On 4 September, InformNapalm, a volunteer intelligence initiative focused on Russian aggression in Ukraine, published the personal data of 33 Russian prison staff reportedly involved in the torture of Ukrainian POWs at Mordovia’s IK-10. The exposé builds on survivor testimony broadcast by RFE/RL’s Skhemy.

According to InformNapalm, IK-10 has become a conveyor of abuse and repression since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The Mordovia-based colony reportedly held about 700 Ukrainian POWs as of April 2025. Just 177 have been released.

“The rest remain in captivity, continuing to fight not only for freedom but for their lives,” InformNapalm wrote.

InformNapalm publishes 33 names of Russian prison staff tied to Ukrainian POW torture

A volunteer intelligence group investigating Russian war crimes has publicly identified 33 staff members of Russia’s notorious penal colony No. 10 (IK-10) in Mordovia. InformNapalm, which since 2014 has gathered open-source intelligence to expose war-related abuses, released names, ranks, addresses, contact information, social media profiles, and roles of individuals allegedly responsible for the torture and inhumane treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war.

The release follows a 17 July 2025 investigation by the Ukrainian news program Skhemy (“Schemes”), a project of Radio Svoboda, which aired testimony from survivors held at IK-10.

Inside a prison built to erase identity

Located in the settlement of Udarnyi, Zubovo-Polyansky district, IK-10 is operated as a special-regime facility. InformNapalm and “Schemes” both describe an atmosphere of total psychological suppression, where prisoners were routinely denied medical care, beaten, forced to stand for hours, and cut off from any knowledge of their whereabouts.

Guards and staff reportedly concealed their identities behind balaclavas and medical masks. Even the place of the facility was hidden from detainees. The goal, according to survivor accounts, was to strip POWs of identity and autonomy, reducing them to a state of helplessness under constant threat.

Reports of abuse at IK-10 go back to 2012–2014, but the colony’s role expanded after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

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33 names, ranks, and faces behind the brutality

The list published by InformNapalm identifies a wide range of staff. At the top is Sergei Zabaiykin, who served as head of IK-10 from 2022 until March 2024 and is now deputy head of the FSIN directorate in Mordovia. FSIN is Russia’s federal authority for the prisons and detention of suspects and convicts. Inform Napalm cites a Russian publication describing Zabaikin as “a thieving head of the colony with a ‘beastly’ attitude toward inmates.”

His successor, Aleksandr Gnutov, served as deputy chief, then acting chief, and became official colony head in July 2024.

Other high-ranking figures named include multiple deputy heads: Aleksandr Pavlushkin, Aleksei Anashkin, Yegor Averkin, and Sergei Muymarov. InformNapalm says these individuals oversaw the daily operations during the peak periods of reported violence.

Medical personnel also figure prominently in the report. Field medic Ilya Sorokin—known by the nickname “Doctor Evil”—was named as a central figure. “Schemes” reported that Sorokin left his post at the end of 2024 and joined the Russian Defense Ministry, now operating under the call sign “Doctor” in military supply units. InformNapalm says he remains in contact with his former colleagues and continues to receive medical supplies for use in Russia’s war effort.

Chief physician Galina Mokshanova, her deputy Aleksandr Levin, and multiple other medics and nurses are named as having supported or enabled torture through medical neglect or complicity.

Not just jailers: engineers, psychologists, and guards

InformNapalm’s list includes more than command and medical staff. It also names psychologists, engineers, and guards believed to have played roles in the abuse. Senior psychologist Alesia Avdonina, for example, is described as a captain of internal service and also a part-time nail technician, showing the stark dissonance between professional responsibilities and daily online life.

Others identified include engineer Konstantin Anchin, psychologist Olga Khremkina, and senior inspector Anna Shcherbakova. InformNapalm notes that several individuals had no social media presence, while others shared openly under their real names.

Russia reacts with panic and suppression

Following the initial broadcast of “Schemes” in July, InformNapalm says insider sources reported increased activity from the Russian Investigative Committee and FSB. These agencies allegedly warned IK-10 staff about harsher penalties for information leaks and tried to prevent future exposures.

InformNapalm interprets this response as a sign that Russian authorities fear accountability. The group emphasized that “no mask will protect you” and called the release a first step toward identifying all individuals involved in war crimes inside Russia’s penitentiary system.

“Every new fact strengthens the chain of responsibility”

InformNapalm stresses that the publication of these 33 names is not the conclusion, but the beginning. The group is now encouraging anyone with further knowledge—especially former inmates or staff—to come forward with verified information.

The group seeks specific details: names or nicknames, job roles, periods of employment, specific incidents of abuse, supporting media, and contact information. All information will be carefully verified and sources anonymized when necessary.

InformNapalm warns against directly contacting any of the named individuals and urges caution for those living in temporarily occupied territories. Safe devices, VPNs, and page archiving are strongly recommended when submitting tips.

“This publication is not the final point,” the report concludes. “It’s the foundation for further documentation. Every confirmation is a contribution to truth and justice.”

Warsaw acknowledged that two drones entered Polish airspace overnight on 2–3 September but were not intercepted or shot down, Reuters reported on 4 September. Polish military officials say the aerial objects posed no threat and exited the country without causing damage, even as Russia launched a major drone and missile assault across Ukraine the same night.

This occurred during Moscow’s daily air attack on Ukraine, as Russia launched more than 500 drones and dozens of missiles on Ukraine overnight. According to the reports, 14 locations across the country were hit, including critical energy and transport infrastructure. Four Ukrainian railway workers were injured in the attacks.

Poland confirms airspace violations but takes no action

According to Reuters, General Maciej Klisz, Operational Commander of the Polish Armed Forces, confirmed at a news conference that “we had two airspace violations.” He claimed that “these two violations were under the full control of national forces and units assigned to the state defense system.”

General Wiesław Kukula, Chief of the General Staff, stated that the drones “left Polish airspace without causing any damage,” which means that Poland once again allowed the Russian drones to use its airspace than safely return to Ukraine to attack residential areas. 

The Polish army did not disclose the drones’ point of entry or flight path, and no effort was made to shoot them down.

The incursion occurred overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday — 2 and 3 September — triggering a National Security Council meeting in Warsaw.

Military stays silent as drones cross NATO border

The lack of any military response highlights Poland’s continued restraint, even after repeated airspace violations. Poland, a NATO member state and a vocal supporter of Ukraine in its defense against Russia, has yet to shoot down any drones entering its territory since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.

The army has remained on high alert since a stray Ukrainian missile struck a village in southern Poland in 2022, killing two people. Yet, despite increased vigilance, no interception measures were taken during this latest event.

In August, a drone crashed into a cornfield in eastern Poland. A prosecutor later said the drone likely entered Polish territory from the direction of Belarus, a close Russian ally. Ukrainian sources noted that the drone remained 2.5 hours in the Polish airspace and was never intercepted.

Airspace monitoring channels reported the incursion during the assault

Warnings about drones heading toward Poland were posted on 3 September by several Ukraine-linked Telegram channels tied to air defense monitoring.

At 3:36 a.m., Ukrainian Telegram channel Nikolaevsky Vanyok, affiliated with air defense forces, wrote:

“1 [Shahed drone is] south of Sambir, course to Poland.”

Almost simultaneously, at 3:35 a.m., the airspace monitoring Telegram channel Zakhid Holovne reported:

“ One more Shahed toward Kolomyia and one drone through Sambir to Poland.”

Four minutes later, at 3:39 a.m., the same channel posted in Polish:

“ 03:39 Air alert in the Republic of Poland.”

Ukraine’s allies met in Paris to discuss security guarantees, but doubts grew as US commitments remained unclear. Reuters reports the summit brought together 30 leaders seeking to reassure Kyiv while peace talks with Russia look increasingly remote.

Coalition meets Zelenskyy in Paris

On 4 September 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined about 30 Western leaders in Paris for talks on security guarantees. The “coalition of the willing” includes European states, Canada, Japan, and Australia. Some leaders attended in person, while others joined by video-link.

The summit aimed to define military support for Ukraine in the event of a truce with Russia. But months of discussion have produced no clarity, as governments argue that European commitments need a US backstop.

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Trump envoy arrives in Paris

Reuters noted that US President Donald Trump has yet to make any explicit pledge. His envoy Steve Witkoff met senior European officials in Paris hours before the meeting, according to diplomats. French President Emmanuel Macron said on 3 September alongside Zelenskyy that coalition leaders would endorse security plans drawn up by their militaries. Macron said Ukraine’s allies have finalized and are ready to politically approve military security guarantees to support Kyiv once a peace deal is reached, according to dpa.

Two European officials confirmed to Reuters the technical plans were finished, though they gave no details.

British and French army chiefs briefed the leaders during the talks. Macron told reporters, “We are ready, us Europeans, to provide security guarantees to Ukraine for when there is a signed peace,” while stressing that sincerity from Russia remains in question.

Sending signals to Washington

European officials said the goal was to send a political signal to Trump. Leaders hoped to highlight the absence of progress toward peace talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy since Trump hosted Putin in August.

Trump, after hosting Putin, accused him of conspiring with China and North Korea. On 3 September, he denounced the three leaders’ show of unity in Beijing during a commemoration of the end of World War Two.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on 3 September he expected clarity soon from the coalition on what could be delivered, and that this would pave the way for deeper discussions with Washington.

Western officials said the central element of guarantees would be continued support for Ukraine’s armed forces. Proposals also included deploying an international force in Ukraine or nearby countries to reassure Kyiv, despite Russia’s opposition to foreign troops.

European leaders insisted such a force could only happen with US backing. Trump has spoken in broad terms about supporting Ukraine but has not specified what Washington would contribute, Reuters says. The French presidency said some leaders would call Trump after the summit.

Ukraine destroyed another Russian S-300V system in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, along with its radar, in a drone strike on 3 September, media reports said. The attack marks another major blow against Russia’s air defenses in Ukraine’s occupied south.

Ukrainian drones strike in Polohy district

Militarnyi reports that the strike was carried out in the morning near the village of Oleksiivka in Polohy district by the Lasar’s Group unit of the National Guard. Video published by Telegram channel Butusov Plus shows drone operators identifying the Russian system before hitting it on a roadway. Petro Andriushchenko, head of the Center for the Study of Occupation, also released images of the destroyed launcher.

Radar supporting Buk systems eliminated

The destroyed radar was the 9S36 station, which forms part of Russia’s modern middle-range Buk-M2 and Buk-M3 air defense systems. The station uses a mast that can extend to 22 meters, giving it the ability to detect low-flying targets even in forested or uneven terrain. It guides missiles through its antenna post, which can rise to 21 meters.

According to the manufacturer’s data, the radar can track and engage up to four air targets at once, adjusting for terrain obstacles up to 20 meters high.

Recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian air defenses

On 27 August, Ukraine struck a Russian S-300 division and aircraft at Baltimor airbase. That attack destroyed a 76N6 radar responsible for detecting targets at medium and high altitudes, as well as a 30N6 radar used for illumination and guidance.

Another S-300 system was destroyed earlier on 20 August by fighters of Lasar’s group on Russian-occupied territory in Zaporizhzhia oblast. Together with the latest strike, these operations highlight a sustained Ukrainian campaign targeting Russian air defense assets.

As European leaders prepare for a summit on 4 September in Paris, their approaches to security guarantees for postwar Ukraine remain divided into three distinct groups, the Financial Times reports. While a small group of countries, including the UK, are ready to deploy troops, Italy has ruled out participation entirely, and a larger group—among them Germany—have yet to make any firm commitments.

Europe split into three camps on postwar Ukraine

The planned multinational force for Ukraine is at the center of ongoing negotiations over long-term security guarantees. The initiative is being pushed by France and the UK, with the US offering limited but targeted support. According to FT, European capitals are under increasing pressure to clarify what each country is willing to contribute.

French President Emmanuel Macron will host the summit, with some leaders joining in person and others remotely. The talks follow a preparatory meeting on 3 September involving defense officials. UK Defense Secretary John Healey co-chaired the call, where he stated that Britain was “reviewing readiness levels of UK Armed Forces and accelerating funding to be ready for any deployment to Ukraine,” according to the UK Ministry of Defense.

An official from the Élysée Palace told FT that technical preparations for the coalition’s contribution had been completed by those countries “willing and able” to offer security guarantees. “Today we have enough contributions to be able to tell the Americans that we are ready to assume our responsibilities, provided that they assume theirs,” the official said.

US President Donald Trump has told European leaders that Washington would offer intelligence, command and control systems, and help in establishing an air defense shield, but insisted that the European side must lead the effort.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on 3 September that he expected “concrete proposals” to be delivered either that day or soon after. He added that further steps would include intensified coordination with the US regarding its participation in the broader effort.

Germany’s position remains unclear. Officials in Berlin reportedly reacted negatively to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s comments to FT that member states were working on “pretty precise plans” for potential deployments to Ukraine, including a “clear road map.”

