Ukraine Invasion - Part 62

[MagicFox]

Thanks as always to everybody consistently posting and keeping us all up to date 🇺🇦

**
Agreed thread guidance:

A. The agreed purpose of the thread is for the sharing of information and commentary on current events

B. If you post a link please tell us where it leads/give a precis of the content

C. Discussion and debate is welcome, but please keep it respectful

D. Please keep on topic

I'm going away again from Thursday early til late Saturday. Sorry for the short notice - would anyone be able to manage Thursday, Friday and Saturday please?

@ReleaseTheDucksOfWar No problems. I will cover Kyiv Independent Telegram on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Going anywhere nice?

⚡️ Raytheon and Lockheed Martin reportedly fear Ukrainian engineers could improve Patriot interceptor technology and mass-produce the missiles faster and far cheaper than current US facilities.

An unnamed Republican official told The Atlantic this is one reason Washington has yet to grant Ukraine a license to produce the interceptors.

Maybe I am a bit simplistic in my thinking but why would this be a problem for Raytheon and Lockheed Martin? Since the tech is theirs, one of the terms of the licence they grant to Ukraine is that any improvements in the tech belongs to Raytheon and LM. So the companies benefit from Ukraine's inventiveness and everybody wins.

Maybe I am a bit simplistic in my thinking but why would this be a problem for Raytheon and Lockheed Martin? Since the tech is theirs, one of the terms of the licence they grant to Ukraine is that any improvements in the tech belongs to Raytheon and LM. So the companies benefit from Ukraine's inventiveness and everybody wins.

I guess if the Ukrainians were really cunning it's possible Raytheon and LM might not get to find out about the improvements, or it might take them a while to find out...

I know it happened with one exported system.

Thanks very much @blueshoes

It's a very special occasion for an old friend. Lot of travelling (and cost) for a very short time, when (due to the specialized situation) I wont even get to talk to her much heh, but it means a great deal to her. It's 36 degrees heat forecast though so honestly, other than seeing her at a distance I'll be glad when I'm back.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ Russia's Supreme Court bars only 'pro-peace' party from parliamentary elections.
The case was brought by the nationalist, pro-Kremlin Rodina party, which is also running in the election.

⚡️ Ukraine’s military intelligence reveals Russian missile production figures ‘exceeding monthly targets.’
Russia had already fulfilled its annual production targets for the Zircon and Oniks missiles, with 33 and 60 units manufactured in the first seven months, respectively, Vadym Skibitskyi said.

⚡️Russia can fire 77 missiles at Ukraine in single salvo — and plans to scale up, drone commander says.
Russia aims to more than double the number of missiles it can launch in a simultaneous barrage, Unmanned Systems Forces Commander Robert Brovdi told the Associated Press.

⚡️North Korea sending more ballistic missiles, troops to Russia as Ukraine's strikes reach farther, Zelensky says.
"This is the first time in Russian history that...they cannot wage war without supplies from North Korea," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Brovdi later clarified that the salvos are made up of both ballistic and cruise missiles.

⚡️Austria uncovers international network circumventing EU sanctions to supply Russian cruise missiles, jets.
Austria's intelligence agency uncovered an international network circumventing EU sanctions imposed against Moscow to supply Russian cruise missiles and fighter jets, the country's Interior Ministry announced Aug. 10.

⚡️Environmental disaster looms as Russian shadow ship leaks 800,000 barrels of oil into Arabian Sea.
Omani authorities said they have launched a "comprehensive response" to secure the Caroline Bezengi vessel and mitigate the impact on the marine ecosystem and maritime navigation.

⚡️ Ukraine strikes Russian petrochemical plant more than 2,000 kilometers from border, General Staff says.
The attack struck the plant's central gas fractionation unit, according to the General Staff.

⚡️ 'Serious violation' — Moldova recalls ambassador from Moscow following drone crash.

⚡️Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet crashes during combat mission in Odesa, pilot safe.

⚡️Fire reported at Russian oil refinery located over 6,000 kilometers from Ukraine as Wildberries targeted again.

No escape from the Russian terror playbook
"Putin's campaign of repression is starting to resemble the Great Terror of 1937," writes Nina L. Khrushcheva, professor of international affairs at The New School, in this op-ed.

How Russia's shadow fleet forced Europe back to sea
Europe's campaign to choke off Russia's ability to finance its war in Ukraine through oil revenues began with sanctions, legislation, and price caps. But as hundreds of ships helped Moscow evade those restrictions, Western governments increasingly backed those measures with aggressive maritime enforcement — deploying naval power and pirate-like tactics to disrupt the shadow fleet.
As of May 2026, a Ukrainian government register has identified 1,404 vessels belonging to Russia's so-called shadow fleet. Those ships are almost always dangerously old, uninsured, and registered in third countries where there are fewer laws to follow, so-called flags of convenience.

Russian anti-war opposition had a 5-day run
Russia's Supreme Court, on Aug. 10, barred the country's only anti-war party from taking part in parliamentary elections scheduled for September. The liberal Yabloko party had been approved to take part in the vote and was assigned a spot on the ballot five days prior.
Between the two dates, a few notable events took place — the largely obscure party received wide-ranging support from anti-war activists and the country's exiled opposition, and pro-Kremlin political projects went after it as a result.

⚡️Explosions rock Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia as Russian ballistic missiles strike cities across Ukraine.

⚡️Update: 5 killed, 21 injured as Russian attacks hit Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦
@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social

⚡️ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — AUG 11, 2026
■ Fewer engagements, casualties, and equipment losses than the day before
■ 🇷🇺 overnight attacks: drones only, with an improved interception rate
■ 🇷🇺 drone launches and shelling close to average; 12 🇺🇦 strikes reported; 🇺🇦 hits an oil refinery in Orsk, 1,500 km away

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

⚠️ Russia may be preparing provocative strikes against critical infrastructure in Poland and the Baltic states, according to Reuters.
The agency, citing intelligence from countries in the region, reports that Moscow is considering attacks on dams, power plants, gas facilities, and other critical infrastructure using Ukrainian drones in an attempt to make the attacks appear to be carried out by Kyiv and test NATO's response.
Against this backdrop, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are strengthening the security of their critical infrastructure. In Lithuania, troops are already protecting an LNG terminal and energy facilities, while Latvia is protecting a dam on the Daugava River and an underground gas storage facility.
According to Reuters sources, the main goal of such a provocation may not be the damage itself, but creating political chaos within NATO and fueling disagreements between the US and Europe over how to respond.

