Ukraine Invasion: Part 58

[MagicFox]

We’re all still here for Thread 58. Thanks to all regular contributors, especially those doing the daily hard work. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

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Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

Donald Trump’s spiritual adviser Mark Burns met with the mothers of Azov servicemen.

A Ukrainian National Guardsman crawled for five days with his throat slit — and survived, reports Suspilne.
Since August 17, Vladyslav has been receiving treatment in a hospital in the Dnipropetrovsk region. He was admitted in critical condition, suffering from massive blood loss and festering wounds.
Because of his injuries, he cannot speak, but he recounted his story in a diary. Vladyslav was captured a few weeks ago near Pokrovsk. His comrades were brutally tortured — their eyes gouged out, lips and genitals cut off, ears and noses severed.
Vladyslav was the last of eight soldiers thrown into a pit by Russian troops — they assumed all were dead. Once the Russians left, he bandaged his throat with cloth and crawled for nearly five days to reach Ukrainian positions.
The serviceman has already undergone surgery. Doctors are doing everything possible to restore his ability to speak. Despite everything he endured, Vladyslav says he already wants to return to the front.

🇺🇸 In North Carolina, a 22-year-old Ukrainian refugee, Iryna Zarutska, was killed.
The incident happened on August 22 at a light rail station in Charlotte. According to state police, the young woman was fatally stabbed.
The suspect, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown, was arrested shortly after officers arrived. He was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and has been charged with first-degree murder.
Authorities say Brown has a long criminal history, with multiple arrests dating back to 2011 — including felony theft, armed robbery, and making threats. He is currently homeless.
Police are still investigating why he attacked the Ukrainian refugee.

Donald Trump’s spiritual adviser Mark Burns met with the mothers of Azov servicemen.
One can only hope that this meeting has an impact.

As for the two incidents in the rest of your post @ReleaseTheDucksOfWar , it's very hard to find any words. But thank you for posting these (and everything else you post, what a service you are providing 💔).

yvw, im just very glad the info is still useful to people.

There have been a few incidents recently that are just stomach-turning.

Hugely useful Ducks, l don't read everything by any means but I do find the ongoing existence of these threads a source of information, sanity and compassion and a help not to despair at the lack of resolution.

This.

I second that.

@ReleaseTheDucksOfWar I read all your posts unless I am away. I often have no words but find yours and others' commentary grounding and a comfort.

I can’t believe what the russian soldiers are doing it’s so inhuman - that poor Ukrainian man’s testimony should be reported everywhere - instead a smirking Putin is given the red carpet treatment and the instances of murder and torture carried out by russian troops don’t even make the press any more.
russia doesn’t even try to hide its MO anymore given that they’re proposing to withdraw from the European convention for the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

There are days i wish we had a sad button. The bravery amongst the inhumanity is outstanding, but I wish there was no need for it.

Thank you ducks.

Well, this is depressing.

https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/ukraine-europe-troops-voter-opposition-e462d6f3?st=biqYSx&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Not only does Europe have very few troops to send for a potential peacekeeping operation in Ukraine, the voters don't want to send them. I suspect this will lead to Ukraine turning up the pressure on Russia this fall in a couple of ways.

By announcing the availability of its long range (3,000 KM), indigenous produced Flamingo cruise missiles, Ukraine is telling Putin that his natural gas transit facilities in the Russian east are next on the target list. That would be a huge blow economically and cripple power production and heating in Russia's western population centers. They've already knocked out 17% of Russia's refinery capacity, leading to petrol shortages and price hikes.

If Putin doesn't start making meaningful concessions for a peace deal, I think Ukraine will disrupt their export sales of oil by attacking the few ports where the shadow tanker fleet loads oil. I suspect that the gloves are coming off soon.

Totally agree @LlttledrummergirI

Depressing but not surprising. In the UK, support from Starmer is strong but I wonder how he will bring the UK public along if the chancellor is already needing to impose some painful taxes in the autumn budget to balance the books.

The point you make about Ukraine poised to punish Russia economically by using Flamingo to target their energy assets and port infrastructure was also made in the link which @notimagain posted below:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuPxOe6bSgM&pp=0gcJCbIJAYcqIYzv

It is a longish video (20 mins) but worth a watch for feelgood vibes. Ukraine is said to be playing the long game and still has cards to play, even without US putting significant pressure on Russia.

This question of boots on the ground was put to a Ukrainian female politician a few weeks back.
She said "I take it these forces will be coming armed with weapons? In that case, just send the weapons, we probably won't need your forces then."

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-27-2025

Key Takeaways:

• Limited Russian tactical forces recently infiltrated Ukrainian defenses in two border settlements in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast but have not established enduring positions in the area.
• Russian forces are using infiltration tactics in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast similar to those they used near Dobropillya (northwest of Pokrovsk) in early August 2025.
• The Kremlin appears to be resuming its drone and missile strike campaign targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure ahead of Winter 2025, likely in an effort to undermine Ukrainian will to resist Russian aggression.
• The Kremlin is attempting to undermine US and European joint efforts to determine appropriate security guarantees for Ukraine by seemingly demanding that Russia and the United States privately discuss such matters.
• The Kremlin signaled that Russian President Vladimir Putin remains unwilling to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky unconditionally.
• Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reiterated Azerbaijan's continued support for Ukraine's territorial sovereignty and condemned the Soviet Red Army for "invading and occupying" Azerbaijan in 1920 — further aggravating already deteriorating Russian-Azerbaijani relations.
• Russian forces recently advanced near Borova, Toretsk, and Pokrovsk and in eastern Zaporizhia Oblast.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

Russian forces edge westward, probe Ukrainian defenses in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast (kyivindependent.com/russian-forces-edge-westward-probe-ukrainian-defenses-in-dnipropetrovsk-oblast/)
Russian troops entered two new villages in the central-eastern Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, probing the region with small assault groups, Ukraine's military said on Aug. 27.
Ukrainian forces quickly repelled the Russian assault groups that entered Zaporizke and Novoheorhiivka villages on Aug. 26, but fighting rages on in the "immediate vicinity," according to spokesperson Viktor Trehubov.

⚡️Denmark summons top US diplomat over reports of influence operations (kyivindependent.com/denmark-summons-us-ambassador-over-reports-of-influence-operations-in-greenland/) in Greenland.
Denmark's Foreign Ministry summoned the United States charge d'affaires in Copenhagen on Aug. 27 over reports that U.S. citizens were running covert influence campaigns in Greenland.
Danish public broadcaster DR, citing its sources, reported that the Danish government believes at least three U.S. citizens with ties to the Trump administration have been attempting to influence opinion through covert operations on the island to promote secession from Denmark.

⚡️Ukraine appoints new ambassador to US (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-appoints-new-ambassador-to-us/).
Ukraine has appointed former Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna as its new ambassador to the U.S., President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Aug. 27.

⚡️ Hungary sues EU (kyivindependent.com/hungary-sues-eu-over-using-frozen-russian-assets-to-aid-ukraine/) over using frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine.
The lawsuit challenges last year's decision by the Council of the EU to allocate military assistance to Ukraine through the European Peace Facility (EPF), the bloc's chief defense aid tool.

⚡️'Powerful explosion' rocks (https://kyivindependent.com/powerful-explosion-hits-russian-oil-pipeline-supplying-moscow-intelligence-source-claims/) Russian oil pipeline supplying Moscow, intelligence source claims.
As a result of the "powerful explosion... the transportation of petroleum products to Moscow (via the pipeline) has been suspended indefinitely," a HUR source claimed. The cause of the explosion was not specified.

⚡️Russia boosts (kyivindependent.com/russia-boosts-oil-exports-following-ukrainian-strikes-on-refineries-reuters-reports/) oil exports following Ukrainian strikes on refineries, Reuters reports.
The moves follows Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, as the paralyzed refineries freed up additional crude oil volumes for export.

⚡️Russia cuts (kyivindependent.com/russia-cuts-2025-economic-growth-forecast-from-2-5-to-1-5/) 2025 economic growth forecast from 2.5% to 1.5%.
Russia's Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 27 that the country has lowered its annual economic growth forecast for 2025 from 2.5% to 1.5%, as the country's wartime economy continues to falter.