In the early hours of 4 September 2025, Ukrainian Defense Forces reportedly struck two radar installations in southern Russia’s Rostov Oblast. Militarnyi reports that the targets were the “Navigation of the South” radar complex (RLS-1) and a site located at a former air defense base.

Ukrainian strike hits Rostov aviation radar

The RLS-1 “Navigation of the South” is part of the Aeronavigation South branch infrastructure in Rostov-on-Don. It performs key functions in air traffic management over southern Russia, including aircraft detection and tracking, route coordination, flight support, aviation radio communication, and fixed satellite links. The complex is part of Russia’s centralized air traffic control system.

Ukrainian Telegram channel Krymskyi Veter reported that a fire broke out at the site on 4 September, as shown by NASA’s FIRMS map that features detected thermal signatures at the location. 

Strike also hits former air defense base

NASA data also show that the second site was on the grounds of a former air defense unit (military unit 65312) and military town that previously hosted the 1244th anti-aircraft missile regiment, which had been equipped with S-300PS surface-to-air missile systems in the 1990s. In 1997, the unit was merged with the 584th regiment and moved to Maryino in Moscow Oblast.

Militarnyi notes that Russia likely decided to restore the site for use in the war. A radar complex similar to RLS-1, believed to perform similar tasks, is located at the site. 

August radar strike in occupied Crimea

On 12 August, Ukrainian Special Operations Forces destroyed the Skala-M radar station in Russian-occupied Crimea. The station was used for air traffic control along routes and approach zones, with a range of up to 350 kilometers. Images published by Dnipro Osint showed the station before and after the strike.

Sweden has signaled that Ukraine’s dream of acquiring its most advanced fighter jets, the Gripen E, will have to wait until after Russia’s war ends. At the same time, Stockholm is showing more openness to discussing the donation of older Gripen C/D models sooner, despite earlier hesitation from NATO allies.

Sweden links advanced Gripens to post-war future

At MSPO 2025, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson told Breaking Defense that Kyiv had expressed interest in the Gripen system, particularly the new Gripen E operated by Sweden and Brazil. He described a possible sale of the advanced version as “a long-term endeavor” that could help build “a common air force capability” after the war. But Jonson stressed that any deal “depends” on the war’s conclusion and must be tied to long-term development.

Western nations have pledged to help rebuild Ukraine’s Air Force once Russia’s invasion is over, though it remains unclear which mix of aircraft will be provided. Jonson pointed to Sweden’s experience in developing joint air power with countries like the Czech Republic, Hungary, Thailand, and Brazil as a model for what could happen with Ukraine in the future.

Kyiv still seeks Gripen C/D aircraft

Ukraine has long sought deliveries of older Gripen C/D fighters to boost its ability to resist Russia, but Stockholm held back. NATO allies asked Sweden not to move ahead so Kyiv could first focus on mastering F-16 jets and avoid overwhelming its pilots with different aircraft types.

Some French Mirage jets have already been delivered to Ukraine, while Sweden last year approved a donation of Gripen spare parts valued at $214 million. Jonson said Sweden remains “open to discuss” gifting older Gripen C/D aircraft and confirmed he raised the issue with his Ukrainian counterpart during a recent visit to Kyiv.

Saab pushes Gripen E as best option

Saab executives have repeatedly argued that the Gripen E would be the best fit for Ukraine. Saab CEO Micael Johansson told Breaking Defense in February that the aircraft should be supplied “over time,” though he admitted “it’s purely a political decision” to begin with the C/D variant. On 2 September, Saab head of media relations Mattias Rådström said the company would “fully support Sweden in such an endeavor” and called the Gripen E the most suitable fighter for Ukraine’s defense needs.

In the early hours of 1 September, Ukrainian drones struck a critical transformer substation in the southern Russian town of Kropotkin, Krasnodar Krai, igniting a massive fire and disabling the infrastructure that powered one of southern Russia’s key railway hubs.

Ukrainian drones ignite Kropotkin substation, disabling strategic logistics node

According to Russian Telegram channel Astra, the attack triggered a blaze at the substation servicing the Kavkazskaya railway station in Kropotkin. The local operational headquarters confirmed the incident, attributing the fire to debris from downed drones. Officials claimed there were no casualties.

“We’re dying from the smoke on Zheleznodorozhnaya [Steet],” read one message, while others noted unbearable conditions on Shevchenko Street.

Videos and reports shared by Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ identified the substation as the 330kV Kropotkin transformer, which supplied power to the regional energy system and to critical railway lines connecting the North Caucasus with Rostov, Kuban, and the Black Sea ports.

The Kavkazskaya station, a railway junction, plays a crucial role in transporting freight, including grain and oil products, and in moving military hardware and personnel toward northern Russia and occupied Crimea. Disrupting this link complicates Russia’s ability to sustain operations in multiple directions.

Strategic targeting of Russian railway infrastructure continues

Just a week earlier, Ukrainian drones hit a railway hub and locomotive depot in the town of Petrov Val, Volgograd Oblast — approximately 350 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

On 17 August, drones attacked the Liski railway station in Voronezh Oblast, one of the largest junctions in the South-Eastern Railway system. That strike brought train traffic to a halt. The station is actively used by Russian forces to transport military equipment and personnel.

Broader drone campaign spans multiple regions

In its morning update, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that 50 drones had been intercepted overnight across various regions. According to its statement, 16 were shot down over the Black Sea, 12 over Belgorod Oblast, 7 over the Azov Sea, and several others across Saratov, Samara, Orenburg oblasts, the Republic of Tatarstan, and Krasnodar Krai itself.

Ukrainian paratroopers destroyed a Russian armored convoy that was advancing toward Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, using HIMARS missiles and FPV drones in a coordinated nighttime assault. The strike reportedly took place on 28 August and targeted a mechanized group that had been spotted 10 kilometers behind Russian lines.

HIMARS strike shatters Russian push from Prohres toward Pokrovsk

Militarnyi reports that drone operators from the Ivan Franko Group, part of the 79th Air Assault Brigade, detected the convoy moving from the settlement of Prohres toward Malynivka, a village east of Pokrovsk. The Russian column consisted of seven vehicles, including tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, and was carrying up to 100 soldiers—some of whom were advancing on motorcycles.

Once the target was confirmed, Ukrainian forces launched a HIMARS missile, striking the column during its movement. The initial hit disrupted the formation, after which drone operators joined the attack, targeting abandoned or disabled vehicles. A second missile strike completed the operation, according to the 79th Brigade.

Ukrainian paratroopers reported that the entire armored group was destroyed, and at least 50 Russian soldiers were killed. They believe the unit may have been part of a force recently redeployed from Russia’s Kursk Oblast, possibly including elements of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade.

“The appearance of units near Pokrovsk from a different direction could explain the use of a large number of armored vehicles in an area where, for a long time, Russian forces had relied exclusively on small infantry groups to minimize losses from drones,” Militarnyi noted.

Faced with heavy losses and only limited territorial gains, Russian forces have previously shifted tactics—now infiltrating through the so-called “gray zone” under drone surveillance and concentrating troops for assault operations.

In a report on 31 August, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) outlined how the Kremlin has intensified its multi-pronged information campaign to weaken Western support for Ukraine and derail the European role in peace efforts in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war.

Russia is now aggressively pushing three narrative lines at once: blaming European states for prolonging the war, reviving nuclear threats, and portraying Russian victory as inevitable.

Kremlin blames Europe for dragging out the war

Kremlin officials have returned to a long-standing propaganda line that paints European states as obstacles to peace in Ukraine. ISW noted that Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov and Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) CEO Kirill Dmitriev recently implied that European countries are deliberately extending the conflict. According to ISW, Russia is using Dmitriev—who frequently represents Kremlin interests on Western platforms—to reintroduce this message into the Western media environment, aiming to erode US confidence in European allies.

Medvedev threatens nuclear consequences for backing Ukraine

On 31 August, Russian Security Council Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev launched a pointed attack against French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Posting on his English-language X account, Medvedev accused the two leaders of having “forgotten the lessons” of World War II. He warned that “things could end up like they did in 1945 – [Macron and Merz] too may end up being identified by their teeth,” directly invoking the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Medvedev also described recent Russian military progress as “bad news” for the European leaders.

ISW assessed that this language is intended to threaten France and Germany with nuclear consequences for their involvement in US-led efforts to end the war, while simultaneously amplifying the idea of unstoppable Russian military momentum.

Moscow promotes image of inevitable victory

Alongside these threats, the Kremlin continues to push the idea that Russian victory in Ukraine is certain. ISW reported that the Russian Ministry of Defense has ramped up its efforts to project battlefield success using large volumes of qualitative data. However, ISW assessed that these claims are inflated and part of the broader strategy to demoralize Ukraine’s allies and reduce Western resolve.

The Institute for the Study of War reported on 30 August that the Kremlin appears to have launched a coordinated informational effort posturing military strength on the battlefield in order to shape Western thinking and falsely portray a Russian victory as “inevitable.”

The Kremlin’s presentation of likely inflated territorial gain statistics without critical context for the losses for those gains is likely an attempt to manipulate perceptions about Russia’s military performance and buttress a longstanding Kremlin narrative that Russia’s victory on the battlefield is inevitable. It is not.

Russian generals inflate battlefield numbers

Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov claimed on 30 August that Russian forces had seized 3,500 square kilometers and 149 settlements since March 2025. ISW assessed the real figure is about 2,346 square kilometers and 130 settlements. The Kremlin claims include exaggerated control in Sumy Oblast, Kupiansk, Lyman, and other directions.

Defense Minister Andrei Belousov claimed Russia was gaining 600–700 square kilometers per month. ISW calculated only 440–500 per month.

Real losses contradict Russian narrative

Russian non-Kremlin-aligned reported on 29 August that RND inheritance data suggests at least 93,000 Russian soldiers died in 2024, and 56,000 more since the start of 2025. By mid-2025, inheritance cases reached 2,000 per week. Most new missing persons rulings involved men.

ISW says these losses are unsustainable. Russia’s advance remains slow. It uses light vehicles and infiltration tactics, but cannot consolidate gains. The Kremlin’s statistics paint an incomplete picture of its battlefield performance.

Russia is deliberately targeting Western-linked sites in Ukraine to send a message of defiance against diplomatic efforts to end the war, The New York Times reports. The strikes — aimed at an American-operated factory and European diplomatic offices — signal a calculated rejection of peace talks and Western involvement, according to officials and military analysts cited by the outlet.

Kremlin uses strikes to resist Western diplomacy

On 21 August, Russian cruise missiles hit a factory in Mukachevo run by Flex Ltd., an American multinational company best known locally for making Nespresso coffee machines. The plant, Ukraine’s largest employer in Zakarpattia Oblast, had no role in military production, according to local officials and the company itself. Nonetheless, it became a target just six days after US President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss possible paths toward ending the war.

A week later, two more Russian missiles struck central Kyiv, damaging buildings housing the European Union delegation and the British Council. The diplomatic quarter in Kyiv had previously been spared by Russian forces. Following the strikes, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen publicly accused Moscow of intentionally attacking EU diplomatic infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia is now “striking at everyone in the world who seeks peace.”

These strikes were not isolated. NYT notes that more than half of American companies operating in Ukraine have already sustained damage from Russian attacks. The list includes major international names such as McDonald’s, Boeing-affiliated facilities, and a Philip Morris plant. The Flex factory alone, which employed around 3,000 people at the time of the strike, was the largest taxpayer in its oblast and produced only commercial consumer products.

A shift toward punishing peace supporters

According to NYT, the Kremlin’s choice of targets — foreign-linked civilian infrastructure and cultural institutions — suggests a deliberate effort to intimidate and punish those backing Ukraine’s defense and sovereignty through diplomacy, investment, or postwar security guarantees. Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Merezhko said the attacks are “a clear signal” that Putin now feels emboldened to extend the war beyond Ukraine and toward the West itself.

Franz-Stefan Gady, a military analyst based in Vienna, told NYT that Moscow is intentionally testing the boundaries of Western deterrence. The aim, he said, is to impose costs on Ukraine’s allies while avoiding direct military retaliation — a strategy designed to weaken Western resolve and push Ukraine into disadvantageous negotiations.

European governments are currently debating whether to send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine, and the strikes appear designed to dissuade that. Volodymyr Dubovyk, director of the Center for International Studies at Odesa I.I. Mechnikov National University, described the message from Moscow as clear: “Don’t you dare send your troops here.”

A pattern of escalation

The 28 August strike on Kyiv, which included hundreds of missiles and drones, killed at least 25 civilians — the deadliest attack on the capital since the Trump–Putin meeting. While none of the fatalities occurred at the damaged diplomatic offices, the choice of targets marked a dramatic shift in Russia’s strategy.

The Kremlin has dismissed negotiations as premature and rejected Western-proposed security guarantees for Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense falsely claimed that its strike on the Mukachevo factory was aimed at the Ukrainian military-industrial complex. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told NBC News he had allegedly “never heard about” the Flex attack, while simultaneously denying that Russia targets civilian sites.

Following the attacks, President Trump said he was “not happy” with Russia’s actions. However, the US response so far has been limited to verbal disapproval, with no new sanctions or retaliatory steps announced.