🔥 Defense Forces strike a refinery in Tatarstan — General Staff
A fire was reported at the facility.
In addition, Ukrainian forces struck:
▪️ a repair unit in the temporarily occupied part of Luhansk region;
▪️ a warehouse of material and technical supplies and a field artillery ammunition depot in the temporarily occupied part of Donetsk region.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Saudi Crown Prince Discuss Cooperation Under Drone Deal

👀 Iran demands compensation from Ukraine for damage caused to a vessel in the Caspian Sea, Fars reports.
"Ukraine must voluntarily compensate Iran for the damage caused during the attack on the vessel in the Caspian Sea. Otherwise, we will seek compensation ourselves," Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said.

🌾 Record-low Danube River levels are disrupting Ukraine’s grain exports, Bloomberg reports.
Due to extreme heat and a lack of rainfall, water levels on the Danube have fallen to record lows. Barges are being forced to carry less cargo, driving up shipping costs and causing longer delays in grain deliveries to the Romanian port of Constanta.
The problem comes amid intensified Russian attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure, forcing some exports to be rerouted from the Black Sea to the Danube, rail, and road networks.
However, alternative routes can handle only about a third of the capacity of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. This creates additional risks for global food markets, as Russia and Ukraine together account for more than a quarter of global wheat exports.
If the fighting continues at the current intensity and the Danube’s water levels do not recover, analysts expect grain prices to remain elevated.

❗️On the night of August 11, Russia attacked Kyiv with ballistic missiles, injuring one person, according to the State Emergency Service. Information about other possible casualties is being clarified.
In the Shevchenkivskyi district, one of the strikes hit the territory of a children’s hospital. Two craters formed at the site, and the building’s windows and a gas pipeline were damaged.
Gas service workers eliminated the leak. Fortunately, all children and medical staff were in shelters. No casualties were reported at the hospital.
At another location, a warehouse was destroyed and caught fire. The blaze, which covered an area of 1,200 square meters, has been extinguished.
One injured person was found at the site and handed over to medics.

🇺🇳 More than 95% of Ukrainian prisoners of war interviewed by the UN reported torture or ill-treatment in Russian captivity.
UN Human Rights Representative Claudia Fuentes Julio said at a UN Security Council meeting that the vast majority of Ukrainian POWs interviewed described torture or other forms of ill-treatment in Russian captivity.
Documented cases include beatings, electric shocks, sexual violence, attacks by dogs, and mock executions.
Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the UN has also documented the executions of 129 Ukrainian POWs and the deaths of another 48 in detention.
Russia, meanwhile, denied the allegations, dismissing them as a “disinformation campaign.” A Russian representative also accused Ukraine of mistreating Russian prisoners of war.

❗️On the night of August 11, Russia attacked Kyiv with ballistic missiles, injuring one person, according to the State Emergency Service. Information about other possible casualties is being clarified.
In the Shevchenkivskyi district, one of the strikes hit the territory of a children’s hospital. Two craters formed at the site, and the building’s windows and a gas pipeline were damaged.
Gas service workers eliminated the leak. Fortunately, all children and medical staff were in shelters. No casualties were reported at the hospital.
At another location, a warehouse was destroyed and caught fire. The blaze, which covered an area of 1,200 square meters, has been extinguished.
One injured person was found at the site and handed over to medics.

😡 Russians launched a combined overnight strike with missiles and guided bombs on Zaporizhzhia, killing six people and injuring 19 others, according to the regional military administration.
Four apartment buildings and several non-residential buildings were also damaged.

💵 Two Ukrainian coins have been included among the 100 best coins in the world at the Coin of the Year 2026 competition.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Cameras on Royal Navy drone boats were found sending background signal communications to China, British media reported.
The UK Defence Ministry disconnected the devices, stating no evidence was found that sensitive military data had been compromised.

Trump has reportedly backed away from allowing Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missiles, fearing the sensitive US technology could eventually fall into Russian hands, The Telegraph reports.
The dispute centers on the highly classified PAC-3 seeker technology that guides interceptors in the final moments before impact. Transferring production would require not only equipment, but also blueprints, software and specialized know-how.
The reversal comes as Ukraine faces a critical shortage of Patriot interceptors ahead of another expected Russian winter missile campaign.

Russia plans to increase its ballistic missile salvo from 77 to 200, Unmanned Systems Forces Commander Robert Brovdi warned.
With Patriot interceptors running low, Brovdi urged long-range strikes against Russian missile production facilities.

Ukraine is exploring a rail route through Moldova to Romania as Russian attacks threaten Black Sea grain exports. Kyiv has asked Chisinau for a 50% freight discount, while Moldova seeks guaranteed cargo volumes.
The proposed corridor could move up to 4.5 million metric tons annually.

Ukraine plans to conduct a full-scale launch of its new domestic "Freyja" anti-ballistic missile interceptor by mid-2027.
The system aims to partially or fully replace US-made Patriot PAC-3 interceptors to counter Russia’s ballistic strikes.

Ukraine’s High Anti-Corruption Court has eased travel restrictions on former Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak, allowing him to travel to eight regions.
The court rejected a request to remove Yermak's electronic monitoring device.

Russian strikes on major supermarket distribution centers are already leaving shelves increasingly empty in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
Silpo, Fora and Novus stores are reporting shortages of fresh fruit and vegetables, flour, sugar, cereals, cooking oil, bottled water and toilet paper after logistics hubs serving the chains were hit.
The disruption has also spread beyond Kyiv, with shoppers in Vinnytsia and Zaporizhzhia reporting reduced supplies.

