NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that geographical distance provides no security guarantee against Russian threats, citing missile technology that can reach European capitals within minutes.

“We are all very close, particularly in the context of the latest Russian missile technologies. For example, the difference now between Lithuania and Luxembourg, The Hague or Madrid is five to ten minutes – that’s how long it takes for a missile to reach these parts of Europe,” Rutte said during a joint press conference in Luxembourg with Prime Minister Luc Frieden and Defense Minister Yuriko Backes, according to Ukrinform.

The NATO chief emphasized that member states should abandon any sense of safety based on distance from Russia. “We are all under direct threat from the Russians. We are all now on the eastern flank, regardless of whether we live in London or Tallinn – there is no longer any difference,” he added.

Rutte’s comments came as he confirmed US commitment to NATO interests and Washington’s recognition of “the existence of a long-term Russian threat to the entire Alliance, to the entire Euro-Atlantic.”

The Secretary General described deep American understanding of interconnected security concerns. “They deeply understand, and I feel this from all my conversations in Washington, that safe United States needs a safe Atlantic, safe Europe and safe Arctic, because otherwise the United States itself, even the mainland, will be under threat,” he said.

Rutte also addressed the incident involving European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s aircraft, which experienced navigation problems due to suspected Russian interference. The NATO chief stressed that the Alliance takes this “very seriously” and is “strengthening the response to hybrid and cyber threats.”

Financial Times and Reuters reported that on 31 August, the aircraft carrying von der Leyen to the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv lost electronic navigation systems while approaching the city airport. According to unnamed officials, the GPS signal in the entire airport zone was disabled, which was interpreted as a Russian interference operation.

Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden announced his country’s intention to join NATO’s PURL initiative (Priority Ukraine Requirements List) to purchase weapons in the US and transfer them to Ukraine, Ukrinform reported.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz escalated his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him “perhaps the most serious war criminal of our time” in an interview with Sat.1 television, according to ntv.

“He is a war criminal. He is perhaps the most serious war criminal of our time that we are currently seeing on a large scale,” Merz said in the interview. “And we must simply be clear about how to deal with war criminals. There is no place for leniency here.”

The CDU leader’s characterization represents a new level of personal condemnation of the Russian president. While Merz has previously accused Russia as a state of “serious war crimes” and “terrorism against the civilian population” during his tenure as chancellor, his direct personal labeling of Putin as potentially the era’s worst war criminal marks an unprecedented escalation in his rhetoric.

The comments come as international legal proceedings against Putin continue. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Russian president in connection with the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine.

The arrest warrant has complicated diplomatic efforts. Austria’s Foreign Ministry recently stated the country would be willing to host negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian leaders to end the war. Vienna indicated it could conduct consultations with the International Criminal Court to coordinate issues regarding Putin’s arrest warrant and avoid his detention during any potential visit.

Merz’s remarks reflect the ongoing international debate over how to engage with Russian leadership while war crimes proceedings remain active. His insistence that “leniency” has no place in dealing with war criminals signals Germany’s hardening stance toward diplomatic accommodation with Moscow.

The interview represents one of the strongest personal condemnations of Putin by a major European leader since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began.

Ukrainian forces have successfully cleared Russian troops from the village of Udachne in Donetsk Oblast and raised the Ukrainian flag over the settlement, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces announced on 2 September.

The village sits approximately 10 kilometers west of Pokrovsk, a strategic town that has emerged as one of the most contested areas along Ukraine’s eastern front line.

“Defense forces ‘cleared’ the village of Udachne on the Pokrovsk direction and installed the Ukrainian flag,” the General Staff reported on Facebook.

Military officials confirmed that all Russian strongpoints in the area were destroyed during the operation.

“Over two weeks, assault groups gradually cleared house by house and raised the Ukrainian flag over the village,” according to a video statement released by the armed forces.

The liberation of Udachne comes amid intense fighting across the Pokrovsk direction, where Ukrainian forces repelled 46 assault attempts near the settlements of Volodymyrivka, Zapovidne, Novoekonomichne, Myrolyubivka, Lysivka, Zvirove, Kotlyne, Udachne, and Dachne, the General Staff reported in its morning briefing on Facebook.

The village belongs to the Udachne territorial community, which has been under severe pressure from Russian forces. As of 11 June 2024, fighting was already underway in Udachne, Novoserhiivka, and Novomykolaivka, according to Valeriy Duhelny, head of the Udachne village military administration, as reported by Suspilne Donbas.

Duhelny had told Suspilne Donbas on 8 June that combat operations and the “gray zone” had reached the borders of Udachne and Novoserhiivka, though none of the seven settlements in the community were officially occupied at that time. He described the eastern part of Udachne as completely destroyed, with no intact buildings remaining after Russian shelling.

A 39-year-old man crashed his white SUV through the gates of the Russian consulate in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on the morning of 1 September after police attempted to question him about his unauthorized presence on the property, according to New South Wales Police.

Officers responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle parked in the consulate’s driveway in Woollahra around 8:30 AM. When police tried to speak with the driver, “the man allegedly drove his vehicle into the gates of the property” and continued onto the lawn, police said, according to The Guardian.

Helicopter footage captured the aftermath: the vehicle with doors open and smashed front windows positioned near a large flagpole on the consulate grounds.

An eyewitness described the confrontation to local media: “I came out and I saw a policeman with a gun, his glock, pointing at the man in the car, asking him to get out of the car. He didn’t [get out], rammed through the gates, drove onto the property and stopped again.”

The incident injured a 24-year-old constable who sustained a hand injury and received treatment from NSW Ambulance paramedics, according to police reports.

Pro-Kremlin influencer Simeon Boikov, known online as Aussie Cossack, witnessed the events from inside the consulate where he has been staying for 1,000 days while facing assault charges. “From my side, it looks like a diplomatic asylum attempt,” Boikov told reporters from within the building.

The driver was arrested and taken to Surry Hills police station for questioning. Federal police detectives launched an investigation, with the Australian Federal Police’s Diplomatic Protection Unit also involved. The vehicle was towed from the premises around 10 AM.

Minor damage to the front gate was quickly repaired, and federal police officers maintained security around the area. The Russian consulate has not responded to requests for comment, reports Guardian Australia and ABC News.

Boris Kragen, a 77-year-old Russian national from Moscow, arrived at the consulate for paperwork but found the leafy street cordoned off with police tape and multiple patrol cars blocking access. 

Video footage from witnesses captured police shouting commands at the driver: “Get out of the car immediately” and “Get on the ground,” according to media reports. The damaged driver-side windows suggested police used batons to gain access to the vehicle.

New South Wales Police confirmed the investigation remains ongoing.

Jens Spahn from the CDU/CSU and Matthias Miersch from the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) arrived in Kyiv on 1 September, DW reported.

The visit marks the first joint trip to Ukraine by the parliamentary group leaders of the CDU/CSU and SPD. Both Spahn and Miersch are making their inaugural visits to Ukraine.

The German politicians plan to discuss continued German support for Ukraine and diplomatic efforts to end the war during their stay in Kyiv, according to the report.

“Matthias Miersch and I are here to send a clear signal: the government factions CDU/CSS and SPD stand now and in the future on the side of Ukraine, the brave Ukrainians who defend their homeland, their country, and also Europe,” Spahn said.

When asked about possible security guarantees for Ukraine, Spahn emphasized that the best guarantee is a well-equipped Ukrainian army. “The first and most important security guarantee for Ukraine is the Ukrainian army. Above all, we want to equip it as well as possible,” he said.

The visit follows German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil’s trip to Kyiv on 25 August. During that visit, Klingbeil announced Germany’s commitment to provide Ukraine with nine billion euros annually over the coming years.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced on 30 August that Budapest will block the opening of substantive negotiations on Ukraine’s EU membership, citing concerns over agriculture, security, and energy costs.

Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, has been actively vetoing Ukraine’s accession process to the European Union. Viktor Orbán is widely regarded as a close ally of Vladimir Putin, positioning Hungary as a key supporter of Russian interests within the EU. 