Ukrainian forces have liberated the village of Myrne near Kupiansk, removing a key Russian position used to control the approach road to the city, Suspilne and Deep State reported. 

Ukrainian troops take back Myrne near Kupiansk

Suspilne reports that Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for the “Dnipro” operational-strategic grouping of forces, confirmed on the evening of 30 August that Myrne had been freed from Russian control.

“As of now, Russians have been pushed out of Myrne. There’s no information on wounded or killed enemy troops. Our forces are advancing further,” he said.

Maps published by DeepState on 29 August had already shown that the Ukrainian Defense Forces had regained control over the village, located northwest of Kupiansk. The settlement had allowed Russian forces to observe and control the road leading directly into the city.

Russian forces launch new attacks after losing ground

On 31 August, the General Staff of Ukraine reported nine Russian attacks over the previous day targeting positions near Petropavlivka and Kupiansk. Militarnyi notes that Russian troops are concentrating combat-ready units north of Kupiansk, continuing to exert pressure on Ukrainian defenses.

Despite this, Ukrainian forces are holding their lines. Units from Ukraine’s 10th Army Corps, together with attached elements, recently repelled the first Russian mechanized assault in this direction in a long time. 

A Russian Gerbera drone shot down over Ukraine was found to contain footage showing a camera test at a Chinese factory. Militarnyi reports that the footage was stored inside the onboard Viewpro A40 camera.

Chinese factory video found in shot-down Russian drone

Ukrainian defense forces recovered a Gerbera drone equipped with an A40 camera from the Chinese company Viewpro. According to Militarnyi, the footage discovered inside the drone showed a test of this camera conducted at Viewpro’s production site in Shenzhen.

The “About Communications by Serhii Flash” Telegram channel published the footage and stated that it showed the camera being tested at the Chinese factory. 

The Viewpro facility is located in the Aotexing Science Park in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District.

Cyber Boroshno geolocated the footage using coordinates 22.554448, 113.944050 and confirmed that it was filmed at that exact location. The community stated that although the address from the manufacturer’s website does not appear correctly on Google Maps, translating it into Chinese and checking it through Baidu confirmed the location with complete certainty.

Chinese components repeatedly found in Russian drones

Militarnyi notes that Russia continues to receive large volumes of components and finished products from China for use in military systems, including drones.

In March 2025, Militarnyi reported that a new 16-element CRPA antenna had been discovered inside a Shahed kamikaze drone. That antenna was designed to overcome Ukrainian electronic warfare systems.

Russia has also placed significant orders for drone battery systems and continues to cooperate with China in other areas related to unmanned weapons.

In July 2024, the New York Times reported that Russia was importing sanctioned equipment through Hong Kong for use in drone production and other weapons systems.

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Militarnyi reports that a Ukrainian drone strike on 30 August 2025 destroyed two Russian helicopter gunships at the airfield in occupied Crimea’s capital, Simferopol. Satellite imagery published by the AviaVector X account confirmed the destruction of a Mi-8 and a Mi-24 helicopter at the site.

Satellite confirms two helicopters destroyed in occupied Crimea

According to Militarnyi, the drone attack took place at approximately 06:30 on 30 August, when Russian monitoring channels began reporting the movement of drones toward Simferopol. Following the reports, a powerful explosion occurred at the airport, followed by thick black smoke.

AviaVector’s satellite imagery captured on the same day showed two attack helicopters destroyed as a result of the strike. An earlier image from 22 August showed a group of military aircraft stationed close together at the airfield. Specifically, the photo documented five Mi-8 helicopters, three Mi-24s, one An-26, and one Tu-134UBL. Militarnyi notes that all these aircraft were concentrated in a small area.

Initial claims after the explosion suggested that aviation fuel tanks had been hit, but this information was later proven false. The satellite images confirmed that the damage involved airframes, not fuel infrastructure.

Russian Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters among the destroyed aircraft

Mi-8 helicopters are currently in wide use by the Russian Armed Forces and are the main transport helicopter in Russian military service. The exact model of the Mi-8 destroyed in Simferopol is unknown. However, Mi-8 helicopters are used by Russian forces for troop transport, strike missions, air defense tasks, and operations against Ukrainian naval drones.

Prior confirmed case of drone-launched missile strike on Mi-8s

On 31 December 2024, Ukrainian forces destroyed two Mi-8 helicopters using R-73 air-to-air missiles launched from a sea-based drone. This was the first confirmed use of this method to eliminate an airborne target.

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency HUR has released a video showing a night-time drone strike on a key Russian radar installation in occupied Crimea. The destroyed radar was part of the S-400 Triumf air defense system—Russia’s most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile complex designed to detect and shoot down aircraft, drones, and missiles at ranges up to 400 km.

Ukrainian drone disables long-range Russian radar in Crimea

According to HUR, the operation took place in the early hours of 28 August and targeted a 91N6E radar complex—an essential component of the S-400 system responsible for long-range target detection. The strike was carried out by the Department of Active Operations of HUR. A short video released by the agency shows the drone approaching and striking the installation.

Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi reports that the radar’s antenna array—its most vulnerable part—was directly hit by an aircraft-type drone. The outlet notes the installation was likely disabled as a result. HUR mocked the loss, saying another “Triumf” of the occupiers had gone blind, calling it a “fiasco.”

Russia’s radar shield in Crimea is steadily crumbling

Earlier this month, the unit destroyed several radar stations belonging to the Russian 3rd Radio-Technical Regiment, based in the Ai-Petri mountain area on Crimea’s southern coast. Russia had attempted to protect these radar systems by hiding them under Soviet-era radio-transparent domes. However, Ukrainian drones still managed to hit the Nebo-SVU, Podlet K-1, and the rare 98L6 Yenisey radars.

The Yenisey radar is a next-generation system developed for use with the future S-500 missile platform.

Ukraine creates blind zones for deeper drone strikes

The goal of these strikes, according to Militarnyi, is to carve out “blind corridors” in Russian radar coverage over occupied territory. These gaps have allowed Ukrainian long-range drones to carry out additional raids.

In the past month, HUR and the SBU conducted attacks that damaged up to six Russian fighter jets at the Saky airfield. At Kirovske airbase, Ukrainian drones also hit Mi-8 and Mi-26 transport helicopters and a Mi-28 attack helicopter.

The recent Ukrainian drone strikes have forced Russia’s Ust-Luga oil export terminal on the Baltic Sea coast to cut operations by half for September, Reuters reports. The disruption follows earlier drone attacks on pipeline infrastructure, and has triggered emergency rerouting of crude exports to other ports.

Damage affects flows to key terminal

Two industry sources told Reuters that Ust-Luga will operate at about 350,000 barrels per day—roughly half its normal capacity. The slowdown comes after Ukrainian drone strikes earlier in August targeted the Unecha pumping station in Russia’s Bryansk Oblast. Unecha is a crucial node in the pipeline system that feeds Ust-Luga and is also linked to the Druzhba pipeline.

The drone attacks have affected crude flows not only to Ust-Luga but also through the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Belarus, Slovakia, and Hungary. Slovakia said on 28 August that initial supplies via the Druzhba line had resumed in test mode.

Crude redirected as repair work begins

The Reuters sources did not clarify which pipeline was damaged but said that repair work was underway. However, there is no clear timeline for when full capacity at Ust-Luga will be restored. To limit export losses, oil volumes are being redirected to Russia’s Primorsk and Novorossiisk ports.

The so-called Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) has been officially recognized as affiliated with a foreign religious organization whose activities are banned in Ukraine. The decision, issued by the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience, follows an investigation that confirmed the structure’s continued ties to the Russian Orthodox Church.

On 27 August, Ukraine’s State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) adopted a formal decision to classify the Kyiv Metropolia of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as affiliated with a foreign religious organization whose activities are prohibited in Ukraine. The designation was issued under Article 3 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Sphere of Religious Organizations.”

The decision came after a detailed investigation into the nature of the Metropolia’s connections. Authorities found clear indicators of affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church — a body already banned in Ukraine for its role in undermining national sovereignty and serving Russian state interests under the guise of religion.

The finding constitutes a direct violation of Ukraine’s Law “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations.” In response, the DESS issued an official instruction ordering the Kyiv Metropolia to eliminate this violation.

Moscow’s clergy refused to comply

Last month, DESS found that the UOC is still affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church despite claims to the contrary. The service warned the head of the UOC MP, Metropolitan Onufrii, that unless his church showed clear, official proof of cutting ties with Moscow by 18 August—including formal decisions, public rejections, and a complete break in practice—it would be treated as still under Russian control, as investigators had already found it continues to follow Moscow’s rules, liturgy, and leadership despite its claims of independence.

Onufrii, reportedly issued a letter stating his refusal to comply with the order. This open defiance removed any basis for revising or withdrawing the official warning under Ukrainian law.

In accordance with Part 15 of Article 16 of the Law, and in the absence of evidence that the violation was corrected or that the order was mistakenly issued, the DESS moved forward. It officially recognized the Kyiv Metropolia of the UOC as affiliated with a foreign religious organization whose activity is banned on Ukrainian territory.

Legal action formalized

The final ruling was sealed in Order No. Н-127/11, signed by DESS head Viktor Yelenskyi. The order is legally grounded in Article 5-1 and Part Seventeen of Article 16 of the Law “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations.” The basis for the order is a memo submitted by the Head of the Religious Affairs Department, dated 27 August 2025.

The order mandates that the organizational and communications department publish the decision on the official DESS website within three days.

Hungary has banned a Ukrainian commander from entering the country and the Schengen zone after strikes on the Druzhba oil pipeline. The move was announced by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó in a Facebook video on 28 August.

Hungary frames attacks against the pipeline in Russia as a threat to its sovereignty

In his FB video, Szijjártó said Ukraine had launched several strikes against the Druzhba oil pipeline, which he called vital for his country’s energy supply, adding that Hungary considers “every single attack against our energy security as an attack committed against our sovereignty.“

“Without the Druzhba pipeline, Hungary cannot be supplied with oil,” he claimed, adding, “Ukraine knows this precisely. Ukraine is fully aware that the pipeline is indispensable for Hungary’s secure energy supply.”

The minister stated that the strikes harmed Hungary and Slovakia more than Russia, without addressing why, in the fourth year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Hungary remains fully dependent on Russian oil despite available alternatives, or that Hungary’s payments for this oil in effect bankroll Moscow’s war machine against Ukraine.

“Ukraine knows very well that the attacks against the Druzhba oil pipeline harm Hungary and, of course, Slovakia much more than Russia,” Szijjártó said.

He described the latest strike as “extremely serious,” adding that “restoration work took so long that we almost had to use strategic, or emergency, reserves.”

Ban on Ukrainian commander

Szijjártó announced that Hungary’s response would be to bar the commander of the Ukrainian unit behind the strike.

“We have therefore made the decision that the commander of the military unit which carried out the most recent extremely serious attacks against the Druzhba oil pipeline will be banned from Hungary and from the entire Schengen area,” he said. “This Ukrainian citizen will not be able to enter Hungary or the Schengen zone for the coming years.”

The Hungarian Prime Minister did not name the Ukrainian military officer targeted by the ban. The most likely candidate is Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces and an ethnic Hungarian.

He had previously claimed responsibility for the latest strike on the Druzhba pipeline, adding the 1956 Hungarian resistance slogan to his post: “Ruszkik haza!” (“Russians, go home!”).

Ukrainian long-range drones struck the Druzhba’s pumping stations on 19 and 21 August.

In an editorial published on 27 August, Rzeczpospolita stated that in the fourth year of Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine, Polish President Karol Nawrocki has taken a position that aligns with the aggressor. The commentary by Zuzanna Dąbrowska focused on Nawrocki’s recent veto of a bill that would have expanded support for Ukrainian citizens, framing the decision as politically motivated rather than policy-based.

Domestic strategy behind the Ukraine aid veto

According to Rzeczpospolita, the Polish president’s veto marks the beginning of a process to unify Poland’s right-wing political forces in preparation for the 2027 parliamentary elections. Nawrocki needs to build a right-wing coalition between the Law and Justice (PiS) party and the Confederation, the article argues.

The editorial highlights Nawrocki’s signing of the Toruń Declaration promoted by pro-Russian politician Sławomir Mentzen as part of this broader strategy. It notes that unless the ruling coalition presents a strong presidential challenger, the right-wing bloc may achieve its goal of securing a constitutional majority.

A consistent anti-Ukraine stance

The piece argues that Nawrocki has maintained a clear and consistent anti-Ukrainian position since entering political life. While such positions are not unique among world leaders, the context of war renders them significant. According to Dąbrowska, in wartime there is a binary choice between supporting the victim of aggression or the aggressor. The op-ed concludes that for the president’s circle, this distinction appears secondary to internal political priorities.

Public attitudes and political response

Rzeczpospolita connects the shift in political decisions to changing public sentiment. The commentary states that societal attitudes are now shaping political behavior, and that political messaging in turn reinforces those attitudes. The result, it says, is a feedback loop that has already led to incidents of violence, public conflict, and discrimination against children.