Russian strikes destroyed the primary warehouse of Intertop, Ukraine’s largest fashion retailer, causing $10.8 million in inventory losses.
The company has secured temporary logistics space to maintain operations, but some store openings will be delayed.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

⚡️Ukraine is preparing for a possible new offensive from the north: defensive positions are being set up in the Chornobyl exclusion zone, Spiegel reports, citing Ukrainian military personnel and local residents.
In the exclusion zone, Ukrainian forces are digging trenches and building defensive positions. Every few kilometers, the road is blocked by checkpoints. Sand and timber from local pine forests are being used for fortifications. Metal mesh structures are also being installed along the roads to stop FPV drones — a system already tested in eastern Ukraine.
Chornobyl is located just 15 km from Belarus. It was from here that Russian troops entered Ukraine at the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Local guide Anton Yukhymenko says that if Belarus allows Russian troops to use its territory again, Chornobyl will immediately fall within FPV drone range. He no longer wears a seatbelt in his car, so he can get out faster in case of danger.
After their retreat in 2022, Russian forces removed hard drives from computers in the zone. According to Yukhymenko, they were searching for evidence of a supposed Ukrainian "dirty bomb" development — but clearly found nothing.
The war is also changing the zone itself. In Pripyat, soldiers are cutting down trees to improve visibility toward the river or widen roads for heavy vehicles. Swimming in the Pripyat is now also forbidden — on the opposite bank begins the "gray zone" with Ukrainian forward positions, mines, and barbed wire.
Separately, Spiegel recalls the strike on the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in February 2025. A Russian drone damaged the protective shelter over the destroyed fourth reactor. The hole has been patched, but the structure no longer functions as intended.

A drone with explosives crashed into a Ukrainian An-124 aircraft at Leipzig airport but did not detonate, Die Zeit reports.
Investigators analyzed surveillance footage. At approximately 7:30 PM on August 4, the drone was already heading toward the Antonov aircraft; it then struck one of its wings.
The wings of such aircraft typically house fuel tanks, so an explosion could have caused a massive fire or even destroyed the aircraft. However, the drone bounced off the wing and fell to the ground.
The explosive likely detached upon impact and landed nearby. Why the charge did not detonate remains unknown. The drone was not detected by conventional radar because it was homemade.
The drone was equipped with Semtex explosive, commonly used by the military. While there is no direct evidence of Russian involvement, German investigators are considering this as a possible version.
▪️On the night of August 5, a drone with a detonator and explosives was found near a Ukrainian aircraft at Leipzig airport. German media later reported that the An-124 was allegedly carrying ammunition for Ukraine, but Germany's Interior Ministry later refuted this. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry reported that no one was injured and that Antonov aircraft were not damaged.

Investigators have found DNA traces at Leipzig airport near where a drone with explosives was discovered next to a Ukrainian An-124, German media report.
These traces match an older sample from 2024 found at the site of an arson attack at a DHL logistics center in Leipzig, which was linked to Russia at the time. Currently, German investigators have no evidence linking the two incidents. The DNA traces have also not yet been connected to any specific individual.

🇰🇷South Korea has cautiously responded to Ukraine's request for air defense systems and other military aid, The Korea Times reports, citing a senior Foreign Ministry official.
Seoul stated that decisions on transferring arms to other countries depend on domestic legislation. At the same time, South Korea continues to assist Ukraine in energy, infrastructure, medicine, and education.
The statement came after Volodymyr Zelensky said that another 30,000–50,000 North Korean troops could be sent to Russia. The president also said that Kyiv is requesting air defense systems and other military aid from Seoul.

The US continues to provide Ukraine with intelligence for strikes on Russia free of charge. The Atlantic credits CIA Director John Ratcliffe for this.
According to the publication, while playing golf with Donald Trump, Ratcliffe briefs the US president on Russian losses, which exceed 40,000 per month.
A Western intelligence source told The Atlantic: "Trump doesn't like losers." According to him, as long as Ukraine looks like it's winning, Trump is less inclined to cut support.
American and Ukrainian sources told the publication that intelligence sharing — including data for strikes on Russian troops in Ukraine and energy infrastructure — is the only aid the US currently provides free of charge.
The Atlantic also notes that Ukrainian strikes on Russia's oil industry could benefit the US: reduced Russian oil exports could make China and India more vulnerable to Trump's tariffs.
At the same time, the publication suggests that Trump may view Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries as a path to negotiations — similar to his approach with Iran. Trump himself said of such strikes: "It's escalation, but it could also help put an end to this."

The history of Ukraine's occupied territories has been included in Russian school textbooks, Russian media report.
The list was approved by Russia's Ministry of Education. For students in grades 5–7, a textbook titled "History of Our Land. Donbas and Novorossiya" was recommended.
In it, the history of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions is planned to be taught within the context of Russian history. The occupation authorities intend to distribute these textbooks to schools starting September 1.

In Bulgaria, explosions occurred at a military factory; people were evacuated, said the mayor of Tryavna, Dencho Minev.
On the morning of August 10, a truck caught fire at the EMKO plant in the village of Belitsa near Tryavna. This was followed by a detonation at an ammunition warehouse. Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev suggested that the explosions may have been caused by an internal reason, Nova reports.
The explosions were heard over 15 km away. According to BNT News, the blast wave damaged windows and furniture in nearby homes. Approximately 300 people were evacuated from the area. No casualties have been reported.
▪️According to Nova, the EMKO plant is owned by Bulgarian businessman Emilian Gebrev. In 2019, The New York Times reported that Russian intelligence services may have been behind an assassination attempt on Gebrev. In 2015, he and two others were hospitalized after poisoning. An investigation linked the incident to Russia's GRU military intelligence unit.