Speaking after an informal EU foreign ministers meeting in Copenhagen, Szijjarto said Hungary “will not allow the substantive part of the accession negotiations, i.e., the specific rounds of the negotiations, to be opened,” according to Hungarian media reports.

The minister justified the position by claiming Ukraine’s EU membership “would destroy Hungarian farmers, Hungary’s food security, and allow the Ukrainian mafia to enter Hungary.”

Szijjarto accused Brussels and most EU member states of prioritizing war continuation over peace negotiations.

“Brussels and most European Union member states are preparing for the long-term continuation of the Ukrainian war, are not interested in the success of peace negotiations, and are ready to send many more thousands of billions of forints to Ukraine,” he said.

The Hungarian official criticized the European Commission for acting “practically as a Ukrainian Commission, completely representing Ukraine’s interests, contrary to the interests of member states” during the Copenhagen discussions.

Hungary outlined four specific areas where it will maintain opposition to EU policy on Ukraine. The country will continue supporting US President Donald Trump’s peace efforts, as “only an American-Russian agreement can bring about a settlement,” Szijjarto said.

Ukraine applied for EU membership shortly after Russia’s invasion in 2022 and received candidate status within months. However, Hungary’s veto power as an EU member allows it to block further progress.

The Hungarian position comes amid broader EU discussions about Ukraine’s integration path and continued financial support. Hungary has consistently opposed aid packages to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia throughout the conflict.

On 13 August, Szijjarto condemned a Ukrainian drone strike on a distribution station of the Druzhba oil pipeline in Russia’s Bryansk Oblast. Hungary relies on this pipeline for most of its crude oil imports and remains one of two EU countries, along with Slovakia, still importing Russian oil via Druzhba under EU sanctions exemptions.

Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński announced the deportation of a Ukrainian citizen who posted video threats of arson attacks online.

“A Ukrainian citizen who threatened to commit arson in videos posted on the Internet was forcibly taken and deported to Ukraine by border service officers,” Kierwiński wrote on X.

The minister published footage showing the Ukrainian being handed over to Ukrainian border guards. Polish authorities had detained the individual on 29 August, according to Kierwiński’s earlier statements.

The deportation comes amid broader Polish security measures targeting Ukrainian nationals. On 30 August, Poland expelled 15 Ukrainian citizens who authorities claimed posed threats to public safety.

Border service officials reported that several of the deported Ukrainians had prior criminal convictions. The charges included possession of narcotic and psychotropic substances, theft, robbery, document forgery, drunk driving, and organizing illegal border crossings into Poland.

The cases highlight growing tensions as Polish authorities increase scrutiny of Ukrainian residents amid ongoing security concerns.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of deliberately choosing war over peace negotiations as Vladimir Putin traveled to China for a regional security summit. The Ukrainian leader criticized Moscow for ignoring widespread international calls for a ceasefire that have emerged from leaders across multiple continents.

Zelenskyy said in his evening adress that peace talks at the leadership level were proposed in Washington two weeks ago, adding Ukraine remains prepared for such discussions. However, he said Russia has chosen a different path by continuing to invest in military operations rather than diplomacy.

“All signals from Russia indicate only the continuation of aggression,” Zelenskyy said, according to his statement. “During his visit to China, Putin will again seek ways to avoid responsibility – this is his usual tactic.”

The Ukrainian president emphasized the breadth of international opposition to the war, citing calls for peace from major global powers and religious leaders.

“The world unanimously demands a ceasefire: China says this, and India’s Prime Minister, and the leaders of Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan. Today an important statement was made by the Pope. The only one who wants war is Russia,” Zelenskyy said.

Putin’s visit to China comes amid what sources describe as a “crunch moment” in peace talks over the Ukraine war, with the Russian leader attending a regional security summit alongside other leaders.

Zelenskyy argued that international pressure on Moscow must intensify, warning that the war’s continuation destabilizes the global situation. Ukraine expects firm positions from the United States, European Union, and G20 nations, he said.

The Ukrainian president also thanked partners who joined the PURL special program, which enables weapons purchases in the United States for Ukrainian defense forces. He announced that the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Canada, Belgium, and Latvia joined the initiative in August.

“The total amount in the program has already exceeded $2 billion. Our goal is to add at least one billion monthly. These are funds for purchasing modern weapons – Patriot missiles, HIMARS and other systems that protect our cities,” Zelenskyy said.

The president previously reported that Ukrainian Defense Forces are containing Russian advances in Donetsk Oblast and toward Pokrovsk.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that Ukrainian capitulation would lead to Russian aggression against other states, according to his interview with ZDF channel.

Merz said the war between Russia and Ukraine could continue for an extended period. “We are trying to end it as quickly as possible. But certainly not at the price of Ukraine’s capitulation,” he added.

The Chancellor explained that while the war could end tomorrow if Ukraine surrenders and loses its independence, such an outcome would have dangerous consequences. “Only then the day after tomorrow it will be the turn of the next country. And then the day after that it will be our turn. That is not an option,” Merz said.

The German leader emphasized his government’s position on avoiding Ukrainian surrender despite the war’s potential duration. 

Regarding the possibility of a ceasefire next year, Merz expressed cautious optimism: “I don’t give up hope that we can make it happen. But I’m also not deluding myself.”

On the question of ground troops in Ukraine, Merz opposed such deployment at present. “Nobody is talking about ground troops in Ukraine at this time,” he said. 

This interview follows Merz’s earlier statements on Ukraine. On 27 August, the Chancellor argued that Ukrainian capitulation would only give the Russian dictator time to prepare for a new war. Two days later, on 29 August, Merz said Russia’s war against Ukraine could last “many months” as Putin refuses negotiations.

Most Ukrainians favor ending combat operations through negotiated settlement while demanding concrete security assurances from Western allies, according to new polling data from the Rating Sociological Group.

The survey, conducted 21-23 August, found 59% of respondents support “cessation of hostilities and search for compromise,” while 20% back continuing the war until Donbas and Crimea are returned and 13% favor fighting until 23 February 2022 borders are restored.

Security guarantees emerge as the central precondition for any ceasefire agreement. When asked whether Ukraine should agree to stop fighting, 75% said “Yes, but only if Ukraine receives security guarantees from the USA and European countries,” according to the polling firm. Just 19% said Ukraine “should not agree under any conditions,” while 3% supported an unconditional ceasefire.

Ukrainians identified three priority security mechanisms: continued military financing and weapons supplies from partners (52%), allied commitments to enter combat if Russia attacks again (48%), and international air and sea patrols (44%).

The preference for multilateral negotiations over bilateral talks with Moscow was pronounced. The Rating group found 62% view “search for compromise with involvement of other countries” as realistic, compared to 20% who favor “direct negotiations with Russia.” Only 11% support rejecting talks entirely and “fighting until liberation of all territories.”

When asked about current priorities, 58% chose securing Western commitments for future army financing and adequate weapons supplies, while 31% prioritized territorial recovery.

Respondents most commonly said Ukraine fights Russia for “children’s future” (60%) and “freedom” (44%).

The telephone survey interviewed 1,600 adults across all oblasts except occupied Crimea and Donbas territories and areas without Ukrainian mobile coverage. The margin of error is 2.5% with 95% confidence level.

A forest fire that burned for four days near Russian President Vladimir Putin’s reported Black Sea residence has been extinguished, according to Krasnodar Oblast Governor Veniamin Kondratyev. The blaze, which spread to 41.5 hectares, started after drone debris fell in the area during Ukrainian strikes on 28 August.

The fire occurred near the village of Krynitsa, located approximately 10 kilometers from Putin’s palace on Cape Idokopas, Medusa and Astra reported, citing local authorities. One fire center burned less than one kilometer from Putin’s Krynitsa winery, according to The Insider.

“Through the fall of debris, one of the oil refinery installations caught fire, and forest fires also occurred in the area of Krynitsa village,” the Krasnodar Oblast operational headquarters said.

The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed that Ukrainian forces attacked Russian oil refineries overnight on 28 August, including the Afipsky refinery in Krasnodar Oblast. The forest fire began on the morning of 28 August, expanding from its initial size to 41.5 hectares by 29 August.

NASA FIRMS mapping data shows the blaze located just 850 meters from the winery facility, The Insider reported. The winery gained attention in a 2021 Anti-Corruption Foundation investigation, where it appeared under the name Old Provence. The FBK documentary detailed luxury purchases for the facility, including “gilded Italian toilet brushes.”

Governor Kondratyev announced on August 31 that the forest fires in Gelendzhik had been extinguished. More than 500 people, more than 100 units of equipment, including BE-200 aircraft, IL-76 and 2 Mi-8 helicopters were involved in extinguishing, he said.

Russian media outlet Important Stories reported that the fire center may have been 3-4 kilometers from the presidential residence. The palace complex became widely known in January 2021 following the FBK investigation, though journalists noted that Putin has largely stopped flying to Sochi, where he previously spent much of spring and autumn.

The drone attack was part of broader Ukrainian strikes on 28 August, with Russian authorities reporting drone attacks across multiple oblasts and local residents documenting fires at two oil refineries and a railway junction

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited the Polish-Belarusian border to demonstrate European solidarity, according to Tusk’s statement on X.

The Polish Prime Minister said that Belarusian border guards “listened attentively” to their press conference at the frontier. Tusk wrote that the European Commission head had the opportunity to see the situation at the EU’s eastern border firsthand.

Since 2021, self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has refused to control the flow of refugees through his country to EU states, triggering a migration crisis. Poland responded by constructing a 5-meter electronic barrier along the Belarus border, equipped with thousands of cameras and surveillance technology designed to prevent illegal border crossings.

“I am here today to express Europe’s full solidarity with Poland as a frontline state. For many years now, you and the Polish people have faced deliberate and cynical hybrid attacks. I want to emphasize that Europe supports you in every possible way,” von der Leyen said during the visit.

The Commission President announced that the EU’s budget proposal for the next seven years would triple investments in migration, border management and protection. EU member states that share borders with Russia and Belarus will receive additional EU funding under the plan.

“I want to emphasize: Europe’s borders are a shared responsibility. Here we are at the Polish border, but also at the European border, and this is a shared responsibility,” von der Leyen said.

The visit comes as Poland continues to manage migration pressure along its eastern border, where the electronic barrier system represents one of the EU’s most technologically advanced border protection measures.

Several hundred people gathered in Kyiv to bid farewell to 24-year-old Nadiya Halych and her two-year-old daughter Angelina, who died in Russia’s massive attack on the capital on the night of 28 August, reports Suspilne Kyiv.

The funeral service drew residents from the destroyed building in Darnytskyi district, neighbors, relatives, friends and classmates of the deceased Nadiya. 

Nadiya’s former homeroom teacher Natalia remembered her as a good student. “She was a cheerful and kind person who loved her younger sister,” the teacher said.

Near the damaged building, Kyiv residents created an improvised memorial where they bring flowers and toys alongside other tributes.

The attack occurred during Russia’s massive strike on Ukrainian cities on the night of 28 August, when Moscow deployed 629 aerial attack weapons. Residential high-rises in Kyiv sustained damage, particularly in Dniprovskyi district, where the attack destroyed an entire building entrance.

In the capital, 21 adults and four children died. Dozens more sustained injuries.

Russian forces targeted Kyiv with drones and missiles during the nighttime assault. The Darnytskyi district suffered the heaviest damage, with an entire entrance of a five-story building completely destroyed.

Rescue operations at the partially destroyed five-story building in Darnytskyi district concluded on the morning of 29 August. Search and rescue teams worked for over 30 hours. Twenty-two building residents died, including four children. The total death toll from the Russian attack in Kyiv reached 25 people.

On the evening of 29 August, the State Emergency Service announced that consequences of the rocket-drone strike in Kyiv had been eliminated. Rescuers operated at 19 locations across six districts of the capital, involving over 700 rescue workers, nearly 150 pieces of equipment and seven dogs. They managed to save 15 people, including four children.

A fire broke out at warehouse facilities in Balashikha, a Moscow suburb, with the blaze covering 4,000 square meters, according to Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The affected buildings belong to the Balashikha Experimental Chemical Plant and TDK company, which sells household chemicals, Baza reported.

Over 80 specialists and 30 units of equipment have been deployed to combat the fire, along with Mi-8 and Ka-32 helicopters.

Eyewitnesses report that flames have spread to neighboring buildings.

“Firefighters have not yet been able to extinguish the fire in the warehouse premises in Balashikha,” according to local observers.

No casualties have been reported, according to the Emergency Ministry. The warehouse facilities housed operations of both the Balashikha Experimental Chemical Plant and TDK, a company specializing in household chemical products sales.

The fire response involves aerial support, with helicopters assisting ground crews in the firefighting operation across the 4,000-square-meter area.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi reported to President Zelensky on 31 August that Russian forces have sustained over 290,000 killed and injured across the entire front line since the start of 2025.

The heaviest Russian casualties occurred in Donetsk Oblast, particularly on the Pokrovske direction where Moscow concentrated its main efforts but failed to achieve any strategic objectives, according to Syrskyi.

“Throughout the front, in just eight months of this year, the Russians lost over 290 thousand of their military personnel killed and seriously wounded,” Syrskyi said in his report. “They suffered the heaviest losses precisely in Donetsk region, without realizing any of their strategic tasks.”

Ukrainian units continue executing assigned missions in Donetsk Oblast and systematically destroying occupying forces. Stabilization measures are currently underway on certain sections of the front.

President Zelenskyy highlighted that Ukrainian units weekly replenish the “exchange fund” with Russian prisoners of war. The briefing also analyzed the situation on the Zaporizhzhia direction and in border areas of Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts, with Ukrainian forces prepared for new attacks.

“We analyzed in detail the situation on the Zaporizhzhia direction and the Russian intentions. Also the situation in the border areas of Sumy Oblast and in Kharkiv Oblast,” Zelenskyy said. “We will continue our active actions exactly as needed for Ukraine’s defense. Forces and means are prepared. We have also planned new diplomatic strikes.”

The report comes after Ukraine’s General Staff previously said that Russia’s seasonal offensive campaign ended with no results.

Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, Inspector of the German Navy, has warned of “increased aggressiveness” from Russian units and their potential consequences, according to Spiegel as reported by Evropeyska Pravda.

“There are drone overflights, we have infiltration attempts, sabotage attempts,” Kaack said, Deutschlandfunk reported on 30 August. He added that Bundeswehr soldiers are being specifically contacted outside of duty hours, alongside threats to maritime infrastructure.

The warning comes after The New York Times reported that Russia or Russian supporters are using reconnaissance drones to monitor routes in eastern Germany used by the US and allies to transport military cargo to Ukraine, citing sources from US agencies and other Western states.

Kaack emphasized the risk of unintended escalation. “All this also carries the danger that there could be an escalation by accident,” he said. The navy has significantly strengthened its security measures in response, with precise rules of engagement designed to prevent such scenarios.

“We are working to better protect these bases in the air, underwater and above water, including with our own drone systems,” the inspector stated. Reports about increased flights of Russian spy drones serve as “a small wake-up call that we need to do more,” according to Kaack.

“The services assume that by 2029 at the latest, a potential adversary would be ready to cause trouble,” the Vice Admiral said, referring to intelligence findings. “And we want to prevent that by being defense-ready and capable of deterrence.” This applies to the Baltic Sea region as well.

In recent months, underwater cables have been repeatedly damaged by ships dragging anchors across the seabed. Ships from Russia’s so-called shadow fleet are primarily blamed for such incidents, though Chinese vessels have also faced accusations.

The German military has documented escalating drone activity throughout 2024. In February, German forces detected suspicious drones over a base where Ukrainian soldiers were training and investigated possible espionage. In May, unofficial reports indicated unknown drones circled near a German police patrol vessel in the North Sea that was monitoring a Russian cargo ship.

By early July, German government agencies finally began acquiring countermeasures against unknown drones occasionally spotted near sensitive facilities. In early August, reports indicated that 536 drones were detected over important facilities in Germany between January and March of this year.

