Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) confirmed on 9 August that its long-range drones struck a Shahed storage facility in Russia’s Tatarstan republic, destroying ready-to-use attack drones and foreign drone components 1,300 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. 

The strike targets Russia’s expanding drone production network that now manufactures over 5,000 Shaheds monthly and launches nightly swarms of 100+ drones to build reserves before unleashing massive coordinated attacks of 500+ drones against Ukrainian cities. 

Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan is home to the main production facilities for Shahed drones used by Russia. The largest factory is located near the city of Yelabuga, specifically within the Alabuga Special Economic Zone.

According to Dnipro OSINT, the strike was carried out using a Liutyi drone. This drone has carried out accurate strikes on Russian oil refineries as far as 800km into Russian territory. Ukrainian sources report that the Liutyi accounts for up to 80% of precision hits on Russian oil refineries.

Ukraine’s systematic campaign against Russian drone network

“The Security Service continues its consistent work on demilitarizing Russian military facilities deep in the enemy’s rear. Storage warehouses for ‘Shaheds’, which the enemy uses to terrorize Ukraine every night, are one of the legitimate military targets,” the SBU stated.

The agency adds that each such successful special operation reduces Russia’s ability to wage a war of aggression against Ukraine. 

This strike continues Ukraine’s systematic targeting of Russia’s drone production network throughout 2025, striking warhead labs, antenna plants, and control system factories deep inside the country. 

In recent months, Russia has adopted a new strategy of launching 100+ Shahed drones per night for one or two nights while producing even more daily to build up reserves. 

Once stockpiles are sufficient, they unleash massive waves of over 500 drones in a single night, combining Shaheds with decoy Gerber drones designed to overwhelm air defenses and target multiple cities simultaneously.

The August 9 operation follows previous Ukrainian strikes on Shahed infrastructure, including January strikes that destroyed over 200 Shahed drones in storage facilities in Russia’s Oryol Oblast and attacks on the Yelabuga industrial zone, which houses Russia’s largest known Shahed production facility.

Russia has launched thousands of Iranian-designed Shahed drones against Ukraine since fall 2022. Western media reports each Shahed-136 drone costs as low as $20,000, making them cost-effective weapons for mass attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and cities.

Kyiv is working to resolve a humanitarian crisis near the Georgian border, which the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry says was deliberately designed by Russia. Ukrainian citizens ended their hunger strike after meeting with Ukrainian representatives at the Dariali crossing, but 96 people are still remain trapped at the facility without food, shelter, and medical support.

“Our state is ready to take its people directly, rather than via Georgia and Moldova,” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry states.

Russia is ignoring Kyiv’s request, which indicates Moscow’s desire to deliberately create a humanitarian crisis on the Russian-Georgian border, authorities say. 

96 Ukrainians trapped in border limbo

This systematic campaign has resulted in 96 Ukrainians being stranded in a buffer zone at the Dariali checkpoint. Desperation mounted as some deportees announced a hunger strike on 5 August, demanding permission to cross into Georgia after being held in cramped conditions.

Many deportees are former prisoners with criminal backgrounds, creating legitimate security concerns for Georgian authorities while leaving the individuals trapped without legal status.

Ukrainian diplomacy breaks immediate crisis

A representative of the deported Ukrainian citizens “expressed gratitude to the diplomatic mission for efforts to resolve the humanitarian crisis artificially created by the Russian side,” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry reported after the hunger strike ended.

Ukraine successfully evacuated 44 citizens from the border zone since late June, but Russian deportations continue outpacing rescue efforts as Moscow maintains pressure on regional cooperation mechanisms.

Russia’s systematic pressure operation

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry notes that most deportees are “people who have previously been brought to criminal responsibility,” including those who served sentences in occupied Ukrainian territories and were forcibly transferred to Russian facilities, as well as Ukrainian citizens convicted of crimes within Russia.

The crisis intensified when Moldova temporarily suspended transit for this category of deportees, eliminating the main evacuation route and leaving more people stranded at Dariali with no clear path home.

Georgian authorities have expressed willingness to transport the deportees to Tbilisi Airport, but only after Moldova confirms readiness to receive them as transit passengers, according to reports. 

Ukraine is working to resolve a humanitarian crisis reportedly designed by Russia near the Georgian border, after Moscow intensified deportations of Ukrainian citizens in what Kyiv calls a systematic pressure campaign against neighboring countries.

The Georgia border crisis represents how Russia weaponizes individual Ukrainian suffering to destabilize regional cooperation, creating impossible choices for neighboring countries between humanitarian obligations and security concerns.

Ukrainian deportees stranded at the Russia-Georgia border ended their 3-day hunger strike on August 8 after Ukrainian Embassy representatives gained access to the checkpoint, but 96 people remain trapped in basement conditions at the Dariali crossing as Russia’s broader strategy continues.

“Our state is ready to take its people directly, rather than via Georgia and Moldova,” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry stated. “The Russian Federation is ignoring this request, which indicates Moscow’s desire to deliberately create a humanitarian crisis on the Russian-Georgian border.”

Since mid-June, Russia has significantly escalated the deportation of Ukrainian citizens — primarily former prisoners who served sentences in occupied Ukrainian territories and were forcibly transferred to Russian detention facilities, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Moscow then deports these individuals through the Georgia border rather than allowing direct repatriation to Ukraine, creating complications for regional cooperation. The operation transforms individual Ukrainian citizens into pressure tools against Georgia’s sovereignty and Ukraine’s diplomatic relationships.