In Zaporizhzhia, the number of injured from the guided bomb strike has risen to 24.
In Kushuhum, Zaporizhzhia region, three people were injured in the attack — they are in the hospital.
In Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region, the Russian army struck a residential area — one person was killed and three others injured. The strikes damaged buildings.

Overnight, Russia launched Tsirkon and Iskander missiles, as well as 120 drones at Ukraine.
Ukrainian air defense neutralized 98 Shahed, Gerbera, and other drones in the north, south, and east of the country. The missiles were not intercepted.
In addition to Zaporizhzhia, where 6 people were killed, Kyiv was also hit — one person was injured there. A ballistic missile struck near a children's hospital in the Shevchenkivskyi district.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, evening attacks killed 3 people, including a 15-year-old teenager. Five others were injured, including a 7-year-old girl.

Oh, that would be counterproductive.

Was that previous theft by the Ukainians?

@ReleaseTheDucksOfWar you are a good friend.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-10-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. Russian forces are reprioritizing the production of their long-range strike systems to those that can more reliably penetrate Ukrainian air defenses and accurately strike their targets.
2. Russia is refocusing its drone production toward faster jet-powered Geran-4 and Geran-5 drones that are harder to intercept as Ukrainian forces have increasingly fielded effective defenses against Russia’s piston engine-driven strike drones, such as earlier versions of the Geran in recent months.
3. Russia will increasingly target Ukrainian energy infrastructure in winter 2026/2027.
4. Russia’s reprioritization of production efforts toward ballistic missiles will support Russian efforts to use the upcoming winter to break Ukraine’s will to fight. The Kremlin believes that it can exploit Ukraine’s shortage of interceptor missiles to avoid having to enter meaningful negotiations or make concessions on its maximalist demands. The recent dramatic reduction in the supply of Patriot anti-missile interceptors will therefore contribute to the protraction of the war into 2027. [Getting really worried about Ukraine's lack of interceptors]
5. Ukrainian forces continued their long-range strike campaign against Russian oil infrastructure and military assets on August 10.
6. Russia launched one Kh-59/69 cruise missile, three Banderol-type loitering munitions, and 126 drones against Ukraine overnight.
7. Neither Russian nor Ukrainian forces advanced on August 10.

Not Ukraine...

Frankly once you've allowed anyone else access to equipment or allow them to licence build it opens up all sorts of possibilities, nott theft but for example maybe adding to the original design but not sharing your bright idea with the original manufacturer.

I think LM and Raytheon have valid concerns and neither do I think the Ukranian engineers would be suspect, but the concerns are hardly new....hence for example the export versions of a lot of top end military hardware.

Sorry can’t do it this time as I’m at the Edinburgh Fringe (very excited to go!)

In fact will still be there Monday so will try to do my usual round up but may be a bit rushed and badly formatted!

Ill handle monday then =) it'll be a bit later but can do it nps

Enjoy the Edinburgh Festival!

Hi sorry, lost you all, was finishing a blanket for a colleagues new baby.

I can do the other three Friday either early before work, or in the evening after work, Saturday late in the evening (I'm away all day), and Sunday if this helps.

@Mb76 I am so sorry for your loss

@Llttledrummergirl I will do Kyiv Ind Telegram on those days so between the 2 of us, I think we should be able to get the news on the stands at a reasonable time 😄

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-11-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. Russian forces conducted another combined ballistic/quasi-ballistic missile and drone strike against Ukraine on the night of August 10 to 11, heavily targeting civilian and industrial infrastructure in Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia cities.
2. Russian forces are likely launching small numbers of North Korean-provided KN-23 ballistic missiles in nightly strike packages in an attempt to battle-test the missiles and improve their accuracy.
3. Russia may be preparing to base North Korean missileers and ballistic missiles at a training center currently under construction in Voronezh Oblast.
4. The Russian Supreme Court disqualified the Russian opposition party Yabloko from the September 2026 State Duma elections, likely in order to prevent Russians from having the option to support the party’s anti-war platform.
5. Yabloko’s exclusion from the upcoming Duma elections represents a further consolidation of the Russian political system around the war in Ukraine.
6. The Kremlin likely also aims to reduce the risk of the ruling United Russia party not achieving the Kremlin’s desired outcome in the upcoming elections.
7. The Kremlin was permissive of Yabloko in earlier years of the war, but the growing persecution of the party and its eventual disqualification show how its priorities have shifted.
8. Ukrainian forces continue their long-range strike campaigns against Wildberries warehouses and oil refineries in Russia.
9. Neither Ukrainian nor Russian forces made confirmed advances on August 11.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️Moscow to respond in kind to Europe seizing Russian merchant ships, Putin says.
The statement comes as the West ramps up efforts to clamp down on Russia's shadow fleet, a group of aging and poorly insured tankers Moscow uses to circumvent sanctions and carry out hybrid operations.

⚡️Hungarian parliament elects new president after ousting of Orban ally.
Andras Baka, a former head of Hungary's Supreme Court, was nominated for the presidential office by Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar's Tisza party.

⚡️ Belgium LNG imports in July 100% Russian, report says.
”It is deeply shameful that ... EU countries keep sending billions of euros to Russia for fossil fuels," said the Ukrainian civil society network B4Ukraine.

⚡️ 76 draft workers charged with corruption since start of full-scale war; 2,500 illegal exemptions uncovered, police chief says.
Nationwide, the police has investigated the possible illegal exemption of nearly 2,500 military-eligible men, and annulled around 6,500 unlawful rulings by military medical commissions, Tsutskiridze said in comments to Ukrinform.

Zelensky in Serbia: What Ukraine wants, and what Belgrade gains
President Volodymyr Zelensky made his first visit to Serbia since 2018 on Aug. 8, meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade.

⚡️Zelensky speaks to Costa Rican president, discusses security.

⚡️Romanian military destroys 2 Gerbera drones found in Black Sea.
Romanian military divers destroyed two Gerbera-type drones found drifting in the country's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea, Romanian Defense Minister Radu Miruta said on Aug. 11.