⚡️Russian drones target Kyiv, Ukrainian cities in large-scale attack (https://kyivindependent.com/russia-drones-target-kyiv-ukrainian-cities-in-large-scale-attack/).
Russia launched a large-scale drone attack on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, late on Aug. 27, targeting regions situated far from the country's front line.

⚡️Ukraine hits (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-hits-russian-ship/) Russian cruise missile carrier near occupied Crimea, intelligence claims.
Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) hit a Russian Buyan-M-class small missile ship, a carrier of Kalibr cruise missiles, near Russian-occupied Crimea in the Azov Sea on Aug. 28, HUR reported.

⚡️Update: Russia attacks Kyiv with ballistic missile (kyivindependent.com/russia-drones-target-kyiv-ukrainian-cities-in-large-scale-attack/) amid large-scale strike.
More explosions rocked the capital city after at around 3 a.m. and 3:30 local time, Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground reported.

⚡️Europe boosts (kyivindependent.com/europe-boosts-ammunition-production-sixfold-in-2-years-nato-chief-says/) artillery ammunition production sixfold in 2 years, NATO chief says.
The production "is expected to reach 2 million rounds by the end of this year," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.

⚡️Putin, Kim Jong Un to attend (kyivindependent.com/putin-kim-to-attend-china-military-parade/) China's military parade in September.
Among the 26 foreign heads of state and government expected to attend the parade in Beijing, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will be the only leader of an EU country present.

⚡️Security mechanism inspired by NATO Article 5 (kyivindependent.com/security-mechanism-inspired-by-nato-article-5-remains-main-one-on-the-table-meloni-says/) remains 'main one on the table,' Meloni says.
A security mechanism inspired by NATO Article 5 remains the main guarantee on the table for Ukraine, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Aug. 27.

Presidential Office Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov are heading to New York this week to discuss security guarantees and future peace talks, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 27. https://kyivindependent.com/top-ukrainian-officials-to-meet-us-delegation-this-week-amid-proposed-peace-talks-bloomberg-reports/

⚡️ Update: Ukraine strikes 2 Russian refineries (kyivindependent.com/russian-oil-refinery-in-samara-oblast-in-flames-after-drone-attack-media-reports/), other targets in overnight attack, military says.
Ukrainian forces hit the Kuibyshev refinery in Russia's Samara Oblast and the Afipsky refinery in Krasnodar Krai overnight on Aug. 28, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported.

⚡️Explosions heard as Ukrainian drones target (kyivindependent.com/explosions-heard-as-ukrainian-drones-target-occupied-crimea-media-reports/) occupied Crimea, media reports.

⚡️US-Russia talks (kyivindependent.com/us-russia-talks-on-ukraine-should-be-held-behind-closed-doors-to-achieve-results/) on Ukraine should be private, Kremlin says.
"Discussing specific details out of context and in public would hardly be helpful to the overall outcome of the matter," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

⚡️62% of Americans back sanctions (kyivindependent.com/62-of-americans-back-sanctions-against-russias-partner-countries-poll-says/) on Russia's trading partners, poll says.
Among supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump from the Republican Party, 76% backed sanctions against Russia's trading partners, while Democrats shared this position at 58%.

⚡️Lithuania urges (kyivindependent.com/lithuania-urges-eu-to-bypass-hungary-in-ukraine-membership-talks/) EU to bypass Hungary in Ukraine membership talks.

⚡️Russia convicts more than 300 Ukrainian soldiers (https://kyivindependent.com/russia-convicts-more-than-300-ukrainian-soldiers-of-terrorism-following-kursk-oblast-incursion/) of terrorism following Kursk Oblast Incursion.

'It's poison' — across occupied Ukraine, Russia has caused a devastating water crisis it cannot fix
(kyivindependent.com/its-poison-across-occupied-ukraine-russia-has-caused-a-devastating-water-crisis-it-cannot-fix/)
All across the Russian-occupied Ukrainian land, Moscow is struggling to provide one of the most basic needs of the very people it claims to have "liberated" — water.
Years of neglect and war damage have left Russian-occupied areas of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts with barely functioning infrastructure, while in the more recently occupied areas of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, the destruction of the Kahovka Dam by Russian forces in June 2023 has left reservoirs nearly empty.