Russian influence on Polish discourse

The op-ed also links the rise of anti-Ukrainian sentiment to earlier Russian disinformation campaigns. It notes that efforts originating in the Kremlin since 2022—using false stories, social media content, and memes—were initially dismissed as implausible. However, the article states that these narratives have become more influential and are now shaping public discourse. The seed planted by Moscow in 2022, the editorial says, is now producing results.

Ukrainian drones struck several targets across Russia in the early hours of 28 August, causing fires at two oil refineries and disrupting rail traffic. Confirmed attacks hit the Kuibyshevsky refinery in the city of Samara about 1,000 km from the frontlines, the Afipsky refinery in Krasnodar Krai around 300 km behind the lines, and a locomotive depot in Petrov Val, Volgograd Oblast. A railway station in Samara Oblast was also reportedly targeted, leading to service delays. 

Strike hits Samara’s Kuibyshevsky refinery

According to Russian Telegram news channel Astra and Ukrainian Exilenova+, a drone attack caused fires at the Kuibyshevsky oil refinery in Samara in the early hours of 28 August. Both channels shared footage of the attack and the subsequent fires.

Local residents began reporting UAV flights over the city and explosions near the facility shortly after 03:00. According to both channels, initial confusion led many locals to believe the Novokuibyshevsky refinery had been hit again after an attack weeks ago. 

Exilenova+ posted follow-ups referencing public speculation about the number of drones involved, writing that “the excited local crowd counted 17 drones, lost count.” The same channel later claimed, without confirmation, that both the Kuibyshevsky and Novokuibyshevsky refineries had been struck.

In response to the attack, the governor of Samara Oblast announced temporary flight restrictions at Samara airport and mobile internet outages “for citizens’ safety.” Emergency services and air defense systems were reportedly activated during the incident.

Afipsky refinery also targeted in Krasnodar Krai

Exilenova+ also shared footage of fires at on the Afipsky oil refinery in southern Russia’s Krasnodar Krai. Russian authorities confirmed the attack, but attributed damage to “falling drone debris” that caused a fire at one of the refinery’s units in the settlement of Afipsky.

The attack affected a gas and condensate processing unit, previously targeted in earlier strikes, according to Exilenova’s geolocation of the footage. The channel geolocated and published video evidence of the fire. Emergency crews were deployed to the scene, with 21 personnel and eight vehicles extinguishing the 20-square-meter blaze. Officials stated there were no casualties.

Petrov Val train depot attacked again

The city of Petrov Val in Volgograd Oblast experienced a repeat drone strike, just five days after a previous attack on 23 August. Exilenova+ shared videos showing fires at the facility, claiming the attack targeted the TChE-7 locomotive depot. According to Astra, a drone impact led to a fire at one of the technical buildings of the depot in the city. Governor Bocharov stated that the fire was quickly extinguished and that there were no injuries.

Rail traffic disrupted in Samara Oblast

In addition to refinery and depot attacks, drones reportedly also targeted Kryazh station in Samara Oblast. Astra quoted Kuybyshev Railway as saying that drone debris damaged the contact network between Kryazh and Lipiahy stations.

The incident led to train disruptions: six long-distance and four suburban trains were delayed, with the maximum delay reaching 2 hours and 14 minutes. Three suburban trains were canceled.

Russia claims 102 drones downed overnight

Despite the widespread damage, Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed its air defenses destroyed 102 Ukrainian drones overnight. According to the ministry, 22 drones were intercepted over the Black Sea, 21 each over Rostov and Samara oblasts, 18 over Krasnodar Krai, 11 over occupied Crimea, three each over Voronezh and Saratov oblasts, two over Volgograd Oblast, and one over the Sea of Azov.

As always, the Russian ministry’s claims have not been independently verified.

In the aftermath of the 24 August drone strike, the Syzran oil refinery in Russia’s Samara Oblast about 1,000 km from Ukraine is no longer operational due to the destruction of its most critical equipment. Russian Telegram channel Astra, citing sources in the emergency services, reported that the facility lost the AVT-6 primary processing unit, the L-35-6 secondary unit, and the pump station — all essential for continued refinery operations.

Core refinery units rendered inoperable

According to Astra, five drones exploded on site on 24 August, three of which directly struck key infrastructure. Five more drones were reportedly shot down on approach. No injuries were reported, as all 240 employees had sheltered during the attack.

Previous strike on Syzran refinery occurred weeks ago

The refinery, owned by Rosneft, is one of Samara Oblast’s largest oil-processing enterprises, producing a wide range of petroleum products and supplying fuel to central Russian oblasts and military units. Following earlier drone strikes on 15 August, the facility had already suffered major damage and had suspended crude oil intake and processing.

The 15 August attack struck the ELOU-AVT-6 unit, designed for desalting and primary crude oil distillation, and also damaged several storage tanks.

Explore further

Russia says 13 drones destroyed — but Syzran refinery burns and videos show fire raging at military-linked fuel plant

Systematic drone campaign deepens energy crisis

The refinery has also been targeted multiple times this year, with incidents in February and March causing fires. 

According to Reuters, Ukrainian drone strikes in August have disabled 17% of Russia’s oil refining capacity.

The situation has contributed to worsening fuel shortages across Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories, particularly in Crimea, Zabaykalsky Krai, Vladivostok, Buryatia, and Primorsky Krai.

Ukraine has disabled 17% of Russia’s oil refining capacity through a wave of recent drone strikes targeting key infrastructure, Reuters reports. The attacks, carried out over the past month, have disrupted fuel processing, sparked gasoline shortages, and hit the core of Moscow’s war economy as Washington seeks to broker a peace deal.

Ukraine strikes 10 refineries, targets export terminals

Reuters calculated that Ukraine’s strikes have taken out 1.1 million barrels per day of Russian oil refining capacity. The drones targeted 10 plants, including Lukoil’s Volgograd refinery and Rosneft’s facility in Ryazan. Other damaged refineries include those in Rostov, Samara, Saratov, and Krasnodar regions.

In addition to oil refineries, Ukrainian drones attacked the Druzhba pipeline and Novatek’s Ust-Luga export terminal and gas processing complex on the Baltic Sea. The fire at the Novoshakhtinsk refinery in Rostov Oblast was still burning as of 25 August, days after being struck by drones.

The Syzran refinery in Samara Oblast was critically affected — key equipment was destroyed, rendering it unable to function. Afipsky in Krasnodar Krai and the facility in Novokuybyshevsk were also hit.

Fuel shortages hit occupied territories and Russia’s south and far east

Fuel shortages followed in parts of Russian-occupied Ukraine, southern Russia, and the Russian Far East. Moscow had already banned gasoline exports in July due to growing domestic demand.

According to Sergei Vakulenko of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, the damaged plants have lost only part of their output, but even limited disruptions can impact supply. He previously worked for Gazprom Neft.

Russia depends on oil and gas for a quarter of its budget revenues. This year, it raised defense spending by 25%, reaching Cold War–era levels. Despite sanctions, Moscow continues large-scale weapons production. Still, economic growth has slowed, causing concern in the Kremlin.

Ukraine has unveiled a new tracked robotic vehicle called Black Widow, designed to act as a carrier for FPV drones. Forbes reports that the system marks a shift from traditional gun-armed vehicles to uncrewed carriers capable of launching multiple drones.

From Little Boar to Black Widow

Forbes writes that Ukrainian company IRV presented the Karakurt or Black Widow last week at the Iron Demo event near Lviv. The robot is based on the Vepryk, or Little Boar, a modular uncrewed ground vehicle previously used for missions such as cargo carrying, casualty evacuation, mine laying, one-way kamikaze attacks, and combat with mounted machine guns. According to Forbes, its conversion into a drone carrier required relatively minor changes.

The Black Widow has a control range of 4 kilometers, limited by terrain masking. Forbes notes that the vehicle overcomes this limitation by carrying a relay drone that extends the effective range of FPV strikes to 30 kilometers. The vehicle mounts six FPV drones on two rails, which can be launched either directly or through a repeater. Forbes highlights an unusual feature: the ability to launch two drones together, with one observing the strike of the other and enabling a rapid follow-up attack.

According to Forbes, a full Black Widow system includes a ground control unit, two Vepryk carriers, and twelve FPV drones. The cost is under $50,000—about a quarter of the price of a single Javelin missile.

Rival Russian systems

Forbes reports that Russia is pursuing similar developments. At the Archipelago 2025 defense exhibition this week, Russian company Hermes unveiled its Argus carrier, a modified UGV built to transport, control, and launch multiple drones. Hermes stressed that its technology is focused on remote drone launch and control, which it claims can be applied to ground vehicles, aerial drones, or drone boats. Forbes adds that Argus appears to be a technology demonstrator rather than a system ready for operational use.

Another Russian project, called Dronobus, was shown on 8 August by the Scientific and Technical Center Kornei. Forbes describes the Dronobus as a fiber-optic–controlled UGV that also launches a fiber-controlled FPV. This combination provides a total range of 25 kilometers while avoiding radio emissions and resisting electronic warfare. Forbes notes that this too is an early prototype, but it demonstrates how fiber-optic technology can be integrated into drone carriers.

Changing battlefield balance

Forbes emphasizes that the Black Widow illustrates how FPV carriers are changing battlefield tactics. The vehicle can be pre-positioned and left waiting until a target appears, then activated for ambush strikes. Forbes reports that Ukrainian forces often rely on such ambush tactics, while Russian troops frequently carry FPVs forward to be launched at close range against Ukrainian trenches.

A Ukrainian sea drone detonated in Novorossiysk bay, killing five elite Russian naval divers during a Black Sea operation. Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR) reported the incident on 22 August.

Naval drone loses control, drifts into Novorossiysk bay

According to HUR, one of its strike sea drones broke through into Novorossiysk bay. The Ukrainian agency said electronic warfare measures disrupted the drone, causing it to lose contact with its control station and drift. Russian naval command later ordered that the unmanned craft be retrieved from the bay for examination.

One-way mission: Russia sends in elite sabotage divers 

To carry out this task, Russian command dispatched a group of five elite naval reconnaissance divers from the so-called PDSS unit, described as a sabotage and reconnaissance detachment. These divers are trained with significant investment of resources and equipped with advanced gear.

While attempting to manipulate the Ukrainian drone, it detonated. The explosion killed the entire sabotage group of five Russian divers on the spot, HUR claimed.

HUR states that dissatisfaction is growing among Russian naval personnel. Sailors reportedly expressed outrage over what they called a senseless order to recover the Ukrainian drone, which resulted in the destruction of a highly trained and expensive unit.

Previous operation in the Black Sea

On 21 August, HUR had also reported the destruction of a Russian military boat during an operation near Zaliznyi Port in occupied Kherson Oblast.

A massive fire is still burning at the US-owned Flex plant in Mukachevo in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia Oblast after Russia’s 21 August missile strike, with 21 people confirmed injured, Ukraine’s Emergency Service reported. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says Moscow hit the factory to discourage foreign investment and had prepared the assault for weeks before the Alaska summit between Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.

Among the targets of the 12 August attack was Mukachevo in Zakarpattia Oblast, where a missile hit the US-owned electronics manufacturer Flex. The strike caused a massive fire and injured employees. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that Flex was a civilian enterprise producing household goods such as coffee machines.

ISW: Strike aimed at discouraging foreign investment

ISW reported on 21 August that Russia likely struck the Flex plant “to discourage the United States and Ukraine’s European allies from investing in Ukraine or opening businesses within Ukraine.” The think tank emphasized that the targeting of a US-owned enterprise in Ukraine’s far west, near the borders with Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland, sent a clear signal.

Prepared in advance of the Alaska summit

ISW assessed that Russia had prepared for this assault for several weeks. In the lead-up to the 15 August Alaska summit between Putin and Trump, Russian forces launched smaller strike packages, which ISW said were designed to portray Moscow as a good-faith negotiator while conserving munitions.

The think tank noted that Russia had not launched Kalibr cruise missiles since 21 July or Kinzhal missiles since 4 August, suggesting these were deliberately withheld to be used in greater numbers during the 20–21 August strike.

Firefighting efforts continue in Mukachevo

By the morning of 22 August, Ukraine’s Emergency Service reported that the fire in Mukachevo had not yet been extinguished. More than 50 firefighters, 15 units of equipment, and two railway fire trains remain deployed to contain the blaze.

A Ukrainian drone strike hit Russia’s Druzhba oil pumping station in Unecha late on 21 August, setting off a major fire. Commander of the Ukrainian Forces of Unmanned Systems (SBS), Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, confirmed the attack and released footage showing flames at the site in Bryansk oblast.

Ukraine drones hit Unecha station again

Brovdi said that operators of the 14th regiment of the Forces of Unmanned Systems carried out the strike. He added the phrase “repair it in 48 hours,” mocking Russia’s attempts to restore the station after the previous hit.

Brovdi, who is ethnic Hungarian, also wrote in Hungarian “Ruszkik haza!” meaning “Russians go home.”