⚡️Explosions rock Russia's Novorossiysk, occupied Crimea amid reported drone attack.
Drone attacks were reported overnight in Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk and across occupied Crimea, with explosions heard near Sevastopol and the Crimean Bridge.

⚡️ Russia releases ailing ex-US Marine after 4 years in prison.
Robert Gilman's health has seriously deteriorated in recent weeks, prompting U.S. officials to appeal to Moscow for his release.

⚡️67% of Poles back deporting unemployed Ukrainian men, poll shows.
Some 79% of positive responses came from Poles identifying as right-wing, although the proposal also found strong support among voters of the ruling liberal-left coalition.

Ukraine faces race against time as Russia chokes Black Sea ports
Smoke billowing over the Black Sea is now an everyday sight in Odesa Oblast as Russia continues to strike ports and vessels in Ukrainian waters. But it’s on land that the impact of Russia’s campaign is most keenly felt, with Ukraine facing an economic crisis unless the country finds a solution soon.

⚡️Remains of 20th-century military leader Yevhen Konovalets exhumed for reburial in Ukraine.
As the founder of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), Konovalets devoted his life to the cause of Ukraine’s independence. He was assassinated in 1938.

⚡️ Photographer with Kremlin media ties disqualified from German photography prize after backlash.
The committee has not yet made a public statement about his disqualification from the prize, but according to Valery Melnikov's Instagram post, representatives of the award referred to him as a "Kremlin-media-linked photographer," which is a term used to refer to him in the title of the Kyiv Independent's article about his work.

⚡️Russian attacks kill 8, injure 57 across Ukraine over past day, as deadly strike hits oil tanker truck in Odesa Oblast.
Russian forces attacked Ukraine overnight on Aug. 12 with an Iskander-M ballistic missile, an anti-radiation Kh-31P missile, Kh-35 guided air-launched missiles, and 138 Shahed-type drones, the Air Force said.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦 @ragnarbjartur.bsky.social
· 3h
⚡️ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — AUG 12, 2026
■ Engagements and casualties close to the 7-day average; 🇷🇺 territorial gains of 13 km² reported by Liveuamap
■ Losses of drones and land-based equipment above average as well
■ 🇷🇺 overnight attacks: at least 3 missiles used; a decent drone interception rate
■ 🇷🇺 drone launches and shelling above average; 9 🇺🇦 strikes reported, and 400 strike drones — including jet-powered UAVs and USVs — launched into 🇷🇺 and occupied 🇺🇦

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

Russia launched an overnight strike on Zaporizhzhia using North Korean KN-23/KN-24 ballistic missiles following new deliveries from Pyongyang. Meanwhile, South Korea reaffirmed that it will not supply lethal weapons or air defense systems to Ukraine, limiting its support to non-lethal humanitarian and financial assistance.

Germany has provided the State Emergency Service with an aid package worth €5.7 million.
It includes, among other equipment, Alpha Robotics Wolf R1, LUF 60, LUF-CRV, and Magirus AirCore TAF60 robotic systems designed to extinguish fires and perform tasks in hazardous conditions.

❗️Zaporizhstal halts operations following a Russian ballistic missile attack
The enemy struck the plant with ballistic missiles overnight.
The attack hit workers on their way to shelters immediately after the air raid alert was raised, killing seven members of the Zaporizhstal team.
Zaporizhstal’s operations have been completely halted, while other production sites are operating at reduced capacity.

🇰🇷 South Korea will take North Korea’s deployment of troops to Russia into account when considering Ukraine’s request for air defense missiles and other military assistance, The Korea Times reports.
[...Zelenskyy said that through cooperation with Russia, North Korea will gain more experience in modern warfare. In his view, Seoul should deepen cooperation with Ukraine under these circumstances.
The official declined to confirm President Zelenskyy’s claims about diplomatic discussions regarding possible arms supplies to Ukraine or an additional deployment of North Korean troops to Russia.
However, he noted that military cooperation between North Korea and Russia threatens South Korea’s security and contradicts UN resolutions.

🇩🇪 German intelligence agencies may be authorized to conduct preemptive cyberattacks against Russia, according to Welt.
“We really must give our services the ability to, ideally, paralyze and disable an attack drone in Russia or the factory where it is manufactured before it is targeted at a German airport or threatens the safety and health of people in Germany,” said Mark Heinrichmann, head of the Bundestag’s parliamentary oversight committee.
The proposals have already drawn criticism. Human rights activists, in particular, fear that expanding the powers of intelligence agencies could undermine the privacy of German citizens.

🇬🇧 UK military leadership wants to restore contacts with Russia to avoid further escalation, The Times reports.
After Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton replaced Admiral Tony Radakin as Chief of the Defence Staff last September, he reportedly tried to contact General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, but received no response.
Now, following recent incidents involving Russian tankers in the English Channel, the Norwegian Sea, and elsewhere, Defense Secretary Wes Streeting and his chief military adviser are reportedly under pressure to “restart” communication channels amid fears of an “unintended escalation” with Moscow.
Sources told The Times that senior officials and diplomats are concerned about the lack of communication between the two sides and the risk that a misunderstanding at sea could become a pretext for a larger conflict with Russia.
John Foreman, a former military attaché in Moscow and Kyiv, said Streeting and Knighton should resume contacts at the highest level.
“Without a direct channel of communication, there is a risk of unintended escalation. A serious misunderstanding could ultimately lead to human casualties.
To get anything done in negotiations with the Russians, you need to have face-to-face communication.
Recently, we have had the sonobuoy incident near the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier in the north, warning shots fired at a yacht, artillery fire in the English Channel and other incidents that have not been reported. As with Radakin in China, communicating clearly and directly with the adversary in private is not a weakness.”
Foreman was referring to Radakin’s controversial decision to travel to China to meet his counterpart, the first visit by a British military leader in a decade.
Foreman said there was an urgent need to resume talks if the UK was to operate in the High North in the future, which could become a potential battleground amid rising tensions between Western allies and Russia.
“If the Chief of Defence Staff believes that ‘this is probably the most dangerous time in the 30 years I have been in uniform,’ then perhaps it is time for a new approach,” Foreman added.
He said it was important for senior officers to discuss “serious issues of concern” and suggested that a hotline alone was not enough.
The last known call between a British defense secretary and his Russian counterpart took place in October 2022. Ben Wallace, who was defense secretary at the time, received a call from Sergei Shoigu, then Russia’s defense minister, who claimed that Kyiv was preparing to use a “dirty bomb” — an allegation rejected as false by the UK, France, and US.
John Healey, Wallace’s successor, is not known to have spoken with either Shoigu or his successor, Andrei Belousov.

