

Yurii Belousov, Head of the Ukrainian Department for Combating Crimes Committed in Armed Conflict, says that an expert examination revealed “numerous bodily injuries” on Roshchyna’s body, confirming the use of torture and cruel treatment.

According to him, Shtuda deliberately organized this abuse because Roshchyna refused to cooperate with the prison administration.

Roshchyna was pushed to the brink

In the Taganrog detention center, Roshchyna was subjected to systematic torture, beatings, humiliation, threats, and severe restrictions on access to medical aid, drinking water, and food.

The examination, conducted on 9 July by the Main Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination of the Ministry of Health, revealed that Roshchyna suffered neck trauma, bone fractures, hemorrhages in soft tissues of the temporal area, right shoulder, and shins, and abrasions on her left foot.

“As a result of this treatment, Roshchyna’s health seriously deteriorated. She lost weight and became unable to walk on her own,” Belousov says.

Moreover, he added that Shtuda tried to conceal the fact that Roshchyna was being held in the facility, ignoring requests and inspections.

Torture as a system: Other Ukrainians confirm abuse in Taganrog

Earlier, Ukrainian citizen Ostap Shved, who was detained in Taganrog after the strike on the Olenivka prison, described similar torture.

His testimony matches what Roshchyna endured — a systematic mechanism of physical and psychological destruction of Ukrainians operates in the facility.

Shved, who survived the Russian strike on the Olenivka prison where Azov fighters from Mariupol’s Azovstal were held, recounted that he and other prisoners were beaten by mobs of Russians, hanged, and electrocuted. One guard sliced his ear with a blunt knife.

Finland won’t join NATO’s new weapons procurement program for Ukraine, opting instead to rely on its own defense industry. Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen has announced that his country is focusing on a domestic industrial program, Yle reports. 

“We have allocated our resources to an internal industrial program, under which we place orders for Ukraine from companies across Finland,” he states.

A decision to back local industry — and still help Ukraine

Häkkänen emphasizes that the program was developed in cooperation with Ukraine to provide “maximum support” and that other countries understand Finland’s approach, especially given its shared border with Russia.

“We continue to support Ukraine with strong commitment and energy, but now we are prioritizing production by domestic companies,” he adds.

Different approaches within NATO with one common goal

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Sweden, Norway, and Denmark had allocated over $500 million to buy weapons for Ukraine through NATO’s new procurement mechanism. Finland has chosen a different vector, but its support remains consistent and strategically vital.

NATO is preparing to act swiftly. During an official visit to the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) headquarters, General Alexus Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), declared that the Alliance is ready to address Ukraine’s weapon needs promptly. 

“We’re going to move as quickly as we can,” he emphasized.

NSATU coordinates international support for Ukraine, providing ongoing training and logistics. Under this initiative, over 300 personnel from 28 NATO countries work closely with the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Poland’s logistics hub — a lifeline for uninterrupted support

A key role in delivering military aid to Ukraine is played by the Logistics Enabling Node-Poland (LEN-P). Each month, this hub manages the shipment of about 18,000 tons of military equipment to Ukraine.

NATO’s representation in Ukraine notes that LEN-P is one of the most critical components of the training headquarters’ operations.

NATO warns: the war is close

Earlier, at the LANDEURO symposium in Wiesbaden, General Grynkewich stressed that “the war is already at our doorstep,” and NATO’s response must be rapid and resolute. 

Russia is losing petrodollars. In July 2025, Russia suffered a significant financial blow: oil-related budget revenues dropped by nearly 33% compared to the previous year, according to Bloomberg.

A official Russian Finance Ministry says that the country collected only $8.9 billion in oil-related taxes. Combined oil and gas revenues fell by 27%.

Price spike didn’t save profits from falling

Despite a short-term 71% increase in the price of Russian export oil in July, the first such jump in five months, petrodollars flowing into the budget declined. Global crude prices spiked sharply at that time due to warfare in the Middle East.

Benchmark oil prices, however, have dropped year-on-year, as Trump’s trade policies threaten to slow the global economy while OPEC+ ramps up production faster than expected.

The strengthening of the ruble also contributed to lower revenues, as revaluation means oil companies receive fewer rubles per barrel they pump and sell. In June, the ruble hit its strongest exchange rate in two years: 78.71 per dollar. This means oil and gas companies earn less in rubles for exports. In 2024, they earned 6,127 rubles per barrel, now only 4,711.

Subsidies slashed as budget runs short

However, lower global prices for crude and refined oil products have allowed the government to cut subsidies paid to Russian refineries.

These subsidies partially compensate for the price difference between domestic and export fuel, aiming to boost domestic gasoline and diesel supply. In July, the budget allocated 58% less for this purpose compared to the previous year.

Ukraine’s army is holding the line. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, has released staggering figures for Russian army losses in the first seven months of 2025 — 267,460 troops.

“Due to the coordinated and professional work of Ukraine’s Defense Forces, enemy losses since the beginning of the year total 267,460 personnel,” Syrskyi reveals.

In July alone, Russia lost more than 33,200 troops.

