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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Putin already has more than enough of his own rare minerals n Russia. I believe they haven’t even scratched the surface of what lies beneath Siberia and vast areas in the north, Tundra etc

It all feels very 1938

Checking in, thanks to all.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-14-2025

Key Takeaways:

• Russian and US officials further clarified the details of the upcoming August 15 Alaska summit.
• The Kremlin is likely to use the Alaska summit to try to deflect attention away from peace negotiations with Ukraine and towards the Russia-US relationship in order to court the Trump administration into offering Moscow sorely needed economic rapprochement.
• The Kremlin is coming to Alaska with a severely weakened domestic economy, which affords the Trump administration significant leverage during the summit.
• US President Donald Trump expressed concerns about the success of a potential secondary meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
• The Kremlin is also likely to try to distract from the war in Ukraine by pressuring the Trump administration to engage in bilateral arms control talks at the Alaska summit.
• The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN OHCHR) reported that the July 2025 civilian casualties from Russia's war against Ukraine were the highest on record since May 2022.
• Russian forces have yet to reinforce and consolidate positions east and northeast of Dobropillya, and Ukrainian and Russian sources reported that Ukrainian reinforcements are stabilizing the situation. ISW continues to assess that Russian forces do not control the territory east and northeast of Dobropillya where Russian forces recently infiltrated.
• Ukraine's European partners continue to provide military aid to Ukraine, including through the purchase of US weapons.
• Ukraine and Russia conducted their 67th prisoner exchange of the war on August 14.
• Ukrainian forces struck a large oil refinery in Volgograd Oblast on the night of August 13 to 14.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced in Sumy Oblast and near Lyman, and Russian forces recently advanced near Velykomykhailivka.

CNAS report on the growing military cooperation between Russia, China and NK: https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/the-axis-of-upheaval

Russia's foreign minister arrived in Alaska today wearing a "USSR" sweatshirt.

https://bsky.app/profile/kevinrothrock.me/post/3lwgbkbn2sk2k

😱

That’s outrageous!

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ Trump says Putin ready to make a peace deal (kyivindependent.com/trump-says-putin-ready-to-make-a-peace-deal-with-ukraine/) with Ukraine.
"I believe now he's convinced that he's going to make a deal. He's going to make a deal. I think he's going to," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

⚡️ July saw highest civilian casualties (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-suffered-most-civilian-casualties-in-july-since-2022/) in Ukraine since 2022, UN says ahead of Trump-Putin summit.
"Only the first three months after the Russian Federation launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine saw more killed and injured than in this past month," said Danielle Bell, head of the U.N. human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine.

⚡️Russia's Lavrov arrives (kyivindependent.com/russias-lavrov-arrives-in-alaska-ahead-of-trump-putin-summit-russian-media-reports/) in Alaska ahead of Trump-Putin summit, Russian media reports.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Alexander Darchiev have arrived in Alaska ahead of a planned Trump-Putin summit, Russian state media reported on Aug. 15.

⚡️ Russia unveils delegation (kyivindependent.com/russia-announces-delegation-schedule-for-putin-trump-alaska-meeting/) for Putin-Trump Alaska meeting, expects no agreement signed.
According to the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the two sides will later outline the scope of agreements that they will be able to achieve.

'Putin is not stopping' — Ukrainian soldiers doubt US-Russia talks will yield results

⚡️ India shifts oil purchases away from Russia before Trump-Putin Alaska meeting, Bloomberg reports. (kyivindependent.com/india-shifts-oil-purchases-away-from-russia-before-trump-putin-alaska-meeting-media-reports/)
State companies Indian Oil Corp. and Bharat Petroleum Corp. secured supplies from the U.S, Brazil, and Middle Eastern producers for September-October delivery, Bloomberg reported.

⚡️Anchorage security ramps up (kyivindependent.com/anchorage-security-ramps-up-before-trump-putin-talks-on-ukraines-future-bloomberg-reports/) before Trump-Putin talks on Ukraine’s future, Bloomberg reports.
Security arrangements follow strict reciprocity protocols, with each side matching the other’s personnel and resources — from motorcade composition to the number of translators and secure waiting rooms.

⚡️ Putin to present Trump with 'historical materials' (kyivindependent.com/putin-to-present-trump-with-historical-materials-framing-ukraine-as-artificial-state-kyiv-claims/) framing Ukraine as artificial state, Kyiv claims.
The package includes geographical maps intended to justify Russia's territorial claims and ongoing military aggression, Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation claimed.

⚡️Pro-Ukrainian protest (kyivindependent.com/pro-ukrainian-protest-held-in-anchorage-ahead-of-trump-putin-summit/) held in Anchorage ahead of Trump-Putin summit.

