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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Ukraine drone hits Russian nuclear plant, sparks huge fire at Novatek’s Ust-Luga terminal, according to the information, began with an early morning incident at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, which lies relatively close to the Ukrainian border. Reports indicate that a drone was successfully intercepted by air defenses, but not before it caused damage to an auxiliary transformer near the plant. This damage, in turn, necessitated a significant reduction – a 50% cut – in the operational capacity of reactor number three. It’s a situation that immediately raises alarms, given the sensitive nature of nuclear facilities and the potential for serious consequences.… Continue reading
In response to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s talks with US and European allies, Russia launched a barrage of 270 drones and 10 missiles on August 19, resulting in civilian casualties and infrastructure damage across multiple regions. Ukrainian officials reported a high number of deaths and injuries due to Russian shelling, particularly in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson. Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, including discussions of security guarantees and a potential meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin, skepticism remains regarding the Russian leader’s willingness to negotiate. The intensification of Russian attacks has led to a devastating impact on civilians, as noted by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission, which reported a sharp rise in casualties, especially due to increased aerial bombings and drone use.
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Fuel shortages are emerging in occupied Crimea and Russia’s Zabaykalsky Krai, with A-95 petrol being restricted to businesses and organizations using special fuel cards. Residents report the disappearance of petrol from many filling stations and inflated prices, even with official retail price controls in place. These restrictions began in early August, coinciding with Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, which have disrupted operations and reduced fuel supply. Despite government efforts to curb prices, including an export ban, petrol prices continue to rise, reaching historic highs on the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange and impacting domestic availability.
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Ukrainian forces have been targeting key Russian infrastructure, including energy sites and logistics hubs, in a series of recent attacks. On August 14th, Ukrainian drones struck the Olya seaport, reportedly damaging a ship carrying Shahed drone components and ammunition from Iran, a crucial location for importing military supplies. Other attacks include the LUKOIL-Volgogradneftepererabotka refinery and the Unecha oil pumping station, both critical to Russia’s fuel production and military supply chains. Furthermore, Russia’s air defenses claim to have intercepted numerous Ukrainian drones across various regions, including those over the Samara region where an oil refinery was also targeted.
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Unverified reports suggest that drones targeted the city of Ukhta in Russia’s Komi Republic on August 10th, marking the first such incident in the region and impacting the Ukhta oil refinery. Local sources reported explosions, leading to disruptions in electricity and mobile internet, as well as the temporary evacuation of a shopping center. Though unconfirmed by officials, video footage appears to show drones over the city prior to the blasts. This marks a significant expansion of the conflict, as the Komi Republic is located over 1,500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
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On August 7, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) launched drone strikes on several Russian military targets in occupied Crimea. These targets included a fast assault landing craft, which sustained fire damage. In addition, the strikes destroyed or damaged multiple radar installations vital to Russia’s air defense, such as the Nebo-SVU, Podlet-K1, and 96L6E. Russia’s Defense Ministry reported shooting down 18 drones over Crimea during the morning’s events. These attacks are part of Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to target Russian military infrastructure in the region since the full-scale invasion began.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood