Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that military escalation will compel Ukraine to accept his terms, while US President Donald Trump is unlikely to strengthen Kyiv’s defense, according to Bloomberg.

Sources close to the Russian authorities said that during the Anchorage meeting, Putin concluded that the US does not plan active intervention. This prompted the Kremlin to intensify attacks on military and civilian targets in Ukraine and continue strikes on energy infrastructure.

According to the UN, Russia has already killed 14,000 civilians in the war, with additional losses in Mariupol potentially reaching 100,000 civilians.

Escalation as a pressure strategy

In the month following the talks, the number of drone and missile attacks increased by approximately 46%, according to Bloomberg, based on data from the Ukrainian Air Force. On 16 September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that since the beginning of September, Russia had launched 3,500 drones of various types, nearly 190 missiles, and over 2,500 bombs.

These included some of the largest missile and drone strikes since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, damaging government and residential buildings in Kyiv and Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv.

This clearly indicates that Putin does not want to end the war against Ukraine. British MI6 Chief Richard Moore also confirmed this, saying that he sees “no evidence” of the Kremlin seeking peace talks or a settlement in Ukraine. He emphasized that the Russian president shows no interest in negotiations that do not involve Ukraine’s capitulation.

Conclusion: The Kremlin continues escalation

Despite the increase in airstrikes, Russia’s territorial advance has slowed, even with intensified pressure along the front lines. Russia redeployed 100,000 soldiers to attack Pokrovsk, a Ukrainian stronghold in Donetsk, yet Zelenskyy reported that Ukrainian forces managed to retake some territory in Donetsk.

“Russia’s summer 2025 offensive failed to secure control over any targeted cities in eastern Ukraine,” said Alex Kokcharov, a geoeconomics analyst at Bloomberg Economics.

Putin plans new victories before winter

The Russian president will continue participating in any ongoing dialogue with the US, but will act according to his own strategy.

“Putin seeks to achieve some visible victories by winter, but he is failing on the battlefield so far,” said Nikolai Petrov, a senior research fellow at the New Eurasian Strategies Centre.

He says that that’s why “Putin turns to nuclear blackmail and psychological pressure, including mass bombardments.”

On 18 September, US President Donald Trump concluded his second official visit to the UK. During a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the American president stated that he feels obliged to resolve the war in Ukraine and expressed hope that good news on this matter would come soon.

He also said that Putin had let him down on Ukraine. However, again, no additional measures or aid for Ukraine have been announced. 

An astonishing thing happened in Ukraine in September 2025: a Russian advanced half-million-dollar missile was shot down by a hundred-year-old weapon.

A Kyiv air defense volunteer operator stopped the Kh-69 cruise missile with a “Maksim” machine gun used by the Russian Empire and Soviet troops during World War II, UkrInform reports. 

Normally, Kh-69 missiles are intercepted in Ukraine with air-defense missile systems (SAMs) such as the Patriot and other MANPADS and AD systems. Shooting down a Kh-69 is an outstanding result because these missiles are designed to penetrate even high-capacity air-defense systems.

The hero with the call-sign “Hrek” and a weapon from the past

During the morning attack on 7 September, one of the Russian missiles hit the governmental building, and another was heading toward residential areas. Its flight was intercepted by a volunteer with the call-sign “Hrek,” who opened fire with a Maksim machine gun.

“The missile was flying very low, and large air-defense systems find it hard to spot. We requested permission to open fire and acted instantly. Hitting such a target with a ‘Maksim’ is a one-in-a-thousand chance, but we managed it,” the fighter said.

The Maksim machine gun is a heavy-mounted weapon with a liquid-cooled barrel developed in the early 20th century. It has a firing range of about 1,000 metres and an effective range of 2.5–3 km. 

During World War II, the Maksim was used to engage open group targets, support infantry in defense and attack, and be mounted on armoured trains, combat vehicles, and trucks.

Why was this shoot-down unique? 

The Kh-69 was flying at about 50 metres altitude at over 550 km per hour. Equipped with counter-jamming and interception-avoidance systems, it can penetrate even powerful air-defense arrays. In April 2024, a similar missile obliterated the Trypillia thermal power plant in Kyiv Oblast, causing widespread blackouts.

This time, after a series of shots, the missile began to smoke and fell several hundred metres from the positions. There were no casualties; only some cars were damaged.

“If it had hit a densely populated area the consequences would have been serious. Such a missile breaks into tens of sub-munitions,” the volunteer emphasized.

Half a million dollars versus $11

The missile costs about $500,000, while the expenditure on ammunition amounted to only $11.15.

“We spent $11 on rounds,” said Hrek. “But most importantly, he adds, “no one died, children and women remained alive.”

The volunteer serves in the “Legion D” formation of the separate “Center” company, where more than a hundred fighters defend Ukraine.

“When we go on duty, we stand as long as needed. We are here because we can defend and do something for victory,” the machine-gunner concluded.

Earlier, Russia launched a drone attack on Poland from the territory of Ukraine and Belarus. While deploying most modern NATO aircraft, including F-16 and F-35, which Ukraine does not have, the country only managed to down 4 out of 19 drones.

At the same time, Kyiv is capable of intercepting 500-600 Russian targets per night. Still, the country is not a member of the Alliance. 

As the war grinds on, Ukraine needs hundreds of billions of dollars. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that if the war continues into 2026, the country will lack $120 billion annually to finance defense and recovery. 

Half of this sum—$60 billion—comes from Ukraine’s budget, while another $60 billion must be secured from other sources, primarily Western partners.

The cost of war for Ukraine

“During the war, the cost of this conflict for one year amounts to $120 billion,” Zelenskyy stressed during a joint briefing with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola in Kyiv.

He added that Plan A is to end the war, while Plan B is to secure $120 billion in funding.

Daily expenses and reliance on partners

Earlier, Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov noted that Ukraine spends about $172 million per day fighting Russia.

The country cannot sustain such costs with its own resources alone, making Western financial support critical, Novini.Live reports. 

Russia’s unwillingness to end the war

Despite phone calls from US President Donald Trump to Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his invitation to a summit in Alaska, Russia shows no intention of halting its aggression.

This underscores the need for Ukraine to secure stable and predictable funding for the coming year.

Previously, Reuters reported that Poland, under an EU program, will receive €43.7 billion to strengthen its defense capabilities within the Security Action for Europe initiative. At the same time, Ukraine is sometimes attacked by up to 700 drones in a single night.

Children living under constant threat are finally safe. Ukraine’s humanitarian program, Bring Kids Back UA, has evacuated 16 children from Russian-occupied territories.

They are now in Ukraine, receiving psychological support, restoring documents, and taking their first steps toward a peaceful life, according to Andrii Yermak, Head of the Presidential Office.

The program, initiated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2023, aims to return all Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. To date, 19,546 children have been stolen.

Tragedies endured by the children

Among the rescued is a 15-year-old girl who escaped occupation with her aunt after her parents and older brother were sentenced on fabricated charges. Two sisters, aged 14 and 7, lost their home and belongings in a fire that completely destroyed their house.

Another 15-year-old girl stayed indoors for nearly three years, living in fear of the occupiers taking her children. A 10-year-old boy was targeted by the occupation’s “care service,” which tried to seize him from his parents.

Returning to safety and a new life

“All of them are now safe in Ukraine. Due to the Save Ukraine team and partners for helping rescue these children. We are fulfilling the President’s mission to bring all Ukrainian children home,” said Yermak.

Russian indoctrination in occupied areas

Earlier, the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation reported that in Russian-occupied Donetsk, schools have been holding so-called “patriotism lessons” since autumn.

According to Denis Pushilin, the head of the occupation administration, Russian soldiers teach children about their “combat path,” instilling a war cult, erasing Ukrainian identity, and preparing them for future Kremlin military campaigns.

The Ukrainian partisan movement “ATESH” dealt a major blow to the Russian army’s rear lines. The underground group has carried out sabotage on a railway near Yekaterinburg, roughly 2,087 km from Ukraine, completely paralyzing the movement of trains along Russia’s strategic routes.

This hub supplied ammunition, armored vehicles, fuel, and personnel to the frontlines, factories, and depots in the north and east.

“Now, military depots are idle, dealing a blow to the Russian rear logistics,” says the group. 

Strikes at the heart of Russia’s war machine

“Our agent sabotaged the railway near Yekaterinburg by damaging relay equipment. This disrupted train traffic across all strategic directions,” the movement reports.  

Scope of destruction in the Ukrainian infrastructure

At the same time, Russia’s war against Ukraine has damaged or destroyed nearly 11,000 km of railway tracks and over 43 stations.

As of 2025, the direct infrastructure losses in Ukraine are estimated at around $170 billion, with transportation alone accounting for roughly $38.5 billion. 

Ukrainian Nemesis operators destroyed three high-value Russian air defense systems in a month. The fighters, part of the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS), reported on the successful operation via social media, emphasizing that innovative technologies were used to strike the targets. 

Destroyed systems and their value

“We burned three enemy air defense installations worth $80–90 million,” the statement reads. 

In August, the 412th Nemesis Regiment’s soldiers took down two Tor-M2 SAM systems, a Buk-M3 launcher, and the radar of a Buk-M2 system, which is known as “chupa-chups.” 

Tor-M2 and Buk: capabilities

Tor-M2 is a Russian short-range surface-to-air missile system designed to protect military and strategic targets from aircraft, helicopters, drones, cruise, and ballistic missiles.

Its engagement range is 12–15 km, altitude up to 10 km, and targets moving at speeds up to 1,000 m/s. The system carries 16 9M338K missiles and can simultaneously engage four targets out of over 40 detected.

The Buk is also a Russian medium-range SAM system capable of destroying aerodynamic aerial targets, tactical ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles.

Innovations and secret SBS technologies

“The enemy changes tactics, tries to stop us, hides but in vain. Our retaliation always reaches its target,” the defenders noted.

They added that the strike footage remains unpublished to protect their innovative solutions, but promised to release it in the future.

Russian developers on the brink of collapse: 1 in 5 companies already in the critical zone as the government directs all the support to the war against Ukraine, Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service has reported. 

Around 20% of developers in Russia are facing bankruptcy due to falling sales and high mortgage rates.

The most vulnerable are mass housing companies, which rely heavily on mortgage demand. Over 19% of developers are officially delaying project completions, and delays exceeding six months push them into the “problematic” category.

Impact of the economy and the war

The sector suffers from low demand, limited government support, and resource diversion to the war in Ukraine. This results in declining sales, rising debt burdens, and construction freezes.

Investments in real estate in the first half of 2025 fell by 44%. Banks reject half of mortgage applications, while effective interest rates reach at least 25% per year, even for reliable borrowers.

Corporate sector and potential solutions

In the corporate segment, the share of troubled loans rose to 10.4% ($111.9 billion), with $8.6 billion added in three months. The real estate sector saw the greatest deterioration. Russian authorities are already considering moratoriums on developer bankruptcies, external restructuring, and the creation of temporary state funds to complete problematic projects.

Ukrainian forces destroy occupiers in their underground lairs. The 34th Separate Motorized Infantry Battalion “Wolfhounds” has demonstrated how the Ukrainian Armed Forces throw anti-tank mines into basements and underground tunnels where Russian occupiers are hiding.

Anti-tank mines directly into shelters

The conditions faced by Ukrainian infantry in Vovchansk go beyond human endurance. Enemy positions are just meters away, above ground, no buildings remain intact, and beneath the layers of concrete and asphalt, the occupiers’ fortifications and tunnels lie hidden.

“To flush out the enemy or destroy fortifications, we have to manually throw explosives into their lairs,” say the soldiers.

Underground networks do not save the enemy

Russian forces use basements, sewer pipes, and reinforced tunnels to move personnel. The same tactics were used by the occupiers in Sudzha, Kursk Oblast.

The operation involved underground pipes of the Urengoy–Pomary–Uzhhorod gas pipeline, which Russia used to supply gas to Europe via Ukraine until 1 January 2025. Each pipeline section had a diameter of 1.4 meters. 

The Donald Trump-Vladimir Putin’s summit has strengthened the Russian dictator. The meeting between the US and Russian presidents in Alaska only bolstered the Kremlin’s position and prolonged the war in Ukraine, Foreign Affairs reports. 

Since Russia’s first invasion of Ukraine in 2014, which altered the world order by forcibly changing the borders of a sovereign country, Putin has played the long game. The Alaska summit gave him even more time and strengthened his position to achieve a military victory in a war of attrition against Ukraine.

The summit was never about peace in Ukraine

Its real purpose was to bend the international system to Moscow’s will and maintain a monopoly on power domestically.

Putin emerged victorious in Alaska

Putin has faced little opposition to the Alaska visit. A Russian Levada Center survey showed that 79% of Russians considered the summit a success for Putin, and 51% were more optimistic about improved relations with the US.

“After the summit, Russian media did not have to put out false pronouncements to highlight Putin’s diplomatic triumph,” the report says. 

Legitimizing aggression against Ukraine

The summit allowed Putin to legitimize Moscow’s claims. Russians who doubted the war’s purpose now had grounds to consider the invasion “just.”

During the Anchorage meeting, the dictator emphasized Russia’s “legitimate concerns,” its pursuit of a “fair security balance in Europe and the world,” and the need to “remove all root causes” of the war in Ukraine.

Trump did not refute any claims, effectively agreeing with Putin’s position on Moscow’s right to influence Ukraine’s territorial integrity and Western security guarantees.

“Putin flew home having demonstrated to his subjects that he was right all along, that they must not waver, and that he will win for them,” the report concludes. 

Ukrainian forces are striking targets in the occupied territories of Donetsk Oblast to halt Russian preparation for an autumn counteroffensive, says Oleksii Hetman, Radio NV reports. 

Ukrainian attacks lay the groundwork for an advance

“The Russians are planning very powerful attacks, so they are pulling in troops and redeploying,” explains Hetman. 

That’s why Ukraine must destroy and weaken them as much as possible, and prepare for its own offensive actions. 

A variety of Ukrainian weapons

Hetman believes that it is difficult to say exactly which weapons were used in the strikes, but that is not critical.

“We have a large arsenal of missiles: ‘Palyanytsya,’ ‘Peklo,’ ‘Trembita,’ ‘Flamingo.’ What exactly hit doesn’t make much difference. We carefully plan attacks and don’t use high-powered missiles where smaller ones are sufficient,” he says.

Precision strike strategy

According to the expert, every attack is carefully calculated. Ukraine employs its weapons based on the strategic importance of each target: more powerful missiles are used only where maximum effect is needed.

These actions drain the Russian military and set the conditions for future offensive operations.

US President Donald Trump’s misreading of Russia has cost Ukraine dearly. Russian forces exploited the first half-year of the new US presidency to advance on the front lines and kill civilians, taking advantage of a flawed understanding of Moscow’s mindset.

Sanctions will not alter the Kremlin’s goal

Trump has expressed willingness to impose sanctions on Russia, yet economic pressure alone will not deter Putin from his primary objective: defeating Ukraine.

The American leader’s challenge is immense: inflict enough damage on Moscow to change its behavior while keeping diplomatic channels open.

In practice, this is impossible, as Putin does not seek peace, and confusion in Trump’s thinking only exacerbates the problem.

Putin exploits time and allies

The past eight months of American governance have been wasted from the perspective of strategic defense for Ukraine and Europe, allowing Moscow to strengthen its position.

After attacks on the offices of the EU, the British Council, and Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers, it became clear that Putin acts with impunity.

A meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping reinforced his sense of support from international allies, and Moscow continues to receive money, weapons, hydrocarbons, and even special forces from North Korea.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials fear new attacks on Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast and advances north toward Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast. The Kremlin’s time gain gives Putin a strategic advantage that Washington has yet to offset. Clearly, this approach requires urgent change.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is not rushing to end the war in Ukraine, not only because of imperialist plans to restore the Soviet Union 2.0. Reuters reports, citing three sources close to the Kremlin, that the Russian leader is carefully controlling the demobilization process to avoid destabilizing society and the political system.

Afghan lesson: fear of social chaos

The Kremlin seeks to avoid repeating the social upheavals that followed the Soviet war in Afghanistan. At that time, returning veterans fueled a wave of organized crime that overshadowed the 1990s.

A similar dynamic could recur: many demobilized soldiers will not receive the generous salaries they had on the front lines, sparking discontent and protests. For example, a new recruit from Moscow earns at least $65,000 for the first year of service in Ukraine, including bonuses.

Returning to civilian life without such income could become a source of social tension.

PTSD and risk of domestic violence

Another Kremlin concern is the psychological state of soldiers. A high number of veterans with PTSD are returning home, posing dangers to their families.

Among the demobilized are individuals who have already served prison terms, including thieves, murderers, and rapists. Since 2022, Russia has recruited from 120,000 to 180,000 convicts for military service in Ukraine. 

Last year, about 500 civilians fell victim to the veterans, with at least 242 killed and 227 seriously injured, according to organizations analyzing Russian court records and media reports.

Kremlin control and political risks

Mass return of veterans could undermine Russia’s tightly controlled political system. The Kremlin already felt the effects of chaos in June 2023, when Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner PMC’s head, led a revolt against the military high command.

The Putin’s government is trying to mitigate the impact of returning veterans through policies, programs, and participation in regional and federal elections.

The return of demobilized soldiers, many of whom are hardened criminals or severely wounded, could replicate the Afghan scenario and threaten the country’s stability, especially considering that nearly 700,000 Russian troops remain on the front lines. 

Russia flaunts resilience in the face of new US and EU sanctions. The Kremlin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, has openly declared that it is impossible to force Moscow to change its course on Ukraine, Reuters reports. 

Kremlin dismisses Western sanctions

“No sanctions will be able to force the Russian Federation to change its consistent position, which our president has repeatedly voiced,” says Peskov.

The Kremlin’s spokesperson’s words aren’t far from the truth. Despite thousands of sanctions imposed after the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion in 2022, the Russian economy has stayed afloat.

Russia’s economy even grew by 4.1% in 2023 and 4.3% in 2024. But this year, growth has slowed sharply due to high interest rates and the costs of war. 

Ukraine calls for real security

Meanwhile, Ukrainian presidential sanctions adviser Vladyslav Vlasiuk has calculated that Russia has lost at least $150 billion due to sanctions, yet retains its military potential. The country remains the most sanctioned state in the world. 

At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed that real security guarantees, which can protect Ukraine from Russia, can only come from a strong Ukrainian army backed by support from its Western allies. 

However, as Washington has delayed a new package of military aid to Kyiv, the fighting between Russia and Ukraine is dragging on into a war of attrition for both sides.

US President Donald Trump told reporters he will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days.

The announcement came on 7 September at Andrews Air Force Base, where Trump stated he would address “the Russia-Ukraine situation” and expressed confidence that his administration would resolve the conflict.

“Very soon. Over the next couple of days. Look, we’re going to get it done. The Russia-Ukraine situation. We’re going to get it done,” Trump said, CNN reports.

Trump expressed clear frustration with the escalation of Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.

“I am not thrilled with what’s happening there,” the president said of Russia’s attacks. “I believe we’re going to get it settled. But I am not happy with them. I’m not happy with anything having to do with that war.”

US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellog warned that Russia does not appear to be willing to end the war through diplomatic means.

He shared a video from Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko showing the damaged interior of the government’s headquarters in Kyiv.

Svyrydenko urgently called on international partners to provide stronger air defense systems and tougher sanctions.

“History shows events can escalate out of control through actions as these. The attack was not a signal that Russia wants to diplomatically end this war,” Kellogg wrote.

Trump also indicated that European leaders would visit the White House early this week, suggesting these meetings could contribute to addressing the war resolution.

These statements came after Trump signaled his administration’s readiness to implement a second phase of sanctions against Russia. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced the United States’ willingness to increase pressure on Russia, contingent on European support for such measures.

If Western forces appear on Ukrainian territory, they would become legitimate targets for Russia, declared Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, according to UNIAN.

Putin threatens the West

“If any troops appear in Ukraine, especially now during ongoing hostilities, we proceed from the assumption that they will be legitimate targets for strikes,” said the Russian president.

This means the potential mission should be significantly protected from Russian strikes. 

Coalition of the willing and European guarantees

On 4 September, a meeting of the “coalition of the willing” took place in Paris. It was agreed that out of 21 countries willing to work on security guarantees for Ukraine, ten would agree to send their soldiers to Ukrainian territory after the fighting ends.

Countries prepared to take this step include the United Kingdom, France, the Nordic countries, the Baltic states, the Netherlands, and Australia. Preliminary estimates suggest that the European mission in Ukraine could number 25–30 thousand troops. These security guarantees are meant to take effect once peace is established in Ukraine, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports. 

Meanwhile, Donald Trump, the leader of the US, traditionally considered the major protector of the Western world, has stated that he does not plan to send troops to Ukraine, has not imposed the promised sanctions on Moscow, and is not providing Ukraine with new aid packages. As a result, the situation in Ukraine is at a deadlock.

A deadlock for Ukraine

According to Putin, security guarantees should apply not only to Ukraine but also to Russia.

At the same time, the dictator claimed that Russia “will fully comply with peace agreements regarding Ukraine once they are reached.”

According to Putin, no one has yet discussed such agreements with Russia “at a serious level.”

Putin also stated that he is allegedly willing to engage with Ukraine, but sees “little point” in such talks, claiming it is impossible to reach an agreement.

Earlier, he suggested meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Moscow, despite seven countries offering their cities for such a meeting and the risks it would pose for Zelenskyy.

Zelensky urges the West to implement guarantees without waiting for peace

Amid discussions over security guarantees, the question arises: What is preventing the West from implementing security guarantees now?

According to Rai, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that security guarantees for Ukraine must take effect immediately without waiting for a cessation of hostilities.

“It is important that the security guarantees promised by the countries forming the ‘coalition of the determined’ begin to operate immediately, without waiting for the end of the fighting,” the Ukrainian president said.

Zelenskyy added that this refers not only to military support for Ukraine but also to economic guarantees. According to him, 26 countries have expressed readiness to support Ukraine’s security, and this is “an important step forward.”

Ukraine may have replenished its fleet of MiG-29 fighters with aircraft from Azerbaijan, The War Zone reports. A photo appeared on social media showing a single-seat Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 with a camouflage pattern characteristic of Azerbaijani jets.

“The date and location of the photo are unknown, but the jet appears to be on a combat mission, with a full armament…While it remains possible that the photo has been manipulated, there is presently nothing to indicate that it’s not genuine,” the report says. 

Azerbaijani aircraft in Ukraine

Back in the summer of 2022, another photo appeared on Twitter showing three Azerbaijani MiG-29s undergoing repairs in Lviv. After the start of the all-out war, they remained in Ukraine and likely entered service with the Air Force.

“It seems the aircraft (or at least one of them) survived the March 2022 Russian attack on the Lviv State Aviation Repair Plant, which we reported on at the time,” the report says.

The plant was a key facility for overhauling MiG-29s not only for Ukraine but also for foreign clients, including Azerbaijan.

Traces of Baku’s support

There are also suggestions that Azerbaijan may have provided Ukraine with other “unofficial” assistance — precision bombs, mortars, and fuel. Azerbaijan’s MiG-29 fleet itself originally came from Ukraine: in 2007, the country acquired about 15 aircraft after major overhaul and modernization.

“Between 2015 and 2017, Azerbaijani MiG-29s took part in joint exercises with the Turkish Air Force, representing one of its closest military allies, and, starting in 2017, Fulcrum overhauls were conducted in Lviv,” the journalists recall. 

The coincidence of the evidence emerging now, alongside rising tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia, only adds intrigue. 

Analysts at Defense Express have spotted a MiG-29 fighter jet armed with a domestic analogue of the Russian UMPK kit, a guided bomb, or a so-called KAB. This indicates the start of wider adaptation of this weapon on a more mass-produced aircraft.

The UMPK kit turns a standard unguided bomb into a precision-guided munition with an extended range.

“At least 100 per day are needed” 

“The enemy drops 120–150 aerial bombs daily. We, at best, have up to 10 per day. And we need to reach at least 100 per day. Once we finally get enough aerial bombs, the situation at the front can change drastically,” revealed military expert Pavlo Narozhny on Radio NV. 

He emphasized that the Ukrainian development does not compete with the French high-precision HAMMERs, which are much more advanced and have a range of over 200 km. Instead, the Ukrainian KABs can be compared to American JDAMs or GBUs, which glide under the influence of gravity.

Cheap, mass-produced, and with great potential

According to Narozhny, the cost of one Ukrainian KAB could be $25,000. An American JDAM costs around $20,000–22,000.

“We have huge stockpiles of these aerial bombs – high-explosive, cluster, various types. We can use them in massive quantities,” the expert explained.

He also noted that installing a jet engine is a completely realistic next step. This would make the Ukrainian munition technologically closer to Western models and provide additional range.

Chinese companies directly supplied at least €55 million worth of parts and materials to sanctioned Russian firms in 2023–2024. During this period, Moscow was actively building a large-scale logistics infrastructure for its drone program, The Telegraph reports.

Almost a quarter of the supplies, worth €12.5 million, went to companies involved in producing Iranian Shahed kamikaze drones in a Russian special economic zone in the city of Alabuga.

Among the goods exported from China were: aircraft engines, microchips, metal alloys, fiberglass, optics, and carbon fibers – all critical components for drone production.

Chinese neutrality only in words

Beijing publicly claims neutrality in the war, but the supply of drone parts reveals deep military cooperation with Moscow. On the battlefield, this is confirmed by the fact that Ukrainian troops regularly find Chinese components in downed Russian equipment.

“One has a very important interest in the survival of the other; this is not going to change. It’s a simple, geographic fact,” said Andrea Ghiselli, an expert on China’s foreign policy.