Kaack praised the planned military service model approved by the cabinet on Wednesday. He expressed confidence that the planned voluntary military service solution would massively help the navy address its recruitment problems. “The new military service will be the game-changer,” Kaack said.

The inspector acknowledged being “always a friend of military conscription” but noted that the time since conscription was suspended in 2011 cannot be undone. The Bundeswehr will need time to restore capabilities abandoned at that time. The goal is to develop into a training navy that massively and regularly inspires large numbers of young people to commit for longer periods. “And that also takes time,” he said.

The German Navy is also investing in new equipment for enhanced security. The first Boeing Poseidon P-8 reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled for delivery in September, Kaack announced. Eight aircraft of this type have been ordered so far, with four additional orders under discussion. The navy will also soon have an underwater drone at its disposal.

However, Kaack warned that complete protection would never be possible.

Former Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) Andriy Parubiy was shot and killed in Lviv on 30 August, according to confirmation from Lviv Oblast Governor Maksym Kozytskyi.

The victim died at the scene from his injuries, police confirmed. The National Police reported that the shooting occurred around noon in the Sykhiv district of the city at 12 pm.

“Sincere condolences to the family of the deceased,” Kozytskyi wrote.

The assailant who shot at Parubiy was dressed as a delivery service courier, Suspilne sources report.

The manhunt for the shooter continues across the Lviv Oblast, with all security services mobilized for the search operation.

President Zelenskyy confirmed Parubiy’s death, with Interior Minister Klymenko and Prosecutor General Kravchenko briefing on the initial circumstances of the killing.

The incident marks another high-profile killing in Lviv, following the July 2024 assassination of former MP Iryna Farion in the same city.

The 54-year-old politician served as Speaker of Ukraine’s parliament from April 2016 to August 2019 and played a key role during the 2014 Ukrainian revolution as Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council. 

Parubiy gained prominence during the 2013-2014 Euromaidan protests as commandant of the tent camp and head of self-defense detachments. During the February 2014 revolution, after the ousting of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, Parubiy led forces that took control of the government quarter in Kyiv, including the Verkhovna Rada, Presidential Administration, Cabinet of Ministers, and Interior Ministry buildings.

Poland’s border guard has expelled 15 Ukrainian nationals from the country, citing repeated criminal convictions and threats to public order, according to RMF 24 and official statements from Polish authorities.

The expelled citizens had been repeatedly convicted of theft, robbery, and driving under the influence, reports the border guard service. 

“The persons covered by the procedure were repeatedly punished for crimes and misdemeanors. These include possession of narcotic and psychotropic substances, theft, robbery, forgery, driving vehicles while intoxicated, as well as organizing illegal crossing of the Polish border,” the border guard reported in an official communication.

One individual was already listed in the registry of persons whose stay in Poland is considered undesirable, according to the border service announcement. The authorities placed all expelled individuals on this registry and imposed re-entry bans ranging from five to ten years.

The Ministry of Interior Affairs defended the deportations through spokesperson Karolina Gałecka, who emphasized Poland’s stance on law enforcement regardless of nationality.

“Poland is a country friendly and open to foreigners. However, there is no and will never be consent to breaking the law by them, regardless of the country of origin. The Ministry of Interior Affairs services will firmly respond in cases of violations of our legal order,” Gałecka said.

The deportations represent part of a broader enforcement pattern. Since the beginning of 2025, 1,100 foreigners have been forcibly expelled from Poland, the ministry reported.

The border guard cited national security concerns as the primary justification for the expulsions, pointing to the individuals’ criminal histories spanning drug possession, property crimes, document fraud, and human trafficking activities related to border crossings.

As of February, the Office for Foreigners reported nearly 1 million Ukrainian citizens, predominantly women and children, using temporary protection in Poland. A total of 1.55 million Ukrainians held valid residence permits.

Ukrainians represent the largest foreign population in Poland, comprising 78% of all foreigners who have settled in the country, according to official data.

The State Department has approved a potential $179.1 million Foreign Military Sale to Ukraine for Patriot Air Defense System sustainment equipment and services, according to an announcement from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency on 29 August.

The package includes classified and unclassified spare parts, maintenance support, software updates, system modifications, test equipment, and communication accessories. Additional components cover integration services, repair capabilities, technical assistance, training programs, and engineering support.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” the State Department stated in its transmittal notice.

The deal aims to enhance Ukraine’s air defense capabilities through sustained operational readiness of existing Patriot systems. RTX Corporation of Arlington, Virginia, and Lockheed Martin of Bethesda, Maryland, will serve as principal contractors for the program.

Implementation requires approximately five US Government representatives and fifteen contractor personnel to travel to US European Command for training and coordination meetings. The State Department emphasized that “there will be no adverse impact on US defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.”

In a separate approval, the State Department authorized a $150 million sale of Starlink satellite communication services and related equipment to Ukraine, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announcement.

The Patriot sustainment package represents ongoing US efforts to maintain Ukraine’s defensive systems rather than expanding its arsenal.

Actual costs may be lower than the estimated $179.1 million depending on final requirements and budget authority. The State Department indicated that “Ukraine will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”

The announcement specified that no offset agreements are currently proposed, though any such arrangements would be negotiated between Ukraine and the contractors. Congress received the required certification notice as part of the standard Foreign Military Sale process.

Poland’s Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed on 29 August that work is underway on new legislation to regulate the legal status of Ukrainian citizens following President Karol Nawrocki’s veto of an amendment that would have extended temporary protection.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Maciej Duszczyk met with Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar on 29 August at the Ukrainian side’s initiative, according to ministry spokesperson Karolina Gałecka.

“The minister informed the Ambassador that the Polish side is working on a bill to regulate the legal situation of Ukrainian citizens. He also presented the Ukrainian side with a schedule of work on the bill,” Gałecka told PAP.

The meeting followed Ambassador Bodnar’s Facebook post stating that “the rights of Ukrainians to stay, work, education, social assistance and medical care in Poland will be guaranteed also after 1 October 2025.”

Bodnar emphasized that Polish officials assured him “the rights of Ukrainian citizens to stay, work, education, social assistance and medical care will be guaranteed also after 1 October 2025,” though some practical issues would require clarification.

The ambassador said that legal uncertainty surrounding Ukrainian lives in Poland had generated significant response in both countries. He added that “Ukrainian citizens who legally reside in Poland will still remain within the legal framework of this state and the entire EU. Even in the case of no new law, transitional solutions will be adopted that will allow avoiding a legal vacuum.”

However, the Polish ministry spokesperson cautioned that “what the legal situation of Ukrainian citizens will look like after 1 October, we will know after the decision of President Karol Nawrocki,” according to PAP.

Presidential veto triggers legislative scramble

President Nawrocki vetoed the amendment to Ukraine assistance law on 25 August. The blocked amendment would have extended temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees until 4 March 2026.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that blocking the legislation could have destructive consequences for Polish companies, reports PAP.

The stakes are considerable for Poland’s economy. According to TVN24, Ukrainian citizens living in Poland contributed approximately 18.7 billion zloty to the Polish budget in 2024 through taxes and insurance contributions. Their presence also boosted Poland’s GDP by over 2% – nearly 99 billion zloty.

Despite the economic impact, polling conducted for Onet portal showed majority Polish support for Nawrocki’s veto decision.

Ukrainian presence in Poland by numbers

As of February, the Office for Foreigners reported nearly 1 million Ukrainian citizens, predominantly women and children, using temporary protection in Poland. A total of 1.55 million Ukrainians held valid residence permits.

Ukrainians represent the largest foreign population in Poland, comprising 78% of all foreigners who have settled in the country, according to official data.

Estonia handed over to the United States an Estonian citizen accused of illegally supplying strategic goods to Russian defense enterprises and government agencies, according to ERR.

Estonian police and border service transferred Estonian citizen Andrey Shevlyakov to the US on 28 August 2025, who faces charges of illegally transporting strategic goods from the US to Russia using complex supply chains and networks of shell companies.

The US has charged Shevlyakov with 18 counts related to acquiring and supplying US electronics to Russia in violation of sanctions. The charges stem from his alleged role in helping Russian government and military entities procure American-made electronics through deceptive practices.