⚡️Ukraine's long-range strikes cost (kyivindependent.com/ukraines-deep-strikes-cost-russia-over-4-of-gdp/) Russia over 4% GDP in 2025, Kyiv claims.
The attacks have cost Russia around $74.1 billion, the Ukrainian military's strategic communications department (Stratcom) estimates.

⚡️ Russian Su-30SM fighter jet likely down (https://kyivindependent.com/russian-su-30sm-fighter-jet-likely-down-near-snake-island-ukrainian-navy-says/) near Snake Island, Ukrainian Navy says.
The twin-engine, two-seat aircraft — designed for both air superiority and ground attack — crashed for unknown reasons, the Ukrainian Navy said.

⚡️Ukraine strikes (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-strikes-russian-port-used-for-iranian-arms-shipments-general-staff-says/) Russian port used for Iranian arms shipments, military says.
The Olya port is used by Moscow to receive Shahed-type drone components and munitions from Iran, according to the Ukrainian military.

⚡️Japan says Russian military obtained banned machine tools (kyivindependent.com/japan-finds-russian-military-got-banned-machine-tools-through-chinese-companies/) via Chinese firms.
Japanese authorities found that over 300 precision machine tools made by Tsugami Corp., sold to seven Chinese firms, had gone missing and were later used by Russia to produce weapons components.

⚡️Update: 'Target hit' — Ukraine confirms (kyivindependent.com/drones-reportedly-attack-oil-refinery-in-russias-samara-oblast-sparking-fire/) strikes on oil refinery in Russia's Samara Oblast, command post in Donetsk Oblast.
"The target was hit, with fire and explosions recorded," the Ukrainian military said.

⚡️US sanctions Russian crypto exchange over cybercrime (kyivindependent.com/us-sanctions-russian-crypto-exchange-over-cybercrime-day-before-trump-putin-summit-in-alaska/) — day before Trump-Putin summit in Alaska.
The U.S. Treasury Department has re-designated the Russian-linked cryptocurrency exchange Garantex Europe OU, accusing it of directly enabling ransomware gangs and other cybercriminals by processing over $100 million in illicit transactions since 2019.

⚡️Norway blames Russia (kyivindependent.com/norway-blames-russia-for-cyberattack-on-hydropower-dam/) for cyberattack on hydropower dam.
The Norwegian Police Security Service said the April attack targeted the Bremanger dam near the town of Svelgen, releasing 500 liters of water per second until it was detected and stopped. @notimagain if it's coming from the official police department then it indicates (assuming this is correctly reported) that it's more likely to be

⚡️Pope Leo urges (kyivindependent.com/pope-leo-urges-ukraine-ceasefire-ahead-of-trump-putin-alaska-meeting/) Ukraine ceasefire ahead of Trump-Putin Alaska meeting.

Ukrainian soldiers on fighting to reclaim their homes from Russia
(https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-soldiers-on-fighting-to-reclaim-their-homes-from-russia/)
For Ukrainian soldiers born and raised on lands occupied by Russia, the fight for their home is deeply personal.
So much so that some say their decision to serve was driven by a desire for revenge as by a sense of civic duty and justice.

⚡️Ukraine's SBU charges (kyivindependent.com/ukraines-sbu-charges-medvedchuk-12-accomplices-for-working-with-russia/) Medvedchuk, 12 accomplices for working with Russia.

⚡️Drones reportedly attack (kyivindependent.com/drones-reportedly-attack-oil-refinery-in-russias-samara-oblast-sparking-fire/) oil refinery in Russia's Samara Oblast, sparking fire.

⚡️ Kyiv brings home 84 Ukrainians (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-brings-home-84-captives-in-latest-swap-with-russia/) from Russian captivity in latest prisoner swap.

⚡️ Russia kills 6 civilians, injures 17 (kyivindependent.com/russian-attacks-ukraine-165/) in Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin summit.
Russia launched 97 Shahed-type drones and decoys against Ukraine overnight, as well as two Iskander-M ballistic missiles, the Air Force reported.
Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 63 drones, while 34 drones struck 13 locations.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬ ‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬
· 1h
⚡️ WAR IN UKRAINE & RUSSIA — AUG 15, 2025
■ Engagements & casualties slightly below average
■ Artillery losses up & Su-30CM loss
■ Visually confirmed: 26 🇷🇺 : 35 🇺🇦 — 30-day ratio at 0.7x
■ Interception rate improved; 🇺🇦 strikes include hit on Olya seaport

Oh for heavens sake, it mentioned cry*to

Ah, it's unhidden now.