His post included video of the burning facility and described the drones as “birds of the SBS” continuing their “journey through worms’ refineries” — Ukraine has been targeting not oily the pumping stations, but also Russia’s oil refineries.

Bryansk governor Alexander Bogomaz announced a missile alert in Unecha district on 21 August. By the morning of 22 August, he claimed two fixed-wing drones had been destroyed allegedly with “no casualties or damages.” 

Unecha’s role in Druzhba pipeline

The Unecha pumping station is part of Russia’s 5,500-kilometer Druzhba oil pipeline. The station is owned by the state company Transneft and has the capacity to pump 60 million tons of oil annually. Located in the settlement of Vysokoe in Unecha district, about 60 kilometers from Ukraine’s border, it is crucial for transporting Russian oil to the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga and for supplying Belarus’s Mozyr refinery.

Previous attacks on Druzhba

The Unecha pumping station had already been struck on 12 August, when Ukrainian forces destroyed two pumping stations, a technical building, and nearby equipment. That earlier attack also caused a large fire. The latest strike marks the second hit on the same target within nine days.

On 18 August, Ukraine’s General Staff reported a strike on the Nikolskoye-1 pumping station in Russia’s Tambov oblast, another Druzhba hub. That attack forced Hungary’s foreign minister Péter Szijjártó to confirm a temporary suspension of Russian oil transit to Hungary, before announcing on 20 August that deliveries had resumed. Szijjártó also claimed that Hungary is Ukraine’s largest supplier of electricity.

Czech volunteers have launched the “Operation Štefan” fundraiser to buy five training aircraft for Ukraine’s future military flight school. The Gift for Putin campaign is calling for public donations to purchase Czech-made Alto NG planes for pilot instruction.

Gift for Putin campaign aims to fund training aircraft for Ukraine

The Czech initiative Dárek pro Putina (Gift for Putin) announced the campaign on 21 August via social media platform X. The group said it is raising funds to acquire five Alto NG planes for Ukraine’s upcoming military pilot academy. According to their message, the aircraft would help train new pilots who could eventually protect not just Ukraine but all of Europe.

“Ukraine needs pilots. And they must learn to fly on something. Help us buy five Czech training aircraft Alto NG for the future Ukrainian military pilot school. Its graduates will one day protect us from Russia. Let’s help them grow. Let’s help them take off,” the campaign wrote.

The Alto NG is a two-seat, single-engine aircraft with a metal frame. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 600 kg and is powered by a ROTAX 912 ULs engine. The plane features a simple design, low maintenance costs, and easy handling. Volunteers described it as optimal for pilot training.

Direct Fly, a Czech company, manufactures the Alto NG. The aircraft measures 6.30 meters in length with a wingspan of 8.20 meters. Its cruising speed reaches 180 km/h.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has confirmed that Ukrainian drone units struck the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov Oblast overnight on 21 August. It also reported two additional strikes: one on a UAV warehouse and logistics hub in occupied Donetsk, and another on a fuel storage facility in Voronezh Oblast.

Confirmed refinery strike in Rostov Oblast

The General Staff said Ukrainian drone units, operating in coordination with other defense components, struck the Novoshakhtinsk refinery in Rostov Oblast. The facility is one of the largest fuel suppliers in southern Russia and is involved in supporting Russian armed forces. The refinery’s total reservoir capacity exceeds 210,000 cubic meters. Numerous explosions were recorded, and the target was confirmed hit.

Drone warehouse and logistics hub hit in occupied Donetsk

Separately, Ukrainian special operations forces struck a drone storage facility and logistics hub in occupied Donetsk. The strike aimed to reduce the enemy’s capacity to use long-range UAVs. The General Staff confirmed explosions at the site and direct hits.

Fuel base targeted in Voronezh Oblast

In addition, the General Staff reported a strike on a fuel and lubricant storage site used by Russian occupying forces in Voronezh Oblast. The extent of the damage is still being clarified.

More attacks today

Earlier today, the General Staff had also reported an attack on a Russian fuel train in occupied Crimea.

According to media reports, Ukrainian forces struck multiple targets overnight on 20–21 August: the Rostov refinery, a railway substation in Voronezh Oblast, and a GRU base in Crimea. S

Ukrainian Special Operations Forces struck a Russian military fuel convoy near the occupied Crimean railway station in Dzhankoi in the early hours of 21 August. The sabotage operation, confirmed by Ukraine’s General Staff and the Special Operations Forces Command, targeted a moving Russian train transporting fuel and lubricants. Dzhankoi is located in northern Crimea next to the occupied part of Kherson Oblast.

Ukrainian strike hits Russian military fuel train in Crimea

According to the General Staff, the hit disrupted logistics for Russia’s southern grouping of troops. The operation, conducted close to the Dzhankoi rail hub, aimed to weaken Russian supply efforts on the occupied peninsula. The Ukrainian military described the outcome as a complication for the occupiers’ logistics in the south.

The Special Operations Forces signed off their statement with: “Always beyond the limit!”

Ukrainian Telegram channel Supernova+ shared a video that allegedly shows the aftermath of the strike in Crimea, with images of the damaged train. The footage has not been independently verified.

Ukraine is set to begin mass production of its 3,000-kilometer-range missile Flamingo by the end of 2025 or early 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced. He said it on 21 August during a meeting with journalists, Liga reports.  He added that the missile flies 3,000 kilometers and called that “important.”

According to Liga, Zelenskyy stated that full details of the missile program will remain undisclosed until Ukraine possesses hundreds of the missiles. 

Flamingo missile confirmed as Ukraine’s longest-range missile

Zelenskyy said the Flamingo missile has already proven its range of 3,000 kilometers during testing. He noted that it is currently Ukraine’s “most successful missile we have so far.” He said more units will appear by December, and mass production is expected by the end of December or in January–February, depending on testing success and available funding.

First photos show missile under development inside Ukraine

On 17 August, Associated Press photojournalist Yefrem Lukatsky posted a Facebook update about the Flamingo missile. He shared images from a defense facility operated by Ukrainian company Fire Point. The facility is located “in an undisclosed place” inside the country. The post provided the first publicly released photos of the new long-range missile.

On 18 August, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed the Flamingo missile exists during the presentation of the government’s action plan. 

On 21 August, Lukatsky posted more photos.

The missile manufacturer, FirePoint, stated that its Flamingo successfully passed test launches several months ago. It reportedly entered serial production, and the company was seeking to scale up manufacturing.

Analysts link Flamingo to UAE’s FP-5 cruise missile

Defense Express stated that the Flamingo is “very likely” the FP-5 cruise missile made by the UAE-based weapons firm Milanion Group. That system was first presented in early February 2025. Based on the reports, the Flamingo missile has a 3,000 km range, a 1-ton warhead, and a maximum takeoff weight of 6 tons. It can remain in the air for over four hours. The maximum speed is 950 km/h, cruising speed is 850–900 km/h, and wingspan is 6 meters.

Zelenskyy told reporters on 21 August that Russia has captured only a third of Donetsk Oblast since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022. He added that Moscow would need four more years to take the rest of the Donbas by force. 

Russia holds about two-thirds of Donetsk Oblast, but most of it since 2014

Liga reports that Zelenskyy’s comments came during a press meeting. Before discussing Ukraine’s position, Zelenskyy said it is necessary to understand Russia’s intentions. Using Donetsk Oblast as an example, he said he explained the situation during his meeting with US President Donald Trump. According to Zelenskyy, Russia did not seize 69% of Donetsk Oblast after February 2022, as claimed in some assessments, but only about one-third.

He clarified that Russian forces currently control around 67–69% of Donetsk Oblast. That includes territory Russia had already occupied before 2022. Nearly four years of full-scale war produced only marginal gains in the oblast, he said.

Zelenskyy dismissed speculation that Russian troops could take the rest of Donbas by the end of this year. He called such talk baseless and said the Kremlin would need four years more to achieve that objective.

On 12 August, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine’s defense forces would not pull back from Donbas.

Ukraine struck multiple critical Russian targets overnight on 20–21 August, hitting a refinery in Rostov Oblast, a railway power substation in Voronezh Oblast, and a GRU base in occupied Crimea. Satellite data confirmed large fires at several sites, while occupation officials attempted to downplay the incidents.

Ukrainian drones hit refinery and bypass air defense in Rostov Oblast

Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ reported that drones struck the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Rostov Oblast. According to the outlet, the facility was protected by two Pantsir and one Tor anti-air systems, which failed to prevent the attack. Local residents reported hearing around five explosions over the city. Russian news Telegram channel Astra confirmed that a fire broke out at the site following the drone strike.

GRU base and helicopter airfield in Sevastopol targeted

In Russian-occupied Crimea, Ukrainian drones struck the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s military unit #95408 in Sevastopol. Exilenova+ stated that GRU military intelligence forces are currently based there. NASA FIRMS satellite data confirmed fires at the site. Fires were also observed at the nearby Khersones airbase, which hosts Russian helicopters and drones.

Russian-installed occupation authorities claimed the explosions were part of unannounced firefighting drills conducted by the Black Sea Fleet in coordination with emergency services. Astra quoted occupation head Mikhail Razvozhayev, who urged residents to “trust only official information.” However, local social media users mocked the explanation, saying they were being treated “like fools.”

Ukrainian drones disable power substation in Voronezh Oblast

Further north, Ukraine also hit the Zhuravka railway power substation in Voronezh Oblast. Exilenova+ reported this strike, and NASA satellite data confirmed a fire at the location. Astra relayed a statement from the Russian governor, who said that more than five drones were downed over the southern districts of the oblast. He acknowledged that an energy facility had been damaged, leaving several villages without electricity and causing a number of passenger train delays.

Astra later reported that train service was restored after the incident, but highlighted that 19 trains were initially delayed due to the attack. Authorities warned that the threat of further drone strikes remained across the entire oblast.

Russia claims mass drone shoot-downs amid visible damage

Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed that its air defenses had shot down 49 Ukrainian drones overnight. The ministry alleged that 21 drones were intercepted over Rostov Oblast, 7 over Voronezh Oblast, 4 over occupied Crimea, and the rest across other regions including Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, Orel, Kursk, and Tula oblasts, as well as over the Black Sea.

Moscow adds nuclear spin as narrative deflection

Amid the fallout, Russian authorities claimed that unit #7 at the Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant in Voronezh Oblast had been temporarily disconnected from the grid. TASS cited the Rosenergoatom press service, which denied any safety risks.

The claim came shortly after the regional governor’s vague reference to drone strikes on an “energy facility,” suggesting a possible attempt to introduce a nuclear angle to the story. 

A massive Russian air attack involving 574 drones and 40 missiles struck Ukraine overnight into 21 August, hitting cities across the country, including Mukachevo — a city in Ukraine’s far west close to the Hungarian border. Ukrainian Air Force units downed the majority of the aerial threats, but multiple oblasts reported civilian casualties and infrastructure destruction. The Russian attacks again inflicted civilian casualties.

Mukachevo struck with Kalibr missiles, drone crashes in Khust district

At around 04:40 on 21 August, Russian forces launched two Kalibr missiles at an industrial facility in Mukachevo, Zakarpattia Oblast. According to Myroslav Biletskyi, head of the Zakarpattia Oblast Military Administration (OVA), the strike destroyed warehouse premises and triggered a large fire, causing significant smoke pollution. Authorities deployed an emergency operations center to the site.

The Mukachevo City Council said ten people had been taken to hospital and two more had sought medical care on their own. All received treatment, and their condition was described as stable.

Evhen Meshko, director of Saint Martin Hospital, told Suspilne that by 08:50, 12 people had been brought in: six hospitalized, six treated on an outpatient basis, and one transferred to the oblast hospital. He noted that patients were in mild to moderate condition, with no critical cases reported at that time. A total of 15 ambulance brigades and eight State Emergency Service units worked on-site.

Following the missile impact and resulting fire, Biletskyi warned residents about heavy smoke and the presence of potentially harmful combustion products. He urged residents of Mukachevo and Uzhhorod districts to close all windows and doors and stay indoors, particularly children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic respiratory diseases.

Biletskyi also reported the crash of a Shahed-type drone in the village of Lypovets, Khust district. No injuries were reported. However, a utility building was damaged, windows were blown out in a nearby residential house, and a power line was struck.

Ukrainian foreign ministry denounces strike on US-linked company

Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X that one of the Russian missiles targeted a major American electronics manufacturer in Zakarpattia Oblast. He stated that the facility was entirely civilian and accused Russia of targeting businesses deliberately.

Sybiha added that this was not the first time Russia attacked US-linked facilities, referencing previous strikes on Boeing offices in Kyiv earlier this year. He said the attack proved the need for stronger air defense and reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to diplomacy through bilateral Ukraine-Russia and trilateral Ukraine-US-Russia negotiations. He also called for security guarantees from the US and European partners.

Fatal strike in Lviv

In Lviv, Russian forces launched a combined drone and missile strike, resulting in one person killed and three injured, according to Lviv Oblast head Maksym Kozytskyi.