Shevlyakov was added to the Entity List in 2012, after the US government identified him as a procurement agent charged with pursuing US technology for Russian government and military end users. The designation prohibited him from exporting any goods from the US without proper licensing.

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According to the report, Shevlyakov was detained in March 2023 in a joint operation by the FBI and Estonia’s Constitutional Protection Service. He remained under electronic surveillance from May 2024 until his extradition. Legal proceedings against Shevlyakov are ongoing in the United States.

Authorities allege Shevlyakov used false names and a web of front companies to evade Entity List restrictions, misleading suppliers and circumventing federal Department of Commerce restrictions and US export controls. The scheme allegedly involved travel between Russia, Estonia and Finland to make deliveries.

When apprehended in Estonia, authorities found inbound shipments that included about 130 kilograms of radio equipment, demonstrating the scale of the alleged operation.

The extradition represents part of Estonia’s broader security efforts. In late May, Estonia expelled and transferred to Ukrainian authorities a Ukrainian citizen who maintained contacts with the Russian FSB. In July, Estonian internal security services expelled a Russian citizen who potentially posed a security threat to the country.

Ukrainian defense forces struck two Russian oil refineries overnight on 30 August using unmanned aerial vehicles, targeting facilities in Krasnodar Krai and Samara Oblast, according to the General Staff of Ukraine.

The strikes hit the Krasnodar refinery in Krasnodar Krai and the Sizran refinery in Samara Oblast. Ukrainian forces conducted the operations “within the framework of reducing the Russian offensive potential and complicating fuel supplies to occupying forces’ military units,” the General Staff reported.

The Krasnodar refinery produces 3 million tons of light petroleum products annually, including gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel, and “participates in supplying the Russian Armed Forces,” according to the General Staff. The facility sustained damage to one technological installation and a fire covering approximately 300 square meters, regional emergency services reported.

According to the regional operational headquarters, due to falling drone debris on the territory of the Krasnodar refinery, one of the technological installations was damaged, a fire occurred over an area of about 300 square meters.

The Sizran refinery was struck for the second time, military officials said. The facility produces gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation kerosene, fuel oil, and bitumen, with processing volumes reaching 8.5 million tons annually as of August 2025, the General Staff reported.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warns that Russia’s war against Ukraine could continue for “many months” as Vladimir Putin refuses to engage in negotiations, Guardian reported on 29 August.

Merz made these comments during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, questioning Putin’s commitment to peace talks. The German chancellor said that initial discussions centered on organizing a bilateral summit between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy within two weeks, but the Russian leader “clearly unwilling” to proceed with this timeline.

“Frankly, this doesn’t surprise me, because it’s part of the Russian president’s strategy to proceed in the same way,” Merz said.

The chancellor emphasized the need for coordinated action within what he termed the “Coalition of the Willing” to increase pressure on Russia and force Moscow to return to the negotiating table.

Merz’s assessment builds on his recent statements regarding Russian tactics. On 26 August, he suggested that Moscow was deliberately stalling by linking any potential Putin-Zelenskyy meeting to specific conditions. The following day, the German chancellor argued that Ukrainian capitulation would only provide Putin time to prepare for future conflicts.

The comments reflect growing European concern about the prolonged nature of the war and questions about Russian willingness to engage in meaningful diplomatic efforts.

Denmark will invest approximately 1.4 billion euros ($1.6 bn) in Ukrainian defense companies this year under the so-called “Danish model,” European Pravda reported on 29 August.

Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced this figure while advocating for expanded implementation of the financing mechanism.

The Danish model involves allied nations funding weapons production needed by Ukraine through Ukrainian enterprises rather than purchasing from their own defense contractors. According to Poulsen, Denmark allocated 600 million euros ($702 mn) in such contracts last year.

“Ukrainian defense industry works very quickly compared to European companies. They can do this in months, not years. And secondly, it is financially efficient,” Poulsen said.

The minister expressed optimism about broader international adoption of this support format. “Today we heard a lot of words of support for doing more through the ‘Danish model,’ so I’m pleased to see that,” he added.

Poulsen emphasized Ukraine’s continued need for increased military assistance, describing it as an urgent requirement. 

The Danish approach represents a shift from traditional military aid models. Instead of donating existing weapons or purchasing equipment from Western manufacturers, participating countries finance production contracts directly with Ukrainian defense firms.

Former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov indicated in June that assistance to Ukraine under the Danish model would reach 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 bn) in 2025. Ukraine regularly calls on partners to increase investments in its defense industrial complex.

The model allows Ukraine to scale up domestic production capabilities while providing allies with a potentially more cost-effective means of supporting Ukrainian defense needs. Danish officials cite the speed of Ukrainian manufacturers as a significant advantage over European alternatives.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans for secondary sanctions targeting companies from third countries that support Russia’s war effort, as European leaders grow impatient with the stalled peace negotiations.

The initiative emerged from a meeting of German and French cabinet members on 29 August, according to Bloomberg. Both leaders called for measures to undermine Russia’s ability to finance its military operations through oil sales.

“We will continue to exert pressure for additional sanctions to be imposed by ourselves — and we are prepared to do so — but also by the US, to force Russia to return to the negotiating table,” Macron said at a joint press conference with Merz at Fort du Cap Brun near Toulon.

The timing reflects mounting frustration with President Donald Trump’s approach to ending the war. Trump’s latest two-week deadline for progress is close to expiring with little visible advancement toward a peace deal. Instead, the Kremlin launched one of its heaviest drone and missile assaults of the year this week, hitting apartment buildings and killing at least four children.

Merz specifically referenced potential US tariffs as a model for action. “In America, right now they’re discussing further tariffs,” he said. “I would welcome it very much if the American government could make a decision on enforcing those on other nations whose purchases of oil and gas finance a large part of Russia’s war economy.”

The Franco-German statement outlined plans to “further extend and develop effective and robust sanctions” through cooperation within the European Union and with Group of Seven partners. The stated goal is to “exert maximum pressure on Russia.”

The EU has already begun preparing secondary sanctions aimed at Russia’s energy sector. These measures target third countries that help the Kremlin circumvent existing penalties, with additional steps planned for Russia’s oil, gas, and financial sectors.

“We are working on the next package, there are several options on the table,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. “Of course, what will hurt them the most is any sanctions on energy and secondary sanctions.”

The EU adopted an anti-circumvention tool in 2023 that prohibits exports, supply, or transfers of certain goods to third countries considered to aid sanctions evasion. However, the bloc has not yet deployed this instrument.

The EU has avoided secondary sanctions, particularly given recent criticism from the Trump administration about such policies. The current push suggests European leaders believe they have reached the limits of direct sanctions against Russia.

Merz has become increasingly vocal about the lack of diplomatic progress. The German leader said on 28 Augusthe no longer expects a meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, despite Trump’s previous suggestions that such talks were possible.

Beyond sanctions, France and Germany agreed to provide Ukraine with “credible security guarantees” that would allow the country to maintain a military “without any limitations” to deter Russia. They also committed to closer defense cooperation and standardizing military equipment between their nations.

The two countries plan to discuss including France’s nuclear weapons in Europe’s overall security architecture, though they postponed a final decision on the troubled FCAS fighter-jet project until year-end.

Kallas indicated broad support among EU defense ministers for expanding the mandate of EU training missions after a ceasefire, allowing training to occur inside Ukraine rather than just outside its borders.

Zelenskyy said he and European leaders will “connect” with Trump next week to discuss security guarantees during meetings where he seeks legally binding commitments from allies as part of peace negotiations.

Macron and Merz plan separate calls with Trump over the weekend, according to Bloomberg.

President Donald Trump moved to cancel nearly $5 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid and peacekeeping spending using a rare “pocket rescission” mechanism not employed for 48 years, The New York Post reported on 29 August.

On 28 August, Trump said Congress of his request to cancel the funds, which had been frozen in a court case until earlier that day. The DC Circuit Court of Appeals lifted an injunction, clearing the path for the first attempted pocket rescission since 1977.