At the same time, unlike North Korea, China avoids direct participation in the war. Instead, it allows its companies to export dual-use goods. This has led to record trade volumes between the two countries – €246 billion in 2024.

Russia increases drone production

In just three months of 2023, the Chinese company Ningbo Peak Cloud Import and Export supplied Russia with aircraft engines worth €3.5 million for the Ural Civil Aviation Plant, which is under sanctions.

In total, The Telegraph identified 97 Chinese suppliers. At least five Russian firms, including the Ural Civil Aviation Plant, PT Electronic, and Radioline, directly use Chinese components in drone production.

As a result, in just the first half of 2024, Russia produced more than 2,000 “Harpy” drones, almost matching the total output of the entire previous year.

The company Mile Hao Xiang Technology also supplied engines for the “Gerbera” drone worth more than €1.5 million in 2022–2023, including through intermediaries. The main importers were Russian companies Sequoia JSC and Unikom LLC.

The real volume of supplies may be much higher than official statistics show.

Russia has been preparing for war with Ukraine since 2007. Since then, Russia’s largest tank manufacturer, Uralvagonzavod, has been accumulating hundreds of units of foreign high-tech machinery to support Moscow’s aggression against Ukraine, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence or HUR reports. 

Foreign equipment strengthens Russia’s military-industrial complex

HUR has published new data in the “Tools of War” section of the War&Sanctions portal on over 260 machine tools, CNC processing centers, and other foreign-made equipment operating within the Russian military-industrial complex.

This portal documents entities and companies helping Russia wage the war against Ukraine. 

According to Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence chief, most of these purchases occurred during the rearmament of Russia’s defense industry ahead of the all-out war.

Sanctions and service restrictions – an effective limiting mechanism

This equipment requires regular maintenance, repairs, and software updates. Manufacturers can restrict the supply of spare parts, technical fluids, and CNC software, directly impacting the operation of Russia’s military machinery.

Production expansion during wartime

In 2024, Uralvagonzavod launched a new tank engine production line equipped with advanced CNC machinery from leading European manufacturers. While deliveries via third countries continue, they have become slower, more complicated, and more expensive due to sanctions.

Effectively limiting Russian aggression requires coordinated diplomatic efforts, investigation of violations, and blocking of circumvention schemes.

The White House has urged European countries to follow the US and impose restrictive measures on India for its purchases of Russian oil, which fund the war in Ukraine, India Today reports. 

US tariffs on Indian goods

In August 2025, the US raised tariffs on goods from India up to 50%, criticizing New Delhi for supporting Russia’s economic machinery. At the same time, Washington has not imposed sanctions on China, the main sponsor of the war and Moscow’s key economic partner.

A Russian drone caught filming its own camera test in a Chinese factory before being shot down in Ukraine

Europe continues to buy Russian energy

India has criticized the US decision, pointing out double standards: Europe itself continues to purchase oil from Russia. EU–Russia trade in 2024 reached €67.5 billion in goods and €17.2 billion in services. Europe also imported a record 16.5 million tons of Russian LNG, the highest number since 2022.

Sanctions do not cover key Russian exports

Many critical Russian exports remain unrestricted, including palladium for the US automotive industry, uranium for nuclear power plants, fertilizers, chemicals, metals, and equipment.

Sources report that Trump also pressured India to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. After being rejected, he responded with tariffs. This has prompted India to strengthen its ties with China and reinforced so-called anti-American cooperation among the so-called “axis of upheaval” countries.

Today, the US administration seeks to have Europe join in sanction pressure on New Delhi if India does not stop buying Russian oil.

“Getting used to war is the greatest victory of the empire of evil from the East.” At Westerplatte in Gdańsk, during the ceremony marking the 86th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz called on the world to remember the lessons of history and resist Russian aggression, PAP reports. 

Poland: Support for Ukraine is a matter of national security

Kosiniak-Kamysz reminded that Poles cannot ignore the war against Ukraine.

“People and children are dying there. Bombs are falling on nurseries, kindergartens, and hospitals,” said the minister.

According to him, beyond civilizational, humanitarian, and Christian reasons to support Ukraine, there is another — the security of Poland itself.

Historical experience and national duty

The minister recalled that throughout history, Poles have often paid a high price for freedom.

“Supporting Ukrainian soldiers is the Polish reason for existence, Poland’s national interest, and Poland’s security,” he declared.