Mayor Andrii Sadovyi said the explosions damaged at least 26 buildings in Zaliznychnyi district, the third time this area was hit over the past year. He confirmed over 150 shattered windows and 10 destroyed rooftops.

Sadovyi reported that one of the injured victims was in critical condition and undergoing surgery, while another had chest and leg wounds and was in moderate condition. At 08:37, he confirmed a third injury — a 38-year-old woman with a superficial chest wound, hematomas, and lung contusion, being treated at Saint Panteleimon Hospital.

Deputy Mayor Andrii Moskalenko said the same buildings were previously struck on 4 September and 12 July. A kindergarten was also damaged. Emergency commissions were launched to manage repairs and temporary relocation for affected residents.

Zaporizhzhia hit by missiles and bombs

In Zaporizhzhia, two missile strikes damaged several industrial sites and nearby residential buildings, with eight apartment buildings and two private houses sustaining broken windows and damaged facades, according to OVA head Ivan Fedorov. He reported no injuries in this attack.

This morning, the Russians struck a village in Polohy district by three air-dropped bombs, injuring an 85-year-old woman who suffered fractures, lacerations, and a concussion.

The Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration reported that in the last 24 hours:

• 647 attacks were carried out across 14 settlements
• 433 FPV and other drones struck at least 11 populated areas
• 204 artillery strikes targeted various towns
• Three airstrikes and five MLRS attacks occurred
• Russian attacks killed one woman and injured another in Polohy district

Civilian sites hit across multiple oblasts

In Kherson Oblast, the local administration said that from 06:00 on 20 August to 06:00 on 21 August, one person was killed and three others injured. Two Shahed-131/136 drones were destroyed by air defense.

In Kharkiv Oblast, two civilians — a 70-year-old man and 71-year-old woman — were killed near Petrivka, Zolochiv community. A 41-year-old man was injured in Kharkiv city on 18 August. According to the regional administration, Russian forces used:

• One missile
• Six Shahed-136 drones (repeatedly referred to by their Russian designation as “Geran-2” by Kharkiv officials)
• One Lancet drone
• Two Molniia drones
• Three FPV drones

In Donetsk Oblast, the regional administration reported that Russian forces killed three civilians in Kostiantynivka on 20 August, and six more people were injured across the region.

In Rivne Oblast, drone debris hit a private residence and public utility building, igniting a roof fire and shattering windows. No injuries were reported, per the OVA.

In Volyn Oblast, including its capital city of Lutsk, the region was attacked by drones and missiles, with 12 aerial targets engaged. Authorities said no casualties occurred, though minor building damage was confirmed.

Air Force: 577 threats intercepted

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, from 18:40 on 20 August into 21 August, Russia launched 614 aerial weapons, including:

• 574 Shahed drones and decoys
• Four Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missiles
• Two Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles
• 19 Kh-101 cruise missiles
• 14 Kalibr missiles
• One unidentified missile from occupied Crimea

Ukrainian forces intercepted or suppressed 577 targets, including:

• 546 Shahed-type drones and decoys
• One Kinzhal missile
• 18 Kh-101 cruise missiles
• 12 Kalibr cruise missiles

Ukraine’s new Flamingo cruise missile, developed by the defense technology company FirePoint, has been deployed in combat and used against targets in Russia, according to reports from ZN.ua. The domestically produced missile has a flight range exceeding 3,000 km and carries a 1,150 kg warhead.

Flamingo combat launches shown in exclusive video

ZN.ua reports that it received exclusive footage from FirePoint showing both test and combat launches of the Flamingo missile. 

The videos reveal the missile being launched in a training environment and then in actual battlefield conditions, targeting sites inside the Russian Federation.

According to ZN.ua, the missile has already been used in combat for some time, and the provided footage shows that it successfully struck designated targets on Russian territory. These claims are presented by the company through the video documentation given to the outlet.

Developed in secret forest-based workshops and now scaling up

The production and testing of the Flamingo missile reportedly took place in protected facilities located in the Carpathian forests. ZN.ua states that FirePoint conducted successful test launches several months ago. After those trials, the missile entered serial production. The company is now scaling up manufacturing and expanding production capacity.

During development, FirePoint focused on three main parameters: maximum range, large warhead capacity, and rapid deployment from compact platforms. ZN.ua reports that FirePoint says all three objectives were successfully achieved in the current version of the missile.

Key specs: over 3,000 km range and 1,150 kg warhead

Militarnyi reports that, according to FirePoint, the Flamingo has a flight range of over 3,000 km and carries a 1,150 kg warhead. A company representative told Ukrinform that the missile’s top speed reaches 950 km/h. The company also claims that the missile is protected against Russian electronic warfare systems.

The video shows that Flamingo uses a small solid-fuel booster for initial thrust and altitude gain, followed by a jet engine for sustained cruise. Launches are conducted from small mobile platforms, allowing for fast setup and increased operational flexibility.

FirePoint also produces FP-series long-range drones

FirePoint is also the manufacturer of the FP-series drones. According to Militarnyi, the company is now actively scaling the Flamingo project alongside its drone production. FP-1 drones have been used against targets in Russia since at least 2024. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy openly challenged a territorial map presented in the Oval Office during his 18 August meeting with US President Donald Trump and several European leaders, arguing that the displayed 20% figure of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory was misleading. Zelenskyy insisted that during the first 1000 days of full-scale war, Russian forces had actually taken only around 1% of Ukraine’s land. 

Zelenskyy to Trump and allies: Russia took 1% in 1000 days, not 20%

Zelenskyy said the US-prepared map overstated Russian gains and distorted global perceptions of Ukrainian military strength. According to him, the real figures painted a very different picture, Suspilne reported.

“People think 20% or 18%, but it was up to 1%,” he said, explaining that “this slightly changes the balance of how strong Russia’s army is and how strong Ukraine’s army is.” He emphasized that Ukraine’s priority remained “truth and reality.”

Speaking to reporters after the summit, Zelenskyy described the exchange over the map as “slight disagreement,” but noted that the conversation was “warm, good, and substantive.” He said both sides brought their own versions of battlefield maps to the Oval Office. 

Zelenskyy also argued that the occupation of territories like Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine in 2014 did not result from conventional military clashes.

“There were no military operations, for example, in Crimea—no large-scale ones,” he said. “So you cannot say that such a large part was occupied over that period because Russia had a strong army.”

According to Liga, Zelenskyy stressed that explaining when and how each part of Ukrainian territory was seized was essential for helping allies like the US understand battlefield shifts. He noted that such discussions were long but necessary for an accurate joint understanding.

Sensitive territorial issues off-limits to Western allies, Zelenskyy says

Zelenskyy made it clear that any negotiations regarding Ukrainian territory will take place solely between him and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

“We’ll leave the question of territories between me and Putin,” he said, according to Liga.

He added that Trump “heard and saw” the important information, presented by the Ukrainian side.

“That’s why the issue of territories is one that we will leave between me and Putin,” he repeated.

Explore further

Trump claims breakthrough on Ukraine-Russia peace talks — Kremlin pretends not to hear

Trump-Zelenskyy meeting

As reported by BBC and others, the Oval Office meeting on 18 August included leaders from across Europe, among them UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The leaders discussed security guarantees for Ukraine, military aid, and future diplomatic steps.

Following the summit, Trump phoned Putin and said the US was preparing for a possible trilateral summit involving Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow. According to Zelenskyy, such a meeting would follow any bilateral contact between the US and Russia.

“We are ready for bilateral with Putin,” Zelenskyy said outside the White House fence.

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Zelenskyy demands “everything” for security while Trump hints at vague Article 5-like protection

He confirmed that no date had been set for those talks but said that discussions were ongoing.

Macron said European forces may join peacekeeping operations in Ukraine and warned that peace talks could not be delayed for weeks or months. Merz compared Russia’s territorial demands to forcing the US to surrender Florida. Meanwhile, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called again for Russia to return abducted Ukrainian children.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News that territorial compromises from both sides may be necessary to end the war.

As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders met with US President Donald Trump in Washington on 18 August, Russia launched a massive overnight air assault on Ukraine. The attack, which began in the evening and continued into 19 August, struck at least six oblasts, leaving civilians wounded and civilian infrastructure in ruins.

280 air weapons launched

The Ukrainian Air Force reported Russia’s 270 Shahed-type drones and 10 missiles launched from multiple directions, including Kursk, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, occupied Crimea, and the Caspian Sea. These included five Iskander-M ballistic missiles and five Kh-101 cruise missiles. Ukrainian air defense shot down 230 drones, 2 Iskander-Ms, and 4 Kh-101s, but 40 drones and four missiles still hit their targets across 16 confirmed sites.

Poltava: power cut, energy sites hit

In Poltava Oblast, Russian drones and missiles struck energy sector facilities in Kremenchuk and Lubny districts, local authorities said. Damage to utility buildings left 1,471 households and 119 legal entities without power. No injuries were reported. Repairs began immediately.

Donetsk Oblast: Five civilians killed in separate attacks

Sloviansk Military Administration chief Vadym Liakh reported that Russian forces fired two Iskander-M missiles at Sloviansk around 21:00 on 18 August. Both missiles struck the industrial zone in the Lisnyi microdistrict, injuring one woman. She was hospitalized in moderate condition. Fires broke out after the impact.

Earlier that day, the Donetsk Oblast Military Administration said that Russian shelling killed five civilians: three in Kostiantynivka, one in Dobropillia, and one in Novodonetske. Eight others were injured across the oblast.

Kharkiv Oblast: Russian drone injures family in Peremoha

Mayor of Lozova Serhii Zelenskyy reported that Russian drones — for some reason, identified by the regional prosecutor’s office by Shahed-136’s Russian designation Geran-2 type — struck a residential building in the village of Peremoha around 04:58 on 19 August. The blast injured a woman, who was hospitalized with a leg injury. Her husband and two children — an 8-year-old boy and a 2-year-8-month-old girl — suffered psychological shock and cuts from broken glass. The family remains in emotional distress, according to community leader Tetiana Kukhmeister, who spoke to Suspilne.

Sumy Oblast: Russia shells town, follows with drone strikes

Head of the executive committee of the Seredyna-Buda city council Ksenia Piatnytsia told Suspilne that Russian forces shelled Seredyna-Buda with tanks around 01:00 on 19 August and followed up with FPV drone strikes around noon. The attacks damaged local infrastructure.

Acting head of the Sumy community Artem Kobzar reported that Russian drones attacked the Pishchanske community twice — first with a Shahed drone that shattered 34 windows and damaged a slate roof, then with a Molniya-type drone that damaged six more windows and a door.

On 18 August after 17:00, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration said that five Russian drones targeted the Sumy community. Three drones struck civilian infrastructure; two were intercepted. According to Suspilne reporters, one drone exploded near a shopping center in the city of Sumy. No casualties were reported.

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast: Man wounded, school burns after drone strikes

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration head Serhii Lysak reported that Russian FPV drones and artillery struck Nikopol, Marhanets, and Pokrovsk communities overnight on 19 August. The attack injured a man, who was hospitalized. Fires destroyed a greenhouse and a utility structure. A residential building, another utility building, and a car were also damaged.

In the Vasylkivska community of Synelnykove district, Russian drones hit a school, setting it on fire. Lysak confirmed that Ukrainian air defense shot down seven Russian drones over the oblast during the night.

Kherson Oblast: Child, pensioners injured in Russian attacks

The Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported that Russian forces injured six civilians in the oblast over the past 24 hours. These figures do not include additional victims reported later this morning.

On the morning of 19 August, officials confirmed that a 71-year-old resident of Kozatske, who was attacked by a Russian drone on 16 August, had been hospitalized with abdominal blast trauma and shrapnel injuries. He remains under medical supervision.

Later that morning, Russian artillery struck residential areas of Chornobaivka. An 11-year-old boy, who was walking down the street at the time, suffered a concussion, a shrapnel wound to his shoulder, and a closed traumatic brain injury. Neighbors gave him first aid before emergency services transported him to a hospital.

In Kherson city, a 61-year-old man was also wounded in a Russian drone attack. He sustained a blast injury and shrapnel wounds to his arm and leg and is receiving medical treatment.

Ukrainian forces are reversing Russia’s attempted breakthrough near Dobropillia. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on 18 August that Russian troops are struggling to turn their limited infiltration into a deeper advance as Ukrainian counterattacks reclaim settlements and cut off the penetration base.

This comes as Russia continues its all-out war against Ukraine, focusing on capturing the rest of eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast. 

Ukrainian forces retake key settlements

Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets said Ukrainian troops had liberated Zapovidne (formerly Nykanorivka) and Dorozhnie, both southwest of Dobropillia. These villages were at the base of Russia’s push into the area. Geolocated footage published on 14 August and verified on 18 August shows Ukrainian forces detaining Russian soldiers in a windbreak southwest of Petrivka, northeast of Dobropillia. Additional footage published on 17 August shows Ukrainian troops raising a flag in Zolotyi Kolodyaz, confirming they had retaken the area after Russian forces previously entered it.