🌾 Two of Russia’s largest grain terminals in the southern port of Novorossiysk have been shut down following overnight Ukrainian drone strikes, Reuters reports.

🔥 Russia's largest petrochemical complex, ZapSibNeftekhim in Tobolsk, has halted operations following a Ukrainian drone attack, Reuters reports, citing sources.
Experts are assessing the extent of the damage and its potential consequences. It remains unclear when the plant will resume operations.
Journalists also noted that no volumes of liquefied gas from the affected Tobolsk facility were offered for sale today at the St. Petersburg International Commodity Exchange.
Earlier this year, the plant regularly sold around 4,000 metric tons of a technical propane-butane mixture per day.
ZapSibNeftekhim accounts for about 40% of Russia's liquefied gas production, most of which is consumed domestically. Around half of the liquefied gas produced at the plant is used as feedstock for petrochemical production at the integrated Sibur complex in Tobolsk.

🇦🇲 Armenia wants to replace Russian gas and is discussing diversifying its natural gas supplies with Iran and Azerbaijan.
This was confirmed by Sarkis Khandanyan, a lawmaker from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s party.
Infrastructure Minister David Khudatyan has already discussed increasing gas imports from Iran. Supplies from Azerbaijan are also being considered, including through the TRIPP project.
Currently, Russia supplies gas to Armenia at $177.5 per 1,000 cubic meters under an agreement valid until 2026–2027. Moscow has threatened to terminate the contract if Yerevan continues its European integration. At the same time, the EU has said it is ready to help Armenia if gas prices rise.

⛽️ Fuel shortages at Russian gas stations, caused by new strikes on Russian refineries by the Defense Forces, have already affected at least 16 regions of the Russian Federation, according to Russian media.

👀 Novosibirsk residents were banned from going outside or opening their windows on the day of Putin's visit on August 11.
Local authorities also urged residents not to use "electronic or optical devices" that day.
Students at Novosibirsk State University who remained in dormitories were reportedly given similar instructions and prohibited from moving freely around campus.
Barriers were installed throughout the city, electric scooter rentals were restricted, and security forces were stationed every 50 meters along Putin's route. The city was also hastily repaired ahead of his arrival.
This is the fifth regional visit by the Russian dictator in the past two and a half weeks.

🇺🇦 Ukrainian wins gold at international robotics competition in South Korea.
Anna Telegina took first place in the most difficult Robot Algorithm category.
In this discipline, participants develop algorithms that control a robot's behavior. The robot must independently navigate the track, overcome obstacles, analyze sensor data, and complete tasks as accurately as possible.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Russia is preparing a mass mobilization of more than 100,000 troops this fall, Zelensky says.
Kyiv’s intelligence believes the call-up could begin after Russia’s rigged parliamentary elections in September, with Ukraine already preparing countermeasures.

The Kremlin is planning a 70% “win” for Putin’s United Russia party in occupied Ukraine — before the vote even happens.
Kyiv says Moscow is using sham elections and predetermined turnout targets to fake legitimacy for its occupation.

Zelensky says Ukraine has handed US envoys proposals for ending Russia’s war.
He also urged Washington to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses and increase pressure on Moscow.

July was Ukraine’s deadliest month for civilians since March 2022, the UN says.
At least 634 people were killed and 4,590 wounded — more than 20 civilian deaths every day on average.

Ukraine has stopped reporting the total number of missiles launched during major Russian attacks as air defenses face critical interceptor shortages.
The decision follows heavy strikes where non-interceptions reached record levels.

Russia’s developing “Rassvet” satellite network could soon allow real-time drone control over Ukraine.
Expert Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov urged Ukraine to prioritize electronic warfare systems to disrupt it before it achieves full operational capacity.

North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward Japan shortly after Zelensky warned that North Korea’s deepening military cooperation with Russia threatens Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.

US Vice President JD Vance reportedly asked President Volodymyr Zelensky to halt Ukrainian strikes on tankers in the Black Sea, the Financial Times reports.
The White House was allegedly concerned the attacks could further destabilize oil markets and hurt US companies, including through strikes involving vessels carrying Kazakh oil to Russia’s Novorossiysk port.
Zelensky reportedly agreed to stop attacks on CPC infrastructure and non-Russian ships unless they are under Ukrainian sanctions or carrying Russian oil or other Russian cargo.

JD Vance asked Zelensky to avoid strikes affecting a key Kazakh oil route — as Ukraine continues targeting Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
Zelensky said Ukrainian forces hit Russian air defenses, naval piers and port infrastructure in Novorossiysk.

More than 260 children targeted for recruitment by Russia have contacted Ukrainian law enforcement, helping foil planned sabotage.
Operatives use financial offers and impersonation on social media to manipulate minors into targeted attacks.

Russia has destroyed an Epicentr shopping center in Zaporizhzhia in an overnight strike.
The store, part of one of Ukraine’s biggest home improvement and retail chains, was completely gutted by fire.
No casualties have been reported so far.

Kyiv came under a second Russian drone attack on Aug. 12, with air defenses engaging jet-powered drones approaching the capital from multiple directions.
Kyiv Post team members across the city and surrounding villages reported hearing loud explosions as Russia continued its near-round-the-clock aerial strikes against Ukraine.

Russian strikes on Donetsk region set fire to a church in Kramatorsk and injured at least four people at a central market in Sloviansk.
Local authorities condemned the attack on the bustling market at midday.