Kosiniak-Kamysz acknowledged that sensitivity tends to fade over time, but the state duty cannot be destroyed by fatigue or despair. He stressed that this is also a debt to the memory of the Polish soldiers who defended Westerplatte.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ukrainian intelligence forces have delivered a powerful strike against the occupiers’ military infrastructure in temporarily occupied Crimea. The special unit Phantoms destroyed several expensive Russian air-defense and radar systems, the agency reports.

Phantoms strike at Russia’s defenses

According to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate, the elite unit continues systematically dismantling Russia’s air-defense network. The Phantoms are tasked with precision strikes against radar complexes, logistics hubs, and enemy military infrastructure.

What has been destroyed?

Ukrainian forces knocked out unique Russian systems, including:

• radar complex “Utyos-T”;
• the giant radio telescope RT-70;
• GLONASS satellite navigation system (Russia’s equivalent of GPS);
• coastal radar MR-10M1 “Mys” M1;
• 96L6-AP radar from the S-400 air-defense system.

Consequences for the occupiers

The loss of these systems seriously complicates the work of Russian air defense on the peninsula. Without key radars and navigation, the occupiers are left far more vulnerable to strikes by Ukrainian missiles, aircraft, and drones.

“The demilitarization of temporarily occupied Crimea continues!” Ukraine’s military intelligence emphasizes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Armin Papperger, head of German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall, said Ukraine will soon receive its first ammunition from a new plant in Unterlüß, Lower Saxony, Deutsche Welle reports. 

First deliveries and 2026 plans

This year, 25,000 shells will be sent to Ukraine. The factory could produce 150,000 or more next year.

“We will increase production to 350,000 for Germany and Ukraine. Next year, we can deliver at least 100,000, and later possibly 200,000 shells to Ukraine,” Papperger noted.

Ukrainian plant: plans and challenges

Rheinmetall is building a similar factory in Ukraine, but bureaucracy is slowing the process.

“I discussed this with Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal. I told him: it can be done in 14 months. Currently, the civilian part isn’t ready; a concept is needed,” the CEO explained.

He added that the plant could be ready in 12–14 months if organizational issues are resolved.

Drones in Ukraine

The company also plans to invest in drone production — not small quadcopters, but larger, high-tech systems.

“If there are opportunities — we will do it,” Papperger added.

Former Kherson mayor Volodymyr Mykolaienko, released from Russian captivity on Ukraine’s Independence Day, on 24 August, in a 146-for-146 prisoner exchange, gave his first interview to MOST.

He recounted his abduction, torture, life in prisons, and how the occupiers tried to make him “governor” instead of Volodymyr Saldo, Russia’s collaborator. 

“You can take Saldo’s place”

Mykolaienko was kidnapped in 2022. He was held in Kherson for 16 days before being transferred via Crimea to Voronezh Oblast.

“The main goal was to force me to cooperate. Saldo wasn’t even the ‘governor’ yet. They said, ‘You can take this place,’” he recalled.

FSB officers tried to make him recognize the occupation authorities: “Well, haven’t changed your mind? If not — you’ll go to Sevastopol, reconsider in a month or two, and recognize the new government.” But Mykolaienko refused.

Torture and broken ribs

In detention, he suffered systematic beatings: “Broken ribs. They broke them three times: once on Good Friday, second on Pioneer Day, third when we were ‘settling in’ Pakino.”

“Shockers and batons, boards they beat with — that’s all their prosecutors and lawyers,” he said.

The first days of captivity were the worst: “Three times a day consistently: morning inspection, evening inspection, and during the day either a dog bites or you get beaten in the bath.”

“I fulfilled my family duty”

The occupiers staged a mock execution.

“They lined me up against the wall and said, ‘We’re going to execute you now.’ I said, ‘Go ahead.’ They asked if I was scared. I said, scared, don’t want to die, but I fulfilled my family duty — I have two grandchildren,” said Mykolaienko. 

 

One of the Russians started shooting into the wall but others stopped him. 

He and other prisoners lived in complete informational isolation. Only from new prisoners did they learn about Kherson’s liberation.

“I said in the cell: ‘Kherson is Ukrainian.’ Everyone cheered,” he recalled.

 

Guilt and gratitude

The politician admits he feels discomfort surviving while others remain captive: “You can try to console yourself however you want, but the discomfort is still there. You get exchanged, and the same people remain.”

At the same time, he acknowledges that in Russian captivity, he “didn’t know if I would survive another year there.”