⚡️Stolen Ukrainian housing being re-sold (kyivindependent.com/stolen-ukrainian-housing-being-re-sold-in-occupied-donetsk-oblast/) in occupied Donetsk Oblast.
Homes seized from Ukrainian owners by Russian-installed authorities in occupied Donetsk Oblast will be resold illegally, the Center of National Resistance reported Aug. 27.

⚡️Ukrainian journalist dismissed (kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-journalist-dismissed-after-insulting-polish-president-amid-kyiv-warsaw-tensions/) after insulting Polish president amid Kyiv-Warsaw tensions.

⚡️52% of Germans say Ukraine should cede (kyivindependent.com/52-of-germans-say-ukraine-should-cede-occupied-territories-for-peace-poll-shows/) Russian-occupied territories for peace, poll shows.
The position was most present among supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, with 72% saying that Ukraine should be ready to give up on occupied territories for peace.

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⚡️Update: At least 14 killed, 48 injured in Russian mass attack (kyivindependent.com/russia-drones-target-kyiv-ukrainian-cities-in-large-scale-attack/) on Kyiv.
The Russian attack also damaged a building of the EU mission to Ukraine, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X. ....
Children aged 2, 14, and 17 were among those killed in the attack, Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦
‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬
⚡️ WAR IN UKRAINE & RUSSIA — AUG 28, 2025 (1/2)
■ Largest overnight attacks on record, including 31 missiles; at least 53 casualties, 8 of them fatal
■ Record drone losses yesterday (previous record of 324 was reported on July 10)
■ Engagements were below average, but casualties slightly above

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

Ukrainian delegation to hold talks with US presidential envoy Witkoff in New York this week to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine — Bloomberg.
The Ukrainian delegation will include the Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak and the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksandr Lytvynenko.
In addition to security guarantees, the talks will focus on a possible bilateral meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin.

❗️The Italian proposal, based on a mechanism similar to NATO’s Article 5, is currently the main one on the negotiating table, Meloni said.
“This is a potential contribution to peace that our state has made, and I think we should be proud of it,” the Italian Prime Minister noted.

Russia lost 4.7% of its fuel production capacity overnight, — Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces Robert “Magyar” Brovdi.
▫️ Kuibyshev Refinery (Samara Region) — capacity of 7 million tons of oil per year (2.5% of the total volume). The strike was carried out by fighters of the “Birds Sting” SBS (14th Regiment) together with the Special Operations Forces.
▫️ Afipsky Refinery (Krasnodar Territory) — 6.25 million tons per year (2.2% of the total volume). The attack was carried out by the “Birds Sting” SBS (14th Regiment) together with the HUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
In two weeks of August, Russia’s oil refining decreased by 21%.

Russia to increase crude oil exports by 200,000 barrels per day in August due to Ukrainian strikes on refineries — Reuters.
According to journalists citing sources, the decision will affect the western Russian ports of Primorsk, Novorossiysk, and Ust-Luga. Instead of the planned 1.8 million barrels per day, exports will rise to 2 million.
Final loading plans for September have not yet been provided to oil sellers, although they are usually received a week before the start of the month. Reuters sources explained the delay by ongoing strikes and changes in the repair schedule.
In August, Ukrainian troops repeatedly struck the Druzhba pipeline and the Unecha pumping station in the Bryansk region, further limiting Russia’s export capabilities. One source said the damage from the strikes could cut exports by 500,000 barrels per day, while another noted that the port of Ust-Luga is currently operating at only half its 700,000-barrel capacity, with production being diverted to Novorossiysk and Primorsk.

Russia is strengthening the air defense of Perm, an important center of the military-industrial complex and oil refining. No strikes have been recorded there so far.
OSINT researchers Blinzka and Jembob discovered the construction of embankments for deploying Pantsir-S1 air defense systems near strategic facilities.
The city hosts an explosives plant under active development, a Tornado MLRS production facility, a refinery, and an airfield.
"Perm is located in the Urals, more than 1,800 kilometers from Ukraine, and no Ukrainian strikes have been reported there yet," notes military analyst Yigal Levin.

