Viktoria Roshchyna, a journalist killed in Russian captivity in 2024, has been posthumously awarded the Order of Freedom for her reporting on the war in Ukraine. Roshchyna, who disappeared in August 2023 while reporting from occupied territories, was later confirmed dead, though the circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation. Investigations suggest she was held in notorious Russian prisons known for torture. A recent media investigation revealed Roshchyna’s body was returned with missing organs, raising questions about her death.
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The Krasheninnikov Volcano in Russia’s far east has erupted for the first time in over 500 years, sending an ash plume up to six kilometers high. This eruption may be linked to a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the same region last week, which also triggered tsunami warnings. Although there are no immediate threats to populated areas, the eruption occurred just hours before another large earthquake that prompted additional tsunami warnings. The event has been documented by Russia’s Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
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Retired U.S. Army General Wesley Clark identified Russia’s three primary strategic directions in the ongoing conflict. The first is a campaign to demoralize Ukrainians and cripple Ukraine’s war economy through relentless air attacks and targeting of military production. Secondly, Russia aims to breach Ukrainian defenses and seize additional territory, with a long-term goal of controlling Odesa and the Black Sea coast. Finally, Russia is attempting to intimidate NATO and stretch its resources while deterring Western intervention by demonstrating its nuclear capabilities.
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Mykyta and Sofiia Lamekhov, both 23, along with their two-year-old son Lev and their unborn child, tragically lost their lives in a Russian missile strike on Kyiv on July 30-31. The family, originally from Sloviansk, Donetsk Oblast, had relocated to Kyiv in 2022. Their bodies were discovered in the rubble of their apartment, which was hit by a missile. This attack resulted in the deaths of 31 individuals, including five children, while also injuring 159 others.
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On August 2, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) announced a joint operation with local partisans that resulted in the explosion of a minibus carrying five Chechen soldiers from the Akhmat unit in occupied Melitopol, killing all five. The blast also wounded two Russian soldiers in a nearby vehicle and destroyed an electronic warfare system. HUR previously reported successful operations in Melitopol and Skadovsk, targeting Russian forces and personnel. These actions are part of a larger effort by Ukrainian partisan groups and intelligence agencies to disrupt Russian operations within occupied territories.
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The Russian ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, has criticized the West for undermining its relationship with India through threats and sanctions related to India’s dealings with Moscow. Alipov stated that the US and EU’s actions, particularly sanction threats, reveal them as unreliable partners. He argued that these actions are perceived as illegitimate and are not fostering trust, while emphasizing that India’s energy security will guide its foreign policy decisions. Alipov further asserted that Russia has never pursued its relationship with India at the expense of others, unlike the US, which is undermining not only Russia’s interests but also India’s.
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In a recent series of events, Ukraine’s Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) reported drone strikes on a Shahed storage airbase in Primorsko-Akhtarsk and the Elektropribor military plant in Penza, which produces equipment for Russia’s defense industry. These attacks were conducted as two people were killed in Kherson due to Russian shelling. Simultaneously, reports emerged of a drone strike on an industrial facility in Novokuibyshevsk, prompting internet restrictions and airport suspension in the Samara Oblast. The Ukrainian Air Force reported it had suppressed 45 out of 53 Russian drones overnight.
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On Saturday, Ukrainian anti-corruption bodies announced the discovery of a corruption scheme involving the procurement of military drones and signal jamming systems at inflated prices. The agencies, NABU and SAPO, identified a lawmaker, officials, and national guard personnel receiving bribes in exchange for awarding contracts at inflated costs, with kickbacks reaching up to 30%. This revelation comes just days after the agencies’ independence was restored following widespread protests against a move to diminish their authority. President Zelenskyy has expressed a commitment to zero tolerance for corruption and the importance of just sentences, signaling the significance of the investigation.
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Overnight on August 2nd, industrial facilities across several Russian regions, including Ryazan, Penza, Samara, and Voronezh oblasts, were targeted in a series of drone attacks, as confirmed by Ukraine’s General Staff. Oil refineries in Ryazan and Samara, as well as the Elektropribor plant in Penza, were reportedly struck, causing fires and damage. Additionally, a fuel storage base in Voronezh Oblast and the Primorsko-Akhtarsk military airfield in Krasnodar Krai, used for Shahed drone storage and launch facilities, were also targeted by Ukrainian drones, the latter attack claimed by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). These attacks were reportedly a response to recent Russian strikes on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.
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Indian oil refiners continue to procure oil from Russian suppliers, prioritizing factors like price and logistics. Sources indicated that India’s strategy aligns with its role as a major energy consumer, ensuring access to affordable energy while adhering to international standards, even as the U.S. has voiced concerns. Historically, Russian oil has not been sanctioned, but rather subject to a price-cap mechanism, and India has maintained fully legitimate purchases within those established frameworks. India’s actions have contributed to global energy stability, ensuring that markets remain liquid and prices remain stable.
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John Q. Hosedrinker