96 Ukrainians trapped in border limbo

This systematic campaign has resulted in 96 Ukrainians being stranded in a buffer zone at the Dariali checkpoint. People are being held with inadequate shelter, food, medical care, and legal support in basement conditions designed for much smaller numbers.

Desperation mounted as some deportees announced a hunger strike on August 5, demanding permission to cross into Georgia after being held in cramped conditions since mid-June.

Meanwhile, entry into Georgia is largely denied due to concerns over security and documentation. Many deportees are former prisoners with criminal backgrounds, creating legitimate security concerns for Georgian authorities while leaving the individuals trapped without legal status.

Deportation operations intensify at Georgia crossing

Since mid-June, Russia has significantly intensified deportations across the Georgia border.. While Ukraine successfully evacuated 44 citizens since late June, 96 remain stranded as Russian deportations continue.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry noted this “may indicate a deliberate Russian operation” designed to overwhelm Georgia’s capacity to handle deportees.

The crisis intensified in July when Moldova temporarily suspended transit for this category of deportees, leaving more people stranded at the Dariali checkpoint with no clear exit route to Ukraine.

Ukrainian diplomacy breaks immediate crisis

Ukrainian Embassy intervention ended the hunger strike on August 8 after consular representatives gained access to the stranded deportees. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry confirmed that diplomatic contact provided temporary relief from the protest.

A representative of the deported Ukrainian citizens “expressed gratitude to the diplomatic mission for efforts to resolve the humanitarian crisis artificially created by the Russian side,” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry reported after the hunger strike ended.

Ukraine successfully evacuated 44 citizens from the border zone since late June, but Russian deportations continue outpacing rescue efforts as Moscow maintains pressure on regional cooperation mechanisms.

Russia’s systematic pressure operation

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry noted that most deportees are “people who have previously been brought to criminal responsibility,” including those who served sentences in occupied Ukrainian territories and were forcibly transferred to Russian facilities, as well as Ukrainian citizens convicted of crimes within Russia.

According to the Foreign Ministry, rather than allowing direct repatriation across the Russia-Ukraine border, Moscow deliberately routes deportees through Georgia to create complications for both countries. This forces Georgia to choose between humanitarian obligations and legitimate security concerns while straining Ukraine’s diplomatic resources.

The crisis intensified when Moldova temporarily suspended transit for this category of deportees, eliminating the main evacuation route and leaving more people stranded at Dariali with no clear path home.

Regional cooperation under Russian pressure

Georgian authorities have expressed willingness to transport deportees to Tbilisi Airport, but only after Moldova confirms readiness to receive them as transit passengers, according to the MFA. This dependency on third-party coordination demonstrates how Russia’s strategy complicates regional cooperation.

The Dariali crossing represents the only viable exit route for Ukrainians deported from Russia, making Georgia’s cooperation essential while placing the country in an impossible position between humanitarian duties and security concerns.

Ukraine continues working with international organizations including the Red Cross, UNHCR, and International Organization for Migration to address the crisis, but Russia’s systematic approach suggests pressure will continue as Moscow weaponizes human suffering for strategic advantage.

Latvia affirms support for NATO’s new Priority Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative in a call with President Zelenskyy, the leaders of the two countries announced on social media.

PURL allows European allies to directly fund American weapons for Ukraine, bypassing traditional government-to-government aid that faces political delays.

The phone call highlights Europe’s shift toward independent Ukraine support mechanisms that don’t depend on US Congressional approval or political cycles.

“Had a good [phone call] with President @ZelenskyyUa,” Latvian President Rinkēvičs posted on X. “We discussed ongoing efforts to reach just and lasting peace. I also informed about Latvia’s support for new NATO initiative for arming Ukraine (PURL). I also reaffirmed Latvia’s support for speedy EU accession process of Ukraine.”

Zelenskyy confirmed the discussion on his Telegram channel: “We also discussed the new PURL instrument, which is already really working. Latvia is ready to join. Thank you!” He emphasized that reliable peace requires “support from the US and European unity,” adding that “Latvia absolutely principally supports Ukraine’s membership in the EU and NATO. We greatly value this position.”

How PURL changes Ukraine aid

Under PURL, Ukraine compiles priority weapons needs in packages of approximately $500 million. NATO allies then negotiate among themselves to fund specific items directly from US manufacturers, coordinated by Secretary General Mark Rutte.

The mechanism has already proven effective. In early August, Nordic countries committed $1 billion through PURL in just two days. The Netherlands contributed €500 million for Patriot missile components, while Sweden, Norway, and Denmark jointly provided another €500 million.

Building sustainable support

The PURL initiative represents a broader European effort to create Ukraine’s support mechanisms that survive political changes in Washington. As NATO and the US launched the system in July, officials described it as a $10 billion framework allowing continuous weapons deliveries regardless of US domestic politics.

For Ukraine, diversified European support reduces vulnerability to American political cycles while building foundations for long-term security partnerships. Initiatives such as PURL show Europe exploring ways to sustain Ukraine’s military needs, even as traditional aid faces political pressures.

Latvia’s outsized impact

Despite having only 1.9 million citizens, Latvia has become a key driver of European support for Ukraine. The country co-leads the international drone coalition with the United Kingdom, delivering 12,000 drones to Ukraine this year.

Latvia has committed 0.25% of its GDP annually to Ukraine military aid through 2026 — a higher percentage than most larger allies. The country has also trained 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers with plans for another 3,000 next year.

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.