Ukraine targeted Russian oil production capacity, launching a series of drone strikes over a weekend. Attacks hit the Primorsk oil terminal, impacting sanctioned oil tankers and onshore loading equipment, potentially cutting loading capacity in half. Subsequently, the Kirishi oil refinery, a key supplier to St. Petersburg, was also targeted. In addition to drone strikes, a fuel train on the Orel-St. Petersburg railroad was blown up by Ukrainian operatives. President Zelensky emphasized that such attacks on Russia’s oil infrastructure are effective.
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A Ukrainian drone struck a major Russian oil refining complex belonging to Bashneft near Ufa, sparking a fire and causing minor damage, according to a Russian official. Videos showed a drone exploding at the facility, with another drone reportedly shot down. The attack, for which Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency claimed responsibility, is part of a broader effort to disrupt Russia’s ability to fund its ongoing conflict. This follows a series of similar attacks on Russian refineries, which have impacted fuel prices and processing capacity.
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Ukrainian Military Intelligence (HUR) reported a successful drone strike on a high-value Russian Black Sea Fleet vessel near Novorossiysk, disabling a Project MPSV07 multipurpose support ship valued at $60 million. The attack targeted the ship’s bridge, destroying navigation and surveillance systems, forcing it out of service and requiring costly repairs. This strike occurred while the Russian vessel was conducting electronic reconnaissance and patrolling the approaches to Novorossiysk Bay. The attack is part of Ukraine’s intensified use of domestically produced drones, following other successful operations against Russian assets, including a strike on a Russian military tugboat in Sevastopol Bay.
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A fire erupted at an oil depot in the Russian village of Prokhorovka, Belgorod Oblast, following a reported drone attack. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov confirmed the fire was extinguished with no casualties, though some storage tanks were damaged. The Russian Defence Ministry stated air defenses intercepted and destroyed 31 Ukrainian drones across several regions, including seven over Belgorod Oblast. Gladkov provided no details on the extent of the damage from the incident.
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The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), carrying aid and activists including Greta Thunberg, reported that one of its vessels was struck by a drone off the coast of Tunisia. Footage posted online showed the vessel being hit and a fire breaking out on the main deck. Tunisian authorities initially denied a drone was involved, suggesting the explosion originated inside the vessel, but the incident is under investigation. The flotilla aims to break Israel’s siege on Gaza, and this is not the first time aid ships en route to Gaza have faced such incidents.
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A Ukrainian drone strike resulted in significant fire damage to the Druzhba oil pipeline in Russia’s Bryansk region, according to the commander of Kyiv’s drone forces. The attack was part of a coordinated overnight campaign targeting Russian fuel infrastructure and military sites, including the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Despite the strike, both Hungary’s MOL oil company and Slovakia’s Economy Minister reported that oil deliveries were unaffected. Alongside the pipeline, Ukrainian forces also struck the Ilsky oil refinery and troop locations and supply depots in other regions.
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Early Sunday, Russia launched its largest aerial barrage of the war, targeting Kyiv and killing at least two people. The attacks included drone strikes that damaged high-rise buildings and a direct hit on the Ukrainian cabinet of ministers, setting the roof ablaze. The strikes came after several European countries pledged to deploy reassurance forces, a move that Moscow has rejected. This escalation follows three and a half years of conflict, during which tens of thousands have been killed and a large portion of Ukrainian territory remains under Russian control.
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Following a U.S. drone strike that killed 11 alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers, Vice President JD Vance dismissed criticism of the action, responding defiantly to accusations of war crimes. The strike, which President Trump authorized, targeted a vessel in international waters and was celebrated by the administration as a blow to the drug trade. Vance defended the use of military force, stating that killing cartel members protects U.S. citizens, while the Department of Defense, now nicknamed the “Department of War,” has also defended the strike, claiming it was done in defense of the American people. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has since bragged about the strike.
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Ukrainian drone strikes throughout August have disabled 20% of Russia’s oil refining capacity, coinciding with peak seasonal demand and causing record-high gasoline prices and fuel shortages. This campaign is intended to cripple Russia’s war economy and serve as a direct form of sanction, with attacks also targeting military production facilities, fuel trains, and infrastructure like the Druzhba pipeline. Ukraine’s growing long-range capabilities, including the new Flamingo cruise missile, pose a significant threat to Russia’s energy sector and potentially shift the balance of the conflict. The Kremlin’s limited air defense capabilities across its vast territory make it difficult to protect against these attacks, leading to serious economic repercussions.
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On August 28, 2025, Ukrainian forces achieved a historic milestone by successfully striking the Russian corvette Buyan-M, armed with Kalibr cruise missiles, in the Azov Sea using an FPV drone. The attack, carried out by the Ukrainian military intelligence unit HUR, demonstrated a range exceeding 350 km, highlighting the precision capabilities of Ukrainian drones. The Buyan-M’s air defense systems failed to respond, potentially due to radar malfunctions, necessitating significant repairs. This marks the first instance of an FPV drone successfully targeting a military ship of this size and adds to the HUR’s record of successful drone strikes, including the prior destruction of a Russian Su-30 fighter jet.
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John Q. Hosedrinker