Russian forces struck three districts in the Dnipropetrovsk region nearly 50 times using drones, guided aerial bombs, and artillery.
A 58-year-old woman was injured in Nikopol, where residential buildings, vehicles, and local businesses sustained damage.

Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi launched the Chamber of Regional Youth Congresses to give local youth leaders a direct role in decision-making.
The initiative also focuses on expanding youth housing programs across Ukrainian communities.

Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina defeated “neutral” Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova to reach the WTA 1000 semifinals in Toronto.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇲🇩🇺🇦Ukraine wants to transport grain by rail through Moldova to the Romanian port of Constanta, Reuters sources say.
This is due to maritime exports from Ukrainian ports being halted by Russian attacks. At the same time, Ukraine has asked Moldova for a 50% discount on transporting Ukrainian grain.
According to sources, Moldova is ready to guarantee a certain volume of cargo. The countries are currently discussing timelines and transit volumes.
Former head of Moldova's railway, Oleg Tofilat, told Reuters that up to 4.5 million tons of grain could be transported by rail through Moldova annually. Ukraine estimates that such a route could cover approximately 10% of its exports.
▪️Ukraine previously used the railway route through Moldova for grain exports in 2022–2023.

The State Bureau of Investigation has opened a criminal case regarding the MiG-29 fighter jet crash in the Odesa region on August 10.
The case was initiated over violations of flight rules or pre-flight preparation, as well as aircraft operation regulations that led to the crash.
The SBI is currently searching for the flight recorder. Its data should help determine what happened in the final minutes of the flight and establish the cause of the accident.
▪️According to investigators, the aircraft was destroying Russian drones before crashing. The jet later caught fire, and the pilot lost control. He managed to eject and was evacuated to a hospital.

Ukrainian forces attacked the naval base in Novorossiysk overnight — 300 km from the front line, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed.
The base was struck with Palianytsia jet drones, Neptune missiles, and naval unmanned vessels. Hits on air defense positions, piers, and port infrastructure have been confirmed.

Overnight, the Russians struck Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Odesa. Here is what is known:
🔵Zaporizhzhia. An Epicentr store was hit — a fire broke out there. The attack also damaged a private house.
🔵Odesa. The attack caused a fire in an apartment on the fifth floor of a multi-story building.
🔵Poltava region. An enterprise caught fire following a strike.
🔵Kherson. Overnight, the Russians struck with a Shahed drone — two people were killed, and two others were injured.

This morning, Russia attacked several regions of Ukraine.
In Kharkiv, a drone struck the territory of a private residence. Preliminary reports indicate no casualties.
In Balakliia, Kharkiv region, three people were injured following two strikes. Private and multi-story buildings were damaged, one of which was destroyed. A power line was also damaged.
In the Kyiv region, Brovary district, a warehouse caught fire following an attack. A 65-year-old man sustained shrapnel wounds and was hospitalized.
In the Zaporizhzhia district, a Russian drone struck a bus. A 53-year-old man was injured.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-12-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. Ukrainian officials announced on August 12 the results of Ukraine’s Oleksandrivka direction counteroffensive, which took place between January and August 2026.
2. The Oleksandrivka counteroffensive operations showcase Ukraine’s ability to make relatively significant tactical advances and reintroduce limited aspects of mechanized maneuver on localized segments of the frontline.
3. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to warn that Russia is preparing for large-scale involuntary reserve call-ups after the September 2026 Russian State Duma elections.
4. The Kremlin is likely seeking to deter Japan from adopting a more assertive defensive posture it perceives as unfavorable to Russian interests.
5. Putin is also attempting to deter European Union (EU) seizures of Russian shadow fleet vessels.
6. Russia will likely continue to rely on its use of a relatively small number of jet-powered Geran drones in its nightly strikes against Ukraine until Ukraine can develop sufficient countermeasures and the technological offense-defense race resets.
7. Russia launched one Iskander-M ballistic missile, one Kh-31P anti-radar missile, an unspecified number of Kh-35 cruise missiles, and 138 drones against Ukraine overnight.
8. Ukrainian forces conducted a large strike against Russian naval and grain infrastructure in Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Krai, on the night of August 11 to 12.
9. Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Kupyansk direction. Russian forces recently advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-13-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kuril Islands, whose occupation by Russia Japan disputes, for the first time on August 13, likely in response to the more assertive defense policy Japan has recently adopted.
2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues emphasizing Ukraine’s need for US-produced Patriot interceptor missiles to defend against Russian ballistic missile strikes during the winter 2026/2027.
3. An improvised explosive device (IED) explosion in occupied Sevastopol reportedly killed Russian Captain 1st Rank Robert Shageev on August 13.
4. Ukrainian forces conducted a large strike against Russian oil infrastructure and Wildberries facilities in the Bashkortostan Republic on the night of August 12 to 13. Russia launched 133 drones against Ukraine overnight.
5. Russian forces recently advanced in the Kupyansk and Slovyansk directions.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️Latvia 'forgot' about ammunition when buying anti-drone systems — new PM reveals strange incident. ”They purchased the equipment, but forgot to buy the ammunition," Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said, without disclosing further details about what systems he was referring to or who was responsible.

⚡️Ukraine liberated 745 square kilometers in Oleksandrivka sector since January, Zelensky says. "Russian losses amounted to at least 9,550 people killed and more than 6,600 people wounded," Zelensky said.

⚡️Zelensky teases joint plan with allies to force Putin to stop war. "(Russian President Vladimir) Putin does not want to stop this war, but he will stop it. We have a plan," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

🔶 If not me, then who?
For 204 days, two Ukrainian infantrymen held a front-line position in the kill zone – under constant Russian drone surveillance and artillery fire. They survived by relying on each other and adapting to a battlefield where drones made even the simplest tasks life-threatening.