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

The US delegation for the talks between President Trump and Putin in Alaska has been announced:
▫️US President Donald Trump
▫️Vice President J.D. Vance
▫️Secretary of State, Acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio
▫️US Presidential Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff
▫️Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant

The next stage of negotiations with the US could be reaching agreements on strategic arms control, Putin said at a meeting to prepare for the Alaska summit.
According to him, the Trump administration is "making energetic and sincere efforts to resolve the Ukrainian crisis."

Ukraine is preparing to ratify the Century Agreement with the United Kingdom as early as August, President Zelenskyy said after meeting with British Prime Minister Starmer.

Today’s exchange was special — Ukraine managed to bring back citizens who had been illegally sentenced by the occupiers to 10–18 years in prison, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported.
A total of 33 military personnel and 51 civilians were released. One of them had spent 4,013 days in captivity, having been taken prisoner in the Donetsk region back in 2014. Ukrainians captured and sentenced by the occupiers between 2016 and 2021 are also returning home.
Among the freed are three women from Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including a primary school teacher imprisoned in 2019, and a 27-year-old man captured in 2016 when he was only 18.
In addition to civilians, those returning include defenders from the Mariupol garrison, as well as servicemen from the Navy and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Ten officers were released, along with two pairs of siblings held in captivity since March and April 2022.

Ah, it's unhidden now.

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

The US delegation for the talks between President Trump and Putin in Alaska has been announced:
▫️US President Donald Trump
▫️Vice President J.D. Vance
▫️Secretary of State, Acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio
▫️US Presidential Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff
▫️Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant

The next stage of negotiations with the US could be reaching agreements on strategic arms control, Putin said at a meeting to prepare for the Alaska summit.
According to him, the Trump administration is "making energetic and sincere efforts to resolve the Ukrainian crisis."

Ukraine is preparing to ratify the Century Agreement with the United Kingdom as early as August, President Zelenskyy said after meeting with British Prime Minister Starmer.

Today’s exchange was special — Ukraine managed to bring back citizens who had been illegally sentenced by the occupiers to 10–18 years in prison, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported.
A total of 33 military personnel and 51 civilians were released. One of them had spent 4,013 days in captivity, having been taken prisoner in the Donetsk region back in 2014. Ukrainians captured and sentenced by the occupiers between 2016 and 2021 are also returning home.
Among the freed are three women from Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including a primary school teacher imprisoned in 2019, and a 27-year-old man captured in 2016 when he was only 18.
In addition to civilians, those returning include defenders from the Mariupol garrison, as well as servicemen from the Navy and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Ten officers were released, along with two pairs of siblings held in captivity since March and April 2022.

Spent 9 years in captivity — civilian hostage Bohdan Kovalchuk, kidnapped by Russia at the age of 17, has returned to Ukraine.
He was detained by militants in 2016 while trying to leave occupied Yasynuvata for Toretsk to finish his studies. Accused of collaborating with the SBU, he was sentenced to 10 years.

Poland’s Internal Security Agency has detained a 17-year-old Ukrainian citizen who was allegedly recruited by Russian intelligence services for sabotage activities.

Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said the detained teenager “destroyed monuments to victims of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and public buildings with anti-Polish inscriptions” on the orders of foreign intelligence. According to the minister, such actions were aimed at “inciting tensions between Poles and Ukrainians.”
The Ukrainian Embassy in Poland said it viewed the actions against memorial sites in the country as a provocation organized by Russian intelligence services.

Anchorage Streets Ahead of Trump-Putin Meeting: Pro-Ukraine Posters
In Alaska, locals have put up posters on buildings condemning Russian aggression and expressing support for Ukraine.

Ukraine’s 13th gold: Roman Shcherbatyuk became the 2025 World Games kickboxing champion.
The Ukrainian triumphed in the over 91 kg category at the Games in Chengdu, China, defeating Türkiye’s Emin Ozer 3:0 in the final.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

As Trump prepares to meet Putin in Alaska, analysts warn: this isn’t diplomacy – it’s a KGB-style power play designed to sideline Ukraine and script a win for Moscow.

“Ending the war tomorrow isn’t going to happen — I don’t think we can achieve that right away” — Trump
Here’s more of what the US president told reporters:
▪️I put the chances of the meeting with Putin failing at 25%.
▪️I plan to call Zelensky to arrange a second meeting after the Alaska summit with Putin — we’re looking at three possible locations.
▪️Putin and I will have a dispute over borders and territories.
▪️He knows I’m the toughest opponent he’s ever dealt with.
▪️Putin will agree to a deal, and the threat of sanctions against Russia has probably played a role in Moscow’s push for this meeting.

We have a meeting with Putin tomorrow. But the more important meeting will be the one between Putin, Zelensky and myself — Trump

Putin will be welcomed on a red carpet in Alaska and personally greeted by Trump, NBC News reported.

