A joint operation by the Russian Volunteer Corps, the Bratstvo unit, and the 5th Separate Heavy Mechanised Brigade successfully thwarted a Russian attempt to break through in Donetsk Oblast and advance toward the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast border. During the operation, fighters captured 16 Russian service personnel. Some of these prisoners were tasked with filming propaganda reports falsely claiming the capture of Ukrainian settlements. Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) released a video detailing the operation but did not specify its exact timing.
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On August 23rd, numerous Russian airports suspended flights due to an unidentified drone attack, impacting locations like Saratov, Volgograd, and Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. The disruptions followed reports of drones targeting several cities, including Moscow and Saint Petersburg, where air defense systems were reportedly activated. This incident marked the second significant disruption in less than two months, echoing similar drone attacks in July that also caused widespread flight cancellations and delays. Furthermore, The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the destruction of 32 drones across several regions.
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According to an interview with the Polish-Belarusian media outlet Vot Tak, a 31-year-old Russian serviceman confessed to participating in the May 2024 execution of five captured Ukrainian soldiers in Donetsk Oblast. The Ukrainian soldiers, allegedly captured near Avdiivka, were reportedly shot in the back of the head after being stripped of their belongings. The Russian serviceman, identified as Ivan Okhlopkov, stated he and others in his battalion carried out the executions under orders, and he currently is in hiding in Donetsk. This confession comes amid growing concerns from Ukraine and the U.N. over the increasing number of executed Ukrainian POWs, with accusations of a systematic policy by Russia to murder captives.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that China has aided Russia during the war, making it ineligible to be a security guarantor in a future peace deal. Zelenskyy cited China’s failure to prevent the war and its support for Russia, including opening the drone market. Despite China’s calls for a peaceful resolution, its economic support for Russia has damaged its neutral standing with Ukraine and Western leaders. This stance suggests China will be excluded from the peace process, and security guarantors should be limited to countries that have supported Kyiv since the 2022 invasion.
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External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar criticized the US and Pakistan at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum, highlighting their tendency to “overlook history,” specifically referencing the 2011 Abbottabad raid. He emphasized India’s foreign policy is guided by long-term confidence and national interests, rejecting any mediation in relations with Pakistan. Furthermore, Jaishankar refuted claims of US mediation in past ceasefire agreements, attributing the settlements to direct talks between India and Pakistan. The minister also underscored the government’s commitment to protecting India’s economic interests and strategic autonomy, warning against any challenges to these positions.
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Satellite imagery suggests Russia is constructing a listening station in the Kaliningrad region, a semi-exclave bordering NATO members. This facility, which appears to be a circularly disposed antenna array (CDAA), is designed for radio intelligence and communication, potentially enabling Russia to intercept NATO communications. The site, located near an air base used by the Russian navy, could be used for signal direction finding, electronic surveillance, and submarine communications. Its strategic location in Kaliningrad allows Russia to monitor electronic communications across Eastern Europe and the Baltic region, and support passive intelligence gathering.
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As of August 22, the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that Russia has sustained significant losses since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, totaling 1,075,160 troops. This includes 840 casualties suffered in the last day. Furthermore, the report details extensive Russian equipment losses, including thousands of tanks, armored vehicles, artillery systems, and various aircraft and naval assets.
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Ukraine has targeted the Druzhba oil pipeline, which delivers Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, disrupting supplies to these EU member states. The attack on the Unecha pumping station in Russia’s Bryansk region, confirmed by Ukrainian officials, prompted Hungary and Slovakia to request assistance from the European Commission. This strike marks the third attack on the pipeline in recent times, eliciting condemnation from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who opposes EU sanctions on Russian energy. Hungary and Slovakia are the only EU nations still reliant on Russian oil, and the interruption has further heightened tensions amidst the ongoing conflict.
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On August 22nd, the 118th Separate Mechanized Brigade reported the downing of a Russian Orlan drone carrying two FPV drones, a first for the Ukrainian military. This marks the first instance of Ukraine destroying a “mother drone,” a reconnaissance drone that carries other UAVs. The Orlan, a widely used Russian reconnaissance drone, often directs artillery attacks and can travel long distances. This event underscores the importance of drone warfare innovation in Ukraine’s ongoing defense strategy, including the development of its own drone-carrier with a German defense company.
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In a recent attack, Russia launched cruise missiles at an American electronics factory in western Ukraine, resulting in extensive damage and numerous injuries. This strike was part of a larger overnight barrage involving hundreds of drones and missiles. The factory, owned by the U.S.-based company Flex, produced civilian goods and had been operating at the site since 2012. Despite recent diplomatic efforts, including meetings between President Trump and both Zelenskyy and Putin, the attack underscores the ongoing conflict and the lack of major concessions from either side.
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John Q. Hosedrinker