In this interview, the Kyiv Independent’s Kateryna Hodunova speaks with “Khvoryi,” a soldier in Ukraine’s 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade “Kholodnyi Yar,” about what it takes to survive for more than six months at a combat position. He describes fighting off FPV drones, repelling Russian soldiers, retrieving supplies under constant surveillance, coping with the psychological strain of isolation, and maintaining the small routines that kept him and his comrade going.

⚡️ Ukraine's protests lose momentum as Zelensky refuses to budge

After weeks of protests over the dismissal of former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, the movement is losing momentum as organizers struggle to decide what comes next and President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to ignore their central demand. Zelensky's lack of a public response has caught organizers off guard. While they say the protests have achieved some of their initial goals, they are now uncertain how to pressure the president into reinstating Fedorov. [what is going on with Zel?]

⚡️Cheaper than a missile, just as hard to down — Russia's Banderol munition adds strain to Ukraine's air defenses

Ukraine faces a drastically escalating threat from Russia's "Banderol" — a hybrid loitering munition combining features of a cruise missile and a jet-powered drone. Capable of speeds over 500 km/h, it accounted for roughly 80% of recent attacks on Odesa’s food infrastructure. "The enemy is getting a tool that has a profile similar to a cruise missile, but is several times cheaper and easier to use," aviation expert Anatolii Khrapchynskyi told the Kyiv Independent.

⚡️Transcarpathia recruitment chief suspended as Drapatyi's team reviews mobilization reforms.

⚡️Ukraine-Armenia ties becoming ‘more constructive,’ Zelensky says after call with Armenian PM.

⚡️Train crew killed as Russian attacks kill at least 8, injure 50 across Ukraine over past day. In Odesa Oblast, a Russian jet-powered attack drone hit a passenger train, killing the driver and his assistant, Ukrainian Railways CEO Oleksandr Pertsovskyi said in a post on Facebook.

⚡️Ukraine's Starlink access at risk as Polish foreign minister revives feud with Musk. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski's threat to cut Poland's Starlink subscription mentions a $50 million-per-year fee, the same figure he cited previously as the cost of providing half of Ukraine's 42,000 terminals.

⚡️Russian Gazprom oil refinery 1,300 km from Ukraine hit, General Staff confirms. It was last hit overnight on July 14.

⚡️Moldova offers rail lifeline for Ukrainian food exports as Russia chokes Black Sea trade. The agreement with Moldova would cover just over 1% of Ukraine's total expected grain and oilseed exports.

⚡️Ukraine repatriates 261 bodies that Russia claims belong to Ukrainian soldiers. During previous repatriations, Russia at times returned the bodies of its own soldiers to Kyiv, with Ukrainian officials alleging the practice may have been aimed at avoiding compensation payments to Russian families or reflected a "negligent attitude toward their own people."

⚡️ Albania's PM calls for continued Ukraine support despite Kosovo stance. ”Ukraine can be, and yes, it is wrong about Kosovo, but its right to be free remains unquestionable, and fighting for that right means fighting for Europe and for ourselves too," Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama wrote on X.

⚡️ Ukraine repatriates remains of 20th-century military leader Yevhen Konovalets with state honors. As the founder of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), Konovalets devoted his life to the cause of Ukraine's independence. He was assassinated by an undercover Soviet agent in 1938.

⚡️Skelia assault regiment to fight together under Azov corps command as Drapatyi's reforms gain momentum.

🔶 Is Wildberries a legitimate military target?

"Wildberries itself openly sells goods that can be used at the front: spools of fiber-optic cable for FPV drones, drop systems, body armor, and helmets, some of them labeled 'tested in the Special Military Operation,'" writes Liubov Tsybulska, Director of Join Ukraine, in this op-ed. "Tellingly, after the strikes, the company removed 'military' goods from its search results. And the Ukrainian side sees a practical effect as well: Yurii Fedorenko, commander of the 429th Unmanned Systems Brigade, said that after the strikes on the warehouses, Russians began rationing the issue of cameras, propellers, and batteries for drones."

⚡️Ukraine's new plan to pressure Russia remains a mystery to Washington Washington has not yet received President Volodymyr Zelensky's new plan to pressure Russia into ending its war, a U.S. official familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent. Zelensky said on Aug. 12 that Kyiv and its international partners have developed a joint plan based on pressure against Russian President Vladimir Putin. The plan comes as U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner prepare to visit Ukraine and Russia in another attempt to revive stalled peace talks.

⚡️Russian strikes leave Kyiv supermarkets with empty shelves A deadly Russian ballistic missile attack on Aug. 5 targeted warehouses belonging to various supermarket chains and other civilian enterprises, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media. Since then, supplies of everyday products such as vegetables, dairy, and meat have been noticeably low, or even absent, in some stores.

⚡️Poland arrests Russian man for alleged assassination plot against US-Ukrainian national, Tusk says. "This marks the first instance where someone, acting on Russian orders, has attempted to assassinate an American citizen on the territory of another NATO country," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

⚡️Head of Mykolaiv draft office arrested on corruption charges. The suspect had been documented accepting $15,000 in bribes for assisting in draft evasion, Ukraine's Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko said.

⚡️Update: SpaceX backs down after Poland spat, calming fears in Ukraine over Starlink access. "SpaceX has responded to my request and will not treat Polish customers worse than those in other European countries," Poland's Digital Minister wrote on X on Aug. 13. Previously, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski had threatened to stop paying for Starlink — even though Poland funds Ukraine's access to vital Starlink internet satellites.

⚡️Massive explosion rocks Italian ammunition plant that produces artillery for Ukraine. The factory is operated by KNDS Ammo Italy, a subsidiary of the French-German defense firm KNDS. The facility produces artillery shells supplied to Ukraine via European partners.

⚡️Trump imposes steep tariffs on drone imports. Trump's latest round of tariffs comes a few weeks after President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he and Trump had reached an agreement on the sale of Ukrainian drones to the U.S. [eh?]

⚡️Russian oil refinery in the city of Orsk 'completely shut down' for months following Ukrainian attack, local governor says.