The carrier of the “Kalibr” was hit — soldiers of the HUR in the Sea of Azov hunted down the Russian missile ship of the “Buyan-M” project.
On August 28, 2025, during a joint operation by the Department of Active Operations of the HUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the special unit “Primary,” a small missile ship of Russia’s Project 21631 “Buyan-M,” a carrier of “Kalibr” cruise missiles, was struck near temporarily occupied Crimea.
The fighters of the special unit “Primary” damaged the ship’s radar with a drone strike, while the special forces of the Department of Active Operations of the HUR attacked the side of the carrier.
As a result, the Russian missile ship, which was in Temryutskaya Bay in a potential launch area for “Kalibr” missiles, was damaged and forced to leave combat duty.

Finland plans to resume the use of anti-personnel mines from January 2026 — Yle.
Anti-personnel mines were phased out in 2012 when the Ottawa Convention came into force. Finland withdrew from the treaty in July, and the six-month waiting period for withdrawal from the mine ban ends on January 10.

Azerbaijan was under occupation during the Soviet era, President Ilham Aliyev said in an interview with Al Arabiya.
He noted that the Soviet Union prevented Azerbaijan from developing as a democratic republic by occupying it in 1920. Answering a question about the corridor to Nakhchivan, Aliyev recalled that the region became an enclave because the USSR took Western Zangezur from Azerbaijan and handed it over to Armenia.

Soviet-Era Glory Vanishing—Russia’s Space Giant on the Brink of Collapse (united24media.com/latest-news/soviet-era-glory-vanishing-russias-space-giant-on-the-brink-of-collapse-11144)
Russia’s flagship rocket and spacecraft manufacturer, RKK Energia, is on the verge of bankruptcy, as internal documents reveal severe financial and structural problems within the country’s space sector.
The company is responsible for producing the Soyuz and Progress spacecraft, supporting operations of the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS), and developing satellites and launch vehicles.

❗️This night, Russian troops carried out a targeted strike on civilian passenger trains.
The Intercity+ high-speed train fleet was hit.
Train services will not be canceled: replacement rolling stock is being deployed. Delays are possible due to ongoing restoration of the damaged infrastructure.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Authorities in Russian-occupied Donbas announced that water supplies to six cities will be drastically reduced (www.kyivpost.com/post/59017) or cut off, worsening a crisis that has already left tens of thousands without running water for months.

Russia hit energy infrastructure in Poltava and Sumy, (www.kyivpost.com/post/59008) leaving parts of Sumy without power. Ukrainian forces shot down 74 of 95 drones launched overnight, but critical services are still being restored.

Overnight, Russia launched more than 600 targets at Ukraine — hundreds of Shahed drones and dozens of missiles, including Kinzhal and Iskander ballistic missiles.
Air defense forces destroyed 589 aerial targets, but there were still 13 direct hits from missiles and attack drones, along with debris falling in 26 locations.
In Kyiv alone, at least 15 people were killed and more than 40 injured. Rescue operations are ongoing.

n Kyiv, buildings housing the EU mission were damaged (www.kyivpost.com/post/59042) in the attack, as well as the office of the British Council.
Officials said the damage is significant, and the office will remain closed until further notice.

Russia has charged a student with Nazi crime (www.kyivpost.com/post/59005) after he wondered how people lived without bubble tea during the siege of Leningrad on TikTok.

Tomorrow, August 29, has been declared a Day of Mourning in Kyiv.
All entertainment events will be banned, and flags will be flown at half-mast.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

Western partners have drafted a preliminary postwar security plan for Ukraine, envisioning a three-tiered defense system, the Financial Times reports.
The first layer would involve the creation of a demilitarized zone, likely patrolled by neutral peacekeeping forces from a third country agreed upon by both Ukraine and Russia.
Behind that, Ukraine’s own forces — armed and trained by NATO states — would defend a much stronger border.
A third line of defense would see European deterrence forces stationed deeper inside Ukrainian territory, backed from the rear by U.S. resources.
However, FT notes that despite potential U.S. support, public opinion and politicians in many European countries remain uneasy about the prospect of sending troops to Ukraine.