A pocket rescission allows the president to present a cancellation request to Congress so late in the fiscal year that it takes effect regardless of congressional approval. The current fiscal year ends on 30 September.

The cancellation targets $3.2 billion in United States Agency for International Development (USAID) assistance, $322 million from the USAID-State Department Democracy Fund, $521 million in State Department contributions to international organizations, $393 million for peacekeeping activities, and $445 million in separately budgeted peacekeeping aid.

The spending had been designated for nonprofits and foreign governments but was paused earlier this year by the White House Office of Management and Budget, then stuck in legal proceedings following a lawsuit by the Global Health Council.

The Trump administration highlighted what it considers wasteful spending items. These include millions for “climate resilience” in Honduras, for South Africa’s Democracy Works Foundation, and for promotion democracy among LGBT people in the Western Balkans.

The cuts also eliminate $1.5 million designated to market paintings by Ukrainian women.

Ukraine has initiated an emergency session of the UN Security Council following Russia’s massive attack on Kyiv and other cities, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha.

The meeting is scheduled for 29 August at 10:00 pm Kyiv time. Ukraine requested the session with support from its partners as a response to the wave of Russian missile and drone strikes that resulted in dozens of civilian casualties, including children.

“The meeting is a response to another massive wave of Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine. These strikes resulted in dozens of casualties among the civilian population, including children,” Sybiha said.

The Foreign Minister called on Security Council members to use the session to express support for Ukraine against Russian terror and increase pressure on the Russian aggressor.

“Only pressure, including new harsh sanctions, can force Moscow to stop imitating diplomacy and join real efforts aimed at ending the war,” according to Sybiha.

The emergency session follows a massive combined strike by Russian occupiers on the capital during the night of 28 August, which killed 23 people, including 4 children, reports the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Rescue workers in Kyiv concluded operations at the site of a Russian missile strike on a residential building in the Darnytskyi district after more than 30 hours of work, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on 29 August.

Emergency services dismantled the main structural debris of the destroyed building to ensure no people remained trapped under the rubble. Some bodies have not yet been identified, and 8 people remain out of contact with their relatives, according to officials.

The Russian attack killed 23 people, with 22 deaths resulting from the direct hit on the Darnytskyi district building, authorities confirmed. Four children were among the victims, including a two-year-old girl who was the youngest casualty.

Emergency workers rescued 17 people from the debris, including 4 children. A total of 53 people were injured across the capital during the strike.

Emergency restoration work continues to allow residents of undamaged apartments to retrieve their belongings as quickly as possible, officials said.

The attack occurred during the night of 28 August, when Russian forces launched nearly 600 drones and 31 missiles at Ukraine, including Kinzhal and Iskander missiles. Kyiv recorded two direct missile hits on residential buildings.

The Kyiv City Military Administration described the consequences as record-breaking, with damage recorded in all city districts across 33 locations. The Darnytskyi and Dniprovskyi districts suffered the most damage, with one strike completely destroying an entrance to a five-story building.

The attack damaged offices of Ukrainska Pravda, Radio Liberty, the European Investment Bank, the EU mission, and the British Council.

White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt said President Donald Trump was “not satisfied, but not surprised” by Russia’s attack on Kyiv.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications and Ministry of Foreign Affairs have condemned the presence of the Russian flag at the Venice Film Festival and called for its removal, according to a statement from the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications.

The ministries reported that while the Russian flag remains displayed at the festival, Russian forces continue committing war crimes. On 28 August, Russia attacked Kyiv, killing 23 people including 4 children.

“While Russia has the freedom to choose how to continue killing civilians in Ukraine, providing it with an international cultural stage is not freedom of art, but hypocrisy, indifference and support for even more terror,” the ministries said in their statement.

The Ukrainian ministries called on the Venice Film Festival to eliminate Russia’s presence and the Russian flag from the event.

The Venice International Film Festival, founded in 1932 as part of the Venice Biennale on the initiative of Italian political figure and fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, is the world’s oldest film festival. The 81st Venice Film Festival featured the world premiere of the documentary “Songs of a Land That Burns Slowly” by Ukrainian director Olga Zhurba.

The 82nd Venice Film Festival runs from 27 August to 9 September. Film critic Sonya Vselyubska from UP.Culture has been accredited for the event and will provide coverage.

The statement emphasized that the festival opened with what it described as “the first tragicomedy of its own authorship.” The ministries noted that under the Russian flag, Russian military forces are currently committing war crimes.

The Ukrainian officials stated that even on the same day, Russia carried out attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, killing at least 21 people, including 4 children. The statement criticized festival organizers for choosing to ignore these actions and further damaging the festival’s reputation.

“The only thing the Venice Film Festival should do now is get rid of Russia’s presence and the Russian flag,” said in the statement, using the hashtag #NoStageForRussia while Russia conducts war against Ukraine.

A forest fire reportedly sparked by drone debris has spread to 41.5 hectares near the village of Krynitsa in Russia’s Krasnodar Oblast, with one fire center burning less than one kilometer from a winery linked to Vladimir Putin.

Local authorities reported the blaze on the morning of 28 August after Ukrainian drone fragments fell in the area, according to Gelendzhik mayor and the regional emergency ministry. The fire has expanded from its initial size overnight, reaching 41.5 hectares by 29 August morning.

“More than 330 people are fighting the fire, about 80 units of equipment are working, as well as a helicopter and aircraft of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations,” Krasnodar Oblast governor Veniamin Kondratiev said.

The village of Krynitsa sits just 10 kilometers from Putin’s palace on Cape Idokopas, Agency reported. Russian media Important Stories reported that the fire center may be 3-4 kilometers from the presidential residence.

The Insider said that another fire source burns less than one kilometer from Putin’s “Krynitsa” winery. NASA FIRMS mapping data shows this blaze located just 850 meters from the winery facility.

The winery gained attention in a 2021 investigation by the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), where it appeared under the name “Old Provence.” The film detailed luxury purchases for the facility, including “gilded Italian toilet brushes,” according to the FBK documentary about Putin’s palace.

The drone attack occurred as part of broader Ukrainian strikes on 28 August. Russian authorities reported drone attacks across multiple oblasts, with local residents documenting fires at two oil refineries and a railway junction.

The Gelendzhik area has strategic significance due to its proximity to Putin’s reported Black Sea residence, which has been the subject of extensive investigative reporting and opposition scrutiny.

The Trump administration has approved an $825 million sale of 3,350 Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) missiles to Ukraine, marking the first major new weapons sale to Kyiv under the current administration, CNN reported on 28 August.

ERAM may provide Ukraine a new, affordable, and precise standoff strike capability with a range up to around 400 km, helping Ukraine engage targets deeper behind the front lines while reducing the risk to its aircraft. Details regarding potential restrictions on the missiles’ use remain unclear.

According to the report, the missiles could be delivered later this year if the sale proceeds as expected. The ERAM missiles have a range of 150-280 miles and will be accompanied by 3,350 GPS/INS navigation systems.

The State Department announced the proposed sale on 28 August, following meetings between President Donald Trump and both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this month. The announcement came after a night of deadly Russian strikes on the Ukrainian capital.

“Ukraine will use funding from Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway and Foreign Military Financing from the United States for this purchase,” the State Department notice reported. The department emphasized that “the ERAM is an example of working together with our NATO allies to develop a capable and scalable system capable of being delivered on a fast timeline.”

While the Trump administration has previously approved sales of equipment to maintain existing weapons systems, this represents the first major arms sale of new weapons to Ukraine announced by the administration, according to CNN.

The State Department justified the sale by noting it “will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.”

The timing of the announcement coincides with ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict that have yet to produce results.

According to European media reports cited by CNN, the missiles could arrive in Ukraine within six weeks of the sale’s completion.

Nearly half of Americans think the United States is not doing enough to support Ukraine, according to a new Gallup poll.

The consulting firm found that 46% of respondents believe US assistance falls short, while 25% said America is doing too much and 27% consider current support adequate.

The survey revealed that Democratic voters believe the US should increase its support for Ukraine, while Republican voters are split between considering current aid sufficient or excessive.