Russia unable to support or widen the penetration

ISW noted that Russian forces are struggling to turn their initial tactical gains into a wider breakthrough. Colonel Viktor Trehubov of Ukraine’s Dnipro Group of Forces said Ukrainian troops collapsed the Russian salient by cutting off infiltration elements from their main force, preventing supplies and reinforcements from reaching them.

Ukrainian flanks move faster than Russian forces

Mashovets reported that elements of Russia’s 150th Motorized Rifle Division, part of the 8th Combined Arms Army, attempted to bypass Volodymyrivka from the east. The move aimed to flank Ukrainian forces pressing on Russian units of the 51st Combined Arms Army between Zapovidne and Novotoretske. However, Ukrainian forces on the western side of the breach are advancing faster than Russian units in the east.

Russian brigades under pressure inside a narrow corridor

Mashovets said Russian forces inside the penetration — specifically the 5th, 110th, and 132nd Motorized Rifle Brigades — are fracturing under pressure and only holding a 2.5-kilometer-wide strip. A Russian milblogger warned the depth of the advance is too great for such a narrow width, making it vulnerable to counterattacks.

Russian focus shifts to another direction

ISW observed that Russian milbloggers are now focusing on the Rodynske direction, north of Pokrovsk and southeast of Dobropillia. This shift suggests a loss of confidence in the Dobropillia axis after failure to reinforce the original infiltration.

A new drone attack on 19 August triggered large fires at a Lukoil oil refinery and another site in Russia’s Volgograd. The local officials claim drone debris caused the fires despite what they described as a “massive” UAV assault being repelled by military forces.

Twin fires break out in Volgograd after drone strike

Russian Telegram news channel Astra reported that explosions were heard in Volgograd overnight on 19 August, followed by a major fire outbreak in the city. Photos began circulating online, allegedly showing a blaze after a drone strike. While Astra shared these images, the outlet noted it could not independently verify the authenticity of the visuals.

In response to the incident, Russia’s aviation agency Rosaviatsia temporarily closed Volgograd’s local airport. No further details were released regarding flight disruptions.

Later the same morning, the Governor of Volgograd Oblast officially confirmed that two separate fires broke out following a drone attack — at the Lukoil-Volgogradneftepererabotka refinery and allegedly on a hospital’s rooftop. According to his statement, the fires erupted in southern Volgograd after wreckage from unmanned aerial vehicles ostensibly fell onto key infrastructure sites. He claimed that the Ministry of Defense’s forces were actively repelling a “massive” drone assault targeting the oblast.

Astra stated that the refinery and hospital buildings hit on 19 August are located several kilometers apart.

Lukoil refinery struck for the second or third time in days

The Ukrainian drones had already attacked the same refinery during the night of 14 August, when at least eight drones targeted the Lukoil facility in Volgograd’s Krasnoarmeiskyi District. That earlier strike damaged parts of the plant’s infrastructure, including two pipelines and a primary oil processing unit. As a result, the refinery was forced to halt operations.

Two days later, a major fire erupted again at the facility, but the second drone attack was not confirmed.

The Druzba pipeline, Russia’s massive oil export artery to Europe, has fully halted operations following a Ukrainian drone strike that disabled a key pumping station. As of 18 August, Ukrainian General Staff officially confirmed the pipeline’s shutdown, marking a major blow to Russia’s fuel exports—and a hard cutoff for its EU clients, including Hungary and Slovakia.

 Militarnyi reported that the attack responsible was conducted by Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS) overnight on 18 August. Kyiv’s precision strike disabled the Nikolskoe-1 oil station in Russia’s Tambov Oblast, 400 km from the frontline. The pipeline has now ceased pumping on an “indefinite” timeline, according to Ukrainian sources.

Ukraine disables Russia’s oil flow to the EU

The General Staff stated on 18 August that pumping of oil through the Druzba pipeline had stopped completely. The shutdown came as a result of a fire triggered by a direct drone hit on the infrastructure. 

Ukraine cuts off Putin’s pipeline profits—Europe’s Druzba oil deliveries halted after yesterday’s drone assault

SBS strike made Russian upgrades irrelevant

Commander of Ukraine’s Drone Systems Forces, Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, stated that the 14th SBS regiment carried out the attack on the Nikolskoe-1 station. In a 18 August Facebook post, he confirmed the strike and mocked the outcome:

“The Druzba pipeline is resting. Full stop of oil pumping for an indefinite period. Greetings from the SBS Birds.”

Madyar also noted the station was “deflowered” by the unit’s UAVs.

Militarnyi noted that Russia had only recently upgraded safety systems at the facility, completing the latest overhaul in late July 2025. The update included new valves and modernized equipment—none of which stopped the site from going up in flames after Ukraine’s drone hit.

Budapest lashes out, Kyiv hits back

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó confirmed the disruption of oil supply in a public statement on 18 August and sharply criticized Ukraine’s actions. In response, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Hungary had long ignored Kyiv’s warnings about relying on Russian energy, and should now “file complaints with their friends in Moscow.”

Hungary, a consistent outlier in the EU on Russia policy, has maintained crude oil imports from Russia since the full-scale invasion began. The Druzba pipeline was one of its main sources of supply.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is not ready to end the war, French President Emmanuel Macron said on 19 August in an interview with NBC News. The remarks followed a high-level White House meeting involving President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and top European leaders.

This comes as Russia continues its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, while Trump pushes for Ukraine-Russia negotiations to end the war. 

Macron: Putin shows no intent to end war

“I don’t see President Putin very willing to get peace now,” Macron told NBC. He added, “Perhaps I’m too pessimistic,” but pointed to the facts on the ground.

He said Trump’s optimism about securing a deal should be taken seriously.

“If he considers he can get a deal done, this is great news, and we have to do whatever we can to have a great deal,” Macron said.

Russia launched deadly strikes in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia overnight before the Trump-Zelenskyy talks in Washington.

Macron said it was “impossible” for Ukrainian leaders to negotiate peace while the country is being destroyed and civilians are being killed.

France calls for pressure, warns of more sanctions

Macron stressed that the United States must pressure Russia to find a resolution. He said that if no progress is made in the Trump-announced meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, or if a trilateral format fails, Russia should face increased primary and secondary sanctions.

“There is an aggressor, which is Russia,” he said. “There is a country which decided to kill people, stole children and who refused a ceasefire and peace, so we cannot just create an equivalent situation between Ukraine and Russia.”

No peace without guarantees, no land swaps

Macron said Ukraine must receive security guarantees to prevent future Russian attacks. Without them, he warned, Russia would not respect any agreement. He said Trump told him that during his 16 August meeting with Putin, the Russian president accepted the need for such guarantees.

He firmly opposed any territorial concessions to Russia.

“I don’t see any swap in the proposal of the Russians, except a swap in comparison with what they wanted at the beginning,” Macron said. He emphasized that territorial issues are for Ukraine and its people to decide.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on 18 August that the Kremlin has not publicly confirmed US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a planned bilateral meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, followed by a trilateral summit with US participation. ISW noted that Trump stated he had called Putin after the 18 August summit and began arranging such meetings, but Russian officials gave no direct confirmation.

According to ISW, Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov said that Putin and Trump “expressed support for the continuation of direct negotiations between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine” and mentioned the possibility of “raising the level of representatives of the Ukrainian and Russian sides.” ISW emphasized that this language did not amount to a commitment to leader-level meetings.

ISW also noted that Zelenskyy stated after the summit that he is ready to meet with Putin “without any conditions” and that it was Russia who first proposed a bilateral meeting, followed by a trilateral format with the United States. He said territorial matters would remain a subject “between [himself] and Putin.”

ISW: Security guarantees discussed, US role remains unclear

During the 18 August summit, Trump and Zelenskyy met at the White House before joining talks with European leaders, including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian President Giorgia Meloni, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. According to ISW, the leaders emphasized the importance of security guarantees to ensure a lasting peace and deter future Russian aggression.

ISW noted that von der Leyen, Meloni, and Starmer expressed support for guarantees modeled after NATO’s Article 5. Trump stated that the United States would support these guarantees in a coordination role, while “various European countries” would provide the main commitments. This was echoed in Trump’s readout posted on Truth Social.

Zelenskyy said in a joint press conference with Trump that Ukraine needs not only guarantees from partners but also continued access to weapons, training, and intelligence. Zelenskyy added that Ukraine and its European allies have launched a program to purchase weapons from the United States, and that a strong Ukrainian military is itself a security guarantee.

Financial Times: Ukraine proposed US arms and drone deals tied to guarantees

The Financial Times (FT) reported on 18 August that Ukraine offered to purchase $100 billion worth of US weapons, financed by European partners, in exchange for American security guarantees. FT stated that the document it obtained did not specify which weapons were involved.

FT also reported that Ukraine proposed a $50 billion plan to manufacture drones through Ukrainian companies, but the share of procurement versus investment was not defined. FT cited four people familiar with the matter and noted these proposals were included in Ukraine’s talking points shared with European leaders ahead of the summit.

Russia rejects NATO troop involvement in peace process

According to ISW, Trump stated during the 18 August summit that Putin had earlier expressed openness to security guarantees for Ukraine during the 15 August Alaska summit. However, ISW noted that Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on 18 August that Russia “categorical[ly] reject[s]” any plan involving a military contingent in Ukraine with participation from NATO countries. Her statement applied both to formal NATO missions and independent deployments by NATO member states. ISW says this mirrors earlier Russian threats to treat such deployments as legitimate military targets.

Trump and other European officials clarified that any future deployment of peacekeeping forces would not be part of a NATO mission.

Leaders voice support for ceasefire, but prospects remain uncertain

Trump said all leaders attending the 18 August summit “would obviously prefer an immediate ceasefire while we work on a lasting peace,” but added, “as of this moment, it’s not happening.” Trump stated he supports a ceasefire because it could halt casualties “immediately.”

ISW noted that Macron and Merz expressed support for a ceasefire either ahead of or after a potential trilateral meeting. Trump added that both Zelenskyy and Putin “can talk a little bit more” about the matter.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met US President Donald Trump in Washington on 18 August, backed by a delegation of European leaders urging Trump to support Ukraine with ironclad postwar security guarantees. Their talks focused on ending the war with Russia, but without letting Moscow dictate terms. While Trump said the US would provide “very good protection” to Ukraine, he avoided detailing what that meant. Crucially, he refused to rule out sending US troops—leaving open the possibility of deeper military involvement as part of the proposed Article 5-like protection framework.

European leaders bring red lines to Trump’s push for quick deal

The New York Times reports that European leaders accompanied Zelenskyy to the White House to present coordinated red lines:

• a cease-fire must come before any territorial discussions;
• unoccupied territory must not be handed over to Russia;
• there must be no legal annexation of any Ukrainian land; and Ukraine must receive security guarantees capable of deterring any future Russian invasion, regardless of what Moscow promises.

According to NYT, President Trump did not explicitly reject these demands but emphasized he is focused on a “permanent solution” rather than a fragile agreement that could collapse into renewed war “two years from now.”

He declined to say whether he would support sending US peacekeepers to Ukraine. Instead, he said, “There’s going to be a lot of help,” and added that he would discuss the issue further with European leaders after his meetings.

CNN noted that Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, previously described the proposed security terms as “Article 5-like protections,” referencing the NATO clause on collective defense. That framing implies US involvement in Ukrainian security without granting NATO membership.

Zelenskyy says Ukraine needs “everything” to prevent Russia from striking again

When asked what kind of security guarantees Ukraine needed, Zelenskyy replied:

“Everything.”

Speaking in the Oval Office alongside Trump, he explained that this includes two essential components: military power—meaning weapons, people, training missions, and intelligence—and support from major countries like the United States, CNN says.

He stressed that any settlement without these elements would allow Russia to regroup and eventually attack again. CNN quotes Zelenskyy as saying the guarantees “depend on the big countries, on the United States, on a lot of our friends.”

Trump did not challenge that assessment, but offered no details about what kind of American commitment he would consider.

Trump eyes post-meeting call with Putin as trilateral scenario emerges

President Trump said he would be calling Russian President Vladimir Putin directly after concluding his meetings with Zelenskyy and European leaders.

“I just spoke to President Putin indirectly, and we’re going to have a phone call right after these meetings today,” Trump said from the Oval Office, CNBC reports.

He added that such a call could lead to a trilateral conversation involving Ukraine, Russia, and the US.

“There’s a good chance of maybe ending” the war, Trump said. But he also left open the alternative: “If not, then the fighting continues.”

Trump’s peace plan meets domestic pressure over foreign wars

Although Trump has kept his base wary of foreign entanglements, The New York Times notes that he did not rule out US troop deployment, a position likely to trigger backlash. During his campaign, he had promised to reduce American involvement in foreign conflicts. Nonetheless, his current posture leaves room for some level of military commitment.

CNN reports that Trump stated on 18 August that offering Ukraine security guarantees is still under discussion among the US and European leaders. He said:

“We’re going to be discussing it today, but we will give them very good protection, very good security.”