Support for US aid to Ukraine has increased over past six months, (www.kyivpost.com/post/58159) Pew Research Center data indicates, but a majority of respondents had no faith in Trump’s role as deal-maker-in-chief.

Just hours before his meeting with Trump in Alaska, Putin praised North Korean troops sent to fight in Ukraine (www.kyivpost.com/post/58175) as “heroic,” according to a letter he sent to Kim Jong Un.

A $50M Russian Su-30SM fighter jet crashed near Zmiiniy Island, (www.kyivpost.com/post/58169) with wreckage found but no trace of the pilots. Ukrainian intel says contact was lost mid-mission for unknown reasons.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

A trilateral meeting between Zelenskyy, Trump, and Putin — there are currently three possible locations for it, according to the U.S. president.
Trump stressed that his main priority is making progress with Putin, after which he would immediately call Zelenskyy to “bring him to wherever we’re going to meet.” One option under consideration is Alaska, which Trump said would be the simplest.
The U.S. president also noted that he would not call anyone after meeting with Putin if the talks went badly — estimating a 25% chance of that outcome.
▪️ Sky News, citing European leaders, reported that allies believe the meeting of the three leaders should take place in Europe. If the Putin–Trump talks are successful, the EU and U.S. are expected to hold a meeting on August 16 to discuss the next trilateral summit.

🚆 Europe is discussing the restoration of the “Iron Rhine” railway line, which has been out of use for over 30 years.
The route, linking the Belgian port of Antwerp with Germany’s industrial Ruhr region, may be revived due to the military threat posed by Russia.
The “Iron Rhine” was built in the 19th century and played a crucial role for the Allies during and after World War II. However, it has seen little to no use since 1991.
The EU now requires greater transport capacity for military logistics, as other rail routes are overloaded. Experts say the military factor could accelerate the decision to restore the “Iron Rhine.”

Putin would have taken all of Ukraine if I weren’t president, Trump said.
▪️ “If the meeting with Putin goes badly, it will be quick. If it’s a good meeting, we’ll reach peace fairly soon. You’ll see it.”
▪️ On the reported proposal to offer rare earth metals to Putin: “Rare earth metals are very unimportant — I’m trying to save lives.”
▪️ “Putin wants to make a deal.”

On August 14 in Alaska, hundreds of residents gathered for a pro-Ukrainian rally ahead of the Trump–Putin meeting.
Ukrainian flags, placards, and a marching band filled the streets. Some demonstrators protested Trump’s broader policies unrelated to the meeting, while others focused directly on it.

Thanks to all the poster who keep this alive and post amazing summaries.

Will Putin wear the t shirt ?
What t shirt will trump wear? Reds under the beds!

I'm amazed they are meeting like this , how can they secure for poison ?

Good on India for diverting away from Russian oil

How can they keep Putin safe ? Not that I want him safe but threat is so high.

Oh. Apparently it was an unsecured, timy dam - there is no staff, no local building etc there. This is basically a remote village's small stream.
The reporting on this was really blown out of proportion - someone did not set a proper password on an unimportant piece of infrastructure.

Their police seem to be fairly convinced that it was Russians tho.

Edited: also apparently it happened 3 months ago!

@ReleaseTheDucksOfWar

Thanks for the info...

"The US delegation for the talks between President Trump and Putin in Alaska has been announced:
▫️US President Donald Trump
▫️Vice President J.D. Vance"

Hang on: I thought Vance was on a jolly with his family, in Scotland today. He arrived on Wednesday to spend five days there, the same as Trump last month, according to his publicity people.

Dog peeing to mark his territory.

@ReleaseTheDucksOfWar
Putin would have taken all of Ukraine if I weren’t president, Trump said.

It needs to be pointed out to big head, that far more Ukrainian civilians have been killed by Russians since he's been in power.

he's beyond words, isn't he

Trump’s been on the blower to Belarus. What hope do we have 😩

It's non stop opinion on the half-baked Alaska meeting today on radio.
What no one has mentioned, is that Zelensky has people's opinions to consider in a democratic nation.
Putin does as he likes and damn the people. They will obey.

How much easier it would be for Putin if only he could get Zelensky out and a Russian puppet in. Trump would have gone for that too had the legalities not have been pointed out to him.

Oh here we go again on the radio. That we've given 18 billion to Ukraine during the war. "Money that should have gone to the British people."
Money lost through the Shadow Economy is £200 billion per year. That never gets discussed.

When did who encourage him to add the completely meaningless "Thank you for your attention to this matter!" at the ends of his posts, and why did they do it? Because I'd be inclined to think it was sabotage by someone wanting to make him look like the clown he is.

I do love some of Gavin Newsom’s cap lock tweets though which are a total parody of Trump- and interesting that Trump has now appeared to learn to use lower case..