Since Donald Trump’s administration took office, the polling data shows significant shifts in public opinion across party lines. Among Democrats, the percentage who view aid as insufficient jumped from 48% in December to 77%. Independent voters also showed increased concern, with those calling aid inadequate rising from 32% to 44%.

Republican attitudes moved in the opposite direction. The share of Republicans who consider aid excessive dropped from 67% to 40%, while those rating current support as sufficient increased from 20% to 42%.

Some 52% believe Washington should support Ukraine in returning occupied territories, even if this prolongs the war, the poll found. Meanwhile, 45% favor a quick end to the war, even if Ukraine would have to give up some territory.

The Gallup survey was conducted from 1-15 August, before the US-Russia leadership summit in Alaska. The polling firm did not specify the number of respondents or methodology used.

Recent diplomatic developments have intensified focus on Ukraine policy. On 25 August, reports emerged of an upcoming meeting between American and Ukrainian teams to prepare for possible negotiations between President Zelenskyy and the Russian leader.

The Financial Times reported on 26 August that the US is prepared to provide Ukraine with intelligence resources and aviation battlefield control as part of security guarantees after fighting ends.

Bloomberg reported on 27 August that Ukrainian officials Yermak and Umerov are heading to the United States to discuss security guarantees with Witkoff.

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Estonian Defense Forces announced on 28 August the death of Estonian volunteer Olev Roost, who was killed while fighting in Ukraine’s war against Russia.

“With deep sadness, we announce that Estonian volunteer Olev Roost has died fighting for Ukraine’s freedom,” Estonia’s Special Operations Forces said in a statement.

Roost joined Estonia’s Special Operations Forces in 2017 after passing selection and participated in an overseas operation in Mali in 2020. He remained with the unit until 2023, when he voluntarily left service and traveled to Ukraine as a volunteer fighter.

According to the Estonian forces, Roost served with Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Special Purpose Regiment. “He went abroad to protect peace in his homeland, risking his life and giving everything so that war would not reach us. We highly honor his memory and will never forget his contribution,” the statement said.

ERR reports that at least six Estonian volunteers have been killed fighting for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

The announcement follows recent reports of other foreign volunteer casualties. Italian volunteer Luca Ciecca, who fought alongside Ukrainian Defense Forces against Russia, was killed in recent fighting. In July, reports emerged of a Hungarian volunteer’s death and the wounding of two Romanian volunteers.

Estonia has been among Ukraine’s strongest supporters, providing military aid and hosting Ukrainian refugees since the war began.

Russian forces deployed rocket-propelled Shahed drones during the overnight attack on Kyiv on 28 August, according to Yurii Ihnat, head of the Communications Department of the Ukrainian Air Force Command.

These modified drones exhibit flight parameters resembling cruise missiles, Ihnat told Hromadske.

The Ukrainian Air Force first documented these jet-powered strike drones during summer operations. Ihnat explained that while cruise missiles typically reach speeds of 700 km/h, the rocket-propelled Shaheds operate at 300-500 km/h.

“They are difficult to shoot down,” the military official added.

Russia has not yet deployed these modified drones en masse, according to Ihnat.

“Previous times we recorded eight units. This time there were also some, but not many,” Ihnat said, declining to specify the exact number of rocket-powered drones launched against Kyiv during the 28 August attack.

During the latest attack on Kyiv, Russian forces employed various weapons and different drone types. Beyond conventional and rocket-propelled Shaheds, Russia deployed decoy drones, which they have also begun equipping with explosive warheads.

Russian forces launched 31 missiles and 598 drones against Ukraine during the overnight attack on 28 August. Current casualty reports indicate 18 dead and nearly 40 injured from the nighttime bombardment, including children.

The Russian strikes damaged the European Union representation building in Ukraine and the British Council office in Kyiv. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha declared the diplomatic facility attacks constitute direct violations of the Vienna Convention, emphasizing such strikes require condemnation from the EU and the international community.

Additional damage occurred to the offices of Ukrainska Pravda and Radio Svoboda media outlets, a Nova Poshta sorting depot where three people were injured, Ukrzaliznytsia’s high-speed train park, and other facilities. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces targeted a residential building in Kyiv with two missiles, destroying the structure.

Russian forces struck the Turkish Bayraktar drone manufacturing facility in Kyiv during the night of 28 August, marking the fourth attack on the plant in six months, according to Igor Zinkevich, co-founder of the NGO Varta-1 and Lviv City Council deputy.

“Two hits were recorded, and the production facilities were seriously damaged,” Zinkevich said. Baykar Makina company confirmed the information to Ukrainian media outlet Oborontsi.

The extent of the damage remains unknown, but the strike has dealt a significant blow to production capabilities that were nearing completion.

“Despite previous attacks, the company continued investing tens of millions of its own funds, training personnel and preparing production. Most capacities were almost ready, the main personnel had completed training,” Zinkevich said.

The Turkish manufacturer of Bayraktar TB2 UAVs planned to establish the Ukrainian facility in 2022, with construction launched in early 2024 and expected completion by August 2025. The plant had not yet gone live, but most of the production facilities had already been prepared.

The attack occurred during a massive Russian assault on Kyiv Oblast, where Ukrainian forces shot down 70 Russian drones, setting a record for drone interceptor usage.

US Presidential Envoy Keith Kellogg has described Russia’s overnight assault on Kyiv as one of the largest since the invasion began, warning that such strikes undermine peace efforts.

Trump’s envoy said Russia conducted the second-largest bombardment of Kyiv since the full-scale invasion started, deploying over 600 drones and 31 missiles against the Ukrainian capital.

“The targets? Not soldiers and weapons but residential areas in Kyiv—blasting civilian trains, the EU & British mission council offices, and innocent civilians. These egregious attacks threaten the peace that @POTUS is pursuing,” Kellogg wrote.

The 28 August overnight strike saw Russian forces launch 629 air attack weapons across Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials. Direct hits were recorded at 13 locations, with debris falling at 26 additional sites.

In Kyiv, at least 18 people died in the attack, including four children. The city declared 29 August a day of mourning.

The bombardment targeted civilian infrastructure rather than military installations, hitting residential buildings, transportation networks, and diplomatic facilities. European Union and British mission offices were among the structures damaged in the assault.

Multiple European nations condemned the Russian bombardment, while the European Union and Britain announced they would summon Russian diplomatic representatives for official protests.

The attack represents a significant escalation in Russia’s targeting of civilian areas in the Ukrainian capital, with Kellogg’s assessment marking it as the second-most intensive assault on Kyiv since February 2022.

Kharkiv will launch seven underground schools and convert six metro stations into educational facilities for the new academic year beginning 1 September, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov during a television marathon broadcast.

Ukraine builds underground schools to protect children from constant Russian attacks and ensure safe in-person education. These schools are mainly in frontline cities like Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Sumy, with Kharkiv pioneering metro stations converted into classrooms. Ukraine is among the first countries to extensively use metro stations as schools during wartime, creating a unique model of underground education.

Three of the underground schools were constructed during spring and summer 2025, Terekhov said. The city has also retrofitted six metro stations to accommodate students seeking in-person learning alternatives.

“We will hold 1 September celebrations in underground schools. This is important for us because it’s an emotion for our little citizens,” Terekhov said.

The mayor emphasized the necessity of underground education facilities given current security conditions

Approximately 6,000 first-graders will enter Kharkiv schools this academic year, according to the mayor’s announcement. The underground facilities represent the city’s response to demands for safe in-person education.

“We were the first to retrofit six metro stations where children can study today. We are preparing them so that starting 1 September, children will have the opportunity to study in the metro as well,” Terekhov said.

Each underground school accommodates at least 1,000 students across two shifts, according to Olha Demenko, director of Kharkiv City Council’s Education Department, who provided details in earlier statements.

The city council plans to continue constructing underground schools with the goal of establishing multiple facilities in each district, Terekhov said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to China to attend next week’s military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Beijing announced on 28 August. The visit marks Kim’s first trip to China in more than six years.

Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei confirmed that 26 world leaders will join Chinese President Xi Jinping at the September 3 event in Beijing, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un among the key attendees.