Ukrainian forces struck a Russian military convoy in Kursk Oblast, leaving Russia’s deputy commander of the North grouping of forces, General-Lieutenant Essedulla Abatchev, gravely wounded. Ukrainian intelligence reported that Abachev lost both an arm and a leg after the attack.

Ukrainian strike hits Russian convoy in Kursk Oblast

The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) announced that Ukrainian units carried out the strike against a Russian convoy moving along the Rylsk–Khomutovka highway in Kursk Oblast overnight on 17 August. According to HUR, the strike inflicted serious injuries on Abachev, who serves as deputy commander of Russia’s North grouping. He was evacuated by military transport aircraft to Moscow and delivered to the Vishnevsky Central Military Hospital, where doctors amputated his arm and leg.

HUR emphasized in its statement that every Russian war crime against the Ukrainian people would face retribution.

OSINT analysis confirms the strike in Kursk Oblast

Militarnyi reported that the strike occurred in the area of Zhuryatino village, citing open-source analysts. While the weapon used was not officially disclosed, analysts suggested it was likely high-precision rocket artillery. Also, the video showing the aftermath of the attack emerged on the evening of 16 August, not in the early hours of 17 August.

Abachev’s military career before the all-out war

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Abachev commanded the 2nd Guards Combined Arms Army of the Central Military District. He graduated from the Kharkiv Higher Tank Command School in 1989 and later the Combined Arms Academy in 2002.

He fought in Russia’s Chechen wars, Georgia, and in Syria, later rising to command the 19th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade and serve as chief of staff of the 5th Combined Arms Army. In 2021 he became a major general, in 2022 he was appointed commander of Russia’s 2nd Army Corps in occupied Luhansk and decorated as Hero of Russia, and by 2023 he was promoted to lieutenant general.

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Overnight on 17 August, a Ukrainian drone struck the Liski railway station in Voronezh Oblast, disrupting one of Russia’s most important military transport hubs. Exilenova+ published a video capturing the moment of impact. The drone hit set off a fire at the station and damaged power lines, cutting rail traffic. 

Video confirms Liski strike

Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ reported a drone attack, targeting the Liski railway station in Russia’s Voronezh Oblast. The post described Liski as one of the largest junctions in Russia’s Southeastern Railway system. Liski is located around 120–150 kilometers from Ukraine’s border and serves as a key junction for moving Russian troops and equipment, Militarnyi noted.

Exilenova+ also released video footage showing a fire at the station and the moment of a drone’s impact. Russian news Telegram channel Astra later drew attention to one of the videos, noting it was filmed next to the Berezka shopping center, which sits right beside the station.

The Voronezh Oblast governor admitted a drone hit a railway station, but avoided naming it. He claimed falling drone debris injured a railway technician and damaged a power line. He also said the technician was hospitalized and that the railway service resumed afterward.

Russia’s Federal Passenger Company later confirmed the station as Liski. In its statement, it said the drone’s debris caused delays across 14 trains. 

The governor stated that in the same area, fires ostensibly broke out at a shop and a clothing market. In another municipality, a gas pipe also allegedly caught fire. 

Russian MoD claims mass interceptions but ignores Liski

The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed it shot down 46 Ukrainian drones overnight: 16 over Belgorod, 14 over Nizhny Novgorod, 9 over Voronezh, and others across six more oblasts. Later the same morning, the ministry stated that six more drones were downed over Voronezh Oblast.

A massive fire broke out at the Lukoil refinery in Volgograd on 16 August, two days after Ukrainian drones hit the facility and caused heavy damage. The fire may have started during repair works, but the cause remains unclear.

During the day on 16 August, a thick black column of smoke rose over the refinery. Around the same time, air traffic at Volgograd airport shut down under temporary restrictions, and authorities declared a citywide air raid alert.

The full circumstances remain unknown.

Lukoil-Volgogradneftepererabotka is the largest oil product producer in Russia’s Southern Federal District and the seventh most powerful refinery in the country. Its design capacity stands at 14.8 million tons of crude oil per year.

“Planned discharge,” but emergency vehicles flood the area

Some channels claimed the smoke came from a “planned discharge of petroleum products” related to tank repair preparations. But locals saw fire trucks and ambulances rushing toward the plant. Readers openly mocked the official line.

Astra quoted messages like, “So the ambulances are flying there because of a planned discharge too?” and “And the fire trucks are heading there as part of the plan, or were they not warned?”

Ukrainian drones shut the refinery down on 14 August

Overnight on 14 August, Ukrainian strike drones hit the refinery and caused a massive fire. Astra reported that the plant suspended operations due to the damage. 

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Ukraine’s drones turn Volgograd night into firestorm — Lukoil’s biggest refinery ablaze after fuel spill ignites

Earlier, the Ukrainian Army’s General Staff reported that 42% of Ukrainian deep drone strikes inside Russia this year have targeted oil refineries. 

Ukraine’s Defense Forces cleared Pokrovsk of Russian infiltrators in Donetsk Oblast and liberated several surrounding villages near Dobropillia. On 17 August, the GenStaff said stabilization actions continue in the area as Ukrainian units fight to secure the frontline.

Ukrainian troops clear Pokrovsk and villages near Dobropillia

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said the 7th Air Assault Corps, together with supporting units, eliminated Russian infiltrators in Pokrovsk. Ukraine’s Defense Forces also cleared Hruzke, Rubizhne, Novovodiane, Petrovka, Vesele, and Zolotyi Kolodiaz in Donetsk Oblast. The first corps of the National Guard Azov unit joined the battles and helped reclaim the villages.

The Deep State war zone monitoring map, updated on 16 August, shows that Ukrainian troops cut apart the recent Russian “double panhandle” breakthrough near Dobropillia and surrounded its northern prongs.

Russian forces suffer heavy losses in Donetsk Oblast

From 4 to 16 August, Ukrainian forces killed 910 Russian soldiers, wounded 335, and captured 37, according to the General Staff. Ukrainian strikes also destroyed eight tanks, six armored vehicles, 103 auto and motor vehicles, one multiple launch rocket system, 18 artillery guns, and 91 drones.

The General Staff said Ukrainian units continue stabilization operations near Dobropillia in Donetsk Oblast.

Ukrainian advance in Sumy Oblast

On 16 August, Ukrainian units advanced in several locations on the North Slobozhansky axis. In particular, the Defense Forces gained up to 1,000 meters near Yablunivka in Sumy Oblast, according to the General Staff.

In the early hours of 17 August, Russia launched 60 long-range drones and one Iskander-M missile from five locations across its territory. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that 40 drones were destroyed or suppressed, but 12 locations were hit in Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.

Russia launches 60 drones and a missile, strikes 12 targets

According to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the attack began at 19:30 on 16 August and included both Shahed-type one-way attack UAVs and decoy drones launched from Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, Shatalovo and Primorsko-Akhtarsk. Ukrainian defenses used mobile fire groups and electronic warfare systems to counter the assault.

As of 09:00 on 17 August, 40 drones had been downed or neutralized. However, the ballistic missile and 20 drones reached their targets.

The Air Force confirmed strikes in 12 locations across the three frontline oblasts.

Drone strike injures woman in Sloviansk

Vadym Liakh, head of Sloviansk’s City Military Administration, said the Russian Shahed attack injured a woman in the city last night.

“On the evening of Saturday, 16 August, the city came under two enemy attacks. Around 18:15: Zaliznychnyi neighborhood. Detached housing area. A woman was injured. Homes were damaged. Around 19:30″ Lymany neighborhood. Detached housing area. Homes were damaged. In both cases, Italmas drones were used,” Liakh wrote.

The mentioned Italmas UAVs also known as Izdeliye 45 is a simplified and cheaper version of the Iranian-designed Shahed 136 long-range kamikaze drone.

A new investigation by a Ukrainian NGO has identified 144 Russian prison wardens responsible for Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs). The registry names those accused of systemic torture, daily abuse, and coercion in detention facilities across Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories.

Registry exposes 144 Russian wardens of Ukrainian POWs

Working with Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), the Molfar Intelligence Institute, a Ukrainian open-source intelligence NGO, reported that 144 employees of detention facilities across Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories have been identified as jailers responsible for Ukrainian POWs.

The prison guards in question are the employees of:

• Colony No. 36 in the city of Sukhodilsk (occupied Luhansk Oblast);
• Correctional Colony (CC) No. 38 in the city of Sverdlovsk (Dovzhansk) (occupied Luhansk Oblast);
• Kalininska CC No. 27 in the city of Horlivka (occupied Donetsk Oblast);
• State Institution “Donetsk Pre-trial Detention Center of the State Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice of the DNR”, in occupied Donetsk city;
• CC No. 2 in the village of Donskoye, Tula region, Russian Federation;
• Federal State Institution “Pre-trial Detention Center No. 2”, Stary Oskol, Belgorod Oblast, Russian Federation;
• Federal State Institution “Pre-trial Detention Center No. 2”, Taganrog, Rostov Oblast, Russian Federation.

Most of the jailers mentioned in the investigation work at the notorious Taganrog facility.

The registry contains data on rank and position, place of work, known addresses and contacts, passports and other documents, as well as information about relatives and additional details about each identified individual.

Tetiana Katrychenko, executive director of a project documenting prisoners, described Taganrog as “hell on earth.” She noted that Azovstal defenders held there since 2022 faced brutal torture and were forced to incriminate themselves before transfer to Rostov courts.

Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna was also held in Taganrog. She went missing in August 2023 and was later confirmed to have been detained by Russian authorities. She died in captivity in September 2024 allegedly during a prison transfer, according to Russian officials. Her body, showing clear signs of torture, was returned to Ukraine in February 2025, and a farewell ceremony was held in Kyiv in August 2025.

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Daily lives of 144 Russian wardens of Ukrainian POWs

The Molfar Intelligence Institute emphasized that many of the 144 identified continue to live ordinary lives. Its report described them commuting to shifts, greeting colleagues, chatting about utilities and coffee, then taking part in torture sessions before returning to families in apartments.

“Russians abuse and torture Ukrainian prisoners in a territory closed to the eyes of human rights defenders,” the Institute says.

The report details information on three jailers.

Profiles of three wardens

One case is Denis Mirchev, an ensign at the Stary Oskol detention center in Belgorod Oblast. According to former prisoners, he conducted searches of Ukrainian captives. Investigators linked him to social media activity including comments on posts by Ukrainian musician Yarmak, now commander of a combat drone unit. Records also show Mirchev’s bankruptcy attempts over debts exceeding one million rubles.

Another prison worker is Vitali Sterzhanov, a Ukrainian citizen who now heads a Russian-run colony in occupied Luhansk Oblast. Ukrainian prosecutors charged him in March 2024 under article 111-1 of the criminal code for joining an illegal occupation body. Registry data shows Sterzhanov’s family also involved in pro-Russian activities, with his mother supporting the so-called “LNR” armed formations and his brother publicly backing the full-scale invasion.

The report further describes Alexei Glaizer, deputy head of the Taganrog pretrial detention center. He previously led Rostov detention center no. 1 and declared assets including a Kia Rio and a Rostov apartment. According to insider accounts, enforcement proceedings were opened against him in 2018 over debts. Investigators documented his marriages and residences in Taganrog, presenting him as another official balancing family life with systemic abuse of Ukrainian POWs.

Wider implications

The registry’s scope cannot be fully covered in one release. Instead, the Molfar Intelligence Institute has published an open database called “Russian jailers of Ukrainian prisoners,” listing names, photos, documents, family ties, and workplaces. Officials stressed that no rank, change of surname, or hidden address will protect those responsible from eventual justice.

“Those employees of pretrial detention centers and colonies who treat Ukrainian prisoners harshly feel safe in Russia. We are convinced that each of them must bear responsibility and believe that they will not be able to escape civilized justice by hiding behind the thick walls of a pretrial detention center, changing their names, or hiding behind an interest in the history of Ukrainian nationalism,” the MII noted regarding making the resistry public.

The current number of Ukrainian POWs in Russian captivity is not publicly known. Ukraine’s deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk previously said that as of 1 May 2025, about 8,000 Ukrainians remain in Russian captivity. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on 21 March 2025 that Ukraine had returned 4,306 POWs since the start of the full-scale invasion.

“Every day in captivity for a Ukrainian is torture. Russians must understand that they will be held responsible for crimes against humanity. They will not be protected by official positions, changes of surname, or re-registration of residential addresses,” the report noted.

Call for action

Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation emphasizes that Russia is using prisoners as a propaganda tool. Moscow uses prisoners for staged photos and interviews designed to discredit Kyiv. According to the center and Ukrainian defense forces, Azovstal defenders have been coerced into participating in such propaganda, which violates articles 13 and 14 of the Geneva convention. Analysts say these operations target Western audiences, aiming to fracture support for Ukraine and undermine prisoner exchange agreements.

” it is necessary to strengthen control over compliance with international humanitarian law and monitor cases of forced use of prisoners in propaganda. Abuse of human dignity for political purposes must receive a strong global response,” the Molfar Intelligence Institute stressed.