The war continues

As of 5 August, fighting rages in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and other fronts. Battles were ongoing in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Chernihiv oblasts. Ukrainian forces are eliminating approximately per day:

• 1,120 occupiers
• 2 tanks
• 12 armored vehicles
• 28 artillery systems
• 169 drones

Putin defies Trump’s ultimatum, escalates threats to Europe

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin shows no intention of complying with the US ultimatum to end the war in Ukraine. He insists on controlling Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson and demands that Ukraine renounce NATO membership and adopt neutral status.

Putin also confirmed plans to deploy new “Oreshnik” intercontinental missile systems in Belarus in the second half of 2025, a looming threat to both Ukraine and Europe.

Ukraine’s allies will spend millions of dollars for weapons for Kyiv. Sweden, Norway, and Denmark have jointly allocated over $500 million to purchase American weapons for Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announces.

“Plus $500 million — the total amount from our friends in Northern Europe… This will be implemented under NATO coordination,” Zelenskyy says.

According to the new mechanism, Ukraine compiles a list of priority needs in packages of approximately $500 million. Then, the partner countries can:

• provide their own weapons from the list and immediately purchase the US equivalent — bypassing bureaucracy,
• or order weapons directly from the US or through NATO.

This approach significantly speeds up logistics and replenishment of allied arsenals.

Unity of arms and action

The Ukrainian president has thanked the prime ministers of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for their concrete support that “increases Ukraine’s capacity to protect lives.”

“This will be a good example for other NATO countries… to guarantee protection against Russian strikes,” Zelenskyy emphasizes.

The PURL initiative becomes a new bridge between America and Europe in the defense sector, and another signal to Moscow: Western support is not weakening but growing.

More than deliveries

The Ukrainian president has stressed that such projects strengthen Ukraine’s own defense production as well as joint defense initiatives with partners. This builds a new architecture of European security based on powerful cooperation.

“Russia will never turn Europe into a continent of war… we guarantee that peace will prevail,” Zelenskyy states.

In just two days, Ukraine received nearly $1 billion in international arms aid — after €500 million from the Netherlands, another half a billion came from Northern Europe.

Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence “Timur” Special Unit has crashed Russia’s advance on Sumy Oblast. The fighters have eliminated eight Russian companies in Sumy Oblast, the agency reports. 

“The enemy’s advance has been halted. Their food and ammunition supply lines have been cut,” explains Ukraine’s military intelligence.

The operation involved 11 combat detachments under the Timur Special Unit. As a result of the mission: 

• At least 334 Russian troops were eliminated
• Over 550 were wounded

Russians refuse to fight

According to the Defense Intelligence, Ukrainian soldiers executed a series of swift raids deep into Russian-controlled territory, effectively deploying FPV drones, artillery, grenade launchers, and small arms in close-quarters combat.

“Based on intercepted communications, Russian soldiers gave fabricated excuses to avoid storming positions within the Timur Unit’s area of operation,” says the agency.

A retaliatory strike against terror: Sumy under constant attack

In early August, Russia intensified its assaults on the Sumy front, launching frequent artillery, missile, and air strikes. In July alone, 23 civilians were killed, and over 140 were wounded, according to Oleh Hryhorov, head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration.

“In July, there were 2,700 Russian attacks on Sumy Oblast, with more than 800 air-dropped bombs, 250 kamikaze drone strikes, and 52 missile strikes,” Hryhorov says.

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Amid the growing threat from Russia, the German government is launching an ambitious rearmament program. But a recent poll shows: nearly 60% of Germans say they would “probably” or “definitely” not defend Germany in the event of an attack, The Telegraph reports. 

Only 16% expressed full willingness to bear arms, while another 22% said they would “probably” defend the country, according to a survey commissioned by broadcaster RND. 

These figures come as a blow to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who is spearheading a large-scale reform of the Bundeswehr in hopes of transforming it into a pillar of European security after decades of chronic underfunding.

Berlin changes its defense approach

In July, Pistorius presented a plan to recruit 40,000 young people annually until 2031. Under the proposal, all 18-year-old males would receive mandatory questionnaires, followed by medical examinations to assess their fitness for service.

The goal: increase the Bundeswehr’s size from 182,000 to at least 260,000 soldiers by 2035, and expand the military reserve from 60,000 to 200,000. Without internal motivation among citizens, this initiative may prove futile. 

The Russian threat is real: Germany has no time for doubt

German intelligence chief Bruno Kahl has also warned of Russian provocations and Moscow’s ambition to push NATO back to its 1990s borders. Against this backdrop, the unwillingness of German citizens to defend their country may pose serious concerns in Berlin. 

Ukraine’s allies continue flowing billions of dollars into oil trade with Russia. The Indian government, in response to US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum, which threatens secondary sanctions against countries importing Russian energy, says that “the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia.”

“India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer… It is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia,” says the Indian government. 

The West keeps trading with Russia: The numbers are striking

India points to the Western blatant double standards.

• In 2024, EU–Russia trade in goods reached €67.5 billion.
• In 2023, services trade totaled €17.2 billion.
• In 2024, Europe imported a record 16.5 million tonnes of Russian LNG, the highest volume since 2022.