“On the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, 26 foreign leaders will attend the commemorative activities for the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese people’s war of resistance against Japanese aggression and the end of World War II,” Hong said during a briefing in Beijing.

The parade will feature thousands of soldiers marching through Tiananmen Square alongside displays of the People’s Liberation Army’s latest military hardware. Kim’s attendance represents a significant upgrade from North Korea’s previous participation – the country sent senior official Choe Ryong-hae to China’s last Victory Day parade a decade ago.

The gathering will provide a rare opportunity for Xi and Kim to meet in person for the first time since 2019, when Kim visited Beijing and Xi traveled to Pyongyang. The timing comes as traditionally strong China-North Korea ties have shown signs of strain, with analysts noting Pyongyang’s growing strategic alignment with Moscow.

“China and North Korea are friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers,” Hong told reporters. “It is the firm position of the [Communist Party] and government to maintain, consolidate and develop the traditional friendship between China and North Korea.”

Hong added that Beijing was willing to work with Pyongyang to “deepen exchanges and cooperation” and “open a new chapter” in bilateral relations. “The world is fraught with turbulence and instability, and the peace deficit continues to grow,” he said. “Safeguarding world peace remains an uphill battle.”

North Korea has moved closer to Russia in recent years, with a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty taking effect in December that includes a mutual defense pact. The agreement was signed during Putin’s visit to Pyongyang in June last year. North Korea has also deployed troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.

The Beijing parade will mark the first time Kim, Putin and Xi appear together in public, presenting what observers see as a show of solidarity against US pressure. Western countries have expressed concerns about the deepening strategic alignment between the three nations.

Among European leaders, only Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will attend. Both previously participated in Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow in May, which Xi attended but Kim did not.

Other confirmed attendees include leaders from Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and presidents from all five Central Asian countries. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the parade but will participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in nearby Tianjin on Sunday and Monday – his first China visit in seven years.

“The collective rise of the Global South is fundamentally reshaping the world landscape,” Hong said. “It is no longer a silent majority or a vast expanse of underdevelopment, but now represents an awakened new force and fresh hope for change in this once-in-a-century transformation.”

Ukrainian intelligence estimates that North Korea has sent 20,000 to 30,000 troops to assist Russia, though Western diplomats suggest the actual number may be smaller. Kyiv has repeatedly accused China of supplying Russia with defense components while North Korea has become Moscow’s primary source of artillery shells and ballistic missiles.

Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) conducted a strike against a Russian Project 21631 “Buyan-M” small missile ship in the Sea of Azov on 28 July, according to HUR reports.

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The operation involved joint action between HUR’s Active Operations Department and the special forces unit “Ghosts” near temporarily occupied Crimea, HUR reported. The targeted vessel serves as a carrier for Kalibr cruise missiles.

“Ghosts” special forces fighters damaged the ship’s radar station using an aerial drone strike, while Active Operations Department specialists attacked the Kalibr carrier’s hull, according to the intelligence directorate.

The Russian missile ship sustained damage and was forced to leave its combat duty area in the Temryuk Bay, where it had been positioned for potential Kalibr launches, HUR reported.

The intelligence directorate said that Defense Forces also struck the Afipsky and Kuibyshevsky oil refineries and attacked several Russian logistics facilities during the night of 28 August.

The US Treasury Department has extended through September 2026 its authorization for importing certain Russian diamonds, according to a statement from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

The license permits operations involving the import of specific Russian diamonds, provided they are physically located outside Russia. Under the renewed authorization, the United States allows imports of diamonds weighing 1 carat or more if they were not exported from Russia before 1 March 2024, and diamonds weighing 0.5 carats or more if they were not exported from Russia before 1 September 2024.

However, the import of non-industrial diamonds of Russian origin to the United States remains prohibited, OFAC reports.

The authorization comes nearly two years after G7 countries announced in early December 2023 a phased ban on Russian diamond imports. The group indicated that further restrictions would target Russian diamonds processed in third countries.

The European Union implemented its 12th sanctions package in December 2023, imposing a ban on direct or indirect import, purchase, or transportation of diamonds from Russia. The United States announced its own prohibition on importing Russian-origin diamonds in February 2024.

The Treasury’s General License No. 104A, effective 27 August 2025, specifies that authorized transactions must be “ordinarily incident and necessary to the importation and entry into the United States, including importation for admission into a foreign trade zone.” The license explicitly states it “does not authorize any transactions otherwise prohibited by the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations.”

The document notes that compliance with “any other Federal laws or requirements of other Federal agencies” remains mandatory despite the general license authorization.

President Karol Nawrocki’s veto of legislation on aid to Ukrainian citizens has received backing from 59.8% of Polish respondents, according to a SW Research survey conducted for Onet on 26-27 August 2025.

The poll of 814 adults nationwide found that 25.4% opposed the presidential decision, while 14.7% answered “don’t know/hard to say” when asked whether they supported Nawrocki’s veto of the Ukraine assistance law.

Nawrocki announced his veto citing a key concern about the 800+ benefit program. “The 800+ benefit should be granted exclusively to Ukrainians who take up work in Poland,” the president said. He argued that current provisions do not ensure social justice.

The veto affects legislation that would have extended temporary residence rights for up to one million Ukrainian refugees beyond the September 2025 deadline, potentially leaving them without legal employment options.

The veto triggered strong political reactions across party lines. Politicians from Law and Justice and Confederation supported the presidential decision, while representatives from the Left and Civic Coalition sharply criticized it.

Men showed slightly higher support for the veto at 63.4% compared to 56.5% among women, the SW Research data reveals. The strongest backing came from the 25-34 age group, where 73.5% endorsed the decision. Support was lowest among respondents over 50, at 50.1%.

Geographic patterns also emerged in the polling data. Residents of towns with up to 20,000 inhabitants supported the veto most frequently at 67.8%, while those in cities exceeding 500,000 residents showed the lowest support at 55.5%.

Legal status of Ukrainian refugees at stake

The vetoed legislation addressed temporary residence rights for up to one million Ukrainians who arrived after Russia’s full-scale invasion began on 24 February 2022. Current regulations permit their stay until the end of September 2025. After this deadline, they will face difficulties with legal employment, among other issues.

Alongside his veto, Nawrocki submitted his own version of Ukraine assistance legislation to the Sejm, which has been sent for public consultations. The government announced it will present its own version of these provisions.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration estimates that the presidential veto could cost up to 8 billion zloty. These expenses would result primarily from administrative processing of thousands of residence legalization applications.

The Sejm retains the authority to reject the presidential proposal and pursue alternative legislative approaches to address Ukrainian refugee status and assistance programs.

The European Union delegation building in Ukraine sustained damage during Russian strikes on Kyiv on the night of 28 August, according to Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha. The British Council office was also hit in the same attack.

EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova confirmed the damage, writing that the EU representation “was severely damaged by the shock wave” and published corresponding photos.

“Russian ‘peace’ last night: massive strike on Kyiv using drones and ballistic missiles. At least 10 killed, 30 wounded, many buildings destroyed,” Mathernova said.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot confirmed damage to both diplomatic buildings. “Another brutal night in Kyiv. Civilian buildings were damaged again, among them the EU Delegation and the British Council. Russia shows, once more, that it has no genuine will for peace. It chooses terror, destruction, and lies over dialogue,” Prevot wrote.

Sybiha said that attacks on diplomatic facilities constitute a direct violation of the Vienna Convention. “We insist on strong international reactions to Russia’s brutal strike on Kyiv and other cities…Whatever Putin said in Alaska, his real actions reject diplomacy, dialogue, and peace efforts.,” the minister said.

The overnight Russian assault involved 31 missiles and 598 drones targeting Ukraine. The attack on the capital resulted in 13 deaths and 48 injuries, with consequences recorded at more than 20 locations across 7 districts of Kyiv. Children were among the casualties.

Russian forces also targeted critical infrastructure in Vinnytsia Oblast, leaving 60,000 consumers without electricity. Mathernova described this as Moscow’s true response to peace efforts.