🇩🇪 German defense giant Rheinmetall has opened a new plant for artillery shell production in Germany.
By the end of this year, the facility is expected to produce 25,000 155mm shells. In 2026, output will rise to 140,000, and by the following year the plant will reach full capacity of up to 350,000 shells annually — making it the largest in Europe. This is one and a half times more than originally planned.
In addition to artillery shells — a significant share of which will go to Ukraine — the new Rheinmetall factory will also produce rocket engines for multiple launch rocket systems.
The plant, built in Lower Saxony in just 15 months, covers an area the size of five football fields, with total investment reaching about half a billion euros.
The opening ceremony on August 27 was attended by Germany’s defense and finance ministers, as well as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

🇭🇺 Hungary has filed a lawsuit against the EU Council over the allocation of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.
The lawsuit stems from a decision on February 26, 2025, when the European Peace Facility Committee approved the second tranche of financial assistance for Ukraine’s Armed Forces. That decision was based on a prior EU Council ruling from May 21, 2024.
During the vote, Hungary was excluded on the grounds that it was not considered a “contributing member state,” and its vote was not counted.
Budapest argues this violates the principle of equality among EU member states and undermines the democratic functioning of the Union.
In its filing, Hungary requests the annulment of the decision on aid to Ukraine, partial invalidation of the protocol, and that the EU Council and the European Peace Facility cover legal costs.

🇺🇸 The U.S. Treasury Department has extended for another year — until September 2026 — the authorization to import certain Russian diamonds introduced in 2024.
t the same time, the import of non-industrial diamonds of Russian origin to the United States remains prohibited.

🇩🇪 Germany has issued arrest warrants for six Ukrainians in connection with the Nord Stream sabotage.
According to Die Zeit, German investigators obtained DNA samples and fingerprints from the yacht Andromeda, which was allegedly used for the operation. Surveillance cameras on the island of Rügen also recorded a car used by the yacht’s crew. In total, seven people are believed to have been on board.
▪️Among them is Serhiy Kuznetsov — suspected coordinator of the operation, who was arrested in Italy last week. He claimed he was in Ukraine at the time of the explosions and has refused extradition to Berlin.
▪️Media also report on Volodymyr S., a diving instructor who fled Poland after German authorities requested his arrest; Yevhen U., suspected of transporting explosives; Vsevolod K., a soldier who had trained with the Bundeswehr and is believed to have been killed at the front in 2024.
The team may also have included a woman — Valeria T., a professional diver and Ukrainian record-holder for deep dives (104 meters).
▪️Investigators stated that the group possessed two sets of passports — one fully forged Romanian, and one Ukrainian officially issued under a false identity.

Ukraine’s air defense intercepted 589 out of 629 Russian aerial targets overnight.

it does indeed look like it was Ukraine who destroyed Nordstrom 2. Wonder what the unofficial conversations and the official position on that will be.

This morning Russia bombed the British Council and EU delegation offices in Kyiv: https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/aug/28/ukraine-kyiv-strike-russia-europe-zelenskyy-putin-updates-live-news-latest

Indeed – though I think it will be important whether it was "Ukraine" or "Ukrainians", assuming those really are the people who sabotaged the pipe.

Criminal damage by Ukrainian citizens acting off their own bat is a different kettle of fish from state action.

This is a distinction Russia exploits again and again. Indeed with Russia the line between state-actor and private organised crime group is very blurry indeed, but using private actors still gives Russia (im)plausible deniability.

Russia Ambassador summoned by UK Govt.

Pointless, is time these people weren't even in London or our people in Russia.

Agreed the plausible deniability is more than a bit im, @PerkingFaintly

That seems to be how they want it too.

The reports about the Danes telling the US to stop a campaign to influence people to want to join the US in Greenland are ... interesting. I wonder how accurate they are. If accurate, I wonder if they will work.

That seems a pragmatic stance, probably based on being unable to rely too much on "allies" who may at any moment change their minds and vanish away like the dew in the morning. Just as arms from the USA may do under the current president and his goons: get as far as (say) Poland and then stop moving towards Ukraine at all....

If you actually have troops in theatre it's harder ro make them "vanish in the mist" than it is to simply turn the arms supply tap off...it also generates to some degree the perception of a trip wire..

One of my worries with the idea is Russia will state the only peacekeepers acceptable to them would be from their mates, the BRICS countries or client states, e.g. some of the African nations.