Many critical Russian exports remain unsanctioned, including:

• Palladium for the US auto industry
• Uranium for nuclear power plants
• Fertilizers, chemicals, metals, machinery, and equipment, all of which the US continues to import from Russia.

India rejects restrictions

India emphasizes that its decisions are driven by economic necessity, not political alignment.
New Delhi is ready to defend its energy security, even if new sanctions are imposed.

“The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” the Indian government claimed. 

Effectively, India has held up a mirror to the US and Europe: stop your own trade with Russia before demanding the same from others.

Russia will pay. Ukraine’s national energy company, Naftogaz, has announced it has received official approval from the Vienna District Court to initiate forced enforcement of the largest arbitration award against Russia, worth over $5 billion.

Due to the Kremlin’s refusal to pay voluntarily, Naftogaz has launched procedures to seize Russian assets worldwide.

A blow to Russia in the heart of Europe

Based on the Austrian court decision, more than 20 pieces of Russian state-owned real estate in Vienna have been seized, with a total value exceeding €120 million.

These assets will be sold, and the proceeds transferred to Ukraine as part of the compensation awarded in The Hague.

“This is another practical step towards collecting over $5 billion from Russia for the illegal seizure of Naftogaz Group’s assets in Crimea. Russia will pay for everything,” says Naftogaz CEO Serhii Koretskyi.

Arbitration in action

Naftogaz is represented in Austria by the DORDA law firm. The team includes partner Alexander Karl, lead counsel Robert Keimmelmayr, and Therese Stingl.

The seized property includes shares in gas pipelines, equipment, licenses for subsoil use, and over 675 million cubic meters of gas in underground storage, all of which Russia seized during the occupation of Crimea.

Naftogaz was a key player in Crimea’s gas market, responsible for exploration, production, transportation, processing, and distribution of gas.

The US, China, and Russia are competing to build the first nuclear reactor on the Moon. If Beijing and Moscow succeed ahead of Washington, they could declare parts of the Moon a “restricted zone,” potentially limiting American access, warned US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, The New York Times reports. 

China and Russia are planning to install the reactor by the mid-2030s as part of a joint effort to construct a permanent lunar base.

NASA accelerates its lunar nuclear program

In response, Washington is ramping up efforts to deploy its own nuclear power plant on the Moon. According to a new NASA directive:

• A program leader must be appointed within 30 days.
• A request for commercial proposals must be issued within 60 days.
• The reactor must generate at least 100 kilowatts of electricity — enough to power ~80 American homes.
• Target operational date: end of 2029.

Why nuclear?

A single lunar “day” lasts about 28 Earth days, which means 14 days of light, followed by 14 days of complete darkness. This makes solar power unreliable, especially for continuous life-support operations. A nuclear reactor offers constant, reliable energy, even during the long lunar night.

In 2022, NASA signed three $5 million contracts for early nuclear reactor prototypes, but the new directive calls for faster, larger-scale development.

What’s next?

The first Artemis crewed landing is tentatively scheduled for 2027, though many experts are skeptical about that timeline. Many of the essential components, including the lunar landing module Starship, which SpaceX is developing, have not yet been tested. The Trump administration wants to transition to using commercial rockets and spacecraft instead of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule, which NASA has been working on for over a decade.

A reactor would be useful for long-term stays on the Moon, especially during the two-week-long nights, but NASA’s plans do not specify when a lunar base might be built. 

Thousands of lives at stake. In a column for The Washington Post, Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office Andrii Yermak asserted that this week, US political will could bring end to Russia’s war — by targeting its energy and financial lifelines.

Yermak called for immediate and forceful sanctions against Russia, stressing that US President Donald Trump’s recent ultimatum, reducing the window for a peace deal from 50 to 10 days, was a clear and powerful message to the Kremlin.

“These signals need to be followed up with decisive action for the war to end,” Yermak said, emphasizing Ukraine’s support for Trump’s firm stance on peace through strength — “the only language Putin understands.”

Sanctions needed: Rosatom, Gazprombank, and the shadow fleet 

Yermak detailed a series of urgent sanctions Ukraine is calling for:

• Rosatom and Roscosmos: Strategic instruments of war that must face full-scale sanctions.
• Gazprombank: Still connected to SWIFT — must be cut off, alongside other smaller banks helping Russia evade restrictions.
• Microchips and Electronics: An embargo on components Russia obtains via China and Central Asia, fueling its drone and missile production.
• The Shadow Fleet: Sanctions on tankers and operators circumventing oil price caps — a crucial step to collapse Putin’s war financing.

“The tools to stop Russia exist. What is needed is the political will to use them with precision and force,” Yermak stated.

He highlighted the urgent need for targeted pressure, noting that the global community has the levers to stop the Kremlin’s military machine but only if wielded with precision and bold leadership.

US Trump’s oil tariffs rattled the Kremlin

Yermak praised Trump’s move to raise tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, calling it “a great first step” that caused panic in Moscow, and stressed that more must follow.

He also voiced support for the bipartisan bill by Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, which would impose secondary sanctions on third-country firms aiding Russia’s war economy.

“Thousands of lives depend on the success of what follows,” Yermak concluded.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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.”

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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